When writing your cover letter for an internship, focus on how you can quickly apply course concepts at the company that posted the position. Also, emphasize the related skills you’ve gained through your school, work, or other life experiences so far. This guide offers cover letter examples and tips for landing an internship.

Internship Cover Letter Templates and Examples

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Level
  • Senior-Level
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How To Write an Internship Cover Letter

A good internship cover letter has five main sections:

1. Heading. At the top of the page, include:

  • Your name and contact information
  • The date
  • The addressee’s name, title, company, and contact information

(Note: feel free to omit this section if you’re sending your letter by email.)

Example


Mackenzie Martin
Business Administration Student | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | St. Louis, MO 63101 | LinkedIn

January 1, 2024

Andrea Tarentino
Recruiting Manager
Creative Communications, Inc.
(314) 987-6543
[email protected]

2. Salutation. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use “Dear Internship Coordinator” or a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.”

Example


Dear Mr. Brockley:

3. “Hook” or introduction. Catch the reader’s attention by citing a specific achievement from your resume or a key qualification the company is looking for.

Example


My advanced work experience in applied statistics, SQL, and Python makes me an ideal candidate for the internship position at Viome. In my current role, I implemented big data analysis techniques and learning algorithms that optimized classifiers across the company.

4. Body paragraph(s). Explain why the internship or employer interests you. Then, cite a few more of your key achievements or qualifications, possibly using bullet points.

Example


Mathematics and wellness are my two main passions, as shown by my bachelor’s degree in applied statistics, master’s degree in nutrition, and pursuit of a Ph.D. in data science. Recently, I started working toward the Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Senior Data Scientist (SDS) award.

I would love the chance to work at your high-tech startup. The skills I’ve acquired can transfer perfectly from a business-driven data science role to a dynamic smaller company with a humanitarian mission. My achievements include:

  • Using data mining techniques and machine learning to forecast product sales with 96% accuracy
  • Performing ad-hoc social media analyses to help the sales and marketing department streamline the acquisitions process

5. Closing. Request an interview, and thank the hiring manager for their consideration.

Example


I look forward to possibly speaking with you more about how I can support your organization. Please let me know a date and time that work well for you to discuss the opportunity. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Martin

Internship Cover Letter Tips

1. Show you can quickly apply new knowledge

Whether or not a company pays its interns, it must spend time and resources on training and supervising them. That investment, and the short-term nature of these roles, means you need to show you can apply your skills and knowledge quickly. By demonstrating you’re a quick study, you can assure hiring managers that you’ll add value even if your role is limited or temporary. A great way to do this on your cover letter is by starting with an example of your success at school or in fast-paced work environments.

Example


At Prairie Landing Business College, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA for seven consecutive semesters. I’ve also worked as an administrative assistant in the bursar’s office for two years, processing financial aid and tuition payments.

2. Explain why you’re drawn to the opportunity

On a separate document or sheet of paper, take 10 minutes to brainstorm why this particular internship or employer interests you. Then, review what you’ve written: Do any points stand out as especially important or persuasive? For instance, maybe the work overlaps with one of your recent school papers or projects. Or maybe the company’s products or mission statement appeal to you and the direction you’d like to take your career.

Whatever key points emerge, take another 10 minutes to brainstorm and elaborate on them. Repeat this process until you have at least two or three concise sentences that speak to the internship at hand. By adding these to your cover letter, you can show hiring managers that you read their job posting and are responding to it directly.

Example


I would love the chance to work at your high-tech startup. My skills can transfer perfectly from a business-driven data science role to a dynamic smaller company with a humanitarian mission.

3. Highlight your relevant skills and traits

Great interns are usually open-minded, collaborative, organized, and resourceful about problem-solving. View your own experience through that lens. Have certain courses or part-time jobs allowed you to develop any or all of those qualities? Mention them on your cover letter, possibly as bullet points, so they stand out from your other information.

Example


Here are three of my achievements to date:

  • Participated in more than 30 events for DECA’s Competitive Events Program and received several recognition awards
  • Won first place in the St. Louis Regional Library’s annual junior business leaders competition
  • Maintained perfect attendance for six out of seven semesters at Prairie Landing Business College

Internship Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples

  • Example #1
  • Example #2
  • Example #3

Gertrude McDaniel
Marketing Supervisor | [email protected] | (434) 395-9244 | Atlantic City, NJ 54321 | LinkedIn

January 11, 2024

Sidney Brockley
Senior Hiring Manager
BigAds Agency
(323) 386-3948
[email protected]

Dear Mr. Brockley:

After a successful career in traditional marketing, I recently earned a master’s degree in digital marketing. I’d love the chance to add value to your organization while gaining experience in this fast-growing sector.

For the past six years, I’ve served as a marketing supervisor for the global brand Molson Coors. My team played a key role in recent changes that modernized the company and led to 5% growth within a year.

I would be delighted to bring the knowledge I’ve gained about digital marketing to BigAds as an intern. Below are three more of my achievements to date:

  • Trained and motivated team members, helping the department set a new staff retention record of 96%
  • Pinpointed areas of overspending and helped make significant Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) improvements
  • Raised my company’s marketing return on investment (ROI) by 2% in 2019 and 4% in 2020

After reading your company’s values and mission statement, I’m certain my skills and attitude align with the culture at BigAds. Please let me know the best time for an interview. I appreciate your time and look forward to possibly hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Gertrude McDaniel

Internship Cover Letter FAQs

How should I start off my cover letter for internships? -

In most cases, start with a specific achievement that shows you can quickly build knowledge and apply new skills. This achievement will likely come from your degree program but could also be any related work or volunteer experience you have.

How do I write a cover letter with no work experience? -

Focus on your relevant academic, extracurricular, or volunteer experiences. No part of your letter needs to be about work. But every part should be about the knowledge, curiosity, and dedication you’ll bring to your internship. Maybe you haven’t held a job, but you can probably still cite various ways you’ve developed these important qualities.

Should I tailor my cover letter for each internship? -

Yes. The main advantage of a cover letter over a resume is it lets you speak directly to the hiring manager about why you fit the role. By tailoring your letter to each internship, you can make the most of this advantage and boost your chances of an interview.

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Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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