As an intern applicant, you have the challenging task of transforming academic achievements, part-time jobs, and budding aspirations into a compelling resume. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide tips and strategies to help you create an internship resume that bridges the gap between your potential and the opportunities awaiting you.
Use a professional template if you want hiring managers to take your internship resume seriously. Be sure your resume includes the following sections:
Hiring managers need to know how to connect with you for an interview, so be sure to include all your contact information at the top of your internship resume. List your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to any professional profiles or portfolios.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
If you only had a few seconds to introduce yourself to a hiring manager, what would you say? That’s essentially what a resume profile or objective statement should cover. This brief, impactful summary tells potential employers who you are and why you’re an ideal candidate for the internship. Mention your strengths and qualities that align with intern requirements.
Diligent accounting student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the University of Illinois. Strong academic record and practical experience in finance. Proficient in key accounting practices, including financial reporting and analysis, tax preparation, and budget forecasting. Knowledge of essential accounting software like QuickBooks and Excel.
From the federal sector to arts and culture, the skills you include on your resume will be as unique as your industry of interest. So, tailor your skills list to the internship you’re applying for. For example, for a marketing internship, highlight your social media or content creation skills. And for a finance role, emphasize your data analysis, financial modeling skills, and attention to detail.
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
Data analysis | Adaptability |
Data entry | Collaboration |
Digital marketing | Creativity |
Financial modeling | Dependability |
Graphic design | Emotional intelligence |
HTML/CSS | Initiative |
Microsoft Office suite | Leadership |
Research | Organization |
Social media management | Resilience |
Technical writing | Time management |
Your internship resume may not be filled with years of career achievements, but that’s okay. You can use action verbs to transform everyday tasks and academic projects into impressive accomplishments. Instead of saying, “I was responsible for,” an action verb like “developed” or “coordinated” shows you were actively engaged and making things happen. Use words like the following to start each bullet point in your professional experience section:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Analyzed | Collaborated |
Coordinated | Created |
Designed | Developed |
Engineered | Evaluated |
Implemented | Managed |
Organized | Participated |
Researched | Solved |
Tested |
This is where you’ll list your most impressive and relevant experiences — like a personal best-of compilation. As an intern, this could include volunteer time, extracurricular activities, and part-time work. Do your best with what you have and describe tasks and achievements that could be relevant to the internship, using numbers to convey your value.
Bank Teller, Hanmi Bank, Naperville, IL
June 2022 – present
Treasurer, Finance Club, University of Illinois
September 2021 – present
Quantifying your experience means adding numbers to your achievements and responsibilities. It’s like adding proof to your claims, turning generalized statements into specific, measurable results. So, use percentages, dollar amounts, and other numerical data to help hiring managers understand the scope of your abilities with concrete evidence.
Only about 20% of college students participate in internships. Although opportunities are plentiful, you’ll need a stand-out resume to land the best intern positions. You must tailor your resume to each internship you apply for, paying close attention to the unique requirements and desired skills listed by hiring managers.
Look for keywords and specific skills required for the internship. Are they looking for someone with an analytical mind, experience in social media, or proficiency in a particular software? If you want to catch the eye of hiring managers, choose experiences and skills from your background that best match the internship ad.
Writing a resume without industry-specific experience can be challenging, but as an aspiring intern, you benefit from a unique exception. Hiring managers expect little to no professional experience on your internship resume. Most interns are college students, so focus on your education and the relevant skills you’ve gained from classwork and projects. Go into greater detail here than you would on a regular resume.
If you’ve been involved in clubs, sports, or volunteer work, you can include these experiences on your resume. Extracurricular activities provide insight into your interests and show you’ve gained essential soft skills like teamwork, leadership, and time management.
Your education will often be the top factor that determines your eligibility for an internship. List the degree you’re currently pursuing and details like expected graduation date, GPA score, and any coursework related to the position. If you’ve received any awards or scholarships or made the dean’s list, include that information as well.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Accounting, expected May 2025 | 3.8 GPA to date
University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
Relevant coursework includes:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Diligent accounting student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the University of Illinois. Strong academic record and practical experience in finance. Proficient in key accounting practices, including financial reporting and analysis, tax preparation, and budget forecasting. Knowledge of essential accounting software like QuickBooks and Excel.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Accounting, expected May 2025 | 3.8 GPA to date
University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
Relevant coursework includes:
Bank Teller, Hanmi Bank, Naperville, IL
June 2022 – present
Treasurer, Finance Club, University of Illinois
September 2021 – present
Corporate Financial Analysis Project
Course: Advanced Financial Accounting – Spring 2023
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