Perfect Internship Cover Letter to Start Your Career [+ Examples & Tips]

internship cover letter

A cover letter for an internship position is an additional feature to pair with your resume. This allow you to explain what made you apply for the intern role, why you chose this intern position, and how you are a fit for this internship. 

As a student applying for a new internship position, you will find that incorporating a student internship application letter (also known as an internship cover letter, motivational letter, letter of interest,  etc.) provides you the advantage to explain further the materials covered within your resume and how you are individually suitable for the internship role. 

While writing a cover letter for an internship might seem tricky, our step-by-step guide below will lead you to a successful pathway to your dream intern position.

Example of cover letter for internships

Our example of an application letter for internships can give you an idea of what an employer will expect to see within yours. While this is a sample of a cover letter for a business internship, you will later find out how to form your internship application letter for the right field.

Jane Fray 

263-273-8445
[email protected]
325 Morris Ave. New York, NY 10004

02/20/2025

Dear Mrs. Fond  

My name is Jane and I am interested in joining the business internship program here at Wharton. As an avid business management graduate, I am dedicated to learning more from a top business company. I believe that with my strong passion and a solid background within business methods, I can effectively contribute to the growth and development of Wharton’s service. 

Previously, during my years as a business graduate, I was the President of the Business Analytics Club. As the President, I was able to inspire other business-major students into learning more about business analytics. I hosted monthly educational, yet entertaining events about business analyst programs for our members and enhanced our membership sales by 25%. 

With my effective communication and love for business analytics, I also gained the opportunity for our club to receive sponsors from well-known companies around the nation. Not only was I able to spread the word about business analytics but also able to gain acknowledgment and connections within the business industries. 

Thank you very much for your time and consideration of me. I hope to gain the opportunity to work with Wharton as a business intern. Feel free to reach out to me at 263-273-8445 or [email protected] for any questions, and I hope to keep in touch soon. 

Best, 
Jane Fray 

What to include in a cover letter for an internship application

cover letter for internship

Your cover letter applying for an internship, regardless of the field or industry, should contain these 8 essential sections to show the employer your strong suitability. 

Note: The examples for each section are tailored to a cover letter for a summer internship in sales.

1. Cover Letter Header

In every internship application letter, you will want to include at the top of the page your full name, phone number, email address, address followed by the date.  

Example:

Seya Mo 

263-273-8445
[email protected]
429 Little Ave. New York, NY 10004

09/12/2025

2. Salutation

Before you introduce yourself in your student internship application letter, you will want to greet the employer with his or her name. If you are unsure of the employer’s name for an internship, you can list it instead as "Dear hiring manager". 

Example:

Dear Mr. Shubert,   

3. Opening

Kick-off your motivational letter for the internship opportunity by greeting with your name and what you look to accomplish within this letter. 

Example:

My name is Seya and I am interested in joining the summer internship program here at Ford.

4. Key Qualifications

Show within the key qualifications section of your letter of motivation for the internship by including your strengths and explaining how these strengths led to accomplishments. 

Example:

During my years as a business graduate with a concentration in sales, I was the President of the Sales Club and a member of the National Sales Team. As the President, I was able to collaborate with the other national sales clubs through my connections in the National Sales team. This allowed our club to receive many interest and sponsorship requests, which helped increase our profitability by 16%. 

5. Motivation

The motivation section of your letter of interest for the internship is where you will want to elaborate on what grabbed your interest in this intern role or company.

Example:

As a devoted business sales recent grad, I will be able to share my background techniques in promoting sales and learn more about what a top company sales team can accomplish. I believe that with my strong passion and knowledge in sales and networking, I can effectively enhance the sales team program during the summer internship at Ford. 

6. Additional Information

Incorporate your other skills and achievements to show that you are the ideal candidate for the spot within your letter to request for that internship.

Example:

With my commitment to learning more and passion for networking with others, I also reached the opportunity in learning more sales strategies from our club sponsors. Not only was I able to develop our profits for the school’s Sales Club but also gained strong ties and connections with well-known sponsors and companies around the nation. 

7. Closing

Customize a sincere thank you note to the employer or hiring manager within the closing section of your internship cover letter. 

Example:

Thank you for your time in reviewing my application. I hope to connect with you more to speak further. You can reach me at 263-273-8445 or [email protected] with any questions. 

8. Sign-Off & Signature

Complete your internship cover letter with a professional closing followed by your signature. 

Example:

Best,
Seya Mo

Tips on how to write a good cover letter for different internships

Cover letter for marketing internship

From a digital marketing internship cover letter to a general marketing internship cover letter, the employer will love to see your strong knowledge in social media and communicating with others.

💡 Tip: A great way to show that you are perfect for the role is by incorporating your LinkedIn and other relevant sites or references within your cover letter for a marketing internship.

Engineering intern cover letter

From a software engineering internship cover letter to a mechanical engineering cover letter for an internship, there are a variety of engineering positions to enter. Within any field of engineering, there will be technical knowledge and terms that you will need to include.

💡 Tip: Make sure that you simplify these terms so that your cover letter for the engineering internship is easily understandable for the employer.

For instance, in a cover letter for a civil engineering internship, instead of just listing out the abbreviation (ex: GIS), you will want to include the actual phrase as well (geographic information system).

Cover letter for a finance internship

As an entry level with a strong interest in financing, you will want to show your proficiency with numbers. Display that you are skilled in working with digits by featuring numbered achievements from past experiences.

For instance, in your cover letter for a finance internship, instead of just stating how you have worked with financial reporting, go further into detail by including your high accuracy rate. 

Cover letter for an accounting internship

When creating a cover letter for an internship in accounting, you will want to portray your abilities with action verbs.

💡 Tip: Some action verbs that are well-suited for an accounting internship, as well as a cover letter for an audit internship, include assessed, balanced, budgeted, and forecasted.

Within the legal or law field, you will want to display yourself as professionally as possible. To do so, make sure that your cover letter for a legal internship (or cover letter for a law internship) is written grammatically correct and free of any mistakes.

As an aspiring law professional, you will want to show that you are putting 100% effort into your work, especially in your cover letter for the internship in a law firm.

How to write a cover letter for an internship with no experience

Whether you are crafting a cover letter for a marketing internship with no experience, a cover letter for an internship in information technology with no experience, or a cover letter for a law internship with no experience, these 3 tips can transform any internship cover letter with no experience.

1. Stress on your career objectives. 

An objective statement within your internship cover letter provides for the employer an idea of what you are seeking to accomplish as well as if you are fit for their end.

2. Highlight relevant educational qualifications, soft skills, and extracurricular activity experiences.

For instance, for an engineering internship cover letter with no experience, you will want to emphasize your experience of working on MATLAB and AutoCAD during your time as a grad student, or the projects you have worked on through the Engineering Student Council Team.

3. Show your strong understanding of the company. 

With limited experience, another way for you to show your suitability for the intern position is to prove to the employer that you fit the company culture and vision by including a commonality you have with the company.

Cover Letter Template for Internships

A well-crafted cover letter format for an internship will contain the essential sections and will be around three paragraphs of background information about yourself and past achievements.

Below is an internship cover letter template that you can customize to make your own.  

[Name]

[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
[Street Name]
[City, State, Zip]

[Current Date]

Dear [Name of Employer],  

My name is [Name] and I am interested in joining [Name of Company] as a [Job Title for Internship], as stated on the hiring website. As a [Field of Major] graduate, I am [Description of your attributes and how it relates to the role or company]. I believe that with my [2-3 Skill Sets], I can effectively [What you believe you can accomplish for the company]. 

Previously, during my years as a [Field of Major] graduate, I was the [Position Title for Extracurricular]. As the [Position Title for Extracurricular], I was able to [1st Achievement]. [Description of what you have accomplished with numbered results]. 

With my [Additional 2-3 Skill Sets], I also [Another Achievement]. Not only was I able to [1st Achievement] but also able to [2nd Achievement]. 

Thank you very much for your time and consideration of me. I hope to gain the opportunity to work with [Name of Company] as a [Job Title for Internship]. Feel free to reach out to me at [Phone Number] or [Email Address] for any questions, and I hope to keep in touch soon. 

Best, 
[Name]

🔖 By reviewing our internship cover letter examples and the ideal application letter format for an internship, you can develop the perfect internship cover letter fitted to your field of study. 

--- Originally written by Jessica Sun ---

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