A good cover letter could make all the difference when applying for an internship. Whether you have limited experience or an extensive professional background, this document could help you make an impactful impression on hiring managers by showing them why you would be a great hire for their company.
If you need some help with the writing process, our guide is here to help you put together an internship-winning cover letter!
Why do you need a cover letter for an internship application?
Cover letters are, quite frankly, a necessary evil in the job application process. Indeed, a well-crafted cover letter helps recruiters get a better sense of who you are by giving them an insight into your skills, experiences and interest in the role.
When it comes to internship applications, a cover letter can set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate why you would be a good fit by letting your personality shine through. So, while writing a cover letter might seem like a tedious task, it can also boost your chances of getting hired.
What to include
When putting a cover letter together, make sure to include all of these key elements:
Header
The header of your cover letter provides important details such as your contact information and the recipient’s details. Add the following in this order:
- Name and surname
- City and postal code
- Phone number
- Date
- Name of recipient
- Title of recipient
- Company name
- Company address
Make sure to leave space between your contact details, the date and the recipient’s information to avoid crowding everything together.
Salutation
The opening line of your cover letter plays a part in the first impression you’re going to make. You can either greet the receiver by their name or by their position title (“Dear [name and surname of receiver]” or “Dear [position title]”). Generally, it is advised to avoid opening with the salutation “To whom it may concern”, as it can seem impersonal and outdated.
Introductory paragraph
The first paragraph of your cover letter should clearly state the internship role you are interested in and where you saw this advertised. It’s important to demonstrate your interest in this position by outlining specific aspects that stood out to you.
Body
The main part of your cover letter should consist of two to three paragraphs.
The first paragraph should highlight your background and skills, linking them to the role. You can also discuss relevant academic achievements, extracurriculars and experiences that show how you would be a great fit for this internship.
The second and third paragraphs should focus more on your motivations for working at the organization and what you can offer to them.
Closing paragraph
In the last paragraph of your cover letter, reiterate why you’re interested in the internship and how you would be a good hire. Ending this part by adding a call to action, indicating when you are available for an interview, is a good prompt for the reader.
Sign-off
End the cover letter with a professional sign-off such as “Sincerely” or “Yours faithfully”.
How to write an internship cover letter
Are you ready to write your internship cover letter? The following tips will help you get started:
1. Use keywords
Before you begin working on your cover letter, go over the internship advert and identify its keywords. Then, throughout the body of the document find a way to incorporate them within the content.
By doing so, you’re signaling to the hiring manager that you have taken the time to understand what the internship position is about. What is more, these keywords could help your application stand out from many others, especially if it is going to be vetted by an applicant tracking system before making its way into human hands.
2. Do your research
The more you know about the company you’re applying to, the better your chances of getting selected for the internship. As such, both your résumé and cover letter should reflect this knowledge, as it will demonstrate your attention to detail and eagerness to work for the organization.
Start by researching the company, its main projects, mission and ethos. Then, try to incorporate this information within your application documents.
Additionally, try to find who will be reading your application and refer to them by name in your salutation. Such a personal touch could make all the difference, as it will show your commitment and motivation as an applicant.
3. Connect your skills to the internship
Beyond keywords, you should demonstrate how your skills and experience are aligned with the requirements of the role.
Indeed, the contents of your cover letter should be tailored to the internship you are applying for. A generic document will not leave a good impression, so focus on the internship specifications, offering examples of how you meet these requirements.
Highlight how you’re a great fit by referring to key points in the internship description and linking them back to yourself and your skill set.
4. Pay attention to formatting
While the contents of your cover letter are the most important part, its presentation also plays a significant role. Once you have the writing part down, the next step is to get the formatting right.
A well-formatted cover letter will leave a good impression, and show the recruiter that you value attention to detail — a sought-after quality in applicants. You should follow similar formatting guidelines to a one-page business letter, with one-inch margins on all sides, 10–12 font size and 1.15 line spacing.
A nice touch would be to use the same template for your cover letter as you did for your résumé to create a visually cohesive application.
5. Proofread (and proofread again)
Before you send out your application, you must — you guessed it! — proofread it. A mere typo could take you out of the running for an internship, and the best way to prevent this from happening is to ensure that the contents of your cover letter are flawless.
Spotting errors can be challenging after working on your document for an extended period, so start by giving yourself a short break before returning to it with a fresh pair of eyes. A good practice is to read your cover letter out loud, making sure everything sounds right.
To be on the safe side, you should also run the document through an online grammar checker which will pick on anything you may have missed.
Internship cover letter example
If you need some further inspiration for your cover letter, then take a look at the example we have provided below:
Ella Smith
101 Bloomington St
10001, New York City, New York
[email protected]
(123) 456-7890
Monday, April 8, 2024
Michelle Jones
Hiring Manager
ABC Company
14 Right St
20001, New York City, New York
Dear Ms Jones,
I am writing to apply for the Marketing Assistant internship position at ABC Company, which I found on the CareerAddict Jobs site. As a third-year undergraduate who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing and media, this is an exciting opportunity, and I believe I would be a suitable candidate for this role due to my current skill set.
Throughout my undergraduate studies, I have been able to accumulate important skills and experience that I believe will be integral to this internship. In the past year, I have participated in a project that required me and my peers to collaborate with an external company to come up with a mock digital marketing campaign. Having been elected as team leader, this experience allowed me to sharpen my leadership and collaboration skills and leverage my creativity.
Prior to this project, I had the opportunity to shadow a digital marketer during my second year and learn about different marketing and media processes, receiving valuable insights into the industry. What is more, through my coursework, I have studied a diverse array of subjects such as consumer behavior, advertising fundamentals and customer engagement strategies, all of which have equipped me with invaluable knowledge about customer-centric marketing.
Having the opportunity to complete an internship at ABC Company would allow me to attain hands-on experience by being part of a leading marketing team that prioritizes innovation and ingenuity through its services. I am confident that I will be able to make positive contributions to ongoing projects and that I can help your organization shape, implement and deliver your marketing objectives successfully.
Thank you for your time and consideration. After reviewing this position, I truly believe that I would be a great fit, as my passion for innovative digital marketing is fully aligned with your organization’s objectives and mission. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and discuss this internship opportunity further. I look forward to hearing back from you about this.
Sincerely,
Ella Smith
Final thoughts
Writing a cover letter can be a daunting task — there is a lot to achieve within this single-page document! Your primary objective is to demonstrate why you’re a good fit for the internship you’re applying for, and to do this, you must also highlight your strengths, experience, motivation and interest in the company you’re applying to.
While this may seem overwhelming at first, by taking your time to plan what you want to say and following the above steps, the process will be much easier than you think!
Got a question? Let us know in the comments section below!
This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published on June 29, 2016.