Writing a computer science internship cover letter can be tricky, especially when you think your resume says it all. Yet, it's your chance to share a story – not just any story, but the one that showcases your proudest professional moment. Your cover letter needs to be formal while steering clear of boring clichés and keeping it to a single page. Let's help you create that perfect balance, ensuring your cover letter stands out in a sea of applicants.
- Write a computer science internship cover letter that helps you stand out (and get the job);
- Understand how to start and end your computer science internship cover letter with the appropriate greeting;
- What to include in the body of your computer science internship cover letter to put your best foot forward;
- Your most important achievements - how to present them as part of your computer science internship cover letter.
And if you want to make your life even easier, simply drag and drop your computer science internship resume into Enhancv's AI cover letter generator, and it will write your cover letter for you in just a few moments.
If the computer science internship isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Computer Science Internship cover letter example
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- Quantifiable Achievements: The cover letter highlights specific accomplishments with measurable outcomes, such as improving application performance by 20% and decreasing bug incidence by 15%, which provides concrete evidence of the candidate's capabilities.
- Relevant Experience: Mentioning tenure with "top-tier tech companies" and specific work like "spearheading the design and development of three key features," directly relates the candidate’s experience to the demands of the role and showcases a history of relevant and successful projects.
- Skills Match: The candidate mentions collaboration with cross-functional teams and a systematic approach to unit testing, which are likely skills desired by the employer for a role in software development, demonstrating a match between the candidate’s skill set and the job requirements.
Five tips on formatting your computer science internship cover letter
Do you want to make a good impression on recruiters and, at the same time, follow the best industry advice on writing your computer science internship cover letter?
Make sure to include the following:
- Header and Salutation;
- Introductory paragraph;
- Body paragraph;
- Closing paragraph;
- Signature (this one is up to you).
Remember to use the same modern, simple font for your computer science internship cover letter as you did for your resume (e.g. Lato, Rubik, etc.)
Ensure your computer science internship cover letter is single-spaced and is wrapped around a one-inch margin, like in our cover letter templates.
Once completed, use our cover letter builder to export your computer science internship cover letter in the best format to keep your information intact - PDF.
At the end of the day, your computer science internship cover letter won't be assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) software, but by the recruiters. Your information should thus be legible, organized, and follow a structured logic.
The top sections on a computer science internship cover letter
- Header with Contact Information: Include a header at the top of your cover letter containing your name, address, phone number, and email address to ensure the recruiter can easily get in touch with you.
- Greeting: Address the cover letter to a specific person, such as the hiring manager or recruiter, to make a personal connection and show that you've researched the company.
- Introduction: Begin with a compelling opening line that highlights your passion for computer science, and mention the specific internship position to immediately clarify your intent.
- Body (Skills and Experiences): Use this section to detail your relevant technical skills, programming languages you're proficient in, and any previous projects or experiences that demonstrate your ability to contribute to their team.
- Closing and Call to Action: Wrap up the cover letter by reiterating your enthusiasm for the opportunity, inviting the recruiter to review your resume, and expressing your willingness to discuss the internship further in an interview.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proficiency in relevant programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++): Demonstrates the technical ability to contribute to coding tasks and projects.
- Understanding of algorithms and data structures: Shows the applicant can solve complex problems and optimize solutions efficiently.
- Experience with software development life cycle (SDLC): Indicates familiarity with the process of developing software from ideation to deployment and maintenance.
- Projects contributing to open-source or personal software projects: Reflects a proactive attitude and hands-on experience with real-world coding challenges.
- Familiarity with version control systems, like Git: Crucial for collaborative coding environments and maintaining organized codebases.
- Knowledge of computer science fundamentals and theory: Ensures a solid foundation that supports learning proprietary technologies and adapting to new tools.
What matters most when tailoring your computer science internship cover letter salutation
Your computer science internship cover letter greeting should feel welcoming to recruiters.
Use their first name (e.g. "Dear Marshall" or "Dear Sara"), if you've previously been in touch with the hiring manager and are on a more friendly basis.
If this is the first time you're contacting the recruiters, start your computer science internship cover letter with:
- their last name (e.g. "Dear Ms. Ali" or "Dear Mr. Stevens") - look up who's the hiring manager for the role on social media or the company website;
- generalized greeting (e.g. "Dear HR Team") - just don't use "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department Name] Team,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear Dr. [Last Name],
- Dear Professor [Last Name],
First introductions in your computer science internship cover letter
Within your computer science internship cover letter introduction, genuinely state what you like about the organization.
Research the latest company projects, honorary awards, company updates, etc.
Write up to two sentences to let recruiters know what impresses you about the company,
This would help you to set a good tone for the rest of the communication.
That one achievement in your computer science internship cover letter body
The lengthiest part of your computer science internship cover letter is the body.
Within the next three to six middle paragraphs, present yourself as the best candidate for the role.
How can you do that without retelling your whole professional resume?
Select one key achievement that covers job-crucial skills and technologies (and is memorable).
Within the body of your computer science internship cover letter, aim to tell the story of how you achieved your success. Also, write about how this would help out your potential team.
Final words: writing your computer science internship cover letter closing paragraph
The final paragraph of your computer science internship cover letter allows you that one final chance to make a great first impression.
Instead of going straight to the "sincerely yours" ending, you can back up your skills with a promise of:
- how you see yourself growing into the role;
- the unique skills you'd bring to the organization.
Whatever you choose, always be specific (and remember to uphold your promise, once you land the role).
If this option doesn't seem that appealing to you, close off your computer science internship cover letter with a follow-up request.
You could even provide your availability for interviews so that the recruiters would be able to easily arrange your first meeting.
Computer Science Internship cover letter advice for candidates with no experience
If you're worried about writing your Computer Science Internship cover letter and have no professional experience, we sure have some advice for you.
Turn recruiters' attention to your transferable or relevant skills gained thanks to your life and work experience.
Instead of writing about past jobs, focus on one achievement (whether from your volunteering experience, education, etc.) and the skills it has helped you build.
Alternatively, you could focus your Computer Science Internship cover letter on your career objectives and goals. Always remember to make those relevant to the job you're applying for by detailing how you see yourself growing as part of the company.
Recruiters would be way more impressed with candidates who fit the job profile and can bring about plenty of skills and vision to the table.
Key takeaways
Writing your computer science internship cover letter doesn't need to turn into an endless quest, but instead:
- Create an individual computer science internship cover letter for each role you apply to, based on job criteria (use our builder to transform your resume into a cover letter, which you could edit to match the job);
- Stick with the same font you've used in your resume (e.g. Raleway) and ensure your computer science internship cover letter is single-spaced and has a one-inch margin all around;
- Introduce your enthusiasm for the role or the company at the beginning of your computer science internship cover letter to make a good first impression;
- Align what matters most to the company by selecting just one achievement from your experience, that has taught you valuable skills and knowledge for the job;
- End your computer science internship cover letter like any good story - with a promise for greatness or follow-up for an interview.
