Resume for Internship: Template & Format Guide for 2024

Writing a great internship resume can be challenging. Most intern resumes are flunking out as they don’t show enough determination. But it’s your first-ever gig, so you don’t want to waste an opportunity to train to perform your favorite job in the future.

That’s why you must stand out with the right kind of knowledge and heaps of positive attitude. And you’re about to learn how to do that.

In this guide, you’ll get:

• A correct resume format for an internship in a neat and well-organized example
• A thorough guide for how to write an internship resume with or without experience
• A list of guides with resumes and cover letters for specific internships

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If you’re looking for tips for specific internship resume examples and matching cover letters, we’ve got these for you:

• Marketing Internship Resume Example
• Marketing Internship Cover Letter Example
• Engineering Internship Resume Example
• Engineering Internship Cover Letter Example
• Software Engineering Internship Resume Example
• Computer Science Internship Resume Example

Or see these guides for first-job resumes:

• Bookkeeper Resume
• Home Depot Resume
• UPS Resume
• Walmart Resume

How do you write a resume for an internship? Let’s see a sample first and then follow the instructions with tips for each section.

Internship Resume Example

This intern resume stands out because it effectively communicates Helen’s skill set, project highlights, and contributions and engagement in the field. It’s concise and well-organized, making it easy for recruiters to catch and understand her potential as their future intern.

Internships provide students with the "applications-oriented experience" they require for successful job performance. This hands-on experience gained during an internship can make candidates more attractive to employers. So let me tell you how to write an internship resume to kickstart your career.

1. Take Good Care of a Resume Format for the Internship First

Most intern resumes have a messy format. Meanwhile, it's a clean and elegant resume that catches a recruiter's eye and moves your application to the next stage. So, how to score some extra points right at the beginning? Pay attention to your fresher resume's clarity and neatness.

Follow this formula for the best resume formatting for an internship application: 

• Use the best resume fonts in 10–14pt. Add big headings, 1-inch resume margins, and lots of white space so the hiring manager won’t squint.
• Make a one-page resume unless you’re Bobby Fischer or Judit Polgár.
• Place a resume header at the top. Include your name, phone number, email address, and social media links. It’s best if you show your website or portfolio already at this stage.

Expert Hint: Save your resume as a PDF unless the posting says Word. Resumes for internships as PDFs won’t drop out when you send them. They’re also ATS-friendly, meaning machine-readable.

2. Move On to an A++ Resume Objective

Do you know what personality type recruiters consider the most attractive? If it’s to internships, they’re hunting talented graduates with the potential to develop in their future roles. 

In the next step, write a head-turning resume objective (instead of a resume summary, which more experienced candidates commonly use) that outlines your candidate’s profile. It should tell the hiring manager to sit up and pay attention to your greatest traits.

To achieve a correct format for your internship resume objective, use these elements for the winning formula:

1. One adjective (energetic, hard-working, helpful)
2. Job title (marketing specialist, programmer, engineer)
3. A skill or two (SEM, Java, design)
4. How you’ll help (provide expert marketing intern help)
5. The flashiest 2–3 achievements (ran a social media campaign that got 8,000 shares, created 2 eCommerce websites)

These two internship resume examples show right from wrong:

Internship Resume Examples: Objective

An enthusiastic computer science graduate with proven expertise in Java programming and app design looking forward to working as an intern at Google with utmost hard work and smartness. Created two eCommerce websites that have achieved 100% client satisfaction. Updated a mobile website with 50,000 monthly users, delivering it three days ahead of the deadline.

The objective briefly rundowns Helen’s background, showing her Java programming and app design expertise and boasting her quantifiable achievements. It doesn’t fail to express her enthusiasm and ambition, specifying her desire to intern for Google.

Expert Hint: Don’t try to format your internship resume objective first. You’ll get stuck trying to think what to say. Write it last so you’ll have piles of material to choose from.

3. Put the Right Skills

Don’t copy and paste a list of skills for a resume online. That’s sophomoric. Pick the skills that are yours and also appear in the job ad. This way, you'll show that you are a perfect match. 

You should choose from both soft and hard skills. This is your chance to demonstrate your technical proficiency and indicate your well-rounded capabilities.

And there’s plenty. Here’s a list of skills to draw inspiration from:

Skills for an Internship Resume

• Collaboration
• Communication skills
• Computer skills
• Conceptual skills
• Creative thinking
• Critical-thinking skills
• Fast learner
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Listening skills
• Problem-solving
• Strong work ethic
• Self-motivated
• Time management

Here, you can find even more technical skills and soft skills.

4. Include Experience if You Have Some

Now, experience. Have you worked as a waitress? Or in retail? That’s nice. But you’ll go light-years farther if you show something the recruiters want.

The key to getting chosen? It’s packing your resume for an internship with professional achievements. So, tell them about the projects that you did in the past, and make them really want your contribution.

This internship resume example gives a valuable lesson:

Internship Resume Example: Experience

Web Development and eCommerce Projects

• Created an eCommerce site that sells designer switchplates. Used PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Includes customer database
• Updated a mobile site for Nutrition Monkey Shines to meet Google's mobile-first guidelines. All pages passed with an average of 2 errors each
• Created a customer ordering site for a local florist shop

Project Management and Innovation Projects

• Created a CAD project that makes 3D-printed action figures using Facebook profile photos. The project was cited in the Deelip blog with color photos
• GitHub project: "moby." Added memory.kernelTCP support for Linux. Also added device support for Windows and fixed the log output format
• Sourced new hardware for the florist's computer system. Saved them 45%

Technical Support and Software Development Projects

• Debugged online store for local sporting goods shop
• Performed upgrades to update the eCommerce site to the latest Apache distro

The candidate formatted their experience section to provide a clear project highlight under different categories. That exhibits hands-on experience in web development, project management, innovation, and whatnot, including the technologies used and a track record of successful contributions.

While I'm on the subject of experience, remember that your internship resume is one of the best investments you can make at this early stage of your career. Based on the findings from the Gallup study, recent graduates who engaged in internships aligned with their degree field while in school, were more than twice as likely to obtain a favorable job right after graduating.

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5. Write a Strong Education Section

Of course, the education section matters on an internship resume. It's where you left off and start preparing for your first employment. But not everyone knows how to cover the education section the right way. The key? You have to tie your intern resume to the position to get noticed.

This internship resume example shows how:

Internship Resume Example: Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

John Carroll University

September 2014–August 2018

• Pursued a passion for programming and software development classes
• Member, Student Chapter, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• Received Robert B. Carver Senior Award for computer science excellence
• My podcast on mobile computing was downloaded 1,800 times

The education section highlights relevant coursework and extracurricular activities related to computer science, including memberships and awards received. That, in fact, demonstrates recognition and active participation in the field.

6. Give Your Internship Resume a Boost With Additional Sections

Here’s a secret. Most resume formats for internships are very similar. Education, experience, hire me. Show more than that, and even Elon Musk would notice you. How? Include extra resume sections that show you’re a starship on the launchpad.

See this internship resume example:

Internship Resume Example: Other Sections

Award

• 2018, 2nd Place, Coderbyte coding challenge

Additional Activities

• Led a coding challenge at HackOHI/O 2018
• President, Way2Go gaming club. Raised attendance by 120%

Conferences

• 2018, DeveloperWeek
• 2017, Devnexus

These details show much more beyond coursework. There is leadership, engagement, and commitment to staying updated on trends and new technologies. And above all, there’s the passion for the field.

Do you know where to look for achievements like that? If not, here’s a list that will come in handy:

• Academic projects
• High grades in key classes
• Well-received school papers
• Personal projects
• Freelance work
• Volunteer tasks
• Clubs and groups
• Commendations from teachers and employers
• Awards and honors
• Leadership positions
• Certifications
• Publications
• Podcasts or videos you’ve made
• Conferences attended

Any of those feats will make your resume for internships stand out. Just make sure they fit the internship. Does the position require creativity and problem-solving? Pick accomplishments that prove those traits.

Expert Hint: Employers believe you can do what you’ve already done. The closer your resume bullets to the internship’s responsibilities, the better.

Key Points

Here's how to write a resume for an internship:

• Use the internship resume template and examples. They put all your greatest hits where employers can see them.
• Catch their eye with an intern resume objective. In it, list 2–3 achievements that’ll keep them reading.
• Stuff every bullet point with accomplishments. A resume for internships is a trophy case. Everything in it must fit the position.
• Don’t forget the internship cover letter. A resume for internships is nice, but a great cover letter will ensure they read it. This guide on how to write a cover letter as a recent graduate is also a good place to start. 

Got questions on how to format a great internship resume? Not sure how to put an internship on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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