How do I write a cover letter for a competitive internship?

Your next paragraph will be where you describe why you'd be a good fit for the internship and what sets you apart from other candidates. Show how your skills, experiences, goals, and interests align with the position.

As you write, reference the internship job description to make sure you incorporate the keywords listed in its requirements into your cover letter.

Don't lie or even stretch the truth, but if the posting says, "strong communication skills," use that verbiage instead of saying something like "excellent speaker and writer."

This will help both human and electronic screeners find the qualifications they're looking for in your application more easily and increase your chances of getting through to the next stage of the hiring process.

Finally, close with an overview of what you would add to the team, department, or company if you were an intern there and a call to action. This could be a request for an interview or a more subtle note about how you'd like to talk to the hiring manager some more about the position.

Always add a note of thanks for the reader's time as well.