How to Write Compelling Cover Letters for UX Design Positions
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is a Cover Letter?
- The Problem with Cover Letters for Designers
- The Purpose of a Portfolio
- 4.1 Visual Storytelling
- 4.2 Showcase of Skills and Experience
- The Traditional Cover Letter Format
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Reasons A, B, and C
- 5.3 Conclusion
- The Frustration of Writing Multiple Cover Letters
- A Radical Approach to Cover Letters
- 7.1 The Ideal Cover Letter
- 7.2 The Power of a Well-curated Portfolio
- Reflecting on the Past
- 8.1 Wasted Time and Effort
- 8.2 The Impact of Portfolio Quality
- The Red Flags of Companies That Require Cover Letters
- 9.1 Toxic Company Culture
- 9.2 Lack of Understanding in Hiring Designers
- 9.3 Importance of Design in the Company
- Personal Opinion and Final Thoughts
The Problem With Cover Letters for Designers
In today's competitive job market, cover letters have become a standard requirement for applying to any position. However, as a designer, I have come to question the necessity and effectiveness of cover letters in the design industry. In this article, I will share my personal experience and insights on why I believe cover letters for designers are unnecessary and, in many cases, counterproductive.
Introduction
Let's start by understanding what a cover letter is traditionally supposed to accomplish. According to the vast knowledge center of the 21st century, Google, a cover letter should introduce yourself, mention the job you're applying for, Show how your skills and experience Align with the company's needs, and encourage the reader to review your resume. On the surface, this may seem like a reasonable approach, but let's dive deeper into why it falls short for designers.
The Purpose of a Portfolio
As a designer, your work Speaks much louder than words. Your portfolio is the primary tool for showcasing your skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and design thinking. It provides visual evidence of what you've worked on, the problems you've solved, the iterations you've gone through, and the design choices you've made. Essentially, your portfolio tells your story in a way that a cover letter Never can.
Visual Storytelling
Design is a visual medium, and it's challenging to convey the essence and impact of your work through written words alone. A cover letter may attempt to explain your design skills and experiences, but it can never capture the visual, interactive, and motion aspects that are vital in understanding your design approach.
Showcase of Skills and Experience
Moreover, your portfolio provides a detailed demonstration of your qualifications and experiences. It showcases real-life projects you've worked on, the research you've conducted, the prototypes you've built, and the visual, interaction, and motion designs you've executed. A well-curated portfolio can speak for itself and show potential employers your abilities without the need for lengthy explanations in a cover letter.
The Traditional Cover Letter Format
When I first embarked on my Journey as a designer, I followed the conventional wisdom of writing cover letters for every job application. I diligently crafted cover letters with introductions, reasons A, B, and C paragraphs, and a concluding statement – a classic English essay sandwich style. However, this approach proved to be both time-consuming and fruitless.
The Frustration of Writing Multiple Cover Letters
I recall spending hours writing cover letters for numerous companies, hoping to increase my chances of securing an internship or a job. The process was grueling, especially considering I was not a natural Writer and did not enjoy the writing process. With each cover letter, I grew more frustrated as I received zero responses from the companies I had dedicated so much time and effort to impress.
A Radical Approach to Cover Letters
After experiencing the disappointment of unanswered cover letters and reevaluating the purpose of a cover letter, I decided to challenge the status quo. Instead of following the traditional format, I adopted a radical approach that focused on the power of a well-curated portfolio.
The Ideal Cover Letter
In 2016, while applying for an interaction design internship, I came across a company called Ideal that required a cover letter. Instead of investing hours into crafting another lengthy letter, I submitted a cover letter that simply explained my portfolio's purpose. I emphasized that my portfolio would better demonstrate my skills, providing links to specific projects that showcased my abilities in various design areas. Surprisingly, this five-minute cover letter caught their Attention, and I landed an interview with this prestigious design agency.
The Power of a Well-curated Portfolio
This experience made me realize that a well-crafted portfolio speaks more effectively than any cover letter ever can. By curating a compelling collection of design work, backed by evidence of skills, experience, and problem-solving abilities, designers can capture the attention of employers and showcase their unique value proposition.
Reflecting on the Past
Looking back at the countless hours I wasted writing cover letters in 2015, I couldn't help but wonder how much stronger my portfolio could have been if I had invested that time and effort into it instead. The contrast between my unsuccessful cover letter attempts and the success of my five-minute cover letter with Ideal merely affirmed that cover letters are unnecessary for designers.
Wasted Time and Effort
The sheer number of cover letters I wrote in the past is staggering. I poured countless hours and energy into crafting thoughtful, painful paragraphs, hoping to stand out among the competition. Unfortunately, none of these efforts resulted in any tangible results or job offers, which only added to the frustration and disillusionment.
The Impact of Portfolio Quality
In contrast, the effectiveness of my portfolio became evident when I secured an interview with Ideal Based solely on a concise explanation of my portfolio's purpose. It became clear that the quality and relevance of my design work spoke volumes and held more weight than any written cover letter ever could.
The Red Flags of Companies that Require Cover Letters
As I continued my design journey, I began questioning the motivations of companies that still insisted on cover letters from designers. It appeared that the requirement of a cover letter signaled potential issues within the company's culture and understanding of hiring designers.
Toxic Company Culture
Companies that prioritize cover letters over a designer's portfolio may have toxic company cultures. Requesting an additional written document, which does not add substantial value to the assessment of a designer's skills and abilities, reflects a lack of trust and respect for designers' work. These companies may have a narrow view of design's role and fail to recognize its importance.
Lack of Understanding in Hiring Designers
Requiring cover letters for designers may indicate a lack of understanding in hiring practices specifically tailored to the design industry. Designers are primarily evaluated based on their creative output and problem-solving skills, which are best demonstrated through visual and interactive mediums such as portfolios. Companies that do not recognize this may struggle to evaluate and hire top design talent effectively.
Importance of Design in the Company
Finally, the insistence on cover letters may Raise questions about the value a company places on design. If a company prioritizes written explanations over visual demonstrations of a designer's abilities, it may suggest that design is not given the necessary consideration and respect within the organization. Design-driven companies understand the power of portfolios and focus on evaluating candidates' visual skills rather than their writing abilities.
Personal Opinion and Final Thoughts
In conclusion, as a designer who has experienced the frustration and futility of writing numerous cover letters, I firmly believe that cover letters are unnecessary for designers. While my opinion may be subjective, considering the specific circumstances of the design industry, I find little value in spending excessive time crafting written explanations when a well-curated portfolio can speak louder and more effectively. Designers should prioritize their portfolios and Seek out companies that recognize the power of visual storytelling in evaluating their skills and experiences. Ultimately, the goal should be to work in an environment that values design and understands how to assess designers in a way that aligns with their creative nature.
