How To Write An Internship Request Letter | Format & Samples

In a country such as India, where the youth employment rate in 2021-22 was just 10.4% (Consumer Pyramid Household Survey of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy), landing a job after graduation is not as easy as it may seem for many. However, industrial training and internships can open the door wider as many companies look for candidates who have little experience than not at all. Hence, interning before you become a degree holder can boost your employability.

To secure a good internship opportunity, you will need to write an internship request letter. So, in the hope that you draft a compelling one, we will share some internship request letter writing tips and some samples with you in this article.

What Is An Internship Request Letter?

An internship request letter is a formal letter sent to a company or an organisation wherein the sender requests to get accepted to be a part of their internship program. Usually, the hiring manager, recruiter or owner of the business is addressed in the letter.  It is more or less a job application letter, but unlike a full-time job, once your request has been accepted, you may or may not be compensated for your work.

Importance Of Writing An Internship Request Letter

Sending an internship request letter to a company is important because it is only one of the few ways you can secure an intern position. How well you draft it will go a long way in determining whether you will be accepted or not. And once accepted, you will be able to acquire new skills or develop your existing ones in the industry you wish to build your career. The internship certificate that you will receive after the completion of your term will help you jumpstart your career faster and much easier.

How to Request An Internship Via E-mail

In this global village where communication is much faster and more convenient via the internet, hiring managers and recruiters prefer candidates to send in job or internship applications over email or on their company website. Now, there are certain things you need to keep in mind before emailing your internship request letter to ensure that you get accepted.

Check your email prefix:

The prefix is the name you use before the ‘’@” symbol in your email address. Many of us created our email when we were young, and we picked prefixes that we thought sounded cool or identified us at the time, like “babygirl@mail.com” or “collboy@mail.com”. You need to bear in mind the world of work, your email address needs to look professional. The best way to make this happen is to simply use your first name and last name. So, if need be, create a new email address.

Choose an appropriate subject line:

Many recipients open their email depending on the subject line. So, you need to choose one that is clear, direct and short (preferably not more than nine words). A subject line as simple and comprehensible as “Request for internship” would suffice.

Some companies will have specific directions on how a subject line should be written. So, before sending the internship request email, thoroughly review their instructions for applying for the internship.

Do your homework:

Before blindly applying for an internship position for any company, know what their business is all about. Once you know what products they sell or the service they offer, you will have a clear idea of how your email should be structured. For instance, you can mention why you would be the perfect candidate for the position.

Be concise and professional:

From the beginning of the body of the email till the very end, you need to use a formal tone.

• Try to keep it short and stick to the points.
• Use an appropriate salutation. A good example would be “Dear Sir/Ma’am” or Respected “Sir/Ma’am”.
• Introduce yourself and mention how you would be able to add value to their team or the company.
• Sign off on a good note and include your contact details.

Attach a tailored resume:

Always remember to attach an updated resume to your internship request letter. You may be applying for internships at several organisations belonging to different sectors. Tailor your resume according to the job description. For instance, if you are applying for a role in a publishing house, mention that you have good writing or editing skills.

Add references:

If anyone has referred you, be it someone in the company, an ex-employee, a professor or a mentor, add them as your reference with their contact information. This will increase your chance of getting accepted.

Internship Request Letter: E-mail Format

The format of email writing remains the same.

• To
• Subject
• Salutation
• Body
• Signature.

To ensure that your request for internship email looks professional, you need to have a formal email body format. You can refer to the structure below:

Paragraph 1: In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and inform the recipient of how you got to know about their internship program. If you have any references, mention them. Also, this is where you can add your career objective.

Paragraph 2: Next, talk about the skills and the abilities you possess. Back them up by mentioning any achievements or rewards you may have had in your college or school, be it in extracurricular activities or academics.

Paragraph 3: Here, try to connect your skills with the job description of the role offered and why you have decided to go for their company or organisation. Explain how your skills and abilities can become an asset to the company.

Paragraph 4: Lastly, let them know that they can contact you via phone or email for a face-to-face interview. Also, mention that you will eagerly await their response or that you are looking to hear back from them soon. Add a formal sign-off like “Sincerely” or “Thanks & Regards.”

Samples for Writing An Internship Request Letter Email

We hope the internship request letter samples below help you construct an effective internship request email for yourself.

Internship Request Letter Sample 1

Internship Request Letter Sample 2

FAQs

Do interns get paid?

Ans: Not all internships are paid, as they count as academic credit for college or school students. Whether you are paid or not for your internship depends on the company and the position you are applying for.

Can I do an internship after 12th?

Ans: Yes, you can. Not all internships require candidates to be college students.

What is an internship request letter?

Ans: An internship request letter is a formal letter written by a candidate to a company or an organisation, requesting the recipient to consider them for the open intern position.

Who should the internship request letter be addressed to?

Ans: You can address the letter to the management of the company or the concerned department.

Conclusion: Writing an effective internship request letter will increase your chance of receiving an internship certificate. This certificate can boost your chances of getting hired after graduation. So, we hope this article helps you in understanding why it is important to write an application for an internship and how you can draft a convincing one.

Until next time, we will leave you here with our best wishes.