User Experience Designer Cover Letter

UX Designer Cover Letter (With Examples)

Demand is increasing for User Experience Designers, which means competition is heating up as well.

Your resume and portfolio may show what you can do in terms of the job duties, but your UX Designer cover letter will help to set you apart.

Some may argue that cover letters are becoming obsolete. This is hardly the case, and falling into this trap could end up costing you the job.

The fact remains that applications that include a cover letter get more attention than those that don’t. Some hiring managers consider it a deal-breaker; they won’t even look at your resume without one.

The only reason not to include a cover letter is if the job listing states you shouldn’t.

A resume is designed to showcase your work history, education, and experience. Your portfolio helps to provide a more visual representation of your work. But a cover letter helps you to highlight the relevant information and expand on it.

The relevant information will vary from job to job and company to company, so you will need to personalize your cover letter for each position you are applying for. There is no one-size-fits-all here.

Just as you would with any product or service user experience you are designing, you need to tailor your application to the user. In this case, the user is your potential employer.

As a UX Designer, you are expected to wear many different hats and have a deep understanding of design, technology, psychology, business, and market research. Your ability to align the goals of the company with the needs of the target audience is key.

The projects you are involved in will vary dramatically depending on the company or client you are working for, even if you are looking for positions in the same industry.

So, the context provided in the cover letter can help you to show your potential employer that you aren’t just an excellent UX Designer; you’re the right UX Designer for the job.

Parts of a User Experience Designer Cover Letter

As a UX Designer, user experience is all that matters in the end. You want your user to have a good experience from start to finish. Your cover letter is no different.

If you want the reader (your user in this instance) to have a good experience, you need to stick with the standard cover letter format and include all of the key elements in your cover letter.

1. Header. It doesn’t matter what you call it — cover letter, letter of introduction, motivation letter, letter of application — it is a formal business letter you are submitting. As with any business letter, you will need to begin with your header.

   To provide a better user experience, you may want to match your cover letter header design with your resume for a cohesive look.

   The header consists of basic information on both you and the company you are applying to. Some elements of your header are considered required, while others are optional.

   Your header should include:

   Your full name
   (Optional) Your current address
   Your phone number
   Your professional email address
   Your online portfolio
   (Optional) Your website, LinkedIn

   Date of submission

   Hiring manager’s name
   Hiring manager’s title within the company
   Company name
   (Optional) Company address

   Put into practice, it should look something like this:

   Abigayle Gill
   234 User Terrace
   Los Angeles, CA 90001
   555-123-4567
   abigaylegill@email.com
   onlineportfolio.com/abigaylegill

   January 1, 2021

   Zachary Bonnel
   Director of Human Resources
   XYZ Online
   123 Business Avenue
   Los Angeles, CA 90001

   Your current address and the company’s address are considered optional since you are most likely applying online.

   That said, many employers want to know that you live within commuting distance from their location. So, even if you don’t feel comfortable including your full address, you may want to include your city of residence.

   Your online portfolio is often considered optional when submitting applications. However, as someone who relies on visual representations of their work, including your portfolio is not optional as a UX Designer.

2. Greeting (Salutation). Personalization matters. If you work with email, web-based applications, or apps, you are familiar with the impact personalization can have.

   Your cover letter should begin with a personal greeting. It should be addressed to someone specific: the hiring manager.

3. Opening paragraph. Your opening lines are equivalent to your elevator pitch. You only have a few lines to capture your reader and leave them wanting more. They should be clear, concise, and convincing.

   You want to be clear about which position you are applying for and include an attention-grabbing statement, fact, or achievement. Show them what sets you apart and entice them to read on.

4. Body paragraph(s). Your resume and your portfolio will show them a lot about you and your work. But you want to use your cover letter to elaborate on the information you’re providing.

   Use your body paragraph(s) to highlight what sets you apart from the competition.

5. Closing lines. You want to close strong and leave a lasting impression — one that has them reaching for the phone to schedule an interview.

   Reiterate both your interest and your skills. Thank them for their time. Then, and this is very important, give them a reason to reach out to you.

6. Sign-off. As we mentioned above, a cover letter is simply a formal business letter. So, it should include a formal closing.

   You want to use a professional sign-off:

   • Sincerely,

   • Best,

   • Best regards,

   • Thank you,

   • Respectfully,

   • Regards,

   Below your sign-off, you should include your full name. You also have the option of including some of your contact information below your name. Typically, you would include your email address and phone number again here.

7. Postscript (optional). This is a lesser-used but highly impactful element of a cover letter. Since it is used so infrequently, the hiring manager may notice this before anything else.

   If you include a P.S with your cover letter, it should be worth it. It needs to make an impact, so it should be both attention-grabbing and action-inducing.

UX Designer Cover Letter Opening

This is your introduction, your handshake if you will. It should be strong, firm, and not last too long.

If your opening isn’t strong enough, the hiring manager will not continue reading. They won’t see the effort you put into your cover letter, your resume, or your portfolio. You’ll be tossed into the discard pile and forgotten.

You don’t want that.

Channel your elevator pitch and hook the reader. Then, use the rest of your cover letter to reel them in and land the interview.

UX Designer Cover Letter Body

It’s time to sell yourself as the best candidate for the job. Your cover letter body should highlight your relevant skills and experience.

How do you know which skills and experience are relevant?

Simple. The job listing.

The job listing will include all the information you need to tailor this application to the potential employer. Use the job description to identify the most important technical skills and soft skills for this position and speak to them.

You want to keep the focus on the company and its needs. That is what matters to them, after all. It doesn’t matter what you are discussing from your experience, skills, or achievements. If you are speaking to it in your cover letter, you need to know why the company should care.

They are less interested in what you can do and more interested in how you can help them.

UX Designer Cover Letter Closing Lines

Your opening is intended to hook the reader. The body of your cover letter should paint you as the ideal candidate.

Your closing should focus on one thing: getting you the interview.

Like your opening paragraph, your closing clines should be clear, concise, and convincing. Remind them why you are the right person for this position, then invite them to engage with you.

Example of a UX Designer Cover Letter

User Experience Designer Cover Letter Tips

Sometimes the job description is lacking. It may be vague or not include a healthy list of qualifications and experience they’re expecting.

If you find yourself floundering to identify the skills to highlight, you can rely on the basic set of skills that all UX Designers should have.

UX Designers wear many different hats and are expected to have expertise and experience in a variety of different subjects. While these will vary based on the type of product or service you are working with, some skills are universal.

1. Technical skills. These are the hard skills you should possess as a UX Designer.

   • Wireframing and prototyping

   • Data interpretation

   • Coding

   • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.

   • Visual Communication

2. Soft skills. These skills are less tangible. They are qualities, habits, and personality traits that are desirable.

   • Adaptability skills

   • Communication skills

   • Empathy

   • Problem-solving skills

   • Critical thinking skills

   • Teamwork collaboration skills

   • Research skills

   • Analytical thinking and creative thinking skills

   • Project management skills