5 Best Email Samples For Internship Request

Are you applying for your first internship?

Landing an internship while still in school is the best way to prepare for the job market when you graduate.

The job market is tough, and there’s no telling when it will get better. Employers tend to value candidates with some degree of experience, and an internship will go a long way in proving you have relevant work experience and the ability to make a positive contribution to a company.

However, landing an internship is not easy in and of itself. You are not doing any good to your chances if you are committing these mistakes.

In the article below, I’ll share more light on this and provide some valuable tips and email application examples to help you get your first internship.

Let’s begin.

Also Read: How To Write An Email For A Job?

Tips for Writing an Internship Application Email

Do Your Homework

Always research the company and position you are applying for carefully before crafting an email.

One of the easiest ways hiring managers can weed out applicants is by seeing who is writing a generic email and who has taken the time to research the company and learn more about its culture, vision, and goals.

Do you know what the position entails? What are its exact requirements, and what kind of training, mentorship, and support is offered to interns?

Demonstrating that you know a thing or two about the company and what it expects of its interns can help put you at the front of the line and make you stand out from other applicants.

Also Read: Bad Email Examples

Mention Any Connections

At the start of your email, mention any connections you have with the company or hiring manager to break the ice and put you ahead of the pack.

Examples may include:

• You met the recruiter at a career event at your university.
• The CEO is a family friend or in your network from church.
• You were referred by your mentor who knows the CEO.

Connections can help serve as social proof and avoid your email getting sent to the trash folder.

Also Read: How To Write Apology Emails?

Talk About Your Internship Goals

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Many companies provide internship opportunities, despite knowing they will have to spend time and effort training interns, because they hope to mold these interns into future employees who will contribute to the success of the company.

What are your goals with your internship? Do you just want to get something on your resume, after which you will abandon the company?

You should mention why you chose that particular company and how the internship opportunity aligns with your career goals. Make it seem as if you want to stay with the company for a long time; don’t give off the impression that you will be hopping to another company as soon as you get some internship experience on your resume.

Don’t Mention Your Lack of Experience

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Don’t write something along the lines of “although I may not have experience, I am still a good fit for the role.” This is an internship opportunity; you’re not expected to have experience.

If you do have experience, definitely mention it, as I will talk about later. However, if you don’t, that’s okay; focus on other things such as projects and other achievements.

Explicitly excusing your lack of experience is not the approach to take. It makes it appear as if you are not confident in yourself and your abilities, or that you don’t think you are truly qualified for the job.

Highlight Certificates, Projects, or Other Achievements

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If you have any experience, mention it! It doesn’t have to be formal work experience or a prior internship.

Perhaps you volunteered for a nonprofit, for example. Or, maybe you volunteered for your local church.

You might have even done some work for family and friends. For example, if you’re applying for an IT position, perhaps you helped neighbors troubleshoot software and hardware issues.

Any type of experience can help you stand out from other people applying to the internship position.

But what if you don’t have any experience? In that case, you would want to highlight other achievements.

Certificates are great. Although you might not have a bachelor’s degree, you might have earned certificates from third parties.

In the examples below, I used the example of CompTIA certifications, which are relevant in the IT field. These certificates only require a fee and one or two exams, which you could potentially complete in just a few weeks or months of study.

If you worked on any projects, highlight them as well. For software engineering positions, for example, provide your GitHub page and any apps or websites you created.

Any projects that can help you stand out should be mentioned. For example, perhaps you completed free certifications from free training sites like FreeCodeCamp or TryHackMe while completing your bachelors.

Also Read: How To Introduce Yourself In An Email?

If you’re applying for a real job, they might not be worth mentioning, as they don’t hold that much weight in the industry.

However, for an internship position, it could show that you are dedicated to learning and more advanced than other interns who might not have the extra knowledge you accumulated through self-learning.

Use Keywords From the Job Description

It’s common knowledge among jobseekers nowadays that companies often use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software to filter job applicants. These software help hiring managers filter out unqualified applicants, but they are far from perfect.

One of the most common issues with applicant tracking software is that they rely on keywords to filter for recipients.

Whether you’re sending an email or uploading a resume, ATS software typically checks to see if your resume or cover letter contains keywords mentioned in the job description.

For example, these keywords may include skills such as “team building” or job-specific skills such as “JavaScript.”

While you can’t know for sure which keywords are being filtered for by the software, adding keywords from the job requirements and preferred qualifications listed in the job description can increase your chances of getting through the ATS filters.

Many resumes, unfortunately, never see the light of day since they get filtered out automatically.

Attach a Resume and Portfolio

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Don’t just send an email. An email serves as a cover letter; if you’re sending an email, you don’t usually need to upload a separate cover letter.

However, it doesn’t replace the need for a CV.

You might be wondering what you would put on a resume if you are applying for an internship with no experience. Here are some ideas:

• Any relevant education, including electives you are taking in college that are relevant to the job
• Links to your project or online portfolio
• A list of your skills
• Any volunteering work that is relevant to the position

Maintain a Professional Tone

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Write your emails with a professional tone, even if you are writing to someone in your network.

Open with a professional greeting, such as “Dear [Name].” If you are emailing a professor or someone with a title such as Dr., include that in the opening.

If you don’t know the person’s name, it is acceptable to write “Dear Hiring Manager,” as I have done in the email examples below. However, do your research and try to find the person’s name, if possible.

Also Read: What To Include In A Cover Letter?

Proofread and Spell Check

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Never send your email without first proofreading it for spelling and grammar errors. Such errors make your email look unprofessional.

Not only that, but they indicate that you are lazy, not detail-oriented, and not willing to go the extra step and put in the extra effort to perfect your work.

So, always proofread and double-check everything before clicking on the send button.

Keep It Concise

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Keep your emails short, concise, and to the point. Don’t write lengthy emails waxing on about your qualifications.

Remember, you will be attaching your resume as well. Your resume is where the bulk of your experience and skills should be mentioned.

Your email is more like a cover letter. It should introduce you to the recruiter, explain why you are eager to work for the company and why you would be a good fit, and briefly mention your most important qualifications.

Remember, recruiters and hiring managers are overwhelmed with emails, and they would rather not bother with a lengthy email when a shorter one would do.

Don’t Copy and Paste

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Don’t copy and paste the same email to every internship you apply to.

It can be tempting to do so, especially when you discover that you might have to apply to dozens or even hundreds of internships before you land a job (depending on your field), but it’s not worth it.

By customizing the emails to the specific company and job requirements, you will have a better chance of getting a response.

Best Email Samples For Internship Request

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1. Responding to a Job Posting #1

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m writing to expect my interest in the software engineering internship opportunity posted on your website. As a junior at XYZ University, currently majoring in computer science, I’m passionate about software development. I’ve excelled in courses such as Object-Oriented Programming, Programming With Python, Android Development, and Requirements Engineering, with an average GPA of 4.0.

In addition, I’ve already completed several projects, including Android and web apps, and participated in several hackathons. You can view my list of projects here.

I’m a quick learner and passionate about expanding my knowledge. I have great collaboration skills, as evident from the open-source projects I’ve contributed to with the help of my fellow students.

Attached is my resume. I hope you consider my application, and I am looking forward to your response.

Yours truly,

John McJames

2. Responding to a Job Posting #2

Dear Hiring Manager,

I came across your job post on LinkedIn, where you were seeking a social media marketing intern to grow your brand.

As a marketing major at ABC College, I have a strong passion for marketing, and I have already helped several non-profits build up their social media presence, as outlined in my resume.

I would love to onboard with your team as an intern, applying my existing knowledge and collaborating with seniors to develop new skills.

I appreciate your prompt response.

Regards,

Sarah Soho

3. When You Have a Referral

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Dear Hiring Manager,

I am reaching out to express my enthusiastic interest in the position of Data Analyst Intern at Company ABC. I was referred to by Mr. X, a valuable mentor of mine at University XYZ, where I am currently majoring in data science.

I believe my skills and passions align perfectly with what your company is looking for, and I hope that you take Mr. X’s endorsement into account when considering my qualifications and suitability for the role.

Kind regards,

Brian McBrian

4. A Cold Outreach Email

Dear Hiring Manager,

My name is Kelly McKenna, and I am a senior year student at XYZ University, majoring in IT and Business Management. I have been following your company on social media for a while, and I am impressed by your startup’s vision, goal, and unique approach in the industry.

While I understand that you have not posted any official internship opportunities, I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to request a chance to work with your team as an intern. I’m hoping you could find a place for me on your team so I can contribute to your success.

Although I haven’t yet graduated, I have completed the CompTIA Trifecta, earning my A+, Network+, and Security+ certificates. I am also attaching my resume, where I outline the home labs and projects I have built. I fully believe I would be an asset to your team.

Best regards,

Kelly McKenna

5. Emailing an Alum From Your School

Dear Joe,

I recently came across your professional profile on LinkedIn, and I was extremely impressed by your career path progression and success in the field. I’m a computer science major at XYZ University, where you studied, and I would be grateful to have a chat with you about your career progression and how you broke into the industry.

I also noticed that you’re a senior software developer at ABC Startup, which is currently seeking software engineering interns for hire. If you have any information about those roles, I would love to discuss that with you as well.

I know your time is valuable, but I would appreciate even a few minutes of your time, whether you’re available to chat over the phone or text. You can reach me via this email address, via my LinkedIn profile [link to your LinkedIn profile], or via WhatsApp at 917-123-4567.

Warm regards,

Jill McGil

Also Read: Best Social Media Sites For Professional Networking & Job Hunting

Conclusion

If you don’t get a response to your email, don’t give up. It is perfectly acceptable to send a followup email.

In some cases, the recruiter may simply not have seen your first email due to the deluge of emails in their inbox, or they may have forgotten to reply.

In either case, never rely solely on a single opportunity. While maintaining quality in your applications is important, try to ramp up your application numbers.

The more internships you apply to (without copying and pasting your emails or using AI to write them), the better your chances are of landing an opportunity. Don’t get discouraged, as some people send hundreds of applications before landing an internship.