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Table of contents

College student resume for internship — example
Internship resume template [text example]
Start with a skills-based resume format
How to write a resume for an internship
Should you write a cover letter to go with your internship resume?
Key takeaways for an intern resume
Resources to help prepare for your interview

As a student, you’re well aware that landing the best internships isn’t easy. You’ve heard stories about the fierce competition for the most coveted spots.

Well, we have some good news — you can land even the most popular positions if you have a great resume, and making one isn’t hard when you have support.

In our comprehensive guide, we’ll help you make a resume for an internship to kick-start your career.

This guide will show you:

Top internship resume examples for 2024.
How to write a resume for an internship.
What to do before you write your resume.
Online resources for finding an internship.
Why you should write a cover letter.
Key takeaways for intern resumes.

Do you need to make your resume today? Check out our AI Resume Builder, where you’ll find resume examples and have your pick of industry-appropriate resume templates that have proven to help in the job hunt.

College student resume for internship — example

Sample internship cover letter for a college student

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What makes this a great internship resume sample

Begins with a strong career objective
This resume objective clearly lays out the candidate’s goals and aspirations for her internship. She also effectively conveys her passion and skill set.
Focuses on transferable skills
This resume includes three skills sections: Skills, Summary of Qualifications and Professional Skills. Throughout these sections, she puts a special emphasis on transferable skills that will help her advance in marketing.
Highlights select work experience
On skills-based resumes like this one, work history gets downplayed. But as you can see, she still includes a section to discuss her most recent positions.

Anyone who has tried to make an internship resume has experienced the struggle of trying to fill up a page with little professional experience. How do you do it?

The answer: you have to translate your experiences — volunteering, schoolwork, part-time jobs — into a slick, easy-to-grasp package. The example above shows that a persuasive resume without experience is totally attainable. You just need the right tools.

Internship resume template [text example]

To help you with your job search, here’s an internship resume as a text template that you can easily copy and paste into a doc of your choice.

David Martin

Waynesboro, PA 17268 | 555-555-5555 | example@example.com

Career Objective

Highly motivated college student seeking a marketing internship at a leading marketing agency like Momentum Digital to gain practical experience and contribute to the agency’s success through my strong analytical skills, creativity and passion for digital marketing.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Content creation
Creative thinking and problem-solving
Team player with strong interpersonal skills
Calendar management
Trends research
Multitasking and prioritization
Customer service

Professional Skills

Social Media Management

Developed and executed promotional campaigns to increase event attendance by 30%.
Created and managed social media content, resulting in a 25% increase in online engagement.
Utilized social media management platforms such as Hootsuite and Buffer to schedule and publish social media content.

Solid Analytical and Research Skills

Conducted market research to identify customer preferences, industry trends and competitor analysis, providing valuable insights for marketing strategy development.
Collaborated with the marketing team in brainstorming sessions to generate creative ideas and concepts for marketing campaigns.
Performed data analysis to evaluate campaign effectiveness and ROI, delivering actionable recommendations for improvement.

Marketing Tools

Helped track and analyze website traffic using tools like Google Analytics, resulting in a 10% increase in average session duration and a 5% decrease in bounce rate.
Coordinated marketing materials and collaborated with vendors, ensuring timely delivery.
Worked on market research using tools like Google Trends, SEMrush and SurveyMonkey to identify customer preferences, industry trends and competitors.

Work Experience

Marketing Assistant
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg, PA | June 2022 – Current

Sales Associate
Nifty Thrifty
Waynesboro, PA | January 2021 – May 2022

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Marketing
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg, PA
Expected in May 2024

Start with a skills-based resume format

There are three types of resume formats. Each one presents a unique resume layout with the sections arranged differently.

If you’re seeking an internship, you probably don’t have much professional experience. In that case, a functional resume format is the way to go. Functional formats, or skills-based resumes, downplay work history and focus on your skills.

Here’s why a functional resume is perfect for intern candidates:

Your skills take center stage.
You can emphasize transferable skills.
Work experience is off to the side.

Now, there are two other formats — combination resume format and chronological resume format. These are great options if you have some experience in the field.

Pick a template to match your industry

Create your resume

Choosing a template is important. Your resume’s design is the first thing the hiring manager sees, so you want to get it right.

Are you attracted to creative designs that draw your eye to unique design features? Or do you prefer modern resume templates that are sleek and contemporary? How about simple templates that stick to the basics or professional templates that make you look more polished?

A few rules for choosing an internship template:

Use a professional template: Early in your career you need to build up your credibility. Don’t choose a risky design. Instead, pick a design that is slick, professional and engaging.
Consider your industry: Are you in a creative industry or a more reserved field? Ultimately, your design should depend, in part, on the norms of your profession. If you’re a graphic designer, you can emphasize the strength of your design, for example.
Keep it simple: If this is one of your first resumes, we recommend keeping it simple. Focus on the basics — contact info, resume objective, skills, education and work history (or an equivalent, like volunteering or special projects). You can always expand later.

You can also review templates for Microsoft or Google Docs if that suits you.

Next, let’s talk about the resume section that summarizes your mission in a single paragraph — the objective statement.

How to write a resume for an internship

Now, let’s get to the point — step-by-step instructions on how to make a resume. Follow these closely and you’ll land that internship.

By the way, if you’re young, you can find more practical tips and advice in our teen resume guide.

Step 1

Write a great objective for an internship resume

Every resume must have a resume profile. There are two types of profiles: a professional summary and a resume objective.

Here’s how each applies to interns:

Professional summaries combine your top experiences, skills and accomplishments in a single paragraph. This is great for interns with relevant experience or academic achievements to showcase.
Resume objectives are a statement that expresses the applicant’s career goals and ambitions. It’s best suited for entry-level applicants and those seeking internships.

Anyone writing an internship resume who lacks experience in the field would be better off going with an objective statement. Here’s an example.

Example of an objective for an internship

Detail-oriented business major seeking a challenging internship position with ABC Company. Eager to apply academic knowledge to further develop skills in strategic planning, project management and market analysis. Committed to making a positive contribution to the team, learning from experienced professionals to gain a comprehensive understanding of the business landscape, and solving unique issues ABC Company faces.

Step 2

Focus on experiences, in or outside the workplace

When applying for an internship, you may not have more than a year or two of professional experience. Maybe you’re about to graduate from high school or college. What do you do when you find yourself in that position?

Here’s what an internship resume can focus on when you don’t have work experience:

Academic achievements: Mention relevant coursework or academic awards you picked up in school.
Special projects: Touch on school projects that are relevant and a good showcase of your skills.
Volunteer work: Helping others shows you’re proactive and care about making a difference.
Certifications: You can earn certificates before you start working full-time in your career. Highlight them on your resume.
Portfolio: If you’re applying for a creative position, include a link to your portfolio. Projects done in school are fine as long as you are happy with the results.
Extracurricular activities: Any time you’ve joined student government, athletics or clubs could be a chance to stress your transferable skills.

Then, of course, there are skills — the core of any internship resume. We’ll discuss those next.

Step 3

Add skills throughout your internship resume

Think of your skills as the spices in the recipe for the perfect resume.

Like spices, your skills should be sprinkled throughout your resume. One spice is great, but it’s the interplay between them that truly impresses.

Give proper due to your soft skills. Are you an eloquent speaker? Do peers look to you as a leader? Have friends commented on your active listening and empathy?

But don’t forget about your hard skills, either. Did you use Adobe Photoshop in your photography class? Are you a natural when it comes to graphic design? Did you ace your advanced Spanish class?

Both types of skills belong throughout your resume. Yes, you should have at least one skills section. But your skills can also appear in your education, work history and resume objective.

As you can see, it’s not a matter of hard skills vs soft skills. Both skill sets are absolutely essential.

Step 4

Make the most of your education

How you represent your education section when you’re in college or recently graduated and seeking an internship position is extremely important.

When you’re in this scenario, you might have more experience on university grounds than you do in a typical workplace. Make the most of it.

Of course you should include the basics — your degree, the university and its location, and your graduation or expected graduation date. But there’s a lot more than that.

Here are some ideas of what you can add to bolster your education section:

GPA (if it’s above a 3.5).
Relevant coursework.
Special projects.
Academic achievements.
Study abroad experiences.
Conferences.

Let’s look at an example.

Education example for an internship resume

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Indiana University – Bloomington, IN
Expected Graduation: May 2025
Current GPA: 3.9/4.0
Relevant coursework: data structures, algorithms, database management, computer networks

Step 5

Put the finishing touches on your resume

When you think you’re done putting together your resume, there’s one last thing you must do — proofread!

Proofreading is important because simple grammar and spelling mistakes could cause a recruiter to toss your application. After all, you can’t write that you’re “detail-oriented” while you misspell several words or make obvious grammatical mistakes.

Sure, anyone can make a mistake — but you want to do everything you can to craft a mistake-free resume. How can you make sure your resume is perfect?

First, use spell check. Then, proofread your resume yourself. Finally, ask your most meticulous friends and family members to review it.

The bottom line: taking these precautions will improve your chances of getting an interview.

What to do before you turn in your internship resume

Before you start your career journey with your perfect internship resume, there are a few boxes that you’ll want to check.

Target roles that match your strengths.
Read the expectations for the role carefully.
Introduce yourself to hiring managers directly.
Take advantage of the resources available to you.

Drop by your school’s career services office

If you’re about to graduate, your first order of business should always be to drop by your school’s career services department.

Career services are there for a reason: to help you get a job. If you get an impressive position, you’re not the only one who looks good — the school looks good, too.

How can career services help? They have knowledge about the latest job opportunities in your field. Sometimes former alums look to them to provide recommendations. They can also help you search your university’s job board to find an opening that’s right for you.

But career services is only the beginning. Help is all around you if you know where to look.

Tap into your network

Don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. Your personal network can be a powerful tool for landing an internship.

You might wonder aloud, “Sounds great, but who counts as being in my network?”

Well, your network is probably larger than you might think. Friends and family, sure, but also your professors, fellow students/study mates, contacts from your high school days, university alumni, and even acquaintances and peers.

You should cast a wide net because why not? The worst someone can do is ignore your message or say no. But the truth is people are usually happy to help. All you have to do is ask.

Get in touch with a hiring manager

When you’re looking for an internship, you might have an opportunity to practice your networking etiquette by contacting a hiring manager directly.

But before you email anyone, do your homework. Research the company so you fully understand what they do. This will help you personalize the message.

Your message should include a clear subject line and politely introduce yourself and state the value you’d add to the company.

If you don’t hear back right away, don’t worry — you can always follow up in a week or two if you haven’t heard back.

Example of an email to a hiring manager

Subject line: [Your Full Name] – Interested in Marketing Internship

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Full Name],

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Full Name], and I am currently pursuing my [Degree] in [Field] at [University Name]. I came across the [Internship Position Name] on [Where You Found the Position] and after researching [Company’s Name] in greater detail and learning about its dedication to [Something Specific About The Company That Impresses You], I felt compelled to share my passion for this opportunity.

I am particularly drawn to this internship because [Give Reason – it could be something about the company culture, mission, a project they are working on, etc.]. My studies in [Major or Relevant Coursework], coupled with my experience in [Relevant Experience], have equipped me with skills like [Cite Some Key Skills], which I believe would be valuable in the [Internship Position Name].

I’ve attached my resume to this email, where you’ll find additional details about my background and qualifications. I am excited about the possibility of bringing my unique strengths and ideas to [Company’s Name] as a part of your team.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to further discuss why I’d be a great match for this role in an interview. Please feel free to reach out to me at your earliest convenience.

Thank you very much for considering my application. I look forward to discussing opportunities to contribute to [Company’s Name].

Best Regards,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Information]

Cold call your dream companies

Cold calling can make you seem proactive and genuinely interested in the company. But you should always use the utmost professionalism and tact when cold calling.

Research the company. Figure out the best point of contact — usually the head of a department or an HR representative. LinkedIn is a great resource for identifying the right person.

Write a strong sales pitch. Be polite and professional every step of the way. You don’t want to come off as pushy. Instead, you want to sound confident and curious.

Finally, if you don’t get a response, don’t be discouraged. You can follow up once or twice — but be careful not to bombard them with messages. Doing so could harm your reputation.

Example opening message for an internship cold call:

Hi [Recipient’s Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I’m a [Your Year] at [Your University] studying [Your Major]. I’m impressed by [Company Name]’s work in [Industry/Field] and am interested in an internship. I believe my skills in [Relevant Skills] would be a good fit for your team.

Could we discuss potential opportunities? Thank you!

Best,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]

Online resources for finding an internship

There are many ways to find internships, especially if you’re looking online.

Here are the top online resources for internships:

LinkedIn: Go to the Jobs section of LinkedIn and search the word “internship.” This is an excellent starting point because you can use LinkedIn to find connections who might work for a company. Be sure to optimize your profile. And, ask your peers to endorse your skills and write recommendations.
University job board: Visit your career center in person or search the online job board. One advantage of doing this: you may find opportunities specifically for students at your university that you won’t find on the mainstream job boards.
Alumni networks: See if there are listservs for university alumni. Most universities have them, and there you’ll find members who are happy to pass along internship and job opportunities.
Glassdoor: As a leading job board, Glassdoor hosts many of the best openings in the U.S. Even better, you can find information about salary, employee reviews and other facts about the company. They also offer good filtering mechanisms, including industry and geolocation.

Should you write a cover letter to go with your internship resume?

Create your cover letter

Yes, you should always write a cover letter. Why?

Imagine you’re a hiring manager who gets dozens of resumes every day. Wouldn’t you be inclined to prefer the applicants who went the extra mile by adding a cover letter? Doesn’t it say something about the level of effort and desire for the job?

But that’s not all — here’s a full list of reasons to write a cover letter:

You can stand out from candidates who didn’t write a cover letter.
You can explain in more detail why you’re the perfect fit for the company.
You can showcase your personality and demonstrate your enthusiasm.
You can share an anecdote that shows why you’d be an excellent hire.
You can explain aspects of your resume — a complete lack of relevant experience, for example.

If you fear the blank page, we can help you learn how to write a cover letter. Browse cover letter examples for inspiration and use our Cover Letter Builder to choose a template that matches your resume.

Before we wrap up, let’s summarize the key points.

Key takeaways for an intern resume

Focus on your coursework and education

No work experience? No problem. Just shift the attention toward accomplishments outside the workplace.
Highlight your transferable skills

You picked up skills in school. Many of those skills could easily transfer into an internship.
Share your goals for the internship

Your resume objective should reveal what you hope to get out of the internship. Be direct and goal-oriented.
Customize your resume to the job listing

Highlight the skills in the internship listing. Add those to your resume because they are likely to be important keywords.
Wow the hiring manager with a cover letter

Companies are impressed when candidates at the start of their career go the extra mile with a cover letter.
Proofread your resume several times

It would be terrible to submit a great resume only to be rejected for typos. You can’t be too cautious in proofreading your resume.

Resources to help prepare for your interview

Last Updated: July 15, 2024

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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.