Your resume is a synopsis of all that you have learnt till now. It includes everything from your personal and educational information and the skills you possess to the experiences you have.
It decides whether you’ll be able to the interview or not.
So why be lazy while writing it?
Writing a resume is easy. But writing an riveting resume is a little tougher.
But don’t worry, a right mindset and a little planning is all you need.
If you search the web, you’ll get many internship resume templates and formats. But that’s not all to prepare for the internship that you really really want.
So, how to write a resume for an internship that shines bright?
Though referring to a sample internship resume would be helpful, it is just a small part. You have to keep a check on a lot of other things.
Here, I have shared a few tips on how to write an internship resume:
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Have a Well-Defined Purpose
Visualizing a clear objective will help you smoothly get through the entire process.
Like why do you need this internship?
There can be different answers to it, but the obvious one is because you want to learn the practical skills. Once you know the answer, don’t let it skip your mind.
A clear and well-defined goal will help you understand your purpose. Also, it will display your clear intentions to the recruiters.
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Create a Mashup of Offer and Demand
A great resume is the one that is a perfect blend of what you have to offer and what a recruiter wants from you. However, specifying your expectations is easy, but identifying recruiter’s expectations can be a bit complicated.
So, how to identify what the recruiters are looking for?
All you have to do is read the requirements thoroughly.
The work description gives you an idea of what all is expected from you.
For instance: You are looking for content writing internship. And you came across an advertisement stating that we are looking for interns who have:
- Fluency in English
- Good vocabulary
- A graduation degree
- Interest in writing
This description will give you an insight of what the recruiters are looking for. Now, create your resume accordingly and mention your achievements that go with the work requirements.
This will escalate your chances of getting this internship. So before creating a resume, study your prospective recruiters from soup to nuts.
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Have/Build the Transferable Skills
Recruiters already know that you don’t have the professional level knowledge and experience.
Then what do they look for in an intern?
Number 1: Willingness to explore and learn.
Number 2: Transferable skills.
While number 1 is easy to understand, let’s figure out what do I mean by transferable skills.
Transferable skills are the soft skills that a person learns from his/her life experiences. These skills are helpful in all walks of life.
So, some of the transferable skills that recruiters look for are as under:
- Ability to communicate
- Capability to work hard
- Confidence
- Motivation
- Flexibility
- Creativity
- Resourcefulness
- Orderliness
- Problem-solving ability
- Punctuality
- Loyality
- Responsibility
- Helpfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Ability to multi-task
- Leadership quality
Having these skills won’t be enough. You must know how to present them in the resume. Just be honest and expressive while putting them in your resume.
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Follow the Chronology
Another thing to keep in mind is to follow a sequence. Don’t jumble up the information.
Once you are through with company’s background, know their mission statement, it’s finally the time to compile your resume, divide it into following heads and add the details.
- An Objective
Keep it clear and precise. Don’t make it over a line or two. Make it specific to the requirements of the recruiter.
You can also watch this video to learn writing the right objective statement.
For instance: If you are a journalism student who’s been a part-time copy editor for any college magazine. And you wish to apply for a writing internship, you can write: “ A journalism student with experience in editing. Looking for a writing internship where I can further refine my writing and editing skills.”
- Personal Details
Put your name, photograph, address, email address, phone number, and url for your Linkedin profile (if you have any).
- Educational Details
List all your educational qualifications in reverse order. Like mention your latest/highest degree first and then move further.
- Appropriate Coursework
Boast your transferable skills in this section. Include the projects, event, and programs that have augmented those skills.
For instance: you were the class in-charge in college, you organized an event in the cultural program.
- Achievements
Write a short description of all your awards, scholarships, and certificates.
- Work Experience
Mention any work experience that you have gained so far. You can mention anything that you have volunteered for.
- Hobbies and Interests
This section is equally important. Add all your hobbies and interests. They give a better insight of your interests, talents, and abilities.
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Watch out your Vocabulary
Last but not the least, make sure that your resume is error-free. Use simple and easy to understand language. The language too has an enormous impact on the other party.
So write precisely but mention all that you think will raise your chances of getting selected. Show your creativity and use small sentences.
Like you can write codes and wish to mention the same. But don’t know how to do it in lesser words.
Do it this way-
Instead of writing “I have knowledge and experience in writing code,” write, “code-writing experience.”
It is best to skip adjectives and personal pronouns wherever possible.
Also, focus on the font style and size that you use to write the resume. Bold the main heads and subheads. Select an appropriate font size. It should not be very large or small.
Try to write in engaging and easy to understand language.
Remember that recruiters spend only a few seconds, merely 6 seconds, on one resume. So make every second count for you.
Try adding maximum information in a creative manner.
Good Luck!