internship cover letter harvard

• Founder Story
• CAMLab Cave

Harvard FAS CAMLab is devoted to supporting an internship program each year according to project capacity. CAMLab invites each cohort to explore the host of active projects and identify matches based on their interests and specialties. Applications for the Internship Program of 2024 are now being accepted on a rolling basis.

Harvard FAS CAMLab provides internship opportunities for talented students to join the lab’s innovative and interdisciplinary projects that bring together humanistic research and cutting-edge media technologies.

The 2024 internship program adopts a hybrid mode with flexible start and end dates. However, at least 8 weeks of involvement is preferred. As we will offer in-person workshops, lectures, and courses on campus at Harvard and also arrange field trips to local arts and cultural institutions in the Greater Boston areas, we believe that students who can participate onsite during the course of the internship will receive the most value out of the experience and are therefore preferred.

What We Offer:

The program is unpaid; however, CAMLab provides stipends and can assist in earning college credits contingent upon the applicant’s request and verification of the school’s policy. It is imperative that the intern possesses the necessary authorization to legally engage in the internship and receive the stipend, as CAMLab does not offer visa sponsorships. Upon requests, CAMLab can aid in furnishing the requisite documents for practical training programs such as OPT and CPT.

Who Should Apply:

We encourage undergraduate students from all disciplines to our internship program and welcome interested graduate and advanced high school students to apply.

Application Process:

We use a rolling admissions process for admissions decisions. We strongly recommend applicants submit the required materials as soon as possible for consideration (at least one month before their intended start date.)

To apply for the internship, please submit the following materials to [email protected], using “2024 Internship+Position+Your Full Name” as the email subject:

• Resume/CV (indicating relevant skills and experience including academic work)
• Cover letter (500 words or less) including applying incentive, learning objectives, expected contribution, preferred areas and teams, and expected duration (8 weeks+ is preferred)
• Research Position: Writing Sample
• Design Position: Personal website or Portfolio (less than 25mb)

As a CAMLab intern, you will have the opportunity to participate in CAMLab projects under the supervision of core team members in one or more of the following areas: Research, Design, Development, Marketing, and Education.

To obtain detailed descriptions of the internship areas and their requirements, please refer to the program brochure.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications and interest, we are unable to reply to every applicant or offer feedback on the application status. Only a selected number of shortlisted applicants will be contacted via email to conduct an online interview.

Click on the link below to download the program brochure:

CAMLab Internship Program 2024 | Brochure

Should you have any questions regarding the CAMLab Internship Program, please don’t hesitate to contact us: [email protected]

Resumes/CVs

1L Guide to Summer Jobs

Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising

You are beginning a process of exploration, reflection, and decision-making that may last your entire career. But right now, concretely, you will be focusing on your 1L summer job search.

How do I find a summer public interest job?

You can start by checking out our  Summer Job Search FAQs , which cover topics such as resume and cover letter writing, preparing for interviews, and negotiating offers and monitoring our  1L Summer Jobs Feed  for the most recent summer jobs we receive. In addition, we have created this guide specifically for the 1L summer job search.

Key summer job search goals:

• Try out an area of the law (civil rights, environmental, antitrust, etc.), type of employer (government agency, nonprofit, union, etc.), or legal skill (litigation, policy, transactional, client-based work, etc.) that might be of interest to you professionally; i.e., begin to answer the question: “what kind of law practice is the right fit for me?”
• Begin to demonstrate a commitment to public service generally, and perhaps to a particular field of interest or type of practice specifically.
• Build your connections to organizations and practitioners working in fields that may be of interest to you.
• Build marketable skills (e.g., client interviewing, drafting skills, etc.).

Step One: Reflection and Planning

(beginning in Fall and continuing throughout the year)

• Why did I come to law school?
• What have my prior work experiences, internships, and extracurriculars told me about how I like to work, the kind of day-to-day work that plays to my strengths, and the work environments I most enjoy?
• What issue areas, practice settings, or work types are most interesting to me? Why?
• How important is geography this summer? What cities or states are of greatest interest?
• OPIA’s self-assessment.
• The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
• Our  Practice Setting Webcasts  (hear what lawyers say about their day-to-day jobs and what they most and least enjoy about their work).
• Wasserstein Fellow meetings . The Wasserstein Public Interest Fellows Program brings outstanding public interest attorneys to Harvard Law School to counsel students about public service. 2-3 Day Wasserstein Fellows are on campus for a few days during the fall semester and J-term to meet with HLS students one-on-one. Schedule a meeting with a Wasserstein Fellow to ask about their current work, how they chose that work, or how they might compare prior professional experiences to their current one.
• Our career guides.
• Our 1L E-Advising series on exploring public interest resources at HLS .
• Informational interviews with practicing public interest attorneys (if you don’t know any, OPIA is happy to provide you with contact information for lawyers willing to talk to current students).
• Familiarize yourself with SPIF amounts.
• Use the  SPIF budget interactive tool .
• Determine cost of summer living in cities of interest.
• Make a note in your personal calendar re: the SPIF deadline (you DON’T have to wait until you have a summer job lined up in order to apply).
• Appointments for 1Ls are available after October 15 – watch for an e-mail from OPIA indicating sign ups are open. We encourage students to try to make their first appointment during the fall semester, even if they don’t apply for jobs until later in the year.
• Discuss the results of your self-reflection, including any sticking points.
• Brainstorm about the summer options that might best align with your goals and interests.
• Develop a personal job search plan.
• Begin to explore your longer term employment goals.
• Discuss courses, clinics, and extracurricular activities that might also allow you to pursue your interests.
• Prepare for your advising appointment.
• Learn further guidelines on 1L advising.

Step Two: Identifying Potential Employers

(can begin in Fall)

• Develop a list of public interest organizations to apply to that meet your summer goals/interests. Ideally, narrow down your list to no more than 2 issue areas or types of work, to give your search some focus.
• There are a plethora of resources you can use to find public interest organizations that may be of interest to you: our  job search boards and databases list ; the  Helios organizations database ;  OPIA advisers ;  OPIA career guides ; student-to-student job fair (usually occurring in mid-October);  Who Worked Where  lists;  PSJD ;  faculty ; your own network if you have one.
• The number of applications you submit will vary depending on the type of work you are pursuing, the competitiveness of the organizations you’re interested in, your background, and the cities you are targeting. Most students apply to around 10 organizations, but that number may be lower or higher for an individual student.
• Make sure the organizations to which you wish to apply are  SPIF-eligible .
• Remember to make another appointment with an OPIA adviser if you need more guidance or help finding organizations that may be a good fit for you.
• Does the organization have a job posting? Read our weekly email jobs bulletins and check out these job databases.
• Does it have application instructions on its website?
• Many students participate in the  Massachusetts Law School Consortium (MLSC)  (note that  MA USAO  hires exclusively through MLSC) or in the  Spring Interview Program (SIP)  (note that only a handful of public interest employers participate in this program).
• If none of the above, you can still apply to the organization by sending a resume and cover letter directly to the designated intern coordinator or to the legal director (don’t assume an organization without a posting or intern page won’t take an intern!).
• National nonprofits (ACLU, NAACP, CCR, Earthjustice, etc.).
• Federal agencies, particularly the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ (including many U.S. Attorney’s Offices, or USAOs), and defense/national security oriented agencies.
• Legal aid organizations and public defenders in popular cities (Bronx Defenders, DC Legal Aid, etc.).
• That said, plan to start applying for summer jobs at the time that’s right for you! There are great employers that hire throughout January and February; a smaller number of employers will also hire in March.
• The international search tends to begin later; it is common to see applications in the winter months (but there are a few exceptions for certain international courts/organizations).
• If you are applying for federal government jobs that require a security clearance (DOJ, USAOs, national security agencies, etc.), review  OPIA guidance on security clearances and check for any potential issues (particularly drug use). Consult with an OPIA adviser as necessary.
• If you are applying to DOJ (including USAOs), you must have lived within the U.S. for at least 3 of the last 5 years (though the years need not be sequential).

Step Three: Preparing Materials

(October through January) and Applying (as of November 15)

• Check out OPIA’s  preparing materials guidance on tackling resumes, cover letters, writing samples, references, and more. You can also find  resume samples  and  cover letter samples , as well a  resume workshop  and  cover letter workshop  video prepared by OPIA and OCS.
• The  Summer Job Search FAQs  also have plenty of tips and tricks for creating a stand-out public interest application.
• Polish your  online presence .
• Submit your resume and cover letter for review by an OPIA adviser  (note there is a 10-14 business day turn around; do not wait until Thanksgiving to send us your materials if you hope to submit applications early in December).
• Check to see if any of your applications require that you submit other materials (for example, a  transcript ), and if so, prepare those materials.
• Check for typos (again).
• You may begin to submit applications as of November 15.
• Make sure you follow all application instructions where relevant, including instructions (such as bidding deadlines) for participating in specific job fairs.
• If you have not heard anything from employers you have applied to after two or three weeks, follow up with them to see if they need any additional materials.

Remember to review and, if necessary, clean up your  online presence . Employers may do an online search of you, and your online presence should be professional. Make sure you review your social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), email signatures, and voicemail. Also make sure your LinkedIn profile is professional and up-to-date.

Step Four: Interviewing and Managing Offers

(beginning in November and continuing through March)

• Remember to respond to all employer emails and phone calls within 24 hours.
• Err on the side of formality. Use last names and don’t start an email with “hi” or “hey” or no greeting at all.
• Not hearing back from employers after two weeks or so? Follow our  guidelines for following up on applications .
• Some employers may require in-person interviews; most will be ok with a video or phone interview.
• Review our information on p rofessional attire in our Professionalism Guide . If you are in need of a professional outfit for an interview, check out the  HLS Clerkship and Professional Attire Expense Policy .
• Practice is key! Participate in the OPIA/OCS mock interview program and/or make an appointment with an advisor. You should also watch our  OPIA/OCS interviewing video  and practice with a family member or a friend.
• Why law school?
• Why this type of work?
• Why this organization?
• Be prepared to talk about anything on your resume (including SPOs and extracurriculars), highlighting key skills and learning experiences.
• Be prepared to answer questions about your writing sample.
• Have two or three questions prepared for each interviewer (don’t ask anything that can be Googled!).
• If you don’t have a strong “public interest” resume, talk to an OPIA advisor about experiences you can highlight and ways to convey your interest in an authentic manner.
• Send  thank-you notes  (usually an email within 24 hours after your interview).
• Read our  FAQs , guidance , and  e-advising post  on responding to, accepting, and declining offers.
• If you receive an offer, acknowledge it by phone (if offer was by phone) or email (if offer was by email) within 24 hours.
• If you need more time to decide on an offer, you may politely request a reasonable extension.  Learn more about what is “reasonable.”
• Do not accept an offer and then later withdraw.  You should be aware that the legal community is much smaller than you may think, and reneging on a job offer can have negative consequences for your career.
• If you are in a position to have multiple offers at the same time, or if you have an offer and haven’t heard from your top choice, visit our virtual office hours to discuss how to handle these situations.
• Office hours are also great for discussing whether to accept or reject a specific offer.
• Keep these dates in mind as you plan your summer.

If you have not gotten any offers and are starting to panic, don’t! Make an appointment with an OPIA adviser to talk about your options and come up with a game plan.

Step Five: Funding, Visas, and Housing

(beginning in January and continuing through April)

• Check the status of your SPIF application and address any follow ups as needed.
• Check out options for  supplemental funding  beyond SPIF, and be sure to apply if you qualify.  PSJD also has a guide  on public interest job searching with additional funding resources and information.
• If you are an international student and will be working in the United States, talk to the Harvard International Office about  CPT requirements .
• Explore housing options in the area and secure a place to live for the duration of your internship. Employers may be able to help with this, especially if they have taken on summer interns in the past.
• If you’re looking for an apartment to sublet for a few months, one way to start your search is by looking for Facebook housing/subletting groups for the area where you will be living. If there is a university in the town or city where you will be living, that is a good place to start. For example, if you will be in NYC, try searching for Columbia or NYU summer sublet Facebook groups.

Step Six: Making the Most of Your Summer

 (beginning in Spring and continuing through Summer)

• After accepting your offer, ask your employer whether there are any steps you can take to prepare for your summer internship. Also, feel free to check out the  Who Worked Where lists  and reach out to other HLS students who have worked in your office to ask them for any advice.
• Remember that your summer position is relatively brief and you should try to keep your number of absences to zero. However, there may be instances where an absence is necessary (attending a family wedding, for example); to avoid any surprises, speak with your primary summer contact well in advance of any possible absence. Avoid being presumptuous or unreasonable when making an absence request.
• Be on time. Check with your contact about what time to arrive on your first day; after that, look around and see when attorneys generally arrive in the morning and follow their lead. Also, observe what time the attorneys tend to leave the office. While you do not need to be the last one out the door, you should not always be the first one, either.
• Be sure to check out our  tips on workplace attire, email etiquette, interacting with coworkers, and workplace conduct.  Don’t assume that all public interest work atmospheres are the same; read the room and err on the side of formality.
• Maintain a friendly and enthusiastic attitude throughout the summer.
• Be detail-oriented. Bring a notepad with you everywhere you go and take notes when receiving assignments. Always submit your best work, and remain positive and open-minded when it comes to feedback and constructive criticism.
• Say thank you – including to support staff, your supervisor(s), and any formal intern coordinators who might be part of your summer experience.
• Be social at work. Take your supervisor(s) to lunch. Grab coffee with other attorneys in your organization whose work interests you. Attend any trainings or brown bag information sessions offered to summer interns. If your office hosts happy hours, barbecues, or even a weekly softball game, go! Let your summer colleagues get to know you, and pick their brains about the legal market in your city, organizations doing similar work, and contacts you should be reaching out to.
• Go to events. State and local bar associations, national affinity organizations, and even law schools offer both substantive and networking-driven summer programming. For example, check out the calendars of the  Federal Bar Association ,  DC Bar Association ,  Washington Council of Lawyers ,  New York City Bar Association , and  San Francisco Bar Association . (Note that student membership may be required to attend an event.)
• Ask OPIA for networking contacts in your field(s) of interest! We are happy to connect you with attorneys practicing in your summer city or elsewhere.
• Student Practice Organizations (SPOs).
• Clinics  (in-house and independent, with opportunities during the fall, winter “J term,” and spring).
• Pro bono  and volunteer work.
• Research work.
• Shadowing a practicing attorney for 1-2 days.

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Harvard cover letter example

Cover letter header

Cover letter greeting, cover letter introduction, cover letter middle part (body), how to close a harvard cover letter (conclusion and sign-off).

It's the college that needs no introduction. Harvard is the world's most prestigious university, ranking in the top position in the Times Higher Education poll. It's kind of a big deal. So, if you have your sights set on gaining a job at the institute, you need to pull out all the stops.

Your Harvard cover letter doesn’t simply depend on your booksmarts. It's about more than the qualifications you have — although they absolutely matter too. Yes, this is a chance to tell your personal story and win the reader over with your dreams and resilience.

This guide, along with the corresponding Harvard cover letter, is designed to show you create the most effective application possible by:

• Choosing the best cover letter format and including each of the required sections
• Writing with powerful action verbs and examples of your achievements
• Sharing your own journey to convince an admissions officer of your desire to succeed
• Avoiding mistakes often made on cover letter samples.

Resume.io is a resource for job seekers at every stage of their careers. You can find even more insight and valuable writing tips for your desired field of study in our 180+ free cover letter examples.

If you’re looking for more cover letter help as a student, check out these related education cover letter examples:

• Scholarship cover letter example
• University cover letter sample
• Internship cover letter sample
• Student cover letter example
• Graduate cover letter example

Best format for a Harvard cover letter

As with any cover letter, your Harvard one should contain sections that make it easy for the reader to find the information they are looking for. Here are the essential components of your Harvard cover letter sample:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting / salutation
• The cover letter intro
• The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
• The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)

By this point in your high school career, you’ve no doubt written a number of English essays. You’ll likely find that the parts of a cover letter are much the same – the intro is your hook, for example, and the body is the place to present the strongest evidence of your achievements. 

This structure helps your letter flow from one section to another and keeps an admissions officer interested in what you have to say. Unlike a normal cover letter which discusses much of the experience on your resume, a Harvard cover letter should tell a personal story without needing much detail about your high school clubs or leadership roles (unless that’s part of the story you want to tell, of course!)

Below is a Harvard cover letter example to help you get started in writing your own.

Dear Professor Lockwood,

MY Ph.D. advisor, Professor Caroline Buchanan has suggested I write to enquire about the possibly of conducting my postdoctoral research at your Harvard faculty. I am currently completing my Ph.D. in mathematical sciences and as you have the same academic background as Professor Buchanan, I am interested to explore the possibilities.

My focus on applied mathematics and data science has driven the direction of my academic research and having published 30+ papers and corporate case studies, I am seeking a position with an eminent mathematical mind to help shape my future work. As a keen programmer, I am particularly interested in the intersection of coding and mathematics and how A.I. led programming is able to simplify the manipulation of data.

I can demonstrate that my projects are accessible to undergraduate researchers, and I have considerable experience of working in diverse teams, encompassing both academic and corporate research.

During my Ph.D. studies, I taught undergraduate courses, including calculus and advanced algebra. I would welcome the opportunity to continue this at Harvard and have a track record of improving learner outcomes. My tutoring students enjoyed a 100% pass rate and I have 28 letters of recommendation to share. Modules that I would particularly enjoy teaching include: Precalculus, Calculus, Fundamental Maths, Linear Algebra, Probability and Algebraic Structures.

Enclosed with this letter, please find my CV, research and teaching documents and a selection of recommendation letters. I will be visiting Harvard for the machine learning symposium in February and would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss my application.

Yours sincerely,

Taylor Laughton

The header of your cover letter serves two important roles: the first is to label the document with your name and contact information so the admissions officer knows exactly whose letter they are reading. The second is to create a bit of visual formatting that catches the admissions officers attention and helps them remember your cover letter a bit better than all the others. 

You may be submitting your letter in an online application or another format that doesn’t allow for a header. If that’s the case, make sure your name, phone number, email and other relevant details are included in the appropriate boxes so that there’s never a question of how to contact you.

You can see an attractive and functional header on our Harvard cover letter example.

The aim of the cover letter header: Include the most relevant contact details and create an attractive page layout to make your cover letter sample stand out from the rest.

The cover letter greeting is how you address the person (or people) who will be reading your cover letter. In many other situations, you’d be instructed to address your letter to the name of the recipient in order to make a personal connection and show interest. In the case of Harvard, however, you’ll likely need a more general greeting. 

In certain circumstances, your Harvard cover letter sample won’t need a greeting at all. If you’re asked to paste your letter into a box with limited word count, forgo the greeting to maximize writing space. 

The aim of the cover letter greeting: Use a general greeting that’s appropriate for a Harvard cover letter in order to set a friendly and respectful tone.

Here’s the greeting from our Harvard cover letter example.

The introduction is the hook of your Harvard cover letter. This is the place to draw a reader into the story you have to tell and to give them a reason to read until the very end. The introduction is generally the first paragraph of your cover letter sample. Set the scene, give the details of the characters and offer a sense of what the admissions officer will discover in the rest of your cover letter.

The aim of the cover letter introduction: Begin your cover letter with an interesting set-up that hints at the rest of the letter and encourages the reader to continue.

Check out the introduction from our Harvard cover letter example below.

The body of your cover letter gives you all the space you need to expand on your story and convince the admissions officer that you’re the best choice for one of Harvard’s limited positions. In the body section, you’ll need to explain how the experiences you’re writing about changed you and made you the person you are today.

The aim of the cover letter body: Share more details about your story that explain your outlook and attitude today.

Use the body from our Harvard cover letter example as a model for your own.

Your Harvard cover letter should make a point and wrap up into an easily-digestible conclusion. Generally-speaking, your conclusion should reflect your outlook on the world or describe the ways in which you’d be an asset to Harvard (without directly pleading for a spot.) 

Unless you’ve included a greeting, there’s generally no need to sign-off. Your cover letter should be complete at the final line of the conclusion.

The aim of the cover letter conclusion: Share the moral of the story and end with your final thoughts that show what type of professional you’d be at Harvard.

Here’s the conclusion from our Harvard cover letter example.

Writing psychology: how to tell your story

In order to succeed in writing a Harvard cover letter sample, you’ll first need to reflect on your own life and look for interesting stories to share. Here are some questions to consider:

• What experiences have I had that were particularly memorable?
• Have I lived through any situations that are unusual for people my age?
• Who or what has influenced me the most in life?
• Where do I get my drive and inspiration?
• What are my strongest personality traits and where do they come from?
• What are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned at this stage in my life?

There are no right or wrong topics for a Harvard cover letter, but make sure to choose one that you are truly passionate about. By weaving a narrative throughout your cover letter and focusing on your authentic experiences and tone of voice, you can be sure the admissions officer will feel your passion and desire to be part of their university.

You are so much more than your grades. While you might have worked years to perfect them, a great GPA doesn’t guarantee a role at Harvard. Many of the applicants you’re up against have also done their best. The cover letter sample can go a long way in making you stand out from other candidates who are also at the top of their class.

Basic mistakes in a Harvard application letter (and how to avoid them)

• Cliches and generic information: The reader has read it all, so it’s important to give them something that stands out. Cover letters about hard work, athletic achievements or tragedies will need to be revised carefully so that they don’t come across as too generic.
• Poor tone: Your tone should be authentic without ever sacrificing professionalism. You don’t need to beg for a shot, but you should also be careful to avoid coming across as entitled or demanding.
• Spelling and grammar mistakes: When the competition is this fierce, any little typo or grammar mistake can be a big deal. Avoid these issues by using spell check and asking a trusted mentor to proofread.
• Formatting issues: If you need to upload a cover letter sample as its own file, you’ll want to make sure that your layout and design is as attractive as possible. A free cover letter template can help you do this quickly.

Key takeaways

• A Harvard cover letter is one of the most important documents to help you get a position at this prestigious institution.
• As seen in our cover letter example, having clear and organized sections makes it easier for the reader to understand your letter.
• Most Harvard cover letters will share a personal story about the applicant and explain what they’ve learned or how it affected them.
• Avoid cliche topics like sports victories, tragedies or difficult coursework and look for unique moments in your life to expand upon.

Free professionally designed templates

How to Write a Cover Letter

by Amy Gallo

Summary .   

Perhaps the most challenging part of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. And yes, you should send one. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, that’s still a 50% chance that including one could help you. Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Next, catch the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter with a strong opening line. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, mention it in the first sentence or two, and try to address your letter to someone directly. Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems, so show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces. Then explain how your experience has equipped you to meet those needs. If the online application doesn’t allow you to submit a cover letter, use the format you’re given to demonstrate your ability to do the job and your enthusiasm for the role.

No one likes job hunting. Scouring through online job listings, spiffing up your résumé , prepping for grueling interviews  — none of it is fun. For many, the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter. There’s so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Do you even need one, especially if you’re applying through an online system?

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In This Section

WAPPP is not offering summer internships for 2024. Please keep an eye on this page for updates on future opportunities, as WAPPP offers undergraduate internships year round to aid our high-functioning administrative team.

Interested candidates should be independently motivated college students with a demonstrated interest in advancing gender equity who are comfortable working under minimal supervision. This is a paid position at $18/hr. Students from all undergraduate years are welcome to apply.

Administrative Intern

The Administrative Intern will aid the WAPPP team in keeping the center running while receiving exposure to WAPPP projects, fellows, staff, and resources at the Harvard Kennedy School. Any experience with event planning and programming and/or research around gender is appreciated. Duties:

• Organize the gender course guide, a resource for Harvard students interested in taking gender-related courses.
• Make basic website changes and conduct a website audit, ensuring all web pages adhere to brand guidelines and best practices for digital accessibility.
• Provide logistical support and collect background research for regularly occurring events such as the Weekly Seminar Series, From Harvard Square to the Oval Office Program, and Women’s Leadership Board Meetings.
• Assist with data entry and archiving.
• Proofread and edit documents and email mailings.
• Draft correspondence and talking points.
• Assist with other administrative tasks as needed.

Research and Administrative Intern

The Research and Administrative Intern supports WAPPP’s Director of Research and Programs on the Gender Action Portal (GAP), WAPPP's online collection of experimental research summaries to close gender gaps and other staff on administrative projects. The intern should have significant coursework in gender equity and research translation, as well as skills in writing, editing, and project management. Duties:

• Assist with project management of the Gender Action Portal workflow, including identifying and adding articles to the workflow, assigning articles to writers and editors, drafting emails to faculty authors, and adding articles to the Portal website.
• Prepare literature reviews and summaries on issues related to gender equity and DEI.
• Update the resources page on GAP, by adding new tools and content relevant to gender researchers and policymakers.
• Contribute to other duties for GAP and WAPPP, including the gender course guide, social media, newsletters, communications, and website maintenance.
• Assist with other administrative tasks as needed, including those listed in the Administrative Internship position.

How to Apply

To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample as a single PDF document to [email protected]. In your cover letter, please indicate your preference for the Administrative or Research/Administrative Internship position, though all candidates will be considered for both. Applicants must reside in Massachusetts and be able to work in a hybrid capacity, both in-person on the HKS campus and remotely.

We regret that the Harvard Kennedy School does not provide Visa Sponsorship. International applicants must be eligible for CPT work authorization through their undergraduate institutions.

How to Write a Cover Letter for Internship (Examples & Template)

You’ve found the perfect internship and it’s now time to apply and land the position!

But, in addition to your resume, you also have to write an internship cover letter.

You might end up staring at the blank Word document for hours and nothing comes out.

We don’t blame you; cover letters are hard to write even if you have a decade’s worth of work experience, let alone if you’re a recent graduate or a student.

Worry not, though; in this article, we’re going to teach you all you need to know to write a compelling cover letter for your internship.

• Do you need a cover letter for an internship?
• How to write a compelling cover letter for an internship
• Plug and play internship cover letter template

Do I Need a Cover Letter for an Internship?

First things first—if you’re wondering whether you actually need a cover letter for your internship application, the answer is yes . 

An internship application is just like any other hiring process, meaning that a recruiter will go over your resume , cover letter (and maybe even references), and decide whether you’re qualified for the position. 

And yes, recruiters contrary to what you might think, recruiters do read your cover letter. 56% of recruiters prefer a cover letter with an applicant’s application.

This is reasonable - a cover letter allows you to add essential information you didn’t have space for in a resume, as well as explain (in words) how your experiences are tied to the role you’re applying for.

As such, a cover letter for an internship is essential and complementary to your application package.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s go over all the best ways to write a cover letter for an internship. 

How to Write a Cover Letter for Internship

#1. respect the format.

Before you can focus on your cover letter’s contents, you should first make sure you’re sticking to the right format. 

Otherwise, your cover letter will be disorganized and the recruiter will have a hard time following your train of thought.

So, here’s the format that your cover letter for an internship should follow: 

• Header with contact information. This includes your full name, professional email, phone number, and LinkedIn profile (if you have one). Underneath your contact info, you should add the date and the receiver’s information (the recruiter’s name and title, the company/organization name, and their physical address). 
• Addressing the recruiter. Greeting the recruiter with “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern” is common, but not the best approach. Want to show the hiring manager that you did your research? We recommend you address the hiring manager by name directly. Our guide on how to address a cover letter covers everything you need to know on this topic!      
• Opening statement. Your opening statement should be brief, but at the same time professional and attention-grabbing. Here, you introduce yourself, mention the position you’re applying for, and potentially a key achievement or two.   
• Body. The body of your cover letter consists of 2-3 paragraphs where you highlight your education, provide background for your skills, and explain how you (and the company) would benefit from each other professionally. 
• Closing paragraph. Your closing paragraph is your chance to include a call to action, to thank the recruiters for their time, or mention anything important you left out. 
• Formal salutation. End your cover letter with a formal salutation such as “kind regards,” “sincerely,” or “best regards.” Our guide on how to end a cover letter can teach you all you need to know on the topic. 

Having trouble getting started with your cover letter? Read our guide on how to start a cover letter and get inspired!

#2. State the Position You’re Applying For in the Opening

Recruiters hate one-size-fits-all cover letters and resumes.

Around 48% of recruiters and hiring managers aren’t even going to read your cover letter if it’s not customized to the role you’re applying for.

And one of the easiest ways to do this is by mentioning the role you’re applying for right in the cover letter opening.

This allows you to:

• Show that you will be tailoring the rest of your cover letter for that position alone.
• Prove that your cover letter is customized for this specific internship, and you’re not just randomly applying for the job,

Here’s a practical example of how you can mention the role you’re applying for in the cover letter opening:

Dear Mr. Jacobs, 

It is my pleasure to apply for the Communications Assistant internship position at the United Nations Development Programme. I can confidently say based on my 2-year experience working as a journalist and my excellent academic results in the Mass Communications Major that I’d be a good fit for the position. 

#3. Mention the Right Keywords

When reviewing your application, hiring managers tend to scan your cover letter or resume and look for the right keywords that would make you qualified for the internship you’re applying for.

E.g. If you're applying for a job in graphic design, the recruiter is probably looking for keywords like “Photoshop,” “Illustrator,” or “InDesign.”

As such, it’s very important to include the right keywords in your cover letter.

How can you find these keywords, you might ask?

It’s actually pretty simple - just look at the internship job description and go through the required skills & responsibilities and identify the keywords that you’d think the recruiter would be looking for.

Then, do the following:

• Sprinkle some of those keywords throughout your cover letter. When relevant, back them up with an experience. E.g. don’t just say “I’m good at Photoshop,” say how you’ve taken 3 different Photoshop classes and used Photoshop for 2 different projects.
• Don’t include keywords that don’t apply to you, they’ll just make it seem like you’re copy-pasting from the job description.
• Research and add other popular soft skills that recruiters look for in applicants for the role you’re applying for. E.g. If you’re applying for an internship as a communications assistant, chances are, you’ll need strong communication skills (even if this is not something listed in the job description.

Now, let’s look at a practical example. Let’s say that the internship you’re applying for requires the following skills:

• Communication
• Ability to meet strict deadlines

Here’s how you’d mention this in your cover letter:

During my time as Editor in Chief at my University’s newspaper, I got to develop my communication and leadership skills significantly. For over two years, I was in charge of a 7 people team, which also helped my teamwork skills and my ability to meet deadlines. 

Keep in mind, though, that it IS possible to overdo it with the keywords.

44% of hiring managers say they will dismiss a resume or cover letter that looks as if it has copied the job posting. 

Using each and every keyword mentioned in the job description (without backing the skills up with experiences) might cause the hiring manager to think that you’re just copying the job ad & don’t actually have these skills.

So, don’t just copy-paste all the keywords from the job description, and if you DO mention a lot of those keywords, make sure to back them up with practical experiences.

#4. Highlight Your Education

If you don’t have a lot of work experience, your education and relevant coursework is your best chance to show that you’re a good fit for the internship. 

Letting the recruiter know what kind of courses you’ve completed that are relevant to the internship you’re applying for will be a big plus for your application. 

Say, for example, that you’re applying for an internship as a graphic designer. To make your internship cover letter impactful, make sure to mention all the relevant courses and related accomplishments. 

Here’s an example of how you could do that:

As a Visual Design major, I have completed several courses that have helped me build my professional portfolio. A few of the most beneficial ones have been Design & Layout and Visual Communication: Theory and Practice. I have also gained valuable experience doing the layout of the university’s newspaper for 4 years and of several books as independent projects. 

#5. Provide Background For Your Skills

It’s one thing to just claim that you have a set of skills and another to prove it. 

Anyone can say that they’re great at doing something, but what makes all the difference is when you can actually put your money where your mouth is. 

For example, in your internship cover letter, instead of just mentioning that you have “good time-management skills,” actually back it up with a past experience that proves it.

During the summers I assisted my family’s wedding planning business, I learned a lot about time management. In that kind of business, it’s important that things run like clockwork so in addition to time management skills, it also significantly improved my attention to detail. 

#6. Explain Why You’re a Good Fit For The Position

In addition to just listing out the skills that are relevant and beneficial for the internship, you should also explain why you are a good fit for the position. 

This means that you should connect the dots between what the company/organization is looking to gain from its interns and what you can do to provide those services. 

So, after you research and create an understanding of what is required of you, you should use your cover letter to explain why you’re a good fit for that position. 

For the sake of the example, let’s assume you’re applying for an internship at a Human Rights organization. A big chunk of what the role requires is categorizing virtual files of the cases the organization has worked on in the past.

What you want to do, in this case, is show how you can help with that particular job as an intern. Here’s how:  

I have spent 3 summers working at the National Library, where I was tasked to sort and categorize books based on their topic, author, and year of publication, and also memorize where each section fits in the library. I believe this skill, which I have perfected over the years, can really be of use for the internship position at Organization X.

#7. Describe What You Would Gain Professionally

In addition to showing (and proving) your skills and how you can benefit the company, you should also explain how getting the position will benefit YOU . 

When it comes to internships, oftentimes they serve the purpose of helping students and young professionals acquire in-depth knowledge about the industry, create a network, and develop skills that will benefit them throughout their careers. 

So, it will surely help you make an even better impression if you show that you are self-aware about what you’ll get out of the internship and how it will help you grow professionally. 

Here’s how you can do that: 

I am excited for this internship to provide me with the necessary customer service skills and network that will help me grow professionally in my future career as a customer service manager. 

#8. Proofread Your Cover Letter

After all, is written and done, there’s one final thing to do and that is make sure your cover letter doesn’t have mistakes. 

A spelling or grammar mistake probably won’t disqualify you, but at the same time, it will probably be a red flag for recruiters that you’re not too attentive.

For this reason, ask a friend to proofread your cover letter or use spell-checking software such as Grammarly and Hemingway . 

Want to know what other cover letter mistakes you should avoid? Our guide on cover letter mistakes has all you need to know on the topic! 

#9. Match Your Cover Letter & Resume Designs

Want your internship application to truly shine?

Match your cover letter design with your resume!

Sure, you could go with a generic Word cover letter template, but why fit in when you can stand out?

At Novorésumé, all our resume templates come with a matching cover letter template , guaranteed to make your application truly special.

Cover Letter for Internship Template

Struggling to create a cover letter for your internship?

Simply follow our tried-and-tested internship cover letter template!

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! You should now have all the necessary information about how to create a cover letter for an internship.

Now, let’s do a small recap of the key learning points we just covered:

• Cover letters are a must when you’re applying for an internship.
• When you start writing your cover letter, make sure you respect the format: the header with contact information, the greeting to the recruiter, an opening paragraph, the body with 2-3 paragraphs, and a closing paragraph followed by an official salutation and your name.
• Some of our main tips on how to write a cover letter for an internship include: state the position you’re applying for, make use of the right keywords, and back up your skills with experiences.
• Use a cover letter builder and match it with your resume to make sure your cover letter truly stands out from the rest.

Related Readings: 

• Entry-level Cover Letter
• Do I Need a Cover Letter in 2024?
• Top 21 Cover Letter Tips

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Cover Letter for a job

• Name the exact position. Reference the requisition number if available.
• State why you are interested in the position.
• Show how you think you and the organization are a good match.
• Make it clear that you expect to hear back.
• Keep the cover letter to 1 page , with an optional second page for a list of publications/presentations or a list of references.
• Make sure the cover letter has no spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Ideally, a cover letter is the cherry on top of a long process of networking and research about the job opportunity. In the best case scenario:

• you know exactly who will read the letter,
• you know what they are excited to see in candidates, and
• you are acquainted with the person who will be reading your letter (or you know someone who knows that person) so that the reader knows to pay special attention to your letter.

Your cover letter and resume are the first parts of your job application that will be evaluated. Your cover letter may be the only part anyone reads. If the hiring manager (or selection committee or whatever) doesn’t like what they see in your cover letter, your application might go directly into the “no” pile. You need to quickly assure your reader that the rest of your application is worth looking at.

If you make it over this first hurdle, the cover letter can serve as an overview for your resume. The cover letter and resume are closely related in terms of their purpose and tone, so you might also want to read our guide to writing a resume .

Analyze Your Audience

Get a feeling for the personality of your target employer or organization. Read the job posting and the rest of the employer’s website carefully. A group that describes itself as “a young and dynamic startup” will be looking for a different applicant than “an established industry leader”. Customize the formality and content of your application to match the employer’s self-image. The more you know about your potential employer, the stronger your cover letter can be.

We have demonstrated how to analyze a job posting in the Authentic Annotated Example (AAE) section. We have provided an example job posting, and highlighted the key traits the employer desires to see in an ideal candidate.

Write a different cover letter for every application

A cover letter should show a match between you and the position for which you are applying. To be a fit for a position, you need to also be a fit for the organization. Do your homework! What goals and opportunities excite you about the organization? What makes it a good place for you to work and advance your career? Which of your skills and accomplishments match those requested in the job posting?

You’ll be a more exciting candidate if you demonstrate that you understand and are enthusiastic about the organization’s mission. Find specific words or phrases that the organization uses to describe its own values (e.g, “transforming the landscape of renewable energy,” “fast-moving and dynamic”). Echo these ideas in your letter. Highlight experiences and interests of yours that correspond to these values.

In the AAE section, we have provided an example cover letter that was tailored to the example job posting, and was written to demonstrate how the candidate matches the employer’s desired traits.

Structure of a Cover Letter

Cover letters follow a very specific structure which helps the reader quickly ascertain the candidate’s contact information, interest, and qualifications. Most readers have well-defined expectations for a cover letter. They are reading many cover letters at once and want to quickly decide if you go in the “yes” or “no” pile. A cover letter is not a place for creative structure or excessive flair. See the example structure of a cover letter, below.

Letterhead . Give your name and contact information. List the date and the organization to which you are sending the cover letter.

• Don’t make your name too big. This isn’t a Steven King novel.
• Your telephone number and email are enough. Use your professional or collegiate email address. Include your address if you are local and you think they are looking for local job candidates.

Salutation . Greet the reader of the cover letter.

• If you are addressing a specific person, make sure to spell their name correctly.
• If you don’t know to whom to address the cover letter, use a generic greeting such as, “To Whom it May Concern,” “Dear Sir or Madam,” etc.

Brief Introduction . Name the position. Include job numbers or job posting locations. This paragraph is one or maybe two sentences. Explain why the position interests you, in the context of previous work or education, or other skills that demonstrate your familiarity with the topic.

• “I am writing to express interest in position X…”
• “I am interested in the position because…”

Make it clear that you know what this job will entail. Reference specific examples, such as mentioning certain protocols, software tools, or soft skills such as project management.

Scientific Achievements . Briefly list the organizations and advisors with whom you received your degrees. Describe your overall training.

• “I earned my Ph.D. in ______ at University X…”

Motivation and Impact . Show why you and this organization are a good match for each other.

• “I think I would be a great match for this position because…”
• Why do they need you and exactly you? List specific examples of what you can add to the position

Wrap Up . Make it clear that you expect to hear back.

• “I look forward to hearing your response.”
• Also make sure to thank them for their consideration of your application.

Make concrete claims

Back up any claims about your abilities or qualifications with concrete accomplishments. If possible, quantify your accomplishments. For example, to show that you have “independence and an innovative research spirit”, describe the scope and outcomes of research projects you’ve led or carried out on your own.

Start a conversation

Your cover letter is designed to get you an interview, and successful interviews usually turn into conversations. Start the conversation early. Be humble and curious. A claim like “I know I’m a perfect match because XYZ ” can make you sound naive: how would you know that this is true? A claim like “I’m excited to explore this opportunity because XYZ ” is more professional and more likely to initiate a conversation.

Make no mistakes

A single spelling or grammar error can be enough to make a recruiter think you’re sloppy. Don’t let a little mistake keep you from this job.

If you’ve found a specific person to whom to address your letter, be absolutely sure you’ve spelled their name correctly. A misspelled name comes across as annoying and unprofessional.

This content was adapted from from an article originally created by the  MIT Biological Engineering Communication Lab .

Resources and Annotated Examples

Annotated example 1.

Example Job Posting 49 KB

Annotated Example 2

Example Cover Letter 447 KB

• Crimson Careers
• For Employers
• Harvard College
• Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
• Harvard Extension School
• Premed / Pre-Health
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• Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter
• Expand Your Network
• Engage with Employers
• Search for a Job
• Find an Internship
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• Prepare for an Interview
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• Apply to Graduate or Professional School
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• Government, Int’l Relations, Education, Law, Nonprofits
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Internship Course Credit

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Requests for Internship Credit

Some employers may require that students receive course credit to be eligible for the internship they offer. Experiential Study in Departments (EXPSTDY 1r) provides academic credit for students who are required to receive credit in order to engage with a work or internship experience. This course is open to any student who will be undertaking an internship, work, or lab-based research experience, for which academic credit is a requirement. Full details, including course requirements, are available on the petition form available on the OUE website . Please contact your concentration department for information on the appropriate course in your area.      

Students should complete the petition form  and submit it to the OUE ( [email protected] ), along with any other documents required for work purposes, for signature and approval.  Students can then forward the signed petition to the course head, requesting permission to enroll in the course.      

Students must have completed at least two semesters of study at the College before enrolling, and be concentrating or pursuing a secondary field of study in the department. Students must enroll in EXPSTDY during the concurrent semester, or the semester immediately following the work/internship experience.  Students cannot enroll in EXPSTDY after completion of their studies required for graduation. EXPSTDY will carry one academic credit and will be graded pass/fail.  EXPSTDY is not available for concentration credit, nor does it fulfill any divisional distribution requirement.