Tips for Writing Your Internship Cover Letter

Updated June 17, 20221.4k

Many internships are intensely competitive, which means you need a great cover letter. How do you write the perfect cover letter for your next internship?

Cover Letter for Internship

An internship can be a hugely important step in getting the job of your dreams. In some fields, an internship can be an important stepping stone in going further in your next job search. However, in these fields, internship opportunities are often highly competitive, which means your internship application needs to be perfect. If you’re looking for an internship cover letter template, here’s how to write the perfect intern cover letter for any program.

What Is a Cover Letter for an Internship?

A cover letter for an internship works much the same way as a cover letter for a job. It shows a hiring manager or other recruiter that you’re going to be the right choice for the internship position that you’re applying to. As with any other letter, you will write it in response to a specific job posting, and you can use the cover letter builder from ResumeNerd to write it in the same way you would a traditional job cover letter.

The Structure of an Internship Cover Letter

Cover letter samples for internships typically follow the same cover letter format as other types of cover letters, but they might look a little bit different in content. Here’s how you can write a great cover letter that makes a hiring manager call you in for an interview for the internship position.

Header
The cover letter header starts with your personal information. It typically includes your full name, contact information, including your phone number, and any professional social media links you have, including a LinkedIn profile. Additionally, address it with the hiring manager’s name. Avoid a generic salutation like “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam.” If you really can’t find the name of the hiring manager, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager.”

Hook
The first paragraph of your cover letter needs to start with an interesting hook. In a traditional cover letter, this will typically be your best achievement, but in an internship cover letter, it’s more likely to be a unique story that shows off your personality, skills, or reason for applying. Tailor this hook to the specific internship you’re applying to, telling a story that relates to the workplace you’ll be part of.

Relevant skills, coursework, and experience
The second paragraph will cover your relevant skills, coursework, and experience. First, start with any relevant experience you have. It doesn’t have to be full-time work experience in your ideal job field, and when you’re applying for an intern position, it typically won’t be. Include extracurricular activities, part-time work, and volunteer work. Remember to include a wide variety of skills as well, including time management, communication skills, and problem-solving skills.

More insight into why you’re the perfect candidate
If you can meet specific requests that the job ad was asking for, this can also go in the second paragraph. Does the job description state that the company wants someone who is a self-starter? Mention the times you did extra-credit work during your college education just to expand your skills. Is the job description looking for someone great at keeping a calendar straight? State that you have skills in juggling multiple calendars for different team members. You want to show the recruiter that you’re the person they’re looking for.

Information about your aligned values
Interns, more than almost anyone else, need to fit the company’s culture perfectly. To round out this second paragraph, include some information about how your values and the values of the company you’re applying to overlap. Do some of your own research on the company to determine what values you should reflect on and how you can talk about them. One of the best cover letter tips overall is to do this research, so your letter works perfectly for the job.

Call to action
In the final paragraph, include a call to action where you openly ask the recruiter for an interview. For example: “I look forward to sitting down with you” or “Let me know what time would work best to sit down with you.” Once you have an interview, you can use targeted interview tips to discuss why you deserve to get the internship position. Additionally, remember to end with a professional sign-off, like “Sincerely” or “Regards”

FAQ: Cover Letter for Internship

Can I write an internship cover letter with no work experience?

Many people who apply for internships have very little experience. An internship can be a substitute for lack of experience in many resumes, so many internship cover letter samples won’t have a lot of experience to draw from. You don’t need experience to get an internship. If you don’t have any experience, rely on your skills and your academic knowledge.

Should I write a cover letter to get an internship?

Definitely. A cover letter is important for any internship or job position. Not only does it go into more details about points that might look out of place in your resume, like your personal values and beliefs, but it also actively asks for the interview, which is an important part of getting one. Additionally, not everyone writes a cover letter for jobs. Including a cover letter shows the recruiter that you’re serious about wanting the internship.

Is a resume also important for an internship?

Yes. A resume is typically considered the most important part of an internship or job application. If you don’t have a resume yet, you can use the ResumeNerd resume builder to create your own. A resume is just as important for an internship resume as it is for a more traditional job application.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.