For college students stepping into the world of internships, creating a standout resume can feel like a challenge. They may worry they don’t have enough experience or feel unsure about how to communicate their skills in a way that catches an employer’s eye.
As an educator, coach, or career counselor, you have a valuable role in guiding students through this process. Here’s a breakdown of the essentials to focus on when teaching college students how to create an effective internship resume.
1. Keep It Simple, Clear, and Focused
Many students’ first instinct is to try and fill up a resume with as much as possible, which can lead to cluttered and unfocused documents. Emphasize that for an internship resume, clarity and conciseness are key. Help students understand the basic structure:
- Contact Information: Full name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile (if they have one)
- Objective or Summary: A one- or two-sentence statement that captures their goals and interest in the position.
- Education: Include their major, expected graduation date, and relevant coursework.
- Experience: Relevant work, volunteer, or leadership experience.
- Skills: Specific technical, software, or language skills.
2. Make Education and Relevant Coursework
Students might feel they don’t have enough experience to “fill up” their resume, but their education can be a key selling point. Help them see how highlighting relevant coursework, projects, or academic achievements can showcase skills.
For example, a student applying for a marketing internship could highlight a class project where they created a marketing strategy for a hypothetical company. This shows that they’ve been learning industry-relevant concepts, even if they haven’t yet gained hands-on experience.
3. Emphasize Skills and Projects Over Job Titles
Many college students might not have held multiple jobs, but they likely have worked on projects, participated in clubs, or volunteered in ways that develop transferable skills. Teach students to present these experiences as effectively as a job title by focusing on what they accomplished, the skills they used, and how those skills apply to the internship they’re seeking.
- Projects: If they’ve worked on significant projects—whether through coursework or independently—encourage them to treat these like job experiences. Show them how to break down their responsibilities, processes, and accomplishments.
- Transferable Skills: Skills like communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving are highly valued by employers. Encourage students to think critically about how they’ve used these skills in their activities, volunteer roles, or class projects.
4. Tailor Resumes for Each Application
The concept of tailoring a resume can be new for college students. Explain that employers look for specific skills and experiences based on the position, and that a tailored resume can help them stand out. Encourage students to review each job description, identify keywords, and integrate them naturally into their resume.
This can be especially helpful when students don’t have a lot of direct experience. For example, if the job description mentions “data analysis,” a student might reference a project from a statistics class where they analyzed data as part of their coursework.
5. Encourage Quantifiable Achievements
Quantifiable achievements are an excellent way to add credibility to a resume. Teach students to think of metrics that might apply, such as the number of people they worked with, how many hours they contributed, or a percentage increase in efficiency if applicable. Even in a limited experience, metrics give employers a tangible idea of their contributions and effectiveness.
For example, instead of writing about building a campaign strategy to increase engagement, they could instead highlight with quantifiable facts like:
Led a team of five in designing a campaign strategy for a hypothetical product launch, resulting in a 30% increase in projected user engagement.
6. Highlight the Importance of Design and Formatting
First impressions matter. Teach students to focus on a clean, professional design. Avoid overly decorative fonts and use bullet points and consistent spacing for readability. A well-organized resume reflects professionalism and attention to detail.
Guide students toward simple, classic templates, and encourage them to stick to a one-page resume format unless they have an exceptional amount of relevant experience (which is rare for entry-level candidates).
7. Preparations for Ongoing Iterations and Updates
Resumes evolve, and it’s essential to instill the habit of regularly updating and refining them. Encourage students to review their resume after completing each major project, internship, or leadership role, adding new experiences and achievements as they go. Building this habit ensures they’re always ready to apply when the right internship opportunity appears.
Final Thoughts
For college students, the internship resume is an introduction to the world of professional branding. Teaching them to communicate their skills, experiences, and academic accomplishments effectively helps them bridge the gap between school and career. By providing guidance on these essentials—clear formatting, relevant details, tailored content, quantifiable achievements, and professionalism—you’ll empower students to present themselves confidently as they embark on their career journeys.