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Landing a summer internship is a crucial step in building experience and setting the foundation for a successful career. However, with competition high, your resume needs to stand out. Here’s how to craft a compelling resume that grabs attention during your internship search.
Create a compelling professional summary
Your professional summary is the first thing recruiters will read, so make it engaging and tailored to the internship you’re applying for. Instead of simply stating that you’re a student looking for experience, highlight your key skills, areas of interest, and what you can offer. For example, rather than saying, “Marketing student seeking internship experience,” you could write, “Motivated marketing student with hands-on experience in social media strategy and digital content creation. Passionate about data-driven marketing and brand engagement, eager to apply analytical and creative skills in a dynamic internship setting.”
Keep it concise—no more than three or four sentences—and make sure it aligns with the internship description to demonstrate your suitability.
Tailor your resume to the internship
Sending a generic resume to multiple internships won’t get you noticed. Employers want to see that you understand their company and the role, so tailor each application by aligning your resume with the job description. Identify key skills and responsibilities from the job posting and incorporate them into your resume. If an employer is looking for someone with research skills, highlight relevant coursework, projects, or assignments that demonstrate this ability. If the role requires teamwork, mention experiences that show collaboration, such as group projects, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work.
Using keywords from the job posting also helps optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), increasing your chances of getting through the initial screening process.
Highlight relevant skills and experience
Even if you lack formal work experience, you have developed valuable skills through coursework, student organizations, volunteering, and personal projects. Showcase these experiences to demonstrate your ability to contribute to the role. Instead of listing generic skills like “good communication” or “strong problem-solving,” provide concrete examples. If you managed social media for a student club, state how you increased engagement or improved audience reach. If you worked on a research project, explain how your findings contributed to the final outcome.
Employers want to see proof of your abilities, so be specific and focus on measurable achievements wherever possible. Demonstrating transferable skills such as leadership, project management, and analytical thinking can also help bridge any experience gaps.
Quantify your accomplishments
Numbers add credibility to your resume by giving employers tangible evidence of your contributions. Rather than saying, “Managed social media for a student organization,” enhance it with quantifiable results: “Managed social media accounts for a student organization, increasing engagement by 35% and growing the follower base by 500+ within three months.” If you organized events, specify how many attendees participated or how much money was raised. Even small metrics make a significant impact by showing that you understand the importance of results-driven contributions.
Additionally, consider showcasing any awards, scholarships, or recognitions you’ve received. These not only validate your skills but also demonstrate a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence.
Use an ATS-friendly format
Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to scan and filter resumes before a human ever sees them. To ensure your resume gets through, use a clean, simple format that’s easy to read both by humans and automated systems. Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Calibri, use clear section headings, and avoid graphics or complex formatting. Save your resume as a PDF or Word document to ensure compatibility with different systems. Additionally, integrate keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume to improve your chances of passing ATS screenings.
Avoid using tables, columns, or graphics that may not be processed correctly by ATS software. A well-structured, easy-to-read resume ensures that your qualifications are clearly presented, making it more likely that recruiters will take notice.
Andrew Fennell is the founder and director of StandOut CV, a leading CV builder and careers advice website. He is a former recruitment consultant and contributes careers advice to publications like Business Insider, The Guardian, and The Independent.
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