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Why
Why This Matters
Internships are the first big step into your future career. A cover letter is not just a boring requirement—it's your personal story. It's where you show your energy, your voice, and why you matter.
Most people your age skip this or do it poorly. You won't.
Know the Goal of a Cover Letter
💡 Think of it as your intro in a short video pitch—but written.
🖊️ Start With a Clean Format
Structure to Follow:
Example:
🎯 Personalize the Opening
Use the company name and internship title in your first sentence.
"I'm applying for the Summer 2025 Design Internship at Klarna because your bold brand and playful UI caught my attention as a design student."
"To whom it may concern, I would like to apply for an internship."
💡 Tips:
- • If you can't find the hiring manager's name, say "Dear [Company] Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager"
- • NEVER write: "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern"
🔍 Show You've Done Your Homework
In one short paragraph, prove you know something real about the company or team.
"I was drawn to Klarna's Design Team after reading your blog post about color accessibility in UX. As a design intern, I'd love to contribute to projects that balance creativity and usability."
"I'm inspired by how Vattenfall is working toward fossil-free living. This mission connects to my university thesis on renewable energy policy in urban areas."
🧠 Use Keywords from the Internship Posting
This matters for two reasons:
- Recruiters skim fast.
- Many companies use automated filters (ATS) to scan your letter.
Example:
If the internship ad says: "Looking for someone with attention to detail, good time management, and experience with Canva or Figma…"
Then write something like: "During my role as social media lead for my student union, I created all visuals in Canva and learned to meet deadlines during high-pressure events like open house week."
📚 Talk About Relevant Experiences
Even if you don't have "work experience", you probably have projects, classes, side hustles, volunteering, or hobbies that matter.
| Experience | How to Mention It |
|---|---|
| School Project | In my IB economics course, I led a group project analyzing Nike's pricing strategy, presenting findings to 30+ students. |
| Volunteering | Volunteering at a local library helped me develop communication skills while organizing events for young readers. |
| Part-Time Job | Working as a barista taught me how to manage time, stay calm under pressure, and speak with customers professionally. |
| Gaming/YouTube/TikTok | Creating gaming content for YouTube taught me video editing, marketing, and community management. I grew my channel to 500+ followers. |
| Club Leadership | As president of my school's debate team, I organized weekly meetings and coached new members. |
🔥 Show Enthusiasm
Let your excitement come through—but stay professional.
"I'm genuinely excited about this opportunity because I've admired Polestar's work in sustainable mobility for years."
"I've been following your podcast 'Building The Future' and it's part of what inspired me to study industrial design."
"I really need this internship and I hope you'll give me a chance."
"I am a hardworking, enthusiastic, and goal-oriented person" ← too generic
🎯 Be Clear About What You Want to Learn
Internships are about learning. Let them know you're humble and growth-oriented.
"I hope to gain hands-on experience working on real-world UI/UX problems and receive mentorship from professionals, especially in user research and prototyping."
"I'm excited to work in a team environment and improve my project management and cross-functional collaboration skills."
🎭 Prove Soft Skills with Mini Stories
Avoid saying "I have great communication skills" unless you show it with a real example.
"I'm a team player."
"During our school's science fair, I co-led a team of four to design a smart compost system, dividing responsibilities and giving weekly progress updates."
💡 Pick one of these and give a tiny story:
🧼 Keep Your Language Clean, Clear, and Short
No need for long sentences or big words. Keep it simple and easy to read.
"I would be most humbled to gain an opportunity to explore said professional setting."
"I'd love the chance to gain hands-on experience and contribute to your team."
📄 Finish Strong
Wrap it up with:
- A thank you
- A reminder you've attached your CV
- A short sign-off
Example:
"Thank you for considering my application. I've attached my resume and would love to discuss how I can support your team."
"Sincerely,
Emma Tran"