Writing A Cover Letter For An Internship

Writing an internship cover letter is a bit like getting in and out of skinny jeans. It's tricky. Some employers will ask you to attach one alongside your CV when you apply for an internship.

A cover letter is a formal letter that outlines who you are, why you are interested in the roleand why your'e a smashing candidate for it.

It should urge an employer to read your CV and seriously consider your application.

How to write a cover letter for an internship

Here is a step-by-step guide to putting together an internship cover letter. Think of it like an IKEA manual, but without the confusing diagrams and no Allen key. (Unfortunately.)

STEP 1: The opening

The opening address in a cover letter is remarkably important. It's like the first flight of an albatross chick.

If it takes to the wind, it will soar off the beach and into the sky, to a life of internships and career opportunities. If it falls and lands in the ocean, it's feather will get wet, and it will almost immediately be ripped apart by tiger sharks.

If you address your cover letter to the wrong person, or to nobody all, tiger sharks will be the least of your problems. So try and avoid Dear Sir/Madam or

To whom it may concern .

Dear Full Name, e.g. Dear John Smith,

Dear Mr/Ms Surname, e.g. Dear Mr/Ms Smith,

Always write Ms instead of Miss/Mrs, don't presume marital status.

Finding the recruiter's name is not always easy. If you are struggling, you have a number of options…

1. Ring the company, and ask for the name of the person who is tasked with reading the cover letters for the internship you are applying for. (You could do this by email too).

2. Many organisations have a 'no name' policy for confidentiality reasons, so if they can't give you a name…

3.Address your cover letter to the head of the department your internship is in.

4. If you cannot find the name of person that handles recruitment, address your internship letter to someone that works in human resources (HR).

5.As a last resort, address your cover letter to someone in the team you are applying to join.

STEP 2: Introduction

In the introduction, you need to specify what internship you are applying for. Write something along the lines of…

I am writing in regards of the vacancy for the consultancy internship with PwC,

It's also a good idea to reference where you found the internship vacancy. Employers love to know what channels students use when looking for jobs. Here is an example –

as advertised on RateMyPlacement. Please find my CV attached.

STEP 3: Company research

Now it's time to let the recruiter know why you are interested in the internship. Don't write 'because mother told me to'. You want to give specific reasons why the company, or the content of the course have drawn you to this internship.

Do some research about the company that is organising the internship. Below is a list of areas that you should focus your research on…

Origins of company
Has the company been in the news recently
Any major projects the company have been involved in
Background of directors or the manager of the team you're applying to
Company values/vision

If you want to do some research on the programme you are applying for, check for any case studies or reviews written by previous interns.

Now that you've done your research, you can return to your cover letter. Craft this paragraph around the question: why do you want to do this internship? Here is an example of how to approach this –

I am particularly drawn to this internship at PwC because of its concentration on sustainability and climate change consultancy. PwC is the market-leader in this field, and I am fascinated by the strategies PwC puts in place to help an organisation meet its social and environmental goals. I have been reading about PwC's recent project, involving the implementation of new sustainability procedures in government buildings across the UK. My involvement in the 'Clear Up Our Campus' campaign at university was similar, and makes me a perfect candidate for this internship.

Here, you have shown you have specified why you are attracted to the course; you have demonstrated that you understand what the internship consists of; you have even commented on a recent project.

STEP 4: Work experience & qualifications

Now we move onto your work experience, skills and qualifications, and why they make you perfect for the internship.

Ensure that you continue to keep the content of your internship cover letter relevant to the role on offer. If you can do a passable impression of Morgan Freeman, that's great, but it won't improve your chances of getting an interview.

What unique skills can you bring to the company? What previous work experience has prepared you for this internship? If you can answer these questions, employers will be under your spell. As if you were Hermione Granger. Or Ronald Weasley.

Try something like this –

As my CV describes, I am two years into a Sustainable Engineering degree, achieving high grades in modules that focussed on sustainable planning in urban environments. My studies have imparted a groundwork of knowledge, and analytical skills that are crucial for a career in this field of consultancy. I also have three years of work experience at The Bear Factory, which has imparted great collaborative skills.

STEP 5: Outro

In this closing section, thank the recruiter for considering your application, and express your interest/availability for attending an interview. One sentence will do it.

Thank you for considering my application, I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the programme further in an interview.

STEP 6: Signing off

If you started your covering letter with a personal name, such as 'Dear Susie,' end it with Yours Sincerely .If you didn't manage to find the recruiter's name, put Yours Faithfully.

Pen down and go find some cake. You've just finished your cover letter, just in time to apply for that internship.

Internship cover letter example

The examples from each step in this guide have been put together to form a full example of an internship cover letter. This example is for a consultancy internship with PwC.

Dear John Smith,

I am writing in regards of the vacancy for the consultancy internship with PwC, as advertised on RateMyPlacement. Please find my CV attached.

I am particularly drawn to this internship at PwC because of its concentration on sustainability and climate change consultancy. PwC is the market-leader in this field, and I am fascinated by the strategies PwC puts in place to help an organisation meet its social and environmental goals. I have been reading about PwC's recent project, involving the implementation of new sustainability procedures in government buildings across the UK. My involvement in the 'Clear Up Our Campus' campaign at university was similar, and makes me a perfect candidate for this internship.

As my CV describes, I am two years into a Sustainable Engineering degree, achieving high grades in modules that focussed on sustainable planning in urban environment. My studies have imparted a groundwork of knowledge, and analytical skills that are crucial for a career in this field of consultancy. I also have three years of work experience at The Bear Factory, which has imparted great collaborative skills.

Thank you for considering my application, I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the programme further in an interview.

Yours Sincerely,

Your Name.