how do i write a cover letter for an engineering internship

15 Engineering Intern Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)

Are you are looking to write a cover letter for Engineering Intern jobs that will impress recruiters and get you noticed by hiring managers? You need one to apply for a job, but you don’t know what to say.

A cover letter is a formal introduction to a potential employer. It tells the employer about your skills and qualifications that make you a suitable candidate for the position. For example, if you’ve been given an assignment from your boss to submit a cover letter, then you should include information on where you learned the skill sets needed for the job, any degrees or certifications you have, and why this opportunity interests you.

Here are 15 amazing Engineering Intern cover letters that are professionally written and will help you stand out and get that job!

Engineering Intern Cover Letters

Each cover letter is written with a different focus. Review all of them and pick the ones that apply to your situation. Take inspiration from multiple samples and combine them to craft your unique cover letter.

Engineering Intern Sample 1

Dear Hiring Manager,

My work at ________ has been well-received and I am confident that I can translate my performance into a successful engineering internship. I am eager to dive into the projects you have outlined to provide the best contribution possible. With my interest in working with metals and designing new products, I believe that this position would be a perfect fit for me. Thank you again for your consideration and if there is anything else you need from me, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime; email or phone numbers are listed below.

Engineering Intern Sample 2

I am writing to express my interest in the Engineering Intern position offered by your company. I am a recent graduate of X University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I have extensive experience in designing, building, and testing both mechanical and electrical products. My 5 years of work experience has provided me with the knowledge necessary to succeed in this position. I am confident that my skillset will prove useful for your company’s needs and hope that you contact me soon so we can arrange an interview.

Engineering Intern Sample 3

To Whom it May Concern,

I am a recent graduate from Syracuse University. I have a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, and am looking for an internship opportunity that will allow me to apply my skills. I am interested in learning more about the engineering industry and how it operates during an internship period of time. I believe that this position would be a wonderful opportunity for me to do so. You can find my resume at the bottom of this email if you are interested in viewing it as well as my LinkedIn profile which has links to other samples of my work including projects from past courses as well as some others from outside the classroom environment. Thank you for your consideration!

Engineering Intern Sample 4

Dear Ms. Jones, My name is Sophia and I am a student seeking to take the Engineering Internship position you posted on Job Bank. I am confident that I have all the skills necessary to be a valuable employee and will perform my duties with much enthusiasm and utilize my knowledge and skills as an engineering major. Attached is my resume for your perusal. Thank you for your time and consideration, Sophia

Sincerely, Sophia

Engineering Intern Sample 5

I am excited to apply for the Engineering Intern position at your company. My interest in engineering began in high school when I was inspired by my shop teacher and mentor, Mr. ____. I was also very hands-on with my high school robotics team and took advantage of every opportunity to learn more about engineering. The internship experience will help broaden my knowledge of the field and allow me to learn valuable skills that can be applied in future careers. Thank you for your time and consideration, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need any additional information about me or why I would be a valuable addition to your company!

Engineering Intern Sample 6

I’m writing to express my interest in the Engineering Intern position. I am confident that my skills and abilities will be a valuable asset for this company, and I am eager to learn more about your requirements.

I have experience in mechanical engineering which has equipped me with the necessary tools needed for this position. My education coupled with past work experiences allow me to succeed at any task assigned to me, including designing prototypes of new machines.

Engineering Intern Sample 7

Your engineering internship position with ____ is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. My expertise is in ____, and I am able to bring this skill set to your team. I hope you will consider me for your engineering internship position with ____.

Engineering Intern Sample 8

I am a recent graduate from _____ University with a B.S in Computer Science and Engineering. I have been interested in the field of engineering for many years and hope to gain experience through an internship.

I am writing to express my interest in the Engineering Intern position at your company, ____ Corporation. The skills I possess, such as my computer science degree and knowledge of various engineering technologies is a perfect match for this position. In addition, I have over three years of experience working with circuit boards and would be an asset to your team during this time frame while also learning new engineering skills on-the-go.

Two things motivate me: one is the opportunity to work with others who share my interests, while the

Engineering Intern Sample 9

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to express my interest in the  Engineering Intern position at your company. I have a passion for engineering and would love to join your team. Please review my resume and make a decision on whether you think I am a good fit for the team. I look forward to hearing from you soon! Sincerely,

Engineering Intern Sample 10

I am writing to express my interest in the Engineering Intern position with Company. I have been a lifelong learner and enjoy facing new challenges on a daily basis. From my time as an engineering student, I have gained many valuable skills, including problem solving and critical thinking skills. My design experience has taught me how to communicate effectively with different stakeholders and develop the right tools for the job. In addition, my leadership experience as president of Student Council has given me confidence that I can take initiative and work well with others. In short, I believe that I would be a great fit for this engineering internship position because of skills learned from both academics and extracurriculars alike.

Yours Truly

Engineering Intern Sample 11

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing because I would like to apply for the Engineering Intern position at your company. I am a junior in college and will be graduating in the spring with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. My past internships have focused on design and machine shop work and because of this, I am confident that my skills would be a perfect match for this position. Furthermore, I understand that if hired, there will be various tasks assigned to me including designing steel frames for new houses and assembling machines; however, because of my diverse background, these tasks are not unfamiliar to me. In addition, my goal is to eventually work as an engineer at a company such as yours so being able to learn from someone who

Engineering Intern Sample 12

Dear, I am an Industrial Engineering student with an extensive background in mathematics. I am excited to apply my skills in a hands-on environment and would love to be considered for the engineering internship position that you have available. I’m excited about the opportunity to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment and I think that this position will help me develop my analytical skills further. Thank you for your consideration, I hope to hear from you soon!

Engineering Intern Sample 13

I am a senior Mechanical Engineering major at __________. My goal is to work as an Engineer in developing new technologies and designing products for tomorrow. I have been involved in the __________ Engineering Program from freshman year, as well as being a member of the Phi Tau Fraternity, which has provided me with experience in leadership and teamwork. In my spare time, I enjoy playing soccer on my intramural team, working on my side job website design firm Design on Demand LLC, and going to the gym to stay active.

Please see attached resume for a more detailed summary of qualifications and past experience. Thank you for your consideration!

Engineering Intern Sample 14

Dear _________, I am very interested in the Engineering Intern position you posted and would like to spend any available hours I may have contributing to your company. Coming from a family of engineers and having completed many internships and projects in different engineering fields, it is clear that I am strongly committed to this field. I’m confident that my diverse experience as an intern will be a great asset for your team. I would be grateful if you could consider me for the position so we can discuss this more in person at your convenience. Thank you!

Engineering Intern Sample 15

Dear Richard, I am very excited to be applying for the Engineering Intern position at your company. I look forward to updating my skills and knowledge in this industry. I have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with an additional emphasis in STEM education from _______ University, and I am currently pursuing my teaching certification at _________. My engineering experience includes time spent as an intern with _____, where I was able to improve my software engineering skills by working on their analytics team (2017). My work there also gave me the opportunity to coordinate events for clients of all ages (2018).

Frankly, I want the chance to put my skills into practice and learn more about your company’s culture. If given this opportunity, you

Recruiters and hiring managers receive hundreds of applications for each job opening.

Use the above professionally written Engineering Intern cover letter samples to learn how to write a cover letter that will catch their attention and customize it for your specific situation.

Related Careers:

• 15 Sales Representative Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 Photographer Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 HR Generalist Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 Lawyer Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 Payroll Specialist Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 Fashion Stylist Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 Phlebotomist Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 Program Manager Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 Pharmacy Technician Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)
• 15 Early Childhood Teacher Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Engineering Intern Cover Letter Example

Cover letter examples, cover letter guidelines, how to format an engineering intern cover letter, cover letter header, cover letter header examples for engineering intern, how to make your cover letter header stand out:, cover letter greeting, cover letter greeting examples for engineering intern, best cover letter greetings:, cover letter introduction, cover letter intro examples for engineering intern, how to make your cover letter intro stand out:, cover letter body, cover letter body examples for engineering intern, how to make your cover letter body stand out:, cover letter closing, cover letter closing paragraph examples for engineering intern, how to close your cover letter in a memorable way:, pair your cover letter with a foundational resume, key cover letter faqs for engineering intern.

You should start your Engineering Intern cover letter by addressing the hiring manager directly, if possible. If you don't know their name, use a professional greeting like "Dear Hiring Manager". Then, introduce yourself and state the position you're applying for. Make sure to mention where you found the job posting. For example, "I am a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at XYZ University, and I am writing to apply for the Engineering Intern position I found on your website." This not only shows that you're interested in the position, but also that you've taken the initiative to research the company. It's also a good idea to include a brief statement about why you're interested in the role and how it aligns with your career goals.

The best way for Engineering Interns to end a cover letter is by expressing gratitude for the reader's time and consideration, reiterating their interest in the role, and indicating their eagerness to further discuss their qualifications. For instance, "Thank you for considering my application. I am very excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team and am confident that my skills and passion make me a strong candidate. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my application with you further." This ending is professional, respectful, and shows enthusiasm for the role. It also opens the door for further communication, which is key in the application process.

Engineering Interns should include the following elements in their cover letter: 1. Contact Information: Start with your name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of the cover letter. 2. Salutation: Address the hiring manager directly if possible. If you don't know their name, use a professional greeting like "Dear Hiring Manager". 3. Introduction: In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and state the position you're applying for. Mention how you learned about the internship opportunity. 4. Body: This is where you sell yourself. Highlight your relevant coursework, projects, and previous internships or work experience that make you a strong candidate for the position. Discuss specific engineering skills you have that are relevant to the job description. This could include software proficiency, problem-solving abilities, or knowledge of engineering principles. 5. Achievements: Mention any academic or extracurricular achievements that demonstrate your dedication, leadership, or other qualities that would make you a valuable intern. 6. Company Knowledge: Show that you've researched the company and understand its mission and values. Explain why you're interested in working there and how you can contribute to their goals. 7. Closing: In the final paragraph, express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to interview and learn more about the company. Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration. 8. Signature: End with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your full name. Remember, a cover letter should complement your resume, not repeat it. It's your chance to tell a story about who you are, what you've accomplished, and why you're a great fit for the internship. Be sure to proofread carefully for any errors before sending.

Related Cover Letters for Engineering Intern

Engineering manager cover letter.

Mechanical Engineer Cover Letter

Civil Engineer Cover Letter

Computer Science Intern Cover Letter

Entry Level Engineering Cover Letter

Software Engineer Intern Cover Letter

Junior Software Engineer Cover Letter

Biomedical Engineer Cover Letter

Related Resumes for Engineering Intern

Engineering manager resume example.

Mechanical Engineer Resume Example

Civil Engineer Resume Example

Computer Science Intern Resume Example

Entry Level Engineering Resume Example

Software Engineer Intern Resume Example

Junior Software Engineer Resume Example

Biomedical engineer resume example.

Try our AI Cover Letter Generator

• Resume Writing
• Resume Examples
• Cover Letter
• Remote Work
• Famous Resumes
• Try Kickresume

How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship? (+5 Real Internship Cover Letter Examples)

• Julia Mlcuchova , 
• Updated March 20, 2024 8 min read

Trying to figure out how to write a cover letter for an internship ? Look no further!

POV: After weeks and weeks of searching for the right internship opportunity, you've finally found it. But, at the end of the posting, there's a single short sentence that takes you aback:  “Please, attach a cover letter to your application .”

Although some consider cover letter writing to be a relic of the past, it still holds its rightful place in the professional world. 

Because a well-written and persuasive cover letter can sometimes make up for the lack of work experience on your resume . And if you're trying to apply for an internship , this is probably your case, too. 

So, continue reading this article and learn: 

• What is a cover letter for an internship;
• Whether you need to attach a cover letter to your internship application;
• How to write one in 7 steps;
• 5 real-life internship cover letter examples .

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What is a cover letter for an internship?

Do you need a cover letter for an internship, how to write a cover letter for an internship in 7 steps, 5 real-life internship cover letter examples, key takeaways: how to write a cover letter for an internship.

Generally speaking, an internship cover letter is a formal document that accompanies your resume when applying for an internship. 

When it comes to its content, a cover letter for an internship falls somewhere between a traditional cover letter and a motivational letter . 

• A traditional cover letter , used by job applicants with years of experience, is supposed to underline some of the candidate's most relevant and impressive skills, qualifications, and work achievements . 
• A motivational letter , used mostly in academia, aims to communicate one's passion for the subject, their motivation, and personal goals . 

Hence, a cover letter for an internship combines the purpose of the traditional cover letter (convincing the recruiters that you're the right person for the job) with the tone and strategy of the motivational letter (writing about personal motivations and goals).

A truly successful internship cover letter should answer the following questions:

• Who are you? 
• Why are you interested in this particular internship?
• Why are you the best fit for this internship?
• What do you want to gain from this internship?

Absolutely! 

In fact, you should always attach a cover letter to your internship application , even if it isn't explicitly required from you.  

Why, you ask? 

Well, consider this: Internships are crucial stepping stones towards your dream career. And they're also incredibly competitive. A single internship opening can be answered by tens of applicants at a time. 

But how can you stand out from a crowd of equally inexperienced candidates? Certainly not by your non-existent professional accomplishments, right? 

When companies look for interns, they don't expect you to have a ton of real-life experience. They aren't looking for a “finished product,” but for someone with a genuine desire to learn and enthusiasm for the job. 

And these two are your weapons of choice!

How can a cover letter for an internship help you?

Apart from the reasons mentioned above, your internship cover letter is also responsible for: 

• Conveying first impression. Usually, recruiters will read your cover letter before looking at your resume. So, it's the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to them in a memorable way. 
• Showing your efforts. Next, taking the time to craft a thoughtful cover letter shows that you're willing to put in that extra effort to stand out from the rest of the candidates. 
• Highlighting your communication skills. Also, a well-written cover letter demonstrates your ability to articulate your thoughts clearly and professionally. 
• Showing your professionalism. When you walk into a room, it's polite to introduce yourself and shake everybody's hand. This is exactly what a cover letter does! To attach one to your application is a common courtesy.

Now that you're familiar with the whats and whys , let's have a look at how to write a good cover letter for an internship step-by-step. 

For example : Application for [name of the internship] internship – Surname.

Then, place your contact information (your name; professional email address; phone number; link to your website / portfolio / social media accounts if relevant) directly into the header .

If you know the recipient's name, address them by “ Dear [full name] ,” or “ Dear Mrs/Mr [last name] ,”. If you don't know who to address the cover letter to , address it more generally to “Dear Hiring Manager,” .

In the first paragraph of your cover letter , start by stating your name and where you studied (including your current degree and year of study). Proceed by explaining how you came to know about the internship and what are your motivations for applying to it.

Since you don't have much work experience, you can talk about your academic achievements; relevant coursework; dissertation project; extracurricular activities; volunteering; membership in relevant societies, etc.

The closing paragraph of your cover letter should reiterate your desire to get the specific internship, express gratitude to the recipient for their time and consideration, and include a final call for action (i.e. "I look forward to discussing the next steps during an interview." )

Finally, based on how you greeted the recipient of your cover letter, you can sign off with either “ Yours sincerely ,” or “ Yours faithfully ,” . If you addressed the recruiter by their name, sign off with the former; if not, use the latter.

Don't feel like writing your internship cover letter by hand?

Let our AI cover letter writer create the first draft of your internship cover letter!

Undoubtedly, the best way to learn something is to look at specific examples . And that's exactly what we're going to do right now! 

Below, we've prepared 5 internship cover letters written by real people with the help of our cover letter templates .

And, each of them is accompanied by our internship cover letter writing tips that you can implement into your own cover letter! 

FYI, you can use each of these examples as the first draft for your very own internship cover letter – simply click on the red button and start personalising the text (or let AI handle it).

#1 Philips Marketing Intern Cover Letter Sample

Internship cover letter example:.

This cover letter sample was provided by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.

What can you take away?

• Eye-catching header.  Firstly, the header is visually clearly separated from the rest of the text. This makes the recruiters notice it immediately. Plus, the contact information of the company is also featured in the left-hand corner - just like it would be on an actual letter.
• Research the company before applying. Notice sentences like: “ I really like and relate to what Philips stands for … ” and “ Furthermore, it is very appealing that Philips operates on an international level… ”.This shows that the candidate’s done a thorough research of the company's philosophy and structure.

#2 Warner Bros. Public Relations Intern Cover Letter Example

• Share a personal story. This can help you establish a sentimental connection between you and the company. Show them that for you, working for their company means more than any old internship.
• Name-drop a referral. Now, this is a little bit of a cheat code. But, if you happen to know about anyone who has worked/currently works for the company, slip their name into your cover letter.

#3 University of Massachusetts Boston Intern Cover Letter Example

What can you take away  .

• Write about what you want to gain from the internship. It shows that you're not there just to have something to put on your resume; but that you’re motivated by the idea of gaining actual industry knowledge and skills.

#4 Audit/Tax Summer Internship at CohnReznick Cover Letter Sample

• Mention any relevant academic activities. If you're wondering how to write a cover letter for an internship with no experience whatsoever, this is your way to go! For example, notice how this candidate noted all of his relevant courses, skills, association membership, and competition participation.
• Focus on transferrable skills. Especially when your study programme doesn't necessarily fit the internship opening to a T. Instead, focus on any transferable skills you've picked up. 

#5 Intern at NBC Cover Letter Sample

• Keep your opening and closing paragraphs short and sweet. As you can see in this example, it helps keep a certain visual harmony of the overall document. And, despite the length, both paragraphs do exactly what they're supposed to. Besides, recruiters might be discouraged to read the rest of your cover letter if your introductory paragraph is too long.

To sum it all up, an internship cover letter is a formal document that you submit together with your resume when applying for an internship. Its content should be something between a traditional cover letter and a motivational letter.

Its purpose is to introduce yourself to the recruiters in a more personal way than the resume allows. 

The main things you want your internship cover letter to communicate are:

• who you are,
• why you're interested in this opportunity,
• what make you the best fit for the internship, 
• your motivation (your long-term professional goals),
• your desire to learn (what you want to gain from the experience).

To write a truly impactful and persuasive cover letter, we recommend following these 7 key steps: 

• Specify which internship you're applying for in the subject line.
• Include your contact information in a header.
• Address the recipient appropriately.
• Introduce yourself & your motivations in the opening paragraph.
• Elaborate on why you're a good fit and what motivated you in body.
• End your cover letter with a confident closing paragraph.
• Finish off with a polite sign off. 

Finally, if you feel that the examples provided in this article aren't enough, you can always find more in our cover letter database . 

Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

Related Posts

Cover letter analysis: junior product manager hired by ibm, 13 terrible cover letter phrases and how you can fix them, share this article, join our newsletter.

Every month, we’ll send you resume advice, job search tips, career hacks and more in pithy, bite-sized chunks. Sounds good?

Professional Engineering Intern Cover Letter Examples for 2024

Your engineering intern cover letter must first highlight your passion for the field. Demonstrate your dedication through projects or coursework relevant to the position. In the second paragraph of your engineering intern cover letter, detail the skills you bring to the team. Show them why you’re not just another candidate but the right fit for the role.

Cover Letter Guide

Engineering Intern Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter Format

Cover Letter Salutation

Cover Letter Introduction

Cover Letter Body

Cover Letter Closing

No Experience Engineering Intern Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

Embarking on your engineering internship hunt, you've hit a common snag: crafting a cover letter that stands out. This daunting task is more than parroting your resume; it's your chance to share a compelling story centered on your proudest professional milestone. Steer clear of clichés and embrace a formal yet personal tone. Your aim? A succinct, one-page narrative that captures your unique achievements and passion for engineering—let's kickstart your journey to an impactful, memorable cover letter.

• Some inspiration from other professionals' job-winning cover letters;
• The best structure and format for your engineering intern cover letter;
• Insights on how to write about your best achievement to stand out;
• A creative twist on your engineering intern cover letter intro.

Upload your engineering intern resume to Enhancv's AI, which will quickly scan and prepare a job-winning cover letter for you.

If the engineering intern isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:

• Engineering Intern resume guide and example
• Petroleum Engineer cover letter example
• Project Engineer cover letter example
• Construction Manager cover letter example
• Senior Engineer cover letter example
• Structural Engineer cover letter example
• Engineering cover letter example
• Manufacturing Engineer cover letter example
• Senior Mechanical Engineer cover letter example
• Electrical Project Manager cover letter example
• Engineering Manager cover letter example

Engineering Intern cover letter example

Steve Benjamin

New York, NY

+1-(234)-555-1234

[email protected]

• Mentioning specific cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) demonstrates direct experience with tools relevant to infrastructure engineering, which is crucial for a role in a tech-forward company like BlueVoyant.
• Quantifying achievements, such as the '15% increase in system efficiency,' provides concrete evidence of the candidate's impact and technical prowess.
• Expressing eagerness to learn and contribute to the team showcases the candidate's collaborative spirit and dedication to continuous improvement, aligning with the company's value of innovation.

Structuring and formatting your engineering intern cover letter

Here's what the structure of your engineering intern cover letter should include:

• Header (with your name, the position you're applying for, and the date);
• Salutation (or greeting);
• Introductory paragraph (or your opening statement);
• Body paragraph (or further proof of your experience);
• Closing paragraph (with a call to action);
• Signature (that is optional).

Use the same font for your engineering intern resume and cover letter - modern fonts like Lato and Rubik would help you stand out.

Your engineering intern cover letter should be single-spaced and have a one-inch margins - this format is automatically set up in our cover letter templates and our cover letter builder .

When submitting your cover letter, always ensure it's in PDF, as this format keeps the information intact (and the quality of your document stays the same).

On one final note - the Applicant Tracker System (ATS or the software that is sometimes used to initially assess your application) won't read your engineering intern cover letter.

The top sections on a engineering intern cover letter

• Header: Includes your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact information, which is essential for providing a professional look and making it easy for the recruiter to reach out to you.
• Greeting: Addresses the hiring manager/recruiter by name whenever possible, showing that you’ve done your research and you’re personalizing the letter.
• Introduction: Briefly introduces yourself and states the engineering internship position you're applying for, while also catching the recruiter’s attention with your enthusiasm for the field of engineering.
• Body: Highlights your relevant coursework, projects, skills, and any previous internship experiences that make you a good fit for the engineering intern role, demonstrating your technical aptitude and problem-solving abilities.
• Closing: Reiterates your interest in the engineering position, thanks the recruiter for their consideration, and includes a call to action, such as requesting an interview or stating that you'll follow up, which shows initiative and eagerness to engage with the team.

Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

• Relevant technical skills: Knowledge of CAD software, programming languages, or other engineering tools necessary for the role.
• Hands-on project experience: Participation in engineering projects, competitions, or internships that show practical application of academic learning.
• Problem-solving abilities: Demonstrated capacity to approach and solve complex issues, a core aspect of engineering tasks.
• Teamwork and collaboration: Experience in working with teams on projects, highlighting the ability to contribute to team efforts and communicate effectively with peers.
• Understanding of industry-specific regulations: Familiarity with standard industry practices and regulatory requirements relevant to the engineering discipline.
• Adaptability and eagerness to learn: Willingness to rapidly learn new technologies and adapt to dynamic project requirements, showing flexibility and growth potential.

How to personalize your engineering intern cover letter greeting

Before you start writing your engineering intern cover letter, take the time to find out who is recruiting for the role.

Search for the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or the corporate website to address them personally in your engineering intern cover letter salutation .

What if you can't find out who's recruiting for the role?

Always aim to avoid the very impersonal "Dear Sir/Madam" - instead, opt out for "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager" to make a better first impression.

List of salutations you can use

• Dear Hiring Manager,
• Dear [Company Name] Team,
• Dear [Department Name] Hiring Committee,
• Dear [Specific Name if known],
• Dear [Mr./Ms. Surname],
• Dear [Professional Title] [Surname],

Introducing your profile to catch recruiters' attention in no more than two sentences

The introduction of your engineering intern cover letter is a whole Catch 22 .

You have an allocated space of no more than just a paragraph (of up to two sentences). With your introduction, you have to stand out and show why you're the best candidate out there.

Set out on a journey with your engineering intern cover letter by focusing on why you're passionate about the job. Match your personal skills and interests to the role.

Another option for your engineering intern cover letter introduction is to show you're the ideal candidate. Write about how your achievements and skills are precisely what the company is looking for.

However you decide to start your engineering intern cover letter, always remember to write about the value you'd bring about. Making it both tangible (with your metrics of success) and highly sought out.

What comes next: your engineering intern cover letter middle paragraphs

In the next three to six paragraphs (or the body of your engineering intern cover letter) you have to prove your unique value .

Most candidates tend to mess up at this stage. They tend to just copy-paste information from their resume.

That's one big no-no.

Remember that when writing your engineering intern cover letter, it has to be personalized. And, your ultimate aim is to catch the recruiter's eye.

So, look back on key job requirements and write down a list that includes the ones you cover.

Next, select just one key achievement from your professional (or personal) history that meets those advert keywords.

Narrate a story around how you've grown your skill set and knowledge. Also, aim to show the unique understanding or soft skills you bring about, thanks to your past success.

Ending your engineering intern cover letter to avoid "Sincerely yours"

Yes, this sort of closing statement may work best before your signature.

But you want to give recruiters something more with your engineering intern cover letter ending .

Some professionals choose to go down the path of promises. In a single sentence, they map out what they'd bring about to the role (whether that's a particular technical skill set or personal traits).

Others, decide to be more concrete by thanking recruiters for their time and prompting for their next interview.

Whatever path you choose, remember to always be polite and respectful of the opportunity you've had. Good manners go a long way.

What to write on your engineering intern cover letter, when you have zero experience

The best advice for candidates, writing their engineering intern cover letters with no experience , is this - be honest.

If you have no past professional roles in your portfolio, focus recruiters' attention on your strengths - like your unique, transferrable skill set (gained as a result of your whole life), backed up by one key achievement.

Or, maybe you dream big and have huge motivation to join the company. Use your engineering intern cover letter to describe your career ambition - that one that keeps you up at night, dreaming about your future.

Finally, always ensure you've answered why employers should hire precisely you and how your skills would benefit their organization.

Key takeaways

Creating your engineering intern cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:

• Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
• Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
• Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
• Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
• End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.

Cover letter examples by industry

AI cover letter writer, powered by ChatGPT

Enhancv harnesses the capabilities of ChatGPT to provide a streamlined interface designed specifically focused on composing a compelling cover letter without the hassle of thinking about formatting and wording.

• Content tailored to the job posting you're applying for
• ChatGPT model specifically trained by Enhancv
• Lightning-fast responses

Phone Interviews: Sure-Fire Advice on 14 Common Questions (plus 5 questions to ask the interviewer)

Busting ats myths: comprehensive testing of popular resume builders in 2024, should you include your age on your resume, navigating internal job applications: tips for communicating with your current boss, what is a confidential resume and how to write one, how to answer 'what was your greatest accomplishment' in an interview.

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Examples
• Resume Templates
• AI Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• Resume Skills
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Simple Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Guides
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

• Career Advice
• Cover Letters

Engineering Internship Cover Letter

When applying for an engineering internship you will most likely need to write a cover letter . This cover letter should include your skills, relevant experience, and motivation for wanting to work at the company.

Try Betterteam

Post your jobs to 100+ job boards

• Reach over 250 million candidates.
• Get candidates in hours, not days.

Engineering Internship Cover Letter Template

Download our free engineering internship cover letter template in MS Word format.

Engineering Cover Letter Example:

Dear [hiring manager’s title and last name, or their first name],

I found your advertisement for the [Engineering Internship] and am very interested in the position. My experience in [engineering] and ability to [#1 skill] and [#2 skill] make me the perfect candidate for the job. I know my skillset and industry knowledge will be invaluable to [name of the company/organization].

I am most impressed by [mention notable milestones or characteristics you appreciate about the company/institution] and have some great ideas of my own to contribute. When I worked on [mention a successful project/initiative you were involved in], we managed to [describe the result(s) of the project]. I believe your [talk about a project or company initiative you are especially interested in] will make waves in the industry and I’d feel privileged to be a part of such an innovative team.

During my studies at [name tertiary institution], I achieved [describe accomplishment(s) and strengthen it with a statistic, if possible]. Most recently I attended [mention relevant workshops/courses/training you’ve completed] that helped me sharpen my [list key skills or valuable attributes].

I have attached my resume and [mention any other documents that were requested, if applicable]. If you like my ideas, I have many more I’d like to discuss with you.

Sincerely, [Full name]

How to Write an Engineer Internship Cover Letter:

A complete guide that lists all the steps you need to help create a professional cover letter for an engineering internship.

Address your letter.

Address the hiring manager by name..

Do research to find out the hiring manager's name and address them directly.

Write about your best attributes.

List your skills and engineering experience..

As a recent graduate, you may not have professional experience, so you can describe your projects or extra-mural experiences that are relevant to the position. For example, your final year project can show your field of interest and experience with a particular type of machinery or software.

Explain why you like the company.

Conduct research on the company's engineering department..

Try to find out what the company is working on and mention specific projects that interest you. They may be involved in civil engineering projects that affect your community, or off-shore projects that are similar to your final year project.

Highlight your greatest career milestones.

Mention your achievements..

Briefly describe any relevant achievements and try to include measurable results like a statistic. This may be a project you scored highly on or a benchmark test that shows your proficiency with particular software.

Describe your educational background.

Mention your school and what you achieved during your studies. You should also include information about workshops or additional training you received for software or a specialized machine.

Include the necessary documents.

Mention any documents that were requested..

If you were asked to provide additional documents like your CV or resume, be sure to make the hiring manager aware of these attachments. You could attach your final year projects or certificates showing your proficiency with modeling software or specialized machinery.

How do I write a cover letter for an engineering internship?

• Address the hiring manager by name .
• List your skills and experience .
• Explain why you like the company .
• Mention your achievements .
• Mention any documents that were requested .

What do you write in a cover letter for an engineering internship?

Mention your skills, experience, and achievements to show that you are qualified for the position. Talk about why you like the company with references to specific projects you are interested in.

What should an engineering internship cover letter include?

The cover letter should include the hiring manager's name, relevant skills and experience you have, motivation for why you are interested in the company, and achievements from your studies or other roles.

How do I write a cover letter for an engineering internship with no experience?

If you lack work experience, try to emphasize the skills you have learned through extra studies or training programs. This will show an eagerness to learn and become more qualified.

How long should an engineering internship cover letter be?

An engineering internship cover letter should be between half a page and a page long.

Related Articles:

The 12 best cover letter tips for 2024, how to write a cover letter, how to address a cover letter, common cover letter mistakes, engineering resume.

Explore your training options in 10 minutes Get Started

• Graduate Stories
• Partner Spotlights
• Bootcamp Prep
• Bootcamp Admissions
• University Bootcamps
• Coding Tools
• Software Engineering
• Web Development
• Data Science
• Tech Guides
• Tech Resources
• Career Advice
• Online Learning
• Internships
• Apprenticeships
• Tech Salaries
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• University Admissions
• Best Schools
• Certifications
• Bootcamp Financing
• Higher Ed Financing
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Best Coding Bootcamps
• Best Online Bootcamps
• Best Web Design Bootcamps
• Best Data Science Bootcamps
• Best Technology Sales Bootcamps
• Best Data Analytics Bootcamps
• Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps
• Best Digital Marketing Bootcamps
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Browse All Locations
• Digital Marketing
• Machine Learning
• See All Subjects
• Bootcamps 101
• Full-Stack Development
• Career Changes
• View all Career Discussions
• Mobile App Development
• Cybersecurity
• Product Management
• UX/UI Design
• What is a Coding Bootcamp?
• Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It?
• How to Choose a Coding Bootcamp
• Best Online Coding Bootcamps and Courses
• Best Free Bootcamps and Coding Training
• Coding Bootcamp vs. Community College
• Coding Bootcamp vs. Self-Learning
• Bootcamps vs. Certifications: Compared
• What Is a Coding Bootcamp Job Guarantee?
• How to Pay for Coding Bootcamp
• Ultimate Guide to Coding Bootcamp Loans
• Best Coding Bootcamp Scholarships and Grants
• Education Stipends for Coding Bootcamps
• Get Your Coding Bootcamp Sponsored by Your Employer
• GI Bill and Coding Bootcamps
• Tech Intevriews
• Our Enterprise Solution
• Connect With Us
• Publication
• Reskill America
• Partner With Us

• Resource Center
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree

How to Write an Effective Engineering Internship Cover Letter and Resume

An essential part of landing one of the best engineering internships is crafting an impressive cover letter and resume that details your career experience. As an aspiring engineer, you may have little or no practical engineering experience. Your cover letter and resume should highlight any relevant experience you have, along with your passion and willingness to learn. 

As a student, participating in an engineering internship has a lot of benefits , including steering you towards achieving your career goals. Internships are a good way to build practical skills in the engineering field and to simplify your job hunt after graduation. To secure a reputable internship, you need an impressive cover letter and resume devoid of all the common mistakes. 

Find your bootcamp match

Engineering internship cover letter guide.

To create a strong engineering intern cover letter that highlights all your relevant accomplishments and communicates your passion for the job, you should educate yourself on the role and company you’re applying to. This will enable you to discern what should be included in your letter. In general, it should be concise, personalized, and error-free.

Why Does Your Engineering Internship Cover Letter Matter? 

Employers want candidates with substantial work experience, even for entry-level positions. An internship is an opportunity to build hands-on experience in your engineering field so you can increase your chances of securing good-paying jobs with prominent employers after graduation. An impressive cover letter can help you secure that opportunity you’ve been looking for.

Your engineering cover letter is a good opportunity to convey your passion for engineering to the hiring manager. Since most applicants lack the relevant skills needed for the job, employers will base their hiring decision on the academic track record of an applicant. A cover letter is your chance to use your communication skills to grab the attention of your recruiter.

According to a research paper in Sage Journal, 56 percent of employers prefer candidates who submit a cover letter as part of their job application. That’s why you need to create an impressive engineering internship cover letter and resume that boosts your competence and gives the impression you’re an enthusiastic candidate.

Essential Components of Your Engineering Internship Cover Letter

As an intern, your cover letter should be written in a simple format. It should comprise these key components to ensure you’re able to efficiently get your message across.

• The subject of the letter. Usually, the subject of your email cover letter should be the title of the job stated in the job posting. However, if it isn’t explicitly stated, you should write a direct and brief title, such as “ Engineering Internship Position” as the subject of your message. This isn’t necessary for a document letter.
• Salutation. If possible, your salutation should contain the name of the hiring manager. In situations where you’re unable to obtain the name of the employer, you should address the letter to the office of the recruiter. An example would be “Dear Hiring Manager”.
• Opening and closing statements. Your opening paragraph should contain your interest in the role. You should sound enthusiastic. Your closing statement should list your resume attachment, express gratitude, and disclose your contact information. 
• Body paragraphs. Once your introduction has captured the interest of your reader, the succeeding paragraphs should capitalize on that and establish why you’re the right fit for the role. The paragraphs should highlight your educational qualifications and your skillset.
• Signature and contact information. Make sure to include your full name and contact information at the end of your email cover letter. You could also add an electronic signature along with your name and contact information. For a mailed letter, use a handwritten signature.

5 Tips for Writing a Strong Engineering Internship Cover Letter

Take a look at these tips to ensure that you sound professional and present yourself as an ideal candidate in your cover letter.

• Sound confident. Just because you’re applying for an internship role doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to offer. You have your passion, enthusiasm, innovation, and quick learning abilities to offer. Show the recruiter that the experiences and skills you do have are why you’re the right fit for the position. 
• Choose a simple but professional cover letter layout. Don’t try to be too fancy. That’s not the precedent you want to set as a burgeoning professional. When writing your engineering internship cover letter, bear in mind that everything matters, even something as minute as a font style. This is your chance to make a good impression.
• Include your contact information. Ensure that your email address doesn’t look unprofessional. Aside from your email address, leave an alternative way for the recruiter to contact you. 
• Be concise. In just a few paragraphs, tell the reader why you’re the best candidate for the job. Your cover letter is your opportunity to be strategic. If it’s too lengthy, the reader might lose interest. 
• Check for errors. You might have a lot to offer but your reader won’t find out if they can’t get past the first few sentences. Always check for grammatical or spelling errors. Ensure there is a logical flow in your writing.

Engineering Internship Cover Letter Example

If you’re struggling with how to structure your engineering internship letter, our sample cover letter sample below can provide some guidance.

Engineering Internship Cover Letter Sample

[Your Name]

[Your Address] [(123) 098-7654] [Your Email Address]

[Date of Application]

[Hiring Manager]

[ABC Company]

[ABC Company City]

Dear [Hiring Manager],

I am interested in the mechanical engineering intern position at [ABC Company]. I am a third-year mechatronics major at [University] and an internship at your company is an incredible opportunity to benign a successful career in robotics. I want to participate in this program so that I can contribute in any way possible to the development of revolutionary robot systems.

My passion for robotics led to my taking on a job as a part-time manufacturing assistant at [Current/Past Employer]. I work with the production staff to ensure efficiency. I also have responsibilities as student president for the engineering school at [University]. These opportunities allowed me to gain experience in designing applications and assembling electronic components for robotic systems and organizing a fundraiser which raised $900,000. My GPA currently stands at 3.94.

My skills and educational qualifications include 3D designing, programming, hardware assembling, and data visualization. I currently hold a high school diploma and a Microsoft Excel certificate.

My resume will shed more light on my accomplishments and reaffirm that I am a great fit for this internship position. Should you consider my qualifications and passion sufficient enough to meet with me, I would be happy to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Engineering Internship Resume Guide

It only takes an average of 7.4 seconds for most hiring managers to lose interest in candidates, according to a study done by TheLadders in 2018. A good cover letter draws attention to the most impressive aspects of your professional history.

Why Does Your Engineering Internship Resume Matter?

Securing an internship gives you a 70.4 percent chance to receive a job offer , according to a survey report by Nace in 2019, and a strong resume enables you to take advantage of that opportunity. If you care about securing a well-paying job after graduation you should care about creating a great resume . 

Essential Components of Your Engineering Internship Resume

To promote a professional image, your engineering internship resume should comprise certain components. We’ve listed some of the components so you’ll get a feel of how your internship resume should be structured. 

• Contact information. This section should include your personal information such as your phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile, and personal website or professional portfolio. 
• Professional objective or summary. This section is located at the top of the resume, just below the contact information. It should be treated as your statement of purpose. It tells the reader of your professional accomplishment or aspirations. As an intern, you should go with a professional objective that details your career aspirations.
• Engineering experience. Recruiters want applicants who have some sort of relevant work experience, even for internships and entry-level roles. This is your opportunity to list paid or unpaid positions you’ve held in the past to improve your chances.
• Educational background. The educational background section should detail your formal education. This is the chance to brag about your academic accomplishments. List your high school diploma, your college courses, and projects you’ve participated in.
• Skillset. This is the section where you state key skills. List both hard and soft skills in this section, especially since you may not have many technical skills due to your limited practical experience. 
• Additional information. In the additional information section, list volunteer experience, seminars you’ve attended, and certificates you’ve acquired. List your relevant interests and any publication you’ve been included in. This section should show your personality and communicate your individuality to the hiring manager. 

5 Tips for Writing a Strong Engineering Internship Resume

Follow these tips to write a quality resume. Use them as guidelines and apply them to your personal situation. 

• Choose a professional template. The resume you send out to recruiters should have a professional layout. Avoid using a resume with too many graphics for an engineering internship application. They can be distracting and can cause the reader to miss the major points in the resume or even lose interest in your application. 
• Create an attention-grabbing professional objective. Your professional objective should be well-crafted. Ensure it portrays you as a good contender for the position. Use facts and figures wherever possible. Coordinate your sentences to express your interest and passion to build your engineering career. 
• Use bullet points. Your resume might seem too complicated to the reader if it’s not well-spaced and bulleted. Bulleting the contents in each section will draw attention to the major points you want to highlight. 
• Use statistical data to boost your resume. To emphasize your points, use statistical data. This would make it easy to assess your performance and compare it to other candidates. It would also make your accomplishments seem more prominent than they are and this is good for your image.
• Ensure your resume is free from errors. Go through your resume more than once to ensure it is free from grammatical or spelling errors. Use grammar editing tools to improve the quality of your content. Before sending it out to recruiters, ask someone whose judgment you trust to look it over.

Engineering Internship Resume Examples

To minimize deviations in constructing your resume, we’ve attached a template and sample engineering internship resume to serve as a visual guide when drafting yours. This sample was constructed using data that highlights the key components and contents of a professional engineering internship resume.

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

Engineering Internship Resume Sample: The Professional Objective Section

Motivated mechanical engineering student with two years of part-time work experience as a manufacturing assistant at Gent Technologies and competence in developing applications and assembling electronic components for robotic systems.

Sample Engineering Internship Resume Template

First Name Last Name Address, Zipcode · Phone number Email · LinkedIn · Website

[Put your mission statement here]

Start year – End year Part-time job, Company

Start year – End year School appointment, Company

• Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam sed erat id turpis tempor ornare. Suspendisse tincidunt mauris ac mattis placerat.

Month and Year Degree Title, School

• Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit

Month and Year Diploma Title, School

• Lorem ipsum

Additional Information 

Engineering Internship Resume Template Resources

• VisualCV Engineering Intern Resume Builder . VisualCV is a resume resource that allows users to edit engineering intern samples to create theirs. 
• ResumeLab Engineering Intern Resume Builder . You can build your next engineering intern resume using the ResumeLab engineering intern template.
• Zippia Engineering Internship Resume Builder . Zippia provides you with a range of engineering internship resume templates to choose from.

Importance of an Engineering Internship Cover Letter and Resume

Your engineering intern cover and resume represent the only chance for the hiring manager to get to know you before the interview. It is a major aspect of the hiring process because the recruiter will most likely base their decisions on how they perceive you. Take the time to create a good impression with your cover letter and resume.

Engineering Internship Cover Letter and Resume FAQ

Your resume should include everything you want the hiring manager to know about your educational and professional development. Details like your awards, volunteering efforts, and certificates should be included in your resume. Ensure your personal information includes links to your website and professional profile.

The first step to writing a strong engineering internship cover letter is using the right cover letter format for this field and writing as many drafts as possible. Your cover letter should contain essential sections and details.

Most engineering internships look for innovative and driven candidates, candidates who are passionate, unique, and can communicate well. They want candidates with some sort of work experience and technical skillset.

Having an engineering internship increases your chances of being hired. Most employers have high retention rates for their interns. It is one of the ideal ways to gain the required practical knowledge for your field. If for some reason you can’t participate in an internship, attending a coding bootcamp to learn engineering is a viable alternative.

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

What's Next?

Get matched with top bootcamps

Ask a question to our community, take our careers quiz.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your favourite senior outside college

Home » Internship Tips » Tips & Tricks » How to Write Cover Letter for an Internship?

How to Write a Cover Letter for Internships [Examples & Template]

Cover letters and resumes are the introductory documents that help an employer form their first impressions about a future employee. Thus, it is very important to draft the perfect documents to find success, especially when applying for an internship. To help you through the drafting process we are going to walk you through the process to write a cover letter for an internship that not only grabs attention but leaves a lasting impression.

Table of Contents

How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship?

Want to write the best cover letter for an internship role? Follow the steps below and learn how to write a cover letter. 

• Mention Your Details: At the top left corner of the internship cover letter, write your full name, address, email ID, and phone number.
• Add Date: Next, add the date you are writing the letter. 
• Mention Receiver’s Details: Mention the receiver’s name followed by the company address. The receiver can be the manager or the HR professional responsible for recruitment. 
• Address the Recruiter: Write “Dear [name]” to address the recruiter before beginning the main content of the letter.
• Opening Statement: Write a brief statement that appeals to the recruiter and informs them of your intent to apply for the internship position. You can add one or two of your key achievements here but do not forget to mention which position you are applying for. 
• For example , you mention you have strong communication skills. Back the claim with a background story of how you gave a presentation on a technical topic and were able to communicate your idea easily to the audience due to your skills. 
• Closing Paragraph: Thank the recruiter and add a call to action, like requesting them to check your resume for more details or that you are available for an interview to discuss the internship opportunity further. 
• End With Formal Salutation: End your letter with “Warm Regards” or “Sincerely.”

Also Read: How to Write Cover Letter for a Job?

Cover Letter Template For Internship

Let us look at this internship letter template to understand how to write an internship application letter.

Also Read: Cover Letter Formats

Sample Cover Letter for Internship for Different Sectors

Here are some examples of letters for internships based on different sectors for your better understanding:

1. Sample Cover Letter for IT Internship

This sample cover letter for IT internship is for sectors like Web Development, Data Analyst, etc. 

2. Sample Cover Letter for Finance Internship

This cover letter format for an internship will guide you on how to create a cover letter for a job in the financial sector.

3. Sample Cover Letter for Marketing and Advertising Internship

This cover letter for an internship in marketing and advertising will help you showcase the skills that will enable you to contribute effectively in the corporate world, especially if you are seeking digital marketing internships .

4. Sample Cover Letter for Graphic Design Internship

This is the best cover letter for an internship in graphic design . It will help recruiters see your passion for design which will increase your chances of getting hired.

5. Sample Cover Letter for Human Resources (HR) Internship

This is the best way of writing a cover letter for an internship in Human Resources .

6. Sample Cover Letter for Law Internship

This format will highlight your relevant skills and experiences and make you a strong candidate for law internship opportunities .

Also Read: Cover Letter for Legal Interns .

Mistakes to Avoid while Drafting a Cover Letter

When writing cover letters it’s important to pay attention to minute details, here are some mistakes that you should avoid while writing your cover letter:

• Generic Templates- Craft a unique letter for each application, tailored to the specific internship and company.
• Ignoring Formatting- Use clear headings, bullet points, and a readable font. A well-formatted cover letter reflects your attention to detail.
• Overwhelming Length- Keep your cover letter concise and to the point. Aim for around 250-300 words.
• Neglecting Proofreading- Always proofread your cover letter before sending it out. Typos and grammatical errors can make a negative impression.
• Overusing Jargon- While it’s great to demonstrate your knowledge, avoid overloading your cover letter with industry jargon or technical terms. Explain complex concepts briefly and clearly to ensure your message is easily understood.

In this blog, we’ve covered some key points for writing a cover letter for an internship. By adding your own unique touch and showing your excitement for the role, you can set yourself apart from other applicants. So, take your time while writing a cover letter, and let your strengths shine on the page.

If you thought this blog was helpful, tell us in the comments section below. Also, check out these online interview tips before going for your next job interview.

Answer: To write a good cover letter for an internship, include keywords from the internship description, proofread to ensure content flow, highlight extracurriculars, format well, and customize each cover letter.

Answer: To write a letter asking for an internship, research the company to tailor your response accordingly. Write a meaningful subject line, add a greeting, and express your interest in the internship and the reason along with your skills and educational qualifications. 

Answer: Here is a sample for a basic cover letter: “My name is [your name], and I am writing to express my interest in the internship role [role title] at your company [company name]. I am excited to share that I believe I have the necessary skills and knowledge that make me the best candidate for the internship role. Kindly consider my application. Thank you for your time and consideration.”

Answer: Here is how you can write a cover letter for a legal internship, “Dear [recruiter’s name], As a recent law graduate, I am excited to hear about the internship role your company [name of the company] is offering. I have an additional certification course in corporate law and possess trial preparation skills. I am certain my skills and talent will be a great addition to your organization. Kindly consider my application in a positive light. I am excited to discuss this opportunity further with you. You can contact me at [email ID]. Thanks for your consideration.”

Answer: You should write a cover letter for an internship because it allows you to mention additional details you could not in the resume and provide background to some information like skills.

• ← Previous
• Next →

Sandipta Banerjee has completed her Master's in English Literature and Language. She has been working in the field of editing and writing for the past five years. She started her writing journey at a very young age with her poems which have now evolved into a poetry blog. She was working as Editorial Head in a US-based publishing house before joining Internshala.

Related Post

How to Get an Internship at ISRO: Strategies, Tips & More

Securing an internship at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is a dream for many students pursuing a career in science and technology. With its prestigious reputation and invaluable work

How to Get an Internship in 2nd Year of College: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you a college student looking to gain practical experience and jumpstart your career journey? Securing an internship during your second year can be a game changer. It offers the

How to Write a Mail for an Internship? [In 8 Easy Steps]

Securing an internship is a crucial step toward achieving your career goals. In today’s competitive job market, writing an application request can help you explore opportunities and increase your chances

22 Common Internship Interview Questions & How to Answer Them?

According to a recent survey, internship experience was deemed the most crucial factor by employers when evaluating potential employees. Preparing for an internship interview is a crucial aspect of securing

How to Write a Cover Letter for Internship (Examples & Template)

You’ve found the perfect internship and it’s now time to apply and land the position!

But, in addition to your resume, you also have to write an internship cover letter.

You might end up staring at the blank Word document for hours and nothing comes out.

We don’t blame you; cover letters are hard to write even if you have a decade’s worth of work experience, let alone if you’re a recent graduate or a student.

Worry not, though; in this article, we’re going to teach you all you need to know to write a compelling cover letter for your internship.

• Do you need a cover letter for an internship?
• How to write a compelling cover letter for an internship
• Plug and play internship cover letter template

Do I Need a Cover Letter for an Internship?

First things first—if you’re wondering whether you actually need a cover letter for your internship application, the answer is yes . 

An internship application is just like any other hiring process, meaning that a recruiter will go over your resume , cover letter (and maybe even references), and decide whether you’re qualified for the position. 

And yes, recruiters contrary to what you might think, recruiters do read your cover letter. 56% of recruiters prefer a cover letter with an applicant’s application.

This is reasonable - a cover letter allows you to add essential information you didn’t have space for in a resume, as well as explain (in words) how your experiences are tied to the role you’re applying for.

As such, a cover letter for an internship is essential and complementary to your application package.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s go over all the best ways to write a cover letter for an internship. 

How to Write a Cover Letter for Internship

#1. respect the format.

Before you can focus on your cover letter’s contents, you should first make sure you’re sticking to the right format. 

Otherwise, your cover letter will be disorganized and the recruiter will have a hard time following your train of thought.

So, here’s the format that your cover letter for an internship should follow: 

• Header with contact information. This includes your full name, professional email, phone number, and LinkedIn profile (if you have one). Underneath your contact info, you should add the date and the receiver’s information (the recruiter’s name and title, the company/organization name, and their physical address). 
• Addressing the recruiter. Greeting the recruiter with “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern” is common, but not the best approach. Want to show the hiring manager that you did your research? We recommend you address the hiring manager by name directly. Our guide on how to address a cover letter covers everything you need to know on this topic!      
• Opening statement. Your opening statement should be brief, but at the same time professional and attention-grabbing. Here, you introduce yourself, mention the position you’re applying for, and potentially a key achievement or two.   
• Body. The body of your cover letter consists of 2-3 paragraphs where you highlight your education, provide background for your skills, and explain how you (and the company) would benefit from each other professionally. 
• Closing paragraph. Your closing paragraph is your chance to include a call to action, to thank the recruiters for their time, or mention anything important you left out. 
• Formal salutation. End your cover letter with a formal salutation such as “kind regards,” “sincerely,” or “best regards.” Our guide on how to end a cover letter can teach you all you need to know on the topic. 

Having trouble getting started with your cover letter? Read our guide on how to start a cover letter and get inspired!

#2. State the Position You’re Applying For in the Opening

Recruiters hate one-size-fits-all cover letters and resumes.

Around 48% of recruiters and hiring managers aren’t even going to read your cover letter if it’s not customized to the role you’re applying for.

And one of the easiest ways to do this is by mentioning the role you’re applying for right in the cover letter opening.

This allows you to:

• Show that you will be tailoring the rest of your cover letter for that position alone.
• Prove that your cover letter is customized for this specific internship, and you’re not just randomly applying for the job,

Here’s a practical example of how you can mention the role you’re applying for in the cover letter opening:

Dear Mr. Jacobs, 

It is my pleasure to apply for the Communications Assistant internship position at the United Nations Development Programme. I can confidently say based on my 2-year experience working as a journalist and my excellent academic results in the Mass Communications Major that I’d be a good fit for the position. 

#3. Mention the Right Keywords

When reviewing your application, hiring managers tend to scan your cover letter or resume and look for the right keywords that would make you qualified for the internship you’re applying for.

E.g. If you're applying for a job in graphic design, the recruiter is probably looking for keywords like “Photoshop,” “Illustrator,” or “InDesign.”

As such, it’s very important to include the right keywords in your cover letter.

How can you find these keywords, you might ask?

It’s actually pretty simple - just look at the internship job description and go through the required skills & responsibilities and identify the keywords that you’d think the recruiter would be looking for.

Then, do the following:

• Sprinkle some of those keywords throughout your cover letter. When relevant, back them up with an experience. E.g. don’t just say “I’m good at Photoshop,” say how you’ve taken 3 different Photoshop classes and used Photoshop for 2 different projects.
• Don’t include keywords that don’t apply to you, they’ll just make it seem like you’re copy-pasting from the job description.
• Research and add other popular soft skills that recruiters look for in applicants for the role you’re applying for. E.g. If you’re applying for an internship as a communications assistant, chances are, you’ll need strong communication skills (even if this is not something listed in the job description.

Now, let’s look at a practical example. Let’s say that the internship you’re applying for requires the following skills:

• Communication
• Ability to meet strict deadlines

Here’s how you’d mention this in your cover letter:

During my time as Editor in Chief at my University’s newspaper, I got to develop my communication and leadership skills significantly. For over two years, I was in charge of a 7 people team, which also helped my teamwork skills and my ability to meet deadlines. 

Keep in mind, though, that it IS possible to overdo it with the keywords.

44% of hiring managers say they will dismiss a resume or cover letter that looks as if it has copied the job posting. 

Using each and every keyword mentioned in the job description (without backing the skills up with experiences) might cause the hiring manager to think that you’re just copying the job ad & don’t actually have these skills.

So, don’t just copy-paste all the keywords from the job description, and if you DO mention a lot of those keywords, make sure to back them up with practical experiences.

#4. Highlight Your Education

If you don’t have a lot of work experience, your education and relevant coursework is your best chance to show that you’re a good fit for the internship. 

Letting the recruiter know what kind of courses you’ve completed that are relevant to the internship you’re applying for will be a big plus for your application. 

Say, for example, that you’re applying for an internship as a graphic designer. To make your internship cover letter impactful, make sure to mention all the relevant courses and related accomplishments. 

Here’s an example of how you could do that:

As a Visual Design major, I have completed several courses that have helped me build my professional portfolio. A few of the most beneficial ones have been Design & Layout and Visual Communication: Theory and Practice. I have also gained valuable experience doing the layout of the university’s newspaper for 4 years and of several books as independent projects. 

#5. Provide Background For Your Skills

It’s one thing to just claim that you have a set of skills and another to prove it. 

Anyone can say that they’re great at doing something, but what makes all the difference is when you can actually put your money where your mouth is. 

For example, in your internship cover letter, instead of just mentioning that you have “good time-management skills,” actually back it up with a past experience that proves it.

During the summers I assisted my family’s wedding planning business, I learned a lot about time management. In that kind of business, it’s important that things run like clockwork so in addition to time management skills, it also significantly improved my attention to detail. 

#6. Explain Why You’re a Good Fit For The Position

In addition to just listing out the skills that are relevant and beneficial for the internship, you should also explain why you are a good fit for the position. 

This means that you should connect the dots between what the company/organization is looking to gain from its interns and what you can do to provide those services. 

So, after you research and create an understanding of what is required of you, you should use your cover letter to explain why you’re a good fit for that position. 

For the sake of the example, let’s assume you’re applying for an internship at a Human Rights organization. A big chunk of what the role requires is categorizing virtual files of the cases the organization has worked on in the past.

What you want to do, in this case, is show how you can help with that particular job as an intern. Here’s how:  

I have spent 3 summers working at the National Library, where I was tasked to sort and categorize books based on their topic, author, and year of publication, and also memorize where each section fits in the library. I believe this skill, which I have perfected over the years, can really be of use for the internship position at Organization X.

#7. Describe What You Would Gain Professionally

In addition to showing (and proving) your skills and how you can benefit the company, you should also explain how getting the position will benefit YOU . 

When it comes to internships, oftentimes they serve the purpose of helping students and young professionals acquire in-depth knowledge about the industry, create a network, and develop skills that will benefit them throughout their careers. 

So, it will surely help you make an even better impression if you show that you are self-aware about what you’ll get out of the internship and how it will help you grow professionally. 

Here’s how you can do that: 

I am excited for this internship to provide me with the necessary customer service skills and network that will help me grow professionally in my future career as a customer service manager. 

#8. Proofread Your Cover Letter

After all, is written and done, there’s one final thing to do and that is make sure your cover letter doesn’t have mistakes. 

A spelling or grammar mistake probably won’t disqualify you, but at the same time, it will probably be a red flag for recruiters that you’re not too attentive.

For this reason, ask a friend to proofread your cover letter or use spell-checking software such as Grammarly and Hemingway . 

Want to know what other cover letter mistakes you should avoid? Our guide on cover letter mistakes has all you need to know on the topic! 

#9. Match Your Cover Letter & Resume Designs

Want your internship application to truly shine?

Match your cover letter design with your resume!

Sure, you could go with a generic Word cover letter template, but why fit in when you can stand out?

At Novorésumé, all our resume templates come with a matching cover letter template , guaranteed to make your application truly special.

Cover Letter for Internship Template

Struggling to create a cover letter for your internship?

Simply follow our tried-and-tested internship cover letter template!

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! You should now have all the necessary information about how to create a cover letter for an internship.

Now, let’s do a small recap of the key learning points we just covered:

• Cover letters are a must when you’re applying for an internship.
• When you start writing your cover letter, make sure you respect the format: the header with contact information, the greeting to the recruiter, an opening paragraph, the body with 2-3 paragraphs, and a closing paragraph followed by an official salutation and your name.
• Some of our main tips on how to write a cover letter for an internship include: state the position you’re applying for, make use of the right keywords, and back up your skills with experiences.
• Use a cover letter builder and match it with your resume to make sure your cover letter truly stands out from the rest.

Related Readings: 

• Entry-level Cover Letter
• Do I Need a Cover Letter in 2024?
• Top 21 Cover Letter Tips

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

• Cover Letter

Engineering Internship   Cover Letter

Engineering internship cover letter (with examples).

A cover letter serves an important purpose when applying for a job , whether it’s a short-term internship or a long-term position. Submitting a good cover letter may be the deciding factor that determines whether your application ends up on the callback or reject pile.

If you’re nervous about crafting a strong cover letter , the good news is there are resources and templates available to help.

Even if a job application lists the cover letter as “optional,” it’s always a good idea to submit one. Taking the extra effort demonstrates that you’re a serious candidate .

Looking for a job? These position are hiring now near you:

• Engineering Internship
• Engineering Associate
• Engineering Aide
• Engineering Trainee
• Engineering Technician Internship

What Is a Cover Letter and Why Is It Important?

A cover letter is a brief letter of introduction that usually accompanies a resume . It not only expresses your interest in the job but also gives you a chance to introduce yourself , highlight your skills, accomplishments, and goals, and explain what you hope to bring to the company if hired.

In essence, the cover letter needs to answer this question: “Why am I the best candidate you can hire for this position?”

Parts of an Engineering Internship Cover Letter

Cover letters are used for a broad range of job applications, whether you’re applying for an internship , entry-level position , job promotion , career change , etc. Regardless of which situation applies to you, the cover letter needs to include these key parts :

Your contact information

The organization’s information

Dear [Manager Name],

First paragraph: intent and opening hook

Second paragraph: main body with key skills and accomplishments in relation to the job requirements

Third paragraph: closing lines with a compelling call to action

Best regards, followed by name and title

Although it will still follow the same basic format, a college-level cover letter differs in that an applicant will primarily rely on skills and accomplishments rather than previous work experience . With only one page to make your case and grab a hiring manager’s attention, every sentence needs to count.

Your cover letter should be creative but also look professional. If you’re concerned about proper formatting, take advantage of free cover letter templates to guarantee you have a clean layout that meets industry standards.

Search For Engineering Internship Jobs

Engineering internship cover letter opening.

Start with the basics. Be sure to include your contact information at the top so a hiring manager can easily reach out to you.

If possible, address your cover letter to the hiring manager by name. If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name , use a gender-neutral greeting such as “Dear [Company Name] Recruitment Manager.”

Introduce yourself and the position you’re applying for and explain why you’re interested in the role. You may also want to include how you learned about the job, how long you expect the internship to last, and your college, major, and year of education.

The cover letter should be tailored to the specific company, so use exact details to demonstrate that you aren’t sending one generic letter to multiple companies.

Example Cover Letter Opening:

Jane Doe 9876 Home Avenue Sample, NC 27010 123-867-5309 [email protected] linkedin.com/in/janedoe March 10, 2021 John Smith Recruitment Manager Global Engineering 5432 Bustle Street Commerce, CA 94108 Dear Mr. Smith, I am writing to express my interest in the undergraduate chemical engineering internship position at Global Engineering for summer 2021. I am currently a sophomore in the College of Engineering at Cornell University, majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Management. I am particularly interested in sustainability and process engineering, and I would love to be a part of Global Engineering’s innovative energy research team developing highly efficient gas products.

The applicant in the example covered all of the basics in the first paragraph, including her specific career interests. She has set herself up to smoothly flow right into the main body of the cover letter and highlight her skills and character traits.

Engineering Internship Cover Letter Body

The body of the letter is your primary sales pitch, and the product you want to sell is yourself. To do that, you need to demonstrate:

Why you want this job

The skills that qualify you for the specific requirements of the job

Why you are the perfect fit for the position

It’s essential to show that you clearly understand the position requirements and tie your skill set directly to these expectations. This is your opportunity to showcase your most valuable character traits and any specific experiences that you can provide to illustrate why you are the best fit for the organization and role.

A common mistake is to repeat exactly what is on your resume. Instead, seize the chance to elaborate in much more detail and ensure the right skills are being highlighted.

Example Cover Letter Body:

Last summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad in London, where I served as an intern in a research-based environment of a carbon capture pilot plant for eight weeks. I spearheaded a research project involving nanostructure surfaces and was fortunate to gain hands-on experience in the field. Through my work and school experiences, I’ve realized that my true passion lies in chemical engineering processes and applications. I had the privilege of speaking with several Global Engineering representatives at the university career fair . After my one-on-one interview with Ms. Swanson, I was truly inspired by her history as a process engineer and project manager . She spoke very highly of the company and explained how the hands-on experiences she had at Global Engineering prepared her for the role of project manager and helped her succeed in her career.

The applicant in this example has not only listed her experience and accomplishments, but also drawn a personal connection to an employee at the company. This is great information to include and is sure to set her apart from other applicants who applied after reading the online job description but didn’t have any personal ties to the company.

Engineering Internship Cover Letter Closing Lines

The ending should be a concise summary of your qualifications. Keep it short and sweet; you’ve already made your primary pitch, so you don’t want to drag out the closing and lose the hiring manager’s interest.

Example Cover Letter Closing:

After researching the culture and history of Global Engineering, I discovered that my personal values closely align with the company’s main pillars. I am a fast learner and frequently draw upon my background in engineering, management, and research, and I know I can make a positive contribution to Global Engineering’s success. I would love the opportunity to further discuss the value I have to offer your company. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best regards, Jane Doe 123-867-5309 [email protected]

Example of an Engineer Cover Letter

Jane Doe 9876 Home Avenue Sample, NC 27010 123-867-5309 [email protected] linkedin.com/in/janedoe March 10, 2021 John Smith Recruitment Manager Global Engineering 5432 Bustle Street Commerce, CA 94108 Dear Mr. Smith, I am writing to express my interest in the undergraduate chemical engineering internship position at Global Engineering for summer 2021. I am currently a sophomore in the College of Engineering at Cornell University, majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Management. I am particularly interested in sustainability and process engineering, and I would love to be a part of Global Engineering’s innovative energy research team developing highly efficient gas products. Last summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad in London, where I served as an intern in a research-based environment of a carbon capture pilot plant for eight weeks. I spearheaded a research project involving nanostructure surfaces and was fortunate to gain hands-on experience in the field. Through my work and school experiences, I’ve realized that my true passion lies in chemical engineering processes and applications. I had the privilege of speaking with several Global Engineering representatives at the university career fair. After my one-on-one interview with Ms. Swanson, I was truly inspired by her history as a process engineer and project manager. She spoke very highly of the company and explained how the hands-on experiences she had at Global Engineering prepared her for the role of project manager and helped her succeed in her career. After researching the culture and history of Global Engineering, I discovered that my personal values closely align with the company’s main pillars. I am a fast learner and frequently draw upon my background in engineering, management, and research, and I know I can make a positive contribution to Global Engineering’s success. I would love the opportunity to further discuss the value I have to offer your company. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best regards, Jane Doe 123-867-5309 [email protected]

Tips for an Engineering Internship Cover Letter

Don’t squander valuable space by repeating your resume skills verbatim. You might have “research” listed under a bullet point on your resume, but this is your opportunity to expand upon it and explain what type of research you did, where you completed it, and how you can apply those valuable lessons to future work.

Check the job application and look at the required skills section. Whenever possible, use this list as a reference guide to highlight your own skills. The more crossover you can have to illustrate that you are the best candidate for the job, the better.

Focus on academic achievements. It’s not uncommon for college students to lack experience, especially if you’re writing a cover letter for your first internship position. In lieu of work experience, highlight your school accomplishments, research projects, primary interests, and most valuable skills and character traits.

Final Thoughts

You’ll likely be facing steep competition for a coveted internship position, with many applicants from many other universities vying for those same roles. Utilizing the cover letter as a professional introduction can be an important tool to break through the noise.

The best cover letters show off your enthusiasm and personality in addition to your skills. Share personal but relevant stories and experiences to build up your value. Your primary goal is to illustrate why you are the right person for this internship. If you can successfully do that, your chances of landing an interview are good.

• Zippia Careers
• Architecture and Engineering Industry

Browse architecture and engineering jobs

Privacy preference center

We care about your privacy

When you visit our website, we will use cookies to make sure you enjoy your stay. We respect your privacy and we’ll never share your resumes and cover letters with recruiters or job sites. On the other hand, we’re using several third party tools to help us run our website with all its functionality.

But what exactly are cookies? Cookies are small bits of information which get stored on your computer. This information usually isn’t enough to directly identify you, but it allows us to deliver a page tailored to your particular needs and preferences.

Because we really care about your right to privacy, we give you a lot of control over which cookies we use in your sessions. Click on the different category headings on the left to find out more, and change our default settings.

However, remember that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of our website. Finally, note that we’ll need to use a cookie to remember your cookie preferences.

Without these cookies our website wouldn’t function and they cannot be switched off. We need them to provide services that you’ve asked for.

Want an example? We use these cookies when you sign in to Kickresume. We also use them to remember things you’ve already done, like text you’ve entered into a registration form so it’ll be there when you go back to the page in the same session.

Thanks to these cookies, we can count visits and traffic sources to our pages. This allows us to measure and improve the performance of our website and provide you with content you’ll find interesting.

Performance cookies let us see which pages are the most and least popular, and how you and other visitors move around the site.

All information these cookies collect is aggregated (it’s a statistic) and therefore completely anonymous. If you don’t let us use these cookies, you’ll leave us in the dark a bit, as we won’t be able to give you the content you may like.

We use these cookies to uniquely identify your browser and internet device. Thanks to them, we and our partners can build a profile of your interests, and target you with discounts to our service and specialized content.

On the other hand, these cookies allow some companies target you with advertising on other sites. This is to provide you with advertising that you might find interesting, rather than with a series of irrelevant ads you don’t care about.

Engineering Intern Cover Letter Example

Get hired faster and pick up more ideas for your next cover letter with this modifiable Engineering Intern cover letter example. Make a copy of this cover letter sample at no cost or edit it directly using our intuitive cover letter creator.

Related resume guides and samples

How to build a compelling formal sciences student resume

How to build a great high school student resume

How to craft a job-winning humanities student resume

How to build an effective student internship resume

How to write a professional natural sciences student resume

How to build an effective applied sciences & professions student resume

How to write a great social sciences student resume

Write an eye-catching resume as a university student

Engineering Intern Cover Letter Example (Full Text Version)

Tomas lindblom.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the Summer Engineering Intern position at Perk Corporation, Inc. in East Syracuse, NY. I am confident in my ability to excel in this role and see it as a valuable opportunity to enhance my skills and gain industry experience.

Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Tomas Lindblom and I am a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I am a top-performing student, actively involved in extracurricular activities such as the Business Club, Engineering Society, and Riding Society. My experience as a Class Representative has honed my teamwork, leadership, and time management skills.

In addition to my academic achievements, I have practical experience as an Engineering Intern at Cubic Corporation, Inc. last summer. I successfully completed quality inspections, analyzed operational procedures, and collaborated on engineering plans. I was recognized for my exceptional work ethic and awarded Intern of the Month.

I bring a strong attention to detail, exceptional organizational skills, and proficiency in industry software programs like Fusion 360, Solid Edge, NX, and Catia. I am confident that my experience and skills make me a strong candidate for this position.

Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely, Tomas Lindblom

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

Edit this sample using our resume builder.

Don’t struggle with your cover letter. artificial intelligence can write it for you..

Similar job positions

Professor Youth Advisor Professions And Applied Sciences Student Special Education Teacher Civil Engineer Instructor Social Sciences Student Production Manager Teacher Assistant Mechanical Engineer Formal Sciences Student CAD Designer

Related education resume samples

Related engineering cover letter samples

Let your resume do the work.

Join 5,000,000 job seekers worldwide and get hired faster with your best resume yet.

5 Tips for an Effective Internship Cover Letter

Published: May 08, 2023

When looking for an internship, it’s important to find ways to distinguish yourself from all the other applicants. One way to do this is to include a cover letter with your resume. Cover letters are great for providing potential employers with additional information about your education, achievements and skills, and work experience. Here are some tips to help you write a great internship cover letter.

Formatting Your Cover Letter

A cover letter should be just shy of one page in length, typically consisting of three paragraphs. First, include your contact information at the top of the page. Provide your name, phone number, email address, and location. In certain cases, applicants will include the name of their degree program in this section, but this is optional. Next, include the date the cover letter was written, the name of the company you’re applying to, and the name of the internship program’s contact person. If you are unable to find a contact name, you could use “To Whom it May Concern,” but be warned that most companies see this practice as being somewhat antiquated. The top of your cover letter should look like this:

[Your name]

[Your phone number] | [your email address] | [your location]

[Company name]

Dear [contact name],

The first paragraph should include a brief introduction and a statement explaining why you feel you’d be a good fit for the program. Here, include any experiences and coursework that are directly related to the internship program’s job listing. We’ll go into further detail about the second and third paragraphs of your cover letter in just a bit. For more information on how to format your cover letter, check out our advice .

Tailor Your Cover Letter

When writing any cover letter, whether it be for an internship or a full-time job, it’s important to tailor the letter for the specific position you’re applying for. If the hiring manager gets the impression that you’re sending the same generic, cut and paste cover letter to every internship you apply for, they might not consider you for the role.

A good way to start is to express your excitement for the company and its internship program. To do this, perform some research on the company’s website and social media pages. You should be able to learn a lot about the company, such as its core values, workplace environment, perks, the internship program itself, and perhaps information about the leadership team. Here is an example of an opening sentence that has been tailored to a specific company and program:

• “I’m excited to submit my application for [company name]’s award-winning Data Science Summer Internship Program.”

Nowadays, many employers…ehem… employ specialized software that is designed to scan and detect certain keywords included in applicants’ cover letters and resumes. You can take advantage of this by studying the company’s website and internship job description, and mixing some of the verbiage into your own cover letter. Let’s say the job description lists communication and time management skills as requirements. Here, you could provide examples of scenarios where you displayed either or both of those skills.

Talk About Your Experience and Skills

The second paragraph of your cover letter is where your experience and skills get to shine. In this section of your cover letter, include any coursework that is relevant to the position you’re applying for, along with applicable knowledge and skills you have gained so far. This is especially helpful if you have little or no job experience, as your studies and projects might directly relate to the internship job description.

If you have a part-time job and you feel that your experience is relevant to the internship, you can also include that in the second paragraph. Keep in mind that while relevant part-time job experience can be helpful when looking for an internship, it’s not a necessity—internships are designed for students with little to no real-world work experience, and any good hiring manager is aware of this.

Include Your Goals

The third and final paragraph of your cover letter is where you should describe your goals and what you hope to achieve through the internship program, along with what you can bring to the table. For example, you could say that the internship will be a great way for you to gain hands-on experience in your field, develop valuable skills, and forge new and meaningful professional relationships.

As always, it’s important to consult the internship job listing when describing what you can offer to the program. If the job description states that you’ll be working on real-world projects, you could say that you hope to develop new and innovative practices that can be used to increase the company’s efficiency. This will show the hiring manager that not only are you motivated to learn, but that you’re also driven to contribute to the company in a positive way.

Perhaps the best part about including a cover letter with your internship application is that it gives potential employers a sense of who you are as a person. If you’re truly excited about your experience and the prospect of participating in a great internship, that energy will be apparent in your cover letter, and this will increase your chances of getting hired.