As an intern applicant, you have the challenging task of transforming academic achievements, part-time jobs, and budding aspirations into a compelling resume. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide tips and strategies to help you create an internship resume that bridges the gap between your potential and the opportunities awaiting you.
Use a professional template if you want hiring managers to take your internship resume seriously. Be sure your resume includes the following sections:
Hiring managers need to know how to connect with you for an interview, so be sure to include all your contact information at the top of your internship resume. List your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to any professional profiles or portfolios.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
If you only had a few seconds to introduce yourself to a hiring manager, what would you say? That’s essentially what a resume profile or objective statement should cover. This brief, impactful summary tells potential employers who you are and why you’re an ideal candidate for the internship. Mention your strengths and qualities that align with intern requirements.
A recent graduate with prior internship experience as a business analyst at the prestigious consulting firm, Deloitte. Shadowed executives to learn strategic planning methods to reduce operational costs and foster team efficiency and development. Possess advanced business acumen, leadership skills, and specialized industry knowledge, supplemented with academic credentials. Currently pursuing the PMP certification.
A diligent and ambitious soon-to-be graduate pursuing a degree in business administration. Well-versed in assisting with project execution, performing administrative duties, and focusing on continuous professional growth. Eager to apply enhanced skills in time management, basic computer knowledge, organization, and communication, observed during previous internships.
This is where you’ll list your most impressive and relevant experiences — like a personal best-of compilation. As an intern, this could include volunteer time, extracurricular activities, and part-time work. Do your best with what you have and describe tasks and achievements that could be relevant to the internship, using numbers to convey your value.
Business Analyst Intern | Deloitte, New York, NY | Summer 2021, Summer 2022
Computer Lab Assistant, Tufts University, Medford, MA | August 2023 – Present
Business Administration Intern, Innotech, Cambridge, MA | June 2022 – January 2023
Quantifying your experience means adding numbers to your achievements and responsibilities. It’s like adding proof to your claims, turning generalized statements into specific, measurable results. So, use percentages, dollar amounts, and other numerical data to help hiring managers understand the scope of your abilities with concrete evidence.
Only about 20% of college students participate in internships. Although opportunities are plentiful, you’ll need a stand-out resume to land the best intern positions. You must tailor your resume to each internship you apply for, paying close attention to the unique requirements and desired skills listed by hiring managers.
Look for keywords and specific skills required for the internship. Are they looking for someone with an analytical mind, experience in social media, or proficiency in a particular software? If you want to catch the eye of hiring managers, choose experiences and skills from your background that best match the internship ad.
Writing a resume without industry-specific experience can be challenging, but as an aspiring intern, you benefit from a unique exception. Hiring managers expect little to no professional experience on your internship resume. Most interns are college students, so focus on your education and the relevant skills you’ve gained from classwork and projects. Go into greater detail here than you would on a regular resume.
If you’ve been involved in clubs, sports, or volunteer work, you can include these experiences on your resume. Extracurricular activities provide insight into your interests and show you’ve gained essential soft skills like teamwork, leadership, and time management.
Your education will often be the top factor that determines your eligibility for an internship. List the degree you’re currently pursuing and details like expected graduation date, GPA score, and any coursework related to the position. If you’ve received any awards or scholarships or made the dean’s list, include that information as well.
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Associate of Science in Nursing
University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD | May 2020
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
From the federal sector to arts and culture, the skills you include on your resume will be as unique as your industry of interest. So, tailor your skills list to the internship you’re applying for. For example, for a marketing internship, highlight your social media or content creation skills. And for a finance role, emphasize your data analysis, financial modeling skills, and attention to detail.
Some examples of key skills for interns include:
Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
---|---|
Administrative tasks | Data entry |
Microsoft Office suite | Research |
Social media management |
Your internship resume may not be filled with years of career achievements, but that’s okay. You can use action verbs to transform everyday tasks and academic projects into impressive accomplishments. Instead of saying, “I was responsible for,” an action verb like “developed” or “coordinated” shows you were actively engaged and making things happen. Use words like the following to start each bullet point in your professional experience section:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Analyzed | Collaborated |
Coordinated | Created |
Designed | Developed |
Engineered | Evaluated |
Implemented | Managed |
Organized | Participated |
Researched | Solved |
Tested |
When selecting an internship resume template, choose one that looks professional and neat rather than flashy. The exception to this rule is if you are seeking work as a graphic designer or something artistic, in which case you may show off some creativity.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
A diligent and ambitious soon-to-be graduate pursuing a degree in business administration. Well-versed in assisting with project execution, performing administrative duties, and focusing on continuous professional growth. Eager to apply enhanced skills in time management, basic computer knowledge, organization and communication, observed during previous internships.
Computer Lab Assistant, Tufts University, Medford, MA | August 2023 – Present
Business Administration Intern, Innotech, Cambridge, MA | June 2022 – January 2023
Bachelor of Business Administration
Tufts University, Medford, MA | Expected Graduation: 2025
Some internships can be quite competitive, so it’s important to put your best foot forward with a well-developed resume. Try to see what the organization is looking for and discuss how your academic background and prior skills make you a strong fit. You can even repeat some of the same keywords used in the listing.
A chronological resume is usually the standard way to go in which you list your most recent job/internship and then work backwards. If you’re still in school and haven’t worked before, you can flip the sections and expand the education section so that the focus is on your academic projects.
Including a cover letter with your resume is a great way to set yourself apart from other internship applicants.
ResumeTemplates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.