How to make a creative cover letter

There is a variety of creative cover letters

The words “creative cover letter” mean different things to different people. Even the creative cover letter examples on the internet showcase multiple ways of putting this type of document together. What ends up in your creative cover letter will have a lot to do with your experience and the role you apply for. 

If you’re applying for a role in the entertainment industry or a job as a corporate trainer, you might consider a video. If you want a career in graphic design, you might include a variety of colors. Mathematics teachers or data scientists may consider adding visual data points. 

No matter what creative elements you choose, it’s important to present your experiences and showcase your work in a clear and concise manner.

When should you use a creative cover letter?

Drafting a creative resume or cover letter can be exciting, but it isn’t appropriate in all contexts. For example, if you’re applying for a government job where the employer asks for a specific type of resume, you’ll want to avoid using this type of cover letter and follow the employer’s instructions instead.

However, if you’re applying for a position in a creative industry, a fun cover letter may be a great idea. Creative industries include graphic design, copywriting, and entertainment industry roles that involve acting, modeling, costume design, or videography. 

A creative cover letter makes sense when it’s accompanied by creative resume examples, such as art portfolios. In these instances, a cover letter acts as an extension of the portfolio and offers deeper context for the hiring manager.

What elements to incorporate in a creative cover letter?

Even when you are showcasing your creative flair, you should do so in the most professional way possible. Here are some critical elements and sections you should include when building your creative resume and cover letter.

Visuals and format

Your creative cover letter should be both well-organized and visually appealing. Try incorporating bold colors like green, yellow, or purple. You can even tweak your resume template so that it matches your cover letter. This is an easy way to keep a standard layout while still adding a splash of creativity.

If you want to try something new with your formatting, consider centering your text or using a two-column (or two-row) format. As you create your document, make sure your colors and formatting aren’t flashy or unprofessional and don’t interfere with document readability. 

Graphics

Another simple method to make your creative cover letter visually interesting is to strategically use icons, charts, and infographics. This can make your cover letter easier to read by delineating your contact information, showcasing your accomplishments, or even giving a timeline of your experience. 

Charts and icons are also a great way to quantify the experience you have with a software application or language. You can give yourself a star rating for your skill level in each area or use a colored bar to differentiate your level of proficiency. 

Humor

Fun visual and creative elements such as icons, hypothetical stories, and even lines of poetry can help highlight your sense of humor, which can be key for roles where flexibility, friendliness, and lightheartedness are part of the job. 

However, it’s important to avoid making fun of serious matters or making jokes that can be misconstrued. Make sure your humor and language remain professional throughout your letter.

Anecdotes

Using short, entertaining stories in your cover letter can help you illustrate your skills to the hiring manager in a unique and appealing way. When sharing anecdotes, keep them relevant to the role and avoid including unnecessary details that derail the story. This helps ensure your anecdotes are concise and professional.

"Even when you are showcasing your creative flair, you should do so in the most professional way possible."

What to keep in mind

Choosing a creative cover letter means having a lot of options for expressing your skills, experience, and personal traits. However, don’t forget that you’re submitting a professional document. If you plan on using a visually interesting cover letter to apply for your next position, make sure to include the following best practices.

Work experience and skills

Even in a creative cover letter, you need to make sure your work experience and skills take center stage. Be mindful not to get so lost in your creativity that you forget to show the hiring manager what makes you perfect for the position. When you focus on your past positions and the competencies you’ve developed, you can create an excellent balance between innovation and professionalism.

Education and certifications

In tweaking their cover letter examples, creatives (and other professionals) should also include information about education and certifications. 

Whether you have a graphic design degree from a prestigious art school, have attended a fashion institute, or are certified in technical skills such as Adobe InDesign, pottery making, or audio engineering, it’s important to showcase this education so the hiring manager fully understands your qualifications for the position.

Contact information

What good will your job application be if the recruiter or hiring manager cannot contact you for further information or to schedule an interview? Don’t make the person reading your application go fishing for your contact information, as this can work against you and lower your chances of advancing in the hiring process.

Instead, try using a creative cover letter example that includes some fun icons to delineate your contact information (such as using a location pin for your address, a cell phone icon for your telephone number, and a Wi-Fi icon for your website address). 

Don’t forget to indicate whether the information given is for your atelier or creative studio so the hiring manager knows what to expect when they contact you.

Keep a consistent look

When building a creative job application, it’s important that your cover letter templates have the same look as your resume. This helps you build cohesion and consistency in your application and ensures that the recruiter and hiring manager make a visual association between the two documents.

It’s also crucial that you keep your cover letter consistent and professional by using clear layouts and readable fonts and color schemes. While creativity is important, you want to avoid frustrating the hiring manager by crafting a document that’s hard to read or follow.

Check and edit as always

Your creative prowess doesn’t eliminate the need to proofread and edit your cover letter. In fact, with a creative cover letter, you should be especially meticulous about using professional and grammatically correct language. This way, your cover letter comes across as creative and impressive rather than questionable and unprofessional. 

It’s also a good idea to have a friend read through your letter before sending it to catch any mistakes your eyes may have missed.

Adapt it to the role

Remember that the purpose of your creative cover letter is to get the job you’re applying for. Consequently, it’s essential to tailor your letter to the context and role you want. This means including only relevant skills, experiences, and traits. It also means using job-specific keywords straight from the job description to ensure your creative cover letter makes it past the employer’s applicant tracking system.

Let your creativity and professionalism shine through

The key to success when drafting a creative cover letter is to find the right balance between professionalism and creativity. You can do this by using a creative cover letter at an appropriate time, using visual elements like icons and charts, keeping humor and anecdotes relevant, and highlighting your experience, skills, and certifications.

If you get stuck in the process, there are many cover letter and resume articles and templates available on Jobseeker to help. Take advantage of your resources, put your own creative twist on what you have, and create an unforgettable application that helps the hiring manager see why you’re perfect for the position.