4 Internship Resume Examples & Templates [2024]

You're about to see a perfect internship resume example. As a college student, you know how hard it is to get a decent internship. You may also wonder: why would anyone waste their time writing an internship resume and competing for work that doesn’t pay? Why not graduate, then get your first entry-level job?

Here’s the thing: internships offer you a leg up when it comes to landing your first decent job. What’s more important, internships can help you find out what that that first job should be.

This guide will tell you:

• How to find an internship that’s right for you.
• How to write a resume for an internship. 
• How to write a resume objective for an internship resume.
• What to do once you’re done with your internship experience. 

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Internship Resume Example

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Internship Resume Example With No Experience

What’s great about internships is that you can secure them even if you have literally zero practical work experience. To do so, focus on achievements from your education and extracurricular activities. Here’s a sample for an internship resume without experience:

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Internship Resume Example With Freelance Work Experience

Freelancing is great to gain some hands-on experience, and it can help you gain some much-needed income. At the same time, having this experience can help you secure top internship opportunities with the top companies. Here’s a sample for an internship resume with freelance work experience:

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Resume for an Internship (With Part-Time Work Experience)

Sometimes, you’ll be working in a seemingly unrelated field to that of the internship you want. Even so, you can still focus on pointing out relevant experience bits and transferable skills to target your internship resume.

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Resume Templates for Interns

Based on the analysis of 11 million resumes made in the Zety Resume Builder, here are the top 3 resume templates chosen by interns.

Cascade

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Cascade is an eye-catching resume template that doesn’t compromise on functionality. Its dependable formatting ensures it sails through Applicant Tracking Systems. The template’s emphasis on readability and style ensures your professional achievements are displayed clearly and efficiently.

Diamond

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Visually stunning and ATS-compatible resume, Diamond is the perfect template for winning over both humans and machines. The intuitive diamond-shaped icons create a smooth flow across the page. The skill-level bars stand out, making them hard to miss and achieving the desired effect.

Concept

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Try Concept, a modern resume template perfect for reverse-chronological formats. It includes a thin sidebar for dates and section icons, with customizable colors for headings and sidebar. Enjoy a clean white background and black text for a sharp look.

How to Write an Internship Resume:

1. Start With the Right Format for an Internship Resume

Imagine this—you craft the perfect internship resume brimming with potential. Then, you send it to dozens of companies, only to be met with silence. What went wrong? You likely missed the mark with your resume format. If your resume looks outdated, it won’t make the cut with top-tier firms.

Here’s how to format an internship resume template:

• Format: Opt for the reverse-chronological resume format to showcase your achievements effectively.
• Resume Fonts: Stick with popular fonts like Calibri, Arial, or other modern favorites.
• Font Size: Set the font size to 11–12 points.
• Resume Headings: Use 13–14 points for section headings.
• Line Spacing: Use spacing between 1 and 1.15 for a clean look.
• Resume Margins: Maintain 1-inch margins on all sides.
• File Type: Save your resume as a PDF unless the company specifies “MS Word.”
• Length: Keep your resume to one page. If it extends beyond that, trim down the content to focus on the most important information. Remember, interviews are for deeper details.

Ensure your resume includes these key parts:

• Header: Include your name and contact information.
• Objective: Provide a brief overview of your most important skills and showcase your motivation.
• Education: List your current academic status and any notable achievements.
• Experience: Highlight relevant roles and accomplishments, even if they are part-time jobs or volunteer work.
• Skills: Add specific skills mentioned in the internship job description.
• Other sections: Provide relevant certifications, projects, or extracurricular activities.

Pro Tip: Some companies offer dormitory style housing for interns. And if moving is a priority, give yourself extra time to deal with the logistics.

2. Focus on Your Education Section

You may have work experience, but it’s unlikely that you have much work experience in your field. That’s okay. As a college student, hiring managers expect that. 

That’s why you’ll want to lead the internship resume with your education section instead of your work experience. After all, most of the relevant skills you have come from your education at this point. You should include:

• Degree you have/are pursuing
• School name
• Starting + graduation dates, or the expected graduation date

But that’s something every candidate will add. Differentiate yourself by including more information in your internship resume:

• Relevant coursework
• Club memberships
• GPA score (if above 3.5)
• Thesis project
• Awards & Honors (such as cum laude honors or Dean’s list)

Remember to tailor this to the internship description. You might want to add different classes and projects for different internship applications.

3. Add Experience to Your Internship Resume

As for work experience, you can't quite pack your undergraduate student resume with internship experience yet. But what you can do is include any odd jobs you’ve had in the past. 

Adding jobs, even when they aren’t related to your field or industry, shows that you’re responsible and you know how to work. You can also add volunteer work or nonprofit work. Your experience section is also where to put internships on a resume. 

To tailor this resume section:

• Put your most recent job title first.
• Add the company name
• Provide start and finish dates (or mention that it’s your current job)
• Add a couple of bullet points to show your qualifications and job accomplishments.
• Show achievement with the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) formula.

Depending on the type of internship you’re targeting, remember to focus on specific resume keywords you’ll find in that job posting. They show relevant work experience necessary for the job. Some common internship responsibilities may include:

Internship Resume Keywords

• Assisting with Projects: Help with various tasks related to ongoing projects, supporting the team and learning about the workflow.
• Conducting Research: Perform research tasks to gather information, analyze data, and prepare reports to support team projects.
• Administrative Tasks: Handle routine administrative duties such as filing, data entry, scheduling meetings, and managing communications.
• Shadowing Professionals: Observe and learn from experienced employees to gain insight into the industry and understand different roles within the organization.
• Attending Meetings: Participate in team meetings, take notes, and contribute ideas or feedback when appropriate.
• Preparing Documentation: Assist in the creation and organization of documents, presentations, and other materials needed for various projects or reports.

Remember to start each bullet point with an action word.

Internship Resume Action Verbs

• Assisted
• Collaborated
• Contributed
• Installed
• Conducted
• Developed
• Researched
• Supported
• Analyzed
• Organized

4. Put Key Skills in Your Internship Resume

You’ll want to use your skills in two ways. First, create a skills section. Include your strongest, most relevant skills here. Next, pepper skills from the internship description throughout your college intern resume. Include some in your resume objective, coursework description, and experience section.

You’ll want to pay special attention to soft skills. Are you a good writer? Do you have sales experience? What about leadership skills? Soft skills are valuable in almost any position. Put your strongest soft skills as close to the top third of your resume for an internship as possible. 

Popular Internship Resume Skills

• Research Skills
• Programming Languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++)
• Social Media Management
• Project Management
• Graphic Design (Adobe Creative Suite)
• Database Management (SQL)
• Technical Writing
• Financial Modeling and Analysis
• Microsoft Office Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Decision Making Skills
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Active Listening
• Analytical Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Critical Thinking

Pro Tip: Soft skills alone are not enough. You need to show you know how to perform your job by mentioning your hard skills as well.

5. Inject Other Sections into Your Resume for an Internship

Is your internship resume looking a bit empty? It might not be just a feeling, especially if you don’t have any work experience whatsoever. But don’t worry. Add 1–3 bonus sections to impress the recruiter. Choose from:

• Certifications: List any relevant certifications, such as CPR, Microsoft Office Specialist, Google Analytics, or any industry-specific certifications.
• Projects: Detail significant academic or personal projects that demonstrate relevant skills and knowledge.
• Technical Skills: Provide a detailed list of specific technical skills, such as programming languages, software proficiency, or data analysis tools.
• Languages: Mention any additional languages you speak, along with your proficiency level.
• Workshops and Conferences: Include relevant workshops, seminars, or conferences you have attended to enhance your industry knowledge.
• Extracurricular Activities: Highlight involvement in clubs, organizations, or activities that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, or relevant skills.
• Professional Memberships: Include memberships in professional organizations, such as student chapters of industry associations.
• Hobbies and Interests: Add a section to showcase personal hobbies and interests, especially those that demonstrate qualities beneficial to the internship, such as teamwork, creativity, or analytical thinking.

6. Write an Internship Resume Objective

You’ll want to include a resume objective statement after your contact information. A resume objective tells a hiring manager where you are now and where you want to go. At the same time, it focuses on the employer's needs, not your needs and goals.

Here’s how to write a resume introduction for an internship resume:

1. Start with a descriptor like creative or diligent.
2. Add your title (university student, high school graduate).
3. List years of experience if you have any (1, 1+, 2).
4. Describe your objective (contribute to software development efforts).
5. Highlight your most significant academic or professional achievement.
6. Review carefully to eliminate any errors.

7. Provide an Internship Cover Letter

Do internship resumes need cover letters? Absolutely. Without one, you risk looking like a mass applicant and might get overlooked. According to our HR statistics report, a cover letter is essential. But don't just use a generic template. Show the company that you are genuinely interested in the internship. Then, explain why you are the right fit.

To write a compelling cover letter for an internship:

1. Format your cover letter professionally.
2. Address the hiring manager by name.
3. Craft an engaging opening sentence to capture their attention.
4. In the second paragraph, demonstrate your understanding of the internship duties.
5. Highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role.
6. Conclude with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression.

Match your cover letter template with a cohesive resume template. Simply typing your cover letter in plain 12-point Arial will not make it stand out.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

For more articles like this one, see:

• College Application Resume
• College Scholarship Resume
• College Student Resume
• Computer Science Intern Resume
• Engineering Internship Resume Example
• Resume for a Part-Time Job
• Resume for First Job
• Software Engineering Internship Resume Example
• Tax Intern Resume
• Undergraduate Resume

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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://career.berkeley.edu/find-opportunities/internships/housing-for-interns/
• Ruth Imose and Larissa K. Barber, January 12, 2015. “Using Undergraduate Grade Point Average as a Selection Tool: A Synthesis of the Literature”