An internship is a crucial step toward exploring career options and developing a professional mindset. Crafting an impressive resume is key to securing an internship at your desired organization, as it highlights your skills and potential to employers, increasing your chances of getting shortlisted. In this article, we guide you through the essential steps to write a compelling resume for an internship, complete with a template and sample resume for reference
What Is A Resume For Internship?
An internship resume is a tailored document used when applying for internships, typically at the start of your career. As you may have limited professional experience, this type of resume emphasizes your educational background, skills, and abilities. Crafting an effective internship resume can be challenging, but it also gives you the opportunity to highlight qualities that set you apart from other candidates.
Use your resume to showcase how your skills align with the company’s goals by reflecting on achievements or instances where you demonstrated problem-solving abilities. However, only include relevant skills specific to the internship role. It's best to create a separate, customized resume for each internship application, ensuring that it is focused, targeted, and relevant.
How To Write A Resume For An Internship?
Before diving into specific tips, we need to understand the key components that make an internship resume effective. An internship resume differs from a standard resume primarily because it often lacks extensive professional experience. Instead, it focuses on academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Here are the critical elements to include:
1. Review the internship job description: Carefully read the job description for the internship role and identify the key skills the employer seeks. This will help you assess if the role aligns with your career goals. Incorporate relevant keywords from the description into your resume to tailor it for the position and improve its chances of passing through the applicant tracking system (ATS), a software many employers use to filter applications based on specific keywords.
2. Research the organisation: Research the organization to understand its work culture and values. This helps you decide if the company aligns with your personal goals and allows you to tailor your resume, cover letter, or interview responses accordingly. Start with the company’s website, focusing on sections like ‘About Us’ or ‘Careers.’ Additionally, check employee and customer reviews on job portals and business review platforms for further insights.
3. Include your name and contact information: At the top of your resume, include your full name, address, email, and phone number for easy access by recruiters. Your address may help you stand out if it's close to the office. Additionally, consider adding links to professional social media profiles, ensuring they reflect a positive brand image.
Resume Objective: A clear statement outlining your career goals, skills, and enthusiasm for the internship.
Educational Background: Detailed information about your academic achievements, including coursework, grades, and any honours received.
Relevant Skills: A balanced mix of hard and soft skills that demonstrate your capabilities.
Work and Volunteer Experience: Any past work, internships, or volunteer roles that highlight relevant skills and experiences.
Additional Sections: Optional sections such as certifications, projects, extracurricular activities, and languages
Add references: Including references in your internship resume is crucial, especially since you may lack extensive work experience. Having someone vouch for your skills can significantly enhance your credibility. Reach out to professors, project mentors, or friends in reputable positions for recommendations. Ensure each reference includes their name, title, organization, and contact information.
These components provide a comprehensive view of your qualifications and potential, showing employers who you are as an individual as well as your capabilities. Now, let's delve into each component.
Resume For Internship Template
A resume objective sets the tone for your resume. It should help succinctly convey your career goals as well as your enthusiasm for the internship. It can highlight your eagerness to learn, specific skills you might have, and how you intend to apply them in the role. This is an excellent place to demonstrate your passion for the industry and your understanding of the company's goals.
Example:
Motivated student with a strong foundation in investment analysis and portfolio management, seeking an internship at Aditya Birla Capital. Eager to apply analytical skills and financial knowledge to contribute to investment strategy and risk assessment projects.
This statement clearly outlines the candidate's skills and specific interest in the role, setting a positive tone for the rest of the resume.
Highlighting your educational background
Given that many interns are still in school or graduates, the education section of the resume is critical. This is even more true for candidates who don’t have much professional experience. It's particularly important to include relevant coursework and academic achievements that align with the skills required for the position.
Example:
Bachelor of Commerce
XYZ University, 2019-2023
GPA: 3.9/4.0
Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting, Investment Analysis, Corporate Finance, Econometrics
Additionally, you can include academic projects that demonstrate the practical application of your skills.
Showcasing key skills and competencies
Employers value a blend of technical and soft skills. Technical skills might include proficiency in financial modelling, Excel, or data analysis, while soft skills could encompass teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities. Some of the key skills you could highlight may be:
- Financial Modelling: Proficiency in building and interpreting financial models to forecast business performance.
- Excel Proficiency: Being able to efficiently use Excel for applications like data analysis or financial calculations.
- Data Visualisation: Experience with data visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI to present financial data clearly and effectively.
- Analytical Thinking: Strong ability to break down complex information and identify key insights.
- Effective Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, essential for articulating insights and strategies.
- Team Collaboration: Proven ability to work collaboratively in team settings, contributing to group projects and corporate initiatives.
Detailing work and volunteer experience
When discussing previous work experiences, internships, or volunteer work, focus on what you accomplished, the skills you used, and any quantifiable results. Highlight how these experiences have prepared you for future roles, particularly in technical positions, by showcasing relevant skills and achievements. This approach helps employers understand the value you bring to their organisation..
Example:
Research Assistant.
XYZ University, Department of Finance.
September 2021 – May 2022.
- Conducted market analysis projects, leading to a 10% improvement in investment strategy recommendations..
- Assisted in drafting a research paper on financial modelling published in a reputable journal..
- Developed advanced Excel skills and performed statistical analyses using financial software..
Volunteer Tutor.
Local Community Center.
June 2020 – August 2021.
- Provided tutoring in economics and statistics to high school students, resulting in a 25% improvement in their test scores..
- Developed strong communication skills by simplifying complex financial concepts for students..
- Organised a workshop on basic financial literacy, enhancing community awareness..
These examples should be concise yet descriptive, offering a clear picture of your responsibilities and the skills you've gained. This format allows you to elaborate on your achievements and the practical application of your skills in real-world scenarios.
Incorporating additional sections to strengthen your resume
To make your resume stand out, consider including additional sections that highlight other relevant experiences and skills.
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Certifications and Awards
Highlight any certifications that demonstrate your expertise, such as a certification in Excel, project management, or a specialised field relevant to your interests. Mention any awards that you may have received for academic excellence, competitions, or other achievements.
Projects and Portfolios
Include a section detailing significant projects you've completed, such as a research project, a comprehensive report, or a creative portfolio. If you have developed a presentation, conducted a study, or created a significant work product, mention these to showcase your skills and accomplishments.
Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Roles
Showcase your leadership and teamwork abilities by highlighting roles like president of a student council, organiser of a community event, or leader of a project team. These experiences reflect your ability to manage, coordinate, and collaborate effectively in various settings.
Sample Resume For Internship
Rahul Sharma
B-15, Sector 62
Noida – 201301
Mobile: +91-XXXXXXXXXX
Email: rahul.sharma@email.com
________________________________________
Objective
B.Tech in Computer Science student with a passion for software development, seeking an internship opportunity at a reputed tech firm to enhance my coding, problem-solving, and team collaboration skills. Eager to work on real-world projects and gain experience in full-stack development to build a career as a software engineer.
________________________________________
Skills
• Proficient in programming languages: C++, Java, Python
• Hands-on experience with web development tools: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, ReactJS
• Familiar with SQL and NoSQL databases
• Strong problem-solving skills and logical thinking
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills
________________________________________
Achievements
• Won the 2nd prize in the inter-college coding competition, 2023
• Secured an ‘A’ grade in the “Data Structures and Algorithms” course
• Certified in Python programming from Coursera
________________________________________
Education
B.Tech (Computer Science) – 2021-2025
Amity University, Noida
Grade 12 (CBSE) – 2021
Delhi Public School, Noida – 92%
Grade 10 (CBSE) – 2019
Delhi Public School, Noida – 89%
________________________________________
Projects
Library Management System (Java)
• Designed and implemented a system to manage books and student records for a college library.
• Integrated SQL database for backend support.
Personal Portfolio Website (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)
• Developed a responsive portfolio website showcasing my academic projects and achievements.
________________________________________
References
1. Mr. Rakesh Mehra, Professor, Amity University.
Ph: +91-XXXXXXXXXX | Email: rakesh.mehra@email.com
2. Ms. Sneha Roy, Coding Club Coordinator, Amity University.
Ph: +91-XXXXXXXXXX | Email: sneha.roy@email.com
Tips for effective resume formatting and presentation
A well-formatted resume is easier to read and gives a professional impression. Use a clean, simple layout with clear headings and consistent formatting.
Formatting Tips:
- Use a common font that is professional like Arial or Calibri.
- Maintain consistent font sizes for headings and body text.
- Use bullet points for easy readability.
- Keep margins and spacing uniform.
- Make sure to remove any grammatical errors and typos.
Proofread your resume a couple of times and have someone else look it over as well. A polished resume reflects attention to detail, an essential quality in any job.
Creating a standout internship resume is key to securing valuable work experience and launching your career. Remember, each section of your resume should tell a cohesive story of your development and readiness for the professional world. At Aditya Birla Capital, we value the unique skills and experiences that each
candidate brings. By crafting a good internship resume, you can effectively communicate your potential to employers, including those at top organizations like ours. Consider exploring the exciting opportunities available at Aditya Birla Capital, where we support the growth and development of young
professionals like you.
ALSO READ:
1. How to write compelling cover letters
2. How to craft a compelling career objective that elevates your resume