Introduction
A resume is a formal document that lists an applicant’s education, qualifications, work experience, achievements, and skills. You’ll often hear a word if you are job hunting for a position and is usually accompanied by a cover letter that is customized for a specific job. Some job coaches advise that a resume should be no more than two pages long, while others insist on a somewhat detailed document, often referred to as a CV (Curriculum Vitae). So, it becomes essential to know how the perfect resume for a student can help them land an internship in the desired field.
A resume is required for almost all job applications, including Student Internships. It provides essential information to potential employers to decide if you’re suitable for the position you have applied for. Resumes help recruiters assess and determine whether your skills, knowledge, and experiences – are worth giving you a call asking you for an interview.
So, before you start writing a resume, ask yourself these questions – ‘What information can I provide about me that will get me an interview call?’ ‘How can I stand out from the competition?’ ‘What are my strengths and skills, and how can I highlight them appropriately?’ Students often panic, thinking that they don’t have much to offer, let alone write a resume. It is quite common for students or recent graduates to feel inadequately experienced. But there’s no need to stress about crafting an impressive student resume. In this article, let us show you how to write a resume for students!
How to write a resume for students?
You should always start with your name and contact details before creating your profile and briefly describing your educational qualifications, including any work-experience placements, summer jobs, or part-time jobs that you may have had along the way. It is essential to write in complete sentences, although you can use a few bullet points, especially if you’re listing your grades. Always start with your highest qualification or the degree you are currently enrolled in and then work your way backward. For example, if you’re currently enrolled in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate program, a list that first and then write about the undergraduate degree followed by the secondary and high school details and so on.
How to write a resume to get an internship for students?
Internships are a great way to give yourself a chance to enter the job market. However, a stellar student internship resume is a must if you want to get noticed by your prospective employers. Students primarily use student internship resumes applying for internship positions within organizations and businesses.
Since this happens typically at the beginning of a person’s career, students don’t have much experience at that time. Therefore, an internship resume can focus on your education, abilities, and skills. It should also pinpoint how you can contribute, value-add to the organization’s operations, or add to its growth.
But students should only include those qualities that are relevant to the internship. It is always good to prepare separate resumes and student biodata for different internships, making them focused and appropriate for the internship you are applying for. Several examples of internship resumes have been included in this article.
Once you have added all the information, take time to look it over to ensure that it is in tip-top shape. After all, you need to make a good impression with your internship resume because it can take you places!
Before you start writing a professional student resume for an internship, make sure you read this –
Read the Internship description thoroughly and carefully.
You should start by reading the job description of the internship that you’re applying for to carefully note the specific skills and abilities the employer is seeking in the successful candidate. It will undoubtedly help you decide if the internship is the right fit for you or if you should apply for the internship at all. Secondly, note the specific words used in the job description to describe yourself and your strengths, skills, and abilities. It passes the ATS (Application Tracking System) software that many employers use to filter and manage applications.
Research about the employer organization.
Make sure you do some preliminary research on the employer or organization advertising the position. If you’re planning to join the organization, it is important that you know what the work culture and values of the organization are like and whether it matches your value system. If you decide that it is, you can use some of that information in your resume, cover letter, and even the interview to demonstrate to your potential employer that their values match yours. You can start researching the company by checking out the company website, especially the ‘About Us’ and ‘Work with Us’ sections on the website. You should also investigate the employee and customer reviews on various online portals to get an insight into the company.
Write a Summary or an Objective Statement
The Objective Statement in your resume highlights your goals, objectives and explains how the internship will help you realize your long-term career goals. You should also clearly explain how you will contribute to the company’s objectives and why you are a better intern candidate than others. Using keywords from the internship job description will ensure you catch the employer’s attention and assure him that you are the ideal candidate. However, ensure that the objective statement or summary is two or three sentences long and includes your skills and abilities only relevant to the position.
Focus on your skills.
In this section, include your technical and soft skills – technical skills include specialized knowledge in your area of expertise. In contrast, soft skills include the general skills that you have developed over time. For example, if you’re applying for an engineering internship, you should have engineering knowledge and interpersonal skills to help you succeed in your new position. Employers generally pick candidates with a well-rounded personality with technical and soft skills that will make them an ideal fit in the company.
Write about your achievements.
Don’t forget to write about the certificates, awards, and recognition you have been awarded during your school and college years. It shows your employer that you are sincere, dedicated, and motivated in your career pursuits. Include your academic achievements, projects including competitions such as inter-college sports, quiz or debate, etc., and detail how you participated in these competitions.
Some career coaches believe that you should emphasize your academic skills, suggesting that you put your educational qualifications in a separate section so that the employer notices them. They also suggest that achievements such as high GPA and academic awards such as Best Student, Academic Excellence Certificate, or Merit Certificate should be highlighted in this section.
Write about your work experience.
If you are a recent graduate, chances are you don’t have any work experience in your area of expertise or study. Often students have the misconception that they can only write about paid experiences in the Experience section. That isn’t the case, say many career experts. Don’t hesitate to include your volunteering experiences or short-term projects or assignments that you completed while you were still at school, college, or university. You can also add community activities, club involvement, or independent studies. If you organized events for your local club, or played a crucial leadership role, or took the initiative for a local community campaign, make sure you add them in this section. It may not have been a paid job, but it was equally important and more than a hobby.
Focus on the transferable skills you can bring to the table as an intern rather than the job title of your previous experiences. Additionally, you can also add the paid activities – when you babysat your neighbour’s pets, watered their plants when they were away on vacation, or waited tables at the local restaurant. Recruiters realize that by working for a paycheck, you demonstrate work ethic, motivation, and the drive to understand the workings of the real world, including the soft skills necessary to be successful.
Add your educational qualifications.
A resume is a student bio-data. You should list and describe the Training, Certifications, Qualifications, and/or professional affiliations in detail, starting with the highest qualification and then going down to the lowest. In other words, your educational qualifications should be listed in reverse chronological order. It would help if you started with the most recent and then go back to the lowest qualification. It is considered standard practice to include the qualification, name of the educational institution, and the month and year of graduating. You should highlight achievements such as scholarships and exceptional grades.
Other than the obvious details, your college, university, degree, specialization or major, graduation year, and current GPA. Consider leaving out your GPA from your resume if it isn’t satisfactory. But you can add numerous other activities like the Dean’s List Certificate, your study abroad program, or any other honourable mentions you’ve been awarded as a student. If there aren’t any, you can even add a list of relevant coursework applicable or assist in your internship application.
Write about your Activities
Your participation in school clubs and activities may make for great additions to your resume, but do they? It all depends on your exact role in those activities, what’s in your resume up to that point, and what you really achieved from those activities. Importantly, it also depends on the type of internships and the industries where you are seeking your internship. If the club activity was an integral part of your college or university experience, then it is important to include it because it will help showcase your personality that demonstrates commitment. If you were in the college’s dance group for three years in a row, it speaks volumes about your values and how you spend your spare time. Always make sure to include activities that will help you to relate to the team, company, or organization.
Add References
Adding references is an integral component of a student’s internship resume because you are yet to start your professional career and haven’t gained any significant work experience. At such times, a referee can vouch for your competence and credibility and add weightage to your resume. You can ask your professors, teachers, project leaders, guides, or anyone of authority who knows you relatively well. Besides asking them if you can use their name in your resume as a reference, you can also ask them for Recommendation Letters. A Referee has to provide their official name, designation, and contact details to be included as your reference.
What Should You Leave Out In Your Resume?
Your resume is supposed to provide a concise summary of your skills, achievements, experiences, and abilities. So, you don’t need to add every single detail of your life. Some of the information that should not be included in your resume are:
- Your home address, religion, age, or marital status
- Listing every job that you have had. Leave those ones out that aren’t relevant to the internship position that you are applying for
- Listing salaries of your previous jobs/ experiences or your current compensation expectation
Common Mistakes to Avoid In Your Resume
(Note: Sample Internship resume for students have been included in this article)
There are several common mistakes that you should avoid making in your student internship resume
- Don’t include too much text. Often ‘Less is More, and this applies to your resume. Adding too much information can distract the recruiter from understanding how you can value-add to their organization as their new Intern. Write short and concise statements. Remember, your resume should not exceed more than 2 pages.
- Don’t use an unprofessional email address. There are no excuses for not having a professional email address once you start applying for internships and jobs because there are numerous free email service providers that you can use to create an email address with variations of your first and last name. The entire process of creating a new email account will take you no longer than two minutes!
- Don’t be Ambiguous. When you write about examples of your achievements, stop using the words ‘several’, ‘numerous,’ ‘few’ to explain how many months it took you to complete the university project. Instead, write that “it took you 5 months to complete the project”. Writing ambiguous statements makes your achievements sound less trustworthy and that you could have made it up.
- Don’t use too many Buzzwords or Keywords. Candidates, including students, often have the tendency to use industry buzzwords and keywords sometimes outside of their context. This will reduce the credibility of your application. Some of the buzzwords you should avoid overusing are ‘thinking out of the box, ‘dynamic,’ ‘detail-oriented,’ ‘hardworking,’ ‘go-to-person, ‘problem-solving skills, and ‘strategic thinker.’
- Don’t use fancy, unreadable, or outdated fonts. The font you use in your resume makes a great impact on the hiring manager because a fancy, extravagant font will make your application unreadable or might be hard to read. Use fonts that are commonly used and preferred by employers to make a positive impact on your resume.
- Don’t use your social media profiles that are not relevant to the specific internship or job that you are applying for. Before you start applying for any jobs, do an audit of your social media profiles that appear when you google your name. Remember to include only those that are relevant to your job.
- Don’t name your file improperly. Don’t name your file resume.doc or something similar. It will make your resume look unprofessional and also make it difficult for the recruiter to identify your document after downloading it. The correct practice to name your file is to use your First Name_Last Name_CollegeName.doc. Also, always send your resume in PDF format because it looks professional.
- Don’t use your photograph in your resume. If you have put your photograph in your current Resume, remove it because it isn’t necessary and is an outdated practice. Unless you are applying for an internship in the aviation, hospitality, film, modelling, or media industry where it matters how you look, there is no need to add your photo to the file and bulk it up.
- Don’t use your college or university logo. If your Resume contains the logo of your college or university for no reason, then you should remove it. Remember your resume is to market yourself, not your college or university.
Examples of Internship Resume
Here are Some Student Resume Examples for Internships and Resume Sample For College Students – Text Version. Check them out!
Student Resume Sample 1_Text Version
Jaya Applicant
1234, APJ Kalam Avenue,
Kolkata – 700084
Mobile: +91 xxxx xxxx
Email: jaya.applicant@email.com.in
Objective
A dedicated and eager university student working her way through an MBA degree at ABC College of Business, affiliated with the University of Calcutta. I am seeking an internship at a reputed Asset Management company, where I can use my passion for portfolio management, fundamental research, technical and critical analysis skills to create wealth for clients. I aspire to become a leading Fund Manager in the industry by building on my experience and passion in the area of portfolio management.
Skills
- Fundamental Research Skills
- Knowledge and Experience in the use of Technical Analysis Tools – Price/Volume Relationship, Average Directional Index (ADI), Chart Patterns, Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Relative Strength Index (RSI), and Stochastic Oscillator (SI)
- Attention to detail
- Collaboration
- Time Management
- Strong Communication skills
- Leadership skills
Achievements:
- High Distinction in MBA first and second year
- Distinction in Undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) specializing in Business Finance
- Dean’s Award in Undergraduate degree
Education
- MBA (Finance) – 2018-20: ABC College of Business (affiliated to University of Calcutta)
- BBA (Business Finance) – 2016 -18: DadaSaheb Degree College, Kolkata
- Class XII – 2016: The Foundation School (affiliated to CBSE – Central Board of Secondary Education)
Extra-curricular activities
- Member of Young Investors Club
- Volunteering at XYZ NGO to teach literacy and numeracy to slum kids
MBA Projects
- Study to cover information related to Equity fund and Portfolio Management including Investor Risk in investment in securities
- Debt Analysis: Stable and Unstable: Monetary and Bonds
References:
1. Dr. Prakash Sharma, Professor, ABC College of Business, Kolkata
Ph: +91 – xxxx xxxx, email: prakash.sharma@email.com
2. Dr. Priya Tejas, Senior Lecturer, Dada Saheb Degree College, Kolkata
Ph: +91 – xxxx xxxx, email: priya.tejas@email.com
Student Resume Sample 2 _ Text version
Here is another sample internship resume for students of marketing.
Anand Applicant
1234, Boulevard Avenue,
Mumbai – 700084
Mobile: +91 xxxx xxxx
Email: anand.applicant@email.com
Resume Objective
Self-Introduction:
An enthusiastic final year student and emerging professional with qualifications in Marketing; studying Bachelor of Arts (Marketing Management) at the University of WoodTech, Georgia. Aiming to use my knowledge of Consumer Behaviour Trends, Strategic Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations to satisfy the marketing internship at XYZ company.
Skills
- Strong Communication skills
- Fluent in Hindi, English, and Japanese
- Social Media Expert
- Networking skills
- Able to handle pressure
- Problem solver
- Detail-oriented
- Microsoft Office (MS Office) Suite
Marketing Projects
Local Restaurant Marketing Campaign
- Designed a low-budget marketing campaign for a local restaurant that was renovated recently and was re-opening after 15 months. The marketing campaign included a combination of offline and online (social media and email) marketing techniques targeted towards a target audience.
- Surveyed the potential customers in the local area to collect data on consumer behaviour and trends.
- Developed a minimum budget of Rs 15,000 for the marketing campaign estimating that it would yield the highest ROI (Return on Investment).
Business Plan Competition
- Participated in the local Council’s Business Plan Competition with 2 classmates to build a mock Food Business.
- Conducted and managed industry and market analysis, customer behaviour and trends, growth, promotions, and positioning of the business.
- Awarded Merit Certificate out of the 60 teams that had participated in the competition from several colleges and universities.
Education
1. Bachelor of Arts (Marketing Management)
University of WoodTech, Georgia
Arena Hills, GA
Expected Completion: 2021
2. General Professional Development
Arena Hills Technical College
Arena Hills, GA
2019
3. Dean’s Merit List
University of WoodTeach, Georgia
2019
4. Local Council Business Competition
Market Certificate
2020
References:
1. Dr. John Smith, Professor, University of WoodTeach, Georgia
Ph: +1 202– xxxx xxxx, email: john.smith@email.com
2. Dr. John Doe, Senior Lecturer, University of WoodTech, Georgia
Ph: +1 202– xxxx xxxx, email: john.doe@email.com
Student Resume Example Sample 3_Text Version
Here is a resume with a self-introduction sample for college students.
Anil Applicant
26/B High Rise Tower,
Nariman Point, Mumbai
Email: anil.applicant@email.com
STUDENT PROFILE_SELF INTRODUCTION
A highly analytical, detail-oriented, and diligent student studying Bachelor of Accounting at the University of XYZ, Mumbai. Seeking internship opportunities in accounting firms to excel in Accounting roles, requiring strong mathematical proficiency and organizational insight.
SKILLS and ABILITIES
- Accounting: Experience in Financial and Management Accounting, Knowledge of Tax Laws, Experience in Tax Preparation, Variance Analysis, and FASB / GAAP.
- Information Technology: Expert User of Microsoft Office Suite (including Excel macros), TurboTax QuickBooks, Concur, and NetSuite.
- Communications: Strong Communication skills (verbal and written), can effectively explain complex financial data to stakeholders and clients.
- Key Strengths: Works well independently and in a team. Proactive problem-solver, diligent in reviewing work, identifying and eliminating errors.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor in Accounting (expected completion Oct 2021).
- GPA: 3.89 (up to semester 5) at the University of XYZ, Mumbai
- Awards, Affiliations, and Professional Memberships
- Dean’s List
- Phi Eta Sigma Honours Society
- Agnes Accounting Scholarship
- Secretary, University Accounting Society
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Student: Bachelor of Accounting, University of XYZ, Mumbai
- Completed extensive studies in Accountancy, including
- Advanced Accounting, Management Cost Accounting, Auditing: Theory and Practice, Taxation, and Accounting Information Systems.
Accounting Co-op/Work Experiences:
- Newtown Chartered Accountant Associates (2020): Performed General Ledger Accounting including Accounts Payable, Account Receivable under supervision.
- Maruti Manufacturing (2020): Gained experience in Payroll Accounting
Summer/Part-time Jobs:
- Provided impeccable customer service at high-volume city supermarkets. Helped customers with selecting products, stocked shelves, and operated Cash Register (point-of-sale system).
Key Achievements:
- Awarded ‘Most Valued Assistant’ Certificate
- Commended by management for overall excellent work ethic, including punctuality and attention to detail.
REFERENCES:
1. Mr. Jyoti Singh, XYZ University, Mumbai,
Ph: +91 – xxxx xxxx, email: jyoti.singh@email.com
2. Dr. Manju Sathe, Senior Lecturer, XYZ University, Mumbai
Ph: +91 – xxxx xxxx, email: manju.sathe@email.com
Summing Up
Research indicates that hiring managers spend mere seconds on an application/ resume or CV. Therefore, your resume should have relevant content to grab the attention of the recruiter in those few seconds. Generally, recruiters search beyond an applicant’s educational qualification. They look for industry experience (51%), prior experience in a similar role (66%), and soft skills like leadership qualities and analytical skills.
We hope that this article helped you understand the Do’s and Don’ts when you are putting your Internship Resume together for the competitive Internship or job market. Begin with choosing a template to make a start. It definitely helps rather than starting with a blank piece of paper. Most employers will expect you to produce a word-processed document of 1-2 pages rather than a handwritten one. In today’s day and age, expect to email your resume to the recruiter and not send it by snail mail.
At the end of the day, recruiters understand that you’re just starting out on your career, so they don’t expect your resume to be chock-a-block or bursting with accomplishments and achievements. If your resume is well presented, neat, organized, and demonstrates your initiative and strong work ethic, including a passion for the industry that you are seeking an internship in, you will easily convince the hiring manager to call you for an interview. After all, it is the person behind the resume that matters more than just the resume itself.
FAQs
1.What is an internship? Why should students do one?
When you are starting a new career or changing the trajectory of your career by taking a brand-new direction, an internship can offer you real-world, hands-on work experience in the industry you desire to step into. It will also let you explore the job roles, enhance your technical and business knowledge and get you focused on your career goals.
Additionally, work experience gained during an internship will help you get shortlisted for jobs after you finish your studies. Organizations often use internships as part of their recruitment tactics, with 3 out of 4 students getting hired (with a starting salary boost) by employers where they had previously completed internships.
2. What is a student internship Resume?
A student internship Resume is a resume that is a 1-2 pages document written by students with the sole purpose of securing internships in their area of study and choice to gain real-life experience. The internship resume highlights the knowledge, skills, and achievements to market the student, edge out the competition and ensure that the student receives an interview call.
The internship resume should contain a brief summary of your qualifications, experiences, skills, and other relevant details, which will assist the recruiter in selecting you as the most suitable candidate for the internship position. Always ask yourself before you include any detail – will this help me get the interview call?
3. What is the difference between a Resume and a CV (Curriculum Vitae)?
The terms Resume and Curriculum Vitae (CV) are often used interchangeably, but the main difference between the two documents is their length. A few student CV templates and student resume templates have been added to this article.
A CV (Curriculum Vitae in Latin meaning course of life) is generally 3-8 pages long and contains details of the candidate’s education, qualifications, achievements, awards, publications, and experience in a systematic and chronological order. A CV’s details (and length) do not change whether you’re applying for an internship or for a job.
A Resume, on the other hand, is a concise summary of only 1-2 pages long of the candidate’s education, qualifications, achievements, skills, and experiences. Candidates may choose to customize their Resumes depending on the internship or job they are applying for by highlighting one area, experience, or skill set over others.
In India, most students write a hybrid version of a CV and a Resume. Tip: Always try to use a student’s simple resume format.
4. Is it necessary to write different Resumes for different internships and jobs?
Ideally, yes. It is important that you write different Resumes for different jobs and internships. If you are seeking an internship in a software company, then you should focus on the technical skills and knowledge like experience in using various programming languages. However, if you want to secure an Internship in a Marketing company, then you should write about your knowledge and experience within that domain – Product development, Brand awareness, Customer behavior, etc.
Generally, core soft skills like problem-solving aptitude, networking, working in a team, being proactive, time management skills should be included in all Resumes.
5. Is formatting your Resume important?
Absolutely! It is important that your resume is formatted properly so that it is easy to read. The layout and design of your resume should be neat, with no more than two clear fonts, headings, bullet points, and paragraphs to split the text.
Editing and refining your Resume is equally important. Once you are done, look at your resume through the eyes of your employer – what do you see? Will your Resume convince the recruiter or hiring manager that you are the best suitable candidate for the advertised position?
Finally, proofread, spell check and ensure that there are no grammatical errors in your Resume. Finish it with one last review to check for any stray errors. You can even ask your friend to do it for you. There’s nothing worse than you getting the company’s name wrong or putting down your contact details, including your phone number, incorrectly. Not only will it ruin your chances of securing that internship, but the hiring manager won’t be able to contact you either.
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