Do you want to apply for an internship within a company? Along with the CV, the cover letter constitutes the first point of contact between you and the structure. It must therefore be the subject of particular attention. Here are several tips that will help you write a good cover letter for an internship.
Is the cover letter so important for an internship?
Allowing validation of the university curriculum, the student internship is essential. To increase your chances of landing one, you must write a good cover letter. The latter is particularly important, because it allows a recruiter to learn more about the applicant and to understand why the latter chose precisely their company to do their internship.
Furthermore, the cover letter is an excellent way to stand out from other candidates when it is well written. Allowing the student to highlight their interest in an internship, it can tip the scales in their favor. This is why it is advisable to write a cover letter for an internship with the greatest care.
How to write an effective cover letter?
Whether you decide to send your application by post or apply by email for an internship, your cover letter must be effective. Concretely, it must highlight:
- The adequacy of your educational background with the targeted internship;
- Your motivation and desire to learn;
- Your interest in the company in which you wish to do an internship;
- The knowledge you have and which you will be able to apply during the internship;
- Your career objectives related to the internship.
Furthermore, it is necessary to follow several rules to write a cover letter for an internship. The latter must include:
- Your personal information (last name, first name, address, telephone and email);
- The recipient’s information (name, first name and title in particular);
- The date and place of writing;
- The subject of the letter.
The cover letter for an internship must then be structured into several paragraphs. The first is dedicated to the hook. After indicating the purpose of your approach, talk about the company in which you wish to do an internship and its place in its sector of activity.
In the second paragraph, present your academic background and experiences. Also outline your ambitions and career goals. Furthermore, indicate that you have skills that could be useful during the internship by giving a concrete example. Also explain the reasons for your internship request and specify the desired duration.
The third paragraph will be devoted to the argument. Explain why your profile is suitable for the desired internship, once again making sure to illustrate with an example. Also put highlight your interest in the company.
In the fourth paragraph, talk about your soft skills. Qualities such as team spirit, autonomy and the ability to adapt are particularly sought after by companies offering internships.
In the last paragraph, conclude with a polite formula for a cover letter as well as an interview request. Don’t forget to add your signature at the bottom of the page.
What mistakes to avoid?
It is not recommended to make a cover letter for an internship that is too long. If it extends over more than one page, it is very likely that it will not be read entirely by the recruiter. Conciseness is therefore essential. In any case, avoid sending a letter that is too short as it risks giving the impression that you have botched the work.
Another mistake that you absolutely must not make is to simply copy a cover letter template found on the Internet. Poorly perceived by recruiters, this practice is likely to ruin your chances of landing an internship. To stand out from other candidates, send a personalized and sincere letter.
Also, be careful not to make sentences that are too long. A recruiter can review hundreds of cover letters per day. If he doesn’t understand one of your sentences the first time, he probably won’t be willing to read it again.
Finally, do watch out for spelling mistakes, because they discredit your application. To be sure that your cover letter does not contain any, do not hesitate to ask another person to proofread and correct it before sending it.
