An internship is an outstanding way to augment your classroom experiences.
4 What Do You Put for Reason for Leaving if Last Job Was Volunteer Work?
As an engineering student, you face no better way to gain experience in your chosen field than to secure an internship. Just as if you were a job seeker, you will have to write a cover letter that describes your academic record, why you would be a good fit for the organization and the skills and attributes you bring to the table. In other words, you will have to sell yourself in an honest and forthright manner. Whether the internship is paid or non-paid, be mindful that you'll probably be competing against other students. But don’t be daunted; try to look at writing a cover letter as great experience for the professional working world. After all, landing the internship of your dreams may one day help you land the job of your dreams, too.
Read the internship posting carefully and highlight the key qualifications and personal traits the organization is seeking. Your goal is to show that you fit the description without misrepresenting yourself or your talents. If the posting does not include the name and title of the intended recipient, call the organization and find out so that you can address your cover letter accordingly.
Select a professional font such as Times New Roman, Tahoma or Verdana. Center your name at the top of the page in a large font size, such as 18-point, so that it stands out. Put your contact information under your name in a smaller font size such as 14-point.
Select the same font for your letter or choose one that looks compatible, but don’t use more than two different fonts for your cover letter. Use 11- or 12-point type for the body of your letter -- and set your margins so that they are flush-left. Space once between lines and twice between paragraphs.
Cite your GPA as well as the names of the most recent courses you completed. Refer to the classes you anticipate taking in the next term to give the internship manager a good idea as to where you stand in your educational career. Be specific and provide the full names of the courses.
Describe your other campus involvements. Showing that you've assumed leadership roles will look particularly favorable to an internship manager. Even if you've focused much of your energy on sports, underscore the point that your activities have taught you important lessons about teamwork, following directions and mentoring.
Segue to your personal attributes, referring to the internship posting for prompts, while remaining sincere in portraying yourself. For example, you might say that you possess good analytical and problem-solving skills and enjoy working on both short- and long-term projects.
Demonstrate your thoroughness by showing that you researched the organization and know something impressive about it. For example, you might refer to an engineering project that elevated its profile, or a guest speaker who enhanced your knowledge of the field.
Refer to your enclosed resume and references and say that you hope the internship manager will review the material before you phone in a few days to hopefully schedule an interview. Thank the recipient for her time and consideration.
Proofread and edit your letter before sending it to ensure that it is flawless. Read it out loud and, if you have time, put it aside for a day and read it again with a fresh pair of eyes.
Include a recommendation letter with your resume, cover letter and references, even if the internship posting doesn’t ask for one. An endorsement from an instructor, adviser or coach could give you a distinct competitive advantage over other students.
Wroblewski, M.T.. "How to Write a Cover Letter for a Summer Engineering Internship." Work - Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/write-cover-letter-summer-engineering-internship-10691.html. Accessed 17 April 2019.