Cover Letter for Internship (Example + Writing Tips)

An internship is a fantastic way to kick-start your career. But to secure an offer from your top-choice company, you need to make a bold impression with your application.

Once you’ve crafted a flawless internship resume, it’s important to pair it with a persuasive cover letter that explains in detail why you’re the perfect candidate.

Companies are looking for specific traits when they choose an intern. Our insider tips for how to write a cover letter for an internship break these down so you can apply with confidence.

Tip #1. Motivation is More Important Than Experience

You don’t need extensive work experience to be an intern.

Therefore, hiring managers want to see enthusiasm and willingness to learn in cover letters for internships. These qualities suggest the candidate will take full advantage of the training they’re given.

Here are three ways to prove your motivation:

1. Show passion by describing relevant interests
2. Give examples of when you used initiative
3. Don’t lie or embellish the truth

Notable school projects, extracurricular activities, volunteer efforts, or even just an interesting life experience can all potentially be your golden ticket for landing an interview.

In this example cover letter for a marketing internship, the candidate discusses how their college coursework is directly applicable to their target company. Then, they describe a campaign they designed that won third place in an industry-relevant competition.

These examples demonstrate how this candidate is eager to expand their knowledge, and that they even already possess some entrepreneurial flair.

Hiring managers know this type of person won’t waste a single moment of their internship opportunity.

Tip #2. Always Go the Extra Mile

If you go above and beyond in your internship cover letter, it’s a sign that you’ll exceed expectations once you’re at the company as well.

Not all interns make coffee and organize filing cabinets. Many companies give promising candidates real projects that affect the company’s bottom line, and then go on to give them jobs in the future as well.

The cover letter you write for an internship can show you’re up to the task before you even arrive at the office. If you write it with the same savviness as an experienced professional, you will impress recruiters and hiring managers alike.

Here’s one of our top cover letter tips that you can use to wow the hiring manager right from the start:

Don’t: Write “Dear Sir/Madam.”

Do: Make a phone call to confirm the hiring manager’s name (if you can’t find it on the company website or on LinkedIn). Then address your intern cover letter to them directly.

And — here’s the thing — it doesn’t matter if you get the wrong name. Just by knowing how to address a cover letter properly, you’re already miles ahead of other potential interns.

Tip #3. Nail Your Cover Letter Format

A cover letter for an internship position should follow certain conventions. For instance, it should be four (maximum five) paragraphs long. Anything that deviates too far from the established standard will be seen as unprofessional.

However, the classic cover letter format still offers plenty of room to express your talents. Follow the same structure as this internship cover letter template to strike a balance between personality and professionalism:

Paragraph 1:

First, formally introduce yourself and say where you heard about the internship. Add some information about your background and touch upon why you’re applying.

Paragraph 2:

The second paragraph is where you sell your skills and accomplishments. Prove your passion for the industry and give examples of when you’ve excelled before. If you’re writing a cover letter for an internship with no experience under your belt, feel free to focus on your academic credentials.

Paragraph 3:

Here you can mention anything that makes your application unique. If you’ve done your research, describe how you’d be a good fit for the company’s culture. Or, try elaborating on how they’re making a positive impact on your community or society at large (if it’s true).

Paragraph 4:

Finish your application with a call to action. Say that you’re ready to be interviewed and will follow up within a week if you don’t hear back. Finally, thank the reader for their time, and close with “Yours sincerely” or “Warm regards.”

Tip #4. Make Your Move

In competitive industries, an internship is often the only way to get your foot in the door. Such an opportunity allows you to learn valuable skills, make useful industry contacts, and obtain a great reference.

Plus, if you really impress your temporary employers, you might even be offered full-time work at the end of the placement.

If it sounds like there’s a lot at stake when writing a cover letter for an internship, there is — but by applying our tips you’ll be sure to make the right impression.

To get started, download one of our free cover letter templates. Or if you’d like us to take the lead, our easy-to-use cover letter builder gets the job done in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.