Internship experience can be crucial to getting your first job after graduation. The most effective way to land the perfect internship is to write a resume that includes your related work experience, schooling, and any other relevant life experiences you may have had so far.
Regardless of your career direction, you can write an effective resume for internships by showing your ability to quickly gain and use new knowledge in a real-world setting. The tips and examples below will help you capture this skill on your resume so it gets you interviews for a great internship opportunity.
Most Popular Internship Resumes
Accounting Intern Resume Example
Why this accounting internship resume example is strong:
This resume stands out due to the candidate's strong academic background, highlighted by a 4.0 GPA and relevant coursework in auditing, cost accounting, and business law. The candidate’s work experience showcases a solid foundation in accounting principles, including tasks such as journal entries, account reconciliation, and preparing invoices. Additionally, the ability to work with accounting software like QuickBooks demonstrates technical competency. For more guidance on tailoring internships for accounting, read our guide to resume summary examples.
Editorial Intern Resume Example
Why this editorial intern resume example is strong:
This resume showcases the candidate’s strong academic foundation in creative writing, along with their bilingual skills in Spanish and English, which can be a significant asset in publishing. The combination of their practical experience as a staff writer for a university newspaper and a receptionist for a magazine adds credibility. By providing examples of writing and editing skills, such as contributing copy to various newspaper sections, this resume effectively demonstrates a wide range of relevant skills. Learn more about resume skills here.
Hospitality Intern Resume Example
Why this hospitality intern resume example is strong:
This resume highlights the candidate’s leadership and teamwork skills, demonstrated by their role in training and mentoring new hires at a large hotel. Their bilingual abilities in French and English further enhance their value in a diverse hospitality setting. Strong academic performance (3.9 GPA) and recognition in leadership roles (captain of the volleyball team) make this a well-rounded candidate. For more guidance on making the most of internships, check out our resume writing tips.
College Student Resume Example
Why this college student resume example is strong:
This resume effectively combines academic achievements with hands-on experience in data analysis. The candidate has leveraged their business administration degree to work on projects that translate into real-world problem-solving, such as financial modeling for tech companies. The clear demonstration of technical skills like business intelligence, data analysis, and visualization tools provides a competitive edge in data-driven decision-making. For more help showcasing academic projects on your resume, read our guide on how to list coursework.
Accountant Intern Resume Example
Why this accountant intern resume example is strong:
This resume clearly outlines the candidate's ability to handle important accounting functions, such as financial analysis, tax preparation, and compliance. Their experience conducting audits and preparing financial reports shows their thoroughness and attention to detail, while their academic background in accounting solidifies their qualifications. The candidate’s ability to work on comprehensive financial reports and collaborate with teams during audits gives them an edge in this field. Read more about making your skills stand out on a resume.
Software Engineer Intern Resume Example
Why this software engineer intern resume example is strong:
This resume highlights the candidate’s technical skills in application development and database management, along with their experience using React, a highly sought-after skill in the tech world. The candidate’s internships showcase a variety of experiences, from developing mobile features to optimizing software for disaster recovery. Their ability to deliver results in complex environments is further supported by their academic background in software engineering. For more advice on highlighting tech skills, explore our technical skills guide.
HR Intern Resume Example
Why this HR intern resume example is strong:
This resume is effective because it highlights the candidate’s ability to improve employee engagement and onboarding processes, both crucial HR functions. The combination of strong communication skills, recruiting experience, and HR administration tasks, like coordinating with new hires and conducting onboarding, positions this candidate as someone ready to make an immediate impact. The academic focus on human resources further supports their readiness to contribute to an organization. Read our guide to optimizing your HR resume.
Internship Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write an Internship Resume
1. Summarize your internship qualifications in a dynamic profile
Your resume profile should catch hiring managers’ interest by giving the top reasons they can expect you to apply your college studies successfully. Use this section to show you have the knowledge base and work ethic to excel as an intern.
If you have a high major GPA or other academic honors, consider mentioning those in your profile. Also, note any relevant work or internship experience you already have, which can help you stand out from other applicants. The best interns are often curious, resourceful, collaborative, and adaptable. Think about which traits describe you, then add a profile line on how you’d use them in a work environment.
Profile Example
Dedicated accounting student with a 4.0 GPA to date. Completed 32 credit hours, including classes in auditing, cost accounting, and managerial accounting. Recent work experience in small business bookkeeping. Well-versed in accounting software such as QuickBooks and ProSeries. Naturally curious and eager to learn new finance systems and procedures.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your internship experience
With the experience section, you can show you’re a good intern candidate by giving examples of your success in building and using new work knowledge. If you have prior internship or related work experience, flesh out those descriptions so they’re the main focus of this section. Under each job, brainstorm and describe how you quickly learned new concepts and generated value in an unfamiliar environment.
For any jobs that don’t pertain to your target internship, keep the description short and focused on whatever transferable skills you gained. Say you’re applying to intern at a financial services firm, but your work experience so far is mostly summer jobs at coffee shops and restaurants. In this case, you could show the value of these experiences by describing the general customer relations skills you gained as a result.
Work Experience Example
Administrative Intern, Tax Prep LLC, Detroit, MI | May 2021 to September 2021
- Gained and applied strong service skills such as answering phones, greeting clients, and preparing for client meetings
- Replied to new client emails with information on the firm’s services and price schedules
- Received, scanned, and cataloged clients’ tax records
- Supported tax preparation by entering client data and organizing written communications
3. Include your internship-related education and certifications
When you’re in school and pursuing an internship, your current degree program may be one of your top qualifications. So feel free to add any details about it that speak to your ideal internship. Consider listing any relevant courses or topics you’ve studied so far – this is often a great way to show hiring managers the knowledge base you’d apply in their internship program.
Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details. Note that optional template areas appear in [brackets].
Education
Template:
Candidate: Degree Title [— Major, Minor], [Academic Department,] School Name,City, ST or online | expected graduation date
- [Dean’s list or other honors] | [#.# GPA] | [class rank]
- [Dissertation: “Name of Dissertation Paper”]
- [Relevant coursework includes: Topic, Topic, Topic]
- [Club or Sports Team]
- [Club or Sports Team]
Example:
Candidate: Bachelor of Science (BS) – Accounting, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | expected May 2023 | 4.0 GPA to date
Relevant coursework includes:
- Accounting and economic principles
- Audit and assurance
- Business law
- Corporate finance
- Cost and managerial accounting
- Taxation
Certification
Template
- Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [date]
Example
- Service Excellence Certificate, VCU Advanced Solutions | 2023
4. List your internship-related skills and proficiencies
Include a “Key Skills” section to show managers the various ways you could add value as an intern at their organization. These might range from general soft skills like teamwork to hard technical skills like Microsoft Excel. Make sure each one overlaps with your target role. By having a good mix of relevant skills in this section, you can emphasize your ability to build and harness new practical knowledge. Below are some common skills and keywords to consider for your internship resume:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Client relations | Complex problem-solving |
| Customer service and relations | Data entry and updating |
| Data gathering and analysis | Efficiency improvement |
| Event planning | Inbox sorting and organizing |
| Inventory monitoring | Legal and corporate compliance |
| Microsoft Office Suite | New system implementation |
| Office administration | Process streamlining |
| Program management | Project management |
| Rapid problem-solving | Reporting and documentation |
| Research and fact-checking | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Workflow documentation |
| Writing, editing, and proofreading | |
How To Pick the Best Internship Resume Template
For internships, a clear and straightforward resume template is usually best. Opt for a visual design that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font, and avoid any template with an overly colorful or elaborate design. Also, consider whether the template is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) employers use to screen resumes.
Frequently Asked Questions: Internship Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for internship resumes?-
For internship candidates, the best resume verbs will show how you’ve quickly built and applied new knowledge – for example, “developed,” “gained,” or “implemented.” But there are various others you might use to describe your school and work experiences so far. The following list can help you find the right mix of action verbs for your internship resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Acquired | Adapted |
| Analyzed | Answered |
| Applied | Attended |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Developed | Evaluated |
| Examined | Executed |
| Explored | Followed |
| Gained | Generated |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Improved | Incorporated |
| Integrated | Learned |
| Maintained | Managed |
| Planned | Problem-solved |
| Procured | Produced |
| Project-managed | Provided |
| Streamlined | Strengthened |
| Supported | Uncovered |
| Won | |
How do you align your resume with a job posting?-
A quick and effective way to align your resume with each posting is through the Key Skills section. For any internship you’re drawn to, follow these steps:
1. Identify the most important skills required. These often appear toward the top of the job post and/or are cited repeatedly. Consider using an online tool like wordclouds.com to visualize which terms in the text are most frequent.
2. Among these required skills, highlight any you possess. For example, if one of the posting’s top skills is “teamwork,” consider how collaborative your experiences have or haven’t been, then highlight it if you feel it’s a strength you’ve gained.
3. Compare the skills you’ve highlighted to your resume’s Key Skills section and add any that are missing. Continuing the above example, say you’ve identified teamwork as one of your strengths. Is this reflected in your existing Key Skills section? If not, add a term like “Team collaboration” or “Cross-functional coordination.”
4. Finally, consider deleting any terms in your resume’s Key Skills section that don’t correspond with the skills cited in the internship posting.
This simple exercise gives each hiring manager a clear view of your relevant skill set, making your resume more relevant to the internship.
What is the best internship resume format? -
In nearly all cases, use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience. It’s also easiest for you to modify based on your job goals.
With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your experience or work history section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a profile summary and Key Skills section, but you may also add a career highlights or awards section.
How long should I make my internship resume?-
A one-page internship resume is the best option for most candidates, as it ensures clarity and brevity. If you have significant achievements or over 10 years of experience, extending to two pages is fine—but only if the content is tailored and directly supports your application. Focus on impactful accomplishments and key skills that relate to the job.
Include your most recent 10 to 15 years of work experience. Older roles should only appear if they provide unique insights or align closely with the job requirements. Keeping your resume concise and relevant will maximize its impact.
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To increase your chances of an interview, write and submit a strong cover letter. The key to an effective letter is customizing it based on each internship opening. Read our internship cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our high school and recent graduate cover letter guides.
