New to this? Read how to cold email for an internship first — it explains the reasoning behind every line below.
Copy any of these, then replace the [brackets] with real, specific detail. The single most important part is the opening line — it has to be something you could only say to that company. A template gets you 80% of the way; the specifics are what get the reply.
New to this? Read how to cold email for an internship first — it explains the reasoning behind every line below.
Internship enquiry from a [subject] student
Hi [First name], Before writing I read through [Company]'s site — [one specific, true observation about their work]. That's exactly the kind of [sector] work I'd like to learn from. I'm a [year] [subject] student at [university]. Having [specific thing you've done] and [second specific thing], I think I could genuinely support your [named area of their work] rather than just observe. I'm not after a formal programme — a short project, or a few days helping where you're stretched, would suit me well. I'd be available [dates]. Would you be open to a brief call? Many thanks, [Your name] [Phone]
Internship enquiry from an economics student
Hi [First name], I read that [Company] focuses on owner-managed businesses rather than large corporates — that hands-on side of finance is exactly what I want to learn, and it's why I'm writing to you specifically. I'm a second-year economics student at [university]. Having built discounted-cash-flow models and led my university's finance society, I could support the analysis behind your valuations and reporting rather than just watch. A short project or a few days helping where you're stretched would suit me well — I'd be available across July and August. Could we have a brief call? Many thanks, [Your name] [Phone]
Student developer keen to help on a short project
Hi [First name], I've been using [Company]'s [product/app] and had a proper look at what you're building — shipping [specific feature or focus] with a small team is exactly the environment I want to learn in. I'm a computer science student at [university]. I've built [project — link] with [stack], so I can contribute real code from early on rather than needing to be walked through everything. I'd be glad to take on a defined feature or bug backlog for a few weeks over the summer. I'm free from [dates]. Would a short call work? Many thanks, [Your name] [Phone / GitHub]
Marketing student keen to help over the summer
Hi [First name], I came to [Company] through [their campaign / content / channel], and the way you [specific thing they do well] is the kind of marketing I'd like to work on rather than study in the abstract. I'm a [subject] student at [university]. I've run [specific project — a channel, a campaign, a society's socials] and can show what moved the numbers, so I could help with your content and measuring what's working. A short project or a few days a week over the summer would suit me well — I'm available from [dates]. Would you be open to a quick call? Many thanks, [Your name] [Phone / portfolio]
Law student enquiring about a short placement
Hi [First name], I read about [Company]'s work in [specific practice area] — that focus is why I'm writing to you rather than sending this widely. I'm a law student at [university]. Through [mooting / pro bono / a specific module or role] I've built up research and drafting experience, so I could support case preparation and research rather than simply observe. I'd welcome a short placement or even a few days shadowing over the vacation. I'm free [dates]. Could we arrange a brief call? Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone]
The moment a recipient senses a mass email, it's gone. Three things keep a template personal:
Doing that by hand for 30 companies is a lot of research. Nearside does exactly this part automatically — it reads each company's website and writes the specific opening for you, so every email is personal without the hours of work.
Nearside reads each company's site and writes the specific, personalised opening for you — then sends from your own inbox with follow-ups. Templates get you started; Nearside does it at scale.
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