It’s time to break free of college life, of sitting in overheated lecture halls, and worrying your way through an essay at 2 in the morning. Work life beckons, and what better way to dip your toe into this scary world than by undertaking an internship? That way you get to understand how it all works – but from a safe place, knowing that a particular slot will last just a few months, and then you can move on.
Being an intern is sought after, as are the skills you will acquire during your internship. In fact, according to the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE), US companies were expecting to hire more interns by more than 22% as stated in their 2022 survey. The same report concluded that not-for-profit organizations who connect graduates with employers were planning to hire over 31% more interns than in 2021.
It’s worth noting all these positive vibes when listing any internship experience on your resume, as it will catch the eye of a prospective employer, and earn you brownie points all the way to the interview.
What is an internship?
Let’s clear up exactly what is meant by an internship.
It is a set period of work experience offered by a company in order for someone to receive practical training within a work environment. This happens across most sectors.
Interesting fact: the word “internship” actually originates from the French word interne, meaning “assistant doctor.” It was first used in 1879 in American English referring to doctors who were in training. Over time, this term has been adopted by other professions, with internship programs becoming common in US colleges from the 1960s. So it’s certainly a well-established route to your first job.
Typically undertaken by graduates and college students looking to obtain relevant skills and experience in a particular field, internships also benefit employers. This is because they can root out the best interns for potential job roles, having had, what could be seen as, an extremely long interview as an intern. This saves the company both money and time in the long run, and is much better than trying to recruit cold.
Do internships count as work experience on a resume?
Heck, yes! Most certainly. If you’re at the very start of your career, internships are incredibly important. That means you’ll want to shout about them from the rooftops. Plus they will give you the edge over other candidates who’ve come straight from college and can’t offer up any practical experience in the sector they want to enter.
Should you include internships on your resume?
It’s not always necessary to include internship experience on a resume, so check out the bullet points below to know when it’s best to put any internships on your resume, and make it really stand out.
You have recently graduated with little experience under your belt, but your internships illustrate the many skills you have acquired.
You have decided to change careers and your internships relate to the roles you want to pursue in the new sector.
You possess intern experience within the prospective employer’s company that you’re applying to.
Expert Tip
Once you have established yourself within your field of expertise, with a few years in work, it’s safe to remove any internships from your resume, and let your career achievements do the talking.
How to add internship experience on your resume
Now, let’s turn to the practical elements of how to actually add your internship experience onto a resume. Follow the steps below on how to do this, so it will catch the eye of any hiring managers.
1. Add to the relevant section
Firstly, decide whether it’s best to add your internship in the work experience section, or whether it needs to have its own section. If you have lots of different internships to list, it’s preferable to have an internship section.
Expert Tip
List all your internships in reverse chronological order, so the most recent is at the top, unless a more relevant internship was further in the past. In this case, place it higher up due to its relevance.
2. List all relevant details
This includes your formal title, such as Data Analyst Intern, the dates covered including months – most internships last less than a year, the company name, and the location.
3. Include your responsibilities
You need four or five sentences here, in a bullet point format, to accurately describe what you did on a day-to-day basis. See the examples below for inspiration and guidance.
Expert Tip
Study the job advert, aiming to align your duties with what is required for the new role.
4. Highlight any achievements
This is the area that will set you apart from other candidates, as it can show how you went above and beyond to excel as an intern. If possible, include tangible evidence, such as facts and figures, to really drive home how great you are.
Expert Tip
If you can’t think of what you might have achieved, ask your intern manager for some constructive feedback, and draw out achievements from there.
5. Take an overview of the formatting
As you create your resume, keep a close eye on the formatting so it’s consistent and easy to read. Format the internship section in the same way as the work experience section, for example. Use the same font throughout. Keep to an 11 or 12 point font for the content, with section headings a bit bigger – 14 or 16 point.
6. Ensure it fills up one page
An entry-level resume should comfortably fill a page. Don’t forget to include the education section, and any volunteer work you’ve undertaken. If there is still room on the page, add in a hobbies and interests section, as long as you can include ones that are either relevant or unusual.
Expert Tip
Don’t include so-called hobbies such as “socializing” or “watching TV” as everyone does these, and it won’t do you any favors or progress your application further.
Can you put future internships on a resume?
This is generally seen as not good practice, because you haven’t done it yet. By all means, add it in if you’re currently undertaking an internship, but not if you haven’t started. A resume is all about showing what you’ve done and achieved, so up-and-coming internships are not suitable to add.
Internship experience summary samples
The resume summary sits at the top of the first page, giving an overview, so you can use this area to showcase what you’ve learnt as an intern. There are two samples below that you can customize.
Example 1
A versatile, organized, and analytical Postgraduate with a diverse set of transferable skills acquired during recent academic achievements and ongoing, relevant internships. Works collaboratively within a team and flourishes with increased responsibility. Demonstrates a passion for business and consulting while cultivating productive working partnerships. Adept at overcoming any challenges and resolving complex issues.
Example 2
A credible, bilingual, and diplomatic Marketing Intern who is adept at building a professional network by deploying a robust work ethic and superior negotiation skills. Thrives when faced with a challenge, and performs well as a valued member of a successful team. Consistently completes jobs within stringent deadlines while engaging with others to positive effect.
Internship experience on a resume sample
Here are two internship experiences on resume samples that are incorporated within the work experience section.
Example 1 is an engineering graduate showing off a proactive nature:
06/2023-07/2023
CALGAVIN LTD - Intern, Engineering Department
Specifically organized engineering work experience, shadowing senior engineers in order to gain a true insight into the day-to-day running of the company.
Developed a technical model that presented the variation in heat transfer coefficients and Reynolds numbers between different software packages.
Example 2 is from the creative sector, who showcases skills that culminate in being offered a job!
Nov 2023-Jan 2024 GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN
Quantum Marketing
Demonstrated adaptability and diligence by working on multiple projects a day with top quality brands, while applying an eye for detail and complying with stringent timelines.
Undertook amendments gleaned from client feedback.
Operated on a wide variety of briefs including packaging, leaflets, catalogs, social media / web content, PoS items and product advertisements / marketing.
Key Achievements
Rewarded by viewing creative work in stores and on billboards such as designs for Hendricks on JCDecaux screens in New York and Freixenet packaging in Bloomingdales.
Offered a job at the end of the internship due to creating bespoke work and gelling with the team.
Summary
To summarize on how to incorporate internship experience into your resume:
Ensure that any internships you include are relevant to the role you’re applying for.
Place the internship information either in the work experience section or a section specifically dedicated to several internships.
Clarify what sort of internship it was within the job title.
Clearly state the name of the organization, location, and dates.
Fully describe your responsibilities in bullet points.
Make the most of highlighting all your achievements.
Ensure the resume is laid out consistently with no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
Propel yourself to an interview
Now that you have an idea of when to include internship experience on your resume and how to do it, there should be no stopping you! Grab your laptop, pinpoint some jobs you’re desperate to apply for, and go for it!
Need a little extra help along the way? ZipJob’s free resume review tool is the ideal way to start your job search, as it can hone in on what needs improving on your resume. And it’s free! What’s not to like?
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Written by
Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer, Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer
Elizabeth Openshaw is an Elite CV Consultant with over 12 years of experience based in Brighton, UK, with an English degree and an addiction to Wordle! She is a former Journalist of 17 years with the claim to fame that she interviewed three times Grand Slam winner and former World No.1 tennis player, Andy Murray, when he was just 14 years old. You can connect with her at Elizabeth Openshaw | LinkedIn.
