Crafting a professional internship resume can help you:
- Stand out from the competition: Employers often review hundreds of resumes for a single internship position. A well-structured, compelling resume can set you apart.
- Showcase your unique skills and experiences: Even with a limited work history, you can highlight academic achievements, extracurriculars, and personal projects that align with the role.
- Build confidence for future applications: A polished resume now will serve as a strong foundation for job applications as you progress in your career.
This guide is your roadmap to creating the perfect internship resume. Inside, you’ll find:
- Tips for crafting a standout resume: Learn what employers look for and how to tailor your resume for the role.
- Examples of successful resumes: Get inspired by real-life examples illustrating what works.
- Customizable templates: Save time with templates designed for modern resumes.
- Advice for common challenges: Address gaps in experience, craft strong bullet points, and optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
If you’ve recently graduated and are eager to start your professional journey, securing an internship can be a great start. For many fresh graduates without substantial work experience, internships offer a chance to gain practical skills, build industry knowledge, and transition into a full-time role.
Why a Strong Resume Matters
A well-crafted resume is your first opportunity to make a strong impression on potential employers.
Take the First Step Toward Success by following these three simple steps:
- Identify companies actively seeking interns.
- Ensure your application is competitive by writing a compelling resume.
- Follow our expert tips and tricks, or use our resume builder to rise above the competition and land your dream internship.
Internship Salary Insights
Internship positions are widely popular across various industries, offering valuable hands-on experience to students and young professionals. Based on credible sources like Glassdoor, here are average salaries by industry:
- Technology: Interns in tech roles, such as software engineering, earn an average of $50,000 to $80,000 annually, with top companies offering up to $100,000 for specialized roles.
- Finance: Finance interns typically earn around $50,000 to $70,000 per year, especially in investment banking or consulting.
- Healthcare: Interns in healthcare-related roles, including medical or research internships, have an average annual salary of $30,000 to $50,000.
- Marketing and Advertising: Interns in marketing and PR positions earn $25,000 to $40,000 per year.
- Engineering: Engineering internships pay $40,000 to $60,000 annually, depending on specialization.
- Non-Profit: These roles often have stipends rather than salaries, averaging $20,000 to $30,000 annually, though some are unpaid.
Overall, the average annual salary for an intern in the United States is $39,000, with senior-level internships reaching as high as $62,000 per year, according to Glassdoor.
Best Internship Resume Examples and Templates
Here are some of the most popular internship resume examples, along with helpful tips for crafting each type.
Accounting Internship Resume
Key Sections: Contact details, professional summary, education, relevant coursework, technical skills (e.g., Excel, QuickBooks), and work/volunteer experience.
Tips for an Accounting Internship Resume
- Highlight analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Include technical proficiencies such as accounting software, spreadsheets, and financial modeling.
- Emphasize coursework in financial accounting, auditing, or tax law.
- Quantify achievements (e.g., “Reconciled 100+ transactions monthly with 98% accuracy”).
Marketing Internship Resume
Key Sections: Objective, skills, education, certifications (e.g., Google Ads), work/project experience, and portfolios (if applicable).
Tips for a Marketing Internship Resume
- Focus on digital marketing tools like Google Analytics or Canva.
- Demonstrate creativity by linking to campaigns or content you’ve created.
- Highlight soft skills like communication and collaboration.
Tailor the resume with industry buzzwords like SEO, PPC, and social media strategies.
Legal Internship Resume
Key Sections: Objective, education (including relevant coursework like legal research or contracts), work experience, and skills (e.g., legal writing, research).
Tips for a Legal Internship Resume
- Showcase experience in researching legal issues or preparing case briefs.
- Highlight knowledge of legal software like LexisNexis or Westlaw.
- Include involvement in moot court or legal writing competitions.
Use precise language to reflect your analytical abilities and attention to detail.
Interior Design Internship Resume
Key Sections: Contact details, portfolio link, objective, education, skills (e.g., CAD software), and relevant projects/experience.
Tips for an Interior Design Internship Resume
- Highlight proficiency in design software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Revit.
- Include a link to your online portfolio showcasing design samples.
- Mention soft skills like creativity and problem-solving.
- Showcase project-based experience, even from coursework.
College Student Resume for Internship
Key Sections: Contact details, objective, education, skills, extracurricular activities, and academic projects.
Tips for a College Student Internship Resume
- Emphasize transferable skills from school activities, such as teamwork or leadership.
- Include relevant projects or coursework that align with the internship.
- Highlight participation in clubs, volunteer work, or competitions.
- Keep it concise and focused on how your academic background prepares you for the role.
Communications Internship Resume
Key Sections: Objective, education, skills (e.g., writing, public speaking), experience (e.g., campus newspaper), and volunteer work.
Tips for a Communications Internship Resume
- Highlight strong writing and verbal communication skills.
- Include experience with content creation or event planning.
- Mention proficiency in media tools like Canva, Hootsuite, or Mailchimp.
Tailor examples to reflect audience engagement and strategic messaging.
How to Write an Effective Resume for Internship: Step-by-Step Guide
If you're writing a college student internship resume, you'll need to take care of a few things before you write the text and content for the application.
Making sure your resume is prepped for writing is an essential first step in the application process.
You can get your resume ready for filling it with information by providing an effective resume layout and structure for the application page.
In order to impress the hiring managers, your resume has to look slick and impactful, as well as contain relevant information.
Preparing Your Resume Layout
To get into your dream internship, you must send out a good-looking application.
A proper-looking resume that is well laid out and logical is going to build more interest with potential employers than a plain-looking application.
One way we can improve the look of your resume is by giving the application page an effective internship resume template or layout.
The resume layout will determine how the content appears on your resume.
We recommend sectioning out the content of your intern resume. Each piece of relevant information will have its own designated section.
Your work experience will go to the experience section, while your academic background will be explained in the education section.
Here's a list of all the important resume sections that are essential to making a great resume:
- The contact information
- The resume objective
- The job description (work experience section)
- The education section
- Additional sections
Structuring Your Resume
Now that we've discussed the importance of making your resume look good with a proper layout, it's time to talk about writing the content.
Creating a strong resume layout is just as important as ensuring that the resume text is well-written, structured, and presented in an appropriate manner. To ensure your resume has a good structure, you can do a few things.
Here are a few pro tips to get a perfect resume structure:
- The format: the information you put into your resume has to be written in a certain way. Use chronological formatting when writing about your experiences, education, etc. Write information from oldest to newest.
- Bullet Points: Utilizing bullet points in your resume is another essential way to demonstrate your experience as a translator. If you have a skill section or other list, define them using bullets.
- Font style & size: It is always best to keep a resume at 1-page length, so the font size should be large enough to accommodate large amounts of text. For font sizes 10-12, we recommend using the Times New Roman/Arial style.
- Action verbs: Use impactful wording whenever you're talking about your past relevant work experiences. Start each sentence of the job description with words such as organized, analyzed, managed, etc.
Before you start writing about your work experience and part-time job history, you will have to introduce yourself to the person reading your resume.
You'll be able to show the reader your contact details by writing a proper contact information section.
The contact information section is going to be the first thing a hiring manager will see on your internship resume, so this part of the application needs to be made effectively.
Start off by writing your name at the very top of the resume. Make your name the title of your resume and have it be larger than the rest of the text. Make your name a bold font size 14 - 16.
Write your contact details below your name. Include your job title, physical address, phone number, email, and LinkedIn or another relevant personal website.
Examples of Effective and Ineffective Headers
Should You Include a Photo on Your Intern Resume?
Most companies don't consider a professional photo on a resume a determining factor for hiring candidates and would prefer to focus on their skills and abilities.
Most companies that hire for internship positions receive hundreds of resumes each day. Because of the high volume of intern applications, hiring managers often skim through most resumes.
To get the hiring manager interested in your internship resume, you'll need an effective way to introduce your skills and experiences briefly.
A proper introductory section is essential for any entry-level professional, someone looking for odd jobs, or even a career changer. An introduction section is also known as a resume objective statement.
The best way to start a conversation is by introducing yourself. Begin by discussing your best skills, abilities, education, and career goals, even if you don't have much work experience. The purpose of your application should be explained to the reader. Say what you're seeking out of the internship.
Remember that the objective statement should not exceed 2 - 3 sentences. Keep this section very short.
Examples of Effective Internship Resume Objectives
An objective statement should be short and only present your best characteristics and show your ambitions, passion, and enthusiasm for the position and future goals. Never make it ambiguous, try to keep things very clear.
- For a Marketing Internship:
"Motivated marketing student with a passion for brand strategy and digital media. Seeking a marketing internship at [Company Name] to apply skills in social media management and content creation while contributing to impactful campaigns that drive engagement." - For a Software Development Internship:
"Detail-oriented computer science undergraduate with experience in Python and Java programming. Looking to secure a software development internship at [Company Name] to enhance technical skills and contribute to developing innovative solutions." - For a Finance Internship:
"Analytical finance student proficient in financial modeling and Excel. Aspiring to gain hands-on experience as a finance intern at [Company Name] to contribute to investment analysis and portfolio management strategies." - For a Graphic Design Internship:
"Creative design student skilled in Adobe Creative Suite and UI/UX design principles. Seeking a graphic design internship at [Company Name] to bring innovative ideas to visual storytelling and enhance branding efforts." - For a Human Resources Internship:
"Enthusiastic business student with a strong foundation in HR principles and excellent interpersonal skills. Eager to join [Company Name] as an HR intern to assist in recruitment and employee engagement initiatives."
Tips for Writing Your Objective:
- Personalize it: Include the company name and specific role to demonstrate genuine interest.
- Focus on value: Highlight what you bring to the role while aligning with the company’s goals.
- Stay concise: Limit the objective to 1–2 sentences for maximum impact.
Every sample resume, whether for an entry-level or a senior position, needs a solid work experience section. You need to show the hiring manager your professional work background.
Your work history needs to be written effectively in this section, even if you only have one relevant work experience for the internship you're applying to.
If you'd like to impress the hiring managers, you must be able to demonstrate your professional expertise precisely and effectively.
If you don't have much work experience, you can also mention other relevant internships and volunteer work. Volunteer experience still counts as essential work experience.
Writing Work Experience for Entry-Level Interns
Creating a compelling resume with limited experience can feel challenging, but leveraging internships, volunteer work, and part-time jobs can showcase valuable skills and demonstrate potential. Here’s how to present these experiences effectively:
1. Create a Strong Resume Structure
Organize your resume with clear sections highlighting your experiences, skills, and education. Suggested sections include:
- Contact Information: Your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile (if available).
- Summary or Objective: A brief statement highlighting your career goals and relevant skills.
- Education: Include your degree, school name, graduation date, and relevant coursework.
- Experience: This is where internships, volunteer roles, and part-time jobs shine.
2. Focus on Transferable Skills
Even if the job or volunteer work isn’t directly related to your desired field, emphasize transferable skills such as:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Time management
- Problem-solving
- Team collaboration
Example:
3. Use Action Verbs and Quantify Achievements
Start each bullet point with an action verb and, when possible, include measurable outcomes.
Example:
4. Highlight Academic Projects and Extracurriculars
If you have limited work experience, include relevant academic projects or leadership roles in clubs.
Example:
5. Tailor Your Resume for Each Role
Customize your resume by aligning your experiences with the job description. Use keywords from the job posting to demonstrate that you understand the role’s requirements.
6. Include a Skills Section
List hard and soft skills such as:
- Proficiency in software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite)
- Language skills
- Public speaking
Writing professional experiences on your Internship Resume
The experience section needs to be written so that it comes off as clear and concise to the reader as possible. Making this section effective is the best way to guarantee job search success.
There are several things to remember when writing the experience section for your intern application.
Here are a couple of career tips for writing the experience section:
- The job description: Each description should start with the job title from your previous work, followed by the company name, location, and time worked. After writing this, discuss your primary responsibilities, achievements, and experiences.
- Use the chronological format: Always ensure your resume format is appropriately implemented in the text. Chronological order makes the job descriptions much easier to understand.
- Use bullet points: Use bullet points in the job description.
- Use action verbs: Action verbs make for a more impactful job description.
For more resume format ideas and resume examples, click here!
Examples of professional experiences for Intern
Having a strong education section on your resume is very important for the effectiveness of your internship resume, especially if it's a student resume.
Many companies in today's market will require an education section on the job board. This is an excellent opportunity to show that you're a hard worker and have the knowledge to perform the job well.
Most potential employers from different companies will review your education section to learn important information about your candidacy.
Should You Prioritize Education or Work Experience?
If you're wondering how to properly make a resume layout, look no further.
The question of which one should come first - the work experience or education section can be answered by the following.
Recent graduates with little work experience should highlight their education on the application and include the academic section first.
Candidates with a few years of relevant experience can put their experience section first.
How to properly list your education in an Intern Resume?
To ensure the success of your academic section, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure it looks great.
The following tips can help you write a better educational section:
- Start with the latest degree: The first thing you will write about in this section is the latest academic degree you've earned. For example, if you're getting a college degree and have a high school student diploma, write about your college degree first.
- List the information: You must list the information about your school and degree, much like a job description. Starting with the name of your degree, provide the name of the school, the address, and the graduation date.
- Provide additional information: If applicable, we recommend including your current GPA, relevant coursework, and extracurricular activities after writing the school's name. Being on Dean’s list is a great key point you can add.
- Use bullet points: Use bullet points every time you list additional details about your education.
Examples of Effective Education Sections for Interns
If you want to boost your resume's potential and effectiveness, you should always include a couple of additional sections.
Additional headings will allow you to show more relevant information about your candidacy for the internship.
Make sure that all of the information you'll be writing about is directly related to the requirements on the job boards.
Certifications That Add Value
Getting certified is a great option if you're interested in increasing your level of expertise in the industry you're trying to intern for.
If you possess any relevant certifications related to the position you're applying for, then you should add a certificates section to your resume. Let the hiring manager see that you're certified.
Certifications can even help you get promoted from Intern to mid and senior-level positions.
Key Skills for Internship Resumes
In case you couldn’t mention or highlight some skills and abilities you think are the most relevant skills for your candidacy, then dedicating a section to your abilities might be necessary.
A skills section showcasing your soft and hard skills is a great addition to the resume layout.
Mentioning some transferable skills that were a part of your previous profession might be practical, too!
You need to make sure that the skill set you'll be showcasing stays relevant to the internship requirements.
What are the primary skills for an Intern Resume?
Skills need to be highlighted on a resume. Skills can determine whether or not your candidacy will be successful.
Here are some relevant skills we think might be helpful for most internship positions:
- Budgeting
- Creative problem solver
- Project management
- Conflict resolution
- Inspection and examination
- Customer Satisfaction
- Reporting
- Adobe Illustrator
- Microsoft Office
- Analytical thinker
- Data analysis
- Multi-task management
- Computer proficient
- Access management
- Research and analysis
How to Match Skills to Job Descriptions
Follow these steps to best align skills with the job description:
1. Carefully Read the Job Description
The first step is to thoroughly read the job description. Pay attention to:
- Required Skills: These are often listed under "Qualifications" or "Requirements." These might include technical skills, soft skills, or specific qualifications like certifications or experience with particular software.
- Job Responsibilities: Look for tasks you’ll be expected to perform. This gives you clues about the skills you'll need to succeed in the role.
2. Identify Key Skills
Highlight the key skills the employer is seeking. These could be divided into:
- Hard skills: Specific, teachable abilities like proficiency in Microsoft Excel, coding languages (e.g., Python, Java), or design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite).
- Soft skills: Interpersonal abilities like communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving.
- Experience-based skills: Things like project management, leadership, or customer service experience that are mentioned as “preferred” or “required.”
3. Match Your Skills with the Job Requirements
Once you've identified the key skills, look at your background and experience. Match your skills with the job description by:
- Highlighting Relevant Experience: If the job requires skills you've gained from school projects, part-time jobs, or internships, mention them. Even if you don’t have direct work experience, volunteer roles and class projects can demonstrate your abilities.
- Using Keywords: Use the exact terminology from the job description to ensure your resume or cover letter aligns with the employer’s expectations. If the job mentions “data analysis,” for example, use that phrase rather than something more vague like “working with numbers.”
- Quantifying Achievements: Wherever possible, use numbers or concrete examples to demonstrate how your skills have made an impact. For example, “Increased social media engagement by 30% by applying targeted content strategies.”
4. Prioritize the Most Important Skills
Some skills may be essential for the role (must-have skills), while others may be "nice-to-have" (preferred skills). Focus on matching the must-have skills first. If you have the nice-to-have skills as well, be sure to include them to strengthen your application.
Example:
If the job description mentions “proficiency in Microsoft Excel” and “strong communication skills,” you should:
- Highlight your experience with Excel, perhaps explaining your ability to analyze data or automate tasks.
- Emphasize communication skills through examples of presentations, teamwork, or client-facing experience.
5. Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter
- Resume: In the work experience section, explicitly mention how you've used these skills. For example:some text
- "Used advanced Excel functions to analyze sales data and present findings to senior management, improving decision-making processes."
- "Used advanced Excel functions to analyze sales data and present findings to senior management, improving decision-making processes."
- Cover Letter: Explain how your background makes you a great fit for the role by connecting your skills to the specific tasks you’ll be performing. Mention how your experiences align with the company’s goals.
6. Show Willingness to Learn
For internship roles, employers know you may not have all the required experience, but showing that you're willing and able to learn new skills can set you apart. Highlight any experiences where you quickly picked up new skills or tools.
7. Be Honest
While it’s important to match your skills with the job requirements, don’t exaggerate your abilities. Employers value honesty, and if you don't have a specific skill, mention your eagerness to learn it. For example, “While I am not yet proficient in Adobe InDesign, I have experience with similar design tools and am excited to expand my skills.”
Example of Skills Alignment:
Job Description Excerpt:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with social media management
Your Skills Section:
- Microsoft Excel: Advanced knowledge of Excel, including pivot tables and data analysis functions, used to create monthly sales reports in my internship at XYZ Corp.
- Communication Skills: I have excellent written communication skills, as demonstrated by leading a team project and presenting the results to faculty. I have also developed strong verbal communication skills through customer service roles.
- Social Media Management: Managed the social media accounts for a student organization, increasing engagement by 25% over three months.
Languages in an Intern Resume
If you have knowledge of multiple languages and are multilingual, then it might be beneficial to let the recruiters know this about you.
Some internships and entry-level positions will offer positions only if the applicant knows a particular language. Therefore, it's a good idea to include your knowledge of different languages in your internship resume.
Common Internship Resume Mistakes to Avoid
Typos and Grammatical Errors
- Mistake: Spelling mistakes, awkward phrasing, or grammatical issues.
- Fix: Use tools like Grammarly, ask a mentor to review it, or proofread carefully multiple times.
Irrelevant Details
- Mistake: List hobbies or experiences unrelated to the role (e.g., "reading novels" for a digital marketing internship).
- Fix: Tailor your resume to include skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight relevant coursework, projects, or certifications.
Generic Career Objective
- Mistake: Using vague statements like, "Seeking an opportunity to learn and grow."
- Fix: Write a customized objective focusing on how your skills align with the company’s goals (e.g., "To leverage my digital marketing skills to contribute to [Company Name]'s online growth while gaining hands-on industry experience").
Poor Formatting
- Mistake: Overcrowded text, inconsistent fonts, or unstructured sections.
- Fix: Use clean, consistent formatting with clear headings, bullet points, and a readable font. Tools like Canva and Zety can help design professional resumes.
Overloading with Technical Jargon
- Mistake: Using too much technical language that might not resonate with recruiters.
- Fix: Keep language simple, focusing on the outcome of your skills and projects.
No Quantifiable Achievements
- Mistake: Failing to showcase measurable outcomes (e.g., "Helped with social media").
- Fix: Include numbers or metrics (e.g., "Increased Instagram engagement by 25% through content optimization").
Exceeding One Page
- Mistake: Including unnecessary information that stretches the resume to two or more pages.
- Fix: Be concise. Focus on your most relevant experiences and achievements for the internship.
Failing to Highlight Soft Skills
- Mistake: Overemphasizing hard skills without mentioning teamwork, communication, or leadership.
- Fix: Incorporate examples of soft skills, such as "Collaborated with a team of five to create a digital marketing strategy."
Lack of Keywords
- Mistake: Not using terms that match the internship description, which can result in ATS rejection.
- Fix: Analyze the job posting for keywords (e.g., "SEO," "content creation," "market research") and include them naturally in your resume.
Unprofessional Contact Information
- Mistake: Using casual email addresses like cooldude123@gmail.com.
- Fix: Use a professional email format, such as firstname.lastname@gmail.com.
No Action Verbs
- Mistake: Writing "responsible for" instead of action-oriented descriptions.
- Fix: Start bullet points with strong action verbs (e.g., "Managed," "Developed," "Led").
Missing Call to Action
- Mistake: Not ending with something impactful.
- Fix: Add a statement like, "Looking forward to bringing creativity and commitment to [Company Name]."
Optimizing Your Resume for ATS
Here are actionable tips to optimize your resume for ATS:
1. Optimize with Keywords
- Match job descriptions: Identify keywords from the job posting and incorporate them into your resume naturally (e.g., "SEO strategies," "Google Analytics," or "digital marketing campaigns").
- Include industry-specific terms: Highlight tools, software, and methodologies relevant to the role, such as "Ahrefs," "SEM audits," or "content optimization."
- Use variations: Use synonyms or related phrases (e.g., "Search Engine Optimization" and "SEO") to match possible variations.
2. Use Standard Formatting
- Avoid fancy layouts: Stick to clean, linear layouts with clearly defined sections (e.g., headers for "Experience," "Education," and "Skills").
- Font: Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman for readability.
- Bullets and spacing: Use standard bullet points (e.g., circles or squares) and ensure consistent spacing and alignment.
- Dates: Use a uniform date format (e.g., MM/YYYY or Month Year).
3. Avoid Graphics, Images, and Tables
- No photos or graphics: ATS cannot parse images, so avoid using them for logos, charts, or design elements.
- Skip tables: Information in tables can become distorted or ignored; present it in bullet points or paragraphs.
- Icons: Replace icons with text (e.g., replace a phone icon with "Phone: +91 1234567890").
4. Structure with Clear Sections
- Section headers: Use standard titles like "Professional Experience," "Education," and "Technical Skills" to ensure ATS recognition.
- In reverse chronological order, List your experience starting with the most recent job to help ATS follow the progression of your career.
5. Use a Text-Based File Format
- Save as PDF or Word (DOCX): Ensure compatibility by saving your resume in ATS-friendly formats.
- No special characters: Avoid symbols and decorative fonts that could confuse the parser.
6. Include Contact Information
- At the top: Place your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile URL clearly at the top of the page.
- Avoid headers/footers: ATS often skips these sections, so don’t include critical information.
7. Highlight Measurable Achievements
- Use numbers: ATS favors data, so quantify your accomplishments (e.g., "Increased organic traffic by 45%" or "Managed a $10K monthly ad budget").
- Active language: Start bullet points with decisive action verbs like "Optimized," "Led," "Developed," or "Analyzed."
Writing a Cover Letter for Your Internship Resume
Writing an additional cover letter to accompany your internship resume is a great way to improve your candidacy chances.
Cover letters are a half to 1 page-long essay about why you're applying for the intern position in a specific company.
Discuss your relevant skills and career goals, your previous work history, and what you've learned from it, as well as your motivation for applying.
For more cover letter ideas, check out our career blog.
Conclusion: Your Path to Internship Success
Resumes must clearly and concisely display a candidate's capabilities for an application to be successful during the job search.
We’ve covered many different details for writing a strong resume. Let's review all the key points!
When writing a resume, make sure you remember these points:
Highlight Your Name as the Title:
- Position your full name at the top of your resume, serving as its title for easy recognition.
Craft a Clear and Targeted Resume Objective:
- Write a concise statement reflecting your education, key skills, relevant experiences, and career aspirations tailored to the internship role.
Include a Detailed Work Experience Section:
- List any relevant work, volunteer, or project experience.
- Use bullet points to describe responsibilities and achievements, focusing on quantifiable results or transferable skills.
Emphasize a Skills Section Aligned to the Role:
- Showcase the skills required for the internship, such as technical expertise, soft skills, or certifications, ensuring they match the job description.