An internship cover letter complementing your internship resume could be your ticket to the next step in your career! Depending on the field you want to work in, writing a great cover letter could secure an invaluable internship based on how you present your skills, experiences, and unique traits.
But how should an internship cover letter look? What should the overall structure be, and how do you make yourself memorable in a sea of applicants?
Don’t worry. We’ve helped plenty of people get internships to bridge the gap between themselves and their dream jobs. We’ve created 5 internship cover letter examples and developed a free cover letter generator to help you out with some handy tips, too!
Copy this text for your internship cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
(123) 456-7890
October 30, 2023
Alexander Harris
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
123 Fictional Lane
Columbus, OH 43201
Dear Mr. Harris:
During a nail-biting university cybersecurity tournament, my team and I acted as the digital custodians of our data fortress. Just as excitement buzzes in the air during a World Cup soccer final, the thrill of solving problems, analyzing data, securing networks, and outsmarting virtual threats had me hooked. Now, I’m eager to bring these skills and passion to a respected institution like JPMorgan Chase & Co. as an intern.
During a brief internship at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, I was fortunate to collaborate with a team that built a robust data defense system. A thorough analysis of internal network components unearthed potential vulnerabilities, catalyzing the deployment of innovative solutions that cranked up our security levels by an unexpected 23%.
Fast forward to my time running Franklin University’s Network Systems Club, our crew embarked on a quest to build a resilient network infrastructure. Harnessing tools like Wireshark and Nessus, we curated a secure environment that saw an 18% increase in network efficiency, along with a 32% leap in university-wide accessibility.
Data analysis has been a noteworthy chapter in my academic journey. Wielding R statistical software like a maestro, I grappled with colossal datasets, cleaned them up, and gleaned insightful revelations. One such project generated a 19% uptick in the accuracy of our predictive model. Recognizing the criticality of cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape, I piloted a sweeping awareness drive in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, which successfully enlightened over 779 people on safe online practices.
I’m eager to not just contribute to JPMorgan Chase & Co. but also soak up every nugget of knowledge and experience available. Looking forward to discussing this opportunity further at your earliest convenience. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Maya Haddad
Enclosures:
Resume
Application
2 letters of recommendation
Academic transcript
Why this cover letter works
- Wondering how to gain an edge over other candidates vying for this role? It could be a matter of detailing a spectacular role-related experience from the past in your internship cover letter. That could stem from personal initiative, an academic project, a competition, volunteering, or even a previous internship.
- Think of a unique experience relevant to the role (in this case, consider the internship at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital). Describe your responsibility, skills, or knowledge applied and the positive impact made. Better yet, mention the lesson learned (in this case, a better understanding of network administration’s role in organizational communication).
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Copy this text for your internship no experience cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76101
(123) 456-7890
October 30, 2023
Amelia Martin
Tarrant Area Food Bank
123 Fictional Lane
Fort Worth, TX 76101
Dear Ms. Martin:
Amid a vibrant business administration study, I stumbled upon a cause close to my heart. The strength of Fort Worth’s economically challenged residents struck a chord within me, and I’m inspired to blend my skills in social media management, content creation, and email marketing with my passion for empowering these individuals. It’s with great excitement that I apply for the nonprofit Intern role at Tarrant Area Food Bank.
Picture a local charity in Fort Worth seeing its community engagement soar by 27%. With colleagues, I spearheaded a mission titled “Sharing Smiles Across Miles,” a campaign aimed at spreading awareness about the plight of economically challenged residents and rallying support for their nourishment and development by harnessing the power of Hootsuite and Canva.
A summer internship at Cowtown saw me use tools such as Mailchimp and Constant Contact, where I successfully crafted bespoke and captivating email campaigns, bolstering a local environmental campaign’s donor involvement by 22%. Capitalizing on my content creation skills, I initiated a personal blog to raise awareness about food insecurity within Fort Worth’s underserved neighborhoods. The blog garnered over 2,178 readers.
With an unwavering commitment to harness my abilities for positive societal impact, I’m ready to join Tarrant Area Food Bank’s noble mission of empowering our community. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Oliver Svensson
Why this cover letter works
- Recounting previous involvement in community projects in your internship no experience cover letter tailored to a nonprofit intern role could significantly boost your candidacy.
- Emulate how Oliver highlights a social media campaign and a personal blog he curated for the betterment of his community, complemented by tangible results from the efforts. The project’s nature also makes the candidate more relatable to the hiring nonprofit.
Copy this text for your finance internship cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28201
(123) 456-7890
October 30, 2023
Daniel Thompson
Bank of America
123 Fictional Lane
Charlotte, NC 28201
Dear Mr. Thompson:
Bank of America’s unwavering dedication to delivering financial solutions that reshape the world resonates deeply with my ambitions. Fueled by a love for finance and a knack for bringing order to complexity, I am thrilled at the prospect of grappling with financial challenges and driving insightful decisions as your financial analyst intern. Just as Bank of America empowers people through financial inclusivity, I aim to become an impactful player in this schema, keen to harness my background in financial reporting, data analysis, and beyond.
During my business and finance coursework at Johnson C. Smith University, I excelled in financial analysis and reporting, earning the highest grade among my peers. This academic voyage fortified my proficiency in valuable instruments such as QuickBooks for financial statements and Excel for robust data scrutiny.
At Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte, I volunteered to analyze fundraising data and streamline the organization’s financial reporting. This proactive initiative reinforced donation revenue by 23% in just six months. I then built a volunteer-based portfolio management system for three Charlotte-based startups, hiking resource allocation efficiency by 36% within a year.I also seized an opportunity to work on a semester-long project in collaboration with Blythe Construction, a regional construction company. Leveraging financial modeling tools and R programming for profound data insights helped cut construction costs by an impressive 17%.
Thrilled by the prospect of translating my academic prowess, volunteer experience, and unwavering dedication to finance into tangible value, I’m eager to join the ranks at Bank of America as a financial analyst intern. With a deep reservoir of perseverance, innovative thinking, and an insatiable desire to propel the bank’s success further, I anticipate the rewarding journey this opportunity promises. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Ava Johansson
Why this cover letter works
- Captivate the hiring manager’s attention by expressing genuine passion for the role and field in the introductory paragraph of your finance internship cover letter. Talk about finance aspects you find intriguing and that motivate your interest in this role (cue grappling with financial challenges and driving insightful decisions).
- In the same vein, wrap up your piece by emphasizing your eagerness to learn and contribute to the team, painting a picture of an adaptable candidate willing to grow.
Copy this text for your accounting internship cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
El Paso, TX 79901
(123) 456-7890
November 10, 2024
Ethan Anderson
Deloitte
123 Fictional Lane
El Paso, TX 79901
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Deloitte’s commitment to driving innovation in accounting and delivering impactful solutions across industries speaks directly to my passion for creating value in finance. As a final-year finance student at the University of Florida, I am excited about the opportunity to join your team as an accounting intern while learning from industry leaders.
Previously, as a customer service representative at Infinite Energy, I managed a high volume of daily client interactions. I also used Quickbooks to process invoices, maintaining a 98% accuracy through tenure. By refining communication processes, I reduced monthly customer complaints by 23%.
During an academic project with Statement Savvy, I developed various financial reports on Microsoft Excel and held mock internal audits, identifying 3 areas for improvement to comply with current regulations. I was also responsible for introducing new audit practices, helping the team complete month-end finance audits 47 minutes quicker on average. This experience taught me how to handle audit trails, aligning with the internship requirements at Deloitte.
As a team member in a university project, I assisted the leader in reconciling 438 records of financial data for a hypothetical company on Xero. Additionally, I prepared tax returns and discovered multiple deductions that could save the company $6,381 annually. It was during this project that two of my professors granted me letters of recommendation.
My technical proficiency in accounting software and solid attention to detail position me as the best fit for Deloitte’s finance team. I am eager to contribute and grow within your organization, and I look forward to discussing this role in greater detail at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
William Jansen
Enclosures:
Resume
Application form
2 letters of recommendation
Why this cover letter works
- So, you’re ready to step up your finance game? Then, let your university projects loose. Remember, a solid recommendation letter is a welcome addition.
- Instead of just adding what you did or learned from your projects, word out your accounting internship cover letter wisely and include impacts that companies value. Phrases like “expediting audit times” and “identified tax deductions” are gold in this situation.
Copy this text for your engineering internship cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
San Jose, CA 95101
(123) 456-7890
November 10, 2024
Grace Hill
Cisco Systems
123 Fictional Lane
San Jose, CA 95101
Dear Ms. Hill:
While on an expedition to Cisco’s headquarters, I was fascinated by how its engineering team works to innovate solutions. I’ve wanted to join the company and contribute to its mission of revolutionizing networking technology. This engineering intern role offers a unique opportunity to apply my skills and obtain my first collaborative experience with industry-leading engineers.
During a project at my university, I worked with 6 peers to design and optimize a network system for an on-campus research platform used by 45+ people. Using Cisco Packet Tracer, we visualized how the network would work and integrated Python codes for more efficiency. Acting as a team player, I learned how important every engineer’s contribution is to solving a real-world challenge.
In another project, I led a group of students to develop an energy-efficient data center system. Using MATLAB and CAD, we designed a prototype that consumed 16% less power than traditional systems. This hands-on project improved my problem-solving capabilities and let me work through the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept to testing and refinement.
While participating in the ME72 Engineering Design Competition, I assisted my teammates in developing 3 remote-controlled vehicles by drafting their troubleshooting documentation on Scribe. This enabled them to fix last-minute complications 51 minutes quicker on average and eliminate 4 recurring technical issues. I also ensured that all production output met 97% of expectations throughout my tenure.
I am particularly drawn to this role at Cisco Systems due to my experience and the company’s mission of technological advancements. I’m eagerly awaiting your positive response to my application.
Sincerely,
Clara Duval
Enclosures:
Resume
Application Form
Transcript of records
Why this cover letter works
- A great way of portraying genuine interest in your engineering internship cover letter is going over a memorable experience. Think expeditions, vacations, or even a random factory tour. Write about how these experiences inspired you to dive into engineering.
- Clara nails this by opening with a story of how a past expedition left her fascinated—and motivated her to apply to Cisco. This clearly shows potential employers that her engineering passion doesn’t come from textbooks alone!
Related cover letter examples
How to Write A Great Internship Cover Letter
Tailoring your cover letter to the job description is always important, but it’s more critical than ever if you’re seeking an internship! Since “internship” isn’t a profession but a way into one, you’ll need to utilize your language and paragraph topics to highlight where you overlap with the job.
Basically, you should write out whatever the job description calls for that you already have! If you want an internship at an insurance office, you should probably emphasize your clerical skills instead of focusing on your artistic abilities.
Writing a proper greeting and intro
It’s always polite to address someone by name, and cover letters are no exception! Make sure you show your preparedness and enthusiasm for the internship by taking the time to look up who you’re writing to.
Next, your opening paragraph should hook the reader with a few hints about what you’re good at. State why you want the job and use that as a platform to connect with the company through its values.
Make sure you list a couple of traits that make you a great fit for that specific internship role! This will make it easier for recruiters to sift through your qualifications and spark interest in the rest of your letter.
Just don’t write an informal, tasteless, or vague resume like this one:
Oh, yikes!
Hey, this internship sounded cool off the list of choices. If you still have an open spot I’d like to try it and I can give you a bunch of reasons why I’m qualified
Look what a difference it makes to connect via the company’s objectives while using them to show how you’re qualified to benefit them as an intern:
That’s a winner!
Dear Mr. Thompson:
Bank of America’s unwavering dedication to delivering financial solutions that reshape the world resonates deeply with my ambitions. Fueled by a love for finance and a knack for bringing order to complexity, I am thrilled at the prospect of grappling with financial challenges and driving insightful decisions as your financial analyst intern. Just as Bank of America empowers people through financial inclusivity, I aim to become an impactful player in this schema, keen to harness my background in financial reporting, data analysis, and beyond.
Writing ideal body paragraphs
While seeking an internship, your body paragraphs should directly correlate with the job description. Each paragraph should focus on one central point to keep your letter organized and easy to read.
Revisit the job description, company site, or any other resources you found about the business you’re applying to. Which of their values can you connect with? Do they support strong mentorship environments, giving you the ideal space to discuss your versatile abilities?
Just make sure that each paragraph has a little snippet of success to share, and always support that positive impact with a metric. Mention your achievements and credentials, and back them up with success percentages or personal ratings.
Here’s a good body paragraph example:
Picture a local charity in Fort Worth seeing its community engagement soar by 27%. With my colleagues, I spearheaded a mission titled “Sharing Smiles Across Miles,” a campaign aimed at spreading awareness about the plight of economically challenged residents and rallying support for their nourishment and development, by harnessing the power of Hootsuite and Canva.
Closing and signing off your internship cover letter
No piece of writing is complete without a conclusion, and you’ll want to make the most of your internship cover letter closer! This paragraph is your opportunity to tie everything together with a few final skills and a strong reiteration of why you jive with the company.
Don’t forget to include a call to action. Invite the reader to contact you again for more information on why you belong in that internship role! And make sure you thank the reader for their time, too.
You can say thank you in your closing paragraph or use it as your formal signoff. If you don’t use it as your signoff, end with a professional line and use your full, real name.
Don’t be vague, informal, or write a messy closer that runs on while still feeling incomplete:
Oh no . . .
Well I really want to get started on my internship as soon as possible so hopefully you can see why I’m qualified from all that stuff, so make sure you call me.
Instead, seize the chance to reconnect with the company and invite them to discuss more of your qualifications:
That’s nice!
I’m eager to not just contribute to JPMorgan Chase & Co. but also soak up every bit of knowledge and experience available. Looking forward to discussing this opportunity further at your earliest convenience. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Maya Haddad
Internship Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid
- Cover letter greeting is too informal/outdated
- As an intern, you’re still proving your mettle, so show that you did your homework by researching who you’re actually writing your cover letter to! Avoid the “classics” that sound generic and make any cover letter look outdated. That means shunning greetings like “To Whom it may Concern,” “Dear Sir/Madam,” and “Dear Hiring Manager.”
- Cover letter includes examples that aren’t relevant
- We totally get that most interns are just getting started in the professional world and have limited history to share. Still: Look for strategic angles to leverage the experiences you do have, whether those are from school projects or other internships. Maybe being captain of your college football team doesn’t directly relate to your dream job role, but the teamwork skills you developed each season probably do! Look for experiences and skills that translate similarly well to your desired job role and align with the job description.
- Find. Those. Metrics!
- Since you haven’t had many (or any) jobs just yet, you’ll want to seek out numbers and quantifiable data to boost your credibility as a rising professional. You may not have had the opportunity to make measurable waves in the workforce, but if you can measure the ones you’ve made in previous internships or projects, you’ll highlight your desirability as a candidate!
- Closing paragraph is weak
- Your closing paragraph needs a strong call to action. Demonstrate enthusiasm! You really want that job, right? Show your ambition by summarizing your qualifications, inviting the reader to contact you for more, and encouraging further questions about why you’re a great fit.
Visit the company’s website and browse their About page, any mission statement, company history pages, etc. See if you can find values that overlap with yours to reflect in your cover letter and use as a segue into your qualifications!
If you didn’t come across the name of the recruiter or hiring manager while researching the company and combing through the job listing, don’t worry! You may also be able to look through professional social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
Anything longer than one page probably won’t be read all the way through since recruiters have limited time, so keep your cover letter short and sweet. You want to nail that internship by showing your ability to convey information efficiently.
