Writing a Cover Letter for an Internship

While spending hours on drafting the perfect resume to ensure that they get the job, many people forget that the art of writing a cover letter is equally important. This letter works as a prologue to your resume. It gives a prospective employer a snapshot into the kind of person you are and how you would be a suitable candidate for the job or internship you are applying for. While writing such a letter you can normally include details about the experience you have on the field, but while drafting a cover letter for the position of an intern, you will have to focus on your personal strengths that make you a perfect candidate.

Despite the fact that the basic information that you give out in a cover letter for a job is similar to the information included in letter for internship, the difference arises when you talk about your experience in the field. In order to ensure that this does not become a hurdle in your path, writing an internship cover letter that stands out, is very important. Like any letter written for an entry-level position it is important to remember while drafting the letter that, since you cannot showcase your experience, showcase your enthusiasm for the internship and the chance of working with the organization concerned. Increasingly, companies are showing a preference for candidates whose letters showcase their individuality and personality. While being professional is of prime importance, it is also essential that the person you are, shines through in the letter. When drafting such a letter, it is essential that you mention why you want to work with the concerned company. Try and point out how the jobs you have held as a teenager and the skills you learned therein will help you in this particular job. It is important that your resume is well written. A cover letter should be precise and brief. It is very easy to get carried away and ramble while drafting a letter but refrain from doing so. Express your enthusiasm and interest in attaining an internship position and ask for a date of interview.

Template for Cover Letter

Writing such a letter for the position of an intern is not the toughest task on the planet, especially if you have a template to guide you through the process.

Your Name Your Address Date Name of Addressee Designation Company Name Company Address Salutations/Greetings Dear Ma'am/Sir In the very first paragraph you need to introduce yourself and give a reference (if any) of the person who gave you the contact details and information about an opening for internship. Put forward your request for an internship in precise terms. In the second paragraph it is important that you mention what you are doing right now and what you are studying. Mention any experience that you have in a similar capacity or similar field.Explain why you think you would be suitable for the position that you are applying for. If you have held any job in the past, then it is in the third paragraph that you should give details of the job you had. Explain how this experience has helped you in a professional capacity and how it will help you perform your job. Also include details of any other skills that you have, that you believe will help you in your stint as an intern with the organization. End the letter with your contact details and on a positive note of meeting the addressee in the near future for an interview. Mention that your resume has been enclosed with the letter. Thank you for your consideration. Valediction Yours Sincerely (Your Signature)

Samples of a good cover letter will always point out the importance of proper formatting and ensure that the letter is a mix of professional and personal without sounding overtly familiar.

Sample Cover Letter

The proper format of a cover letter to be followed while drafting such letter has been discussed earlier. In this section we give you an example of a cover letter that will elucidate for you how such a letter should be written.

Flo Richmond 123 - Elm Street Harfordshire Boston - 232563 4th August 2010 Betty Johnson H.R. Manager GNB Banking 5463 - Downtown Boston - 232568 Dear Ma'am, This is with the reference of Mr. John Riley, who is account executive with your organization. I, the undersigned, have learned of an upcoming internship program at your organization for which I would like to send in my application. I have been informed that this position is in the Human Resources Department of your organization. I am a final year student at Harfordshire College and am pursuing a postgraduate degree in Business Management, specializing in Human Resources. Due to my choice of specialization, I have worked on several projects for the department of Management at the university. This has honed the theoretical knowledge that I received at the college. These projects have helped me learn how to deal with employees and how to handle several issues that a HR manager may face while dealing with employees. An opportunity to intern with your organization will help me further hone my skills and put the knowledge I have to practical purposes. I have also previously worked at Walmart as assistant to the store manager which helped me learn how to handle people and develop communication skills which are an integral part while working as a HR professional. I am fluent in French and Japanese which I believe will be an asset while working with employees who are not comfortable with English. Working with your organization would be a dream opportunity and I hope we can set up a meeting at a time convenient for you. My contact number is 09059749235 and my email id is richmond_flo@pyphg.com. My resume is enclosed with this letter. Thanking you for your time and consideration. Yours Sincerely Flo Richmond (Your Signature)

If you need to write a cover letter for an internship, you have at your disposal a template and a sample for the same. Drafting such a letter is extremely easy as long as you ensure that the letter is well formatted and well worded and does not have any grammatical or spelling errors.