Sample cover letter for Internship position at Nike

December 14, 2015

Dear Nike Recruiting Team,

My name is---  and I am currently a----  at ---- University, pursuing a degree in the ------ Department with a certificate in the ------ program. I am writing to express my strong interest in the Nike Internship Program, specifically as a marketing or product management intern. It is every athlete’s dream to work with Nike, but I believe that my specific experiences and interests would make me an excellent member of the team. To me, Nike has always represented opportunity and potential for growth: I will never forget the feeling of looking down at my Nike Zoom sprinting spikes after winning my first high school race and feeling that I could do anything I wanted with them.

My passion for marketing stems from my work in a variety of industries that has enabled me to hone not only my analytical and strategic abilities, but also to identify my deep-seated interest in understanding the minds of consumers and, more specifically, of athletes. Most recently, my work as a marketing and public relations intern at ----, an athletics events startup, solidified my desire to use the aforementioned skills in a future sports marketing role. While I thoroughly enjoyed my prior work at ------, I also learned that I would thrive at a more expansive company that provides the opportunity to work as part of a bigger team.

My work at -------- allowed me to combine two of my greatest passions, business and sports, while helping me develop my interpersonal, creative and analytical skills. Because the company was a startup, we constantly encountered obstacles, which taught me to be flexible, optimistic and self-sufficient. The learning curve was steep initially, as I had not had extensive prior experience in the field, but I was able to succeed by being proactive and asking questions when necessary. I know that being a fast learner will allow me to quickly begin contributing effectively at Nike. To this point, my background in athletics has taught me the value of teamwork.

As a ------- team, I attempt to bolster my teammates’ skills and support them through even the most grueling of workouts to create an optimistic and cohesive environment. One of the aspects of Nike’s marketing internship that interests me the most is the opportunity to work innovatively on a long-term team project. I work well in a place where I can collaborate with those who know more than I do and challenge myself to achieve their level of excellence. Finally, through my coursework in psychology and my internship in Human Resources I have developed a deep understanding of people’s behavior and what makes them tick.

Ever since my Nike spikes carried me to that first high school win, I have been a firm believer in Nike’s power to motivate and inspire. I would be honored to work with Nike in order to spark the same feeling in millions of athletes around the world.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, 

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