How to Create a Resume (CV) for an Internship or First Job

Quick answer: A good resume (or CV) for an internship is one clean page with your contact details, a short summary, education, experience, projects, skills and a few extras, in that order. Write each bullet as an action verb, a task and a result. Tailor it to every job, keep the layout simple so software and people can read it, and never include anything untrue.

Resume or CV: what is the difference?

It depends on where you are applying. In the US and Canada, a resume is a short, targeted summary of your background. A CV (curriculum vitae) there is a longer, detailed document used mostly for academic and research roles.

In the UK, Europe, Australia and much of Asia, people say "CV" for the short document that Americans call a resume. For an internship or first job, the two words almost always mean the same thing: a one or two page summary of who you are and what you can do. If the job post says "CV", send a CV. If it says "resume", send a resume. The content is the same.

The sections, in order

Employers expect a familiar layout. Use plain headings and put your strongest material near the top.

1. Contact details. Your name, a professional email (your name, not a nickname), phone number, city and country, and a link to your LinkedIn profile if it is up to date. Your name and a way to reach you are the only parts you cannot skip.
2. Summary. Two or three lines at the top. Say who you are (for example, "third-year marketing student"), one or two relevant strengths, and what kind of internship you want. Keep it specific to the role.
3. Education. Your university or school, degree, expected or actual graduation date, and anything relevant such as a strong grade, honors or key courses. You do not need primary or secondary school if you are at university. If high school is your highest level, include it.
4. Experience. Jobs, internships and volunteer roles, newest first. For each: title, organization, location, dates and two to four bullet points.
5. Projects. Class projects, personal projects, competitions and anything you built or organized. This section matters a lot when you have little work history.
6. Skills. Tools, software, languages and technical skills that match the job. Be honest about your level. Soft skills like teamwork are best shown through your bullets rather than listed.
7. Extras. Certifications, awards, clubs and languages. Hobbies are optional. Keep them short and only add them if they say something useful about you.

How to write strong bullet points

Weak resumes list duties. Strong ones show what you did and what happened because of it. Use this formula for every bullet: action verb + task + result.

• Weak: "Responsible for social media."
• Better (an example): "Managed the society Instagram account, posting three times a week, and grew followers from 400 to 650 in one semester."

Start with verbs such as organized, built, analyzed, led, designed, translated or coordinated. Add numbers where they are real: people, hours, money, time saved, followers, sales. If you do not have a number, describe the outcome instead ("the club used my schedule for the rest of the year"). Do not make up figures. A modest true result beats an impressive false one.

How employers and applicant tracking systems read your resume

Your resume is read in two ways, and you need to suit both.

By software. Many companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to store applications and help recruiters search them. University career services commonly give the same advice: use standard headings, a simple layout, a plain font, and keep important details out of headers, footers, tables and text boxes, because some systems cannot read them. Save as a PDF unless the employer asks for a Word file.

By people. A recruiter or hiring manager usually skims first. They look at the top of the page, your most recent experience, and whether your background matches the role. Then they read more closely if you look like a fit. This means the first third of the page does most of the work. Put your most relevant material there, use white space, and keep bullets short.

Keywords matter in both cases. If the job post asks for "data analysis" and "report writing" and you have done both, use those words, in the same form, where they are true.

Building a resume with no experience

Internship employers know you are a student. They are not expecting years of work. They want signs that you are reliable, curious and able to finish things. You have more material than you think:

• Coursework and academic projects. Name the project, your role, the tools you used and the outcome.
• Volunteering. Events, tutoring, community groups, charity drives. Describe what you handled and what came out of it.
• Part-time and casual jobs. Cafe, retail or tutoring work shows reliability, customer skills and time management. They count.
• Clubs and societies. A committee role or an event you organized shows leadership and teamwork.
• Competitions, certificates and online courses. Include ones that connect to the role.

A good first step is to brainstorm. Write down everything you have done, learned or built, without worrying about layout or relevance. Keep that long list as your master document. For each application, pick only the items that fit the job. It also helps to know which skills internship employers look for.

If your experience is thin, you can also add online learning or a virtual program. Our post on how to put a virtual internship on your resume shows how to list it.

Tailor it to every job

One generic resume sent to fifty places rarely works. Instead, keep your master list and build a fresh version for each role. It takes a little time, but it is worth it.

1. Read the job post and highlight the main responsibilities and required skills.
2. Choose the experiences, projects and skills from your master list that match those points.
3. Rewrite your summary so it names the role and your closest match to it.
4. Use the employer's wording for skills and tools, when it is true for you.

Tailoring does not mean changing the facts. It means choosing which true facts to show.

Using AI tools responsibly

AI writing tools can save time, and many employers know applicants use them. Use them as an editor, not as an author.

• Good uses: tightening a long bullet, suggesting stronger verbs, fixing grammar, turning your notes into a first draft, or checking how well your resume matches a job post.
• Bad uses: inventing jobs, skills, grades, numbers or results, or pasting in generic text that could belong to anyone.
• Always: read every line, correct anything that is not true, and check that it sounds like you. If you cannot explain a line in an interview, remove it.

Templates and AI builders are fine for layout, but keep the exported file simple: one column, real text, standard headings, no skill bars or icons.

Formatting and length

• Length: one page for students and recent graduates. Two pages only if you have enough relevant experience to fill them well.
• Font: a clean one such as Calibri or Arial, 10 to 12 point, with consistent spacing and bullets.
• File: PDF, named clearly, for example "Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf".

Common mistakes

• Typos and inconsistent formatting. Read it aloud and ask a friend, teacher or someone who works full time to review it.
• Listing duties instead of results.
• Sending the same version to every employer.
• Including too much: every school you attended, every job, unrelated hobbies or personal details such as relationship status or weight.
• Any claim that is not true. It is easy to check and can cost you the offer later.

Applying abroad: check local norms

Resume customs change by country. In the US and UK, photos, age and marital status are normally left off. In many parts of continental Europe and Asia, a photo and some personal details are common or even expected. Page length, the word "CV" and the order of sections can also differ. Before you apply abroad, look at local examples, read the job post carefully and, if it is unclear, ask the employer or host organization what they prefer.

Final checklist

• One page, clean layout, PDF file.
• A summary written for this specific role.
• Every bullet follows action verb + task + result.
• Keywords from the job post appear where true.
• Nothing is invented or exaggerated, including anything AI suggested.
• No typos, consistent dates and formatting.

FAQs

What is the difference between a resume and a CV?

In the US and Canada, a resume is a short document (usually one page) for jobs and internships, while a CV is a longer academic document. In the UK, Europe and much of Asia, "CV" usually means the same short document Americans call a resume. Check the job post and use the term the employer uses.

How long should a resume be for an internship?

One page is the safe choice for a student or recent graduate. If you have a lot of relevant work, two pages can be fine, but only if every line earns its place.

How do I write a resume with no experience?

Lead with education, then add projects, coursework, volunteering, clubs, part-time jobs and competitions. Describe each one with an action verb, what you did and the result. Employers hiring interns expect limited work history, so show proof that you learn fast and finish things.

Is it okay to use AI to write my resume?

Yes, as a helper. Use it to tidy wording, suggest stronger verbs or check grammar. Never let it add jobs, skills, numbers or results that are not true, and read every line yourself before you send it. You must be able to talk about everything on the page in an interview.

Should I put a photo on my resume?

It depends on the country. In the US and UK, photos are usually left off. In many parts of continental Europe and Asia, a photo is common or expected. Look at local examples and the job post, and when in doubt, ask the employer.

Once your resume is ready, prepare for the next step with our guide to internship interview questions, and make sure your LinkedIn profile backs up what your resume says.