A recommendation letter for an internship is a letter written by a qualified person, such as a teacher or former employer, to highlight a student’s strong capabilities and qualities in support of their application for an internship program. The letter should outline important details that an organization can use to assess if the student is suitable for the internship position they are applying for.
An internship is a fundamental part of a student’s academic journey. As a mentor, teacher, or employer, it would be a noble deed to help a student gain the experience that comes from an internship. A well-written internship letter is one way to show your support and intervene on behalf of the student. It helps the student stand out from the multiple applicants applying for the same internship programs.
The letter of recommendation, at its core, is a third-party assessment of a student’s suitability for an internship opportunity. Recruiters will therefore base their selection on the letter, among other application documents. As a result, you should be objective in your recommendation, as much as you want your student to get the opportunity. In light of this, you should only write this letter for all those students you can vouch for to avoid making inadequate or shallow recommendations.
In order to learn more about how to craft a recommendation letter for an internship, consider reading this article all the way through.
Free Templates
How to Write
The letter of recommendation should be tailored to align with the specific internship opportunity for which it is being written. Therefore, it is advisable to request that the student provide you with the information they want to input in the letter, such as the job description, and provide you with a summary of their resume as a source of information. In this way, you can write a solid letter to support the applicant.
Below is a comprehensive guide on how to prepare a recommendation letter:
Introduction
You should begin the letter of recommendation with a strong introduction. The introduction should be brief and direct, as it is only meant to prepare the recipient for what to expect in the other sections of the letter.
A good introduction will discuss the following:
Briefly introduce yourself and your qualifications
You should start the letter by introducing yourself, which includes details like your name and job title. This way, the recipient knows who is recommending the applicant. Indicating your job title can boost your credibility as a recommender.
Briefly state how you know the applicant
In this section, you have to write about how you know the applicant and explain why you want to recommend the candidate with reference to your relationship.
EXAMPLE
If you are a teacher, highlight personality traits, academic achievements and the skills of the student relevant to the position that makes them the most suitable candidate for the organization.
You can also mention how long you’ve known the person being recommended and then provide a statement of recommendation.
Body
The next section of a letter of recommendation for an internship is the body. In this section, you should get into details about the applicant’s qualifications and experience that make them suitable for the internship.
Below is an outline of what information to include in the body of your letter:
Provide examples of work-related accomplishments
In this section, you should give context as to how the applicant is qualified for the internship. This involves giving specific examples of work-related experience that has contributed to the applicant’s ability to perform tasks in the workplace. You can relate this experience to the specific internship opening and the organization. Also, the letter of recommendation for an internship can mention the student’s participation and accomplishments in different departments in your organization if you’re a former employer. The primary objective of this section should be to illustrate the contributions the student can bring to the organization.
State applicant’s academic achievements and awards
The next part should discuss the applicant’s academic qualifications. Academic qualifications can be illustrated by citing the student’s performance in class, clubs, sports, individual and group projects, volunteer programs, leadership roles, and participation in competitions. Most organizations will prefer applicants who are actively involved in their respective fields. The letter can also mention any competitions the student has participated in and any achievements and awards they have received.
Include relevant anecdotes
A letter write about of recommendation can also mention any stories that highlight the student’s personal and professional qualities. This section gives the letter a more informative and amusing look. You can write an event where the person you are recommending did a noteworthy action that impressed you.
Conclusion
Lastly, you can conclude the letter with a definite conclusion in one or two sentences.
A solid conclusion will outline the following:
Restate your recommendation
Restate that you strongly endorse the named applicant for the internship opening. A strong and confident recommendation statement goes a long way in convincing the recruiter that you are certain of the information you provided in the letter.
Request a follow-up
Next, you should supply a follow-up statement that urges the recipient to reach out if they want to discuss the recommendation further or have questions for you.
Give your contact details
You can then provide your contact details for follow-up. You can include a phone number and an email address.
Sign off
To finalize the letter, you can sign off by including a complimentary close, followed by your name, designation, and organization.
Templates and samples
Given below are the templates and a sample that you can use for guidance:
template 01
[Salutation]
My name is [your name], a [job title] and I’m delighted to be recommending [student/applicant’s name] for the [position] internship at [company name]. I’ve been a [job title] for five years at [your company name].
[Applicant’s name] has been a proactive student in all my classes. I taught him/her [units/topics], and I was impressed by his/her knowledge in the relevant field. He/she is a good time manager and always finishes his/her assignments on time. His/her passion in [field] is a huge motivator in carrying out his/her responsibilities to the best of his/her ability, and I believe he/she will be able to reflect the same in his/her work at [company name] if granted the internship.
In his/her second year, she was the most improved student, with a GPA of [number] from [number]. His/her favorite subjects are [list two or three topics], hence her/his interest in work in your organization, which is at the forefront of the same fields.
In his/her acceptance speech for the Most Improved award, he/she impressed faculty with his/her oratory skills and ability to connect with colleagues. His/her ovation after the speech clearly indicated his/her interaction with multiple students from different departments. Since then, he/she has been a representative of our department, a role she has filled extraordinarily well and surpassed expectations.
I’m confident [applicant’s name] will be a valuable addition to your organization if given the opportunity. Please get in touch with me through [phone number and/or email address] if you wish to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Designation]
[Organization]
template 02
Dear [insert name here],
I’m happy to inform you that I highly recommend [insert student’s name here] for your open internship position. I have been very fortunate to instruct [student] in my [subject] classes at [insert school name here], and they have always excelled in their academic work. I am very familiar with their skills and ability level and am very confident they would do a standout job as an intern with your company.
In my experience with [student] in my classes, they have always been diligent learners. Their grades have been some of the best in the field, and they have always actively participated in class discussions and activities as well. They show great enthusiasm for learning, which I believe would result in a strong work ethic in your internship. They’ve also been very responsible about coming to me for help when they are struggling with an assignment or concept. They’ve really set an example for other students in the class and shown great leadership potential.
I truly believe [student] would benefit immensely from participating in your internship. They are very interested in a career in [insert field here], and the chance to work with a professional company such as yours would be invaluable. I implore you to seriously consider [student] for your internship position. Please contact me if you have any questions or need more general information. I can be reached at [insert contact info here].
Sincerely,
[insert name here]
template 03
Dear [insert name here],
I’m writing to recommend [insert student’s name here] for your internship position. I was fortunate to be able to supervise [students] last summer as they worked for our company, and I can attest that they were a standout employee. They are very diligent workers and quick learners, which helped them excel in their position with us and really helped them stand out from our other interns.
[Student] is also studying at [insert school name here], where they are [insert grade level here]. They have excelled in their schoolwork, receiving strong grades and participating actively in many extracurricular programs in their major. Although [student] had not worked in our field prior to joining our internship program last summer, they learned very quickly and were very helpful employees. He/she is a fast learner, and I am confident they would go very far working for you.
As you consider candidates for your internship, I encourage you to look at [student] and strongly consider them for the position. I think they would be a perfect fit and would add a lot to your company. If you have any questions for me, you can contact me at [insert contact info here].
Sincerely,
[insert name here]
sample
Dear Mr. Norman de John,
I am delighted to recommend Jamie Taylor for the internship program at Solaris Innovations. As Jamie’s mentor at Ashton University’s Department of Computer Science, I have observed their remarkable academic performance and unwavering commitment over the past two academic years. Jamie’s outstanding work ethic and keen enthusiasm for technology make them an exemplary candidate for your esteemed internship.
Throughout their studies, Jamie has excelled in subjects requiring a blend of analytical prowess and innovative thinking. They have adeptly applied theoretical concepts to complex problems, showcasing skills that are invaluable in a professional environment. Additionally, Jamie’s participation in extracurricular activities, notably as the lead developer in our annual Tech Innovate Challenge, demonstrates their ability to collaborate effectively and guide projects to fruition.
What truly distinguishes Jamie is his insatiable curiosity and proactive approach to learning. They have eagerly engaged in additional learning endeavors, such as contributing to research projects in artificial intelligence and attending numerous tech summits. Jamie’s passion for continuous personal and professional growth is inspiring, and I am confident they will carry this same enthusiasm and dedication into their role at Solaris Innovations.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that Jamie Taylor will be an invaluable addition to your team. Their combination of technical skills, collaborative spirit, and drive for excellence are the hallmarks of a successful intern and future industry leader. I wholeheartedly recommend Jamie for the internship at Solaris Innovations and am confident they will surpass your expectations.
Best regards,
Dr. Elena Martinez
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science
Ashton University
Analysis
The recommendation letter provided is a useful example for anyone looking to write a professional and effective letter for an internship candidate. It’s structured in a way that guides the reader through a comprehensive understanding of the candidate’s qualifications and potential.
Here’s an assessment highlighting its strengths and usability as a guide:
- First Paragraph – Relationship and Overview: The writer clearly states their relationship with the candidate (mentor) and the setting (university department), providing context to their assessment. This approach establishes the credibility of the recommendation.
- Second Paragraph – Academic and Extracurricular Achievements: Detailed descriptions of the candidate’s academic success and extracurricular involvement are provided by the writer. This showcases the candidate’s well-rounded abilities and is crucial for painting a complete picture of their capabilities.
- Third Paragraph – Personal Qualities and Additional Endeavors: The focus here shifts to the candidate’s personal attributes and extra efforts, like participating in additional projects and workshops. Highlighting these aspects is vital in showing the candidate’s initiative and passion beyond academics.
- Conclusion – Strong Endorsement and Summary: The letter concludes with a strong endorsement, summarizing the candidate’s suitability and potential impact. This reinforces the positive assessment and leaves a lasting impression.
- Professional Closing: The writer ends with a formal sign-off, including their full name, position, and affiliation, which adds to the letter’s authenticity.
In essence, the letter balances professional language with engaging details about the candidate, making it a useful template for anyone looking to write a similar recommendation. The clear structure, combined with specific examples and a personal touch, makes the letter both credible and compelling.
Useful Tips
A recommendation letter can be the point at which the recruiter tilts their preference toward your candidate. Therefore, you should be aiming to give a strong recommendation or none at all.
Below are some writing tips you can use to improve the quality of your letter:
Stay on topic
Objectivity is vital when recommending a student; you should focus on the applicant’s qualities that are relevant to the internship. Any other qualities such as physique or humor should not be included, regardless of whether they are positive qualities.
Write a positive recommendation letter
A letter of recommendation for an internship should maintain a positive tone throughout. This is why it is important to write recommendations for students you are familiar with and have positive things to say about them. If you don’t, it is best to decline the request to recommend them politely. Writing a positive recommendation makes sure the recruiter’s first impression of the student is positive as well.
note
The letter will have a higher value than the student’s cover letter, hence the need to ensure the recruiter describes the best version of the applicant.
Get submission details
Always verify the submission details. You can ask the student to write them down on paper. Most letters of recommendation will be addressed to the hiring manager, admissions counselor, department head, or program director. You should confirm the exact recipient, their name, job title, and other submission details, like formatting.
note
Recommendations can be addressed generally if the student is applying for an internship at multiple organizations or does not have a specific organization they want to apply to. In this case, use a generic salutation like “The Human Resources Department” or the college’s admission office.
Generic recommendations should highlight the student’s strongest qualities without specifically aligning them to a position or organization.
Ask the student for academic information
To ensure you get the information in the letter correctly, always ask the student to present you with a list of their academic details. This includes academic performance reports, GPA, achievements, and extracurricular activities they are involved in.
Key Takeaways
A recommendation letter for an internship is a third-party assessment of an applicant’s suitability for an internship position. Recruiters use it to screen applicants, and therefore, if a student selects you to recommend them, you should ensure that the letter is factual and correct.
This is because the organization offering the internship relies on you to give insight on how the applicant will be suitable for the position and the organization. In addition, the letter should show what sets the student you are recommending apart from other applicants. To ensure you craft an effective letter of recommendation, you can use templates and review sample letters for guidance.
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