Writing your Cover Letter | Saturday Academy

General Information

Select from the following:

Students typically write their main cover letter toward the needed professional and personal skills and requirements of either:
- their top three internship choices combined, or
- the disciplines that they marked with a "high" interest on their applications.
Students SHOULD NOT mention their specific position choices in their main cover letters.
If you are writing position-specific cover letters in addition to your main cover letter, make sure that you customize each of your cover letters to the specific skills or needs of that particular position.
Do not put your contact information or the mentor's organization name at the top of your cover letter. ASE staff will include that information automatically in your application packet.
The cover letter word limit is 3,000 characters including spaces.

Cover Letter Writing Steps

Step 1: Pre-writing

The prewriting stage is when you prepare your ideas for your cover letter before you begin writing. You will find it easier to write your cover letter if you jot down your ideas first.

Write your answers to the following questions:

Demonstrate your enthusiasm for this opportunity and why you want an internship. Mentors participate in ASE to make a difference and encourage a young scientist or engineer. Explain why this program is important to you and what it will mean for your personal or professional development.
- How can I best explain my interest in the disciplines/positions I am interested in?
- What do I hope to learn from an ASE internship?
- What will these internships give me that will help me accomplish my future goals?
Find the main idea of your cover letter. Choose 1-3 specific skills, personality traits or background experiences that you possess that match what the disciplines/positions you are interested in are looking for. Hardworking or detail-oriented skills are too broad; try to emphasize specific skills and an eagerness to improve on a skillset of choice. Then, write your cover letter emphasizing what you can contribute to an internship, drawing on your past successes in these areas. Be assertive about your qualifications without being egotistical.
- What are my top personality traits, skills or background experiences that I can bring to a workplace and how do those fit with the needs of the positions I am interested in?
- Why should they select me over other applicants?
Organize your cover letter in a way that develops your main idea. Once you have chosen the most important point(s) of your cover letter, you must find the best way to tell the mentor about it. Look at the examples and other information that you want to include about yourself. Decide what information will best support the main idea of your cover letter and get rid of the rest. Then, decide how to organize the information to make understandable and readable.
- How have my past experiences led me to be interested in these disciplines/positions?
- What experiences or "stories" can I use to illustrate my interest and qualifications for these internships?
Customize your letter. The more specific and personable you are, the more of a bond your mentor will feel when considering your application. The tone of your cover letter should be professional, but sound as if a real person wrote it. If you are writing position-specific cover letters, collect facts related to the position. Look for information about the organization, and how you can apply position requirements to your own past experiences. Be sure to research the organization and what it is currently working on improving, and how you may be able to help this organization grow.
- Who is my audience?
- (Position-specific) Why do you want this position at this organization instead of somewhere else?

Step 2: Writing

The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences.

Introductory paragraph: this paragraph should be brief, perhaps two or three sentences.

Introductory hook.
Share some background information on yourself and what led you to apply to the ASE internship program.
State your general qualifications for an internship.

Supporting paragraphs: this is the body of your cover letter; include one to three longer paragraphs.

Expand upon your qualifications.
Expand on why you are applying to ASE.
Discuss the most relevant qualifications listed in your application in detail, telling a short story showcasing the use of these skills in previous experiences. Be as specific as possible, and refer the reader to your application for additional details.
Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning.

Concluding paragraph: this paragraph should be brief, perhaps two or three sentences.

Be sure to express your excitement in having the opportunity to meet with them and discuss the possibility of working alongside them.
Express your willingness to come to an interview or supply further information.
Mention that you look forward to hearing from them.
Close by thanking your reader for his or her time and consideration.

Step 3: Editing

The editing stage is when you check your cover letter for mistakes and correct them.

Check your spelling and grammar. The online form DOES NOT perform a spelling/grammar check.
Make sure each sentence has a subject and make sure your subjects and verbs agree with each other.
Check the verb tenses of each sentence.
Make sure that each sentence makes sense.
One way to judge your cover letter is to read it out loud. Do you trip over the words? If so, work on it until it flows naturally and has a conversational tone.
Have another person read over your cover letter to proof it for grammar, spelling, style, organization and readability. Teachers, counselors, and friends of the family are usually happy to help.

Style and Organization

Make sure your cover letter has an introductory paragraph, supporting paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.
Check that you clearly state why you would be a good match for the position.
Check that all your paragraphs follow the proper paragraph format.
See if your cover letter is interesting. A good cover letter needs to stand out among 50 other applicants. Are you relatable in your letter? Do you come across as a hard working or passionate employee?