A cover letter is a really important part of most internship applications. Spending the time and effort to produce a great cover letter can be the difference between getting that all-important interview and being ghosted.
In our ultimate guide to internships, we cover all elements of cover letters and have even created 12 template cover letters for you to download and use.
Need to skip to the most relevant part of this guide? You can do so here:
- What to include in an internship cover letter?
- Tips for writing an internship cover letter
- Internship cover letter examples
- Generic internship cover letter
- No work experience internship cover letter
- Data science internship cover letter
- Accounting internship cover letter
- Architecture internship cover letter
- IT internship cover letter
- Engineering internship cover letter
- Data analyst internship cover letter
- Software engineer internship cover letter
- Graphic design internship cover letter
- Finance internship cover letter
- Marketing internship cover letter
- Frequently asked internship cover letter questions
What to include in an internship cover letter?
Your cover letter should include your contact information, the contact information of the organization you are applying to, the reason you’re applying, and why you’re perfect for this internship position.
Your contact information: Make it easy for the person reading your letter to get in touch with you. In the modern world, your cell number and your email are really important. You can be less specific about your address if you’d like. Either of the below examples work.
Austin, TX
Cell: 000-000-0000
Email: name@email.com
or
111 Main Street
Austin, TX
73301
Cell: 000-000-0000
Email: name@email.com
You don’t need to include other identifying information such as your age, gender, or race, but some people may choose to include their pronouns.
The company you’re applying to: A lot of organizations that offer internships will be big companies with loads of employees. Therefore you need to be specific.
Finding the name of the person to address your cover letter to, their department, and their location will show that you’ve done your homework, and you’re not just sending out loads of generic letters.
If you’re really struggling to find the right address, and you can’t find it via email or giving the company a call, just use the address where the internship would be located.
Marketing Director
Marketing Department
Marketing Agency Head Office
222 Jump Street
Austin, TX
73010
Address your letter to the hiring manager: Try to avoid using phrases such as “dear sir/madam” or “to whom it may concern”. Take time to find out who the hiring manager is and address them.
…
If for any reason you cannot find the name of the hiring manager, then address the company’s hiring committee.
…
If there is more than one hiring manager, address them all.
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Contextualize your application: This should cover how you heard about the company and the position and why this relates to your skills and experience. It’s important to also include why you are a good match for the position, so include your level of education and your major.
You might decide to inject a bit more personality into this statement, but be careful. If you’re applying to a large accounting or law firm, they’ll expect the language you use in your cover letter to be formal. The best thing to do is explore the company’s website and social media and mirror the language and personality that comes across in their tone of voice. Something fun might look like this:
Body of the letter: The body of the cover letter should have sections explaining why you are qualified for this internship and the work or extracurricular experience that you have that is relevant.
For an internship right at the beginning of your career, keep your cover letter to one side of A4 and include between two and three examples. You might find that adding a few bullet points that either focus on your attributes (if you have less experience) or achievements (if you’ve done an internship before) can make this section really clear.
[Experience 2] As a senior majoring in marketing at [College], I have acquired skills in SEO, paid advertising, organic, PR, and social media and hold a 3.7 GPA.
[Key statistics] I currently work as a freelance marketer for [Company Name], a building contractor with over 300 employees. For over 18 months I have grown their social media accounts and developed content for their website. During this time I have:
– Grown their LinkedIn by over 250%
– Increased engagement on their Facebook by 70%
– Boosted website visits by 96%
Closing the letter: Make a final point and include a call to action such as “I look forward to discussing how I can contribute to your organization at the interview”. If this is an internship in design or similar, you could also include a link to your online portfolio.
Sign off: This should be professional. If you know the name of the person you are addressing then “yours sincerely” if you don’t and are addressing “sir” or “madam” it should be “yours faithfully”.
Top tip: If you’re struggling to remember, it’s “friends aren’t faithful”, so someone whose name you know, a “friend”, is not someone you address faithfully.
If you’d like to use something less formal, you might choose “with best wishes” or “respectfully”.
Signature: If you’re sending the letter in the post, add a handwritten signature. If you’re attaching it to an email, simply sign off with your full name.
Tips for writing an internship cover letter
A cover letter is your way of telling the story of your resume. It’s often one of the key deciders when a hiring manager is shortlisting applicants for an interview.
It’s important to spend some time and effort on your cover letter so that you can really showcase your skills, experience, and personality.
Format your cover letter professionally: Your cover letter should use a formal business format (unless otherwise stated in the job advert). If you are sending the cover letter via email, you might slightly tweak the format to have your contact details at the bottom of the email’s signature, rather than at the top of the email.
Every cover letter you do should be different: Internship applications are a lot of work. The most successful applications though are those that have clearly read the job advert and customized their application.
Do your research, find out about the company’s mission, vision, and values, speak to previous interns, read reviews, and take a deep dive into their social media.
The more time and effort you spend on your cover letter, the more successful it will be.
Use keywords: If an organization is using an application scanning software then they’ll be searching for keywords and phrases from the job description in your application. Use language that they use when you’re writing your cover letter.
As an example, a company might be looking for a “hard-working intern with excellent timekeeping skills”, you might respond with:
Address any specific points detailed in the job pack: Some job descriptions will ask you to address certain key points in your cover letter. Make sure you address all of them clearly and concisely.
If it’s easier, and to make it clearer for the person reading your application, use subheadings.
Make it specific: Use specific examples and explain why they are relevant. If you don’t have a lot of work experience, detail the modules you’ve taken as part of your college career or the names of relevant papers you have submitted.
You don’t have to talk about every detail of your career and education so far, just choose the ones that are most relevant to your application.
Talk about your academic achievements: Detail information such as your major and minor, classes you’re taking, and relevant projects you have worked on. If leadership is an attribute they are looking for, you could talk about the time you successfully lead a team project.
Extracurricular activities, sports, and voluntary work might all be relevant: No work experience? No problem! Draw on other things that you do alongside your studies such as being in a society, playing a sport, or volunteering at your local dog shelter.
Proof your letter, and then proof it again: Make sure that your application is perfect and that there are no errors such as spelling or grammar mistakes. As well as running your cover letter through a system such as Grammarly, ask friends and family to read through your application.
If you can, ask someone who is a hiring manager and looks at internship applications as part of their job to give you some feedback.
Don’t give up: It can feel like writing cover letters for internships takes over your life.
If you’re unsuccessful, where possible, ask for feedback. Some good feedback could help you to successfully get an internship elsewhere. Know that internship programs tend to be really competitive, but you will get there!
If this is your first internship, you might find it easier to successfully apply to internships at less well-known companies. It could be the foot in the door you need for a more prestigious internship next year.
Internship cover letter examples
These sample cover letters are here for guidance. We’ve covered some of the main industries that offer internships as well as providing some generic examples. These can be downloaded and used as a template for your own applications.
Make sure you follow our tips above so that they’re relevant to your specific experience and the specific internship you’re applying to!
Generic internship cover letter
This provides a basic template that you can apply to lots of different internships in different industries.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
[Street address]
[City, state, zip code]
[Email]
[Cell number]
[Hiring manager name]
[Department]
[Company name]
[City, state, zip code]
Dear [hiring manager],
I am writing to apply for the [specific internship] that was listed [on your website / at the [school name] career services office]. I am a [insert adjective], [insert adjective 2], and [insert adjective 3] student who would be ideal for this role, and my skills and experience make me a great fit for your organization.
[Experience 1] As editor of my university’s college paper, The Buzz, I am in charge of a team of 50 volunteer writers, photographers, and designers. In the last year, I have grown the paper’s readership by 20% and secured 3 sponsorship deals from local businesses, valued at over £20,000.
[Experience 2] As a senior majoring in marketing at [College], I have acquired skills in SEO, paid advertising, organic, PR, and social media and hold a 3.7 GPA.
[Key statistics] I currently work as a freelance marketeer for [Company Name], a building contractor with over 300 employees. For over 18 months I have grown their social media accounts and developed content for their website. During this time I have:
Grown their LinkedIn by over 250%
Increased engagement on their Facebook by 70%
Boosted website visits by 96%
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can add value to [company name].
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
No work experience internship cover letter
If you’ve never worked before, this cover letter gives you some examples of how you might draw on your academic and extracurricular activities to successfully get your first internship.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I am delighted to apply for your [subject/role] internship at [company name]. Currently, in my junior year at [college name], I am majoring in [subject] and have maintained a 3.98 GPA.
I recently completed a module on [relevant subject] where I wrote a paper on [relevant title], featuring [company you’re applying to] as a case study. This showcased [what you learned about the company].
As a student, I have been extensively involved in my school community. I am currently the social chair for the 300+ strong gaming society. I am responsible for arranging weekly meetings and twice-termly larger events such as hackathons, tournaments, and our annual cross-college games convention which is attended by over 2,000 students.
Personal attributes that I believe make me suitable for this position include:
- Communication: I am a very social person who has traveled globally as a chess player. I am also a friendly face at the Games Society and have been part of the committee since my freshman year.
- Organized: Year after year I have grown attendance at our cross-college games convention by at least 10%. This year I am also adding an additional day of activities.
- Motivated: I am the first person in my family to go to college so academic achievement is very important to me.
With my academic achievements and extra-curricular activities, I feel that I can bring a lot of skills to your organization. I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge of [example] and [example] while bringing my hard work and dedication to your team.
Your mission [insert company mission extract] resonates with me so much [because].
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can add value to [company name].
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Data science internship cover letter
Need to show off your current skills and experience? Here’s an example data science cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
As a recent Bachelor of Computer Science graduate, I have spent the last four years exploring machine learning, big data, and AI. I’m excited to bring my experience to [Company Name] as your next data science intern.
Each summer during college, I successfully completed a summer internship program in data science. Most recently, in the summer of 2022, I joined GH Computing for 12 weeks. During this time, I worked on a model to forecast sales across North America, working cross-functionally with a broad variety of departments.
I completed a one-year industry placement between my second and third years of studies at AHB Industries and spent this time splitting my time between the data analytics and data sciences teams. Within this year I: mentored two summer placement students in data science, drove the optimization of their operational processes, and worked as part of the team who improved their telecommunications network efficiency by 20% in just 3 months.
I am fluent in Java, Python, R, Tableau, and PowerBI, and achieved a 4.0 GPA whilst studying at [College Name].
I have the experience and passion to help [Company Name] grow over the next 12 months. I am dedicated to continual learning and would be thrilled to join the team. You can find my online portfolio at www.myportfolio.com.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can add value at interview.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Accounting internship cover letter
Love numbers and looking for a career in accounting? Here’s an example accounting cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I recently found your job posting for your summer accounting internship at [company name] via my college’s jobs board and am delighted to submit an application.
I am currently a junior at [college name] majoring in accounting and finance. I have a strong academic record, achieving a 3.8 GPA year after year and completing numerous projects focused on accounts payable, month-end closings, and year-end accounts.
Last fall, I spent a month working in industry at ABC Incorporated where I was able to join their payroll team. During this month I saw the end-to-end preparation of payroll for over 2,000 employees and also gained experience in accounts payable and invoice creation.
I was excited to see that this summer program would allow me to learn from several functional areas including revenue, tax compliance, and financial management.
[Company name]’s values align with my own. As a young black female with aspirations in the finance industry, I am delighted that your organization is passionate about increasing representation in this field.
I am hard-working and eager to learn and believe I could make an impact on your team this summer.
My resume is attached and I am looking forward to discussing this opportunity further!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Architecture internship cover letter
Want to pursue a career in architecture, and already pursuing relevant academic qualifications? Here’s an example architecture cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I am delighted to submit my application for the one-year architecture internship at [company name]. I am a current Master of Architecture student at [college name], having graduated from my undergraduate studies in 20[xx] from [college name] in the top 3% of students.
During my undergraduate program, I completed 15 projects which helped me to develop excellent software skills in SketchUp, Lumion, and ArchiCad. I am also highly proficient in Rhino3D and Revit.
My Master of Architecture is focused on sustainable commercial design. As an organization that has a sustainable approach to design, your award-winning Mystery Box Theatre design formed part of a paper I recently completed on Net Zero In Public Space Design.
Last summer I worked as the Intern Architect at EcoLoGIC Ltd for three months. I joined professional site visits, produced detailed drawings, and assisted with the design of the new Mercury Inc headquarters which broke ground just a few weeks ago.
For the past two years, I have worked as an office assistant for 12 hours a week at JA Design, a boutique architectural firm with a team of 20 employees. My responsibilities have included managing reception, writing correspondence, updating their website, proofing documents, and general office management and clerical responsibilities. This role has given me first-hand experience in an organization whilst also developing my people, time management, and communication skills.
It would be a delight to discuss my experience further with [company name]’s team as I feel I could aid the studio in its mission of sustainable style.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
IT internship cover letter
A whiz with computers? Here’s an example IT cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
Please accept my application to your IT summer internship program from summer 20[xx]. I’ve been following the [company name] journey for some time, so was excited to come across this opportunity on LinkedIn.
As stated in my enclosed resume, I am in my senior year at [college name] with a 3.88 GPA majoring in Computer Science. I’m among the top 5% of high-achieving students and on the Dean’s list.
Besides my academic endeavors, I am also on the chess club, the swim team, and part of the computer science society. I’ve found that balancing a range of responsibilities has meant that I am highly organized.
Last fall, I spent a term working in the industry as an IT intern at Sandy Corp’s head office in Minnesota. During my three-month placement, I was responsible for resolving technical support requests, updating the intranet, and developing new web pages. During this time I:
- Responded to over 1,000 IT support requests.
- Installed computer systems.
- Managed the end-to-end IT onboard of over 50 new starters.
I am a native speaker of English and Spanish and confident in coding languages such as C++, Javascript, SQL, Java, and Python.
Over the 8 weeks of this summer program, I hope that I will be able to learn more about IT in an international setting whilst also making an impact on your operations.
Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Engineering internship cover letter
Is engineering the career for you? Here’s an example engineering cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I am writing to apply for [company name]’s undergraduate summer internship program in chemical engineering. I am currently a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in physics at [college name] and have a strong interest in process engineering in the pharmaceutical industry.
Entering college during the Covid-19 pandemic has shown more than ever the vital importance of our pharmaceutical industry.
I recently met a number of your previous interns and recent graduate employees at my university’s careers fair and was excited to learn about their hands-on experience developing Covid-19 vaccines in the last few years. The [company name] mission to “be more to succeed” also resonated with me, as I am someone who is always striving to learn and improve.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Grant Turton, a small organization specializing in capsule-based animal health. During my 12-week placement, I worked on the commissioning and validation of a clean room.
I am aware that this program has the opportunity to complete an additional 4 weeks at your Swiss office. I speak fluent French as my mom is from France so would be able to communicate with French-speaking colleagues with ease.
Please find attached my resume which accompanies this application.
Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Data analyst internship cover letter
Excited by big data? Here’s an example data analyst cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I am writing to apply for the data analyst internship at [company name] that I saw advertised on the [college name] jobs board. I am confident that my experience, knowledge, and previous work experience make me the ideal candidate for this role, and see this as a great opportunity to grow professionally.
I am a freshman majoring in Information Science at [college name]. In my first two semesters, I achieved a 3.8 GPA and placed among the top 3% of students.
Prior to beginning my college career, I spent 3 months working with Sandara Inc as a junior data analyst. I was given a lot of responsibility very early on, managing and maintaining their employee database. Each week I compiled and interpreted this data into a weekly report for their senior management team.
I am a team player, who has competed at a national level in the junior league softball team and I am now part of the [college name] swim team. Sports have taught me how to work with others through victories and defeats. I am as disciplined with my training in the pool as I am in the classroom and the workplace.
My academic record, sporting achievements, and work experience all make me ideal for your summer program. I hope to discuss my experience with you further at interview.
Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Software engineer internship cover letter
Know your Python from your Java? Here’s an example software engineer cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I am writing to apply for the software engineering internship for summer 2025 that is listed on your website (ID: 500-500). I am a senior student at [College] majoring in computer science and hold a 4.0 GPA. Particularly interested in front-end application development, I was excited to see that this was a core part of your summer program.
I’ve been building things since I was 12 when I taught myself Python online. Since then I’ve built a number of apps, including a lecture booking program that is now used across my school by over 20,000 users.
Now confident in AngularJS, React Native, and Node.js my recent coursework was awarded the Dean’s Prize.
Last year, I spent a year studying abroad in Japan. During this time I spent 4 weeks interning at Funky Games Studio, learning from some of the most successful games developers in the world. While interning I was able to program the background scene for their recently released Catchy Racers. This proved to be a fantastic opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and develop new skills while also experiencing a completely different culture (and learning some Japanese!)
During your 12-week program, I want to push myself as an engineer, step out of my comfort zone, and build my experience whilst also making a valid contribution to your team.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I have attached my resume to this application, and my portfolio can be accessed via www.myportfolio.com.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Graphic design internship cover letter
Can you create amazing things on InDesign? Here’s an example graphic design cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I was excited to learn via LinkedIn that [company name] is looking for graphic design interns to join their summer program this year. I have just graduated from [school], majoring in graphic design and branding, which has allowed me to develop my creativity, professionalism, and aptitude for graphic design. I am due to begin my master’s program at [school] in graphic design this fall and hope to develop my professional skills by joining your program.
Throughout my undergraduate studies, I completed a variety of freelance projects which allowed me to build my professional skills in both print and digital design.
Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in an international design contest creating a new logo for Brand Magazine. Out of over 10,000 participants, I made the final three. This success led to three magazines approaching me to create new logos for them. The money earnt from these three logos has funded my postgraduate studies in full.
This work and my freelance work are all available to view on my portfolio www.myportfolio.com.
I hope to discuss the contributions I could make to your team at the interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
[Your name]
Finance internship cover letter
Want to pursue a career in banking or finance? Here’s an example finance internship cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I am a senior at [school], majoring in finance, with a minor in mathematics and a 3.8 GPA. I am writing to express my interest in the investment banking summer program at [name organization] as I believe I am an ideal candidate for the position.
I have completed modules in financial modeling, investment banking, and advanced investment banking with grades in the top 5%. I am hoping that this placement could form the basis of my undergraduate dissertation, Risk Analysis in the US Banking Sector.
As captain of the football team, I have completed my studies on a full scholarship. I have developed my skills as a leader, ambitiously pushing towards our highest national placement at college nationals year after year. I also act as the team’s treasurer, managing over $200,000 of scholarship funding and a further $100,000 of sports funding each year.
During my time as treasurer, I have:
- Reduced annual spending by 5%
- Increased our fundraising efforts to bring in an additional 10% of funding year-on-year
- Raised enough funds to generate one additional full football scholarship.
I hope that this internship can grow my experience in finance, shaping me for a career in investment banking in an international setting. I am particularly interested in the 4-week global placement that follows the successful completion of this program in the US. I find the international opportunities that come with this career trajectory incredibly exciting.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing my application further at the interview.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Marketing internship cover letter
Got your finger on the pulse of TikTok? Here’s an example marketing cover letter.
Read the cover letter below or download it here.
I am excited to apply for the summer marketing program that I saw advertised via the [School]’s job board. Reading the job specification I am delighted that my academic accomplishments and previous work experience meet all the necessary requirements. I am a creative, design-led, and ambitious marketing junior at [School] who is seeking a rewarding internship.
At school, I have acquired skills in advertising, PR, content writing, SEO, and paid media while focusing my coursework on print and digital design.
I currently work as a content marketing manager for the online clothing brand Glossy. In the past 12 months, I have:
- Developed their content strategy
- Grown their TikTok and Instagram audiences by 200% and 220% respectively
- Yielded a 50% ROI from paid advertising
Last year, I completed a 12-week summer internship program with the design agency Raw, where I worked on the entire rebrand for one of their clients.
A keen photographer in my spare time, I love creating a visual identity. You can find my photography and design work on my portfolio website www.myportfolio.com.
I would be delighted to have the opportunity to interview with you, I appreciate your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Frequently asked internship cover letter questions
Writing cover letters for internships is tough for everyone. Here are some frequently asked cover letter questions.
How can I send a cover letter?
More and more, cover letters are sent via email. However, some companies still expect to receive a cover letter and resume via the mail. Check the job description.
If the letter is being sent via email, you can either copy and paste the cover letter into the body of the email (note: you may want to play around with formatting) or you can attach the cover letter to the email.
If you’re opting for the latter, write a simple cover email. It might go something like that.
Dear [hiring manager’s name],
I am delighted to apply for the [internship name] at [organization name].
As requested I have provided my cover letter and resume which are both attached to this email.
I look forward to hearing from you!
[Name]
In some instances, an organization might have an online application form that you attach your cover letter to. Again, this should be made clear in the job description.
Do I have to write a cover letter for an internship?
A cover letter is a key element of the internship application process. However, some organizations ask for candidates to fill in an application form, or submit an online application.
In some cases, they won’t ask for a cover letter but a personal statement instead. This will have much of the same content but will not be formatted as a letter.
If a company says that a cover letter is not compulsory, it’s best to still work on and submit a cover letter.
What can I include in a cover letter when I don’t have work experience?
No work experience? No problem! Everyone has to start somewhere and for a lot of people, an internship is their first experience of the workplace.
Find examples of your skills from:
- Your academic achievements
- Any voluntary work you have done
- Your hobbies
- Sport
- Community work
- Unskilled jobs you have had in the past
What is an “uninvited” cover letter, and should I send one?
An uninvited cover letter is sometimes referred to as a cold cover letter. This is when you submit a cover letter for an internship that is not currently advertised.
This can be a good strategy for smaller organizations that might not have considered hiring an intern previously. They might create a role or keep you in mind when a position becomes available.
Although you won’t be able to tailor your application based on a job specification you should still tailor your cover letter based on a role you would like and why this is an organization you want to work for.
Choose companies you particularly admire, rather than sending lots of these cold applications out.
Make sure that there aren’t already internships advertised, as if you cold apply when there are open positions this can reflect very poorly.
Did you know that we’ve produced the ultimate guide to internships? We cover everything from the different kinds of internships to application deadlines to look out for. Check out the ultimate guide to internships here.