Internship CV Template, Examples & Writing Guide

Landing your dream internship at a top company seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Well, to get there, you need an outstanding internship CV! And I’m here to tell you exactly how to write one that will get you the placement you’re aiming for.

Invest a few minutes reading this guide and find out how to write a great internship CV that will impress recruiters and secure your future career.

This guide will show you:

• An internship CV example better than 9 out of 10 other applications.
• How to write a CV for an internship that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of applying skills and achievements on an internship CV.
• How to describe your education and projects to make up for limited experience.

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

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Sample CV made with our builder—See more templates and create your CV here.

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My CV is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

Internship CV template

We’ve got the intern CV example, so now you should learn to write your own CV for an internship and make it just as effective.

1. Select the best format for your internship CV

Competition for internships is fierce. Employers expect clarity and professionalism even from entry-level candidates. The correct CV layout instantly makes your CV stand out. And that’s the best way to convince your recruiter to keep on reading.

📌 Here’s how to format a CV for an internship:

• Divide your CV into sections:
• CV header
• CV summary
• Education section
• Work experience 
• Appropriate skills
• Additional Sections
• Select the right font for your CV. The most common is Times New Roman in 12-point, but it's not the only option.
• Adjust your CV margins to an inch on each side and choose a line spacing of 1.15 points. 
• Name your CV correctly, using your surname and the internship position plus the word “CV.”
• Send it as a PDF, unless the internship ad states otherwise.

When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.

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2. Present education effectively on your internship CV

As someone who’s just starting their professional career, your education is your strongest asset. That’s why when writing a CV, put it before your experience section. And don’t just list your degree, but rather add detail to it to distinguish yourself more from your competitors.

📌 Here’s how to create an excellent education section for an internship CV:

• Include:
• Year of completion (or expected graduation if you’re still studying)
• Type of your degree
• Department and institution
• Honours
• Thesis title and advisor
• Consider including: 
• Relevant coursework
• Extracurricular activities
• Dean’s list
• Impressive GPA (that’s equal to or higher than 3.5)
• Studying Abroad

Internship CV examples (education)

The first example shows detail, while the second one only delivers vague information. And that’s not how you impress your potential employer.

💡 Pro Tip: Arrange your degrees in reverse chronological order for better readability.

3. Highlight relevant experience in your internship CV

Since you’re applying for an internship and not a management position, your recruiters don’t expect an extensive work experience section. However, it’s still important to include some relevant experience from your past. Consider various sources where you’ve gained experience, such as volunteering, academic projects and part-time work.

📌 Here’s how to create a great work experience section on an intern CV:

• Use reverse chronological order: start with your most recent job or project and work back from there.
• Include up to six bullet points for each entry. But don’t just list your duties. Focus on your achievements instead.
• Start each bullet point with a punchy action word, such as assisted, completed or acted.
• Quantify experience and achievement with numbers wherever possible.

That’s the minimum. To sound impressive, use positive adjectives, action verbs, and power words, plus structure your experience using the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) technique.

Intern CV samples (experience)

The right example uses action words, numbers and results. The wrong example? Does nothing impressive, simply lists duties.

💡 Pro Tip: Target this section to match the internship requirements. Refer to the advert to see what the employer needs from an intern.

4. List the right mix of skills on your internship CV

Even if you lack experience, you likely possess both hard skills and soft skills that will make your internship CV stand out. They are probably already listed in your CV’s education and experience sections. Now it’s time to separate them into a list.

Let’s see what these skills could be:

Internship CV: examples of skills

• Communication skills
• Active listening skills
• Decision-making skills
• Analytical skills
• Computer skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Technical skills 
• Research 
• Administrative skills 
• Attention to detail 
• Time management 
• Problem-solving

Rather than just make a long list, describe how you utilised each skill in the past, like in the example below:

Internship CV example of skills

Simply listing your skills may not distinguish you from competitors, but a well-crafted description definitely will.

💡 Pro Tip: Since you don't have much relevant experience, consider writing a skill-based CV. Keep in mind, it’s less popular among recruiters, and they’re not as accustomed to it as to the classic, chronological CV format. 

5. Enter additional sections to your internship CV

Including additional sections in your internship CV will help you stand out from other candidates. Do it right, and you’ll confirm all the skills you’ve listed above. Just remember: relevance is the key. 

Here are the categories you can use:

• Associations and memberships 
• Awards and honours 
• Certifications and licenses 
• Relevant publications 
• Language skills
• Volunteer experience 
• Hobbies and interests

Intern CV sample (additional sections)

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t lie on your CV, not even when listing your hobbies. Getting caught on that is not only embarrassing, but also means you will not get the internship you’re after.

6. Create a perfect internship CV summary

There are many ways to find a good internship, but what can you do to convince your recruiter of your candidacy at once? There’s a risk that they’ll look at your resume for only 7 seconds. To make them look longer, write an impressive intern CV introduction. 

As the opening section of your CV, it must be engaging. In just 3–4 sentences, you need to persuade the hiring manager that your CV is worth reading. I know that sounds challenging, but all you need to do is answer three questions: 

💭 Who are you?

💭 What can you offer to the employer? 

💭 What are your career goals?

➡️ And here’s how to answer them:

• Name your key strengths. Emphasise education and any real-world experience. Highlight anything that would aid your performance in the internship you’re aiming for.
• Ensure your description matches the internship/job requirements. 
• Combine it with enthusiasm for the role and knowledge about the employer to demonstrate you’re a good fit. 

Internship CV examples—summary

💡 Pro Tip: Write your internship CV summary last. It’s easier to do it that way, since all the content is already presented in your CV.

7. Include a cover letter with your internship CV

More than half of hiring managers consider cover letters a must-have. So don’t stop on your CV. Remember: your goal is to impress the recruiter with your application so much that they will invite you for an interview. Walking an extra mile is the way to do it.

📝 Here’s how to write a cover letter for an internship in no time:

• Address your cover letter correctly and use the correct cover letter format.
• Put a ‘hook’ in your cover letter opening. Show energy and passion, and include an impressive achievement that’ll make you stand out as a candidate.
• Demonstrate how your skills and experience will help you to excel in the job you’re applying for. Like your CV, tailor your cover letter to each new job you target.
• Put a call to action in your cover letter ending by asking to meet or schedule a phone call to discuss the job further.
• Stick to the right cover letter length, meaning no more than a page!

💡 Pro Tip: Follow up. If you haven’t heard back about the internship within a week of the closing date, contact the employer by email or phone about the status of your application. It’s a great way of improving your chances of getting an interview.

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

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Key Takeaway

Here’s a recap of what we’ve covered:

• Structure your internship CV professionally with the correct CV format and layout.
• Write an education and work experience section tailored to the internship you’re targeting.
• Include a list of relevant soft and hard skills that match the job requirements. 
• Add extra sections to stand out from the crowd.
• Write a cover letter to complement your internship CV.

Thanks for reading, and good luck with your internship interview! You’ve got this!

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Sources

• Lone Star College, "PAR Technique"
• National Careers Service, "How to find an internship"
• Paul Gray, 'Make your CV count – recruiters decide in 7 seconds"
• Eric Hilden, "Your Resume is your 1st Interview"