How to Create an Internship Resume?

The resume for an internship application is slightly different for the resume for a regular job application. This 535-word article explains what goes into an internship resume, as well as what to do to make yourself attractive to potential employers.

 

How to Create an Internship Resume

If you're applying for a regular job, most companies require that you submit a copy of your resume. Your resume will tell potential employers if you have the right skills and experience needed for their job opening. However, if you're applying for an internship, you need to submit a slightly different kind of resume.

 

Basic Contents

Most individuals applying for internships don't have a lot of work experience, so unless you've been employed before, you don’t have to worry about adding a section about previous work. Instead, an internship resume focuses more on your educational achievements, including awards received in school, as well as seminars attended while you were a student. Like regular resumes, internship resumes are typically written in chronological order, usually starting with the most recent achievement.

 

The Objective

The first part of a standard internship resume is the objective. This should be a very short paragraph, consisting of one or two sentences, that tells your future employer why you're interested in the company's internship program, what you can offer, and what you're hoping to gain from the internship. A good objective should be able to convince a potential employer of your value as an intern and encourage him to pick you out of all the applicants for the position.

 

Educational Achievements

In the education section of the resume, most people simply list the schools they've attended, along with the various degrees they received. However, such a simple list is rarely enough to get the attention of potential employers, unless you graduated from a very reputable school. A better way of outlining your educational achievements is to also include a list of the relevant classes you've taken that you think make you more qualified for the internship position. Include any relevant awards you received, both academic and extra-curricular, as these will help give a better impression to your potential employers.

 

Skills and Qualifications

This is the part where you should write down all the skills you have that are important to the internship you're applying for. Now isn't the time to be bashful; if you know you're good at something relevant to the internship, mention it and build yourself up. In creating a list of your qualifications, look over the items carefully and make sure to arrange your list in such a way that your strongest and most relevant skills are at the top.

 

Work Experience

As mentioned, work experience isn't really a requirement when you are applying as an intern but if you have been employed previously, this could make you a more attractive candidate. List your work experience in chronological order, starting with the most recent one. Write down the employer's name, the dates you were employed, and brief job descriptions. If there are any similarities between your previous work experience and the internship you're applying for, make sure to highlight those similarities as well.

 

References

Finally, don’t forget to include two or three character references who can vouch for you. In this section, you may list former employers or college professors. It's a huge plus if you can secure recommendation letters from these people, which they can mail directly to your potential employer.