Embarking on your engineering internship hunt, you've hit a common snag: crafting a cover letter that stands out. This daunting task is more than parroting your resume; it's your chance to share a compelling story centered on your proudest professional milestone. Steer clear of clichés and embrace a formal yet personal tone. Your aim? A succinct, one-page narrative that captures your unique achievements and passion for engineering—let's kickstart your journey to an impactful, memorable cover letter.
- Some inspiration from other professionals' job-winning cover letters;
- The best structure and format for your engineering intern cover letter;
- Insights on how to write about your best achievement to stand out;
- A creative twist on your engineering intern cover letter intro.
Upload your engineering intern resume to Enhancv's AI, which will quickly scan and prepare a job-winning cover letter for you.
If the engineering intern isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Engineering Intern cover letter example
Steve Benjamin
New York, NY
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Mentioning specific cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) demonstrates direct experience with tools relevant to infrastructure engineering, which is crucial for a role in a tech-forward company like BlueVoyant.
- Quantifying achievements, such as the '15% increase in system efficiency,' provides concrete evidence of the candidate's impact and technical prowess.
- Expressing eagerness to learn and contribute to the team showcases the candidate's collaborative spirit and dedication to continuous improvement, aligning with the company's value of innovation.
Structuring and formatting your engineering intern cover letter
Here's what the structure of your engineering intern cover letter should include:
- Header (with your name, the position you're applying for, and the date);
- Salutation (or greeting);
- Introductory paragraph (or your opening statement);
- Body paragraph (or further proof of your experience);
- Closing paragraph (with a call to action);
- Signature (that is optional).
Use the same font for your engineering intern resume and cover letter - modern fonts like Lato and Rubik would help you stand out.
Your engineering intern cover letter should be single-spaced and have a one-inch margins - this format is automatically set up in our cover letter templates and our cover letter builder.
When submitting your cover letter, always ensure it's in PDF, as this format keeps the information intact (and the quality of your document stays the same).
On one final note - the Applicant Tracker System (ATS or the software that is sometimes used to initially assess your application) won't read your engineering intern cover letter.
The top sections on a engineering intern cover letter
- Header: Includes your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact information, which is essential for providing a professional look and making it easy for the recruiter to reach out to you.
- Greeting: Addresses the hiring manager/recruiter by name whenever possible, showing that you’ve done your research and you’re personalizing the letter.
- Introduction: Briefly introduces yourself and states the engineering internship position you're applying for, while also catching the recruiter’s attention with your enthusiasm for the field of engineering.
- Body: Highlights your relevant coursework, projects, skills, and any previous internship experiences that make you a good fit for the engineering intern role, demonstrating your technical aptitude and problem-solving abilities.
- Closing: Reiterates your interest in the engineering position, thanks the recruiter for their consideration, and includes a call to action, such as requesting an interview or stating that you'll follow up, which shows initiative and eagerness to engage with the team.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Relevant technical skills: Knowledge of CAD software, programming languages, or other engineering tools necessary for the role.
- Hands-on project experience: Participation in engineering projects, competitions, or internships that show practical application of academic learning.
- Problem-solving abilities: Demonstrated capacity to approach and solve complex issues, a core aspect of engineering tasks.
- Teamwork and collaboration: Experience in working with teams on projects, highlighting the ability to contribute to team efforts and communicate effectively with peers.
- Understanding of industry-specific regulations: Familiarity with standard industry practices and regulatory requirements relevant to the engineering discipline.
- Adaptability and eagerness to learn: Willingness to rapidly learn new technologies and adapt to dynamic project requirements, showing flexibility and growth potential.
How to personalize your engineering intern cover letter greeting
Before you start writing your engineering intern cover letter, take the time to find out who is recruiting for the role.
Search for the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or the corporate website to address them personally in your engineering intern cover letter salutation.
What if you can't find out who's recruiting for the role?
Always aim to avoid the very impersonal "Dear Sir/Madam" - instead, opt out for "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager" to make a better first impression.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department Name] Hiring Committee,
- Dear [Specific Name if known],
- Dear [Mr./Ms. Surname],
- Dear [Professional Title] [Surname],
Introducing your profile to catch recruiters' attention in no more than two sentences
The introduction of your engineering intern cover letter is a whole Catch 22 .
You have an allocated space of no more than just a paragraph (of up to two sentences). With your introduction, you have to stand out and show why you're the best candidate out there.
Set out on a journey with your engineering intern cover letter by focusing on why you're passionate about the job. Match your personal skills and interests to the role.
Another option for your engineering intern cover letter introduction is to show you're the ideal candidate. Write about how your achievements and skills are precisely what the company is looking for.
However you decide to start your engineering intern cover letter, always remember to write about the value you'd bring about. Making it both tangible (with your metrics of success) and highly sought out.
What comes next: your engineering intern cover letter middle paragraphs
In the next three to six paragraphs (or the body of your engineering intern cover letter) you have to prove your unique value.
Most candidates tend to mess up at this stage. They tend to just copy-paste information from their resume.
That's one big no-no.
Remember that when writing your engineering intern cover letter, it has to be personalized. And, your ultimate aim is to catch the recruiter's eye.
So, look back on key job requirements and write down a list that includes the ones you cover.
Next, select just one key achievement from your professional (or personal) history that meets those advert keywords.
Narrate a story around how you've grown your skill set and knowledge. Also, aim to show the unique understanding or soft skills you bring about, thanks to your past success.
Ending your engineering intern cover letter to avoid "Sincerely yours"
Yes, this sort of closing statement may work best before your signature.
But you want to give recruiters something more with your engineering intern cover letter ending.
Some professionals choose to go down the path of promises. In a single sentence, they map out what they'd bring about to the role (whether that's a particular technical skill set or personal traits).
Others, decide to be more concrete by thanking recruiters for their time and prompting for their next interview.
Whatever path you choose, remember to always be polite and respectful of the opportunity you've had. Good manners go a long way.
What to write on your engineering intern cover letter, when you have zero experience
The best advice for candidates, writing their engineering intern cover letters with no experience, is this - be honest.
If you have no past professional roles in your portfolio, focus recruiters' attention on your strengths - like your unique, transferrable skill set (gained as a result of your whole life), backed up by one key achievement.
Or, maybe you dream big and have huge motivation to join the company. Use your engineering intern cover letter to describe your career ambition - that one that keeps you up at night, dreaming about your future.
Finally, always ensure you've answered why employers should hire precisely you and how your skills would benefit their organization.
Key takeaways
Creating your engineering intern cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:
- Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
- Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
- Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
- Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
- End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.
