How to Write an Internship CV (With Template)

What is an internship CV?

Despite common misconceptions, an internship is a real job with real responsibility, and securing one requires a real CV.

A CV for an internship is the same as any other professional CV, except it will focus more on your key skills than previous work experience. (So don’t worry if you haven’t stepped foot in an office before – this won’t automatically rule you out).

You can do an internship or insight day even if you’re a first-year. Getting in early is a good idea because if you do well, you could be fast-tracked for a placement or graduate job.

So get that internship CV sorted out, it’ll do wonders for your career.

Internship CV template

There’s nothing more daunting than starting with a blank page. Instead, start by downloading our FREE template, which features all the sections you should include in your CV. 

Fill out the template as you work your way through the steps below. Just remember to replace the text with your own words and proofread your CV before you send it. 

What you should and shouldn’t include in your CV

First and foremost, you should always tailor your CV towards the specific internship, industry and company you are applying for. 

As tempting as it is to send one CV out to multiple companies, don’t. It’s not a good look and recruiters can spot this a mile off. Showing that you have made the effort to research the employer and what they are looking for will have them leaping for joy.

Now, follow these seven simple steps to nail your CV every time…

Step 1: Contact Details

Start by including your full name (including any pronouns if you wish), phone number and email address.

Put your details at the top of the page so that it’s easy for recruiters to get in touch with you about the next steps. You could even write your name in bold and use a bigger font so it stands out.

There is absolutely no need to include a photograph or any personal details, such as your date of birth or gender. If you have an online portfolio, relevant blog or LinkedIn account, you should link to these (you may need to save your CV as a PDF to do so).

Step 2: Your Profile

Your CV profile is a short paragraph (no longer than five sentences) that should:

• Introduce who you are

• Explain why you are interested in the internship

• Briefly highlight your career aspirations

Keep it brief and focused on the type of internship you are applying for.

If you’re applying for an internship at an accounting firm, for example, describe yourself as an ‘analytical and methodical thinker’. Emphasise your ‘keen interest in accounting practices‘ and ‘seeing how an accountancy firm functions in a professional environment’. This way, the recruiter will be super impressed.

Step 3: Key Skills

Some people will try to shovel their key skills and talents into their profile. There’s a better way of doing this. Put together a list of bullet points that highlight your strengths and skills.

To stand out from other applicants, try focusing on the soft skills that all employers are looking for, including:

• Dealing with conflict

• Negotiating/influencing

• Resilience

• Time management

• Problem-solving

Add 4-5 of your own. Check the job description for the specific skills the internship requires. 

Step 4: Education

Reverse chronological order is preferred by most recruiters and ATS (the software used to scan CVs), so start with your most recent qualifications.

If you’ve just finished your A-Levels, put those grades first and your GCSEs after. You also don’t have to mention what grades you achieved for every subject. Especially as your CV shouldn’t exceed two pages.

Do this:

A-levels: A*AA - Drama and Theatre Studies, English Literature and Philosophy

GCSEs & IGCSEs: Three 8s, Five 7s (Maths - 7, English Language - 8, English Literature - 9)

If you are currently studying at university, providing a predicted grade is acceptable.

Write – ‘currently working towards a BA (Hons) English Literature (2:1).’ You may also want to include any end-of-year results or standout marks in relevant modules.

Step 5: Previous Employment / Work Experience

Writing your very first CV can be tricky. Especially if you feel like you haven’t got any experience.

The best way around this is to think about what defines you beyond your academic achievements – have you, for example… 

• Volunteered in your local community or organised an event?

• Picked up some technical skills like coding or Adobe Photoshop?

• Joined a sports team or society at university? 

If you do have previous professional experience, you should list your key responsibilities to show what you can bring to a role. This section is where you give evidence of those skills.

As always, try to match what the employer is looking for. For example, if they are looking for ‘problem solvers who are full of initiative’, tell them about a time you solved a problem.

You should also ensure that you give start and end dates for each job, so the recruiter knows you don’t have three jobs on the go.

Step 6: Interests

This section of your CV is totally optional, but it can be a useful way of showing recruiters you have what it takes to do the job – even if you don’t have the experience. 

Did you gain any relevant skills at school or university, such as time management or public speaking? Did you win an award? Or captain a netball team? 

Craft your interests and extracurricular activities to portray yourself as the ideal candidate for that specific internship.

Step 7: References

Employers will sometimes ask you to provide a reference. It’s a good idea to choose somebody you know academically. A tutor or teacher perhaps. And somebody you have worked with, such as a manager or superior colleague.

You do not have to provide the details of your referees when you first send your CV. Write:

REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

The recruiter will contact you if they are impressed by your CV and wish to speak to your referees.

How to use AI to write your CV

If you’re still stuck for inspiration or need some extra help creating your CV template, you can always try AI services like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. But, it’s important to look at the pros and cons of using it:

Keeping that in mind, it is essential that you still take the time to carefully check your CV before sending it out to recruiters. To help ChatGPT on its way, make sure you include as much detail as possible about the job description and your own experience, for example:

Then, simply wait for ChatGPT to work its magic – and voilà! You’ve got yourself an internship CV.

Always make sure to triple-check your spelling and grammar before submitting your CV.