Internship Resumes & Cover Letters
Tips To Help Get Your Resume and Cover Letter Noticed
Ten tips to help college students who are applying to internships build a better resume and present a successful cover letter.
Congratulations on taking the first step towards your dream job-searching for an internship that will get your foot in the door and give you a taste of working in the real world. Don't fret because you haven't worked in an office before, employers understand that you are just starting out. And while you might not think you have enough experience, most of what you've done, even scooping ice cream at Dairy Queen when you were 16, is important to showing that you are responsible and driven.
Resume Rules
- Be sure your name and contact information (address, phone number, e-mail address) are at the top of the page. They won't be able to contact you if you leave this off!
- Make sure it's formatted, organized and easy to read. Absolutely no fancy fonts or colors. Stick to the basics. Helvetica is a crisp font that is easy to read.
- Because you're still in college, list your education first. Include the college you attend, the dates of attendance/anticipated graduation date, major, minor, GPA and any courses you've taken that are relevant to the internship. Don't forget to include activities such writing for the student newspaper or taking part in Model UN.
- Mention leadership positions in clubs and activities, such as being team captain, member of student government, secretary of the psychology club.
- Include any work experience, even if it's just a summer job. Campus jobs count too. Let it be known that you are a peer leader at Freshmen Orientation or if you tutor at the Writing Center. It doesn't have to directly correlate to the internship, but you need to show that you are responsible and have been employed.
- List places where you have volunteered, even if it was community service performed with your high school.
- If something sets you apart, list it as a special skill. Let them know if you're a master of HTML, speak six languages or do anything remotely related to the industry you want to work in...just be sure to mention it.
- Have references ready. Whether it's a professor or coach, ask if you can use them as references and have their phone numbers handy just in case your prospective employer wishes to contact them as part of the interview process.
- On your cover letter, DO NOT repeat the experience listed on your resumé. Stay professional, but let your letter show some of your personality.
- Always have someone read over your resumé and cover letter. You don't want to miss out on an opportunity because you misspelled something.
Consise Cover Letters
You are also going to want to include a cover letter stating why you would make an awesome intern, and show them you're a great fit for the company. For samples of cover letters, check out Jobsearch at About.com.
- Each letter should be directed to a particular individual by name and title.
- Your letter should serve as an introduction to your resume, not be a paragraphed version of your experiences. Write about a particular skill or accomplishment that has meaning to the company.
- Open your letter with a strong sentence that would make the reader take notice. You want to stand out from the crowd.
- Proofread your letter for errors!
- Keep a copy of all correspondence, especially if you are applying to a lot of positions.
- Keep the letter short and simple. DO NOT try to impress the reader with wordy language.
Internships are excellent ways to gain professional experience. They introduce you to professionals in your field and act as great mentors. Internships prepare you for your transition out of the life of a college student and prepare you for what life is like after graduation. Be sure to make the best of your time as an intern, in many cases companies fill entry-level positions with candidates from their internship programs.
