Cover letters/email intros

(I wasn't able to attend this session due to illness, but I was sent the notes form friends in order to catch up)

What should a Cover Letter do?

• put skills and personality together in a story 
• Show you know a bit about the place, be sincere 

Shouldn't do:

• Long, waffle - stops reading 
• Clear, well designed 
• straight to the point 
• don't include anything general, no general statements be specific about what your interested in 
• don't be too informal in terms of language - context specific 

Important aspects:

• Confidence
• speak about skills in confident way, why relevant
• Clear:
• first impression, make easy to read - get to point 
• Concise:
• doesn't need to be long 
• max 5 short paragraphs 
• get peoples attention and introduction to work 

Tips from Web:

• Don't repeat your CV - Forbes
• how things your passionate about or projects align with company  
• Research the company - The Guardian 
• Tell them what you have to offer - The Balance Careers 
• we have stuff to offer rather than focusing on what they can do for you 
• Use a professional tone but don't lose all personality - The Guardian 
• have some personality, context depending 
• Finish Strong - Forbes
• don't tail off - be to the point 
• finishes on clear ask or point 
• what you can bring to the opportunity 
• don't loose purpose 

Grammarly can help correct grammar etc.

Example email intro 

Dear ______, 

I hope this email finds you well. 

My name is ____ and I’m a graphic designer currently studying at Leeds Arts University who shares your passion for socially-motivated projects and is a great admirer of your work. 

I’m getting in touch with a proposal. I’d love to come and work with you in the studio for either one or two weeks during March. I intend to join you on a placement meaning that I’d be there to learn from you and your team, helping out wherever required. 

No doubt, you get plenty of offers like this, so let me outline why I would be a great addition, rather than a cumbersome burden. Firstly, I feel that my design aesthetic and proficiency makes me a great fit for your studio. In my recent _______ project, I created a ______ ______ ______ ______ _______ ______ _____ _______. Your _______ ____ ______ ___ _____ book and campaign was a great inspiration here and proved how important visual communication is in society, allowing those who are overlooked, cast out or unjustly treated to reclaim their voices. Take a look at _____ here. 

Secondly, I’m eager to learn from you and your team. There’s no substitute for seeing how a studio operates on a day-to-day basis and while my education to date provides the opportunity to develop the creative element of my design practice, it can’t replicate the industry. How you manage clients, projects and the team, pitch for work and balance designing with all of the other things you do is of great interest to me. I sincerely feel that I could pick up a huge amount in just a short spell with you. 

I’ve attached a digital portfolio, tailored for you. If you like what you see, there’s more on my site and instagram. I hope that I’ve captured your attention up to this point and that you’ll consider my pitch. After all, we could be so good together. 

Best, 

__________________.