What Is a Writing Sample for an Internship? What to Submit, Length, Formatting and Where to Get One

What is a writing sample for an internship? It is a short piece of your own writing that you send with your application so the employer can judge how you think and write. It might be a school essay, a blog post, a report or a few pages of an article. Most internships that ask for one want between one and five pages, clean, edited and relevant to the role.

I work on the BidStaff team, and a big part of our day is sending short notes to strangers who decide in seconds whether we are worth a reply. A writing sample works the same way. It is proof, handed over at the right moment. This post explains what to send, how long it should be, how to format it and what to do if you have nothing written yet.

What is a writing sample for an internship, in plain words?

Think of it as a work sample for words. Your resume says you can write. The sample shows it. Employers use it to check clarity, grammar, structure, tone and whether you can finish something and make it good.

So what is a writing sample for an internship, in practice? It is any finished piece that you wrote yourself, with no heavy rewrite by someone else. It does not need to be published. It does need to be your best work and easy to read.

Writing samples come up for marketing, communications, journalism, law, policy, nonprofit and research internships. Some employers also ask for one in business and tech roles, where clear emails and reports matter. If the posting does not mention one, check whether your application form has an upload box. If it does, adding one can help you stand out.

Why do employers ask for one?

A resume is full of claims. A sample is evidence. A hiring manager with 80 applications can spot weak writing in one paragraph, and they can also spot strong writing just as fast.

It is the same logic we use when we bid on Upwork. Our post on choosing the right work samples for Upwork explains why one relevant sample beats a long list. A client or an intern manager wants proof that matches the job, not proof that you have done a lot of things.

Employers are mostly checking five things:

• Clarity: can they follow your point without effort?
• Accuracy: are spelling, grammar and facts right?
• Structure: does the piece have a start, a middle and an end?
• Voice: is the tone right for the work you want to do?
• Effort: does it look finished and careful?

What should you submit?

Match the sample to the internship. A legal internship wants analytical writing. A social media role wants short, lively copy. A journalism internship wants a story with facts and a clear lead.

Internship type	Good sample	Less useful
Marketing or social media	Blog post, email campaign, product description, caption set	A long academic paper
Journalism or media	News story, feature, interview write-up	A personal journal entry
Law or policy	Research memo, argumentative essay, policy brief	Creative fiction
Nonprofit or communications	Press release, newsletter, grant-style summary	A technical lab report
Research or science	Lab report, literature review, research summary	A casual blog post
Business or tech	Clear report, case summary, documentation	Poetry

Can you use a school paper?

Yes. A strong class essay is the most common sample for students. Pick one that earned a good grade, fits the subject area and reads well without the assignment sheet. If the paper is long, send an excerpt of a few pages and say so.

Can you use something published?

Yes, and it helps. A student newspaper article, a blog post or a club newsletter shows that someone else trusted your work. Include a link if it is online. Still send a clean file in case the link breaks.

Can you use group work?

Avoid it when you can. If you must, label your part clearly: “Sections 2 and 3 written by me.” Honesty here matters, because interviewers sometimes ask about your piece.

Should it be confidential or private work?

No. Never send anything marked confidential from a past employer or client. Remove names and private data, or choose a different piece. If you used a template that someone else wrote, say what you changed.

How long should it be?

When people ask what is a writing sample for an internship and how long it should be, I say: follow the posting first. If it gives a page count or word count, match it. If it says nothing, these ranges work for most cases.

• Short samples: 300 to 600 words for social media or copywriting roles.
• Standard samples: 500 to 1,500 words, or 1 to 3 pages, for most roles.
• Long samples: up to 5 pages for law, policy or research roles.

Shorter is safer. A tight three-page piece usually beats a loose ten-page paper. If your best work is long, send a self-contained excerpt and add one line at the top that explains what comes before and after it.

Practice varies by employer, so if you are not sure, you can ask the recruiter what they prefer. A short, polite question reads as careful, not annoying.

How should you format it?

Whatever the answer to what is a writing sample for an internship at a given company, treat the sample like a small finished product. It should open cleanly and look the same on every device.

1. File type: PDF unless the employer asks for Word. A PDF keeps fonts and spacing in place.
2. Font: a standard one like Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial, size 11 or 12.
3. Spacing: single or 1.15 spacing with clear paragraph breaks.
4. Header: your name, the title and the date at the top. For a school paper, remove the teacher’s name and any grade.
5. Citations: keep the style from the original (APA, MLA or Chicago) if the piece used sources.
6. File name: Firstname-Lastname-Writing-Sample.pdf.

Add a short cover note when you can. One or two lines at the top of the email or on the first page are enough: what the piece is, why you picked it and what the assignment was. For example: “This is a 900-word feature I wrote for my college paper about campus food waste. I chose it because it shows how I turn interviews into a clear story.”

If you need grammar help before sending, a free tool like Grammarly can catch slips, though you should still read the piece out loud. The Purdue Online Writing Lab is a reliable reference for structure, grammar and citation styles.

Where do you get a sample if you have none?

If you have never written anything formal, what is a writing sample for an internship supposed to be? This is the part most students worry about. You do not need a degree, a byline or an old essay in a drawer. You need one good piece, and you can make it in a few days.

Write a new piece for the company

Read the company’s blog, newsletter or website. Then write a short piece they might publish. A marketing internship could get a 600-word article on a trend in their industry. A nonprofit internship could get a one-page press release for an imagined event. Say clearly that it is a spec piece written for the application.

Rework a school assignment

Take an essay or lab report from a past class. Cut it, fix the introduction, tighten the sentences and ask a teacher or friend for feedback. A rewritten version is often much better than the original.

Start a small public project

Write three short posts on a topic you know and publish them on a free blog or a LinkedIn article. They give you links and a track record. Our guide on how to start with no experience uses the same idea for freelancers: create proof first, then pitch.

Volunteer your writing

Local clubs, charities and student groups often need newsletters, event write-ups or social posts. The result gives you a real piece with a real purpose, plus a person who can vouch for you.

Write a sample answer to a prompt

If the internship gives no prompt, write a one-page explanation of something you know well for a reader who knows nothing about it. Explaining a topic simply is one of the best tests of writing.

What do good examples look like?

Here are three short examples of the kind of pieces that work. They are illustrations, not real submissions.

Example 1: marketing internship

Piece: a 550-word blog post titled “Five small changes that make a product page easier to read”.
Why it works: a clear headline, short paragraphs, practical points and a call to action at the end.

Example 2: journalism internship

Piece: a 700-word news story on a campus budget meeting.
Why it works: a strong first sentence that gives who, what and when, quotes from two sources and a balanced view.

Example 3: policy internship

Piece: a two-page brief on a local transport issue.
Why it works: a short summary at the top, a clear problem statement, evidence from named sources and a recommendation.

A one-line intro you can copy

“Attached is a 1,100-word report I wrote for my environmental policy class. I chose it because it shows how I summarise research for a general reader, which I understand is part of this role.”

How do you prepare and send it, step by step?

1. Read the posting. Note the tasks, tone and any rules about length or format.
2. Choose the best match. Pick the piece closest to what the intern would write.
3. Edit hard. Cut weak lines, fix errors and make the first paragraph strong.
4. Get a second reader. A teacher, mentor or friend will find mistakes you cannot see.
5. Format and save. Use the layout above and export to PDF.
6. Write the cover note. Two lines on what the piece is and why you chose it.
7. Send and track. Keep a copy and a note of which version went to which employer.

Step seven is where our daily work overlaps with yours. On Upwork we track every proposal and the sample that went with it, so we can see which pairings win. If you freelance on the side, BidStaff’s features show how we do that. BidStaff does not write resumes or samples for you, but picking the right sample for each job is a habit worth building early.

Your sample will usually travel with a resume and sometimes a cover letter. If you wonder whether you need the letter, see do you need a cover letter for a resume. For a related application piece, read how to write a statement of interest for an internship. And if you are applying for a writing role, how to write a resume for a writing job will help you present the whole package.

What mistakes should you avoid?

• Sending an unedited draft. Typos in a writing sample are the fastest way to lose a reader.
• Choosing the wrong style. A poem will not help you get a finance internship.
• Going far over the length. Respect the limit. It shows you can follow instructions.
• Leaving in private details. Remove grades, teacher comments and other people’s data.
• Using work you did not write. Plagiarism is easy to check and ends an application.
• Skipping context. One line on what the piece is saves the reader from guessing.
• Sending it in the wrong format. Check whether the employer wants a link, a PDF or pasted text.

The same rule applies to any pitch to a stranger. When we write to a client, we send one piece of proof and explain why in one line. You can see how we do that in how to send proposals on Upwork. A short, relevant sample that is easy to open beats a thick folder.

Should the sample match your own voice?

Yes, but adapt it to the reader. A formal tone for a law office, a friendly one for a consumer brand. Our article on writing in your own tone shows how to keep your voice while changing the register.

Frequently asked questions

What is a writing sample for an internship, and is it always required?

It is a short piece of your own writing sent with your application. It is not always required, but when the posting asks for one, send it. If it is optional, a good one can help you.

How many pages should a writing sample be?

Between one and five pages for most internships. Follow the employer’s limit if there is one.

Can I use an essay from high school?

You can if it is strong and fits the role. For college internships, a recent piece usually looks better.

Does it have to be published?

No. A finished, edited piece is enough. Published work is a bonus.

Can I use fiction or poetry?

Only for creative roles, such as a publishing or literary magazine internship. For other roles, send non-fiction.

Should I send more than one sample?

Send one unless the employer asks for more. If they ask for two, send two different types that both fit the role.

What if I only have a group project?

Mark your sections clearly, or write a short new piece on your own. A solo sample is safer.

Should I attach it or paste it?

Do what the posting says. If it gives no instruction, attach a PDF and mention it in your email.

Conclusion

So, what is a writing sample for an internship? It is your proof that you can write for the job. Pick one relevant piece, keep it short, edit it well, add a line of context and send it as a clean PDF. If you have nothing, write one. It takes a weekend and can change an application.

Your action list:

1. Read the posting and note any length or format rules.
2. Choose the piece that matches the role, or write a new one.
3. Edit it, get a second reader and save it as a PDF.
4. Add a two-line note on why you chose it.
5. Keep a record of what you sent, and learn from the replies.

If you also pitch for freelance writing work, take a look at BidStaff pricing to see whether our Upwork tools fit how you work.

Other related articles

• How to write a statement of interest for an internship
• How to write a resume for a writing job
• Do you need a cover letter for a resume?
• How to write an application
• How to write about me on a resume

About the Author

Muhammad Shahzad is the founder of BidStaff and Leadslancer. He runs Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team, and builds BidStaff around that daily work.