How to write a cover letter for an internship
When you apply for an internship, the employer could request a cover letter along with your resume, application, and references.
Even when it’s not a requirement, understanding how to write an effective internship cover letter can help you highlight your skills and stand out from other candidates. In this article, we’ll discuss why cover letters are important and how to write an excellent cover letter for an internship.
WHY IS A COVER LETTER IMPORTANT?
A cover letter can help you introduce yourself to potential employers and provide a quick summary of your qualifications.
People often send cover letters with their applications and resumes, and they give you a chance to explain why your skills and experience make you the best choice for an internship.
USE A THOUGHTFUL SALUTATION
Before the body of your cover letter and after the header, include a thoughtful salutation like “Dear Hiring Manager.”
If you know the name of the person who reviews applications and cover letters at a company, using it can help you get their attention.
Avoid using “To whom it may concern.” Many people view this salutation as old-fashioned or impersonal.
MENTION WHY YOU WANT TO WORK AT THE COMPANY
In your cover letter, you can mention that you admire company policies like recycling or improving the energy efficiency of their products.
You can also say that you enjoy using the company’s products or services and that current employees of the business report enjoying their work and their relationships with coworkers and supervisors.
Explain how working in an internship will help fulfill your career goals, interests, and passions and what you hope to learn during the internship.
To show that you’ve done some research about the business, discuss some of the latest particular products or services that you find appealing or innovative.
DESCRIBE THE EXACT ROLE YOU WANT
Starting your cover letter by describing the position you’re applying for makes it clearer and easier to read. It also shows that you created an original cover letter for your application instead of sending a generic template.
If you’re applying for multiple internships, make each letter unique to make it more persuasive.
USE THE RIGHT KEYWORDS
Many employers use applicant tracking software (ATS) to review applications and cover letters quickly. This software searches for keywords and buzzwords and sends cover letters and resumes containing certain requested words to the hiring manager. Hundreds of people often apply for the most popular internship positions. If your cover letter or resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, the recruiter might never read it. You can refer to the job description and look at the company website to get some hints about which keywords you should include.
INCLUDE RELEVANT PROJECTS OR COURSES
Many people who apply for internships are recent graduates without much work experience in their industries. If you’re one of these individuals, you can talk about your accomplishments in college or high school. Mention any projects or courses that are relevant to the internship, and list any licenses or certifications you earned. You can also talk about your previous volunteer experience. This allows you to highlight your skills while showing readers that helping others is important to you.
DISCUSS YOUR SKILLS
Along with relevant courses and projects, discuss your skills.
Even if you don’t have relevant experience in an industry, you can list more general skills. Soft skills or interpersonal skills are valuable to employers in many different industries.
USE A CALL TO ACTION
A call to action (CTA) is a polite request to the hiring manager to consider all the things you mentioned in your cover letter. It often asks the recruiter to contact you for an interview.
You can also use a CTA to let people know that your resume is attached and you completed an application online.
REVIEW YOUR COVER LETTER BEFORE YOU SEND IT
Before you send it, review your cover letter carefully and correct any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors.
If possible, ask someone you trust to review your cover letter and let you know about any errors you missed.
Several types of software or apps can help you with editing as well.