How to write a cover letter for an internship: A 2025 guide

An internship is a great way to work towards your career goals, whether you’re a student, a fresh graduate, or a job seeker looking to pivot. When applying to companies, a strong cover letter can help you stand out against other internship applicants.

A cover letter for internship roles is a chance to introduce yourself. It allows you to explain why you’re the right fit for the job and show your initiative and professionalism. In this guide, we outline how to write a great internship cover letter, share samples, and answer common questions.

What is an internship?

An internship is a short-term work arrangement that provides hands-on, real-world experience in a specific field. The type of work, duration, and compensation rates of internships vary depending on the industry and company.

Internships are especially great for early-career job seekers. You’ll get opportunities to try out different roles and gain workplace experience. Of course, you can add these professional experiences to your resumé. 

In New Zealand, internships can either be paid or unpaid. A paid internship usually offers a stipend or award wages. Meanwhile, an unpaid internship is often part of a formal education or training program.

Why do I need a cover letter?

A cover letter can complement your resumé by letting you explain your story in your own words. While your resumé shows what you’ve done, your cover letter highlights why your work matters, why you’re applying to the internship, and what you can bring to the table.

A well-written cover letter for internship roles gives you the chance to:

• Introduce yourself professionally

• Show enthusiasm for the role and the company

• Explain your skills and how they match the internship

• Address any gaps, limited experience, or career changes

• Show communication skills and attention to detail

What should I include in my cover letter for internship applications?

A strong internship cover letter should be concise and well-structured. Here are some of the basics you should include in your cover letter.

1. A personalised greeting

Like any other letter, it’s best to start your cover letter with a polite greeting. If you know who the hiring manager is, address your letter to them by name.

If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, you can use a general but respectful greeting. Make sure to avoid overly casual, vague, or outdated greetings.

2. A short introduction

Make the most of your opening lines in your cover letter. Introduce yourself and say why you’re applying to the internship. Keep this section short and sweet.

You can also mention how you found out about the internship, especially if someone referred you or you found the opportunity via SEEK.

Here’s an example:

I am Amelia Brown, a second-year Media and Communications student at City University. I’m writing to express my interest in applying for the Social Media Internship at PixelWorks. I’m passionate about digital storytelling and eager to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced creative team.

3. What you can bring to the team

In this section, you can connect your professional and personal strengths to the role and its responsibilities. What makes you the right fit for the internship?

Even if you don’t have much work experience, you can cite concrete experiences from other areas. These may be university projects, volunteer work, or personal initiatives. Make sure to focus on transferable skills like communication, organisation, teamwork, and problem-solving.

You can write something like this:

Through my part-time role in retail, I’ve built strong customer service skills and learnt how to work well under pressure.

4. Why this internship appeals to you

Here, you can make your internship application stand out by showing the company you’ve done your research. You can talk about what you admire about the company, what excites you about the internship, or how it fits into your long-term goals. Try to tie your interest to something specific about the company.

Here’s an example:

I’ve been following GreenSpark’s community outreach campaigns, and your work inspires me in environmental education.

5. A professional closing

Once you’ve nailed all the other parts of your cover letter, wrap it up with a short, professional sign-off. This is where you thank the employer for their time and express your interest in hearing from them again. You can also let the team know you’re open to further discussions, and when you’ll be available.

You can write something like this:

Thank you for considering my application. I’m available for an interview at your convenience and would love the chance to support your marketing efforts this winter.

Then, pick a polite closing phrase. Some sign-offs you can use include: Best, Sincerely, and Warm regards.

Finally, sign off with your full name, and you have a well-written cover letter. 

Cover letter examples for internships

Cover letters will vary depending on your internship program, industry, or circumstances. Here are three sample internship cover letters from three different job seekers. You can use these as guides, but remember to write your cover letters in your own voice.

Cover letter example for a university student applying for a marketing internship

Cover letter example for a job seeker applying for an unpaid internship for experience

Cover letter example for someone switching fields

Tips on tailoring your cover letter

Your cover letter for internship applications should reflect who you are, your skills, and your background. Here are some practical tips to help you tailor your cover letters, regardless of your experience.

1. Make it personal

As a general rule, it’s best to avoid using a generic template. While templates are helpful for structure, don’t copy them word for word. Instead, personalise your cover letter to show employers you’ve taken the time to learn about the organisation and the internship.

Don’t be afraid to show enthusiasm, too. This tells employers you’re genuinely excited about the internship.

2. Write freely first

Getting started is often the hardest part, but try to follow the advice: get it written, then get it right. Write your first draft freely without editing yourself. Let your ideas flow naturally, like you’re introducing yourself in an email or chat. You can worry about polishing your grammar and tone later on.

3. Use AI wisely

AI tools can help polish grammar or rephrase awkward sentences, but don’t let them take over your message. It’s okay to use AI tools for feedback or rephrasing, but always make sure your final letter sounds like you. After all, employers want to hear what you have to say.

If you’re not comfortable using AI tools yet, you can try this workflow:

1. Write your draft in your own words.

2. Use AI to suggest improvements.

3. Edit again to make the draft sound like you.

Here’s an example of how you can refine AI-generated content to make it sound more human:

4. Match the company’s tone

Make sure the tone of your cover letter reflects the company culture. For instance, corporate or legal firms may expect formal language. Startups or creative companies may use more casual language instead.

Here are formal and casual examples of how you can introduce yourself in a cover letter:

5. Show your value

Even if you don’t have a lot of work experience yet, you can still talk about what you’ve achieved in other areas. Employers look for evidence of your initiative, reliability, creativity, and curious mindset.

Here are some ideas of achievements you can mention in a cover letter for internship applications:

• Leading a university club or student society

• Completing a team project or capstone assignment

• Managing a part-time job while studying

• Starting a personal blog, YouTube channel, or design portfolio

• Volunteering at events or in community programs

6. Highlight your motivation

Employers will want to know why you’re interested in their internships. You can discuss how the company’s mission or values align with your career goals, or mention a particular project you admire. If it’s an unpaid internship, you can explain what you want to learn and how you’re keen to grow, even without financial compensation.

Here’s an example:

Although this is an unpaid opportunity, I see it as a valuable investment in my learning, and I’m eager to apply my skills while gaining experience in the non-profit space.

How to talk about unpaid internships in your letter

In New Zealand, unpaid internships are common in certain industries, such as media, fashion, and nonprofits. If you’re applying for an unpaid internship opportunity, it helps to address it directly in your cover letter.

Here are some tips to go about applying for an unpaid internship:

• Be transparent. Acknowledge that the internship is unpaid, but focus on the hard and soft skills you’ll gain from the experience.

• Show what you’ll offer. You can still highlight your commitment, availability, and work ethic when writing your cover letter.

• Understand the legal side. If you’re unsure whether an unpaid internship is legal, you can check out Employment New Zealand's guidelines. Generally, unpaid internships are legal as long as they’re part of a formal learning experience and aren’t replacing the work of paid staff.

• Mention logistics. Some unpaid internships may require specific documents, such as a police check or a Sterilisation Certificate for healthcare roles. In your cover letter, you can discuss how you plan to meet these requirements.

How to match your cover letter with your internship resumé

If your resumé lists your educational background, work experience, and other relevant skills, your cover letter should explain how these connect to the internship.

To make sure your resumé and cover letter complement each other, you can follow these tips:

• Make sure your tone and formatting are consistent across both documents.

• Avoid repeating your resumé word-for-word. Instead, you can expand on one or two experiences in more detail.

• In your cover letter, tell a story about the progression, passion, or context behind your experiences listed in your resumé.

Both documents should put your best foot forward and support the same message – that you’re motivated, capable, and ready to learn.

Common mistakes to avoid

While there’s no formula that will guarantee a good cover letter, there are certain things that can undo the effort you’ve put in. Here are five common mistakes to avoid.

1. Using the wrong company name or role

It’s okay to apply to several companies when looking for an internship. Just make sure you don’t send a cover letter meant for one employer to another by mistake. Always double-check your recipient before sending out your cover letter. 

2. Sounding too generic or robotic

If you could potentially send your cover letter to any company, it might come across as bland and impersonal. To let companies know you’re genuinely interested in their internship opportunities, make sure to tailor your cover letter appropriately.

3. Making your cover letter too wordy

Hiring managers are likely going through multiple internship applications. It’s best to write a concise cover letter that shows respect for their time. To be safe, stick to a cover letter length of  250 to 400 words and keep your cover letter to a single page that’s easy to read and scan.

Make sure to remove unnecessary details and only keep what’s really needed. A clear and confident letter leaves a stronger impression than a long-winded one.

4. Forgetting to proofread

Spelling or grammar errors look unprofessional and cast doubt on your attention to detail. You can ask someone to review your cover letter, or use a grammar checker before sending your application.

5. Not showing enthusiasm

Employers want to work with people who care about their company and mission. Make sure you show genuine interest in the internship when writing your cover letter. It doesn’t hurt to show a little excitement now and then.

Are you ready to apply for that internship opportunity? It’s important that you know how to tell your story and show companies what you can bring to the table. Focus on communicating your enthusiasm and genuine interest in the role, and your cover letter could open the door to an exciting internship experience.

FAQs

How long should a cover letter be for an internship?

Ideally, cover letters should be brief. Cover letters should be about 250 to 400 words and fit in a single page. Recruiters often scan many applications, so keeping your letter concise makes it easier for them to read and remember you.

What if I don’t have any relevant experience?

That’s completely normal, especially if this is your first internship. You can still write a strong cover letter by focusing on your transferable skills and your enthusiasm for learning with them, specifically. For instance, you can draw examples from school projects, extracurricular activities, part-time work, volunteering, or even your personal interests. 

What’s important is you relate these experiences to traits and attributes that align with the work and the organisation. For instance, you can discuss how playing competitive sports demonstrates motivation, or how playing piano has taught you perseverance and attention to detail.

Can I use the same cover letter for several internship applications?

It’s okay to use a base template or structure. However, you should always tailor each cover letter to match the specific internship and company. Hiring managers can easily spot a generic cover letter, so make sure yours stands out and tells a compelling story.

At the very least, make sure your cover letter mentions why you’re interested in the organisation and what skills or experiences are relevant to the role.

Is a cover letter necessary for an unpaid internship?

Yes, sometimes especially so. A well-written cover letter shows that you’ll take the opportunity seriously, even if you won’t receive any money in return. You can also explain why you’re pursuing this learning experience and what you hope to gain from it.

What should I include if the internship has specific requirements, like certifications?

If the internship listing mentions specific certifications, such as a Working with Children Check, police check, or Sterilisation Certificate, be sure to address them directly in your letter. This means you should tell employers whether you already meet all their requirements, or are willing and eligible to do so.This shows that you’ve read the details carefully and are proactive about meeting the role’s practical needs.