Intern Resume Examples: Guide and Writing Tips

Kickstart your career with the help of our intern resume examples! Find great tips and samples for every resume section to land your dream internship.

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LiveCareer Staff Writer
by LiveCareer Staff Writer
Last Updated: August 14, 2024 
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Intern resume
summary examples

On average, a recruiter does a seven-second scan of your resume. So, it’s crucial to highlight your best skills in a short paragraph at the top of the document, right under your contact information.

If you have some work experience, you should opt for a professional summary. It mentions the skills you’ve developed in your work or volunteer experience.

However, if you have under two years of work experience, you should use an objective statement instead. It focuses on what you hope to achieve.

Below, we’ll share examples of professional summaries and resume objectives for interns so you can better decide.

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Good example:

Driven Business major with 2+ years of work experience and a strong 3.7 GPA, specializing in marketing and digital strategies. Possesses a solid foundation in marketing principles, consumer behavior, and digital advertising, enhanced by personal marketing projects and coursework. Skilled in utilizing data analysis and creative problem-solving.”

Why this example excels:

  • Feature the intern candidate’s GPA to support their capability.
  • Cites skills gained through work and education, like marketing principles and digital advertising.
  • Mentions employer-desired skills like data analysis and consumer behavior.

 

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Bad example:

“Hardworking and dedicated intern passionate about getting things done. Possesses strong organizational and communication skills. Experienced in customer service and problem-solving.”

Why this example fails:

  • Doesn’t include any numbers that quantify the intern’s performance
  • Uses vague, generic-sounding language
  • Fails to show what their education or work experience is like.

The fastest way to write your
professional summary

You may want some guidance writing your professional summary for an internship. Our Resume Builder is like having an expert walk you through the writing process step-by-step!
  • 1

    Enter the details about the job title you held. The builder comes preloaded with auto-suggested phrasing written by resume experts.

  • 2

    Then, just pick from these suggested phrases that best frame your experience and customize them to your liking!

  • 3

    Choose the summary phrases that best frame your experience. It’s like having a professional do it for you!

Our builder can save you time and work wonders. If you’re serious about an internship and want a human touch on your resume, use our professional resume-writing services!

A resume expert will work with you to write a job-winning resume.

Already have a resume and want some feedback? Just plug it into our handy Resume Check tool. It’ll score your resume and give suggestions for improvement!

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See what they’re saying about us on Trustpilot.

Intern resume work
experience examples

Your work experience section is key to proving you’re responsible and dedicated enough for an internship.

As your career grows, this section becomes more important to write a good resume.

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Trident Graphic Design I Providence, RI I 5/2023-9/2023

  • Won internship position that received 1500+ applications at this prestigious design firm.
  • Assisted in developing new marketing promotions and graphics.
  • Proactively addressed managerial needs and requests.
  • Gained hands-on experience meeting deadlines and pleasing clients.

Why this example passes:

  • Numbers and statistics add detail about how competitive this internship was.
  • Good use of strong words and action verbs.
  • References specific skills mastered in this internship role, like meeting deadlines and pleasing clients.
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Bad example:

Avery Robotics I Redmond, WA I 5/2023-9/2023

  • Answered emails and helped with operations.
  • Assisted with data entry.
  • Performed inventories.

Why this example fails:

  • Lacks numbers or statistics, like how many emails the intern responded to per day.
  • Too brief and general in task descriptions.
  • Fails to discuss the results of actions, e.g., “Performed inventories that reduced spending on office supplies.”

Intern resume skills examples

Here are 18 sample skills for intern:

  • Problem-solving
  • Research
  • Collaboration
  • Scheduling
  • Supply restocking
  • Quality control
  • Project management
  • Administrative support
  • Database management
  • Meeting coordination
  • Team collaboration
  • Clerical support
  • Workflow optimization
  • Computer skills
  • Operations support
  • Complex problem-solving
  • Report writing
  • Mail routing

You should sprinkle skills and abilities throughout your resume. Include them in your professional summary, work experience blurbs and a dedicated skills section.

Examples of additional resume sections

Your intern resume should have five sections: contact information, objective statement or professional summary, work experience, skills and education.

You can also add additional sections to showcase your studies or interests.

Here are some examples of optional intern resume sections that you could add to provide greater detail:

Only add extra sections if they’re relevant to your desired intern position. Otherwise, it may seem like you’re trying to pad your resume with personal information.

Examples of resume formats

There are three different ways to organize a resume’s layout, called resume formats. You’ll see examples of chronological formats, functional formats and combination formats. Interns tend to use combination and functional resumes most.

It would be best if you decided on a functional versus a combination format based on how much experience you have. Functional formats are the most skills-focused, but combination layouts are better if you have job experience.

How to choose a resume format

0-3
Years of experience

Functional formats

  • Focus on skills.
  • Best for first-time intern who lack work experience.
  • Good for people re-entering workforce.
  • May omit dates in the work history section.
Organization:
  • Skills listed above work experience.

3-10
Years of experience

Combination formats

  • Balance skills and work history.
  • Ideal for mid-career intern.
  • Suitable for career changers and people seeking promotion.
Organization:
  • Skills next to or above work experience.

10+
Years of experience

Chronological formats

  • Put the most focus on work history.
  • Best for intern with a long, steady career.
  • Most popular format.
  • Preferred by recruiters.
Organization:
  • Work experience listed above skills.
Once you know the best format for you, it’s easy to pick a intern resume template. Templates are preformatted layouts created by design professionals to ensure your resume looks amazing!

About the Author

LiveCareer Staff Writer

LiveCareer Staff Writer

LiveCareer’s staff writers are career advice experts and Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRW), accredited by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our team is dedicated to transforming work lives. Our diverse experts bring valuable insights to help you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. No matter your career stage, LiveCareer’s contributors are here to help you advance your career and secure the job you want.

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