Best Cover Letter Format for Internships
Written by Laura Riley
Laura Riley is a writer who specializes in career advice and professional development. She has a master’s degree in student affairs and higher education from Miami University.
A well-written cover letter might land you an interview, but if it’s not well formatted, it will never get read in the first place. In this article, I’ll show you the best cover letter format for internships and explain why a well-formatted cover letter is crucial to your success as an applicant. For information about everything else cover letter-related, check out How to Write a Cover Letter for Internships.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide:
Sometimes, you meet someone and immediately think, “This person could be my new best friend.”
Or maybe it’s the opposite. You meet someone and immediately dislike them.
While your opinion may change over time, first impressions are important—and they tend to stick. From casual introductions to job applications, you want to make them count. That’s why your cover letter—and how it’s formatted—is a big deal.
According to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 83% of recruiters spend 60 seconds or less reading an applicant’s cover letter—and that’s out of those who take the time to read your cover letter in the first place.
So, ask yourself, “How can I make a great impression in 60 seconds?”
What’s the basic cover letter format?
While there are various formats, every well-written cover letter includes a header, introduction, body, and closing.
- Header: your name, contact information, the date you’re writing, and the company’s address.
- Greeting: addresses the person who will be reading your letter.
- Introduction: introduces yourself and explains why you are writing.
- Body: communicates how you’re qualified for the position and why the employer should interview you.
- Conclusion: summarizes your qualifications and thanks the employer for their time.
What types of cover letter formats are there?
There are several different formats for cover letters. The format you use will depend on your level of experience, the type of position you’re applying for, and your personal preference. I’ll show you four different types:
- Paragraph cover letter
- Bullet-point cover letter
- “Make-the-match” cover letter
- T-format cover letter
For each of these formats, I’ll describe it, share a full-length example, and discuss who should use each type. Read through each option before determining which format is most appropriate for you.
Let’s start with the most common format: the paragraph cover letter.
Paragraph cover letters
A traditional cover letter is written in paragraph form (also known as standard or block format). A standard paragraph cover letter comprises 3–5 short paragraphs.
It’s important to break your cover letter into bite-sized paragraphs. If you opened up a textbook to one solid block of text, you’d be overwhelmed and would likely stop reading. The same goes for a recruiter reading your cover letter. Break your cover letter into several short, manageable paragraphs.
Who should use a paragraph cover letter?
A traditional paragraph cover letter can be used by every professional, at any level, in any industry. The traditional format helps you tell a cohesive story, with the most artistic license in terms of writing creative openings, sharing memorable anecdotes, and making an impression. The sample below is a senior college student applying for an internship.
Example of formatting a paragraph cover letter
Dear Ms. Curtis,
From my marketing coursework to my role as the marketing lead with the Office of Student Activities and Greek Life, I’ve built my student experience at University of Southern California around honing my marketing skills. When I discovered your marketing internship with XYZ Digital Agency on Internships.com, I was thrilled by the chance to get hands-on experience before graduating this May.
Over the past three years, I have completed several marketing courses, including Advertising and Promotion Management and New Product Development and Branding. I’ve learned how to grow and manage strong brands by meeting customer needs and developing long-term relationships. I look forward to leveraging this knowledge to advance XYZ Digital Agency’s marketing projects.
Additionally, I am involved in our on-campus Association of Innovative Marketing Consulting (AIM), a student-run organization that provides consultancy services for a range of clients. As the vice president of the organization, I lead a group of 30+ students and manage semester-long projects from start to finish. I also work in the Office of Student Activities and Greek Life, planning and promoting events. I determine target audiences, cater to their needs, and engage them through social media campaigns.
My marketing coursework, leadership experience, and on-campus roles have prepared me well for the marketing internship with XYZ Digital Agency. I am very excited about this opportunity and look forward to speaking with you soon. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Amari Jones
>>> SEE MORE Cover Letter Examples by Job Type
Bullet point cover letters
A bullet point cover letter is similar to a traditional cover letter. You still include an introduction, body, and conclusion, but you present your main qualifications through bullet points.
Each bullet point highlights one relevant skill, qualification, or experience. For example, you may highlight your coursework, past internship experience, degree, leadership involvement, or communication skills. Each bullet point consists of only one or two brief sentences.
Who should use a bullet point cover letter?
Just like a traditional cover letter, a bullet point cover letter can be used by every professional, at any level, in any industry. It often makes the most sense for college students applying for internships or individuals with less experience. And you know how people love those easy-to-read listicles (articles in list format)? It’s the same with bullet point cover letters. A recruiter can quickly digest the main points.
Example of formatting a bullet point cover letter
Dear Andi Thompson,
When I discovered your marketing internship with XYZ Digital Agency on Internships.com, I was thrilled by the chance to get hands-on experience before graduating this May. From my marketing coursework to my role as the marketing lead with the Office of Student Activities and Greek Life, I’ve built my student experience at University of Southern California around honing my marketing skills.
- Marketing coursework: I have completed marketing courses in Advertising and Promotion Management and New Product Development and Branding. I know how to grow and manage strong brands.
- Association of Innovative Marketing Consulting (AIM): I am the Vice President of a student-run organization that provides consultancy services for a wide range of clients. I lead a group of 30+ students and manage semester-long projects.
- Office of Student Activities and Greek Life: I help plan and promote events, engage our target audiences, and handle social media outreach.
My coursework, leadership experience, and on-campus roles have prepared me well for the marketing internship position with XYZ Digital Agency. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Amari Jones
RELATED >>> See How to Write a Cover Letter for Internships
Make-the-match cover letters
The third cover letter format is what I like to call “make-the-match.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: you’re matching your qualifications to what the company seeks. It can instantly demonstrate that you’re the perfect candidate.
Think about it like a date.
Let’s say you’re setting up two friends, Finley and Jamie, on a blind date. You know Jamie appreciates humor and Finley is incredibly funny. You know Jamie enjoys hiking and Finley is an environmental studies major. You’re making the match. It’s a similar process when writing a make-the-match cover letter.
Like the previous formats, you start with an opening paragraph and close with a conclusion. For the central paragraph(s), however, you list 3–4 requirements the employer seeks and respond with your own matching qualifications. It’s a great way to ensure the content of your cover letter demonstrates the qualifications that are most relevant to the position and company you’re applying for.
Who should use a make-the-match cover letter?
The format of this cover letter necessitates some experience. You could use this when applying for your first full-time position or shortly after you graduate.
Example of formatting a make-the-match cover letter
Dear Andi Thompson,
From my marketing coursework to my role as the marketing lead with the Office of Student Activities and Greek Life, I’ve built my student experience at University of Southern California around honing my marketing skills. When I discovered your marketing internship with XYZ Digital Agency on Internships.com, I was thrilled by the chance to get hands-on experience before graduating this May. Given your most critical needs, this is how I can make an immediate impact with your organization:
Advance XYZ Digital Agency’s marketing projects. Over the past three years, I have completed several marketing courses, including Advertising and Promotion Management and New Product Development. I know how to grow and manage strong brands by fulfilling the needs of customers and developing long-term relationships.
Provide consultancy services to XYZ Digital Agency’s diverse client base. I am involved in our on-campus Association of Innovative Marketing Consulting (AIM), a student-run organization that provides consultancy services. As the vice president of the organization, I lead a group of 30+ students and manage semester-long projects.
Implement social media campaigns for your clients. I plan and promote events in the Office of Student Activities and Greek Life. I determine target audiences, cater to their needs, and engage them through numerous social media channels.
I am very interested in this opportunity and look forward to speaking with you soon. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Amari Jones
T-Format Cover Letters
A fourth option is a “T-format” cover letter, in which you divide the body of the cover letter into two columns. In the left column, you highlight exactly what you can do for the company. In the right column, you include evidence to support your claim. This format is similar to the “make-the-match” format, but instead of organizing the content in paragraphs, it’s sorted into two columns.
This is how the main section of a T-Format cover letter looks:
| You seek to: | I bring: |
| Advance XYZ Digital Agency’s marketing projects.
|
Experience through several marketing courses, including Advertising, Professional Selling, and Product Development. I have learned how to grow and manage strong brands by fulfilling customer needs.
|
| Provide consultancy services to XYZ Digital Agency’s diverse clients.
|
Interpersonal knowledge from my vice presidency with the on-campus Association of Innovative Marketing Consulting (AIM), a student-run organization that provides consultancy services. I lead a group of 30+ students and manage semester-long projects.
|
| Implement social media campaigns for your clients.
|
Social media expertise gained from planning and promoting events in the Office of Student Activities and Greek Life. I determine target audiences, cater to their needs, and engage them through social media channels.
|
What about length, font, margins, and paper?
- Length: While a cover letter gives you a chance to tell your story, you aren’t writing a novel. A cover letter should never be longer than one, single-spaced page. Your letter will generally be 200–400 words long. If you can make it more succinct and still make your case, that’s even better.
- Font: When choosing a font, make sure it’s easy to read. Some appropriate fonts include Arial, Calibri, Garamond, Georgia, Tahoma, and Times New Roman. Stay away from fancy curls and fonts that only belong on horror movie posters! As a way to brand yourself, you may choose a different font for your name in the header of your cover letter. Other than this, be sure to use the same font throughout for consistency’s sake. Use size 10- to 12-point font. This will ensure the font is large enough to read, but small enough to create a polished look.
- Margins: It’s best to use standard one-inch margins, but you may use margins as small as .5 inches. Whatever you choose, be sure the margins are consistent on all sides.
- Alignment: Left-align the paragraphs in your cover letter. You don’t need to indent the first sentence of each paragraph. Instead, hit “Return/Enter” between each paragraph to create a balance of text and whitespace.
- Paper: You’ll probably submit your application online, but in those rare cases where you need to print your cover letter (going to a career fair, extra copies for an interview, or even a hard-copy application), remember that it needs to reflect your professionalism. It’s best to use black ink on white, cream, or ivory paper. If you can’t afford or don’t have access to high-quality resume paper, then regular 8.5” x 11” paper will work. And remember: Your university Career Center may actually provide resume paper and printing services.
While your internship cover letter format may seem like a small detail, it’s really not. It’s part of that all-important first impression, and it demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail.
Your situation will dictate what type of cover letter you choose to write—whether you use a standard block format, bullet points, “make-the-match,” or “T-format.” Take the time to craft a professional, polished, and well-formatted cover letter, and you’ll be well on your way to an awesome internship.
Related >>> 13 Cover Letter Tips and Tricks to Achieve Greatness
