How to Write an Internship Resume

Internship resumes can play a unique role in the job-seeking environment. They are ideal for people with no previous work experience who are applying to entry-level positions, so they typically focus on educational achievements, life experiences and volunteer work. Understanding how to structure this kind of resume can help you highlight your unique credentials in a way that increases your chances of securing a great internship. In this article, we explore the essential features of this type of resume, offer tips, and share a template and example you can reference when writing your own. An internship resume is a type of resume typically used by those without any relevant professional experience. This makes it an important tool for students or people with little past work experience to achieve entry-level positions. Internships foster learning and development, so it's standard practice for these resumes to highlight personal experiences that relate to the applicant's career path. Job seekers may use the resume (along with a cover letter) to apply for internships specifically. Unlike other resumes that mainly discuss employment history, these documents usually focus on educational achievements and skills. Embracing unique life experiences and gearing the content toward your strengths can help set you apart from other potential interns. This can be an opportunity to align the focus of your content with the philosophy of the company where you are pursuing work. How to write an internship resume The goal of your resume is to present yourself as an ideal professional match for a specific position. These tips can help you design your resume to get the internship you want: Use your network Extending from academic advisors or professors to family and acquaintances, your network is a valuable resource. You can inform your network of career goals to see if they have any advice. As they know you personally, this may be a good opportunity to ask others what they view as your personal strengths. This can help adjust your resume to suit the position and highlight your best skills and abilities. If you have any contacts who are well-known in their industry, you can ask them to write you a reference. Choose clear goals Regardless of the industry, all resumes typically have an objective statement. Meant to be concise, the resume objective can go at the top of your resume. Consulting the job listing and other relevant internship posts can help you understand which industry-specific keywords and phrases to include. By clearly communicating what you want to gain in the position, you can make it easier for employers to assess your abilities as an employee. A resume is typically between one and three sentences. It states both your goal and why you're a good fit for the role. Focus on strengths Resumes written for internship applications typically rely on showcasing your skills, especially academic abilities. It is important to identify your strongest abilities and find the ones that match the position in question. Examples of applicable skills may include software proficiencies or laboratory experience. Strengths can range from attention to detail to analytical thinking. Depending on the role you're pursuing, certain strengths may be more applicable to mention. Referencing actual instances where you used those skills can further reinforce your resume. Showcase your experience Experiences you can include may range from academic pursuits to athletic endeavours. Many interns use volunteer work or community involvement to exemplify their skills. Any part-time work you completed while pursuing education can be relevant to your resume, as it shows that you have a good work ethic and can commit to a team. Including any experience or skills associated with side work, like a part-time job during your studies, can also help make your resume more impressive as well. Feature an achievement section Using objective metrics to highlight your achievements can highlight your past successes and increase their relevance to your resume. Sports-related accomplishments may demonstrate teamwork. Volunteerism and fundraising can show dedication. It's important to reference specific events, including games won, articles published or funds raised for a cause. Relating these achievements to the internship's desired skill set can help feature your qualifications. Remain professional and concise The best resumes are typically straightforward, and hiring managers already expect applicants for internships to have minimal experience. You can customize your resume for the role in question, keeping it to a single page and following a professional template or simple structure to make the resume easier to read. By remaining concise and highlighting your experience without overstating it, your resume can communicate that you are an honest, hard-working prospective employee. Tips for crafting your resume Following these guidelines and the included template can help you write an impressive resume. These tips can further increase your chances of securing an interview: Include interests and hobbies As most desirable internships have many applicants, it's important to add a personal touch to your resume to help humanize you. You can use your unique or uncommon skills and experiences to distinguish your application from the otherwise similar ones. Because internships rarely require experience, this part of the resume can be a major determining factor in hiring. Detail all work experience Volunteering in any capacity can show determination and focus. Even lawn-mowing or crosswalk duty volunteer work can show that you were responsible even with your earliest professional experiences. Including specific details about what you learned from volunteer positions can show your individuality and your ability to adapt to new situations. Feature real-world examples By using concrete information, including specific figures, dates and names of awards, you can ground your resume in reality. A story about participating in a sports team suggests teamwork. Detailing that same achievement by highlighting the number of games won or the date when you received an "MVP" award can help substantiate those claims. Internship resumes rely on your personal and academic experiences, so including real-world examples can help employers see your value as an intern more clearly. Template for internship resume Internship expectations may vary based on the industry, but this template applies to most situations and can serve as the outline of your resume. The focus of your application is typically on your soft skills and academic history, so you can feature those experiences before your work history. This template breaks down the basic requirements, allowing you to fill in the blanks: [Full name] [City, province] [Phone number] [Email address] Resume objective [State your professional goal and explain what makes you a unique candidate. An effective resume objective is typically between one and three sentences.] Skills and strengths [Primary skill: short sentence giving a real-world example of when you used the skill.] [Primary skill: short sentence giving a real-world example of when you used the skill.] [Primary skill: short sentence giving a real-world example of when you used the skill.] Academic experience [Program of degree] [Institution, expected graduation date] [GPA, if applicable] Achievements [Relevant awards or certifications] [Additional languages] Work experience [Job title] [Company name, location, dates of employment]