Internship CV

Step 1: Pick the right internship CV structure

For internships, the best choice is almost always a reverse-chronological CV (most recent first). It’s the easiest format for recruiters and works well with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Your internship CV should usually be 1 page (2 pages only if you truly have strong, relevant experience to justify it).

Recommended internship CV section order (adapt as needed):

• Contact details
• Personal statement (3–5 lines)
• Education (with relevant modules / projects)
• Experience (part-time jobs, volunteering, placements)
• Projects (if they’re your strongest evidence)
• Skills (hard + soft, tailored)
• Optional: Languages, Certifications, Interests

Step 2: Make your header + layout recruiter-friendly

Internship recruiters scan fast. Your CV should be readable in seconds and look “professional” even if your experience is limited.

Header essentials (keep it simple)

• Name (larger font than the rest — typically 18–24pt depending on your template)
• Phone and a professional email
• Location (city is enough) + Right to work if relevant
• LinkedIn and/or Portfolio/GitHub if it supports the internship

Layout rules recruiters love

• One clear font, consistent headings, clean spacing
• Use standard section titles (Education, Experience, Skills)
• Bullet points over paragraphs for evidence
• Save as PDF unless the employer asks for Word

Step 3: Write a targeted internship personal statement

Your personal statement (also called “profile” or “objective”) is your hook. Keep it 3–5 lines and make it match the internship: role, industry, and what you can contribute.

A simple formula

• Who you are (degree + year / current focus)
• What you’re applying for (the internship title or field)
• Proof (a project, result, relevant tool, placement, volunteering)
• What you’ll bring (2–3 strengths linked to the advert)

Internship personal statement templates (copy and adapt)

Use these templates to write your personal statement faster — but don’t copy them word-for-word.

• Keep it short: aim for 3–5 lines (around 40–80 words). Recruiters should understand your target internship in seconds.
• Make it specific: name the internship type (e.g., Marketing Intern, Finance Internship, Software Internship) and match the language of the advert.
• Add proof: include at least one concrete example (project, module, part-time role, volunteering, portfolio) so it feels credible.
• Show what you’ll bring: choose 2–3 strengths that matter for the role (not generic “motivated” claims).
• Tailor in 30 seconds: replace the placeholders and keep only what you can explain in an interview.

Step 4: Build proof with education, projects and experience

For internships, your goal is to show “I can do the work” using the evidence you already have: education, projects, placements, volunteering, society roles, and part-time jobs.

Education (make it relevant, not long)

• Degree, university, dates (and expected graduation date if still studying)
• Grade/classification if it supports your application
• 2–4 relevant modules (only the ones linked to the internship)
• Final-year project / dissertation if it matches the role

Projects (your secret weapon if you lack experience)

Projects are “experience” if you write them like experience: what you built, what you used, what you achieved.

Project bullet formula: Action + What + Tool/Method + Result

Work experience (yes, part-time counts)

Retail, hospitality, tutoring, admin, volunteering — it all counts if you connect it to the internship. Focus on transferable skills (organisation, teamwork, communication, accuracy, problem-solving) and add results when possible.

Step 5: Choose skills from the advert (and prove them)

Skills sections fail when they’re generic. Your skills should be pulled from the internship advert — then backed up by proof from projects, education, or experience.

How to pick the right skills (fast)

1. Underline skills/tools in the advert (Excel, research, teamwork, presentations, Python, etc.).
2. Pick the 6–10 most relevant for this internship.
3. Add proof next to the most important ones (project, module, result, responsibility).

Three CV-ready skills formats

Format A: Skills + tools

• Data analysis (Excel, pivot tables, basic dashboards)
• Research (survey design, competitor research, summarising findings)
• Communication (presentations, clear written reporting)

Format B: Skill + proof

• Excel — built a dashboard for a university project to track weekly performance
• Teamwork — collaborated in a group of 5 to deliver a final project presentation
• Organisation — balanced studies with part-time work and consistent deadlines

Format C: Skill clusters (easy to scan)

• Tools: Excel, PowerPoint, Google Workspace
• Business: research, reporting, stakeholder communication
• Strengths: reliability, attention to detail, time management

Optional sections that can boost your chances

Only include these if they make you a stronger candidate for this internship.

• Certifications / courses: short, relevant, and recent (e.g., Excel, Google Analytics, intro to Python)
• Languages: helpful for international teams or customer-facing roles (see: Language skills on a CV)
• Volunteering: great for leadership, initiative, responsibility
• Interests: only if they reinforce the role (e.g., coding projects for a tech internship)
• Portfolio links: design, writing, coding, or anything you can show

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

• Too generic: tailor your statement + skills to each internship advert.
• No proof: add projects/modules/results instead of only listing responsibilities.
• Messy layout: keep headings consistent and spacing clean (see: CV layout).
• Weak bullet points: start with action verbs and show outcomes where possible.
• Too long: internship CVs are usually strongest at 1 page.
• Unclear timeline: use reverse-chronological order and consistent dates.