Dear Ed,
I’m about to graduate college and I have a lot of internship experience under my belt. I recently saw a listing for what would be my dream six-month internship. I can’t decide what to put in the cover letter that would convey how much I want this job and would be perfect for it. I don’t want to come off as cheesy/unprofessional/annoying, but I also don’t want to write the typical business cover letter. I have written dozens of drafts for it so far, but don’t know what direction to go in. Is there any advice you could give me?
Thanks,
Michele, Atlanta
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Dear Michele,
With anything you include in your cover letter, you need evidence to back it up. So, it’s okay to say that you’ve wanted to work for Seventeen since you were 11, if you can PROVE it: “In the past 10 years as a Seventeen reader…” then talk about a couple of specific articles you enjoyed and why. Then, talk about your experience. Tell them what you can contribute. Don’t say “I’m hard-working;” give an example of a time at a past internship where you stayed late and went above and beyond your job description to complete a task or help an editor. Lastly, connect your goal with your experience—show them how your past experience relates to the job you’re applying for. All the while, keep the writing fresh and interesting.
Love,
Ed
