Internship CV: How to use it
Are you looking for an internship and feeling a little lost ? Don't panic, you're not alone! We know that this stage can look like a mountain to climb... but the first step is your CV. 📝
An internship CV is not a CV like any other: often, you do not yet have "official" professional experience in your field. And that's normal! What recruiters want to see is your motivation, your potential, and how you highlight everything you've already learned or experienced.
So breathe, we're with you! With this little instruction manual, you will have all the cards in hand to build a CV that catches the eye and that will allow you to get the internship that suits you. Ready? Here we go 👇
1. Start with a business email address
It may seem trivial, but an email address is the first piece of information a recruiter sees. A fanciful or overly personal address can discredit you even before your CV is read. Opt for a simple and professional address, such as prenom.nom@email.com.
👉 Tip: If your name is already taken, add a sober number (your year of birth, for example) rather than a nickname. Nothing is more embarrassing for a recruiter than to come across lapinou07@email.com (even if it's very cute). This detail already shows that you take your candidacy seriously.
2. Give your resume a clear title
An untitled CV is like a film without a poster: you don't know what it's about. The title should immediately give your purpose and your field.
Example: "Digital marketing student - Looking for an internship in social media management (3 months from March 2025)".
In one line, you indicate who you are, what you are looking for and when. The recruiter saves time and you show that you know what you want.
👉 Bonus: specifying your availability dates directly in your title can prevent your application from being set aside.
3. Say what you're looking for, not just who you are
Many students simply indicate their educational background... But a recruiter wants to understand what you want to learn and develop during your internship.
Example: "I want to do an internship in communication to strengthen my skills in content creation and project management."
It's short, but it immediately gives a direction.
👉 Tip: Always adapt this part to the company. If you are applying to a startup, insist on your curiosity and your desire to work on several missions. For a large company, highlight your rigor and your desire to learn.
4. Showcase your skills
Even without professional experience, you already have valuable skills. You just have to know how to present them.
Hard skills (techniques): the software you master (Excel, Canva, Photoshop...), the languages you speak, or the know-how you learned at school (or elsewhere).
Soft skills : your sense of organization, your creativity, your team spirit, your autonomy... These qualities often make the difference for an internship.
👉 The best: illustrates each skill with a concrete example. For example: "Organization - coordination of a group project of 8 people during a school project."
It proves that you don't throw around keywords at random.
5. Turn your projects into experiences
You haven't worked officially yet? That's okay. Everything you've done counts:
Your school projects : a presentation, a research project, a group work. You can highlight the results or the skills developed.
Your associative commitment : participation in a student office, organization of events, volunteer actions.
Your personal projects : a blog, a YouTube channel, a podcast, an app created during your classes...
👉 Case in point : instead of writing "School Communication Project," it says: "Creating a fictitious digital communication strategy for a brand, including social media management and visual media design." It's much more meaningful for a recruiter.
6. Take care of the shape without overdoing it
A CV should make you want to be read. But be careful: readability above all.
Use a simple and clear font (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica...).
Airy your text with well-separated sections.
Limit yourself to one page. Yes, only one!
Put the most important information at the top.
👉 Avoid garish colors and overloaded layouts. An internship CV is not a flyer. The recruiter must find the information in less than 5 seconds.
In short ✨
Your internship resume doesn't have to be filled with work experiences to be engaging. What matters is your ability to value your skills, your projects, your commitment and above all your motivation.
👉 And if you're looking for an internship that really makes sense, with assignments that combine learning, values and positive impact, take a look at our offers on Meet My Job. Here, we select internships where you can learn, grow and contribute to projects that really matter. 🌍✨