how to write a internship resume

5 Steps to Writing the Perfect Resume for an Internship (Plus an Example!)

Let’s say you’re looking to land that ideal summer internship . You’re browsing job boards looking for open roles, and what looks like a dream opportunity pops up. You nod your head at every bullet on the posting, getting excited about what responsibilities you’ll get to take on—shadowing a senator! Writing columns for a local newspaper! Working with an engineering team to build a rocket for launch!—and fantasizing about one heck of a summer you’re going to have.

Then you look at the application: Please submit a resume.

OK, you have an idea what a resume is—a list of your professional skills and experiences. But from what you can gather, you don’t have much to offer in this realm. Maybe a couple summer jobs working as a server or camp counselor? A few relevant courses or class projects? A general understanding of Excel?

Don’t panic—first of all, it’s completely normal, and common, to find yourself with little to put on your resume as a student or recent graduate. Secondly, even the bit you have can make for a great resume! Here’s how to go about crafting yours from scratch—from coming up with what to put on it to organizing and editing it in a way that’ll impress a hiring manager.

Step 1: Brainstorm

The first thing you should do, once you’ve found a role (or several) you’d like to apply for, is to dig into the requirements and responsibilities. “Use the job description for the internship as your guide” to figure out what to include on your resume, advises Chelsea C. Williams , Founder and CEO of College Code and a career coach on The Muse. What skills are they highlighting—both hard skills, like Excel or Wordpress, or soft skills , like time management or written communication? What words are they using to describe the ideal candidate? What experiences, work history, or general background or interests are they looking for?

Then, separately, jot down what you bring to the table. A few things to consider including are:

• Your educational history (your major, your GPA, classes, research work, big projects, study abroad programs, honors, or awards)
• Summer, part-time, or on-campus jobs
• Volunteer work
• Student organizations, clubs, or sports

Start by creating a master list of everything you’ve done that could be relevant to a job—any job. Then, once you have that list, narrow down the items that feel most relevant and applicable.

The idea isn’t to nix stuff that is a far cry from what you’d like to do in a professional setting. Being a waitress, for example, may not seem relevant to a marketing internship at first glance. But if the role calls for someone who can multitask or be a team player, you may find that a lot of your experience in the service industry does apply.

“One time a student—an English major—I was working with got a paid remote internship in New York because the hiring manager was impressed she was a crew trainer at McDonald’s; they valued her leadership ability and hard work ethic,” says Muse career coach Eilis Wasserman .

The same thing goes for being an athlete or running the debate team—again, it’s not technically a “job,” but a lot of the soft skills you’ve developed could easily factor into an internship.

The key is to make sure whatever you’re including shows some sense of “involvement, work ethic, and accomplishments,” explains Wasserman. What wouldn’t fit into this category? Things like: vacations, non-educational school trips, or social events that were purely for fun. If they show a bit of your personality or come with a unique story related to your career ambitions, save sharing them for your cover letter instead.

Step 2: Create Your Sections

At the very top (and preferably in a bigger, bolder font) you’ll need to add your contact information —which should include your name, your phone number, your email address, and any relevant links , like your LinkedIn profile or personal website , if applicable.

“If you’re a student, include your .edu email instead of other emails,” Wasserman recommends. “School emails are often seen more favorably among employers.” Plus, it tends to be a more professional address than your personal one ([email protected]? Probably not ideal).

Wasserman suggests that anyone who’s still in school or recently graduated should have their education at the top of the page. You’ll likely organize your resume in this order:

• Education and Awards
• Work and Leadership Experience
• Skills and Interests

You have the option to remove or add sections of your own, too. If a lot of your past is filled with volunteer work , you might decide to break that out into its own category titled “Volunteer Experience.” Or maybe you aren’t involved in clubs and don’t need an entire section on “Activities.” Go ahead and cut or condense if it feels natural or saves you from going on to another page—no one will hold it against you.

By the way, templates will be your best friend in getting organized. Check out some of our favorite Google Docs resume templates that you can copy and start personalizing instantly.

Step 3: Fill in Your Information

When you start adding jobs and activities to your resume, you’ll want to put them in reverse chronological order—most recent to least recent. If some happened at the same time, put the most relevant one first.

Wasserman adds that “if you are beyond your first year in college, I would recommend not including any high school information unless [it’s] very relevant to the internship position” and boosts your reputation as a hard worker. Your high school grades? Not as relevant. Your senior summer job as a retail salesperson? Might be.

Let’s break down what to write in each section:

Your Education

Besides the obvious—your school, your major, your degree, your graduation year, and your current GPA (note: if your GPA isn’t great, you may want to leave it off )—there are several other things you can add to your education, if you decide not to make them their own section.

Like, for example, your Dean’s list awards, or your study abroad program, or any other honors or honorable mentions you’ve received as a student. If you’re scraping the barrel for ideas, you could even add a bullet listing “Relevant Coursework,” where you provide the titles of classes you’ve taken or are taking that could be applicable to the internship. This is also a great option if you’re pursuing a role outside your major and want to highlight relevant skills.

Read More: How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume

Your Experience

“Having an experience section does not only mean ‘paid experience’—that is a common misconception among students,” says Wasserman. She explains that when you don’t have a lot of actual jobs to include, you can fill this section with anything from service opportunities to community or club involvement to independent studies. If you played a crucial role in an organization or initiative—maybe you had a leadership title or organized a bunch of events—that’s definitely worth including in this section versus in your activities section, because it’s more like a job than a hobby.

Don’t worry too much about how relevant your experience is—like I said earlier, paid jobs that are outside your dream field are almost always worth including, especially when applying for an internship. Whether you babysat for a professor, served drinks at a local bar, or swiped people into the library, just doing work for a paycheck shows work ethic, drive, and plenty of understanding of the working world and the soft skills needed to be successful.

Read More: How to Spin Typical College Side Jobs Into Legitimate Work Experiences on Your Resume

Your Activities

A lot of school clubs and outside activities make for great resume material, and just as many don’t. It all depends on what’s already on your resume up until this point, what exactly your role was in these activities and what you got from them, and the kinds of internships or industries you’re looking to break into.

If a club or activity was a major part of your college experience (but you weren’t a leader in it), it’s important to include in this section not just to showcase your personality but to show commitment. Same goes for activities where you made a big impact or earned some sort of award or recognition. For example, being a member of a singing group for four years in a row says a lot about you, your values, and how you spend your time. Spending one semester on the intramural frisbee team doesn’t.

Also consider adding in activities that could help you relate to the company or team. If you’re involved with the theater scene, and you’re applying to a role where the hiring manager is a graduate of your school and also did theater, keeping that fact on your resume could spark conversation when you go to interview .

Your Skills and Interests

When you’re still in school, this part of your resume probably won’t be all that long. That’s OK! The hiring manager merely wants to see if you bring any skills to the table that aren’t highlighted or clear in the rest of your resume.

Do you speak a second (or third) language? Did you teach yourself to code? Are you surprisingly good at a specific application? It’s important to be honest about what skills you’re actually proficient in and could contribute effectively to an internship—taking one semester of Spanish doesn’t exactly qualify you to talk to clients in Madrid.

I’m also a fan of including a short “Interests” or “Hobbies” section if you have room. This is the place where you list the things that aren’t job-related experiences (things like crafting, hiking, or reading) but tell the hiring manager more about you and your personality.

Read More: Every Question You Have About Putting Skills on Your Resume, Answered

Step 4: Put It All Together

What does all this look like? Take this sample resume for an internship and use it as an example for how you could write your own (or view it here ). Tina Ford, hypothetically, is a sophomore applying for internships at nonprofit organizations.

Step 5: Edit and Refine It

Now that you’ve dumped everything onto paper, it’s time to look it over and make sure it’s in tip-top shape. First, is it truly tailored to the internship you’re applying for? “Try to look at your resume through their eyes—what information will be most relevant to a hiring manager? What will convince them that you are the best qualified candidate to fill their position?” says Wasserman.

Make sure everything fits on one page —it’s cleaner and neater this way, and realistically, you’re not experienced enough to have a lengthy resume.

Finally, give it one last review to clean up any stray errors. Proofread, spell check, ask a friend to read it through. Because yes, spelling a company’s name wrong or including the incorrect phone number can affect how a hiring manager reads your resume (not to mention whether they can properly contact you).

At the end of the day, you’re just starting out in your career, and hiring managers know that—so they don’t expect your resume to be gleaming with accomplishments or robust skills. If yours is well-organized, shows initiative and work ethic, and demonstrates some sort of passion for your desired industry, you’ll easily convince an employer to bring you in for an interview.

“While resumes are important and they should be flawless and professional, they are just one piece of the equation when it comes to internship hiring,” adds Wasserman. “It is the person behind the resume that matters the most.”

How to write an internship resume (+ an example)

Your resume is an important part of securing your dream internship. See how to write an amazing internship resume with an example below.

How to write an internship resume (with an example)

Are you ready to bridge the gap between what you’ve learned in school and the real world? Do you want to learn new skills, build connections, and make your mark in your chosen industry? Internships serve as stepping stones during your professional journey and provide opportunities for personal and career growth.

Securing a great internship starts with a killer resume. Your professional resume is your ticket to the interview and your chance to impress potential employers from the get-go. That's why we've put together this helpful intern resume writing guide with six simple steps to help you create an internship resume that stands out.

From organizing your resume's structure to highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we'll even provide an example resume to guide and inspire you along the way.

Whether you're a college student eager to land your first internship or a recent graduate ready to make your mark, an effective internship resume is a game-changer. Let's jump right in and start crafting a resume that opens doors to exciting internship experiences.

How to write an internship resume in 6 steps

When it comes to internships, recruiters know that you might not have years of experience under your belt. But don't worry! The key is to highlight your potential, eagerness to learn, and genuine enthusiasm for the internship. Use each resume section to show how your qualifications and skills make you a valuable asset to the organization.

Step 1: Resume heading

Kick things off with a clear and professional header at the top of your resume, including all the essential contact information (full name, phone number, and email address). Ensure your email address sounds professional — avoid any wacky or unprofessional aliases — and consider adding a link to relevant social media accounts (like your LinkedIn profile).

Step 2: Objective or summary statement (optional)

A resume objective or resume summary statement gives hiring managers a sneak peek into your career goals by highlighting specific skills that make you perfect for the internship. Tailor this section to the internship you're after. Show them how your objectives align with the organization's goals.

Step 3: Education

The education section is your chance to show off your college or university experience. Tell them your major or area of study and consider including your GPA. Don't forget to mention any cool coursework that's relevant to the internship. If you're still in the process of getting your degree, give them a heads up on when you'll be crossing that graduation finish line.

Step 4: Work experience

In the experience section, include any internships, volunteer work (a great resume builder!), or any other relevant work history. Describe the tasks you handled and any achievements you rocked in each role. Focus on those transferable skills that make you a superstar — things like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and organization. Highlight how your previous professional experiences have set you up for success in this internship and contributed to your personal growth.

Step 5: Certifications/special projects/skills

This skills section showcases the professional certifications and specific soft skills (personal skills and abilities that can help in any job) or hard skills (technical or job-specific skills) that make you stand out from the crowd. Include any special projects or extracurricular activities that show your passion for the field, too. This is your chance to spotlight those unique skill sets and experiences that make you a true rockstar candidate.

Step 6: Awards & honors (optional)

If you've been lucky enough to receive any awards, honors, scholarships, or recognition for your academic or professional prowess, this is the perfect spot to showcase them. Highlighting your accomplishments shows your dedication and excellence and lets potential employers know you're a true go-getter.

Resume formatting tips

Let's talk about some other ways to make your internship resume shine. First off, keep it to a single page. Internships usually involve limited experience, so a concise resume works best. Be selective and focus on highlighting the most relevant information that showcases your qualifications.

When it comes to spacing, give your text some room to breathe. Leave enough white space between sections and paragraphs to make it visually appealing and easy to read. Break up the content using bullet points, headings, and subheadings to make it more organized and reader-friendly.

Stick to a legible font throughout your resume so it's easy on the eyes (aim for a font size of 10 or 11 points for the main content). You can make headings and section titles a bit larger (around 12 or 14 points) to create visual emphasis and hierarchy.

Margins matter, too! Ensure you have enough space on all sides of your resume. A margin size of 0.5 to 1 inch is standard and gives your resume a clean, professional look.

Lastly, don't forget to proofread for any grammar or spelling errors. A polished and error-free document shows your attention to detail and professionalism.

Following these tips to craft a well-organized, visually pleasing internship resume will make a memorable impression on potential employers and increase your chances of landing that dream internship.

You can also get help with formatting your resume by downloading our free internship resume template .

Internship resume example

Use this resume sample as a guide to create a resume that will dazzle hiring managers. Customize your resume based on the specific job description you are applying for.

[Your full name]

[City, state, ZIP code]

[Phone number]

[Email address]

[LinkedIn profile link]

Motivated and dedicated individual seeking an internship opportunity to gain practical experience and further develop skills in [specific field]. Committed to contributing to an organization’s success through a strong work ethic, adaptability, and a passion for learning.

Bachelor of [Degree], [Major]

[University Name], [City, State]

[Year of graduation]

Relevant coursework

• [Course 1]: [Course description]
• [Course 2]: [Course description]
• [Course 3]: [Course description]
• Technical skills: [List relevant technical skills (e.g., programming languages, software proficiency)]
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills demonstrated through [specific examples, such as presentations or publications]
• Problem-solving: Ability to analyze complex problems and develop innovative solutions
• Teamwork: Collaborative approach to working with diverse teams to achieve common goals
• Adaptability: Quick learner with the ability to thrive in fast-paced and changing environments
• Organization: Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines

Relevant work experience

[Company/Organization name], [Location]

[Position title], [Dates]

• [Responsibility 1]: [Describe your key responsibilities and achievements]
• [Responsibility 2]: [Describe your key responsibilities and achievements]

[Company/Organization Name], [Location]

[Position Title], [Dates]

[Project Name], [University/Company], [Dates]

• [Describe the project, your role, and the skills utilized or developed]
• [Highlight any notable achievements or outcomes]

Leadership and extracurricular activities

• [Describe your responsibilities and contributions]

Certifications

• [Certification 1]: [Certifying authority], [Year]
• [Certification 2]: [Certifying authority], [Year]

What about an internship cover letter?

When it comes to internship applications, a cover letter may not always be required (check the internship description for requirements) but it can make a world of difference. A carefully crafted cover letter has the power to make you shine amidst a sea of candidates and increase your chances of landing that coveted internship.

Read our tips for writing an internship cover letter , where we spill the secrets of how to write a killer cover letter that perfectly complements your resume and sets you up for success.

Which companies are hiring for internships on Handshake?

Land an amazing internship.

As you wrap up crafting your winning internship resume, remember that it's not just about the length or the formatting — it's also about showcasing your potential, passion, and unique qualities that make you a perfect fit for the internship. Tailor each section to align with the internship position and emphasize your relevant skills and experiences. With this resume as your tool, you're ready to make a lasting impression and land that dream internship.

Need help finding the perfect internship? Head over to Handshake , download our app, and create your profile. You’ll have access to the most opportunities of any job platform for students and new college grads, as well as tons of helpful advice and tips for launching your career.

Now go out there and get that internship!

Find the right jobs for you. Get hired.

Related stories, most recent stories.

How to Write an Internship Resume [w/ Examples]

Internship Resume Sample for 2024

Are you required to present your resume to secure an internship and have conflicted feelings about how your resume should look for such an internship?

Are you scared that you’d be over or under-qualified?

Do you fall into the above categories or more that hinder you from getting your resume to the appropriate places? Then this article is written especially for you.

Sample of Resume for an Internship Application

Writing resumes can be a very tricky affair because your resume is basically an introduction to your employer. So you can be rest assured that first impression matters. Prior to receiving your resume, the recruiter or employer has no knowledge of who you are or your previous achievements as grand as they might be, so always aim not to impress but to express.

The recruiter will probably be more interested in getting to know who you are as a person than the things you’ve achieved and there’s a very high probability that it is not a lot given that you’re applying for an internship anyway.

A recent study conducted shows that the average recruiter takes a look at a resume for no longer than six-seven seconds and will only look for any longer period of time if the six-second glance was worth it.

So kindly look inwards and try to come up with a way to establish a relationship between you and the recruiter in less than six seconds. You’re most probably wondering how on earth it’s possible to do that sort of thing. Well, it is and you’ll learn just how to do it right here. 

The first thing to do while writing that resume is to look at your previous experiences and check if you’ve done anything related in any way at all to the work you’re currently trying to apply for. 

If you’re applying for an internship at a digital marketing agency, then you should be looking out for any experience in a field such as social media management. Look for times where you have handled any social media account for any brand, even if it’s a personal one and turn it into a corporate experience.

While writing your resume for an internship, you can be rest assured that the recruiter or company does not expect you to have serious professional qualifications and your current qualifications are only expected to boost your academic or career goals, hence you can totally include all those skills you gained on your own and show willingness to gain more skills.

• It should perfectly highlight your strengths and be appropriately structured.
• There is absolutely no need for preambles so you should go straight to the point and make the position you’re applying for very obvious.
• Avoid errors and make your resume very easy to read.
• Above all, make sure that your resume isn’t more than one page .

Reiterating the above, the recruiter does not expect you to have tons of experience but that does not give you the permission to fill up your resume with generic information as it sends a very bad message to the recruiter about you.

Also, keep it in mind that your recruiters are looking for someone who has skills that are honed personally through practice and very willing to learn.

Skills such as; the ability to work under pressure and meet target deadlines, a very high level of creativity, impressive communication skills , hard work and exceptional leadership abilities.

It is very common while writing a resume for internships to see many students stressing or having a meltdown because of their GPA.

If you’re in that category, then you need to take a step back and desist from giving yourself a high blood pressure because, in actual fact, recruiters in most cases usually do not take the school GPA into cognizance or let it determine if you deserve to be recruited or not.

Although always make sure to include your academic qualifications as poor as they might be on your resume because for someone in your stage, you might not possess enough field experience and as I said before, even recruiters do not expect you to.

Recruiters are usually more interested in relevant work experiences so kindly focus more on that.

On your resume, there are basic things that should attack your recruiter first, and one of them is your ' Professional Summary ' which is where you tell your recruiter what you have got to offer in just a couple of sentences.

Always make sure that you do not turn in a resume without a professional summary as that’s the best way to let your employer know what you’re good for or at.

Your resume should be tailored to fit the position you’re applying for, as this gives the recruiter the idea that you’re already a nice fit for their company even long before you’re offered a position. 

You should also never forget to include all the awards and honors you’ve received as little as they might be, they go a long way in creating a lasting impression in the mind of your employer and give you an edge of credibility over other resumes.

 With all the above insights, you should be well on your way to securing that dream internship, without an atom of doubt that you can be absolutely sure of.

Related Resume Examples

• No Experience Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• High School Resume
• College Resume
• Students and Graduates Resume
• Teacher Resume

Suggested Readings:

• +150 Best Skills to Put on Your Resume
• How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship
• Strengths & Weaknesses for Job Interviews

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How to Write a Resume for an Internship (With Template)

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Forage puts students first. Our blog articles are written independently by our editorial team. They have not been paid for or sponsored by our partners. See our full  editorial guidelines .

Writing a stellar resume for an internship is one of the best ways to stand out during the application process. Yet what do you put in your experience section if you’ve never worked in a professional setting? What skills do you include? What do employers expect to see from a student who’s applying for an internship ? This guide will help you craft a stand-out resume for an internship, even if you have no experience. We’ll cover:

What Are Employers Looking for on an Internship Resume?

How to write a resume for an internship with no experience.

• Resume for an Internship Template

On a typical resume , employers look at your work experience to see what impact you’ve had at your past companies. But resumes for an internship are different — employers know that you’re a student and don’t expect you to have the same breadth of experience. So, what do they want to see?

Show You Can Deliver Results

“Transparently, recruitment is expensive, and companies want to hire people who are going to come in and be focused on driving results, not just sitting there taking up a seat and being a yes person,” Jeremy Grunfeld, director of student success at Forage, says. “Companies want genuine thinkers that will hit ambitious goals set for them.”

To show you’re a results-oriented person, ensure that your resume shows the results you’ve driven, whether that’s an academic project, volunteer experience, extracurricular, or independent project. 

>>MORE: No Internship? Here Are 9 Ways to Get Work Experience This Summer

“You can blow recruiters away and prove your results focus by ensuring that each of your bullet points (particularly in your work experience section) covers the following: what you did, how you did it, and what impact it had (including a metric),” Grunfeld says.

Show You Can Learn New Skills

Recruiters also want to know that you’re competent at learning new skills, Grunfeld says. “Remember, you’re still a student. You’re not expected to know everything — you’re expected to want to learn.”

So, how can you show you’re good at learning new skills and have a growth mindset ? First, prioritize your academic work and independent learning on your resume. Include an education section, your GPA, awards and scholarships, independent projects, and outside coursework, such as Forage job simulations .

Write to the Job Description

Finally, employers are looking for resumes showing that applicants have the skills and experience they want. Before starting your resume for an internship, carefully read the internship description to identify what the employer is looking for from candidates.

Typically, the company will include this information in the internship description’s “requirements” or “responsibilities” section. Sometimes, an employer will list out specific skills, like programming languages or years of experience. Otherwise, a company might say it’s looking for a “team player” or “numbers whiz,” and you’ll have to do a little interpreting to get at what it’s looking for (hint: a good collaborator and someone with math skills). 

Now that you know the three main things employers are looking for on a resume for an internship — results, the ability to learn new skills, and qualifications — how should you start writing your resume?

Forage Resume Writing Masterclass

Learn how to craft a resume that will wow employers from start to finish.

Avg. Time: 5-6 hours

Skills you’ll build: Resume writing; identifying job titles, transferable skills, and industry keywords; professional brand

Start With Your Contact Information

The top of your resume is the place to list your most important contact information, including:

• Phone number
• Email address
• City and state (no need for full address)

You can also include a link to your website, online portfolio , or any other site demonstrating your work (if you have one — it’s not required!).

Include Your Education

Next, you’ll include where you go to school, your major, your expected graduation date, and your GPA on your resume .

“The most frequent thing that students fail to include on their resume is their GPA,” Grunfeld says. “It’s vitally important. As a rule of thumb, if a resume doesn’t contain a GPA, the recruiter will assume the GPA has been excluded because it isn’t strong. Recruiters will assume the GPA is less than 3.0. If your GPA is higher than 3.0 and isn’t on your resume, you’re doing yourself a massive disservice.”

You can include relevant course names for your major and the internship you’re applying to. For example, if you’re applying for a software engineering internship, include your advanced programming courses. If you’ve made the Dean’s List, won any academic award, or studied abroad, you can include that in this section, too. 

Take Stock of Your Experience

Next, consider all relevant experiences you can include on your resume. As long as you don’t title this section “Professional Experience,” this doesn’t need to be formal work experience. 

Consider including:

• Research: Academic work you’ve done for a professor, either for payment or academic credit
• Extracurriculars: Including sports teams, clubs, arts organizations, and academic societies
• Part-time work: Even if it seems unrelated to what you’re applying for, you may have transferable skills (for example, customer service skills from working at an ice cream shop)
• Volunteering: Including community service or work you’ve done to benefit an organization without pay

On your resume, include these experiences with your position, the name of the organization or employer, and the month(s) when you completed the experience. 

Quantify That Experience

Once you’ve written down all of these relevant experiences, you can narrow it down to 2-3 experiences that are relevant to the internship you’re applying for. Next, consider your role in each of them and the results you led to. Ask yourself:

• What responsibilities did I have? What tasks did I have to do?
• What did I do to fulfill those responsibilities or complete those tasks?
• What skills did I use? 
• Who did I work with? 
• What happened after I fulfilled those responsibilities or completed those tasks? What were the results of my action?  
• What did I learn from this experience? 

Asking these questions can help you quantify your experiences, giving you results-driven summaries to add to your “experience” job descriptions.

For example, you might write something like:

• Managed three students’ overlapping schedules to organize and complete a group project one week ahead of schedule
• Created targeted outreach email campaigns to raise over $1,000 in one month for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Designed four new posters for a student theater organization to increase audience attendance by 20%
• Reduced bug frequency by 30% by programming a testing system to identify bugs before software production 

Organize Your Skills

Now that you’ve gone through your experiences, it’s time to figure out what skills you have. 

Hard Skills

Hard skills are the quantifiable skills you’ve learned, including technical, analytical , and computer skills.

First, think about what you’ve learned in your classes. What skills have your teachers taught you or graded you on? For example, did you learn programming skills in a software engineering course? Writing skills in an English class? Data analysis in an analytics course? Conversational Spanish in an introductory class? 

You can list hard skills in a “skills” section of your resume , then provide examples of how you applied them in your experience descriptions.

Soft Skills

Soft skills are skills that describe how we work and interact with others in the workplace, like conflict resolution , adaptability , and verbal communication .

According to ZipRecruiter co-founder Ian Siegel, 93% of employers say soft skills are critical when they decide who to hire. Therefore, it’s crucial to include these skills on your resume. Unlike hard skills, you don’t necessarily put these in your “skills” section, but rather these should be infused into your experience descriptions. 

Putting Skills Into Your Experience Descriptions

The best way to demonstrate how you applied your skills is to put them in your experience section. 

You don’t always need to explicitly name the skill to show how you used it, but it should be clear what impact those skills had on the experience. So, for example, instead of saying, “I used leadership skills in a writing workshop,” you could say, “I led the workshop on X to train 30 new writing mentors in the process.” The second statement still shows leadership skills and demonstrates the impact of your skills.

If we take the examples from above:

• Managed three students’ overlapping schedules to organize and complete a group project one week ahead of schedule → demonstrates time management skills
• Created targeted outreach email campaigns to raise over $1,000 in one month for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society → demonstrates email writing skills
• Designed four new posters using Canva for student theater organization to increase audience attendance by 20% → demonstrates graphic design skills
• Reduced bug frequency by 30% by programming a testing system to identify bugs before software production → demonstrates programming skills  

Include Projects and Courses

Resumes for an internship often include projects and courses to give the employer a better idea of how you’ve gained skills outside of the classroom and other non-work experiences. 

For example, you may have a blog, graphic design side hustle, or an independent coding project. Maybe you’ve completed a Forage job simulation and learned valuable workplace skills.

In this section, you’ll list the name of the project or course, then put bullets of the skills you gained or what you did underneath.

• Skip the photo: It takes up valuable space on your resume.
• Submit the correct file type: “Always submit in PDF,” Grunfeld advises. “When you submit a ‘document,’ your formatting usually gets screwed and recruiters generally aren’t forgiving. They close the resume, hit reject, and move on to the next applicant. Brutal.”
• Check your spelling and grammar: Don’t be afraid to use tools like Grammarly or ask a friend to proofread.  
• Use a simple font: Pick a font that’s clear and easy to read, especially on a computer. (Learn the best font for a resume .) 
• Keep it to a page: There’s no need to go over a page, especially for a resume for an internship when you have fewer years of experience.
• Match the aesthetic to the employer: When applying to a traditional company, like for an investment banking internship, keep your resume simple; if you’re applying to a more creative marketing company, you can add more style and color.
• Use ChatGPT as a resume guide , not a final draft: The chatbot can give you a good basic resume template, but you’ll need to customize and review it before submitting it.
• Share your interests: While it’s not required, some interns include a few of their interests at the bottom of their resume under a “skills and interests” section. Including interests can show a bit of your personality and help make a connection with the hiring manager . 

>>MORE: Find out what career is the best fit for your personality with a personality career quiz .

Resume for Internship: Template

View and download a free resume template that will help you stand out to the hiring manager.

Writing a Resume for an Internship: The Bottom Line

A resume for an internship differs from a typical one because you don’t have the same work experience as professionals, but employers aren’t looking for that experience. Instead, they’re looking for someone qualified for the role who’s results-driven and learns quickly. On your resume, quantify what you’ve worked on — even if it’s not a professional experience — and demonstrate the skills you’ve learned and how you’ve applied them. 

Finally, Grunfeld recommends only putting things on your resume that you’re genuinely proud of. 

“The content must highlight your best assets,” he says. “It isn’t a comprehensive record of everything you’ve ever done. If you don’t want to talk about it in an interview, don’t put it on the resume. ​​Your resume is a marketing document — it is marketing you.”

Looking for an internship? Learn everything you need to know to find and land one:

• How to Find Internships That’ll Jumpstart Your Career
• How to Ask for an Internship (Email Examples)
• How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship
• 25 Common Internship Interview Questions
• Ultimate Guide to Internship Application Deadlines and Open Dates

Image credit: Canva

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Internship resume example & writing guide

PR internship

Advertising internship , include your contact information.

If you’re thinking about an internship, that already says you’re a go-getter. Whether you’re in high school or college, an internship is a great way to give you a leg up in your choice of profession. But to get an internship, you need to make an approach like a seasoned pro, and that starts with an excellent internship resume.To get an internship, you need to make an approach like a seasoned pro, and that starts with an excellent internship resume. You’ve already taken the first step by thinking about an internship, because that says you’re a go-getter eager to begin a career. 

Whether you’re in high school or college, an internship is a great way to give you a leg up in your choice of profession. It all begins with impressing the recruiter enough to get an interview. 

How? With a resume that clearly states who you are and the foundation skills you want to build on.

Resume.io is here to help with job-winning resources for success. That includes more than 500 occupation-specific writing guides and corresponding resume examples , plus field-tested templates and builder tools to help you create both resumes and cover letters.

A 2019 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that college graduates who had completed an internship received more job offers than those who had not.

Securing an internship, just like getting a job, requires a focused search. And snagging that internship can lead you to the first job of your dreams. It all starts with the process of developing your resume, planning what to include and how best to present it. 

This resume writing guide, along with sample resume sentences specifically for internship candidates, will set your candidacy apart from the pack. You'll learn how to:

• Create an engaging, easy-to-read resume that highlights the qualities you'll need to succeed in an internship
• Choose the best resume format for an intern
• Optimize each resume section with customized content reflecting your background and goals: summary, education, experience and skills
• Follow layout, design and formatting tips for eye-catching impact, readability and technical compatibility.
• Capitalize on the experience you already have to get you in the door with an internship at the best companies .

How to write an internship resume

Although you are still in school, you have the material to create a strong resume that will plant you firmly on your career path. Resume formats contain standard sections, but they also contain some that are optional, depending on the career you seek and your achievements and skills.

Let’s take a look at which resume sections are musts when it comes to an internship.

• The r esume header (or your contact information)
• The resume summary (also known as the profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The skills section
• The education section

• Remember your summary will be seen first, so let your uniqueness shine through.
• Think carefully about the order of your sections. Place priority on those that best match the skills the internship requires.
• Choose a clean, professional design that ensures your resume won’t be ignored.
• Try to cram every job, class and skill into your resume.
• Ignore the specifics of the job requirements.
• Write overly long descriptions for every entry.

Now, let’s focus on optional resume information you should consider that will showcase your talents. All of this data shows the internship coordinator that you will add value to the program.

• Languages : If you speak more than one language , that can be a big advantage. Many companies are multinational and can use employees who can communicate with others around the globe.  
• Extracurricular activities : Carefully consider whether you can point to an achievement in these activities , or link it to a skill your potential employer would appreciate in an internship candidate.
• Hobbies : This section can add a little personality to your resume, but it can seem as though you are merely trying to fill space. If your hobby is related to your chosen field, consider adding that information in the skills section of your resume.

If you want the internship coordinator to see your resume, your first hurdle is passing the test of the applicant tracking systems (ATS). These computerized systems scan your resume for keywords employers have highlighted as most important. Because of the ease of applying for jobs and internships by simply uploading your resume, companies have found ways to narrow the applicant pool. 

Most companies of large or medium size use ATS as a first line of defense in the hiring process, even for internships. You must make it past ATS if you want an actual human recruiter to see your internship resume. ATS software uses an algorithm to give your resume a score and rank it compared to other internship applicants. 

Make sure to use keywords that you find by analyzing the job description. Use them liberally (though make sure you don’t start sounding like a robot yourself). Most keywords will be directly related to a “ hard skill ,” which is a specific quantifiable skill such as accounting, that is necessary for a job or internship. And remember to use technology to your advantage by grammar- and spell-checking your resume. There's no excuse for typos – even as an internship candidate.

According to Capterra data, more than 75% of large corporate employers use ATS. Some other sources indicate even higher percentages (of up to 90%). The industries that turn to this software most frequently are: health care, education, technical services, scientific services, retail manufacturing and professional services.

Choosing the right resume format for an intern

In cases where specialized knowledge and skills are just as important as where you have worked until now — if not more so — a functional resume may be your best bet. It offers greater flexibility to emphasize your most relevant strengths up front in a section labelled “Experience.” 

The most commonly used chronological resume format is designed as a straightforward way for job candidates to organize their experience and qualifications below employer headings and dates, in order from most recent to earliest. But for an internship job application, a different resume format may be more suitable, depending on the nature and relative importance of your employment history. 

A hybrid, or combination, resume format offers even more versatility. Job seekers can integrate chronological and functional elements in the most applicable manner, and perhaps even put their education section higher up on the page. 

Like every consideration when preparing your resume, the format you choose should depend on the type of job and industry, and how best to present yourself as an ideal match. Also take into account what we touched on earlier regarding optional resume information you may wish to include, and the order you choose to arrange resume sections.

Our resume builder provides many options for each format. You can see what completed designs look like in our resume examples.

For more ideas and inspiration, check out these writing guides and resume examples from the related education category:

• Early Childhood Educator
• College Student 
• High School Student 
• Academic Librarian
• Health Educator 
• ESL Teacher 
• Teacher Assistant 
• Substitute Teacher 
• Middle School Teacher 
• Elementary School Teacher 
• College Professor
• High School Teacher  
• Academic Tutor 
• College Admissions 

A distinctive resume header can visually set yourself apart from other intern candidates. It enhances the reader-friendliness of your document while also readily identifying who it belongs to. It also displays your contact information prominently so recruiters can readily get in touch to arrange an interview.

Here’s what to include:

• Full name & title. List your first and last name and avoid nicknames. Use the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like [email protected] . Don’t use the quirky, unprofessional email address you set up to give your friends a laugh.
• Phone number . List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting.
• Location . List only your city and state. Don’t list street address or zip code. It’s both outdated and unsafe. Note 'Willing to Relocate' here if applicable.
• Portfolio . If you are a coder, web designer, artist, or any other professional with tangible work, showcase your talents with a portfolio you can link to in your internship resume.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth : Not necessary.
• Personal details : Marital status, social security number, etc.
• Personal social media : Your adolescent antics will not help you present a professional image.

Tony Sanders

[email protected]

(425) 807-3212

Bellevue, WA

22 Snowdrop Circle

Bellevue, WA 98008

Make use of a summary

Your summary is the perfect opportunity to show you have the right combination of knowledge, drive and personality to succeed in the internship. Your resume may look similar to many other internship applicants, but the message in your summary is unique to you. 

This is your chance to get a little creative and give potential employers insight into who you are and why you’re the best candidate for the internship. This isn’t easy; you have two or three sentences to differentiate yourself and show your knowledge of your chosen field, but never fear, the following strategies will get you there.

Also known as a profile or personal statement , your summary allows your resume to stand out from the crowd of other internship candidates. The top of your resume is prime real estate. Here’s how to grab recruiters’ attention:

• Research the key qualities necessary for your chosen internship and career. Craft your first sentence to illustrate how you embody those qualities.
• Analyze the internship job description. Once you have a firm grasp of exactly what skills the employer wants, use this resume section to explain your expertise or positive qualities using action verbs.
• Use action verbs that tell what you have done or are able to accomplish. Here are a few examples: coordinated, envisioned, launched, diagnosed.
• Show your grit. Talk about a success you’ve had or a problem you solved. This shows you understand what it means to apply yourself to a job. Alternatively, discuss in a sentence a position you have held — even if it’s not directly related to your field. This shows employers that you are a responsible internship candidate and can handle a challenging work environment.

OK, so now you know what a resume profile is, but what does one look like for an internship candidate with little or no experience in the field? Check out the sample below for an example of how to write your own resume summary.

Hardworking and enthusiastic college student working towards a B.S. in Marketing. Seeking to use my superior knowledge of social media marketing and my advanced communication skills to effectively serve your company in an internship position. Dedicated and committed to becoming a dependable and valuable team member.

Outline your work history: you’ve got more than you realize

Experience means more than just jobs in your field. You can describe work that points out your relevant skills. Don’t forget those resume keywords! The focus of your life so far has been your education. 

As you make the leap into the workforce, this resume section will fill out. In fact, although it is hard to believe now, one day you will be trying to pare this down instead of beef it up. But even as an intern, you probably have more experience than you realize. Recruiters looking to hire you for an internship understand that you will not have vast experience. They do want to know, however, that you are responsible, serious about your work, and have interpersonal or technical skills.

Here are some sample experience categories you may want to list on your resume for an internship:

• A previous internship, even if it’s not in the same field as the one you are seeking.
• High school / summer jobs you have had, whether babysitting, retail, or working at a fast food restaurant, tell an employer something about yourself as a worker. Describe the skills you used, the duties you performed or a problem you solved.
• Volunteer work , even if it was required by your high school for graduation. If you used skills relevant to your career, list them on your resume.
• Personal projects such as: a blog that highlights your thinking or writing; a programming challenge or hackathon; an amateur theater project; or a website you developed with friends. These are perfect ways to show alternative experience on an internship resume.

One important thing to remember: DO NOT fluff up this section in an attempt to fill space on your resume. Human resources professionals and recruiters can easily spot drastic exaggerations or overplayed achievements. 

Review your contact info. If you have email addresses or messenger tags that were created back in high school and look unprofessional, create new ones, specifically for resume or professional purposes. Survey data shows that 35% of employers have a problem with unprofessional email addresses. A good bet is to get an email address with your first name (or initial) and last name.

Below is a resume employment history example for an intern.

Sales Associate, Gary's Department Store, Bellevue  Sep 2018 - May 2021

• Maintained positive consumer relationships.
• Provided excellent customer assistance at all times.
• Ensured all communications were consistent with the store brand.
• Used superior information technology skills on a daily basis.

Office Assistant, The Harkins Group, Seattle Jun 2017 - Aug 2018

• Worked to increase office productivity by maintaining an organized environment.
• Used advanced software programs and helped to maintain strong communication among colleagues.
• Maintained the office schedule and prioritized tasks.
• Effectively used my management skills to complete all front desk operations in a timely manner.

Assistant Dog Trainer, Gracelane Kennels, Norwalk Nov 2016 - May 2017

• Helped dogs to assimilate in their new environments.
• Maintained a proper environment, conducive to the health and happiness of each and every dog.
• Cared for each dog, ensuring proper medications and procedures were administered.
• Prepared new kennels for incoming dogs and thoroughly cleaned vacant kennels.

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great intern candidate

You will tailor this section to the internship you want. Each employer wants something a little different, so make sure your resume reflects that. As a student, you are just beginning to develop hard skills, so soft skills will play a large role.

Make a list of all the skills you have. Put them down even if they seem irrelevant. This will be your master list and brainstorming it will give you a baseline from which to choose the most important qualities as you adjust your resume for each internship application.

Some skills require explanation. Saying you’re a good communicator is not very informative. Instead, give an example on your resume of a time you had to communicate and the result of the communication. A 2017 study of employers found that the top skills they look for in interns are:

• Information processing
• Planning/prioritizing
• Decision-making/problem-solving
• Verbal communication

If you are struggling to develop this section, consider placing it below the education section, where you may be able to showcase your industry knowledge and skills more readily. Analyze each internship description. Choose the top five to 10 skills listed to personalize your resume, and include a blend of hard and soft skills . Use exact words from the description to help you get past the ATS.

According to Glassdoor, 250 people apply to the average job listing . Make sure to use every advantage possible to outpace the competition. This includes honing your skills, summary and every other resume section, as well as making sure the design of your resume is clean and visually appealing. 

Check out an internship resume sample for the skills section below.

• Interpersonal Communication Skills
• Excellent Work Ethic
• Advanced Technology Skills
• Teamwork Skills
• Honesty and Integrity
• Motivated Attitude

Detail your education

Classes in your chosen field have already given you both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. In this section of your intern resume, you have the opportunity to explain how your education up to this point makes you a great candidate for an internship. 

College classes in your major are the perfect preparation for internships. Look through your course descriptions and syllabi for examples of transferable lessons or skills. Then, highlight keywords and projects you have completed that are directly related to the internship you seek. Your academics are your current career, so treat them as such. Analyze the internship description for skills and highlight keywords you will strive to include on your resume.

Focus on tangible results of your education 

Here are two tips for enhancing the education content of your internship resume by describing, including a sample sentence you can adapt.

• Say this: “Wrote research paper that involved surveying 50 students and analyzing data to test my hypothesis that too much outside work drives down student grades.”
• Instead of: “Did a research project on how work affects student grades.”
• Use specific language and spell out acronyms the first time you use them. For example, remember that ATS may be searching for the words “search engine optimization” and not the acronym SEO.

Here’s a basic education example you can use as a starting point for your internship resume.

University of Washington, Seattle   Aug 2017  Bachelor of Marketing - Passionately pursuing a marketing degree, while working to enhance my skill set and industry experience.   Franklin Academy, Bellevue  Sep 2013 - Jun 2017  High School Diploma - Earned my high school diploma and graduated at the top of my class.  - Worked to maintain my Honor Society membership for all four years.

Pick the right resume layout and design for an internship resume

Some internship candidates believe that employers will overlook a poorly designed and formatted resume document from applicants with little or no professional experience. This is usually not the case. In fact, a well-designed resume can actually put you miles ahead of others seeking the same position. 

When it comes to layout, design and formatting choices, you’ll want to keep your resume looking clean and simple, without sacrificing visual appeal. After putting time and effort into crafting your resume text, it's important to ensure the document is easy to read. 

Here are some tips for creating a CV layout and formatting that's artistic, yet legible and inviting to read. 

• Try the quadrant test to make sure the text is well-balanced. Split your resume into four quadrants, by dividing it horizontally and vertically. Text should be almost evenly spread among the quadrants (more important sections can be a bit larger).
• Separate text. Instead of putting your title, dates of employment, and employer’s name one right after the other, divide them into columns on your resume.
• Choose fonts wisely. Use boldface, type size, and fonts to draw recruiters’ eyes to the most important information on the resume.
• Use color sparingly. A splash of color is fine, but too much is distracting and looks unprofessional.

Resume.io's field-tested resume templates can make it easier to quickly create a job-winning CV. Choose one from our four resume design categories — modern , professional , simple , or creative . Or, personalize the internship resume example at the top of this guide.

But before you settle on a template, make sure to consider what the presentation says about you as a candidate. Is the internship for a serious company in a traditional field with a formal image? Or do you think your potential employer would appreciate a more modern, resume with youthful appeal?

According to Purdue Owl, HR personnel take at most 35 seconds for a first look at a resume. Make the most of that time. 

Key takeaways for building an internship resume

To create an impressive showcase for your talents, think carefully about the order of your resume sections and put your most impressive ones first; highlight your outstanding classwork and achievements; and tailor your skills to each internship and give examples for vague skills like “great communication.”

Save yourself time and take the margin of error out of your resume creation with the resume.io builder tool and expertly designed resume templates.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

Internship Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples

How To Write an Internship Resume

• Resume Text Examples

Internship experience can be crucial to getting your first job after graduation. The most effective way to land the perfect internship is to write a resume that includes your related work experience, schooling, and any other relevant life experiences you may have had so far.

Regardless of your career direction, you can write an effective resume for internships by showing your ability to quickly gain and use new knowledge in a real-world setting. The tips and examples below will help you capture this skill on your resume so it gets you interviews for a great internship opportunity.

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

1. Summarize your internship qualifications in a dynamic profile

Your resume profile should catch hiring managers’ interest by giving the top reasons they can expect you to apply your college studies successfully. Use this section to show you have the knowledge base and work ethic to excel as an intern.

If you have a high major GPA or other academic honors, consider mentioning those in your profile. Also, note any relevant work or internship experience you already have, which can help you stand out from other applicants. The best interns are often curious, resourceful, collaborative, and adaptable. Think about which traits describe you, then add a profile line on how you’d use them in a work environment.

Profile Example

Dedicated accounting student with a 4.0 GPA to date. Completed 32 credit hours, including classes in auditing, cost accounting, and managerial accounting. Recent work experience in small business bookkeeping. Well-versed in accounting software such as QuickBooks and ProSeries. Naturally curious and eager to learn new finance systems and procedures.

2. Add a compelling section featuring your internship experience

With the experience section, you can show you’re a good intern candidate by giving examples of your success in building and using new work knowledge. If you have prior internship or related work experience, flesh out those descriptions so they’re the main focus of this section. Under each job, brainstorm and describe how you quickly learned new concepts and generated value in an unfamiliar environment.

For any jobs you’ve held that don’t pertain to your target internship, keep the description short and focused on whatever transferable skills you gained. Say you’re applying to intern at a financial services firm, but your work experience so far is mostly summer jobs at coffee shops and restaurants. In this case, you could show the value of these experiences by describing the general customer relations skills you gained as a result.

Work Experience Example

Administrative Intern, Tax Prep LLC, Detroit, MI | May 2021 to September 2021

• Gained and applied strong service skills such as answering phones, greeting clients, and preparing for client meetings
• Replied to new client emails with information on the firm’s services and price schedules
• Received, scanned, and cataloged clients’ tax records
• Supported tax preparation by entering client data and organizing written communications

3. Include your internship-related education and certifications

When you’re in school and pursuing an internship, your current degree program may be one of your top qualifications. So feel free to add any details about it that speak to your ideal internship. Consider listing any relevant courses or topics you’ve studied so far – this is often a great way to show hiring managers the knowledge base you’d apply in their internship program.

Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details. Note that optional template areas appear in [brackets].

Candidate: Degree Title [— Major, Minor], [Academic Department,] School Name,City, ST or online | expected graduation date

• [Dean’s list or other honors] | [#.# GPA] | [class rank]
• [Dissertation: “Name of Dissertation Paper”]
• [Relevant coursework includes: Topic, Topic, Topic]
• [Club or Sports Team]

Candidate: Bachelor of Science (BS) – Accounting, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | expected May 2023 | 4.0 GPA to date

Relevant coursework includes:

• Accounting and economic principles
• Audit and assurance
• Business law
• Corporate finance
• Cost and managerial accounting

Certification

• Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [date]
• Service Excellence Certificate, VCU Advanced Solutions | 2023

4. List your internship-related skills and proficiencies

Include a “Key Skills” section to show managers the various ways you could add value as an intern at their organization. These might range from general soft skills like teamwork to hard technical skills like Microsoft Excel. Make sure each one overlaps with your target role. By having a good mix of relevant skills in this section, you can emphasize your ability to build and harness new practical knowledge. Below are some common skills and keywords to consider for your internship resume:

How To Pick the Best Internship Resume Template

For internships, a clear and straightforward resume template is usually best. Opt for a visual design that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font , and avoid any template with an overly colorful or elaborate design. Also, consider whether the template is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) employers use to screen resumes.

Internship Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

John Bergsen  Detroit, MI 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/example

• Accounting principles
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Client relations
• Data gathering and entry
• Financial statements analysis
• General ledger
• Workflow documentation
• Writing and editing

Work Experience

Bookkeeper, Small Accounting Corp, Detroit, MI | May 2022 to September 2022

• Made journal entries corresponding with revenue and expenses
• Tracked accounts payable and receivable to support billing for general company expenses
• Supported monthly close by closing out accounts, reconciling entries, and running financial statements
• Prepared client and supplier invoices
• Worked with treasury to manage cash flows and bank account balances

Skyler Thompson  Minneapolis, MN 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/example

Writing and editing professional with strong recent academic and work experience. Currently completing Bachelor’s Degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.

• Customer service and relations
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Office administration
• Research and fact-checking
• Team collaboration
• Writing, editing and proofreading

Candidate: Bachelor of Arts (BA) – English, Creative Writing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis | expected May 2023

• Children’s fiction
• Fiction workshopping
• Poetry and drama
• Prose and nonfiction
• Short story writing

Honors and activities

Winner, University of Minnesota Campus Award for Long-Form Fiction | 2022

Runner-up, University of Minnesota Campus Award for Excellence in Poetry | 2021

Staff Writer, UMinn News [biweekly college newspaper] | 2021 to present

• Provide copy for various sections, including arts, athletics, and opinion
• Work with photo editors to determine placement with accompanying text

Receptionist, Regional Floral Magazine, Minneapolis, MN | December 2020 to August 2022

• Managed magazine’s main email account, responding to feedback and providing subscription information as needed
• Answered and forwarded calls to the appropriate department
• Maintained and updated subscription rolls
• Organized meetings and verified sources for reporters

Pizza Delivery Driver, Little Caesars, Minneapolis, MN | June 2019 to May 2020

• Member of a high-performing 10-person team
• Praised by manager for working with other drivers and team members to ensure the utmost efficiency and accuracy
• Gained and demonstrated strong organizational skills combining food deliveries based on customer location

Fluency in Spanish | Proficiency in Italian

Mina Sayed  New York, NY 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/example

Motivated student currently completing Bachelor’s degree with honors in Hospitality Management. Strong recent hospitality experience serving customers and training new hires at a large popular hotel. Adapt readily to new work challenges and industry conditions. Bilingual: Fluent in English and French.

• Data entry and updating
• Hospitality operations
• Inventory monitoring
• Reporting and documentation

Front Desk Clerk, Worldwide Hotels, New York, NY | January 2019 to May 2022

• Provided prompt, courteous service while helping guests check in and out of the hotel
• Answered calls and provided information on hotel pricing, services, amenities, and room availability
• Entered guest bookings into the tracking system based on email and phone registrations
• Made guests’ reservations at local tours, restaurants, museums, and movie theaters
• Offered directions and called taxis for on-site visitors as needed

Highlights:

• Ranked No. 3 on a 10-person team for efficient, error-free guest reservations
• Took on leadership role, helping train and mentor new hires

Candidate: Bachelor of Science (BS) – Hospitality Management, XYZ University, New York, NY | expected May 2023

• Dean’s list all semesters, with a 3.9 major GPA and 3.8 combined GPA to date
• Captain, Volleyball Team

Fluency in French

Frequently Asked Questions: Internship Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for internship resumes -.

For internship candidates, the best resume verbs will show how you’ve quickly built and applied new knowledge – for example, “developed,” “gained,” or “implemented.” But there are various others you might use to describe your school and work experiences so far. The following list can help you find the right mix of action verbs for your internship resume:

How do you align your resume with a job posting? -

A quick and effective way to align your resume with each posting is through the Key Skills section. For any internship you’re drawn to, follow these steps:

1. Identify the most important skills required. These often appear toward the top of the job post and/or are cited repeatedly. Consider using an online tool like wordclouds.com to visualize which terms in the text are most frequent.

2. Among these required skills, highlight any you possess. For example, if one of the posting’s top skills is “teamwork,” consider how collaborative your experiences have or haven’t been, then highlight it if you feel it’s a strength you’ve gained.

3. Compare the skills you’ve highlighted to your resume’s Key Skills section and add any that are missing. Continuing the above example, say you’ve identified teamwork as one of your strengths. Is this reflected in your existing Key Skills section? If not, add a term like “Team collaboration” or “Cross-functional coordination.”

4. Finally, consider deleting any terms in your resume’s Key Skills section that don’t correspond with the skills cited in the internship posting.

This simple exercise gives each hiring manager a clear view of your relevant skill set, making your resume more relevant to the internship.

What is the best internship resume format? -

In nearly all cases, use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience. It’s also easiest for you to modify based on your job goals.

With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your experience or work history section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a profile summary and Key Skills section, but you may also add a career highlights or awards section.

Craft your perfect resume in minutes

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To increase your chances of an interview, write and submit a strong cover letter. The key to an effective letter is customizing it based on each internship opening. Read our internship cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our high school and recent graduate cover letter guides.

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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• Tips on Writing the Education Section of Your Resume Learn More

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• Resignation Letter Examples Learn More

How to write a resume for an internship [with examples]

If you're wondering how to write a resume for an internship with no experience, you've come to the right place.

An internship is a great way to gain valuable work experience. Even if an internship pays poorly (or not at all!), it can help you gain the contacts, knowledge, and references you need to land your dream job.

Good internships are highly competitive, so you need an excellent internship resume to stand out from the crowd.

This guide will discuss:

• How to write a resume for an internship
• Which resume sections you need on an internship resume
• How to use a resume template to format your resume
• Helpful tips for writing a great internship resume
• What is an internship resume?

An internship resume is a resume that focuses on education and skills and is highly customized for an internship context. It is an important part of applying for an internship.

Because most people do internships early in their career, they often don’t have work experience to list in their resume. You might be a student or recent graduate, and this internship might be your first step into the workforce. As you write your internship resume, it’s important to showcase your most important skills and academic accomplishments.

To do this, you might include sections for education, volunteering experience, extracurricular activities, skills, and academic awards. Anything that makes you look like an impressive candidate will look good on an internship resume.

• Internship resume sections

An impactful internship resume should have the sections:

• Contact information : The first section that contains your name and contact details
• Summary : A short introductory paragraph that summarizes your qualifications as an internship candidate
• Education : A list of your degrees and academic achievements
• Skills : A list of the skills and competencies you possess
• Work experience : A list of your work history and related accomplishments

For many internship applicants, those sections will be enough. If you have more accomplishments you would like to showcase, however, you can also include sections such as:

• Volunteering experience
• Awards and honours
• Research experience
• Publications
• How to write a resume for an internship: a step-by-step guide

Hiring managers know that most internship candidates don’t have much work experience, but they’ll still be looking for a great resume. To get past the initial resume screen, make sure your resume is well-formatted and easy to read. To write a great internship resume:

#1. Pick the right resume format

Most job-seekers use a reverse-chronological resume format. In this format, the Work History section is written in reverse-chronological order, beginning with the most recent position and working backwards.

As you may not have many previous positions to list, you may want to use the combination resume format instead. With this format, you still list your previous jobs in order, but make your skills or academic achievements the focus of the resume, rather than your work experience. This way, you can be sure to emphasize the right qualifications.

Consider your experience and your skills when you pick which format will work for you.

#2. Choose an excellent internship resume template

The right resume template will give you an important head start on a great-looking resume.

The specific template you choose will depend on the company and industry of your internship. If you are applying at a law firm, for example, you may want to use a traditional template, such as VisualCV’s ATS . If you are interning in a more creative field, like art or design, you may want to try a more modern template, like VisualCV’s Rainier .

In any case, it’s important that your template is clearly organized and easy to read.

If you decide to design your own resume instead of using a template, be sure to follow these rules of thumb:

• Choose a font between 10pt and 12pt
• Keep line spacing between 1.0 and 1.15
• Choose a neutral, professional font
• Make section headings between 14pt and 16pt
• Use bullet points when writing job descriptions

#3. Provide your contact information

Begin your resume with your contact information. This information has to be easy to find, so anyone reading your resume knows exactly how to contact you. For your internship resume, your contact information must include:

• Phone number
• Email address

If you have a professional social media account, an online student profile, or an online portfolio, you may want to include a link in your contact information as well

Social media like LinkedIn, GitHub, or even Twitter and Instagram can all be included, as long as all of your online behaviour is appropriate and professional.

#4. Write a brief summary

On a resume, a summary is a short paragraph or bulleted list summarizing your key qualifications for a position. It is your elevator pitch to an employer, and it may list core skills, academic achievements, or previous positions that make you a great candidate. The Summary section should appear near the top of your resume.

Before writing your summary for an internship resume, you should read the job posting carefully. Pick out key requirements from the job description, such as technical skills, education, and experience, and see how you can include them into your summary. For example, if the job posting calls for experience with JavaScript, and you have worked with JavaScript in your college classes, you can include this in your summary.

A good objective be no more than a few sentences or bullets, use action verbs to describe skills and achievements, and demonstrate why you are a great candidate for the internship. This should encourage the hiring manager to read the rest of your resume.

Driven and motivated graduate seeking internship at BellWether media. Keen to utilize my knowledge of marketing tools and develop my passion for digital marketing. GPA of 3.7 with a strong understanding of consumer psychology. My aim is to prove my value and gain industry experience.

#5. Showcase your education

If you are seeking an internship, you may be a recent graduate or current student. This likely means that most of your skills and experience were gained in your education. If this is the case, your education section is very important to your internship resume.

In your Education section, list your degrees in reverse-chronological order, beginning with the most recent and working backwards. Each item in the Education section should include:

• Major and minor
• Institution
• Dates attended

If you want to emphasize your academic experience, you can also include a description of each degree. If relevant, you may want to list:

• Dean’s list
• Research areas
• Impressive projects
• Academic awards or honours
• Exchange programs

When you don’t have much experience in the workforce, details like this van help show that you still have the skills to succeed at your internship.

If you have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or any other post-secondary certifications, you don’t need to include your high school. Only include your high school education if it is the only education you have.

MSc in Marketing University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH. 2019 - 2021

Relevant coursework:

• Consumer psychology
• Business management
• Quantitative methods

BSc in Marketing University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA. 2016 - 2019

• Communications
• Digital marketing
• Consumer behaviour
• Public relations

#6. List your skills

While in many ways the purpose of an internship is to develop your skills, you still have to list your skills on your resume. Make sure you have a clearly labelled Skills section in your internship resume.

Most job-seekers list their skills in a simple bulleted list. This is a readable and efficient way to display your skills.

If you want to give your skills more emphasis, you can also make each individual skill a heading and offer an explanation or example for each one. With VisualCV’s templates, you can even add strength ratings to each skill to show where your strengths are. This is a great way to draw attention to your Skills section in a stylish way.

• Data analytics
• Marketing automation
• Punctuality
• Copywriting
• SEMRush, Moz, Screaming Frog SEO
• Slack, Trello, Microsoft Office
• Spanish (intermediate)

#7. Work experience

Write your work experience section in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your latest role and working backwards. For each job, make sure to include:

• Company name
• Dates of employment
• A bulleted list of your achievements and responsibilities in the role

Your work experience may include full-time roles you have held. If you are a student or recent graduate, you can also list part-time jobs, summer jobs, other internships, or even volunteering experience.

The important thing is to be sure that you can demonstrate that you are a good worker and a dedicated employee.

Work Experience

Work experience placement ABC Marketing June - Sept 2021

• Completed three months work experience for a digital marketing firm
• Automated social media posts for four clients
• Collaborated with content department to help launch new SaaS service
• Compilled market research by analyzing data from market surveys
• Used HubSpot, Maple, and Google Analytics

Cashier/server Gino’s Pizza Oct 2019 - June 2021

• Worked at a popular pizza restaurant at weekends during my studies
• Handled cash and payments, balancing the till at the end of the night
• Provided friendly and attentive service for restaurants patrons
• Monitored and maintained clean working surfaces at all times
• Responsible and punctual member of staff
• Employee of the month January 2021

#8. Add other relevant qualifications

If you have other qualifications you’d like to highlight, be sure to include them in your resume. Other sections might include volunteering experience, extracurricular activities, projects, awards and honours, and more.

Consider what other qualifications you have, and if they suit the internship you’re applying for, add them to your resume.

Freelance Marketing projects 2018 - 2021

• Helped several local brick-and-mortar businesses migrate online during COVID-19
• Managed social media accounts for a small clothing brand
• Contributed SEO-focused copy and blog posts for companies in the CBD space
• Wrote landing pages for insurance and accountancy services
• Tips for writing an internship resume

Once your resume sections are in place, you can begin making sure the section content is perfect. As you write and edit your resume, keep these tips in mind:

Clarity is key

Your resume must be clear and easy to read. Ensure that every section has a clear heading, that the resume is structured well, and that the fonts are easy to read both in print and on a screen.

An internship resume doesn’t need to be longer than a page. As you likely don’t have much experience, you should be able to fit everything you need on one page. If absolutely necessary, you can use a second page, but never more.

Customize your resume

It’s essential to customize your resume for each position you apply to. A generic, catch-all resume is not likely to grab a hiring manager's attention. Make sure your resume is tailored to the specific internship you are applying for.

To customize your internship resume, read the job posting carefully and take note of the key words and phrases it uses when describing the job requirements. These are the phrases that you should include in your resume (as long as it’s true). This might include skills, education, tools, software, experience, and more.

Beat the applicant tracking system (ATS)

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a type of software that reads resumes and selects the best ones to pass on to a hiring manager. Many companies use ATSs to streamline the hiring process.

To make sure your resume beats the ATS, make sure you use the exact keywords from the job description to describe your experience. These are the phrases the ATS will be looking for. Further, make sure to use a straightforward template without many tables or images. This will be easier for the ATS to parse.

• Internship resume example

Highly motivated, organized, resourceful, detail oriented and a committed individual with a strong academic background and diverse work experience. Outstanding design and problem-solving skills with the ability to meet rigorous performance standards and demanding schedules. A hands-on team member and a critical thinker who can quickly learn new systems, develop useful expertise, and produce significant contributions. Strong knowledge of computers (PC and Mac), proficiency in Auto-CAD, Auto-desk Viz, Vector-works, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch-up with VRay plug-ins, Microsoft Project, Deltek Vision, DASH, Microsoft Office, and have a working knowledge of Rhino and Revit Architecture.

• Google Sketch up
• Auto-desk Auto-CAD
• Adobe Photoshop
• MS Office Suite

Work experience

Intern architect.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

• Build design detail on AutoCAD and Archicad 18(BIM).
• Create plans (with respect to DM Regulations) using AutoCAD.
• Incorporate details given by Senior Architects and Engineers.
• Prepare detailed construction drawings.
• Feasibility studies.
• Research code (OBC) and materials.
• Coordinate work and drawings with structural engineers.
• Attend site meetings and construction site walk-throughs.

PowerTrain Industries

• Assisted Senior Architects on Design Detailing using Auto-CAD.
• Assisted in checking shop drawings, producing marketing materials, creating deficiency lists, and site instructions.
• Created building views using Google Sketch-up.
• Architectural drawings, drafting & detailing, involvement in project discussions.
• Client discussion regarding designing modifications.
• Designed presentations.

Student Intern

INC Architecture & Design

• Produced CAD drawings of residential buildings from Architect’s sketches and marked up drawings.
• Completed sets of plans, sections, and elevations.
• Prepared presentation boards.
• Participated in negotiations with the client.

Bachelor in Architecture

Academy Of Art University

Community Success Manager & CV Writing Expert

Ben is a writer, customer success manager and CV writing expert with over 5 years of experience helping job-seekers create their best careers. He believes in the importance of a great resume summary and the power of coffee.

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Student Internship Resume Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

Kick-starting your career with an internship? Your student internship resume is the key to unlocking that door. But in a sea of skilled candidates, how can your resume bubble to the top?

This guide is your lifesaver. Packed with useful tips, concrete examples, and handy samples, we'll help you line up your talents and skills in a resume that's hard to ignore. Keep reading to learn the answers to the following questions:

• Which resume format is best for interns?
• Why write a resume summary as an intern?
• What skills should an intern include on a resume?
• How do you describe work experience as an intern?
• How can an intern accurately include education on a resume?

Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

1. What is the best format for your intern resume

Whether you are currently working as an intern or are applying for an internship position, the first decision you must make for your resume is which format to use .

Internships are often seen as a transitional role to help you build professional experience either while you are still a student or after you have graduated. As such, employers may not be looking for a plethora of work experience, but rather educational credentials and academic skills that qualify you for the job.

Below is a breakdown of the 3 main types of resumes and when to use them:

• Reverse-Chronological: The reverse-chronological resume focuses mainly on work experience, listing your most recent job first and working backward from there. This format is best for applicants who have relevant experience in the field of the internship they are applying for.
• Functional: The functional resume removes the focus from work experience, placing it instead on education, skills, and unpaid experience. This format is often the best-suited for interns, as it provides the best opportunity to highlight academic experience and achievements.
• Hybrid: The hybrid resume spreads the focus of the document out evenly between all sections. This makes this format a good option for interns who have a mix of both professional and academic experience.

2. How to write an appealing intern resume summary

A resume summary is a short statement at the beginning of your resume that helps introduce an applicant to the employer reading the document.

As an intern, writing an effective resume summary is a great way to help your resume stand out from the competition. When written well, this summary can make your resume far more memorable and eye-catching, boosting your chances of landing the position.

To help illustrate how to write a good resume summary, here is a weak example followed by a correction and explanation:

Incorrect intern resume summary example

Recent College Graduate seeking an internship position within the FinTech space. Highly knowledgeable of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Skilled at working with large teams of developers and designers, helping to create a new smart product that won a major competition.

Why is this incorrect?

In this example, the applicant is too vague when discussing their experience and accomplishments. Rather than skirting around specific details, they should strive to include more exact information, such as what competition they won or specific examples that show they are knowledgeable in machine learning and AI.

Corrected intern resume summary

Recent Graduate with a B.S. in Information Systems and Computer Science. Passionate about artificial intelligence, with 3+ years of experience working in collaboration with other students on faculty-led technology projects. Served as a professor’s assistant in creating a new Smart Watch that won first place in the 2021 Innovation in STEM competition.

Why is this correct?

In this example, the applicant offers exact details about their academic credentials and experience working with AI. Additionally, they include key insights into their interpersonal abilities by describing their collaborations with students and professors. The summary wraps up with a bang by detailing the award-winning product they helped a professor create.

Try our AI Resume Writer and have your resume ready in minutes!

3. what are the best skills to put on an intern resume.

No matter what internship position you are applying for, it is important to include both hard and soft skills on your resume.

Hard skills refer to your learned abilities, like software development or bookkeeping. These are the skills that should be as specific as possible for the internship you are applying for, as they will often be a qualifying factor in the eyes of employers.

Soft skills refer to your ability to understand the people and world around you. Without soft skills present on a resume, it can be difficult for employers to get a true sense of your personality and working style.

With this in mind, here are 10 examples of both hard and soft skills for Interns:

The best hard skills for your intern CV

• Bookkeeping and accounting software
• Computer skills (typing, presentations, etc.)
• Office software (Microsoft Office 365, Google Suite, etc.)
• Graphic design
• Telecommunication
• Data analytics
• Foreign languages
• Office management
• Technology skills

Effective soft skills to put on your intern resume

• Willingness to learn
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Self-confidence
• Collaboration
• Organization
• Verbal and written communication
• Critical thinking
• Active listening

4. How to best describe your work experience

Typically, an applicant who is applying for internship positions will lack an extensive work history – hence why they wish to work in the role of an intern.

However, even if you have work experience that is not directly related to the position you are applying for, you can still use this experience to showcase your transferrable skills and work ethic. Additionally, you can help yourself stand out more by including specific accomplishments from previous roles.

Here is an example of a work experience entry from an intern resume

Sears, Salt Lake City, UT Customer Support Agent August 2019 to June 2021

• Provided accurate and in-depth information and assistance to customers calling about making returns and receiving refunds.
• Improved overall customer satisfaction rating from 75% to 96% by helping to implement a new incoming call script and conflict management process.
• Received the Employee of the Month award for 4 consecutive months, from March 2021 to June 2021.

Find out your resume score!

5. How to accurately include education in your intern resume

As an aspiring intern, you are likely looking for a position within your field of study. This makes it highly important to list your education correctly . In some cases, it may even be beneficial to include relevant coursework if it is relevant to the internship position.

If you are still in the process of completing your diploma or degree, then it is also essential to indicate within your education section when your expected date of graduation is.

Here is an example of a well-crafted education section on an intern resume

Boston University, Boston, MA B.S. in Communications

• Ongoing, Expected Graduation: May 2024
• Introduction to Broadcast Journalism, Completed Spring 2021
• Diversity in Communications, Completed Fall 2021
• Advanced Topics in Human Virtual Representation, Currently Enrolled

6. How to include customized extra sections in your intern resume

When creating an intern resume, it's essential to include relevant sections that highlight your qualifications, experiences, and skills. Adding extra sections can provide additional value and make your resume stand out.

One effective extra section to consider is "Projects and Internships." In this section, you can showcase notable projects you have worked on or internships you have completed, highlighting your practical experience and demonstrating your ability to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Here's an example of how to list an extra section in your intern resume

Projects and Internships

• Digital Marketing Intern, XYZ Company (Summer 2022): Assisted the marketing team in developing and implementing social media campaigns, resulting in a 20% increase in online engagement and a 15% growth in website traffic.
• Web Development Project: Created a responsive website for a local non-profit organization, incorporating modern design principles and optimizing user experience through intuitive navigation and mobile compatibility.
• Research Project on Renewable Energy: Conducted independent research on renewable energy sources, analyzing their environmental impact and presenting findings to a panel of faculty members.

7. Top job resources for aspiring interns

As an intern on the hunt for the perfect opportunity, it helps to have a few handy resources tucked up your sleeve. Here are some platforms widely acknowledged as top-notch spots to find internships:

• LinkedIn: Networking is everything, and LinkedIn stands tall as the go-to platform. Not only can you easily search internships, but with robust tools for connecting, creating a profile, and showcasing achievements, you enhance your visibility to potential employers.
• InternMatch:  With a user-friendly interface and vast categories, InternMatch helps aspiring interns like you find tailored opportunities across industries.
• Glassdoor:  Known for its company reviews, Glassdoor also hosts a robust job and internship search engine. The added insight about company culture and review is a valuable bonus.
• WayUp:  Designed specifically for students and recent grads, WayUp offers a thoughtful blend of internships, part-time jobs, and entry-level positions.

Remember, while these resources can significantly aid your internship quest, nothing beats a well-written resume and a proactive approach. So, get searching and start applying!

Student Internship Resume FAQ

Should my intern resume have the same length as a regular resume.

As an intern, you're not expected to have as much work experience as a seasoned professional, so it's perfectly fine if your resume is shorter. One page is typically sufficient for a student internship resume.

Can I include extracurricular activities on my intern resume?

Absolutely! If you’re newer to the workforce, your extracurricular activities can demonstrate transferable skills, leadership qualities, and commitment to your field.

What should I do if I have gaps in my education or work history?

If you have notable gaps, focus on the skills and experiences you've gained during those times. Included any relevant activities or self-improvement endeavors you engaged in.

Should I include references in my intern resume?

Usually, it's not necessary to include references on your resume. Employers would generally ask for them separately during the application process.

Is a summary or objective statement necessary on an intern resume?

An objective statement can be beneficial on an intern resume. It can succinctly express your career goals and why you’re a good fit for the internship.

Martin Poduška

Martin is a resume expert and career advice writer at Kickresume. In his five years at Kickresume, he has written hundreds of in-depth, painstakingly researched resume advice articles and, as chief editor, he has also edited and revised every single article on this website. Tens of thousands of job seekers read Martin’s resume advice every month. He holds a degree in English from the University of St Andrews and a degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Amsterdam .

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How to write a professional resume summary [+examples], how to put your education on a resume [+examples], how to describe your work experience on a resume [+examples], let your resume do the work..

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Intern Resumes & Writing Guide

If you are looking for a foot-in-the-door into your first full-time job, becoming an Intern is one of your best options. Furthermore, the more internships you have under your belt, the more attractive you will look to potential employers.

The only obstacle standing in your way, however, is a large amount of competition. Luckily for you, we know what hiring managers want to see and how a professional Intern’s resume should look.

Start by reading through our Intern resume samples. An Internship resume should focus on your transferable skills, education, and other abilities rather than your work experience. This may seem daunting, but we are here to help.

Your goal is to ensure that your resume stands out from other applicants by being both informative and entertaining to read, all without overwhelming the recruiter or hiring manager with irrelevant information.

What you can read in this article

Intern Resume Examples

(Free sample downloads are at the bottom of this page)

Internship Resume Writing Guide

Resume sections:.

• Contact information
• Profile Summary
• Work History 
• Achievements
• Education 
• Skill Section
• Certification & Licensing
• Extras: Languages/Awards/Publications/Volunteering/hobbies

What to Highlight in an Internship Resume

You are likely writing this resume while you are in the process of completing an undergraduate bachelor’s degree and are tempted to include your theoretical knowledge. There are, however, several essential details that hiring managers need to see in an applicant’s resume to ascertain if you are the right fit for their team or not.

Firstly , you need to list the internships you have already completed. Internships are classified as follows:

• Paid Internships
• Credit Internships
• Externships
• Nonprofit Internships
• Service-Learning Internships
• Summer Internships

When you have categorized your internships, you are required to indicate the industry that these internships took place. Interns can work in any number of industries and positions; you need to be specific. The type of industry areas you worked in need to be included in your summary at the beginning of your resume and within each position description.

Secondly , employers want to see that you are a hardworking, responsible individual that grabs every opportunity with open arms. You can show them this by including your casual work experience. Examples include being a math tutor, helping at your local school, and working at a local farmers' market. The more information you can include, the better. This shows that you used your time effectively while at high school and college, besides just partying!

Lastly , you need to include the following information:

• The areas you are happy to work in and if you are happy to travel or relocate temporarily.
• List any special skills and qualities you have that will benefit the field you want to work in. For example, if you want to go into marketing, mention that you have a YouTube channel, or if you are interested in accounting, mention that you are familiar with Accpac.
• Include any written references from past employees. These add serious credibility to your resume.
• Your GPA score.
• Your computer literacy is important and can look very impressive. Mention if you are competent using Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, Oracle, Excel, and Visual Studio.

1. Contact information

• First Name and Last Name
• Physical Address
• LinkedIn (optional)

2. Career Objectives & Summary

Many organizations receive thousands of applications from students looking for Intern positions.. As you are applying for an internship, you won’t make use of the normal Career Summary suited to candidates with permanent working experience. However, your resume needs to be of the highest standard to stand out from the rest and give you the best chance of securing an interview

One of the best ways to do this from the get-go, is with a well-written career objective paragraph. You need to keep your career objective concise and to the point. The aim is to provide a short introduction of who you are and what you have to offer. Your career objective should be placed at the top of your resume, right after your contact information.

The first part of your objective needs to highlight the person you are and your interests.

Next, list the degree you are in the process of completing, and lastly, finish off with why you want to land an Internship with this company. You will quickly learn that the job description is like your cheat sheet.

It contains all the information you need to create a captivating resume . Read through the job description and outline the specific qualities and skills the employer is looking for.

Integrate these into your career objective and throughput your resume (if you have them). Remember to include any outstanding qualities you possess, such as effective time management or excellent people skills.

Intern Summary 1

“ Recent Bachelor of Digital Marketing graduate seeking an internship that will provide the opportunity to add value to (insert company name) by applying theoretical knowledge into practice. Eager to learn the ins and outs of the advertisement field. Previous vocational experience with social media channel set up and blogging has been gained during university as part of the Campus Newspaper team. “

Intern Summary 2

“ A Dynamic Political Science Major would appreciate the opportunity to learn and develop as an intern at the international business's federal office. Fluent in Dutch, Spanish, German and Italian with a working knowledge of French . “

Intern Summary 3

“ Current Dean’s List student (3.8 GPA) motivated to learn the ropes in a community-oriented healthcare clinic. Fast learner and a hard worker with a keen interest in community healthcare, specifically focused on children from low-income communities. “

Intern Summary 4

“ Motivated and creative Graphic Design student seeking to apply design skills, writing skills, and social media experience into an experience-building internship at PeDac Graphic Design Studios. “

Intern Summary 5

“ Seeking an internship position that will allow for the exploration of career choices in the IT environment.. An enthusiastic, hardworking graduate student with majors in computer and data science. Worked in the computer center, tutored undergraduates, and completed advanced data analytics projects relevant to this internship position. “

3. Employment History

If you are applying for a job as an intern, you likely have very limited experience. Do not stress though, hiring managers understand this but still expect to see some form of experience.

The more experience even if part-time, vocational or informal you can include, the better your chances of landing an internship. This is also one of the only times you can include your previous jobs unrelated to your internship field. Simply adding jobs to your resume will show that you are hardworking and responsible. These jobs can include any volunteer work or nonprofit work you have done.

The main difference between an undergraduate’s resume and a postgraduate’s resume is the amount of internship experience. As you complete an internship, add it to your resume so that by the time you are ready to find your first job, your resume is filled with relevant experience. We recommend that you use reverse chronological order when listing your internship and employment history.

Intern Resume Examples:

Internship at coke.

February 2014 – December 2018

Acted as one of two within the extruder research group developing waterborne dispersions for two and three-component polymer systems to be used in future food-grade metal coatings.

• Developed an extensive report comprising of two years’ worth of experimental data to be used as a project management tool.
• Cleaned, maintained, and assembled the extruder and its auxiliary parts and implemented the frequent calibration of liquid feed pumps and solid feed hoppers.
• Aided in a frequent pipe and compression fitting replacement, consulted on liquid heating system re-design and heat pump installation for improved experiment reproducibility.

Internship at Pepsi

February 2013 – January 2017

Worked side by side with the administration of the LGBT Center to ensure that the daily functions of the center run smoothly.

• Created daily reports when activities take place at the center and when groups visit.
• Created the first-ever Philanthropic Packet that can be distributed online and in person to raise funds for different events for the LGBT Center throughout the year.
• Assisted the planning of weekly and monthly functions of the LGBT Center.
• Sent out emails about several events and news coverages that involved the LGBT center to individuals.

Job Descriptions Examples

During your previous internships, some tasks and responsibilities were given to you. These could be daily duties or spur-of-the-moment requests. Either way, your future employer wants to see these duties and responsibilities to gauge how competent you are. There are hundreds of different internships out there, so we have only provided a few below so that you can get the basic idea.

A Marketing Intern may:

• Collect qualitative and quantitative data to prepare for market studies and analytics.
• Analyze competitors.
• Complete several admin duties such as phone handling, social media marketing, email filtering, moderation services, content writing, updating the CRM, and copywriting.
• Preparing draft presentation materials for the pormotions and  marketing team using PowerPoint slides.
• > See out Marketing Intern Resumes & Guide

A Graphic Design Intern may:

• Assist in the organization of project details and client files.
• Design Facebook adverts with click-through rates and sign-ups statistics.
• Assist with designing marketing collateral, such as presentations, email newsletters, and social media campaigns.
• Develop website icons and graphics.
• Edit and proofread documents before they are published online or printed.
• Coordinatining and presentining print requirements and specifications with various vendors and third parties.
• Monitor project deadlines.

A Politics Intern may:

• Aid the clerical staff by overhauling their filing system from paper-based to digital.
• Manage the office's supply inventory and oversee the ordering of sundries such as stationery, IT Equipment, groceries, and office machinery.
• Coordinating social media accounts for the Campaigns office on Facebook and Instagram and send out planned messages approved by staff.
• Organize Twitter outreach campaigns to improve fundraising efforts.
• Ensure that brochures, pamphlets, signage boards, and other promotional materials are printed and collected.

A Business Management Intern may:

• Assist with general office work in HR and operational departments.
• Help write up policies and procedures.
• Read through production reports and compare them to the financial reports.
• Assist with the safety documentation update on the company system.
• Check sales reports to ensure that they are accurate.
• Writing and proofreading company information emails to staff.
• Ensure that every new employee is registered on the staff database and issue access cards to those that require them.
• Printomg and binding documentation for weekly management meetings.
• Develop and improve user procedures and documentation for management systems.

A General Office Intern may:

• Answering phone inquiries, take messages and direct calls.
• Schedule travel arrangements of directors.
• Receiving and posting packages and registered letters from couriers.
• Take minutes and distributing notes after meetings.
• Ensure that database and filing systems are maintained.
• Oversee general errands and provide basic company information.
• Print, photocopy, and bind documents for company presentations.
• Assist in the preparation of data and information materials; create and maintain PowerPoint presentations.
• Preparing and organizinging conference rooms.
• Ordeing food, beverages and liquor for teambuilding sessions and company events.

A Healthcare Intern may:

• Interact with patients to collect medical history relating to previous hospital visits, family medical history, and insurance information for the leading physician.
• Assist physicians with logistical tasks such as restocking supplies, pulling up radiology images, and preparing patient files.
• Organize emergency patients in order of severity.
• Follow up on outstanding patient accounts.
• Accompany medical personnel during hospital rounds.
• Show families into the family waiting room while patients are in surgery.

4. Accomplishments

Many people believe that they can simply copy and paste their accomplishments section from one resume to the next for each job they apply for. This is something we strongly recommended that you do not fall victim to. This will merely prove to the potential employer that you have not taken the time and effort to read through the job description and result in your resume being overlooked.

Once you have read through the job description, your goal should be to figure out how you can stand out from other applicants. Think about your most impressive accomplishments and achievements that make you proud. Examples:

• Flat, Simple Duty: Updated the client database.
• Accomplishment Statement: Updated the database of 6000 clients using MS Access. Categorize d the data following client demographics.

Quantifying Your Resume

Above we showed you an example of how important it is to quantify your accomplishments. It does not end at your accomplishments; you need to quantify every statement you make throughout your resume. If you find it tricky to add numbers (quantify) your information, simply ask yourself if your statements can answer the following questions: “How often?” or “How long?”. See the examples below:

• How many internship gigs have you done?
• What was the duration of your internships?
• “Part of a group of interns at the communications office for the Miami Counties Healthcare Association. Influential in facilitating the weekly Q&A session between management, employees and members of the association and handled all  correspondence before and following these events.”
• “Developed three new websites for the California State University's marketing, engineering, and medical faculties within a period of three months. “
• “ Coordinated weekly schedules for a childcare center with more than 60 employees and close to 400 children. “
• “ Researched and evaluated the implementation of 35 housing policies and interpreted zoning code regulations for all jurisdictions in the nine regions. “

5. Education Section

You likely have some work experience but very little experience in the field you wish to work in. Relax, this is not totally the end of the world; employers understand this and pay more attention to your education section.

We recommend that you put your education section above your experience section. This will allow the reader to view the more impressive information first.

When listing your academic qualifications, mention projects and coursework you did relate to the field you wish to work in.

Furthermore, remember to include information that the job description is looking for.

Most students applying for an internship have not yet finished their studies. Below we have shown you how to list your qualifications, despite not having completed them yet:

2015-2017 – Bachelor of Business Management & Administration, Texas State University, TX

2014 – Ridgefield High School, High School Diploma Ridgefield, NJ

2014 – Certificate in Microsoft Office, Udemy Online

When writing a resume for an Internship position, your technical skills and soft skills are equally as important to employers. Your technical skills refer to the physical duties you can do. Your soft skills refer to your personality traits and the interpersonal skills you have to offer.

The job description will outline certain technical and soft skills that the company requires of its Interns. Integrate these key skills throughout your resume to tailor it to what the reader is looking for.

Technical Aptitude :

• Today, Interns need to be digitally savvy. Ensure that you include all the IT programs you can work with. Furthermore, mention any calendar apps, project management tools, and collaboration apps, such as Slack and Asana, you are competent with.
• When including your skills, keep the type of internship that you are applying for in mind. For example, if you write columns in the school newspaper, mention your ability to write well and your competency with different writing platforms.

Soft Skill Examples

7. Qualifications & Certifications associated with Interns

Action Verbs for your Internship Resume

Optional Extras for Internship Resumes:

In a last attempt to stand out, include an optional extras section where you can include additional information about yourself. Include areas such as:

• Volunteer Work – These experiences may seem irrelevant, but outreach into the poorer communities is an attractive work to employers.
• Certifications – This will make your education section even more attractive and help make you stand out from the competition.
• Languages – The ability to communicate well in another language gives you a huge advantage over other applicants.
• Hobbies, Activities, & Interests – Including relevant activities and interests allows the reader to see your leadership qualities and further gauge the type of person you are.

Professional information of Interns

Sectors:  Various Career Type:  Functional, Clerical, Administrative Person type:   Worker, Helper, Assistant Education levels:  Bachelor’s Degree and upwards Salary indication : Average of $39 219 per annum ( Glassdoor ) Labor market : Totally dependent on industries Organizations : Various, Unlimited

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The Proper Way To Include an Internship on a Resume

Whether you’re a college student looking for resume examples or wondering if it’s time to take internships off your resume, this guide has you covered.

2 years ago   •   7 min read

When you’re starting out in the workforce, or even changing to a new career, internships are the perfect way to bridge the gap between education and professional experience. But do they count as proper work experience? Where on your resume do they actually belong? And how do you know when it’s time to take them off your resume entirely?

In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions and provide you with real resume examples you can follow.

How to list an internship on a resume

Let’s start with a quick step by step guide walking you through exactly how to put an internship on a resume:

• Choose where to include your internships — either in your work experience section or in a dedicated internships section (more on how to choose between these options below).
• List the employer, their location, and the dates you worked.
• Put your job title. Aim for a more descriptive title than “Intern” so hiring managers can see what your role entailed.
• Include 2-4 bullet points listing your main accomplishments.
• List 5-10 hard skills that you picked up during your internship, education, or other work experience.
• Upload your resume to Score My Resume for a free instant resume review.

Internship resume example

Wondering what your resume should look like once you’re finished? Here’s a sample entry level resume template that features space for internships:

You can download this template — and 50+ others — from our entry level resume examples page.

Essential tips for including internships on your resume

How to make internships look good on a resume.

• Use a specific job title — for example, “Marketing Intern” rather than simply “Intern.”
• If you weren’t given a specific job title, ask your supervisor if there’s one you can use on your resume .
• If it’s appropriate for your line of work, you can list seasons rather than months or dates, e.g. “Summer 2021.” If you do this, make sure you’re using the same format consistently for all experiences on your resume.
• Don’t list everything you did as part of your internship. Stick to the most relevant accomplishments for the type of work you’ll be doing in your new job.

When to take internships off a resume

You should keep internships on your resume if:

• You’re a student or recent graduate
• You lack paid work experience
• You’re changing careers
• They’re directly relevant to the jobs you’re applying for
• You interned somewhere particularly prestigious (like Google or Microsoft)

It’s time to take internships off your resume if:

• They’re older than 5+ years
• You’ve held 2-3 professional jobs since then
• They’re pushing your resume over one page in length

Where to put internships on a resume

Generally, internships belong in your work experience section — after all, they are work experience. That said, you can also choose to separate them out into their own section if you prefer.

In your work experience section

When: This is the most common way of listing an internship on a resume, so it's a good choice in any situation. In particular, you should do this if you’re a college student with internships but no work experience applying for entry level positions.

How: Format the internship in the same way as you would any professional experience. Include the name of the company, the location, dates of employment, and your job title. Underneath, choose 2-4 accomplishments that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

WORK EXPERIENCE COMPANY NAME, New York, NY Project Management Intern, Jun 2021 — Sep 2021 - Include 2-4 bullet points in the format [action verb] + [what you did] + [what the result was]

In an internship section

When: If you’ve held a large number of internships, it can be worth separating them out into their own section. You should only choose this option if you don’t have any relevant paid work experience — as you gain more professional experience, you should focus mainly on that and spend less time on other parts of your resume.

How: In this case, you should still list any relevant accomplishments. You can include less detail if you’re adding a lot of internships, but still aim for 1-2 accomplishments for each internship.

INTERNSHIPS COMPANY NAME, [Location] HR Intern, [Dates of Employment] - Accomplishment #1 - Accomplishment #2

If you’re not sure how effective your internships are on your resume, upload it to the tool below — it’ll give you a detailed review of your internships, experience and accomplishments and suggest which ones to improve.

Internship advice for every situation

Do you have questions about your specific type of internship? Here's how to go about listing internships on your resume if you:

• Interned full-time
• Had a part-time or seasonal (e.g. summer) internship
• Left your internship early
• Have an upcoming internship you haven't started yet
• Didn't accomplish much during your internship
• Interned as part of a career change

Full-time vs part-time vs summer internships

The good news is: It doesn't matter what type of internship you had. You can list a part-time or summer internship in the same way as a full-time internship. Keep in mind that:

• You should be accurate with your dates (if it was a summer internship, then something like "Summer 2022" is fine).
• You can list "part time" next to your job title if it was a part-time internship, but you don't need to. If the internship overlaps with the dates of your education, most employers will understand the situation.

Listing an internship on your resume if you didn't finish it

Whether to list an internship you left early depends on:

• How early you left. Cutting an internship short by a week or two shouldn't immediately invalidate the whole thing. Leaving an internship halfway through, on the other hand, is likely to raise more questions than it answers.
• Why you left. If you had something unexpected come up (illness, family emergency, etc.) that meant you couldn't quite finish up, that's easy to explain. If you were asked to leave your internship or you quit without notice, it's more likely to reflect badly on you.
• What you accomplished while you were there. This is closely related to the above points — finishing eleven months of a year-long internship should be plenty of time to list one or two compelling accomplishments, but if you were only there for a few weeks, you're unlikely to have achieved much in that time.

Can you list a future internship on your resume?

No, you shouldn’t include upcoming internships on a resume. Why not? Because your resume should focus on accomplishments, and you can’t list accomplishments from something you haven’t actually done yet.

What if you didn't do anything practical during your internship?

Internships are most valuable when they closely resemble real-life work experience — that is, when you had at least some actual responsibilities and accomplishments. An internship that was more passive (because you were mostly shadowing another employee or just weren't given a chance to do much) isn't going to hold the same weight.

Related : How To Put Shadowing on Resume

Including internships on a resume if you’re changing careers

Internships aren’t just for college students — they’re also useful for career changers . Starting off with an internship is a great way to get your foot in the door of a new industry, make connections, and gain relevant professional accomplishments.

Assuming your internships were recent, include them at the top of your work experience section, above any previous unrelated work experience. You should always list your jobs in reverse chronological order, so if your internships are a little older, pull them out to a separate section or include them as part of a featured education section at the top of your resume.

Internship resume examples

If you’re struggling to think of concrete accomplishments from an internship to list on your resume, here are some examples from internships in some of the most common industries.

Computer science internship resume example

MACROHARD, New York, NY Software Development Intern, Jun 2017 – Sep 2017

• Developed web scraping program in Python to help the firm download public data, including over 10,000 company descriptions and stock quotes, enriching internal data and increasing research efficiency by over 50%
• Implemented crash reporter and used findings to fix three biggest causes of crashes; reduced customer support calls by 30%
• Designed and implemented 50+ E2E tests using Selenium & Protractor, simulating each user group's actions

Engineering internship resume example

CITY ENGINEERING, New York, NY Electrical Engineer Intern, Jun 2021 – Sep 2021

• Performed analysis on product performance, provided recommendations that improved product performance by 10%.
• Assisted two engineers in developing engineering solutions, which reduced company costs by 15%.
• Ran weekly tests and validity checks on data, equipment, and software, reducing error rates by 12%.

Business and project management internship resume example

RESUME WORDED (8 employee venture-backed recruitment startup), New York, NY Business Analyst Intern, Jun 2021 – Sep 2021

• Developed an Excel macro and standardized reporting templates, resulting in efficient data collection and a 35% reduction in turnaround time
• Created knowledge base of 80 internal resources, improving employee onboarding and reducing time spent per project on administrative tasks by 40%
• Managed international stakeholders in India, United Kingdom and Hong Kong by hosting daily standups and coordinating weekly status reports

Marketing internship resume example

EXCITING COMPANY, New York, NY Marketing Intern, Jun 2016 – Sep 2016

• Led the transition to a paperless practice by implementing an electronic booking system and a faster, safer and more accurate business system; reduced cost of labor by 30% and office overhead by 10%
• Analyzed data from 25000 monthly active users and used outputs to guide marketing and product strategies; increased average app engagement time by 2x, 30% decrease in drop off rate, and 3x shares on social media

Finance and accounting internship resume example

MULTICORP BANK, New York, NY Finance Intern, Jun 2020 – Sep 2020

• Verified the reliability of the earnings predictions and having an average of 75% success rate.
• Reviewed and entered payable invoices, adjusted entries, entered inter-company transactions and assisted with administrative tasks with 100% accuracy.
• Prepared 4 budgetary presentation materials for the management team, successfully leading to department approval.

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How to Write a Resume: The Only Resume Guide You’ll Need in 2024

• Kaja Jurcisinova , 
• Updated January 16, 2024 16 min read

Your resume is arguably the most important document you'll create during a job search. So taking the time to learn how to write a resume properly can make a job hunt much quicker and easier.  

What would otherwise take you hours of hard work and research can be done in a few minutes. All you have to do is follow our simple step-by-step guide on how to write the perfect resume. 

In the end, a good resume gives you a chance to make a great first impression and ultimately decide if you'll be invited for an interview. 

What makes a great resume?

• Clear division of resume sections
• Prioritizing relevant information
• Tailored for a specific position
• Typo-free and well-written
• Usage of bullet points

There's more to it, though.

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What is a resume?

Before you start writing your resume, how to write a resume, step 1: choose the right resume format, step 2: add contact information and personal details, step 3: begin with your professional summary, step 4: list relevant work experience, step 5: summarize your education , step 6: highlight your soft and hard skills , step 7: add optional resume sections.

• Step 8: Wrap it up with a cover letter 

Final tips before you click “Send”

Let's cover the basics first. Before we learn how to write a good resume, we should know what a resume even is. 

The word resume comes from French, meaning “summary” . This is the perfect word because that’s exactly what a resume is: a short, straight-to-the-point summary that details your professional achievements, skills, qualifications, education, work experience, and past employers. It's also known as a curriculum vitae (CV) .

The aim of a resume is to get invited to a job interview . It should aim to convince an employer that you're a good fit for the job. 

Because of that, your resume should be adjusted and tailored to each job vacancy.

TL;DR Here's a step-by-step video guide on how to write a professional resume in 2024

If you’re already familiar with what should be on your resume and just want a quick and informative recap, or if your time is limited, just check out our 5-minute step-by-step video guide .

Before we move on to how to write a resume, we recommend setting a few minutes aside for research. These few minutes can save you hours of frustration and ultimately make your job search that much easier.

Here’s what we recommend to research before you write your resume: 

• Research the company, specifically the “About Us” page. This is a great place to search for keywords you can use in your resume or cover letter. What are their mission statement and their values?
• Research the position you’ll be applying for. Great resumes are tailored to a specific job opening. You can do this by asking these three questions as you go through the job post: “ What are the essential keywords? What adjectives, nouns, and phrases occur repeatedly? What language does the company use?”
• Discover your strong points , as this will make it easier to pinpoint the qualities you want to highlight in your resume. Ask people around you: “What are my skills and abilities, and what are my weaknesses?” Also, look at your past accomplishments. What were the skills and abilities that helped you succeed in the past?

Another way of preparing for writing your resume is by looking at these well-researched, specifically tailored, and properly formatted resume examples in our database. You can even filter them by your job title.

Not enough time?

Let your resume write itself. All you’ll have left to do is edit the draft.

We'll walk you through nine essential steps to help you create a standout resume.

Different resume formats cater to different types of job seekers, depending on the experience level and career goals. The  three most commonly used  resume formats are chronological, functional, and combination (hybrid).

Your resume should include your contact/personal information right at the top, in a so-called resume header. A resume header is  more than just your name and contact details . Depending on your career path, there's a lot more that can (and should) be included in this section. To find out what to include, what to skip, and how to format it keep on reading.

A professional summary (also called resume profile or resume summary) is a short paragraph that summarizes your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. Think of it as a teaser for the rest of your resume.

This is the most important section of your resume. You need to include key information like : names of companies, locations, job titles, positions held, dates of employment, responsibilities you've had. Then: - list the jobs in reverse-chronological order - write in bullet points - include your quantifiable achievements - avoid buzzwords - use action verbs and keywords from the job description

The education summary section, though important, varies in significance based on your career stage . As an experienced professional, prioritize work history and skills, placing education after. Keep it concise, including university, degree, and graduation year.

Skills fall into two categories: hard and soft. 1. Hard skills are teachable and measurable, acquired through training, and include computer proficiency, language abilities, project management, etc. 2. Soft skills , linked to personality traits, can enhance both work and personal life, encompassing communication, leadership, and time management, among others.

These can include: achievements and awards, certifications and licences, language skills, publications, references, hobbies, social media, volunteering, or custom sections.

A good cover letter should answer the following questions: 1. Who are you?  2. Why are you interested in working for their company? 3. Why are you the best fit for the job opening? 4. How can you enrich their company?

In the following chapters, we look at each step in more detail and give you helpful tips and examples.

Once you know what the company and job require and you’ve identified your strengths and weaknesses, you should be ready to pick the right resume format.  

Make this choice depending on the stage of your career: 

• Are you a seasoned professional ? Then you should pick a resume format that emphasizes your experience.
• Are you a fresh graduate? Then your resume should highlight any transferable skills you’ve acquired during your studies.
• Are you changing careers? Then a combination of the two will produce the best results.

Pick the best option for your career from the three dominant resume formats that are in use today:

• Chronological resume format. Probably the best choice for experienced professionals. Lists the candidate’s jobs and accomplishments in chronological order. Main resume section : Work Experience.
• Functional resume format. Great for fresh graduates, IT professionals, or other skill-based professions. Emphasizes skills instead of experience. Main resume section: Skills.
• Combined resume format . A combination of the previous two.

Let's take a look at what these resume formats look like in practice:

Chronological resume format

Functional resume format, combined resume format.

The resume format you choose will determine how you organize the information on your resume. It will also attract attention to some things and away from others. 

Take time to understand your strengths and weaknesses and choose accordingly.

You want the recruiter to read the strongest and most relevant parts of your resume at the start. For more, check out a guide on how to choose the right resume format .

Your contact/personal information should always be at the top of your resume in a so-called resume header .

Compared to the other resume sections, filling in the contact information section may seem super easy. That's until you start asking more questions.

Should you put your address on the resume? How to include social media , and should you? And what about the date of birth? 

Well, let’s see: 

• Name. Absolutely necessary. Put your first name first and surname last. Middle name is optional.
• Title. Optional. If you’re applying for a position in a traditional or specialized field, it's good to add your Ph.D., MBA, or other titles to it.
• Email address. Absolutely necessary, even when you’re sending your application by email. Your email address should look professional (e.g. [email protected] , NOT [email protected] ). Always use your personal email address, not the email address with the domain of your current employer. 
• Home address. Somewhat problematic. Your neighborhood can say a lot about you in some cases, disclosing living in a certain area can lead to discrimination. On the other hand, if you’re located in the same city as the company, it may help you to get the job, as it saves the company that they'd have to spend on a relocation package (of course, only if the job isn't remote).
• Phone number. Necessary. Many employers will call you by phone to arrange an interview, instead of doing it by email.
• LinkedIn. Recommended. And if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet, consider creating one. Make sure your profile is complete and up-to-date.
• Social media. Optional. Include it only if it’s related to your job. GitHub, Behance, and even your Facebook or Instagram profile will do (if you regularly post content that has to do with your profession). Here are a few tips on how to include your social media . 
• Blog/website. Optional. Similar to social media. If you have a blog , website, or digital portfolio related to your chosen profession, don’t be afraid to show it off.
• Photo. Problematic. It depends on the country. In most English-speaking countries, they don’t add a photo. See this guide to know if you should put a picture on your resume .

Your professional summary should be a list of about 4-5 bullet points or a short paragraph that summarizes your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements.

You can think of it as a teaser for the rest of your resume. Make sure it’s interesting enough to hook the hiring manager right in.

But how do you write a good professional summary?

• Write your professional summary last. It’s surprisingly easy to do if you’ve already finished other sections of your resume.
• The first bullet point should describe your professional title. Don’t forget to add the number of years of experience. Write it in bold if the number is especially impressive.
• Pick the most impressive parts of your resume and rewrite them into snappy bullet points. Tease your potential employer into reading further.
• Pack your professional summary with relevant keywords. Think of ATS. This will help you get through automated pre-screenings.
• Quantify every achievement if possible. This will make you look even more professional. 
• Tie every bullet point to the requirements introduced in the job offer.

If you do everything right, you should end up with something like this:

The work experience section is what most people picture when they think “resume” .

The trick is to focus on your past achievements , not your responsibilities. 

Hiring managers are likely to know what your responsibilities were supposed to be. In most cases, your job title says it all.

If you want to stand out, you should tell them how you excelled in your previous job instead. 

And there’s hardly a more effective way to do that than by mentioning your achievements.

But how do you list your work experience on a resume?

• Put your work experience section in the right spot. If you can boast a lot of professional experience, put your work experience section right under your resume summary. If you don’t have enough experience yet, put it just below your education section. Finally, if you prefer to highlight your skills instead of experience, put your skills section first.
• Give it a proper heading. Keep it simple and stick to “Work Experience” or “Employment History” as other headings might not be understood by applicant tracking systems (ATS) .
• List your jobs in reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent experience and work your way back from there. Based on your level of experience, decide how far back should your resume go .
• Don’t include the job description. Instead of listing what you were supposed to do, try to tell your potential employers what positive results you had.
• Write in past tense. This will help you focus on your past achievements instead of responsibilities. It also sounds better.
• Show your problem-solving skills. In the end, hiring managers want to know how effective you’re going to be in solving real problems. There’s no better way to show your problem-solving ability than to briefly describe how you solved difficult problems in the past. Follow the PAR scheme: What was the (P)roblem? What (A)ction did you take? What was the (R)esult?
• Quantify results. Hiring managers love measurable results. Because of that, a single number often speaks more than a thousand words. Don’t say that you “increased the company’s revenue significantly.” Instead, don’t be afraid to brag about “increasing the company’s revenue by 20%.”
• Use bullet points. Bullet points help you structure each subsection. Try to limit yourself to about 5 bullets per job.
• Avoid buzzwords. People used some phrases in their resumes so much, these words have become meaningless. Everybody seems to be an out-of-the-box creative thinker with a knack for innovation nowadays. But in reality, only very few people really are those things. See what other 10 buzzwords you should stop using on your resume
• Use action verbs . Unlike buzzwords, action verbs carry the weight you need to persuade an employer to hire you. Just to mention a few, these are words like “developed” , “increased” , “facilitated” and others. For more action verbs, check out our resume cheat sheet .
• Keywords. Reread the job description and carefully pick the most important keywords. These are the words that best describe the position you’re applying for, and that will attract the attention of the ATS system. 

In the end, your work experience section should look a bit like this:

The education summary section is where you list your degrees and relevant academic accomplishments.

Based on your degree and where you're in your career, it can be either the least or the most important part of your resume.

Are you an experienced professional?

Once you become more experienced, the education section takes a back seat to your work history and hard skills.

In other words, your education section should come after your work experience section, not the other way around. It also shouldn't be too long. For instance, your grades are no longer relevant.  

It’s enough if you include the name of your university, the name of your degree, and the year you graduated.

Here’s an example:

Are you a fresh graduate?

Then your degree is still one of the strongest cards you have to play.

In practical terms, it means that you should place your education section at the top of your resume — right between your professional summary and work experience section.

It should also be a bit longer. 

These are the things you should add to your education section if you’re a student or a fresh graduate:

• Academic awards. AP scholar, Duke of Edinburgh award, National Merit Award, President’s Award, school subject-based awards, dean’s list, etc.
• Scholarships. Athletic scholarships, scholarships for women, creative scholarships, etc.
• Academic conferences and symposia. Don’t forget to mention the scope and name of the paper you presented at a conference.
• Relevant student societies. Debating or programming clubs. If you were on a student committee of any kind, mention that too.
• GPA. Only include your GPA if it was higher than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If your overall GPA was lower, mention your overall GPA. Alternatively, mention your summa cum laude or magna cum laude .
• Academic publications. Producing an academic work worth publishing is impressive no matter the context.

In the end, your education section can look like this:

Before you start writing, you should know there are two types of skills : hard skills and soft skills.

1. Hard skills can be learned, taught, and most importantly — measured. Acquiring them requires deliberate effort, training, and time.

Hard skills can be, for instance: computer skills, language skills, manual skills, mathematics, project management, etc.

2. Soft skills are tied to your personality traits. These skills can come as part of your upbringing, or you can acquire some later in life through self-improvement. These skills can bring value to any job, as well as your private life.

Examples of soft skills include: communication, leadership, time management , creativity, decision-making, etc.

But how to make your skills stand out?

• Focus on what’s most relevant. Do you have any of the skills mentioned in the advertisement for your desired job? Good. Make sure to include them in your resume’s skills section.
• Organize your skills into subcategories. Divide your skills section into several subsections like computer skills, soft skills, languages, and others.
• Don’t underestimate soft skills. 67 percent of HR managers said they’d hire a candidate with strong soft skills even if their technical abilities were lacking. On the contrary, only 9 percent would hire someone with strong technical credentials but weak soft skills.
• There are skills you shouldn’t include. Never include any skills you don’t have, skills that have nothing to do with the job, skills everybody should have, or skills that have become obsolete.

Apart from the standard resume sections we just mentioned above, are also optional sections. 

A good rule of thumb is to add an optional section only if it's relevant to the job you're applying for. If done properly, these sections can help you:

• Fill the gap when lacking experience
• Highlight additional skills and expertise 
• Let an employer know more about who you are

Pro tip: Optional resume sections can be especially important to companies that prioritize hiring candidates who fit their workplace culture. 

Here are some of the most common optional sections: 

Technical skills

This section can be a nice addition when applying for (surprise!) technical jobs. 

Some examples of technical skills are: programming languages, software proficiency, project management, and data analysis.

Technical skills are usually measurable, so if you decide to include them in your resume, use a graph or a scale to illustrate how strong they are. Adding visual elements to your resume not only looks nice but also shows your ability to be precise and analytical.

Achievements and awards

Scholarships, competitions, work-related awards, or even promotions to leadership positions in your job — all of these can be considered important professional achievements. 

Either distribute them across other parts of your resume or put them in a dedicated section. The latter allows you to truly highlighted them. 

And if you choose to include them in a separate resume section, don't forget to mention the dates and the name of the company/institution at which you've accomplished the achievement. 

Professional references

In today's competitive job market, strong professional references can be a game-changer. Consider including a ' Professional References ' section in your resume to provide potential employers with easy access to these valuable resources.

How to format references on resume? Here's what you should list for each reference:

• Their full name
• Their current job title and organization
• Their contact details (email and phone number will do)
• Your relationship with them (e.g., Former Supervisor)

Ensure you have their permission and inform them when actively job searching.

Once you decide who you want your references to be, it's time to ask them if they agree. Here's how to ask someone to be a reference via email .

Certifications and licenses

Listing the certificates and courses that you've successfully completed on your resume is never a mistake.

However, keep in mind that they should be related to the role that you're applying for. 

If you'd like to add a certificate to your CV but you're unsure about where to find the best course for you, check out this carefully curated list of the best online courses that will help you to get a job. 

Publications

In this section, you can mention all the relevant conferences, presentations, and written publications. 

This section is most useful if you're working in academia, marketing, or journalism. 

However, include it in your resume also if you're applying for a position that requires you to be an expert on the topic that you've written about.

Volunteering

This section lists your volunteer work . It should be treated similarly to a work experience section. The reason is that whether your work was paid or not, it still translates to real-life experience. 

This is true especially if you find yourself at the beginning of your career. In that case, feel free to place the volunteering section towards the start of your resume. 

On the other hand, if you're a seasoned professional, locate this section more toward the end of your document. 

This is the part of your resume that's the most personal. Here, let a little loose and let your personality shine through. List you hobbies and interests, even the quirky or unique ones.

Hobbies serve as a great way for a hiring manager to see you more as a person and less as just a name written on a paper. They can also break the ice during the interview stage.

Christy's word of advice

Really, it sounds so simple, but one of the best ways to stand out with your resume is to apply for jobs you’re a close fit for. So many people apply ‘just in case they’ll consider me if even I only meet some of the requirements’, then feel deflated when they’re rejected. The company has spent time figuring out exactly what they need and are paying their staff or a recruiter to find that. Look closely at the minimum/essential requirements, apply for jobs you’re a great fit for, and you’ll have much better luck!

Christy Morgan, Resident HR Expert

Step 8: Wrap it up with a cover letter  

Phew! Almost done with how to write a resume. Just a little bit of editing and proofreading, picking the right resume template , and you should be able to click send, right? 

Well, not quite. At least we wouldn’t recommend you sending it —  yet. 

The truth is that resumes are often put aside when not accompanied by a cover letter. It would be a shame if this happened to you, especially after all the time you’ve spent creating it. 

A good cover letter is a way to stand apart from the competition. It’s where you can show your hiring manager you mean business. 

And, if you're fresh out of college or changing career this step-by-step guide on  how to write a cover letter with no experience  will show you what to focus on instead. 

Here are 4 questions to guide you while writing your cover letter: 

• Who are you (professionally)? 
• Why are you interested in working for their company?
• Why are you the best fit for the job opening?
• How can you enrich their company?

When all it’s said and done, your cover letter should look something like this:

Cover letter example

This cover letter sample was provided by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.

Want more inspo? Browse another 1,250+ cover letter examples by your profession.

And if you really want a memorable cover letter, we’ve got you covered. In fact, we’re certain it will be the only cover letter guide you’ll ever need . 

• The older the job, the fewer the details. In other words, don’t have 13 bullet points on a job from 5 years ago.
• Use off-peak hours for maximum attention , especially if you’re reaching out to an employer directly. Hiring managers are busy people and you want them to receive your resume when they have enough time to carefully read through it.
• Check your resume for typos. If English isn't your first language, employers might be inclined to overlook any grammatical mistakes that you make in your resume. Typos, on the other hand, are unforgivable. Your computer’s spell-check feature can help you fix that.
• Customize your resume for each job application. Every employer is different. And any hiring manager can tell if you’ve just sent them the same generic resume as to everyone else. So make sure you tailor your resume to each individual employer to increase your chances of getting hired.
• Get the introductory email right. It doesn’t matter that you have the best resume ever if nobody gets to read it. Attach it to an email that catches the employer’s attention from the get-go. Pay particular attention to the subject line that will make them read the full email, including the attachments.

FAQ: How to write a resume

One to two pages is the ideal. If you're at the junior stage of your career, one page is more than enough. Similarly, make sure that your resume isn't longer than three pages (and this may be stretching it already), even if you're a CEO.

Generally speaking, content is superior to form when it comes to resumes. However, a nice design is the first thing that catches the recruiter's attention — and that's precisely what you want. Moreover, if you're looking for a job in marketing, art, or design, the design of your resume naturally becomes your selling point, too.

Typos, being too general and not specific enough, not including relevant information, not using action verbs, and writing about duties instead of accomplishments.

The best format for sending a resume is PDF, as it keeps the visuals of the resume unchanged once the document is opened by the recruiter.

1.  Include standard resume sections.  Contact information, resume summary, work experience, education, skills. 2.  Include optional resume sections.  Awards, references, certifications, publications, projects, etc. 3.  Choose a resume format.  The three standard are: chronological, functional, combination.  4.  Use bullet points.  Use bullet points to make your resume easier to scan and highlight important information quickly.  6.  Think about the  margins .  Strike a good balance between not leaving too much white space and making your resume seem cluttered.  7.  Keep it to  one-two pages .  Unless you have extensive work experience, you should generally aim to keep your resume to one page.  8.  Consistency is key.  In all aspects of your resume, including the spacing, font, margins, etc. 9.  Use a professional resume   template  or layout which helps to structure the information effectively and makes it easy to read. 

Good job, you made it! If you still need more information on how to write a resume. You can go further in-depth in our section-by-section resume guide .

This article was recently updated. The original article was written by Noel Rojo in 2019.

Kaja Jurcisinova is a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

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ATS Resume Templates

Download an ATS-friendly resume template for free. These templates can be edited in Microsoft Word and can be accurately scanned by an applicant tracking system.

If you’ve made it to this page, then you probably already know more about applicant tracking systems (ATS) than the average job seeker. That gives you an advantage! Why?

Many companies use ATS to manage resumes and applications. In fact, Jobscan research shows that over 97% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS.

If an ATS can’t read or understand the information on your resume, then your application might not be seen when a recruiter searches for candidates with specific skills or experience – even if you have those skills or the experience!

Your resume needs to be ATS-friendly in order to give you the best chance of getting a job interview. That means that you need an ATS resume template.

We’ve designed 15 ATS resume templates that can be downloaded as Microsoft Word files and easily edited. Download one for free or use our free resume builder to get a customized ATS-friendly resume in minutes.

Free ATS Resume Templates

Executive and Management ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

As a leader, you want your experience and accomplishments to shine. These resume templates give you opportunities to show the measurable results you’ve achieved, as well as your hard and soft skills .

Using correct formatting is critical here. The ATS needs to be able to parse all of that vital information and categorize it correctly. You also need your resume to be searchable by an ATS so that when a recruiter filters candidates by skills, your application stays on the list.

Entry-Level ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

You might not think you have a lot to show on your resume, but you do! These templates provide sections where you can highlight your education, internships, volunteer experience , personal accomplishments, and more.

An ATS-friendly resume will help you get found by recruiters and hiring managers. This is important because an entry-level position could have hundreds of applicants! Use these templates to make sure the ATS picks up your skills and experience.

Make your resume faster with our free resume builder

Write your resume the free and easy way with the only resume builder designed specifically with ATS-compliant resume templates.

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ATS Resume Templates - What You Need to Know

How to make the perfect ats resume.

Remember, an ATS is just a computer filing system. It needs to be able to scan and understand the text on your resume in order to correctly parse the information and sort it properly.

An ATS will never auto-reject a resume, but an ATS optimized resume does make it easier for a recruiter to find you among the sea of applicants.

Even more importantly, an ATS-friendly resume naturally follows expert-recommended resume writing standards as well. That means that when the recruiter personally views your resume, it will include the relevant information they’re looking for and will be formatted in a way that makes it easier to read

Follow these tips for making the perfect ATS resume :

1. Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for

Focus on quality over quantity. Each job you apply for is unique, even if they all have the same title. Every company has different needs for that role. The job description will make it clear which hard skills, soft skills, experience, and education the company is looking for. So tailor your resume to show them that you are the perfect candidate.

Tailoring each and every resume can be time consuming, but it’s worth the effort!

You can speed up this process by using a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner . Powered by AI-technology , this tool analyzes your resume against the job description and provides you with a resume score that tells you how closely your resume matches the job description. It also tells you exactly what you need to do to increase your score.

2. Match your resume keywords to skills found in the job description

Recruiters might use an ATS’ search function to find applicants with specific skills. How do you know what skills they will search for? By examining the job listing. Use a resume scanner to automatically pick out the hard and soft skills the recruiter might search for, and then include those on your resume.

Even if the recruiter doesn’t search applications for those skills, they’ll definitely be looking for mentions of them on each resume they review.

3. Use long-form and acronym versions of keywords

Some ATS will only return resumes with the exact keywords the recruiters would search for. For example, if you included “Search Engine Optimization” in your resume but the recruiter searched for “SEO,” your profile may not appear in the results. Try to include both the acronym and the unabbreviated form of the term.

Use a tool like Jobscan’s resume fixer to make sure your resume doesn’t contain mistakes that will eliminate you from consideration.

4. Use Chronological or Hybrid resume format to write your resume .

Recruiters do not like the functional resume format . Unless you’re making a career change, a functional resume is going to work against you. (And even then, we recommend you steer clear of the format for a career change resume .)

The best format for the ATS is traditional reverse chronological. You can also use chronological and hybrid resume formats as these are familiar to most recruiters.

5. Use an easy-to-read, traditional font

For readability, use a traditional serif or sans serif font. Untraditional or “fancy” fonts can cause parsing errors, which means the full text of your resume won’t be searchable.

6. Use standard resume section headings

Section headers like “Where I’ve Been” in place of “Work Experience” will confuse applicant tracking systems, causing them to organize information incorrectly.

7. Save your file as a .docx if possible

A docx file is most compatible with ATS.

What is the best resume format for ATS?

There are three standard resume formats to choose from in your job search. They shape your first impression and determine the way recruiters and hiring managers view your fit as an applicant.

Your resume formatting can also determine how well your resume is parsed within an applicant tracking system (ATS) and how likely you are to be noticed as a result.

Regardless of the format you use, the most important thing is to use standard section headings like Experience, Skills, and Education. That will make it easier for the ATS to categorize the text.

How to tailor your ATS-friendly resume to a job

Tailoring your resume proves to recruiters that you’re an experienced professional. Most importantly, it shows them that you’re the perfect fit for this role.

Follow these three steps for tailoring your resume to a job description:

1. Examine the specific job description of the position

Go line by line through the job description and ask yourself these questions:

• “Does my resume experience section clearly state that I can do what’s required of this role?”
• “Am I using the same language found in the job description or job posting?”

You might find several different or missing skills and keywords in your generic resume.

2. Match skills and keywords from the job description

Mirroring the language, keywords, and buzzwords found within the job description is the easiest way to demonstrate you’re a better match than the competition.

The best way to show you’re the best fit for the position is to take words from the job posting and strategically put them in your job descriptions and other resume sections. A resume scanner will automatically pull out these keywords in seconds and speed up this process.

3. Write your job title clearly

Recruiters might search for people who have done the job they’re hiring, so list your job titles clearly and match the titles to the one in the job posting when possible. If you haven’t held the job before, list it under your name at the top or as part of your summary section.

What is Applicant Tracking Software (ATS)?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software used to assist with human resources, recruitment, and hiring. While each system offers a different package of features, applicant tracking systems are primarily used to help hiring companies organize and navigate large numbers of applicants.

For example, an ATS stores job candidate information like resumes, cover letters, references, and other recruitment and hiring data that HR teams can easily access and organize. It will also track job candidates and their application status throughout the hiring pipeline.

Ultimately, an ATS automates time-consuming administrative tasks such as manually screening applicants, reading resumes, scheduling interviews, and sending notifications and emails to job candidates and employees.

Can you add graphics to your resume?

When it comes to creating an ATS-friendly resume , the rule is: The simpler, the better. ATS are improving at scanning different formatting features, but not all of them are good at this.

Adding graphics and images could cause ATS parsing errors , which means the text on your resume won’t be fully searchable or accurately categorized by an ATS. We recommend that job seekers err on the side of caution. Avoid graphics, images, and photos.

Are Google Docs or Microsoft resume templates ATS-friendly?

They can be. We talked about some formatting features to avoid on your resume – fancy graphics and non-traditional fonts. Those features can trip up an ATS, even if they’re on a Word document or Google Docs file.

However, as long as you follow the guidelines on this page, or use one of these ATS resume templates, you’ll be fine.

How to get your cover letter past the ATS?

To increase your cover letter’s chances of passing an ATS, focus on using a clean format without complex formatting, incorporate relevant keywords and phrases from the job description, and ensure that your content is easy for the ATS to parse.

Consider using a tool like Jobscan’s cover letter generator to help you create an ATS-friendly cover letter. If you already have a cover letter, run it through our cover letter checker tool to get personalized feedback on how to improve your cover letter and make it more compelling to employers.

More Resume Resources

Google Docs Resume Templates

Professional Resume Templates

Resume Builder

Resume Writing Guide

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