How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship in 2025

A good cover letter for an internship must show your skills and determination. And companies tend to offer jobs to those who gained internship experience with them, so make a great impression from the very top.

In this guide, I’ll show you some tips for writing a cover letter for an internship, two internship cover letter examples and an internship cover letter template. This guide has it all, so let’s get right to it.

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Send your cover letter for internship positions along with an internship resume that proves you’re the #1 pick. See our guide: How to Write an Internship Resume

Looking for a specific internship cover letter? See:

• Accounting Internship Cover Letter Sample
• Architecture Internship Cover Letter Sample
• Computer Science Internship Cover Letter Sample

• Engineering Internship Cover Letter Sample
• Marketing Intern Cover Letter Sample

Let's start with two different cover letter samples for an internship, and then we'll show you how to write an internship cover letter that's just as amazing.

The first sample cover letter for internship is aimed at a position with a corporate financial institution—notice how the formal tone of this cover letter reflects a more “traditional” company culture.

Sample Cover Letter for an Internship

The second cover letter example you’ll see comes from a candidate applying for a more creative, tech-y internship. That’s why it’s written in a more casual, relaxed way.

Sample Internship Cover Letter—Software Engineering

Now that you’ve seen two great cover letter for internship examples, let me tell you how it’s done.

1. Use the Best Format for Your Internship Cover Letter

Like a well-written thesis, your internship cover letter must contain several recognizable sections that make it easy to read and comprehend. The checklist below will help you see to it that you’ve included everything that’s necessary:

Cover Letter for Internship—Checklist

• Your Contact Details
• Company Contact Information
• Dear + [Hiring Manager’s Name]
• Paragraph #1: Introduction with a relevant achievement to hook the reader
• Paragraph #2: Relevant skills/coursework + why you fit perfectly
• Paragraph #3: Your passion for job + why the company appeals to you
• Paragraph #4: Call to action
• Professional Salutation [e.g. Best regards + your name]
• Postscript (optional)—One more achievement of yours

This is basic cover letter format. Of course, nothing is set in stone, and you’re free to modify the structure and rearrange the sections of your internship cover letter. However, I recommend that your document includes all the information listed above.

How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship: Tips

• Choose a modern cover letter template and the professional cover letter font. Make them both match your resume.
• Stick to the right cover letter length. Don’t go over 4 paragraphs. 
• Keep the right margin and spacing of your cover letter. That’s 1.15 for spacing and 1 inch on each side for margins.
• Take a good look at the internship offer before you sit down to typing anything up. See if the company is looking for specific skills, relevant coursework, work experience, or characteristics. 

See some more tips on acing your cover letter. Visit our guide: The Complete Cover Letter How-To Guide

2. Start Your Internship Cover Letter Right

The very first sentence of your cover letter for an internship should make a lasting impression on the hiring manager. If it doesn’t, they’ll move on to the next candidate, hoping they have something more interesting to say. 

Here’s how to write a cover letter opening paragraph:

• Start with a cover letter header. Make sure it includes your name, phone number, and email address. 
• Add a date and your addressee’s name and address below your header.
• Avoid “To whom it may concern” and “Dear hiring manager” lines. The best way to address your cover letter is by calling them by their full name, as it can have a crucial impact on your interaction.
• Begin your first paragraph with a professional greeting. Add some information about the company, mentioning its name, and state that you’re interested in an internship.
• Express how excited you are about the opportunity to start your career with that specific company. Some compliments won’t do any harm!
• Try to include some relevant achievements that might be useful during your internship.

• Synonymize. You want to keep your readers interested, so don’t repeat yourself over and over again. Avoid it by introducing some action words to your cover letter.

Enough theory, time to see some examples:

Internship Cover Letter Examples [First Paragraph]

What is it exactly that makes the first internship cover letter introduction stand out?

The first sentence is the earthquake—it tells the recruiter what the candidate’s biggest achievement is. The section that follows is supposed to reinforce and sustain the wow effect by:

• Adding more relevant achievements.
• Introducing the candidate through her actions.
• Showing she’s a match by specifying her field of study.
• Explaining how she’s aligned with the company’s own values.

In short, it’s a killer internship cover letter opening. In contrast to the second one. 

Everybody applying for this internship will promise to work hard. Nothing separates this cover letter from the next one. If companies were looking for just anybody, no one would even bother posting any job ad in the first place. They’d just offer the internship to a random passer-by.

Past the internship and looking for a first job? See our guide: Cover Letter Sample For Students With No Experience

3. Write a Rockstar Internship Cover Letter Middle Sections

Did you know that 47% of students gain experience through internships or career-related jobs? That means your competition is huge. You need to make sure that every single part of your cover letter is taken care of. That obviously includes your second and third paragraphs.

The second paragraph of your cover letter for an internship is the right place to show you have it all. Here’s what to include in a cover letter (second and third paragraph):

• Speak about your relevant achievements. What you’ve already accomplished will impress the recruiter and will distinguish you from other candidates.
• Quantify your achievements. It makes them even more impressive, especially if you use percentages and not numbers.
• Address what the company is dealing with, mention its goals, write about the market. Show that you care, that you’re in the loop and that you’ve done your research. 

Look at the example below:

Internship Cover Letter Examples [Middle Paragraphs] 

The first internship cover letter sample is tailored to a specific opening. The employer is looking for candidates willing to take on leadership positions, displaying a results-oriented attitude, with good analytical and problem-solving skills. In addition, one of the requirements for this internship role is a GPA of 3.5 or higher. And this is exactly what the middle section of the cover letter highlights. Plus, it contains the right keywords.

Now take a look at the second internship cover letter example. It’s cute but completely misses the point and doesn’t address the employer’s specific requirements for the position. Relevance is key to landing the internship role. If you know who the employer seeks, show them you’ve got exactly what they’re looking for.

Pro Tip: If you have no internship offer to fall back on, one way of addressing the employer’s specific needs is by arranging an informational interview with the company’s current or former employees.

4. End Your Cover Letter for an Internship With a CTA

The closing of any cover letter for an internship is crucial. It's the last thing the reader remembers, and you want them to think of you as the ideal candidate. Do it well, and your internship cover letter will help you land you the interview.

Here’s how to end a cover letter for an internship:

• Say how excited you are about the chance to join this specific company. I know we’ve done it before, but there’s no harm in repeating that at the end of your document.
• Explain how your skills will help the company. Remember that from their perspective, helping the company is your only job.
• Add a call to action at the end of your letter. Suggest a particular time to meet.

Here're some internship cover letter examples that will show you how to do it right:

Cover Letter for Internship Examples [Ending] 

The second one is so obviously wrong. A generic internship cover letter will cause a generic reaction (read: rejection). Internship opportunities are for those who can shake the hiring manager from their stupor.

Pro Tip: Consider adding some extra value, skill or achievement in a postscript. Make it impressive. That way you’ll make them interested in learning more about you. Adding the postscript at the very end of your internship cover letter will draw the reader’s attention. However, remember that it’s an optional section so use it only when you really have an ace up your sleeve.

5. Learn How to Send a Cover Letter for an Internship

Writing your internship cover letter is one thing, but delivering it to your recruiter is also important. I know it sounds like a simple thing, but since it’s probably your first cover letter, allow me to briefly tell you how to do it right.

There are three ways of delivering your cover letter to your potential employer:

• Hand-deliver it to the office. Printing it and handling it over makes it personal from the start, but it’s not the most convenient way of doing it.
• Email your cover letter as an attached file. Make sure to include a PDF file, as it’s the format that keeps your document intact and easy to open on most devices. 
• Write a short cover letter and paste it in your email. Reading it won't take your recruiter too much time, and they will surely appreciate a snappy list of your most relevant qualifications instead of an essay.

Pro Tip: If you’re typing an email cover letter, you can skip the street address and start off with the greeting. Just remember to put your phone number (and email address if you like) under your name at the bottom of the message.

Internship Cover Letter Template

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Here’s how to write a cover letter for an internship:

• Grab the hiring manager’s attention from the very first sentence.
• Show off your relevant skills and add info on coursework.
• Let the recruiter see you’re cut out for the role.
• Explain why you believe the company’s values are in line with yours.
• Include a call to action, i.e. ask the hiring manager for a call or meeting.
• See to it that both your cover letter and resume are relevant and targeted.

This is it! That’s how you write a great cover letter for an internship. Good luck—You got this!

If you have any other questions or would like to share your advice, give me a shout-out in the comments below. I’m always happy to hear from you.

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Sources

• Dennis P. Carmody, Michael Lewis, "Brain Activation When Hearing One’s Own and Others’ Names"
• Jenna Bellassai, "Nearly Half of College Students Don’t Feel Career-Ready, Forage Study Finds"