- How to Write a Cover Letter for Internships?
1. Header
2. Salutation
3. Introduction
4. Body
5. Conclusion
6. Closing and Signature - Cover letter for internships samples
- 6 Unique Tips to Enhance Internship Cover Letter
The perfect cover letter for internships is the one that convinces the recruiter of your aptitude, skills, and potential even with little to no work experience.
But writing a flawless cover letter can be overwhelming and may leave you clueless, especially if you are an intern applying for the first time.
The good news is, this blog can help you out.
Read on to discover the most unique and crucial tips to write an internship cover letter with templates and samples to guide you.
How to Write a Cover Letter for Internships?
Writing a cover letter for an internship is a critical step in applying for any internship program.
It complements your resume and provides an opportunity to showcase your personality, explain your interest in the role, and demonstrate how your experiences and skills align with the goals of the organization. The internship letter format is rather simple.
Here’s a guide on how to craft an effective cover letter for an internship:
1. Header
Start with a header that includes your contact information, the date, and the contact information of the employer. Here’s an example format:
Your Name
Your Address
City, State, Zip Code
Email: Your Email
Phone: Your Phone Number
Date: MM/DD/YYYY
Hiring Manager's Name
Company Name
Company Address
City, State, Zip Code
2. Salutation
Always try to address the letter to a specific person (e.g., "Dear Ms. Smith"). If you cannot find a name, "Dear Hiring Manager" is a suitable alternative.
Dear Ms. Smith,
3. Introduction
Begin your letter by introducing yourself and stating the purpose of your letter. Specify the internship you are applying for and mention how you learned about the opportunity (e.g., university career services, company website, professional contact).
Example:
I am currently a junior at XYZ University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and I am writing to express my interest in the Summer Marketing Internship listed on your company website. With a solid foundation in the basics of marketing combined with my enthusiasm for data-driven strategies, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to XYZ Corporation.
4. Body
In the body of your cover letter, split your content into one or two paragraphs that highlight why you are a good fit for the internship. Discuss specific aspects of your education, skills, and experiences that align with the company's goals and the responsibilities of the internship. It's also beneficial to show your knowledge about the company and how passionate you are about their industry.
Example:
During my coursework and extracurricular activities, I have honed my analytical and creative problem-solving skills. For instance, as a member of the Student Business Association, I collaborated on a project that analyzed student start-up success rates, which increased student engagement by 30%. This experience has equipped me with the knowledge of interactive marketing strategies and the importance of the feedback loop between service providers and customers.
Additionally, my internship at ABC Company allowed me to further develop my marketing skills. I played a key role in developing a survey that assessed customer satisfaction, and my team’s findings were later implemented to refine our marketing strategies. This initiative resulted in a 15% improvement in customer satisfaction ratings over six months.
5. Conclusion
Conclude your letter by reiterating your enthusiasm for the opportunity. State that you would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how you can contribute to their team. Mention any attached documents (like your resume or portfolio).
Example:
I am eager to bring my background in both theory and practical application to your innovative team. I am confident that my proactive approach and strong foundation in marketing principles will allow me to add value at XYZ Corporation. I look forward to the possibility of discussing this exciting opportunity with you. My resume is attached for your review.
6. Closing and Signature
Use a professional closing such as "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name. If you are sending the cover letter electronically, include a digital signature if possible.
Cover letter for internships samples
Here are a few sample cover letters for internships to help you get started.
Sample 1- Cover letter for product development internship
Subject line: Application for Product development Intern
Dear Hiring Manager/Sir/Ma'am,
I am writing to you to apply for the product development internship at ABC Corp.
I’m a student at CFT college with a major in software engineering and I believe I would be a good fit for the role.
Your company’s mission statement to reinvent app interfaces resonates with my thought process and I’m looking forward to graduating under your mentorship.
I have leadership experience and a thorough knowledge of coding from college hackathons, and want to associate with your organisation to achieve relevant exposure.
Please find attached my resume in this email. Awaiting the opportunity to speak with you.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Tanya Aggarwal
Sample 2- Cover letter for graphic design internship
Subject line: Application for Graphic design summer internship
Dear Mr. Rahul,
I’m writing to you to extend my application for the summer internship for graphic design with your organization. I read about this opportunity at the R job portal, and I believe I can be an asset to your organization.
I have spent 3 years at CCC university where I’ve created several designs for in-house events and competitions, which you can find in the portfolio attached in the email.
Apart from my novice designing skills, I'm skilled at working with big teams, time management and creative ideas.
With this internship, I plan to gain further experience to refine my skills as a graphic designer.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Tanya Aggarwal
Sample 3- Cover letter for content writing internship
Subject line: Application for Content writing internship
Dear Sir/Ma'am,
I am writing to you regarding the content writing internship that opened up recently.
I came across the job posting on Website name, and was thrilled to find an opportunity fit for my academic experience.
I’m currently pursuing Bachelors (With honours) in English at CVFRT Institute. As a literature student, I have acquired skills like creative writing, publishing, editing and blogging.
I have used these skills as the editor of our college magazine and now I'm seeking a challenging opportunity like this internship to further hone my skills.
Your company’s mission statement to reinvent app interfaces resonates with my thought process and I’m looking forward to graduating under your mentorship.
It would be an honor to personally interview with your company. I'm attaching with this cover letter, my resume. Please accept it and reach out to me at your convenience.
Awaiting your response. Thank you for your time & consideration.
Sincerely,
Tanya Aggarwal
Sample 4- Cover letter for Social media marketing internship
Subject line: Application for Social media marketing internship
Dear Ma'am/Sir,
My name is Tanya and I wish to express my interest in the Social media marketing internship being offered by your organisation.
I'm currently pursuing Bachelors degree in history. Due to my interest in Digital marketing, I have earned certification in SEO, and social media marketing.
Additonally, I run an Instagram photography page with over 6k+ organic followers. You can take a look at the page here.
As I look for internships to further hone my skills, I hope to get an opportunity to work with your company where I can apply my knowledge and gain experience and exposure in return.
Attached is my resume for your consideration. I hope we can connect soon to discuss this in further detail.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Tanya Aggarwal
6 Unique Tips to Enhance Internship Cover Letter
Here are the 6 most important tips that will help you draft the perfect cover letter.
1. List relevant skills & experience for the internship cover letter
An internship cover letter format is no different than the regular one. But without work experience, the focus shifts towards school/college experience, skills, and co-curricular activities.
Include your recent learnings and experiences relevant to the skills needed for the internship.
Some of the things you may want to include in your cover letter for internships could be participation in debates, sports, MUNs, dance competitions, advanced examinations, volunteering, etc.
Since each company has different requirements, you will have to tailor your cover letter to match what they are looking for.
You can do this in the following steps:
- Assess the role you are applying for and what skills are required for the same
- Make a list of relevant skills you can add to the cover letter to show that you are a good fit for the role
- Include the situations where you have utilized these skills to perform well or ace competitions, etc
2. Brevity over verbosity
A cover letter when attached to the resume can do wonders for your application.
But it is important to remember that recruiters get several applications every day and would not be interested in reading vague and lengthy documents.
So, make sure that your cover letter is 1 page long and has no more than 3 paragraphs, with 4-5 lines in each of them.
The opening paragraph must describe the source from where you learned about the opening, your knowledge of the organization, and your interest in the internship.
You can also use this paragraph to briefly introduce yourself with your qualifications, and interests. Use the second paragraph to talk about how you are the perfect fit for the internship by discussing your experiences that highlight the skills relevant for the internship.
If you can convince the recruiter that your skills can benefit the company, the internship is most likely to be yours. You can use the job description to assess what the recruiters are looking for.
In the third (closing) paragraph, conclude by reiterating your interest in the opening with your contact information and a strong ending.
Close the letter with a valediction like Yours sincerely, Regards, etc, followed by your name/signature
3. Business letter format for internship cover letter
Business letter format is the best to follow for a cover letter for internships as it includes all your basic details and adds a formal touch to your application.
The business letter format will have your contact information like your name, company name, designation, phone no., email id, etc at the top of the page, followed by the date of application.
Include a formal salutation like Mr./Ms/Dr/Sir/Ma’am to address the recruiters and start by addressing the intent of the letter.
In the body, use single-spaced and add space between paragraphs. Make sure your letter is justified against the left margin.
To close the cover letter, conclude your closing remarks in 2-3 sentences, reiterating the objective of the letter and thanking the reader for their time.
4. Use keywords in the internship cover letter
Keywords are important as they help the cover letter make a great impression and define the candidate well.
So, while writing the blog, take a few minutes to assess the important keywords relevant to the industry and add the most important ones in your cover letter.
For instance, if the job description asks for troubleshooting skills, use keywords like problem solving, quick thinker, etc that justify your suitability to the role.
5. Talk about your education and extra-curricular experience
Talking about academics and college activities is a good idea for freshers as it makes up for the lack of work experience.
To make a good first impression on the recruiters, mention your academic achievements and experiences in extracurricular activities.
Be sure to include experiences that seem relevant to the job opening.
For instance, if the internship wants you to be a good team player, talk about the team projects or anything else you may have created with your peers.
6. Proofread, send, and follow up
Once you have written the cover letter, follow the 3 step process of editing, sending, and following up on the job opportunities.
Run by your document thoroughly to get rid of grammatical or lingual errors.
Once the final draft is ready, attach the cover letter with resume and send it across to the recruiters.
Following up on these opportunities is as important as applying to them.
So, reach out to the recruiters if they don’t revert within 2 weeks to request them to reconsider your candidature.
Conclusion
With these tricks and tips to write a cover letter for internship up your sleeve, we hope you will be able to get your dream job to kick start your career and pave your path to success.
You can also learn how to ask for internship on email
All the best!


FAQs
How do I write a cover letter for an internship?
To write a cover letter for an internship, introduce yourself and your educational background, state the internship you are applying for, and explain how you found out about it. Highlight relevant coursework, projects, or skills and express enthusiasm for the field. Conclude by reiterating your interest and inviting further discussion. Tailor each letter to the specific internship and company.
How to write a letter for an internship with no experience?
Focus on transferable skills, academic achievements, and your motivation for seeking the internship. Highlight coursework, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities that demonstrate relevant skills such as teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. Show genuine interest in the field and the company, and explain what you hope to gain and contribute.
How to write a letter requesting for an internship?
Begin by stating your educational background and the reason you are writing. Specify what type of internship you are seeking and why you are interested in that particular company or industry. Outline any relevant academic or extracurricular activities, and express your eagerness to learn and contribute. Be polite and concise, and request the opportunity to discuss the internship further.
How to write a cover letter format?
Start with your contact information followed by the date and the employer’s contact details. Open with a salutation addressed to the specific individual. Introduce yourself and your reason for writing. Detail your qualifications and express why you’re a good fit for the position or company. Conclude by thanking the recipient for their time and expressing hope for further conversation. Use a professional closing with your signature.