Interior design job seekers are often encouraged to apply quickly when they see a promising opportunity. However, speed isn't always the best strategy. A position that looks interesting deserves a closer look - and your cover letter deserves more than a quick copy-and-paste.
Seeing an interesting position does not mean you have to apply immediately. Save it, study the description, research the firm, and come back with a thoughtful, targeted cover letter. A well-prepared cover letter gives you a strong competitive edge by explaining your specific value and personalizing your application for that particular position.
Many hiring managers still read cover letters to separate serious candidates from mass applicants. A cover letter lets you put your best accomplishments into clear context right away.
Your cover letter should not be an afterthought. A generic cover letter wastes one of the best opportunities to differentiate yourself from your competition - particularly in a creative field like interior design. Saving a job allows you permission to be more deliberate about promoting your skills and abilities. Spending just 15 to 20 focused minutes tailoring a cover letter can make an application more relevant and compelling.
Candidates do not need to spend hours writing every cover letter from scratch. Take time to write your first one and save it as a template – much of the information can be recycled with little tweaks for specific positions.
Follow the journey of a saved job:
- Find a position that catches your attention
- Save it
- Revisit the job description
- Identify what the employer really needs
- Match your experience to those needs
- Write a focused cover letter
- Apply with confidence
Save the job and give yourself some breathing room. Saving allows the candidate to return to the posting rather than losing it in a sea of open browser tabs or job listings.
NOTE: A person must already have a profile created to use this feature.
Look for this icon when scrolling for jobs and click; it will save your job as you look for other positions:
On the job details page – there is a button on the right side of the page to save the job listing:
Use that saved listing to build your focused cover letter. When studying the job listing, be sure to look for:
- Specific skills the firm emphasizes
- Types of projects they're working on
- Software or technical expertise they require
- Design philosophy or aesthetic
- Client types
- Responsibilities that closely match the candidate's experience
Then explain why you are interested in this particular opportunity and how your skillsets fit what the firm is seeking in a candidate. Add it to your resume as one document with the cover letter being the first page.
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