How to write an internship CV that stands out without work experience
For an internship nobody expects a long career. What does count: showing what you can do, what you've already done and why you want to go there. Here's how to fit that on one page.
An internship CV is a CV for someone who's just starting out. That's fine: companies know you have little work experience. Mostly they want to see that you think, show initiative and can contribute something. Below are six points for a one-page internship CV that looks polished.
1. One page, with your education on top
As a starter, everything belongs on one page. Put your education first, with school, programme and expected end date, because that's your strongest section. Work experience comes after. Once you have more work experience than education, you flip that around.
2. Start with a short profile summary
Two to three sentences: who you are, what you study, what you're looking for and what you bring. For example: 'Third-year Business Economics student, looking for a marketing internship from February to July, with experience in social media and customer contact.' The recruiter sees right away what you're after and whether it fits.
3. Count everything that was work
A part-time job in a supermarket or hospitality, volunteering, a board role at a student association: it's all work experience. Add what you did and, if you have a real number, what it delivered, such as 'organised an event for 80 members'. Don't make anything up, but don't undersell what you've already done either.
4. Use school projects as proof
A group assignment, a research project or a website you built shows you can do something. Mention one to three projects with what you did and what came out of it. In the CVontwerper builder you add a project as an entry under work experience: with 'Project member' as the role and your school as the company. There's no separate projects section.
5. Keep your skills short and concrete
Choose five to eight skills that fit the internship. Name programs and tools, such as Excel, Canva or Google Analytics, rather than loose words like 'communicative' without backing. Add your level for languages.
6. Choose a calm template
With little experience you don't need to fill your CV with decoration. Our Starter template is made for a first job or internship: clear and honest. Applying through an online system? Then pick a template with the 'ATS-safe' badge, those are single-column.
Show what you can do, not what you're still missing
A good internship CV is honest about where you stand and concrete about what you can do. Build your CV for free at CVontwerper, no account and with a live A4 preview, and download it for a one-time €2. Writing a letter too? With every download you get our cover letter generator for free.
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