To earn a spot in this profession, you'll need a game designer cover letter that perfectly captures your professional prowess, your experience, and persuades employers to review your portfolio as well.
It's no small feat, but with our easy-to-follow cover letter guide, you'll be able to accomplish it in no time. So, dive in and discover our best writing tips, cover letter samples, detailed examples, and templates you can adjust to your liking.
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Keep reading to learn all about:
- Creating a game designer cover letter header & headline
- Personalizing the greeting on your game designer cover letter
- Writing an eye-catching game designer cover letter introduction
- Showcasing your accomplishments & value as a game designer
- Concluding your cover letter with a powerful closing statement
- Accessing valuable resources for job-seeking game designers
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1. Create an effective game designer cover letter header & headline
The header and headline of your cover letter are the first elements you should focus on creating, as they help give the document structure.
Your cover letter header will include all the identifying information about you (the applicant) and the company you're applying to (the employer). On the other hand, your cover letter headline will serve as a title statement that helps to grab the employer’s attention.
Below, we've included more in-depth explanations and examples for both of these key cover letter elements:
Formatting the Header
The header of your cover letter doesn't have a single strict format to follow. However, it should always contain between 3 to 4 lines of text that include:
- The name of the company you're applying to (& the department, when applicable)
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, website, etc.)
Here is an example of a well-formatted header on a game designer cover letter
To: Blastoff Game Studios, Development Department
From: Ned Smith, Game Designer
(123) 456-7890 | nedsmith@email.com | nedgames.com
Writing the Headline
When writing the headline of your cover letter, you should always include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of a well-written game designer headline, followed by a quick breakdown of its key components
My 3 Key Skills as a Game Designer & How They Can Elevate Your Company’s Game Development
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Skills
Keyword: Game Designer, Game Development
Adjective/Verb: Key, Elevate
Promise: Your Company – the addition of this statement to the headline shows the employer that you will relate the information found in your cover letter directly to the needs of their company.
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2. Personalize the greeting on your game designer cover letter
Whenever you write a cover letter as a Game Designer, it is crucial to use a personalized greeting rather than a generalized one.
Unlike generalized greetings – such as “To Whom It May Concern” – a personalized greeting will address a specific person or department by name. In doing so, this shows the employer the level of effort you've put into researching their company, as well as highlighting your attention to detail.
If you can't pinpoint the exact person or department who will review your application, try out one of the following alternatives:
Addressing a cover letter without a name
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
3. Write an eye-catching game designer cover letter introduction
The greeting and headline of your cover letter work together to initially hook an employer’s attention. To keep them interested, however, you'll need an eye-catching introduction that includes:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you're enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write a game designer cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am a Game Designer with 4+ years of specialized experience in developing and carrying out quality assurance for open-world environments. After being brought on to your company’s most recent project as a freelance designer, Jack Doe – your Lead Developer – gave me the recommendation to apply for this position.
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4. Showcase your accomplishments & value as a game designer
With the employer’s attention now firmly hooked, thanks to your introduction, it’s time to provide more in-depth insight into your professional qualifications in the body paragraphs. A good cover letter will generally contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer the following key questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Focusing on your relevant accomplishments is especially important, as they help to show the employer the real-life value you can offer their company.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a game designer cover letter
As a Game Designer for [Former Employer], I introduced a new developmental workflow that helped to increase worldbuilding efficiency by 25%. Additionally, I supervised more than 40 junior designers on the development of a major RPG project.
5. Conclude your game designer cover letter with a powerful closing statement
To finish off your cover letter strong, you'll need a powerful closing statement that includes:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you're looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you'll follow up, including how you'll contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an effective closing statement from a game designer cover letter
As a long-time fan of your company’s games, I am excited to contribute my knowledge and talents to your upcoming projects as your new Game Designer. I would love to speak with you directly about this opportunity and my qualifications and am available to schedule a meeting Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890.
Yours Truly,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
6. Valuable job search resources for game designers
The fact that you've made it this far means that you're more than well-equipped to craft a game designer cover letter that impresses even the most demanding of recruiters. All that's left now is to start searching for the right job opportunities. But where to start? You can draw inspiration from out list of resources:
- Job boards for game designers: Firstly, take a look at websites that gather job postings pertaining to game development. For example: GameJobs, CreativeHeads, and GamesIndustry.biz.
- General job boards: Then, you can sift through the search results delivered by platforms with much broader focus, such as Glassdoor, Indeed. Monster, or SimplyHired.
- Online portfolio platforms: When it comes to your skills, it's better to show than tell! With platforms like Behance, Dribble, and ArtStation you'll be able to set up your very own online portfolio with minimum effort.
- Professional associations: If you're looking for a place that offers job postings, training programmes, the latest industry news, and professional advice, be sure to check official websites of organizations like the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), the The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), or the International Society of Virtual and Augmented Reality (ISVR).
- Game development communities: You can also find job opportunities on forums for those who share your passion for game design. We recommend browsing through platforms like Reddit, X, Facebook, Game Jolt, or GameDev.net.
- Industry conferences and networking events: More often than not, you can bump into job opportunities through friends and acquaintances. But if none of yours work in the game design industry, take advantage of LinkedIn or events like Game Developers Conference (GDC) and PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) to make connections with potential employers.
- Continuous learning: Finally, to land your dream job and thrive in it, you'll need to keep pushing yourself to develop new skills. Or, you could enroll in courses and certification offered by online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, or Udemy.
While your skills and experience are important, don't forget the power of a good game designer cover letter. It's like your introduction to the company, where you can show your excitement for the job and why you're the perfect fit. So, make sure to put some effort into yours — it could make all the difference in landing your dream job!
Game Designer Cover Letter FAQ
How can I demonstrate my problem-solving abilities and creative thinking in my game designer cover letter?
In both cases you can share examples of challenges you've faced in previous game design projects and how you approached them with creative solutions. For example, discuss any innovative ideas or game mechanics you've developed that show your ability to think outside the box and push the boundaries of traditional game design.
How should I format my game designer cover letter?
Always choose a clean and professional format for your cover letter, including a header with your contact information and a clear and concise introduction, body, and closing paragraphs. And make sure to keep the cover letter to one page in length and use bullet points or short paragraphs to make it easy to read. To save yourself some time and nerves, you can avoid formatting issues with ease by using any of our professional cover letter templates.
How can I effectively use keywords in a game designer cover letter?
Including keywords in your cover letter is a must, especially in cases when you're submitting your job application through the ATS. Start by reviewing the job posting and identify key skills, technologies, and qualifications that the employer is seeking. Then , incorporate these keywords naturally into your cover letter to demonstrate your alignment with the job requirements. Here are a few examples of keywords you can encounter as a game designer: "gameplay mechanics," "prototyping," "user interface design," and "game balancing."
Any common mistakes I should avoid when writing a game designer cover letter?
Oh yes, plenty! For instance, avoid using generic language or clichés, such as "passionate gamer" or "team player," without providing specific examples or context. Secondly, don't focus solely on your technical skills; instead, demonstrate your understanding of game design principles, player engagement, and the overall gaming experience. Finally, steer clear of simply copying and pasting content from your resume; use the cover letter to provide additional insights, context, and examples that complement your resume.
Should I include references to specific games or game mechanics in my game designer cover letter?
Yes, including references to specific games or game mechanics can showcase your knowledge of the industry and your enthusiasm for game design. Also, discussing games that have inspired you or aspects of gameplay that you admire can help personalize your cover letter and demonstrate your passion for the field.
