Cover Letters
Think of the cover letter as your resume's cheerleader - it is another tool to sell yourself for the position. ALWAYS send a cover letter!
These suggestions are tailored for participants in PLEN's Women & Public Policy Internship Semester, but many of the tips are applicable to all types of cover letters.
Before you write:
- PLEN Women & Public Policy Internship applicants think about how you can discuss:
- Your qualifications for an internship.
- The policy area that interests you.
- The type or organization, government agency or office that interests you.
- Focus on how you fit the needs of the type of organization that interests you.
- Determine your unique selling points - how are you different from the 100 other people applying for the internship? Write out at least 5 reasons why you're a great match.
Format:
- Use standard business format.
- No more than one page.
Opening paragraph: State that you are applying to the internship semester, demonstrate your knowledge of the organization/issue for which you hope to work and briefly discuss what you can bring to the internship.
- Explain why you want the internship.
- Don't use a weak opening.
Body: Your sales pitch. Use your 5 selling points here. Use specific examples to back up your pitch.
- Don't repeat your resume word for word. Use this to augment and strengthen your resume.
- Let them know what you can contribute to the organization.
- Vary your sentence structure. Don't start every sentence with "I".
- Avoid saying you're not qualified for a particular internship or job - even if the position is out of reach, convince the reader that you are qualified. Keep it positive!
Closing paragraph: Express strong interest in an interview and reemphasize your enthusiasm. Thank the person for their time.
- End with a professional closing: best regards, sincerely, respectfully yours, etc.
- Don't forget to sign your name with a nice pen.
Overall Tips to Keep in Mind
- Be concise: make it easily digestible by being direct and breaking up paragraphs.
- Keep it professional, but friendly.
- Proofread! Also double-check the spelling of the addressee's name.
- Avoid clichés.
