This post is from Alison Doyle, an American employment specialist and expert. I like her work very much. Here she writes about the art of the internship cover letter.

If you are applying for an internship you will likely have to submit a cover letter as part of your application. Your cover letter should be tailored to the specific internship and include examples from your work, academic, and extracurricular experiences.

Use Business Letter Format

Use a business format when sending a cover letter by mail. Include your contact information at the top, the date, and the contact information for the employer. Be sure to provide a proper salutation and sign your name at the bottom. If you are sending a cover letter by email you do not have to include the contact information at the top. Instead, place this as part of your email signature at the end of your letter.

Individualise Your Cover Letter

Make sure to write a unique cover letter for each internship for which you apply. Highlight skills and abilities you have that relate to the specific internship listing. The main emphasis of your cover letter should be convincing the reader that you will be an asset as an intern.

Use Keywords

One way to individualise your letter is to use keywords from the internship listing. For example, if the listing says the intern needs to have excellent “time management skills,” include an example of how you have demonstrated time management skills in the past.

Provide Specific Examples

If you say that you have a particular skill or ability in your cover letter, be sure to prove this with a specific example from your past work, academic, or extracurricular experience.

Emphasise Your Academic Experience

In the letter, you can mention academic experience, if applicable. Especially if you have limited work experience, you might use examples from school to demonstrate that you have particular skills. For example, if the internship requires you to work as part of a team, provide an example of a successful team project you worked on during one of your college courses.

Include Extracurricular Experiences

You can also include details about your relevant experience from extracurricular activities or volunteer work. For example, a reporter for a college newspaper can point to interviewing and writing skills; a history of volunteering at a shelter can provide an example of strong interpersonal skills.

Follow Up

Towards the end of your letter, say how you will follow up with the employer. You might say that you will call the office to follow up in about a week (don’t follow up any sooner). However, do not include this if the internship listing says not to contact the office.