Internship Resume Tips: How to Write a Resume That Gets Interviews

Recruiters often spend well under a minute on a first pass of an internship resume. These rules make that time count.

Structure

1. Header: name, email, phone, city, LinkedIn and GitHub/portfolio links.
2. Education: university, degree, expected graduation date, GPA if strong, relevant coursework.
3. Experience: internships, part-time jobs, research, teaching assistant roles.
4. Projects: essential for technical roles. Include a link and the tools used.
5. Skills: languages, tools and certifications. Skip soft skills here and show them in your bullets instead.

Write bullets that show impact

Use the formula Action verb + what you did + measurable result:

• Weak: "Responsible for social media."
• Strong: "Grew the society's Instagram from 800 to 3,200 followers in 6 months by launching a weekly alumni interview series."

Tailor for each application

Many large employers use applicant tracking systems. Mirror the key terms from the job description (for example "Python", "financial modelling", "stakeholder management") where they honestly describe your experience.

Regional differences

• US: one page, no photo, no date of birth.
• UK & Europe: usually called a CV. One to two pages, and some employers also ask for a cover letter.
• Hong Kong & Singapore: a one-page English resume is standard. Mention language skills (English, Cantonese, Mandarin) clearly.

Common mistakes

• Spelling errors and inconsistent date formats
• Paragraphs instead of bullets
• Listing coursework instead of results
• Saving as .docx with broken formatting. Send a PDF unless the employer asks otherwise.

Ready? Browse open internships and start applying.