How to Write a Resume for a College Internship

Landing a coveted internship during your college years can be a game-changer for your career path. It’s your chance to gain practical experience, build your professional network, and explore potential career paths. But before you impress anyone with your skills and knowledge, you need to ace the first hurdle – the resume.

While crafting a resume for a full-time position can be daunting, writing one for an internship presents its own unique challenges. You might not have a ton of professional experience yet, so showcasing your potential and highlighting transferable skills becomes crucial. But fret not, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, equipping you with the tools to build a winning resume that lands you that coveted internship.

Understanding the Internship Resume’s Purpose

The primary goal of your internship resume is to convince the hiring manager that you’re the ideal candidate for the role. Think of it as a persuasive argument that demonstrates your qualifications and potential. Here’s a breakdown of what your resume needs to achieve:

• Highlight your transferable skills: Even without extensive work experience, you possess valuable skills gained through your coursework, extracurricular activities, and personal projects. These transferable skills can be just as relevant as professional experience.
• Showcase your passion and interest: Demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for the internship and the field you’re pursuing. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who are eager to learn and contribute.
• Present yourself as a valuable addition: Emphasize how your skills and experience will benefit the team and the organization.

Key Elements of a Winning Internship Resume

1. Format and Design

First impressions matter, and your resume’s format and design are crucial in making a positive impact. Keep these tips in mind:

• Choose a clean and professional template: Opt for a simple, easy-to-read font like Arial or Calibri. Avoid using too many different fonts or colors, as this can make your resume look cluttered.
• Use consistent margins and spacing: Maintain consistent margins and spacing throughout your resume to ensure a visually appealing and organized layout. Use bullet points to break up large blocks of text.
• Keep it concise: Aim for a one-page resume, especially if you’re early in your career. Focus on the most relevant information and avoid unnecessary details.
• Use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description into your resume to ensure it gets picked up by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Proofread carefully: Typos and grammatical errors can create a negative impression. Carefully proofread your resume before submitting it.

2. Contact Information

Your contact information should be easily accessible and clearly displayed at the top of your resume. Include:

• Full Name: Use your full name in a clear, readable font.
• Phone Number: Provide a phone number that you check regularly.
• Email Address: Use a professional-sounding email address (e.g., [yourname]@[email protected]).
• LinkedIn Profile (Optional): If you have a LinkedIn profile, consider adding the URL to your contact information.

3. Summary or Objective Statement

This section is your chance to grab the reader’s attention and summarize your key skills and career aspirations. Choose one of the following:

Summary Statement

• This is a concise overview of your skills, experience, and career goals.
• It should be tailored to the specific internship you’re applying for.
• Focus on your most relevant skills and how they can benefit the employer.

Objective Statement

• This is a brief statement that outlines your career goals and how the internship aligns with them.
• It should be clear, concise, and specific to the internship opportunity.

Example Summary Statement:

Highly motivated and results-oriented college student seeking a challenging internship in marketing to gain practical experience in branding, social media, and content creation. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and eager to contribute to a dynamic team.

Example Objective Statement:

Seeking an internship in software development to gain hands-on experience in agile methodologies and contribute to innovative projects while developing my programming skills.

4. Education

This section highlights your academic credentials. Include the following information:

• Institution Name: List the name of your current college or university.
• Degree Program: Specify your major and minor (if applicable).
• Expected Graduation Date: Indicate your anticipated graduation date.
• Relevant Coursework: If there are specific courses relevant to the internship, list them. For instance, if you’re applying for a marketing internship, you could include courses like “Marketing Principles,” “Digital Marketing,” or “Social Media Marketing.”
• GPA (Optional): Only include your GPA if it’s above 3.0.

5. Experience

This is where you showcase your relevant experience, both professional and extracurricular. You might not have extensive professional work experience, so focus on highlighting transferable skills from other experiences.

Work Experience

List any paid or unpaid work experience, even if it’s not directly related to the internship. Focus on quantifiable achievements and how your contributions impacted the organization.

Example:

Sales Associate, Bookstore

University Bookstore, [City, State] | August 2022 - Present

• Provided exceptional customer service and assisted with daily operations, exceeding sales targets by 15% in the first quarter.

• Developed strong communication and interpersonal skills while managing customer inquiries and resolving complaints.

Internship Experience (If applicable)

If you’ve had previous internships, list them here. Highlight the skills you developed and the projects you worked on.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer work demonstrates your commitment, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. List any volunteer positions you’ve held, focusing on your contributions and impact.

Extracurricular Activities

This section showcases your leadership skills, teamwork, and interests. Highlight activities that demonstrate your transferable skills.

Example:

Treasurer, Student Government Association

[College Name], [City, State] | September 2022 - Present

• Managed the organization’s budget and oversaw financial transactions, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.

• Developed strong analytical and problem-solving skills while analyzing financial data and making recommendations for budget optimization.

6. Skills

This section highlights your technical and soft skills. Divide your skills into two categories:

Technical Skills

List any technical skills relevant to the internship, such as:

• Programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++)
• Software applications (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite)
• Databases (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server)
• Web development tools (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript)

Soft Skills

Include soft skills that are relevant to the internship, such as:

• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Teamwork skills
• Leadership skills
• Time management skills
• Organization skills

7. Projects

This section is optional but can be highly valuable. If you’ve worked on any personal projects, research projects, or coursework projects that showcase your skills and abilities, include them. Provide a brief description of the project, your role, and any relevant outcomes.

Example:

Developed a Mobile App for Local Businesses

Independent Project | June 2023

• Designed and developed a mobile application using Flutter and Firebase for local businesses to engage with customers and enhance their online presence.

• Utilized Agile development methodologies to deliver a functional prototype within a set timeline.

8. Awards and Honors

This section is optional but can be used to highlight any academic achievements, awards, or scholarships you’ve received.

Writing Your Resume: Tips and Strategies

1. Tailor Your Resume to Each Internship

Don’t send out a generic resume. Take the time to customize your resume for each internship you apply for. Carefully read the job description and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is seeking. Then, tailor your resume to highlight those specific requirements. Use the same keywords from the job description in your resume to ensure it aligns with the employer’s expectations.

2. Quantify Your Achievements

Instead of simply stating your responsibilities, use quantifiable metrics to demonstrate your impact. For example, instead of saying “Assisted with marketing campaigns,” you could say, “Increased social media engagement by 20% by implementing a new content strategy.” Quantifiable metrics make your accomplishments more concrete and demonstrate your value to the employer.

3. Use Action Verbs

Start your bullet points with action verbs to make your resume more dynamic and engaging. Use verbs that highlight your achievements and contributions. Here are some examples of strong action verbs:

• Developed
• Managed
• Led
• Increased
• Improved
• Created
• Organized
• Collaborated
• Presented
• Analyzed

4. Highlight Transferable Skills

Even if you don’t have a lot of professional work experience, you likely have transferable skills from your academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and personal projects. Think about your coursework, research, volunteer work, club activities, and any other experiences where you’ve developed valuable skills.

Examples of Transferable Skills:

• Communication skills (writing, public speaking, presentations)
• Teamwork skills (working in groups, collaborating on projects)
• Problem-solving skills (analyzing problems, finding solutions)
• Critical thinking skills (evaluating information, making decisions)
• Time management skills (meeting deadlines, prioritizing tasks)
• Research skills (conducting research, gathering information)
• Technology skills (using software applications, operating computers)

5. Showcase Your Passion

Hiring managers are looking for candidates who are genuinely interested in the internship and the field they’re pursuing. Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity in your resume. You can do this by:

• Tailoring your resume to the specific internship: Demonstrate that you’ve taken the time to learn about the company and the role.
• Highlighting relevant coursework or projects: Show that you have a solid foundation in the field.
• Using action verbs that convey your enthusiasm: For example, instead of saying “I volunteered at a local animal shelter,” you could say, “Passionately volunteered at a local animal shelter, providing care and support to animals in need.”

6. Get Feedback

Before submitting your resume, get feedback from a trusted friend, family member, professor, or career advisor. They can provide valuable insights into the clarity and effectiveness of your resume. They can also help you identify areas for improvement.

Sample Resume Sections

Example: Education Section

EDUCATION

[College Name]

[City, State] | Expected Graduation: May 2025

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Relevant Coursework: Data Structures and Algorithms, Software Engineering, Object-Oriented Programming, Database Management Systems

GPA: 3.7

Example: Experience Section

EXPERIENCE

Web Development Intern

[Company Name], [City, State] | June 2023 - August 2023

• Developed and maintained web applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, contributing to the company’s online presence.

• Collaborated with a team of developers to implement new features and ensure the smooth functioning of web applications.

Sales Associate

[Company Name], [City, State] | May 2022 - August 2022

• Provided exceptional customer service, assisted with sales transactions, and maintained a clean and organized store environment.

• Developed strong communication and interpersonal skills while interacting with diverse customers and resolving inquiries effectively.

Example: Skills Section

SKILLS

Technical Skills: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, Git, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office Suite

Soft Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Organization, Leadership

Example: Projects Section

PROJECTS

Developed a Mobile App for Local Businesses

Independent Project | June 2023

• Designed and developed a mobile application using Flutter and Firebase for local businesses to engage with customers and enhance their online presence.

• Utilized Agile development methodologies to deliver a functional prototype within a set timeline.

Conclusion

Crafting a compelling resume is a crucial step in your internship search. By following these guidelines and incorporating the tips and strategies outlined above, you can create a professional and effective resume that showcases your qualifications, skills, and potential. Remember to tailor your resume to each internship opportunity and demonstrate your passion for the field. Good luck with your internship applications!

Remember, your resume is a living document, so keep it updated and polished as you gain new skills and experiences. With a well-crafted resume, you’ll be well on your way to landing that coveted internship and launching your career.