How to Make a Resume for College Internships

Landing That Internship: Your College Resume Guide

Getting a college internship? Huge. Your resume is your first impression. Make it count!

What Makes an Internship Resume Different?

Unlike a resume for a "real" job, your internship resume shows you're ready to learn. Employers want to see your skills and enthusiasm. Think of it as highlighting your potential, not just past achievements. Even small things count! Did you lead a club? Volunteer? That shows initiative.

Resume Must-Haves:

1. Contact Info: Name, phone number, email (make it professional!), and maybe your LinkedIn profile.
2. Summary/Objective (Optional): A short paragraph highlighting your skills and goals. Not essential if your experience section is awesome.
3. Education: Your school, major, GPA (if it's above 3.5), graduation date, and any awards. Mention relevant classes too.
4. Experience: This is key. Don't just list jobs. Use the STAR method (explained below!) to show your accomplishments. For example, instead of "Helped with customers," try "Resolved 95% of customer issues on the first call, boosting satisfaction by 10%." Even volunteer work counts!
5. Skills: List both "hard skills" (like software or languages) and "soft skills" (like teamwork and communication). Tailor these to the internship description.
6. Projects (Optional): Show off personal or school projects that highlight your skills.
7. Awards and Honors (Optional): Include any relevant awards or scholarships.
8. Activities & Extracurriculars (Optional): Show your personality! Leadership roles are great here.

The STAR Method: Your Storytelling Secret Weapon

This makes your experience shine. It's simple:

• Situation: Set the scene. What was happening?
• Task: What did you need to do?
• Action: What did you do? Use action verbs!
• Result: What happened because of your actions? Use numbers if you can! (e.g., "increased sales by 15%")

Example: I once volunteered at an animal shelter. Situation: The shelter was overcrowded. Task: Help organize donations. Action: I sorted and categorized donations, creating a new system. Result: This made finding supplies much easier, saving staff time.

Tailoring Your Resume: Keywords are King

Keywords are crucial. Read the internship description carefully. What skills are they looking for? Include those words naturally in your resume, but don't just stuff them in! It needs to sound natural.

Don't use the same resume for every job. Customize it for each application.

Formatting and Design: Keep it Clean

Use a simple, professional font (like Times New Roman or Arial). Keep it to one page. Use bullet points! Make it easy to read.

Proofread! Then Proofread Again!

Typos are a big no-no. Have a friend or professor look it over.

Online Help:

Your college probably has career services. Use them! There are also online resume builders that can help.

Don't Forget the Cover Letter!

The cover letter is your chance to connect with the company and show your personality. Make it specific to each internship.

Your Resume: Your First Impression

A good resume gets you interviews. Follow these tips, and good luck!