Crafting a Winning Internship Application Letter: Essential Tips and Strategies
A cover letter is a crucial component of your internship application, serving as a one-page introduction to your skills, qualifications, and enthusiasm for the specific role. It allows you to connect your experiences and transferable skills to the position with concrete examples, offering a more narrative description than your resume. Employers value cover letters as a helpful part of the application process, and a well-written, targeted letter can significantly strengthen your candidacy.
The Importance of a Cover Letter for Internships
When applying for an internship, employers might request a cover letter with your resume, references, and application. Whether required or not, a cover letter can help distinguish you from other candidates because of the extra details provided and the effort taken to write one. A well-written cover letter highlights relevant skills and experiences that showcase why you’re the right fit for an internship role. It’s often the first thing a hiring manager will see when they open your application, so it's important to get it right. After all, first impressions are everything!
Structuring Your Cover Letter Effectively
Although cover letters should be carefully tailored, they also follow a typical structure. A well-crafted cover letter should grab the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager and effectively convey key information. Achieve this by structuring your cover letter with an engaging introduction sentence and impactful first paragraph, an informative body paragraph or two, and a strong closing paragraph. It's also important to strike a balance between conveying key information and maintaining a concise and engaging tone throughout your cover letter.
A cover letter typically follows this format:
- Salutation & Signature: Finish with a common sign-off (such as Sincerely, Best, Regards, Thank you) and add a real signature (save your signature as an image and insert it in the cover letter) and type your full name below the signature.
- Opening Paragraph: State why you are writing, what you’re applying for/type of work you’re looking for, and (if relevant) how you heard about this position. Begin by identifying the specific position you’re applying for, and include the posting number if there is one. Next, briefly describe why you’re applying to the company or why you’re interested in the position. Example 1: “I am writing to express interest in the Future Leaders Programme Downstream Technology position (Req. Example 2: “I am pleased to submit an application for the position of Research Software Engineer at the IBM Thomas J. Starting your cover letter with the position you’re applying for shows you thoughtfully considered what makes you the best candidate for this specific position while reminding the reader what role you’re hoping to earn. It also implies you created a cover letter for their opening instead of using a general cover letter for all applications.
- Body - Second/Third Paragraph(s): Highlight the two or three skills that make you an ideal candidate for this position’s required qualifications and include a specific example of how you have developed each skill through past work, class, or volunteer experiences. This is the bulk of your letter. In 1-3 main points, demonstrate that you are a match by highlighting relevant technical and interpersonal skills. In other words, do not summarize your resume! As you describe yourself as a strong candidate, try to provide concrete evidence (“showing”) rather than stating (“telling”) that you have the qualifications needed. The body of your cover letter is where you can highlight relevant knowledge, expertise and education that can benefit an employer. Include one or two sentences relating your qualifications to the internship. Carefully review the posted job description to understand which skills and experiences the employer seeks from individuals.
- Closing Paragraph: Summarize why you will be an asset to their organization, if/how you will follow up, and include your contact information. Wrap up by reiterating your interest in the position, then indicate in one sentence your desire to continue the conversation. In addition to explaining what you can offer a company, highlight what you hope to achieve and learn through the internship. Additionally, mention what the company can gain from hiring you. You can include how you hope to help improve a company process or assist with launching a campaign. Reiterate your interest in the position and your enthusiasm to join this organization.
Cover letters shouldn’t be very long - three or four paragraphs are plenty. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Now is not the time to be chatty! Save the chit-chat to showcase how friendly and personable you are during the interview.
Read also: Describing a Stealth Startup Internship
Tailoring Your Cover Letter for Each Application
One of the most important cover letter tips: do not use the same generic letter for all of your applications. Employers will be able to tell you didn’t take time to create a unique letter for them. It is common for employers to scan resumes and cover letters for keywords related to the internship. And while your resume lists your technical skills and experience, cover letters are where you can talk about desirable soft skills like communication and project management. One of the most important intern cover letter tips is to avoid using the same generic letter for all your applications. Recruiters and employers can tell when you didn’t take time to create a unique letter for their specific internship. Instead, open your cover letter by sharing why you’re excited about this particular internship and employer and why you’re a good fit. Include information about the company and the role you’re applying for (pro tip: Use language from the application!).
For every position of interest, carefully go through the job description line by line and highlight key words about what the organization is about and what qualifications they are looking for. Read the internship posting carefully before writing your cover letter. Pay attention to the intern’s primary responsibilities and the desired candidate’s skills and experience. Keep the job posting handy so you can refer to it while writing.
Hiring managers know that job and internship seekers are likely applying to many other opportunities at the same time, so ensure they know their company is one you would especially like to work for.
Highlighting Relevant Skills and Experiences
The overall goal of a cover letter is simple: get you selected for the next round of the hiring process.
- Include relevant keywords: Including relevant keywords is essential because many employers use applicant tracking software (ATS) to review several applications. It is common for employers to scan resumes and cover letters for keywords related to the internship. First and foremost, use the company name. Next, incorporate any skills or experiences listed in the job description.
- Showcase relevant projects or coursework: If you have little to no job experience, your relevant coursework, projects, or significant assignments can be helpful to employers. Include your completed courses related to the job description or industry. If you have completed any projects or coursework that align with the internship position, describe them in detail. Highlight the tasks, methodologies, and outcomes to demonstrate your ability to apply your knowledge in a practical setting.
- Leverage extracurricular involvement: Discuss any relevant extracurricular activities or leadership roles you have held. For example, if you were part of a club or organization related to the internship’s field, explain your involvement and how it has developed your skills or provided you with relevant experiences. You can also add your involvement with student groups or volunteer opportunities that you’ve taken. These combined experiences show your initiative and help you stand out as a candidate (even if you’ve never been paid to do those things). Just because you didn’t make any money doesn’t mean you didn’t do a great job! You’ll have the chance to demonstrate how well you performed in those roles during the interview, so get ready to discuss the experiences you mention in the cover letter in greater detail.
- Address Potential Concerns: Occasionally, something in your application (or your application itself!) may seem surprising to the reviewers. Anticipate questions they may have and address them in your cover letter. If you’re not a “typical” applicant or are applying for a job outside of your field, you will need to describe why the position makes sense for your specific career path or interests. Provide ample evidence that your background and experience fit the position requirements. It is not uncommon to have a gap in your resume. And for applications that include your academic transcript, you may wish to describe circumstances that possibly led to lower grades one semester. When describing these topics, don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, briefly explain the issue and then (if appropriate) mention what you did to overcome it and how it shaped you as an applicant.
Expressing Your Enthusiasm and Goals
Cover letters aren’t just for telling employers why they should hire you. They’re also an opportunity to share what you believe you’ll get from the specific position. Whether it’s gaining a new skill or learning more about an industry, share why the role is important to you. This tells the employer that you’re not just trying to satisfy course credits with your internship - you’re also looking for valuable work experience that will kickstart your career.
Read also: Acknowledging Scholarship Generosity
- Why this position?: Research the organization. Understand their values and long-term vision. Review the job posting. Job descriptions are intentionally written to focus on the key words the employer wants in applicants. The strongest applicants will have the largest and clearest overlap between the position and their background.
- Share what you’d like to accomplish: Cover letters are a place for you to tell your story outside of strictly formatted documents or question-and-answers that might be part of an application. They serve as a writing sample, giving a clear example of your written communication skills. Your cover letter should provide insight into how you are uniquely suited for the position.
Formatting and Proofreading for a Professional Impression
Your cover letter format is just as important as what’s in it. Aim to keep your cover letter concise and limited to one page. Also, try to find the hiring manager’s name to address the letter. Rather than starting with a salutation like “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear hiring manager,” try to find the actual name of the person you’re addressing. Lastly, don’t forget to close with a professional sign-off, such as “Sincerely” or “Best.”
- Use a formal letter format: Include your address, the date, the contact’s name and address. Whenever possible, address the letter to a (relevant) specific person.
Once your cover letter is ready, carefully read through it and check for spelling, punctuation, grammar mistakes, and typos. When your cover letter is complete, set aside time to review and edit it. When proofreading, check for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. If possible, ask trusted friends or family members to review your final draft from a third-party perspective. Proofread. Proofread. And Proofread again. Not all jobs put a lot of weight on the cover letter, but those that especially value leadership and communication skills will use your letter as a demonstration of those skills.
Addressing a Lack of Experience
If you lack professional experience, you can still present yourself with confidence, highlight your relevant skills and achievements, and convey your eagerness to learn and contribute.
Here are some tips for accomplishing this:
- Focus on transferable skills: Highlight relevant transferable skills acquired through coursework, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, or volunteer work. These skills can include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organization, research, or leadership skills.
- Emphasize academic achievements: Showcase your academic achievements, such as high grades, honors, or specific coursework relevant to the internship. Discuss how your academic knowledge and skills can apply to the internship role and contribute to the organization.
- Express eagerness to learn: Emphasize your willingness and enthusiasm to learn and grow in the internship. Highlight your passion for the field and commitment to acquiring new skills and knowledge. Demonstrating a positive attitude and eagerness to learn can compensate for a lack of direct experience.
- Connect with the company's culture, mission, and values: Research the organization and align your cover letter with its mission, values, and projects. Show that you are genuinely interested in their work and how your background and aspirations align with their goals.
- Network and seek recommendations: If possible, reach out to network contacts who may have connections or insights into the internship opportunity. Requesting recommendations or endorsements from professors, advisers, or professionals in the field can bolster your application.
General Tips to Avoid
- Don't apologize for skills you don’t have.
- Don't use one cover letter to cover all of your bases.
- Don't strictly reference your resume, which focuses on your list of accomplishments.
- Avoid words like “try,” “somewhat,” etc. when describing your experience. Stay factual, optimistic and confident.
- Don't exaggerate (e.g., “It was my childhood dream to perform database management for a mid-tier technology company”) but you can honestly describe how your interests, background, and goals align with position and company.
Read also: Fun Writing Techniques
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