If you're a student or a new graduate, an internship can be a gateway to full-time employment in your chosen field. The first hurdle to landing an ideal internship is crafting a compelling internship resume.

This guide will walk you through creating an internship resume that highlights your strengths and aligns with your career aspirations.

Internship resume contact info

Start with a header that includes your:

• Full name
• Professional email address
• Phone number
• Clickable links to your professional social profile(s) or digital portfolios (if applicable).

This section should make it easy for the recruiter to contact you and learn more about you, but it shouldn't take up too much space on your resume.

Professional summary

While some companies may still ask for objective statements, those are considered redundant by the majority of employers. Instead, opt for a professional summary, which highlights your key qualifications and what you bring to the table.

Even if you've never had a job before, you can still emphasize your educational and extracurricular experiences. If you're relatively new to the field, it's also a good idea to highlight your willingness to learn and adapt to a new environment.

Education

If you're currently studying or a recent graduate, education section is the most important part of your internship resume. Recruiters will look at your education and gauge whether your knowledge and abilities align with the tasks and goals of the internship.

To maximize the potential of your education section:

• List your educational background, starting with the most recent.
• Highlight relevant coursework, academic achievements, and your GPA if it's strong.
• If you're currently enrolled in school, include your expected graduation date.
• If you've worked on projects relevant to your internship, list them in the relevant section.
• Add any extra relevant courses or certifications you've completed to the education section.

Work experience section

A lot of students worry about their lack of experience, and what to write in this section.

First of all, don't worry. Everyone starts off somewhere, and the whole point of internships is to get that work experience. Recruiters know that they'll need to train and supervise you, so they'll mostly be hiring on potential, rather than the quantity of hard skills you possess right now.

This all means that, when you're putting together your internship resume work experience section, you should approach it is as a highlight section. Don't list every task you've ever done; choose the three most impactful things you've done in each role, and explain the results your work had in quantifiable metrics.

For example: Implemented a new database for tracking volunteer hours, which reduced paperwork by 50% and increased reporting accuracy.

Laszlo Bock, the former senior vice president of People Operations at Google, came up with a great way to sum up the impact of your work, using the so-called XYZ formula:

Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z].

To follow the formula:

• Start with an action word (you can use the words we shared above)
• Follow it up with a quantitative measure of your contribution
• Provide a baseline for comparison
• Detail what you did to achieve your goal

Here are examples of strong action words you can use to spice up your internship resume. Try not to use any word more than twice.

• Designed
• Developed
• Engineered
• Facilitated
• Implemented
• Improved
• Led
• Streamlined
• Transformed

Internship resume skills section

The exact skills you should list in your internship resume will depend on the internship listing, and the requirements outlined there, but you should always have a mix of hard and soft skills.

• Hard skills might include knowledge of certain subjects, industries or specializations, as well as software and language proficiency.
• Soft skills are skills like leadership, communication, or problem-solving.

To get started, here are a few examples of skills you can list:

Hard skills

• Language skills (native and foreign)
• Programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++)
• Database management (e.g., SQL)
• Spreadsheet proficiency (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
• SEO and SEM Skills
• Social media management
• Copywriting and editing
• Web development (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator)
• Video production and editing (e.g., Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere)
• UX and UI Design

Note: Don't list Microsoft Word, Gmail and other similar basic skills in your skills section. Companies already assume you know how to use word processing and email based on the fact that you're submitting an application. Instead, highlight skills that will make you stand out from other candidates.

Soft skills

• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership
• Public speaking
• Conflict resolution
• Networking
• Project management
• Customer service
• Resilience

Note: Don't list communication, time management, attention to detail and other similar basic skills. Those are going to be expected of you (no one wants to hire someone who misses all their deadlines, or doesn't know how to communicate with others), so use that space to highlight things that will make you stand out.

Relevant projects and experiences

You can add any other relevant projects or experiences at the bottom of the internship resume. These can help you stand out from other candidates.

These include but are not limited to:

• Relevant courses
• Personal projects
• Volunteering experiences
• Certifications and awards

Conclusion

A well-crafted internship resume can set you apart from other applicants and increase your chances of landing your desired position. It showcases not only your qualifications but your dedication and enthusiasm for the role. Continuously update your resume as you gain more skills and experiences to keep it relevant for future opportunities.

Read more:

• How to Put Study Abroad on a Resume
• How To Do an Internship While Studying Abroad