How to Write a CV for an Internship – Ultimate Guide With Sample

If you’re a fresh graduate seeking your first internship, your CV is one of your most powerful tools to make a lasting impression. Unlike in professional roles, where employers look for professional skills and experience, they understand that interns may lack experience, so they focus on potential, skills, education, and enthusiasm. This guide will show you how to write a CV for an internship, even with little or no work experience, to help you stand out from the crowd!

Introduction: How to Write a CV for an Internship

Are you a student or recent graduate looking to land your first internship? Crafting a well-structured and professional CV for an internship is the first step toward unlocking career opportunities and gaining real-world experience.

Unlike a regular CV, an internship CV focuses less on work experience and more on academic achievements, transferable skills, projects, and enthusiasm to learn.

Internships are a crucial bridge between education and employment. However, with thousands of students applying for similar positions, your CV must stand out at first glance.

A strong internship CV highlights who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you’re the best fit, even without formal experience.

This detailed guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to write a CV for an internship. From crafting an impressive professional summary to showcasing relevant skills, school projects, volunteer work, and using the right keywords to beat Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), we’ve got you covered.

Whether you’re pursuing a degree in IT, Business, Engineering, Marketing, or Education, this article will help you tailor your internship CV and increase your chances of getting shortlisted.

Let’s dive into how to write a CV for an Internship, the best practices, proven CV structure, keyword tips, and a sample internship CV to help you land that dream opportunity.

Why Is a Strong Internship CV Important?

A well-written CV:

• Creates a strong first impression.
• Shows you are serious and prepared for the opportunity.
• Helps you stand out in a competitive internship market.
• Convinces employers that you’re worth training and investing in.

How to Tailor Your Internship CV in Kenya

When writing your internship CV:

• Customize it for each internship position.
• Read the job description carefully and include relevant keywords.
• Emphasize transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, digital literacy, etc.

Keywords to Include in Your Internship CV

Here are some internship-relevant keywords and phrases:

• Internship seeker
• Enthusiastic and quick learner
• Problem-solving skills
• Strong communication skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Time management
• Computer proficiency (MS Office, design tools, etc.)
• Academic excellence
• Adaptability and flexibility

Structure of a CV for an Internship in Kenya

Here’s the standard format:

CV Title

Think of it as your career tagline, which instantly tells the employer who you are professionally

A CV title is a short, impactful statement that sits just below your name and contact details at the top of your CV, highlighting your professional identity, career focus, and key strengths all in one line or word.

Example:

CV – Internship Application | Business Management Graduate

Personal Information

• Full Name
• Phone Number
• Email Address

Objective Summary

Definition:

An Objective Summary (also known as a Career Objective) is a short statement, 3–4 lines, summarizing who you are and what you bring. It explains what you hope to achieve in your internship. It’s typically used by students, fresh graduates, or career changers who have limited work experience.

An objective summary for interns is what a Professional Summary is for professional job seekers

Focus:

• Emphasizes your goals.
• Highlight what you’re looking for.
• Usually begins with phrases like “To obtain a position…” or “Seeking an opportunity…”

Example:

“To obtain an internship position in a reputable accounting firm where I can apply my financial analysis skills and gain hands-on experience in real-world accounting practices.”

If you’re a graduate with some practical experience, like industrial attachments, volunteer work, or projects, you can blend the two. Start with your goal and back it up with a bit of experience to create a hybrid introduction.

Example:

“Motivated HR graduate with internship experience in recruitment and employee relations. Seeking to apply my strong organizational and interpersonal skills in a dynamic HR department.”

When to Use An Objective Summary:

Best for entry-level candidates, interns, or graduates without much work experience.

Education Background

Highlight your education qualifications in chronological order. List your most recent education first.

Example:

Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)

University of Nairobi – 2019 to 2023

Second Class Upper Division

Key Courses: Financial Reporting, Taxation, Business Statistics, Economics

Key Skills

List 6–8 relevant soft and technical skills.

Example:

• Financial Analysis
• MS Excel & PowerPoint
• Communication Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Problem Solving
• Report Writing
• Research and Data Collection

Projects / Coursework / Academic Achievements

Instead of job experience, highlight relevant projects or achievements.

Example:

• Researched and wrote a financial report on Equity Bank’s performance trends.
• Led a 4-member group project to create a mock investment portfolio with a 10% ROI.
• Presented a business case study to a panel and was awarded best group presentation.

Volunteer Experience / Part-time Roles / Leadership

Mention any extracurricular involvement that shows your skills.

Example:

Treasurer – University Finance Club
2022 – 2023

• • Managed club finances and prepared monthly reports

  • Coordinated fundraising events raising over Ksh. 50,000

Event Assistant – Church Youth Camp

December 2022

• • Assisted in logistics and communication for a 3-day youth event

Referees

Include 2 referees from school, volunteer roles, or mentors.

Dr. John Muthoni

Lecturer, Kenyatta University

Phone: 0700 000 000

Email: john.muthoni@ku.ac.ke

Sarah Wanjiku

Mentor & Church Youth Leader

Phone: 0700 000 000

Email: sarahwanjiku@gmail.com

Tips to Make Your Internship CV Stand Out

Here are actionable tips to make your internship CV stand out in the competitive Kenyan job market:

Start with a Strong Objective Summary

Craft a brief, tailored career objective that clearly states your internship goals and how you intend to add value to the company.

Example:

“Motivated Business Administration student seeking an internship to apply project management and analytical skills in a dynamic corporate environment.”

Tailor Your CV to the Specific Internship

Don’t send a generic CV. Customize it for every role:

• • Match the keywords in the internship posting.
  • Emphasize relevant coursework, tools, or skills.
  • Show how your goals align with the company’s mission.

Highlight Relevant Coursework & Projects

If you lack job experience, highlight university assignments, research projects, or capstones related to the role.

Example:

“Led a group project on digital marketing strategies for Kenyan SMEs, increasing engagement by 50%.”

List Practical Skills & Tools

Mention hands-on skills like:

• • Microsoft Office

  • Canva or Adobe Suite (for creatives)

  • SPSS, STATA, or QuickBooks (for analysts or accountants)

  • Google Workspace or Trello

Use bullet points for clarity.

Add Certifications (Even Free Ones!)

Include free certifications from platforms like Google, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning.

These show initiative and a desire to learn.

Keep It Short and Clear

• 1 page is enough for most internship CVs.

• Use clear section headings like:

  • Objective | Education | Skills | Experience | Projects | Volunteer Work | Referees

Include Soft Skills with Examples

Mention soft skills that matter in internships:

• • Time management
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Creativity

Back them up with examples from school or volunteer work.

Format Professionally & Proofread

• Use a clean, readable font (like Arial or Calibri).

• Save and send your CV in PDF format.

• Check for spelling and grammar errors—proofread twice!

Common mistakes to avoid when writing a CV for an internship

• Using a Generic CV: Sending the same CV to every employer. Tailor your CV to each internship role. Use keywords from the job description and highlight skills or experiences that match that specific role.
• Failing to Include a Clear Objective Summary: Skipping the objective or writing a vague one, like “Looking for a challenging role,” makes your CV lose focus. Write a concise, targeted objective showing your goal and how you can contribute.
• Making It Too Long or Cluttered: A 2–3 page CV as a fresh graduate with no formal work experience is a waste. Keep your CV 1 page max, clean, and well-structured with bullet points.
• Including Irrelevant Personal Details: Adding age, religion, marital status, ID number, or passport photo (unless required). Avoid such details and focus on your skills, education, and accomplishments.
• Listing Hobbies Without Relevance: Adding hobbies like “watching movies” or “hanging out with friends” can hurt your CV. Only include relevant details.
• Poor Formatting and Spelling Errors: Using inconsistent fonts, poor layout, and grammar/spelling issues. Use a professional format, clear fonts, and proofread your CV or use a grammar checker.
• Using an Unprofessional Email Address: Submitting your CV with an email like swaggboi254@gmail.com, cutiequeenxx@yahoo.com, or kushlover@live.com can hurt your CV by making you appear unserious, immature, or lacking workplace etiquette, even before they look at your skills. Always use a clean, professional email that includes your real name or initials. Avoid nicknames, slang, or numbers that resemble birth years unless necessary.

Examples of professional emails:

jameswainaina45@gmail.com

mary.wanjiru98@gmail.com

Always save as a PDF: Don’t send your CV as a Word document unless asked. A PDF ensures your formatting stays intact.

Final Thoughts on How to Write a CV for an Internship

Crafting a compelling CV for an internship requires more than just listing your academic background; it demands a strategic approach, clarity, and a professional tone.

As a fresh graduate or student, focus on showcasing your academic strengths, relevant coursework, volunteer work, leadership roles, and transferrable skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Always tailor your internship CV to the specific role and industry, use powerful action verbs, and optimize your layout for readability and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Avoid common mistakes, such as using unprofessional email addresses, generic summaries, or typos. A well-written CV can open doors to valuable internship opportunities that build your career foundation. Keep it concise, targeted, and results-oriented, and you’ll stand out in a competitive internship market.

Sample Internship CV – Fresh Graduate (Kenyan Example)

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