Resume for Internship: Template & Guide (20+ Examples)

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

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

This guide will tell you:

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

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

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Sample internship resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

Not applying for an internship, but want to talk about this experience? See How to List Internships on a Resume

For more, see:

• Engineering Internship Resume Example
• Software Engineering Internship Resume Example
• Computer Science Intern Resume
• Tax Intern Resume
• Resume for First Job
• College Student Resume
• College Application Resume
• Undergraduate Resume
• College Scholarship Resume
• College Freshman Resume
• Resume Example for Any Job (500+)

Internship Resume Example

What is an Internship Resume?

An internship resume focuses on your transferable skills, education and other abilities rather than your work experience. It can be hard to write, as without an extensive work history it can be difficult to know what to include in your resume

Looking For Leads - What to do Before Writing an Internship Resume

Imagine you’re looking for your first job. Would you rather: 

• Have a resume full of relevant work experience? 
• Have a resume with little to no work experience?

Sure, you can always add that one summer job flipping burgers and your work study library job to your experience section. Still that equates to almost zero relevant work experience. And that’s especially true if you’re not planning on being a cook or a librarian. That’s why internships aren’t a complete waste of time. 

Internships are a way to boost your student resume before you graduate. Also, internships are great opportunities for you to test a job. Let's say you have your heart set on working in a particular industry. An internship is a great way to put that desire to the test. How do you know you’re going to like it if you don’t try it first?

Let’s not forget the two most important benefits:

• The opportunity to exercise your skill set in the real world.
• The opportunity to do some serious networking.

How do you find the right internship? Start by creating a wish list. 

Ask yourself:

• What kind of work do I want to try?
• What kind of work culture would suit me?
• What kind of professional and personal interests do I have?

Let’s say you’re a Journalism major and a sport enthusiast. Landing an internship at a big newspaper would be a major accomplishment. But you might get more out of working for a small sports publication.

Once you know what you want, you can start your research.

You’ll need to do research every step of the way. 

• To know what companies are looking for interns.
• To know what to put on your summer internship resume.
• To know how to answer questions during your interview.

Start by researching companies that are looking for interns. Make a short list of those that match up with your wish list. There are a lot of factors that go into choosing an internship.

Here’s a few:

• Is it possible to get an internship where you live or will you have to move?
• Can you afford to move? How can you offset those costs?
• Will moving improve the likelihood of you getting hired down the road?

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

Another thing to consider is what to include on your intern resume. Nothing comes to mind? Read our guide: "What to Put on a Resume to Make It Perfect [Tips & Examples]"

Get in Touch With a Hiring Manager Before Writing Your Internship Resume

Here’s how to get an internship: 

The ideal starting place is your school’s career resource office. 

Why? First, many companies post their internship opportunities on career boards at schools. Second, you can get help with building your internship resume sample. At the very least, you can find someone who will proofread the final copy.

Next, tap into your network. 

Your network can play a huge role in helping you find the perfect internship.

Who qualifies as “your network?” 

• Professors and Advisors
• Colleagues and Peers 
• Alumni Students
• High School Contacts
• Relatives 
• Relatives of Peers
• Community Professionals

If you know someone who works in your industry or who may have connections, don’t be afraid to reach out to them. Yes, it’s intimidating but also well worth it.

Here’s an example email script that you can follow:

Hello [Insert Name of Contact - Use Appropriate Titles],

This is [Insert Your Name]. We met at / You know me from / I am a close friend of [Insert person, place, or thing]. I hope things are going well for you.

I am contacting you because I am finishing up my studies in [Insert Your Major]. I understand that you have connections within my industry as well. Would it be possible for us to meet in person or chat by phone?

I’m looking for internship opportunities right now, and I would love to get your advice and insights. Here’s my phone number [Insert Phone Number]. Is it okay if I add you as a contact on LinkedIn?

Thanks for your time,

[Insert Your Name] 

The message is short and to the point. It allows you to express your needs without being demanding. Plus, you're also complimenting the recipient by asking for meaningful advice and insight.

The letter also gives the recipient several options for helping you. They may have nothing more to offer than advice on how to create your internship resume. On the other hand, they may offer you an internship that’s a perfect fit for you.

Cold call your dream companies.

Let’s say specific companies top your wish list. You want to work in fashion. Maybe not The Devil Wears Prada. But you’ve got a shortlist of publications, ateliers, agencies, and retailers you wouldn’t mind trying on for size. You research them. There are no internship programs. Now, what?

Time to find a person you can use as a point of contact. In the meantime, connect with the company via social media. Explore their websites and look at other job offers. Once you’ve gained some valuable insight, you can try cold calling the company. That means picking up the phone and talking to your point of contact. Otherwise, you can send a personalized email expressing your intentions and interest.  

Do keep in mind that you'll want to establish contact before sending a sample resume for an internship. 

Ask your contact person if you may send your sample internship resume despite the lack of open positions. And then wait until they give you a green light to send your documents.

Why? 

• The company may keep your summer internship resume on file and call you when an opportunity does arise. 
• You’ll gain valuable insight into the way the company recruits. 
• You’ll have an opportunity to figure out how to make a resume for an internship. 

What’s better than cold calling your dream company? Meet a representative in person. Okay, why not date Ryan Gosling while I’m at it? 

While, it might sound a little far fetched, there are ways to connect face-to-face: 

• Job Fairs 
• Community Events
• Industry Events 
• Extracurriculars

All you have to do is introduce yourself when the opportunity presents itself. There’s nothing like a face-to-face meeting to get someone interested in taking you on as an intern.

Pro Tip: Even if a face-to-face meeting doesn't result in an internship, you're adding valuable contacts to your network. Remember to add them on LinkedIn.

Want to know how to optimize your student LinkedIn profile for future employers? Read our guide: "How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Summary & Profile to Get More Jobs"

Online Resources for Finding Internships And Connections

If you are still struggling, here are a few resources to add to your arsenal:

LinkedIn

Use LinkedIn to search for internships and to build a strong professional profile. 

To optimize your profile, include recommendations from professors. Show off your volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and achievements. The platform is a great place to get started on a master, first time internship resume that you’ll tailor for individual positions later.

To search for internships, click on the jobs tab and type “internships” in the search bar. You can filter down to those that relate to your degree program.

One point to remember: Companies pay to post. That might limit what you can find to offers from large business and organizations. 

Internships.com 

A lot of smaller companies look for interns on internship.com because it is free. The site lists over 100,000 internships from around the world. Some are paid, others not.

Glassdoor

As one of the largest American job boards, you can find offers from most companies on Glassdoor. You can also find reviews of what it’s like to work for different companies.

Search by career field and geographic location. Glassdoor draws its offers from companies, job boards, and partner organizations.

Alumni Networks

Check out the alumni network at your college. Alumni who are in positions to hire interns will often start by leaving offers at their alma mater’s career office. Alumni usually want interns from their colleges, so make this one of your first stops.

Google

Check out Google. Yes, it sounds too easy. But you can find all sorts of things when you search for paid and unpaid internships in your field. 

You will find opportunities that supply all details, requirements, and deadline dates. And you can even search by geographical area. 

Internmatch.com

There are over 30 companies advertising for internships on internmatch.com. One benefit is that you can receive notifications for relevant positions after registering.

Idealist

If you want to work in the nonprofit sector, this is the place to search. The list also includes international positions. There are both paid and unpaid listings, and the variety is far-reaching.

If you do decide to apply for a position abroad, keep in mind that they may ask for a CV instead of a college resume for an internship. What's the difference between an international CV and a college student internship resume? There's not  much of a difference, but you'll want to check out CV requirements for different countries. You'll also want to make sure you follow whatever instructions your given. 

Pro Tip: Another online resource is intern resume templates. If it's your first resume, a template can help you put the right things in the right places.  

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

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When you’re done, our professional resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

Still not sure how to layout your first time college internship resume? Which resume format should you use? Read our guide: "3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]"

Here’s How to Write a Summer Internship Resume

Congratulations! You’ve made it this far. Now, you have a decent list of internship opportunities to pursue. So, it’s time to write your internship resume. Your college student internship resume is going to look a lot like a regular student resume.

So, what’s the difference?

You’re applying for an internship. Hiring managers aren’t going to expect you to have work experience. That’s why your undergraduate student internship resume may look a little different than the student resume you make after graduation. The end goal is to make sure that your student resume looks different by packing it with internship experience. 

Still, a resume for an internship should meet the standards of any other resume. Because you have little to no work experience, your resume should be one page. You should use a standard resume format for an internship resume, such as the reverse-chronological resume format. 

Contact Information 

As you might expect, you’ll want to start your resume with contact information. Include your name, phone number, and email address. You don’t need to include an address, especially if you’re applying for a position out of state.  

If you have a personal website or blog that is relevant, it’s a good idea to add a link. You can also pique the hiring manager’s interests by including your social media handles.

Resume Objective

You’ll want to include a resume objective statement after your contact information. A resume objective tells a hiring manager where you are now and where you want to go. 

At the same time, it focuses on the needs of the employer. Not your needs and goals. 

Here’s a sample resume objective for an intern resume:

Want to know how to write the best objective on a resume for an internship? Want more samples? Read our guide: "+20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them on Your Resume (Tips)"

And see some examples written especially for students here: "College Resume Objective Examples"

Education 

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

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

If you’re like most interns, you haven’t finished your studies. In that case, here’s an example of how to put your education on a college student internship resume:

University of Dayton (2014 - present)

Expected to graduate in 2018 with a BA in Psychology. Current GPA - 4.0.

Also, add a coursework description. List classes and projects that are most related to the type of internship you’ve chosen. 

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

Want more examples of how to put your education on a college student internship resume? Read our guide: "How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]"

Experience

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

Adding jobs, even when they aren’t related to your field or industry, show that you’re responsible and you know how to work.

You can also add volunteer work or nonprofit work. Your experience section is also where to put internships on a resume. 

As you complete internships, you’ll add them to your experience section as “jobs.” That’s the main difference between an undergraduate student internship resume and a student resume upon graduation.

Even if you're writing a first time internship resume, you can always jazz up your experience section. Read our guide: "+80 Examples of Resume Action Words for Every Profession" 

Skills

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

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

Want to know which skills hiring managers want college students to have? Read our guide: "+30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips)" 

Additional Sections

Is your skills-based internship resume looking a bit empty? You should definitely consider adding a section for hobbies and interests. Again, your focus should be on demonstrating your skills and experience. Choose hobbies that require skills relevant to the internship.

If you’ve noticed that the company has a particular work culture, you can also choose hobbies that reflect that type of work culture. For example, if it’s a fast-paced work environment that requires a lot of teamwork, choose sports as your hobby. Finally, add a section for research projects, extracurriculars, or publications. 

Want more advice and examples of how to write a resume as a college or high school student? Read our guide: “Complete Guide to Writing a Student Resume [13 Tips, Examples]”

Finishing Touches - What to do Before Sending Your Internship Resume

Before you send your college student internship resume for the first time, you’ll want to take a few things into consideration. First, check if you've received detailed instructions on how to submit your student resume for an internship. 

Instructions might include:

• Acceptable File Formats
• Email Subject Line
• Name of the Contact Person
• Where to Upload Your Resume
• Other Items to Include

Often, failure to follow these instructions could result in instant rejection. Remember, many companies have systems in place to screen emails and resumes. Use the wrong subject line or file type, and your summer internship resume could get black-holed. 

What do you do if you’re interested in a company, but haven’t been able to find internship opportunities? You might have to send your resume for an internship “cold.” But, you’ll still want to personalize it as much as you can. If you can get the name of the hiring manager that works best. 

At the very least you should try to get the name of the HR contact person. This isn’t the ideal way to make contact, but if it’s your only choice it’s worth a try. 

Here are three other things you need to do:

• Write a cover letter. 
• Proofread your college intern resume.
• Tailor your resume to every internship offer.

You will definitely want to research the company as much as possible. Research is the only thing that will help you to tailor your resume to the company’s needs.

A good resume and cover letter aren’t focused on your needs. They’re tailored to the needs of the business. Here are few things to remember.

Personalize Your College Internship Resume And Cover Letter

You should address both documents to an individual whenever possible. Never send the same summer internship resume and cover letter to the businesses on your list. See complete sample of a cover letter for an internship here.

Use Relevant Keywords

Use keywords from the internship description in your resume. The person reading your resume will scan for keywords. To find the right keywords, take a look at the duties, job requirements, and qualifications. You are looking for specific skills, years of experience, etc... When you write your resume, you’ll want to make sure you include these keywords where you can.

Make Sure Mandatory Keywords Are Near The Top of Your Resume 

Some of the keywords that you use will refer to skills and experience that are mandatory. In other words, if you don’t have that skill or the required experience,  you aren’t qualified to do the job. For example, the job offer might say that leadership skills are a must. Make sure these keyword skills come first.

If you're really struggling to find relevant experience to list, you might actually want to list irrelevant experience on a resume. Something is better than nothing (but if you folllow our guide you should have a lot of something!)

How to Clean Up Your Online Presence 

Let's say you don’t include information about your social media accounts in your contact information section. You should still expect potential employers to look into your online activity first thing after reading your summer internship resume. Remember that even if your posts are set to private, nothing you post ever goes away. It’s better to use good judgment, to begin with. That’s why you should start using social media as a professional tool now. 

Start a blog relating to your field or your interests. Connect with businesses and leaders in your niche. Start a professional website to use as your online portfolio. Many college students go with WordPress because it has free and inexpensive. Instagram is a great option if you want to display pictures of your work. And most important of all, make sure you’re on LinkedIn. 

Ready to send your college student internship resume? Want to know some secret tips before you do? Read our guide: "How to Email Your Resume to Get More Job Offers (Examples)"

And one more thing: do write a cover letter for your internship. You'll find out exactly how to do it here: Internship Cover Letter: Sample and Writing Guide

Here’s How to Stay in Touch with Contacts After an Internship

After you send your summer internship resume, ace the interview, and dazzle your employer, it’s time to say goodbye. But you’re not done yet. The last thing you need to do is ask for a letter of recommendation. 

As far as timing goes, ask for a letter of recommendation about two weeks before your internship is due to end. That gives your supervisor time to consider your performance. They will also have time to write something thoughtful.

Do keep in mind that asking for a recommendation is a delicate matter. Ask your supervisor to meet with you.  A meeting allows you to discuss your experiences and show your gratitude. You can also review your accomplishments and efforts. 

Remember that it’s okay to approach more than one person for a letter of recommendation. When you land an internship, you never know who you might connect with. You can also ask for a letter of recommendation if someone took an interest in your career, offered you advice, or acted as a mentor.

You’ll also want to send thank you emails. Send individual emails to each of your team members and supervisors. Mention specific experiences that you shared, and what you learned.

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

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Yes, landing and surviving an internship may seem exhausting. Luckily, with a proper internship resume, it's going to be easier than you think. Just remember to follow the key strategies:

• Customize every resume you send out to match the internship description.
• At the top, put a resume objective—in it, don't write what you want out of the internship. Focus on what you have to offer!
• Spice up your resume with your academic and extracurricular achievements.
• Don't omit the skills section. Let them know what your best, most relevant skills are!

What do you think? Did an internship lead to the job of your dreams? What about internship horror stories? Do you have an interesting tale of caution?

About Zety’s Editorial Process

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

Sources

• https://career.berkeley.edu/find-opportunities/internships/housing-for-interns/
• https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm

Frequently Asked Questions about Resumes for Internships

How to make a resume for an internship?

To write a resume for a student who is looking for an internship:

• Start with a resume header containing your contact information.
• Follow with a strong resume objective that serves as an opening statement.
• Describe your work experience, if you have any, or list volunteer work.
• Add education to your resume, with 1–2 bullet points on your most significant academic achievements.
• Decide which skills to add to your resume based on the internship description. 

For more tips on how to get an internship, read this article: How Do I Get an Internship?

How to write a resume for college internships?

To make an outstanding resume for a college student applying for internships for the first time, do the following:

• Go with the reverse-chronological resume format.
• Make sure your college resume for internships has a proper resume structure and includes the right resume sections (including ones that feature additional information).
• Write a good resume objective and describe relevant soft and hard skills to show your value.
• Create a targeted resume that caters to each specific position (i.e., not just one general resume that you sell to every employer).

How to put an internship on a resume?

First, you must keep in mind that employers look for relevant experience, so you need to decide if the internship provided it and is worth mentioning. Then, describe it like you would any regular work experience on a resume, indicating you were an intern.

See a dedicated guide on how to include your internship on a resume that explains the process in greater detail: How to Add an Internship to Your Resume

How to write a resume objective for internships?

An internship resume with no experience calls for a resume objective. Unlike a resume summary that breaks down the most prominent career highlights, this focus statement on your resume for internships should center around transferable skills and what you want to accomplish.

However, the main goal of both is to show your value to the potential employer. To do this:

• Tailor your resume to the job description to match those expectations.
• Bring out relevant academic achievements on your resume to reflect your potential.

When applying for internships online, should you include a cover letter with your resume?

Even if it’s not directly requested, writing an internship cover letter is a great idea. In the case of a resume for recent graduates who don’t have a lot of experience, it’s a chance to properly explain your motivations and competencies, persuading the hiring manager you’re the best candidate for the position.

Why shouldn’t you put your GPA on your resume for internships?

You should only put a GPA score on your resume if it’s high. Otherwise, it may do more harm than good to your application.