Are you in the process of applying for an internship? You will need to submit a cover letter as part of your application, just as you would do when applying for a job. However, applying for internships is quite different, as chances are that you have limited or no experience and limited qualifications. The question of how to write an attachment letter without experience is one that most people applying for an internship have a hard time answering.
Fortunately, even without experience, you can still be able to write a great cover letter the employers. If you are wondering how to write an attachment letter or you're looking for a sample letter that will guide you on how to draft yours, this guide is meant for you.
READ ALSO: How to write an article reviewSo, how do you format your application? Which style of writing is acceptable when addressing a potential employer?
Even though you are not getting paid, an attachment is just as important as an actual job. Therefore, you should place the same importance when applying for an attachment position. You should thus write your attachment placement request in a formal style, just like you would with a job application or any other business letter. At no instant in the application should you use informal style (the kind you would use when writing a personal letter).
For some people, an internship application is the first instance they will be writing a formal letter. With little experience writing such a letter, combined with the limited experience and qualifications, some of them might be tempted to use a sample letter right off the internet, change a few details to personalise it, and then send it to their prospective employers.
You should, however, avoid this tactic if you are looking to make an impression on the employers and increase your chances of getting an attachment. Instead, you should craft your cover letter from scratch and make it as unique to you as possible. Make sure that the tone of the writing, education experiences, skills, and everything else you include in the application describes you – and not hundreds of other people. On top of that, you should make your attachment request is unique to each company you are applying to. Therefore, instead of writing one letter and changing a few details (such as the company name) you should consider writing a separate letter for each company. You can achieve this by researching each and every company you are applying to, more so the department you are looking to be placed. You should then include the skills, abilities, experiences, and qualifications that would make you a valuable asset to the company.
How do I write a cover letter with no experience and impress the employers? This is something that most people have a hard time figuring out when it comes to internship application. Fortunately, there are several ways you can impress employers, even with limited work experience. One of these ways is by placing emphasis on your academic experience, which will help to show employers that you have valuable skills.
Therefore, instead of just listing your academic qualifications, go deep and show how they make you a valuable prospective employee. For example, you can list academic projects you have worked on or led, academic competitions you have engaged in, and so on. READ ALSO: Different styles used to write letters When adding your academic experience, you should also list all experiences, even outside your field of study. For example, you can include short courses, online courses, education boot camps, and other experiences you have. These will help to show employers that you are determined to do more than just the bare minimum.
Extracurricular experiences are another way you can be able to impress employers even with limited or no work experience. Therefore, you should include experiences such as sports participation, volunteer work, club membership, student government, university societies, art and music classes, hobbies such as photography, religious classes, paid and unpaid jobs (no matter how informal they were), and so on.
And just like with the academic experiences, you should do more than just listing them. Make sure you provide specific examples and explain how they make you a valuable prospective employee. For example, if listing debate club membership as an extracurricular activity, you can name debate competitions you participated in, how you contributed, and so on.
Skills and abilities are another way to impress employers when writing an attachment application letter. Good skills that can impress employers include communication skills, leadership skills, project management skills, computer skills, language skills, creative thinking skills, and so on.
When listing your skills and abilities, make sure to identify the strongest ones, and include the ones that will make you perfect for the company you are applying to. And just like with the other experiences, be sure to provide specific examples. For example, when listing leadership skills, you can mention the leadership roles you hold or have held in the past. You should also include certificates, awards, experiences, and other qualifications you have to support the skills you have listed
Internship positions are usually very competitive, and as a result, employers have to use various methods to thin out the applicants. Any errors in your letter can thus result in you not getting the position you are applying for, regardless of how qualified you are. Therefore, before sending your letter, make sure that you thoroughly proofread it for any spelling and grammar mistakes it might have. Other mistakes to look out for when proofreading and editing your letter include wordy sentences, complex phrases, and anything else that can make your letter hard to understand. In the end, your letter should be free of any grammatical errors, clear, brief, and to the point.
READ ALSO: How to write an official letterNowadays, most companies use online applications for both jobs and internship applications. In some of these cases, applications include forms that you only have to fill and submit. However, there are still companies that prefer the traditional letter writing style. And even where an online application is used, you might find some companies requiring you to upload a cover letter. In these cases, you will need to write a letter and get the format right – formal business letter format.
[Applicant's phone number]
[Applicant's email address]
[Department/Position (for example, Human Resources Director)]
Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. First and Last Name
RE: APPLICATION FOR A [insert number of months] MONTHS INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
I am writing to apply for the [insert position] listed on your company’s careers website page.
My name is [John Smith] and I am an undergraduate student at [XYZ University]. I am currently in my third year, pursuing a [Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science]. My curriculum is composed of modules like software engineering, database systems, network administration, computer systems security, and software implementations. I have also taken extra computer programming courses and can write programs in C++, Java, Python, and HTML language.
Last summer, I volunteered at [ABC academy’s computer programming summer boot camp], where I was involved in teaching high school students the basics of computer coding. Currently, I am currently working on a research project for the [XYZ University Computer Science Department].
I am a responsible, motivated, and quick-learning person, and can adapt easily to the culture of your company. I am also a great team player and have been involved in several group projects as part of my coursework.
I am confident that my academic background and my strong technical skills in computer programming will make me a great asset to your organisation. The internship position will also help me expand on my skills in the field of technology.
I have attached my resume and academic qualifications for review.
Thank you for consideration, and I look forward to hearing your response.
Not sure on how to write an attachment letter? The above tips, guidelines on the format, and the sample can guide you on how to create a good internship placement letter. Even with little or no experience, you can still be able to impress prospective employers and earn that internship placement you are seeking.
READ ALSO: How to write a request letter for a job vacancy
Ryan Mutuku (Lifestyle writer) Ryan Mutuku is an editor with over 4 years of working in digital media for Tuko.co.ke, Yen.com.gh, and iWriter. He is an alumnus of the Faculty of Media and Communications at Multimedia University (2019). Ryan mostly focuses on the entertainment and technology niches. He won the Best Writer award in 2022 (Tuko.co.ke). In 2023, Ryan finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: ryanellismutuku@gmail.com