cover letter is more than a formality. It’s an opportunity to make a powerful first impression. Whether you’re applying for your first job or an internship, use your cover letter to introduce yourself.
Want to maximize your chance of getting an interview? Write a concise, well-organized cover letter that highlights your qualifications. Even if you don’t have previous work experience, you can still explain the skills you have developed through attending school, volunteering in your community, or even helping out at home.
Employers (and popular internship opportunities) get a high volume of applications, so make sure your letter demonstrates how your skills and experiences align with the job or internship’s expectations and requirements.
Don’t just list your skills, either. Use your cover letter to tell a potential employer or intern manager why you’re the right fit. Show your personality, enthusiasm, what drives you, and how you’d contribute to the organization — things a formal resume can’t fully capture.
COVER LETTER TOOLKIT
When you’re ready to start your cover letter, gather the following: Your resume
The job/internship position description or requirements
The company/organization description
Additional research about the organization and role, like info from the person who recommended or referred you, if relevant
WRITING A COVER LETTER
To start, think about the job/internship role.
What skills and qualities are they looking for?
What skills do you already have, even if they’re from school, clubs, or hobbies?
As you write your cover letter, underline/highlight the words or phrases that show off your skills. Explain how you attained them (or will develop them).
After each underlined/highlighted qualification, add a brief explanation in parentheses
Be specific and use examples!
Use this draft to fine-tune your cover letter’s next version.
HERE’S WHAT WE MEAN:
“I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the [job/internship] role at [Organization Name]. I believe my strong communication skills (school debate club + English class presentations) and organizational abilities (treasurer of student council - managed finances, secretary of FBLA - organized events) make me a strong candidate. I am also a quick learner (ability to grasp new software quickly when doing school projects) and am confident I can adapt to new challenges (switch gears when club advisor changes/different routine for step club) and develop other important skills through on-the-job training.
I am a team player (co-captain of step team) and have time management skills (AP/honors classes + extracurriculars + volunteering). I am eager to contribute my enthusiasm (school spirit, active participation at school) and positive attitude (noted by teachers/coaches/mentors) to [Organization Name].
KEY COVER LETTER COMPONENTS
Your cover letter is a Cliff’s Notes story about your work history and overall experience. It tells a story, shows your value concretely, and calls the reader to action (Want to know more about me? Schedule an interview!)
Every cover letter is unique, but each should have the same core elements that highlight your strengths and potential and make a strong first impression. Keep the formatting consistent for easy reading.
Here’s a breakdown of the seven key sections:
1. CONTACT INFORMATION
Use the same heading for your cover letter that you used for your resume. It should include your name, email, phone number, and LinkedIn, website, or portfolio URLs (if you have one).
Pro tip: If you’re mailing a hard copy of your cover letter and resume, include the name of the person you’re addressing the letter to, their organization’s name, and contact information. If you’re emailing or submitting an application online, you can skip this section.
2. PERSONALIZED GREETING
Want to really impress the organization? Find out who’s most likely to read your application. Sometimes, the job listing will include a name; otherwise, you may need to do a little online research. Start with the company directory (if there is one). Look for people working in human resources. Use “Dear Mr. X,” “Dear Ms. Y,” or “Dear Dr. Z” as appropriate.
Pro tip: If you’re applying for an internship (or strike out with HR), you may not find any specific people. If so, use a standard greeting like “Dear Hiring Manager.” Short and sweet is fine!
3. INTRODUCTION
Your intro is the “hook,” which should capture (and keep) the reader’s attention. For a job application, include the job title, express your interest in the position, and mention any relevant skills.
For an internship, state the position title, express your interest, and explain how you heard about it. Express why you’re excited about this internship.
Pro tip: If someone referred you for the job or internship you’re applying for, mention their name.
KEY COVER LETTER COMPONENTS (cont.)
4. SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Use the second paragraph to talk about your qualifications. Expand on what you wrote in your resume, sharing examples of projects you’ve worked on or things you’ve done so the person reading your cover letter can see how you might fit in the organization.
No or limited work experience? No problem! Frame your skills like this:
I’ve been a member of [sports team/club name] for [number] years, where I learned the importance of teamwork and communication for achieving goals.
I manage a challenging academic schedule of honors and AP classes while also participating in [extracurricular activities/sports], which has taught me time management and organizational skills.
I am responsible for [chores, pet care, sibling care] at home, which has taught me to be dependent and reliable.
I have developed strong communication skills through presentations in class and participation in [debate team, drama club, etc.].
I served as [club officer, team captain, tutor] and demonstrated leadership by [specific actions]. I have helped out at [school events, community events] where I interacted with and helped people].
I have my own [blog, social media page, YouTube channel] where I have learned about [content creation, editing, marketing].
Focus on how skills you’ve developed in other contexts can apply to this job or internship. Describe your experiences using strong verbs like “managed,” “organized,” “led,” “collaborated,” and “communicated.” Provide specific examples (instead of saying, “I’m a team player,” give a concrete example of a time when you worked effectively in a team).
Pro tip: Introduce this paragraph with a sentence or two, and use bullet points to highlight your contributions.
KEY COVER LETTER COMPONENTS (cont.)
5. VALUES AND GOALS
Whether you’re applying for a part-time job or an internship, add a short (2-3 sentences) paragraph showing why you want to work (or intern) there. Look at their website, social media, and any recent news. Find out what’s important to them. Now, think about what you care about and your strengths, and then match their values to yours.
Pro tip: Try adapting one of these templates: “I was really impressed to learn about [Organization Name]’s commitment to [its mission, e.g., sustainability, outreach]. My own passion for [your related value, e.g., environmental conservation/volunteering] is what drives me to [your action, e.g., participate in local cleanups/ mentor or tutor younger students].”
“During our school’s recent fundraising event, I worked with a team of classmates to [your specific action, e.g., organize the bake sale/manage social media promotion], and we successfully [positive outcome, e.g., exceeded our fundraising goal by $/%].”
“I’ve been following [Organization Name]’s work in [industry/area of focus] and am particularly drawn to [its mission/values]. My own commitment to [your related value] aligns perfectly with your organization’s culture, as demonstrated by my experience [your example]. I’m confident that my [your soft skill, e.g., leadership, strong communication skills, ability to adapt] would help me make a positive contribution to your team.”
6. CALL TO ACTION (CTA)
Use the last paragraph (2 sentences max) to quickly restate your interest in the position/internship and organization, thank them for their time, and express your enthusiasm for discussing the role further.
Pro tip: Keep your CTA clear and direct, like “I’m eager to learn more about this opportunity. Please reach out to me at [your phone number] or [your email address].”
7. CLOSING
End with a professional sign-off, like “Best,” “Best wishes,” “Respectfully,” “Kind regards,” or “Looking forward to speaking with you,” followed by your name.
Pro tip: You don’t need to include an email signature when you send a cover letter and resume via email.
KEY COVER LETTER COMPONENTS (cont.)
MINOR RESUME ADJUSTMENTS
Pro tip: After you understand the role or internship and organization, you might want to tweak your resume a bit to show why you’re the perfect fit. The job/intern description has the missing pieces, and your resume has to show you’ve got them.
If the organization wants someone good with social media, highlight your experience managing your own accounts or the school’s club page, for example.
Add a section: Don’t just stick to the usual sections. Add ones that make you stand out! If the organization cares about the community, show them you do, too. List volunteer work you’ve done. If they need someone who speaks another language, put that front and center. Even listing that you’re currently learning a language is helpful.
If you’ve done a cool project in school or one related to the role, create a section for it. For example, if you’re applying for a graphic design internship, add a section showcasing your own graphic design projects (or include a link to an online portfolio if you have one).
Reality check: Use the role description as a checklist. If the organization wants someone good at “problem-solving” and you’ve done that in your coding club, add it to your resume. If you have a skill they want, make sure it’s on your resume.
Fine-tune existing sections: Double-check everything! Make sure your computer skills match what the organization needs. Use your “interests” section to show how your background fits. Applying to a sports store? Talk about your love of soccer. Hoping to intern for a tech company? Mention your coding projects.
COVER LETTER FORMAT FOR AN INTERNSHIP
Date
Intern Program Leader’s Name
Organization’s name
Employer’s address
Employer’s city, state, zip
Dear Mr. or Ms. _________
Intro
• State your reason for writing and how you heard about the position. Identify the position and mention a relevant skill or two — and the person who referred you (if relevant).
• Match your resume to the internship. Go through your resume and the internship side-by-side, identifying what skills and experiences they have in common. Brainstorm how your experiences fit their needs.
Body
• State why you want to work in this field, providing relevant examples of your qualifications.
• List specific examples of when you’ve used those skills. Get creative! “Multitasking” isn’t only about schoolwork. You’re balancing school, sports, clubs, volunteering, or even helping out at home. “Responsibility” can be caring for siblings, community service, or even just being reliable with chores.
• Pick your top three skills/experiences that make you stand out. Consider the skills unique to you and that prove you’re good at something.
Include “hard skills” (like knowing computer programs) and “soft skills” (like teamwork or leadership). And always be specific. Instead of saying “computer skills,” say you’re proficient in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Use bullet points for easy readability
• Show you fit the organization. What’s the vibe? Do they care about helping people? Are they all about technology or environmental conservation? Connect your experiences to their mission. If you’re applying for an advertising internship, mention the marketing projects you’ve done at school or the social media you manage for one of the clubs.
Conclusion
• Thank them and include the CTA. Provide contact info.
Sincerely, Student name
COVER LETTER SAMPLE FOR AN INTERNSHIP
February 28, 2025
Ms. Intern Program Leader
ABC Advertising 1 Employer Street Boston, MA 01234
Dear Ms. Intern Program Leader,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in a summer internship at [Organization Name]. As a high school student with a passion for creativity and how companies market their products and services, I have been impressed by [Organization Name]’s innovative campaigns and dynamic approach to advertising.
This past semester in my advertising and marketing communications course, I had to research and report on local companies specializing in [industries] and analyze specific marketing campaigns. I was drawn to [Organization Name]’s social media campaign for [brand/company].
I’ve been actively exploring the world of advertising through:
• Collaborating with other members of the Future Business Leaders of America club to design a marketing campaign for the recently updated school store
• Creating social media content for the high school step team
• Writing for the school newspaper and lit mag
These experiences have ignited my desire to learn more about the advertising and marketing industry and potentially major in it in college.
I am particularly interested in gaining hands-on experience with social media marketing, content creation, and copywriting. I believe my enthusiasm, adaptability, and willingness to learn would make me an asset to [Organization Name] and that an internship would help me develop the skills necessary for a future advertising career.
Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my resume for your review and would welcome an opportunity to discuss the internship role further. Please contact me at (617) 123-4567 or student@email.com. Thank you for your consideration.
Best regards, Student name
COVER LETTER FORMAT FOR A SUMMER CAMP
Date
Employer’s name, Employer’s title
Organization’s name
Employer’s address
Employer’s city, state, zip
Dear Mr. or Ms. _________
Intro
• State your reason for writing and how you heard about the position. Identify the position and mention a relevant skill or two — and the person who referred you (if relevant).
• Match your resume to the job. Go through your resume and the internship side-by-side, identifying what skills and experiences they have in common. Brainstorm how your experiences fit their needs.
Body
• State why you want to work for this employer, providing relevant examples of your qualifications.
• List specific examples of when you’ve used those skills. Get creative! “Multitasking” isn’t only about schoolwork. You’re balancing school, sports, clubs, volunteering, or even helping out at home. “Responsibility” can be caring for siblings, community service, or even just being reliable with chores.
• Pick your top three skills/experiences that make you stand out. Consider the skills unique to you and that prove you’re good at something.
Include “hard skills” (like knowing computer programs) and “soft skills” (like teamwork or leadership). And always be specific. Instead of saying “computer skills,” say you’re proficient in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Use bullet points for easy readability
• Show you fit the organization. What’s the vibe? Do they care about helping people? Are they all about technology or environmental conservation? Connect your experiences to their mission. If you’re applying to a summer camp, talk about your experiences as a previous camper.
Conclusion
• Thank them and include the CTA. Provide contact info.
Sincerely, Student name
COVER LETTER SAMPLE FOR A SUMMER CAMP JOB
February 28, 2025
Ms. Employer, Employer’s title
Camp ABC
1 Nature Preserve Rd. Boston, MA 01234
Dear Ms. Employer,
For the past four years, I’ve looked forward every summer to spending a month at Camp ABC. Now that I’ve aged out as a camper, I’m applying to become a counselor for this summer season.
My experiences at Camp ABC each summer helped me grow as a person. I learned leadership skills, self-reliance, conflict resolution, and teamwork. I would love to help younger campers develop those skills.
My time as a camper gave me an appreciation for Camp ABC’s values and traditions. In the past, I’ve participated and taken the lead in different activities:
• Helping plan the end-of-session talent show
• Designing arts and crafts activities for middle school-aged campers
• Going with the wildlands conservation group to do presentations at the local daycare
I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to mentor younger campers and lead this year’s talent show. I believe my positive attitude and enthusiasm make me a valuable addition to Camp ABC’s counselor team.
Please contact me at (617) 123-4567 or student@email.com. Thank you for considering my application.
