Sample Cover Letter for Internship

A great cover letter can give you an advantage over other applicants based on what it says about who you are and where you hope to go. What will yours say about you? Including a cover letter with your application demonstrates that you're an intern applicant willing to go the extra mile in terms of effort and making a great impression, especially when it is not required to complete the internship application process. A strong cover letter will also show that you are the right internship applicant to fill the available internship position, whether it’s a remote internship or not. However, an internship cover letter doesn’t function like a typical one. In fact, it has to work a lot harder than a general cover letter. Why? Chances are that you may lack "real" work experience if you're applying for an internship. However, gaining experience is why you need an internship in the first place, right? That’s why a great internship cover letter can make all of the difference between getting an internship interview and just being another applicant in the pool. You must stand out because internship positions, especially the great ones, are highly competitive and go quickly! Ultimately, you want companies to take a chance on you in order for you to gain experience, and a great cover letter can help you do just that. By getting your foot in the door at a great company, you can build solid career connections through networking, gather invaluable real-world experience in your field, and even gain college credit. A successful internship can also help launch your career because companies often hire previous interns first. Your internship cover letter should focus more on what you want to do than what you’ve already accomplished, which differs from a traditional cover letter format. That said, don’t be afraid to add previous work or extracurricular activities – even those that you think may not be relevant to your 2025 internship search. For students just starting their careers, any experience is a good experience.

How to Format a Cover Letter

There is a formula for creating a cover letter, whether for an internship or a full-time job opportunity after graduation. Always be sure that your cover letter features the following:

Header and Contact Information

While the content of your cover letter is important, your header and contact information are crucial. This is how hiring managers will contact you to interview you or ask follow-up questions.

Greet the Hiring Manager

If you know the hiring manager’s name, you can start the cover letter with Dear [Name]. Suppose you’re unsure who you’re writing to specifically after researching the various employee names and job titles on the company website or LinkedIn. In that case, you can put: Dear Hiring Manager or Dear Hiring Team.

Opening Statement

Your opening statement should clearly define which role you are applying for and how you heard about it. Bonus points for finding this opportunity through a current or previous employer or from your school’s career center.

Body

The body will make up the bulk of your internship cover letter. In this, you’ll want to touch on a few subjects detailed below. In short, you need to cover your intentions, background, research, goals, and experience.

Closing Statement

Your closing statement should imply that you’re ready for the next steps, like a phone conversation or interview. Let the hiring manager know that you look forward to meeting them and are available to schedule a time to discuss your qualifications and enthusiasm for the opportunity.

Closing Salutation

Finally, this is a formal situation, so your closing should reflect that. The safest salutation is "Sincerely."

Internship Cover Letter Tips

Now that you have the formula for creating an internship cover letter, it’s time to discuss content. The content of your internship cover letter needs to be strong, informative, and concise.

Start by Introducing Yourself

First, introduce yourself in your cover letter. Give a brief summary of who you are so the reader has a clear picture of the applicant (YOU!).

State Your Intentions

Make sure to state the specific internship position you are applying for so that your intentions are clear. You never want a potential employer to guess which position you are applying for.

Detail Your Background

Next, give background information on what you’re currently studying and where. Also, be sure to include your goals and intentions toward a career in that particular field. If you’re in high school (yes, there are high school internships), you can still include your school and career aspirations.

Share Your Research

It also doesn’t hurt to mention something you’ve learned about the company during your research. This could include previous projects they’ve completed in which you admired their work or future projects they plan to work on that you’d love to be involved in. You can also mention their company culture and how you’d fit in, including any details that reflect the kind of company dynamic for which you hope to work. Make sure to include and reference the specific company name to show you’re specifically interested in their company (even if you are applying to several other internships as well).

State Your Goals

You can use a small paragraph to talk about what you hope to do with your major and career after graduation and discuss how an internship with that particular company can specifically help you reach your goals.

Detail Your Experience

In the final paragraphs, you can showcase your previous work experience, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work.

End with a Summary & Closing Statement

Finally, close your internship cover letter by clearly providing your contact information and reiterating your desire to work and learn from the company through an internship opportunity there. A great cover letter sample can help you achieve all of the above steps because it will provide a solid outline and example of your cover letter. While it is just an example, and your cover letter must be tailored to your student experiences, it can help provide you with a start. From there, you can easily organize your cover letter details and begin to visualize and create your own successful cover letter!

Cover Letter Example for Internship

Check out the example below for more guidance on your internship cover letter. Using this internship cover letter sample can help you draft and create a strong internship cover letter detailing your unique experiences and attributes. Using the tips and example cover letter above, you can quickly draft a successful internship cover letter. Good luck with your internship search!