The Ultimate Guide for Internship Cover Letters in 2023
If you’re in college, an internship is an excellent way for you to gain practical experience and apply what you learn in the classroom to real-life scenarios.
Most college students have completed at least one internship, and with one on your resume, you’re better prepared to secure a good job after graduation.
In fact, according to Zippia, about 60% of college students complete an internship during undergraduate or graduate studies.
However, the competition for internships is fierce. You need to stand out among a sea of other applicants vying for the coveted spot. This competition only intensifies if you want an internship with a well-known company that offers a decent compensation and additional benefits.
The right internship cover letter can help attract the hiring manager’s attention. Our guide to writing a cover letter offers best practices for writing your own, plus two free templates that can help you get you get started.
How Do I Write a Cover Letter for an Internship?
While a resume tells hiring managers exactly what you’ve accomplished in recent years, a cover letter gives you room to show your uniqueness.
In your cover letter, you can write about everything that makes you unique – your skills, the value you bring to the company, and ultimately what sets you apart from other candidates.
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As you put your thoughts to paper, make sure to cover a few main areas, including:
- Your academic experience and coursework relevant to the opportunity or company.
- Any professional experience you may have, along with the practical and interpersonal skills you learned here.
- Extracurricular activities that show you’re engaged with your community.
- How and why you believe the internship in question can help advance your career.
10 Tips for Writing an Internship Cover Letter
Understandably, writing a cover letter for an internship can be challenging: What should you include to make the best impression?
The tips below can help you decide what should go in your letter and what you can leave out.
Don't Fret Over Your Work Experience
You don’t need a long professional history to be a fit for an internship. Hiring managers understand that you’re looking to gain experience through the program and that you likely won’t enter the job with a ton of experience.
Even if you don’t have professional experience working on a team in an office, you do have life experience that has shaped your abilities to listen, take direction, and contribute to a project.
Whether you talk about experience from a summer job, recent coursework, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities, they all taught you something – valuable experience that you’ll carry with you to this internship.
Be Honest
As much as you might want to tell a tall tale to stand out, it’s best to avoid exaggerating in your cover letter.
Don’t add extra fluff while explaining your background, achievements, and capabilities. A hiring manager will be able to tell if you are exaggerating or not.
Instead, focus on your enthusiasm and exquisite work ethic as your winning qualities if you fear your experience falls short.
Connect The Internship To Your Interests And Goals
Why are you passionate about this particular company? How will this opportunity help you get one step closer to your goals upon graduation?
Make sure to talk about how and why you believe the internship you’re applying for can help you get there.
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For example, if you’re applying to intern at a marketing firm, explain how the experience of this agency offers unique benefits that being an intern in a larger company’s marketing department cannot.
Show Enthusiasm and a Willingness to Learn
While relevant experience is part and parcel of the internship application process, it only gets you so far.
The other piece of the puzzle is showing the hiring manager that you’re enthusiastic about the position. You should clearly detail how passionate you are about the position and the chance to learn from people who inspire you. This sort of passion could score you an interview.
Address It to the Hiring Manager's Name
If you really want to impress the hiring manager, address them by their name. This shows the lengths you went to pay attention to detail, an admirable attribute in any intern.
Of course, you might be thinking, “But where would I find that if it’s not in the application?” There are a few places you can look.
Start with the company’s website or check LinkedIn to find the person who’s in charge of hiring. If you can find their name and use it in your cover letter, you might make a lasting impression that could land you an interview.
Be Formal
Although you want to be enthusiastic in your cover letter, there’s a fine line between being excited and being a little extra.
When writing an internship cover letter, you should sound professional, not like what you sound like while talking to your friends.
Simply share your experiences and education with enthusiasm for the role. And don’t forget to explicitly state that you’re excited to hear more about the company and the position.
Write a Unique Cover Letter for Each Application
This is an easy trap many people fall into. Every internship cover letter that you write should include something that personally relates to the company and the opportunity in question.
Don't just re-use the same cover letter and make small changes to it for each application. It may be easier, but spending the time to write high-quality cover letters can make a significant difference and help you stand out from others who don't make the effort.
For example, if you’re applying to be a stylist for a well-known magazine, mention a recent magazine issue that you loved. That level of detail signals to the hiring manager that you’re paying close attention, not just hitting the “apply” button on every job listing.
Repeat Keywords from the Original Job Listing
Even if you’ve worked for hours to create the perfect cover letter, the hiring manager might never see it.
That’s because some hiring managers discard resumes and cover letters lacking relevant keywords. This can be because they’re scanning hundreds of resumes a day looking for the right fit, or maybe they’re utilizing a software that’s only pulling select relevant keywords from your resume into their system.
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Read the description one more time before finalizing your letter, and incorporate some keywords that naturally fit into it without trying too hard. For example, if the internship description asks for Excel skills, make sure that’s mentioned in your cover letter (and your resume).
End with Your Next Steps
Express once again that you want to hear from someone at this company. One easy way to conclude is to say something along the lines of “I look forward to hearing from you.”
Doing this shows that you’re confident that you’ll get a reply and reiterates that you want a reply.
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Cover Letter Templates
To transform the above tips into concrete action, check out the two cover letter templates below.
While it’s a matter of personal preference which one you choose, either template can get you closer to your dream internship. One version puts your academic accomplishments first, while the other prioritizes any professional experience you may have.
School-First Cover Letter Template
I am excited to apply for {formtext: name= name of the role; cols=15} at {formtext: name= company; cols=10; default=ACME}. I believe I would make a valuable addition to your team, given my abilities and collegiate experience. I’ve highlighted both in my resume, attached with my application.
I am currently a student at Tuffs University studying English literature. This past year, I have become highly interested in {formtext: name= relevant keywords to the role; cols=15}. I'm eager to put what I learned to work in a real-world environment.
I think you would also benefit from my presence at {=company} I have taken courses such as {formtext: name= coursework; cols=10} studying {formtext: name= subject; cols=10} and refined my abilities to {formtext: name= skill; cols=6}. My extracurricular involvement in {formtext: name= Eg: Debate team; cols=15}. studying {formtext: name= subject; cols=10} should serve me well in this role as well.
Please feel free to contact me for additional documents, information, or questions. My contact information is in the header of this cover letter, as it is on my resume.
I am eager to learn more about this position, and I look forward to hearing from you. I will contact you within two weeks to follow up if I do not hear from you first. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Work-First Cover Letter Template
I am excited to apply for {formtext: name= name of the role; cols=15} at {formtext: name= company; cols=10; default=ACME} . I believe I would make a valuable addition to your team, given my abilities and collegiate experience. I’ve highlighted both in my resume, attached with my application.
I am currently a {formtext: name=position; cols=10; default =sales rep}. This past year, I have become highly interested in {formtext: name= relevant keywords to the role; cols=15}. I'm eager to put what I learned to work in a real-world environment.
As your intern, I would bring with me what I’ve gained from prior experience in my role as a {=position}. In that position, I found {formtext: name= name past tasks; cols=15} most valuable. In particular, my experience in {formtext: name= name one skill; cols=15} will help me manage the responsibility in this role. I am excited to bring these skills and this knowledge to your company as an intern.
Please feel free to contact me for additional documents, information, or questions. My contact information is in the header of this cover letter, as it is on my resume.
I am eager to learn more about this position, and I look forward to hearing from you. I will contact you within two weeks to follow up if I do not hear from you first. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
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