When you are looking for employment, it pays to have experience. That’s why internships are a favourable choice for many students and undergraduates. Your internship cover letter needs to be engaging, as there is often fierce competition for these roles.
Internships are most common during the summer months, where students put down their study materials for a few months and head off to the world of work. It benefits both parties, as the company gets an insight into the abilities of the intern without making a long-term commitment, and the intern gets that much-needed experience within the field they wish to work in.
A great cover letter is one of the best advantages you can give yourself when it’s time to apply to a competitive internship.
Internship full text-only cover letter example
Dear Ms. Hanson,
As a Bright intern, I will bring a fearless creativity and youthful perspective to your team.
I have long sought out any opportunity to get involved in the media industry and joining Bright Media would offer the opportunity to learn from the best minds in the PR business. My college course in English Literature and Creative Writing is far from an academic exercise - writing is my passion. My words need to make a difference in the world. A Bright internship would be an ideal opportunity to do exactly that.
Amongst other challenges, you expect your interns to analyse press coverage, manage your clients’ social media campaigns and write compelling press releases. Your need them to possess a sharp analytical mind, a savvy approach to maximising social reach and a spellbinding way with words.
My extensive college work experience over the past two years is an ideal fit:
- Edited the weekly college newspaper with a readership of over 8,000 students.
- Grew social media presence of family business by 1200% - to over 23,000 followers.
- Wrote 12+ articles in a previous in-house PR internship for Marner.
My high-energy approach would fit in well in your fast-moving environment. A people-first attitude ensures that profitable relationships develop – this is when the magic happens. My meticulous writer’s mind will find the right words for your clients and their audience.
I trust that the above might tempt you to read my resume with interest and am grateful for your consideration. Your intern program won’t be the same without me.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Sanders
Sections of an internship cover letter
Interns understand the importance of structure. Here is the format of the cover letter:
Cover letter header. Detail your full name, address, and mobile number. This should be duplicated from your CV.
- Greeting. A cover letter should start with a greeting such as “Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms. Surname” instead of a simple ‘hello’ which is more relevant to informal emails.
- Introduction. You really want to ensure the reader sits up and takes notice from the offset, and your introduction will act as a hook. Your introduction only needs to be a couple of sentences, but these sentences must count.
- Body. The middle part of the cover letter (the body) is the section of the cover letter that will state the most important aspects of your experience. Even if you do not have direct experience, you can talk about the skills you have acquired that are relevant to the role and your interest in working for this company.
- Conclusion. Make sure you bookend your internship cover letter with a conclusion and sign-off. The aim of this is to state why you feel that you are the right person for the internship and to reaffirm your interest. For any employer, knowing that you are passionate about the prospect of working for the organisation is vital.
- Signature. Sign off with your name and ideally an e-signature if you have a PDF format CV (this will be the case for the majority of employers).
Aim for a concise, one-page cover letter. The ability to communicate concisely is important for an intern who will be dealing with a large amount of people.
Need more inspiration? View our other related cover letter examples from the sector:
Internships are extremely common within many sectors. Some companies will employ their intern every summer throughout their studies and then hire them permanently when the studies are complete. It is really worth taking your time on your cover letter. Check out our article on how to write a cover letter for further nuances.
Introduction of an internship cover letter
When you start a cover letter, hiring managers are looking for what makes you an ideal candidate for the internship. Consider the job spec and what skills you have that would be a good match for what they’re looking for. What value can you bring and why do you want to work for this company specifically?
The hiring manager isn’t expecting anything in-depth from your experience. They know that most candidates do not have experience, so they’re looking to understand any relevant skills and qualifications you have.
Dear Mrs. Harrison,
I am writing to express my interest in the Marketing Internship at Halling. Having honed my marketing strategies through coursework at Miami University and with hands-on experience managing social media campaigns for local businesses, I am eager to contribute my creative insights and analytical skills to your team. My passion for brand storytelling aligns perfectly with your reputation for innovative marketing solutions.
Hi,
I really want to work at a company that will let me have some fun. I know that I will make everyone laugh and make the office a brighter place. No one expects interns to bring in new clients or manage projects, so I want to bring my energy to the office and make everyone feel energised. I love bouncing around in the morning after my fourth coffee.
Work out what your most important message is and make sure that it fits with the nature of the role. Grab their attention and they will be curious to read further. Check out our cover letter sample below for guidance.
Dear Ms. Hanson,
As a Bright intern, I will bring a fearless creativity and youthful perspective to your team.
Internship cover letter body
In the body of your cover letter, follow this formula:
- Share the aspects of your skillset that fit best with the role in question
- Focus on behaviours as well as accomplishments
- Don’t duplicate the content of your CV
- Think about what you hiring manager would like to find out about you
First body paragraph: Your suitability for the role (skills & experience)
Most companies don’t just think about internships as a one-off, they hire interns with the view that they will recruit them for a permanent role in the future. The main thing for them is that you will be driven and eager to learn.
They also want to be sure that you will be able to get on with others and work well with a range of personalities. Communication will always be a key factor in any role.
Here are the ingredients of a compelling internship story:
- Show willingness to do anything. No request is too small (or demeaning).
- Show that you are a communicator. Asking questions and acting on feedback are key traits for a successful intern.
- Think before you act. Interns that take a step back and assess a situation are more likely to get things right the first time.
- Show passion for the role. If you see an internship as a stepping stone to something better, passion is an essential component of any application.
“Try to talk to previous interns if you know anyone who has worked there. It might also be worth contacting a couple of employees on social media and asking them where they think interns add value. Showing initiative is key.”
Second body paragraph(s): - Alignment with the organisation
When a company is finding a student to work for them on a temporary basis, it is important that the student doesn’t rock the boat in terms of the culture.
Think about what sort of company you might be joining. Make sure that the tone of your cover letter hits the right notes. You might not have much work experience, but you can come across as the sort of person that would thrive in the environment and add a positive breath of fresh air to the existing employees.
Use the cover letter format to make a compelling case.
I have long sought out any opportunity to get involved in the media industry and joining Bright Media would offer the opportunity to learn from the best minds in the PR business. My college course in English Literature and Creative Writing is far from an academic exercise - writing is my passion. My words need to make a difference in the world. A Bright internship would be an ideal opportunity to do exactly that.
Amongst other challenges, you expect your interns to analyse press coverage, manage your clients’ social media campaigns and write compelling press releases. Your need them to possess a sharp analytical mind, a savvy approach to maximising social reach and a spellbinding way with words.
My extensive college work experience over the past two years is an ideal fit:
- Edited the weekly college newspaper with a readership of over 8,000 students.
- Grew social media presence of family business by 1200% - to over 23,000 followers.
- Wrote 12+ articles in a previous in-house PR internship for Marner.
My high-energy approach would fit in well in your fast-moving environment. A people-first attitude ensures that profitable relationships develop – this is when the magic happens. My meticulous writer’s mind will find the right words for your clients and their audience.
Call to action & conclusion: Finish off strong
If there is anything that makes you particularly unique, you may want to put this in your conclusion. Leave them with a little taster of what’s to come and inspire them to go further by reading your CV. The conclusion is the perfect way to lead them to the CV, but you should also bear in mind that they may make selections based on just the cover letter, especially for internships.
I trust that the above might tempt you to read my resume with interest and am grateful for your consideration. Your intern program won’t be the same without me.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Sanders
How to write an internship cover letter with no experience
It is likely that you will have very little directly relevant work experience when you apply for an internship, but this should not deter you from writing a cover letter. Actually, there is even more reason to write a cover letter when you do not have much experience:
- Write about your personality and motivations. Internships are tough—they will not want you leaving in the first week.
- Include any transferable skills from volunteering roles that you have taken on. Think about the nature of the internship and tailor this section carefully.
Key takeaways
Hopefully you are on the way to creating an internship cover letter that highlights your relevant skills and experiences.
Try our cover letter builder to check out how your cover letter will look. Visual choices can matter when you do not have much work experience.
