Internship Applications — Everything You Need to Know
Cover letter, CV, interview — how to apply successfully
The Perfect Cover Letter
Your cover letter is your chance to show personality. No recruiter enjoys reading walls of text — get to the point quickly: why this company, why you, what you bring to the table.
Opening
Skip 'I hereby apply for...' and go straight to the point: 'Sustainability has fascinated me ever since my school project on renewable energy — that's why I'm applying to [Company]...'
Main body
Mention 2–3 concrete skills or experiences relevant to the role. Connect them to what you hope to learn at the company.
Closing
Show confidence: 'I look forward to speaking with you and am available from [date].' — not 'I would be pleased if...'.
Structure
Location, date — recipient — subject line (bold) — salutation (with name!) — introduction — main body — closing — sign-off — signature — attachments.
What you should do
- Tailor your cover letter individually for each company
- Give concrete examples instead of general statements
- Check spelling with multiple tools (Word, Grammarly)
- Write a clear email subject line: 'Internship Application – Marketing – [Your Name]'
- Use PDF format for all documents
- Find out the name of your contact person and use it
What you should avoid
- Generic phrases like 'I hereby apply...' at the start
- Sending your CV and cover letter as .docx
- Applying to several positions at the same company at once
- Asking about your application status too soon (wait at least 2 weeks)
- Addressing the wrong contact person
- Lying on your CV — it will come out in the interview
AI tip: generate your cover letter automatically
Use our AI cover letter generator — just enter the role, company and your skills, and get a professional cover letter in seconds.
Open AI toolsFrequently Asked Questions About Applications
How long should an internship cover letter be?
One A4 page maximum. Employers rarely read cover letters in full — half a page with a clear focus on motivation and relevant skills beats a full page of filler text.
Do I need a cover letter for a school internship?
Usually a short motivation statement (3–4 sentences) explaining why you're interested in that specific company is enough. Many companies only ask for a CV and school report.
What belongs in an internship CV?
Personal details, education (most recent first), previous internships or jobs, relevant skills (e.g. languages, software), hobbies (optional). No photo for international applications.
Should I apply by email or via an online form?
Use whatever method the company specifies. Online forms often have automatic filtering — fill in all required fields. For email, combine all documents into a single PDF.
What if I don't have any experience?
Highlight school projects, volunteer work, club involvement, or self-taught skills (e.g. your own website). Motivation and willingness to learn often matter more to employers than prior experience.
How quickly should I respond to a rejection?
Reply briefly and professionally, thank them, and ask if they can share feedback — it leaves a good impression and helps you next time.
Ready to Apply?
Find matching internships now and apply with an AI-generated cover letter