First and foremost, if you’re asking whether a cover letter is necessary for your internship application, the answer is yes.
An internship application is similar to any other hiring process. A recruiter will review your resume, cover letter (and sometimes references) to determine whether you are qualified for the position. A cover letter allows you to include information that a resume does not allow for, and explain (in words) how your experiences relate to the career you’re looking for.
As a result, a cover letter for an internship is vital as part of your application package. This article lets you know all about writing a cover letter for an internship.
A cover letter goes together with your CV (traditionally as the front cover).
It differs from a CV in that, rather than being a written overview of your skills and experience, it is primarily written with the job you’re looking for in mind, allowing you to emphasize specific areas you believe would make you suitable for the task.
A cover letter for an internship is vital. It allows you to convey the most significant aspects of yourself in an understandable manner beyond your CV’s information.
It provides context for the potential employer and explains why you are the best candidate for the job. Furthermore, in a cover letter, you can describe why you chose to study a specific subject or work in a particular field.
Before you can focus on the contents of your cover letter, be sure you’re following the proper structure.
Otherwise, your cover letter will be disorganized, making it difficult for the recruiter to follow your line of thought.
If your cover letter isn’t customized to the post you’re looking for, recruiters and hiring managers may disregard it.
A simple method to accomplish this is to directly state the position you’re looking for in the introduction.
This enables you to:
When examining your application, hiring managers will look out for terms that will qualify you for the internship you’re seeking.
Thus, it’s critical to incorporate the proper keywords in your cover letter.
It’s pretty simple to locate these terms:
Then carry out the following steps:
If you don’t have much job experience, your education and relevant coursework are your best option for demonstrating that you’re a suitable fit for the internship.
Informing the recruiter about the courses you’ve taken related to the internship you’re seeking will be a huge boost for your application.
It’s one thing to just say you have a set of skills and quite another to demonstrate them.
Anyone may claim to be an expert at something, but what truly distinguishes them is the ability to showcase the said skills.
For example, instead of just saying that you have “excellent time-management abilities,” back it up with a previous experience that supports your claim.
Besides describing the relevant and useful skills for the internship, you should explain why you’re a good fit for the role.
This implies you should draw the links between what the company or organization expects to benefit from its interns and what, as an intern, you can do to deliver those services.
So, when you’ve done your research and have a clear knowledge of what is needed of you, utilize your cover letter to show why you’re a good match for that role.
In addition to demonstrating (and proving) your abilities and how you can help the organization, you should also describe how the position would benefit you.
Internships are frequently used to help students and young professionals get in-depth knowledge of the sector, build a strong network, and develop skills that will benefit them throughout their careers.
So, it will undoubtedly help you make a better impression if you demonstrate that you are self-aware of what you will gain from the internship and how it will help you improve professionally.
After everything has been written and completed, there is only one thing left to do – double-check your cover letter for errors.
A spelling or grammatical error is unlikely to disqualify you, but it is a red flag for recruiters.
As a result, have a friend proofread your cover letter or utilize spell-checking software like Grammarly or Hemingway.
Cover letters for internships should follow a standard structure. The body is divided into four paragraphs, each containing important information that employers consider when deciding whether or not you’re a good candidate for the position.
Following these main phases of a common cover letter style will teach you how to create a document that reflects your professionalism, interest, and skill set:
A formal letter always starts with your name, contact information, and the date. It is useful for when employers want to contact you about your application for the position, so double-check and confirm its accuracy.
If using typical formal letter formatting, the information should be written at the very top of the page (header) or aligned to the left side of the page. If using a header, the date should be provided separately from the contact information or after a space is entered in the standard style.
The following section of the cover letter is similar to the first and provides the same contact information for the employer. Begin with the official name and title of the individual given as the internship job posting’s point of contact.
Then, provide the company or organization’s name and postal address. It is not required to include email addresses or phone numbers for the employer in a cover letter as you did for yourself.
The salutation is your first opportunity to directly address the organization’s point person in your cover letter. Therefore, it is vital to use a formal greeting that includes the recipient’s honorific.
It may also be necessary to conduct preliminary research on the organization’s website or by contacting the office to confirm that you have the proper contact person and address them correctly. Do this, especially if you are unsure of their salutation based on their first name or probable PhD status.
The first paragraph is your opportunity to hook the employer and capture their interest. While it may appear easy, companies are looking for you to specify the internship position you wish to get.
Without copying and pasting, refer to the role clearly and use terminology comparable to the job advertisement. Confirm your interest in the post and your conviction that you are the best candidate for the job based on your education, work experience, and skill set. Keep this paragraph general but express your enthusiasm for the internship.
You should be more detailed about your relevant experience and accomplishments here. Concentrate on the highlights and incorporate the most pertinent facts to the specific position.
Remember that the employer will have your CV, so you don’t need to repeat everything in the cover letter. You want them to remember you as a passionate individual who works hard and has the greatest education and skill set for the position.
The third paragraph is your chance to demonstrate your understanding of the organization’s mission and values. Connect your ambitions, hobbies, and interests to the company’s successes and mission statement.
This area is essential since it assists the employer in determining where and how you will fit inside their organization. If you can assist them clearly and effectively connect the dots, you have a greater chance of being called for the next step in the process.
The fourth and final paragraph should contain an overview of your interest in and credentials for the internship you are applying for. Restate the exact role and make a broad comment about how excited you are to do the work and be a part of the business.
You might also refer to any further material you have attached, such as your résumé. Express your eagerness to hear from the company. Also, make sure to express your appreciation for their time and attention to your application.
Choose a professional sign-off for your letter, such as “best regards” or “sincerely.” Then, put your legal name several spaces below, leaving space for your handwritten signature in between. To retain professionalism, make sure to use only black or blue ink.
Do you want your internship application to stand out? Here’s how:
Sure, you could use a basic Microsoft Word cover letter template, but why blend in when you can stand out?
Use free online design tools like Canva and customize your letter using readily available design components. Drag and drop to modify fonts, colors and icons easily.
When writing your cover letter, provide important details about the position that will persuade the hiring manager that you are a suitable fit for the position and firm. The instructions below will show you how to create a cover letter for an internship if you are without experience.
Before you begin your cover letter, make sure your information is relevant to the desired and needed skills specified in the job description. Carefully study the job advertising and make a note of any mentioned abilities that you already possess. These abilities can be utilized as keywords in your cover letter and content. You should describe how you intend to use these abilities for the job.
Take the time to understand the company to demonstrate why you may be a worthwhile addition. You must examine your potential employer’s website, social media accounts, and any other material that has information about their company. This teaches you about their beliefs, culture, and ambitions. You can discuss whatever material you discovered and explain how it relates to your aims or principles.
In the top left corner of your cover letter, you can include your name, phone number, and email address. You can then provide the date and the employer’s name and address if you have it. This gives your paper a more official and professional appearance. Include a link to your online portfolio and social media platforms (if you have them) so that they may learn more about you and your online presence.
Begin with a formal salutation like “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern.” Include it in the greeting if you already know the recruiting manager’s name.
Next, introduce yourself to the reader by telling them your name and excitement about the job opportunity. Finally, mention the precise job title you’re applying for, as well as where you viewed the offer or how you found out about it.
This section of your cover letter is where you may discuss your qualifications and how they relate to the post. Since you have no prior job experience, you may focus on your educational background and how the courses you’ve done have prepared you for the role.
As such, it’s crucial that you choose your college or university carefully. Institutions such as UOW Malaysia KDU offer programs that will develop your skills so that you’re highly employable. You might also include any awards or accomplishments you’ve won that may benefit the company.
In your two body paragraphs, you should explain why you are the greatest match for the post and the company. Take this opportunity to discuss the values or aims you share with the company by noting that you have read their website and agree with their unique ideals.
Employers are frequently thrilled to learn about your passion and desire to learn more about the company and the fact that your personality may mesh well with the personalities of their workers.
Reiterate your interest in the role in the final paragraph. You might also express your enthusiasm for the position and express how much you want to talk with them again. After asking for an interview in your cover letter, your chances of receiving one may improve, so request for one!
At the bottom of the paper, put “Sincerely,” followed by your complete name to properly finish your message.
After you’ve finished writing the cover letter, go over it again to check for spelling and punctuation errors. You should also go through everything carefully to verify that it is clear and makes sense. Finally, you may either read the cover letter aloud to yourself or send it to friends for a final check
Sarah Tan 123, Jalan Utama, Taman Muda, 52000, Malaysia 016 – 5777777 [email protected]
February 8, 2022
Mr Ng Seng Kee Sunflower Private School 654 Jalan Anggerik Petaling Jaya, Selangor 12345
Dear Ng,
I am interested in the summer teaching internship for college students at Sunflower Private School this spring. UOW Malaysia KDU is where I am presently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I am certain that my education, hands-on experience, and skill set would qualify me for this position and your school.
I have completed the needed coursework for a degree in elementary education during the previous three years and have been awarded to the Dean’s list each semester. In addition, I served as a substitute teacher at Idyllic Elementary School in Kuala Lumpur, over the winter and spring breaks. In each of these capacities, I helped implement lesson plans, adapted my teaching style to better suit the students with whom I was working, and altered lesson plans under the supervision of the classroom teacher. These experiences have enhanced my preparedness, flexibility, and cooperation skills.
In addition to these school experiences, I have engaged in a volunteer reading effort through my local library to assist struggling students with their reading. This experience broadened my tutoring ability, which is an important component of my summer teaching internship at Sunflower Private School. Furthermore, my involvement in the library reading campaign enables me to smoothly assist the faculty’s literacy goal at Sunflower Private School.
I’m excited about the summer teaching internship at Sunflower Private School. Please find my résumé enclosed, which highlights my qualifications for this position. My classroom and literacy tutoring experience and my instructional skills, I feel, will be beneficial to the development of your students. Thank you for your time. I hope to hear from you soon.
Best Regards,
Sarah Tan
Please feel free to download the Sample Cover Letter for Internship.
The above information should have given you ample information and understanding on how to write a cover letter for an internship. Once you’ve written your cover letter, check out this article for some interview tips – ‘Interview Tips: Make A Great First Impression’. Here’s to hoping that you get the internship position you want!
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