An internship cover letter will be sent along with a resume when someone wants to apply for an intern position in a company or institution. A cover letter will help the applicant be noticed by the company, and is a way to express enthusiasm and mention personal qualifications that may not be in a formal resume.
It’s always a good idea to send a formal letter through the mail, because the resume should be attached, and many people do not like to open attachments in emails from people they don’t know.
First Impression
The internship cover letter is the first impression the employer will get of the applicant. An ill-prepared, sloppy letter will tell the employer the applicant doesn’t have any respect for the job. The cover letter is the applicant’s chance to make the employer want to meet them.
The first line should say something interesting or entertaining that relates to the company or the applicant. The employer wants to know what the applicant can do for the company, so these points can be put in bold text or bullet points to make them easier to find.
The letter should express what the person wants in the beginning. The reader may not be patient enough to read half the letter before learning what the sender wants.
The letter should specifically state how the applicant learned about the intern position. If they learned about the position from another person, that person’s name should be mentioned.
Mention Something About The Company
It is also important to mention something about the company to show that the applicant has researched the company and internship. They can mention that they know the qualifications for the internship, and believe they fulfill the qualifications.
They can also mention that working for the company would be an honor. This will make a good impression on the person who selects the interns.
The letter should also address a particular person and not To Whom it may Concern. The applicant should find out who selects the summer interns and address the letter to that person by name.
The cover letter should:
- Clearly state the purpose of the letter
- Tell how the applicant learned about the position
- Clearly state why the applicant is a good person for the job
- Inspire the reader to look at the enclosed resume
- Enthusiastically express a desire for the position
The cover letter is not a place to put the same information that is in the resume. It is a chance to express a more personal outlook and why the applicant wants the internship.
Many employers find that applicants who express something personal such as a love of baking since the applicant was a child that continued all the way through cooking school to this day, much more interesting than saying they have always loved baking.
Here is a sample internship cover letter. If the applicant is applying for several internships, a customized letter should be sent to each. It should be sent by certified mail, so the applicant has proof of the time and date the letter was sent and received.
The letter should be printed on good quality paper, have no spelling or grammatical errors and be sent in a good quality envelope. These details help make a good impression.
Sample Internship Cover Letter
Applicant’s Name
Applicant’s Address
City, State, Zip Code
DATE
Human Resource Person’s Name
Institution’s Name
Institution’s Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Name of HR Person,
I have admired your company’s environmental policies for years and would like to apply for the summer internship your company offers to students who are majoring in fields that are related to caring for the environment. I learned about this position from my sister, Name of Sister, who participated in the program two years ago.
I am in my final year at Name of University, majoring in Environmental Public Policy. I have
• worked every summer for the past three years as a volunteer in my city’s environmental awareness program
• participated in framing environmental policy decisions for the city
• a particular interested in public art
Your company is one of the top enterprises in the state for environmental sustainability and responsibility. It would be an honor to participate in your program and add to my qualifications for framing environmental policy. I believe your company would gain a higher profile by supporting public art, and I know how to achieve this.
I have enclosed a copy of my resume. I hope it will show you that I am well qualified for this internship. I’ll call you next week to answer any questions you have and schedule an interview.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to speaking with you soon. I can be reached at 555-123-4567 or at Name@email.com.
Sincerely,
Applicant’s Signature
Applicant’s Name Printed
List of enclosures