How to Cold Email for an Internship (With Templates)

Updated July 1, 2026 · 5 min read

To cold email for an internship, send a short message (under 120 words) that introduces you in one line, gives one specific reason you're interested in that company, makes one clear ask, and includes your resume — then follow up once after five days.

The anatomy of an internship cold email

Subject line: plain and specific — "Internship inquiry — [Your name]".
Opening line: who you are (year, school, field). No "I hope this finds you well."
The hook: one concrete, real reason you're interested in this company — tie it to something you've done.
The ask: one low-pressure question — "Do you take summer interns?"
Close: mention your attached resume, sign off with your first name.

Rules that get replies

Write like a person, not a cover letter. Contractions are good.
One company-specific detail beats three generic compliments.
Never send the same email to 50 companies unchanged — personalize the hook.
Send from your own address, not a mass-email tool, so it lands in the inbox.
Follow up exactly once. Most replies come from the follow-up.

A cold email template that works

Subject: Internship inquiry — Maya Chen Hi [Company] team, I'm a junior studying design at UCLA. I recently redesigned my school newspaper's site and cut its bounce rate by about 20%, and I've admired how your team handles [specific product or work]. I'd love to intern this summer and help however I'd be useful. Do you take summer interns? My resume is attached. Thanks, Maya

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Frequently asked questions

How do you cold email for an internship?

Keep it under 120 words: introduce yourself in one line, give one specific reason you're interested in that company, make one clear ask, and attach your resume. Send it from your own email to a recruiting inbox, then follow up once after about 5 days.

What should the subject line be?

Short and plain, like "Internship inquiry — [Your name]" or "Summer intern interested in [Company]." Avoid anything that looks like marketing.

How long should an internship cold email be?

70–120 words. Short, specific emails get more replies than long ones and are less likely to be flagged as spam.

What's a good reply rate for internship cold emails?

Roughly 5–15% for well-targeted, personalized emails. Send 20–50 and you'll usually start several conversations.