Internship Resume: Examples, Templates & Tips

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.
• Returning to the workforce after a long absence.
• 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.

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.

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.

In the next section, you’ll learn how to make the most of your experiences, even if they weren’t in 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:

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?

And 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 to crafting a well-spiced dish.

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:

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.