Has an internship position caught your eye? The first step towards success is reading through our CV examples for inspiration. Then, you’ll need to create an amazing intern CV that highlights your most desirable qualities. When it comes to writing a CV, it’s essential to show employers that you’re serious, capable, and know what you want. This huge first step can be very daunting, but it’s vital when it comes to getting noticed and reaching the interview stage, where you can truly shine. Use this CV example for interns to craft the ideal CV, giving you the key information points and a practical layout that you can use as a foundation. You might also like to choose a pre-made CV template to effectively showcase your sections. Getting everything in the right place and looking professional is a huge boon to your applications. Plus, it will help you to organise your thoughts when it comes to writing a cover letter. The CV example for interns can help you to write a strong CV with a clean, attractive layout that will kick-start your new career. We’ll provide advice on how to complete the following sections, covering:

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    Sample intern CV

    Jasmine Thomas CV 2

    Jasmine Thomas 18 Jamieson Walk, Glasgow G12 1KJ 07912345678 Jasmine.Thomas@example.example.co.uk Professional summary Recent graduate with a strong focus on Java and HTML. Multilingual and well-spoken with experience managing projects and analysing data. Highly effective junior software developer motivated to learn and grow seeking internship in a well-established company. Work history January 2021 – Current Modern Solutions – Glasgowl Junior Software Developer

    • Swiftly diagnosed and resolved faults in codebase with strong analysis and prioritisation.
    • Guaranteed software quality by conducting thorough unit and automation testing.
    • Wrote cohesive and dynamic C++ code with meticulous attention to detail.

    Skills

    • Git
    • Web application development
    • Entity framework
    • Javascript
    • C#
    • Advanced SAP knowledge
    • Database management software
    • Web-based software engineering

    Education Glasgow University Glasgow – 2021 Bachelor of Science Software Development

    Create this CV

    Intern CV template

    Creating the perfect CV for you as an intern can feel tough – but it doesn’t have to be! By using our extensive collection of online resources, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of options. These include CV templates that give you a head start on your journey towards employment.

    Choose template

    Which format is right on a CV for intern applicants?

    CV formats are the blueprint for your CV, arranging the information in a way that captures the employer’s attention. The best structures are engaging and easy to read, emphasising key selling points like employment history, hard and soft skills, and academic qualifications. There are two widely accepted layouts – the reverse-chronological CV and the skills-based CV. The reverse-chronological CV is often the best choice because many companies prefer candidates with tangible experience in similar roles. Here, you’ll run through your professional background, starting from your current or most recent position. Ideally, even those with little practical experience should use this template, listing volunteering, part-time or temporary contracts, and other internships in place of full-time employment. With that said, there’s an understanding that many applicants will be young and fresh out of education – perhaps with no work history whatsoever. In these cases, it’s appropriate to use a skills-based CV that concentrates on transferable knowledge and capabilities. If using a skills-based CV, choose a few umbrella skills and list examples of relevant tasks you can perform underneath each. For instance, the umbrella skill might be “digital skills”, and the tasks could include “Familiar with Microsoft Office”, “Quick to learn with new software”, and “Social media proficiency”. What are some of the most important tips to keep in mind? Consider the following:

    • Ensure your CV is one or two pages
    • Use a legible, professional font such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman
    • Break up long sections of text with headings, section breaks, and bullet point lists
    • Ensure all the information you provide is tailored to the job advertisement, or internship requirements
    • Send your CV as a PDF or Word file, unless directed otherwise.
    Choose your format now

    How to write a CV for an intern

    There’s no need to get yourself in a muddle when learning how to write a CV for an intern. Above all else, you’ll be telling recruiters about your experience in work or education and highlighting the value it could add to their company.

    In the subsequent sections, we’ll explain the ins and outs of CV writing in detail, so you can craft a persuasive application that sets you apart from the competition.

    We’ll run through:

    Adding contact details to your intern CV

    Picture this – you’ve spent hours creating a fantastic CV and cover letter, researching the company, and pinpointing hiring managers, only to forget to add your contact details! It might sound simple, but too many candidates skip over this step and wonder why their applications never seem to go any further. Note your most current information at the top of your CV, including:

    • Full name
    • Location
    • Contact number
    • Email address

    Example of contact section for intern CV

    Tracy Greer
    126 Anyroad,
    Anywhere, AN12 JDN
    01234 567891
    tracy.greer@example.com

    How to write a personal statement for your intern CV

    If you want to shine in a sea of equally knowledgeable candidates, prioritise your personal statement. It’s the first thing an employer reads when opening your CV. As such, it’s instrumental in encouraging them to explore your application further.

    Constructing a compelling personal statement isn’t brain science. In three to four concise sentences, explain:

    • Who you are – years of experience, specialisms, and career goals
    • What you can achieve – real-world results and accomplishments
    • How you can achieve it – unique skills and qualifications

    Above all else, keep the tone confident and upbeat by including plenty of positive adjectives and action verbs. You should also write in the third person to lend your intern CV a polished, professional edge.

    What do we mean by real-world results and accomplishments? The most successful personal statements substantiate claims with statistics. For instance, rather than saying you “introduced new accounting software”, mention how you “sourced and implemented new accounting software that improved overall efficiency by 35%”.

    If you don’t have any figures yet, don’t worry – every intern has to start somewhere! Spotlight your hard and soft skills, qualifications, and enthusiasm for the company instead.

    Example of personal statement for an intern CV

    Skilled junior accountant with experience in various aspects of the financial world, looking for a place in a larger company to kick-start a lifelong career. Strong knowledge of financial law and regulations, plus general financial affairs. Capable of managing accounts for individuals and businesses, and some experience in creating budgets and forecasts.

    OR

    Trainee accountant who wants to develop their skills in an industry-leading company. Able to lead meetings and presentations, communicating information in an accessible way, with clients or co-workers. Strong grasp of mathematics and information technology. Seeking to learn from the best and take the next step in my career.

    How to present your work history on an intern CV

    Career history fascinates employers, revealing more than you’d think about aspiring applicants. Hiring managers can establish someone’s reliability by looking at how long they typically stay in a position. They can also determine a person’s ambition via consistent promotions or step-ups.

    If you’re new to the workforce, you might struggle to complete this section, but remember you can talk about volunteering, other internships, and part-time or temporary positions. While the roles don’t have to be related, give examples of transferable skills and duties. Let’s say you’re applying for an accountancy internship – you might describe the times you made fast mathematical calculations in a shop assistant job.

    When outlining your work experience, start from your current or most recent role, and include:

    • Company name and location
    • Job title
    • Employment start and end dates
    • Brief list of responsibilities
    • Notable achievements

    Quality over quantity is essential here, especially if you don’t have much work experience in your chosen industry. Tailor every piece of information to the internship job description and provide as many instances as possible of times you’ve surpassed expectations.

    Another important thing to keep in mind is not to repeat yourself. You’ll need to make note of each responsibility, ensuring that they add to the overall picture of you as a candidate. You also don’t want to mention menial tasks that are expected as standard for professionals. For example, there’s no use in adding that you “write emails”, as this is standard practice and does not strengthen your application.

    Lastly, you’re going to want to write this section with an effective grasp of language to engage your reader. Make sure you use positive adjectives to describe yourself like “punctual”, “passionate”, or “hard-working”. You should use action verbs in the place of “responsible for,” to diversify your writing. Good choices here include “assisted”, “advised”, and “created”.

    Example of work experience for an intern CV

    Junior Accountant at Anybiz | London | July 2022 – Present

    • Compile various regular cash flow reports.
    • Assist in new staff training and health and safety training.
    • Create tax budget advice documents for new clients.
    • Responsible for accounting records for individuals and businesses.

    Assistant Accountant at Anybiz | London | April 2019 – June 2022

    • Part-time accountancy position while attending studies.
    • Completed financial audit of a client and presented results.
    • Made budgets and forecasts for clients.
    • Assisted with payroll for the department using Sage software.

    Great skills to add on your intern CV

    CV skills are integral to an intern CV, especially one that lacks a comprehensive employment history section. It’s a chance to shout about the things that make you unique, reiterate why you’re the best person for the job, and demonstrate technical know-how.

    We suggest combining hard skills and soft skills to make a lasting impact. The former are job-specific, such as “knowledge of tax law”, “creating financial budgets”, and “keeping accounting records”. The latter are transferable, including “goal-oriented”, “solution-focused”, and “adaptable”.

    Note around 12 skills in total, split equally between the above. If you’re stuck on hard skills, can you think of any you might’ve picked up at university? Using accountancy as an example, your course probably dived into core software like Sage and QuickBooks. Take a look at the following essential skills and nice-to-haves for some more inspiration:

    Essential skills for an intern

    • Junior membership of an accountancy organisation
    • Certified accountancy software user
    • High level of computer literacy
    • Numerate and able to make fast mental calculations
    • Well-read in financial law and EU law

    Desirable aptitudes to set you apart

    • Full, clean driving licence
    • Trained in presentation and management techniques
    • Proficient problem-solver
    • Ability to meet strict financial deadlines
    • Excellent organisational skills

    Outlining education on an intern CV

    The education section is the supporting foundation of your CV, reassuring employers that you can hit the ground running. Some internships have strict entry requirements, such as accountancy, whereas others simply ask for a positive attitude. You should research the industry and re-read the spec before applying, so you know exactly what hiring managers want. Whatever the field, outline:

    • School, college, university, or other awarding body
    • Study dates – include your expected graduation date as the end date if you’re still in full-time education
    • Subject title – not applicable to GCSEs
    • Qualification type – e.g. A level or GCSE
    • Qualification result

    If you’re a recent graduate with minimal work experience, you could list individual university modules relevant to the role. For example, if you’re applying for an accountancy internship within a charity, you might mention you studied “Issues in Not-for-Profit and Public Sector Accounting”.

    School and university qualifications aren’t the be-all and end-all. You can also discuss achievements from other training institutions and awarding bodies, including vocational NVQs, BTECs, and City & Guilds certificates.

    Example of education for an intern’s CV

    Strathclyde University | 2023
    BA Hons Accountancy, 2:1

    Penrith College | 2020
    A levels: Maths (A), Science (B), Technology (B), General Studies (C)

    Lakeside High School | 2018
    10 GCSEs: Grades A* to C

    Dos and don’ts for your intern CV

    Do

    • We recommend attaching a well-thought-out cover letter to every internship application. Not only does it show bucketloads of willingness (employers will always appreciate the extra effort), but it’s a place to summarise your top aptitudes and describe why you’re the best fit.

    •  Enthusiasm might be enough to carry you through when you lack work experience and technical skills. Include plenty of positive adjectives, such as “patient”, “motivational”, and “disciplined”. Lead with action verbs like “spearheaded”, “orchestrated”, and “launched” instead of uninspiring text (we’re looking at you, “responsible for”).

    Don’t

    • It might be tricky to provide statistics for every soft skill, but you should be able to give real-life examples. Don’t simply say you’re a “problem-solver” – show the employer how you’ve put this skill into practice. The more specific you can be, the better!

    • Whether you’re a hopeful intern or well-versed CEO, we always recommend researching the company before writing your CV. Find out who the decision-makers are, read through the company values, and decipher the tone of voice to guide the writing process.

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    Your intern CV questions answered

    WWhat do I put on my CV if I have no experience?

    While it’s tempting to think you have no experience, you might just need to look a little closer. Have you ever volunteered or had a Saturday job? Were you part of any relevant organisations at school, college, or university? When collating your experience, think outside of the box – it’s not only traditional, full-time employment that advertises your aptitude for the role.

    How do you put internships on a CV?

    If you’ve already completed an internship, include it underneath the work history section. You treat it like any other role, outlining the company, job title, and key responsibilities. Remember to list it as an internship so that the reader knows the nature of the position. Internships are often seen as vital stepping-stones to more permanent roles, so make sure to explore all of the experience you gained.

    What should a student put on a CV?

    A student or recent graduate CV looks much the same as a regular CV, except the work experience section might not be as detailed. Most students will have an employment background – it’s a matter of tailoring the job duties to the internship. For instance, an accountancy intern and waitress position both demand the ability to manage multiple customers/clients simultaneously.

    How do you sell yourself on a CV?

    It can be awkward to sell yourself to a stranger, especially if you’re naturally introverted. However, promoting your capabilities is the only way to get noticed in a highly competitive job market. Our top tips include:

    • Show rather than tell – present evidence to back up your skills
    • Share feedback – e.g. letters of recommendation
    • Emphasise promotions and awards
    • Be authentic – don’t try to sound like anyone else
    • Ask friends, family, or colleagues for help – they’ll be able to summarise your character
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    Dazzle employers with a professional intern CV

    Thanks to the above advice and our CV examples, creating your intern CV should be a walk in the park. Provided you use the tips and processes we have outlined, as well as all the online resources we have on our site, you can create an effective CV in no time. If you need further assistance, head to our online builder, where you’ll find CV templates and pre-written content that’s ideal for internship applications.

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