Put your upcoming internship on your resume confidently! Showcase your new experience with action verbs and quantifiable achievements to impress recruiters. This guide provides proven, step-by-step tips to highlight your valuable internship, even before it starts, ensuring your resume stands out and opens doors to future opportunities.
Getting an internship is a huge accomplishment! You’re excited to gain hands-on experience and boost your career prospects. But what if you have an internship lined up, and you’re not sure how to add it to your resume before you’ve even started? It’s a common question, especially for students and recent graduates eager to present a strong, up-to-date profile. Many worry about how to represent this valuable experience accurately without sounding like they’re jumping the gun.
Don’t stress! It’s absolutely possible to showcase your upcoming internship effectively. This guide will walk you through exactly how to do it, ensuring your resume shines with your new, exciting opportunity. We’ll cover where to place it, what details to include, and how to phrase it to capture attention. Let’s get your resume ready for your next big step!
Why You Should Include an Upcoming Internship on Your Resume
Securing an internship is a significant achievement that demonstrates your initiative, eagerness to learn, and commitment to your chosen field. Including an upcoming internship on your resume is a strategic move that can significantly enhance your job application and career trajectory. Here’s why it’s a great idea:
Demonstrates Proactivity: It shows potential employers that you are actively pursuing relevant experience and are committed to professional development.
Highlights Future Value: It signals to recruiters and hiring managers that you are gaining specific skills and knowledge that will soon make you a more valuable asset.
Shows Momentum: A resume that reflects ongoing learning and experience keeps it current and dynamic, portraying you as someone who is always moving forward.
Fills Experience Gaps: If you have limited work experience, an upcoming internship can effectively fill that gap, providing tangible evidence of your capabilities.
Creates Talking Points: It gives you something concrete to discuss during interviews, showcasing your enthusiasm and what you hope to learn and contribute.
Think of it as a preview of the skills and experiences you’ll soon bring to the table. It’s a powerful way to show your ambition and foresight to future employers.
Where to Place Your Upcoming Internship on Your Resume
The placement of your upcoming internship on your resume depends on a few factors, primarily how much other relevant experience you have. Here’s a breakdown of common scenarios:
Scenario 1: Limited or No Prior Work Experience
If this is your first significant internship or you have limited other professional experience, the “Experience” or “Internships” section is the most appropriate place.
Heading: Use a clear heading like “Experience,” “Professional Experience,” or “Internships.”
Order: List your upcoming internship first, as it’s your most current and significant experience.
Scenario 2: Some Prior Work Experience
If you have other relevant work experience (paid jobs, volunteer roles, other internships), you have a couple of options:
Within “Experience” Section: You can include it chronologically within your “Experience” section. If it’s your most recent or relevant experience, list it first. Otherwise, place it according to its start date.
Separate “Internships” Section: If you have multiple internships, or if you want to highlight your internship experience specifically, create a dedicated “Internships” section. This can be placed either before or after your “Professional Experience” section, depending on which you want to emphasize. If the upcoming internship is particularly prestigious or relevant to the job you’re applying for, placing it before other experience can draw immediate attention.
Scenario 3: As Part of “Projects” or “Activities” (Less Common)
In rare cases, if the internship is very short-term, highly specialized, and you have extensive other professional experience, you might consider mentioning it under a “Projects” or “Relevant Activities” section. However, for most internships, the “Experience” or “Internships” section is best.
Key Takeaway: Always aim to make your most relevant and impressive experience the most visible. For an upcoming internship, this usually means placing it prominently in your experience section.
What Information to Include for an Upcoming Internship
When detailing your upcoming internship, you need to provide enough information to be informative and impressive, without overstating what you’ve done. Focus on the opportunity and what you expect to gain and contribute.
Here’s a breakdown of what to include:
1. Company Name: The full, official name of the organization.
2. Location: City and State of the company.
3. Job Title: Your official internship title (e.g., “Marketing Intern,” “Software Engineering Intern,” “Human Resources Intern”).
4. Dates: Use a clear format. Since it hasn’t started, indicate the expected start date and duration.
Example: “June 2024 – August 2024” or “Summer 2024” or “Starting June 2024.”
5. Key Responsibilities & Expected Contributions (Bullet Points): This is where you shine! Instead of listing past duties, focus on what you will be doing and what you aim to achieve. Use action verbs and quantify where possible, even if it’s an expectation.
Focus on Action Verbs: Use strong verbs that describe tasks and responsibilities.
Highlight Key Duties: What will your core responsibilities be?
Mention Skills You’ll Develop: What specific skills are you expected to learn or apply?
Quantify Expected Outcomes: If possible, mention expected results or contributions.
Let’s look at how to phrase these bullet points.
How to Phrase Your Upcoming Internship Bullet Points
This is the most crucial part! You want to sound professional, proactive, and prepared. Instead of past tense, think about future actions and expected outcomes.
General Rule: Use a mix of present and future tense, or focus on the intent of your role.
Here are some effective ways to phrase your bullet points:
Focus on Learning & Contribution:
“Will support the marketing team in developing and executing social media campaigns across platforms like Instagram and TikTok.”
“To assist in coding and testing new features for the company’s flagship software application using Python and JavaScript.”
“Will contribute to client research and data analysis to inform strategic recommendations for the consulting team.”
Highlight Specific Tasks & Projects:
“Expected to draft and edit press releases, website content, and internal communications.”
“Will be responsible for organizing and managing project documentation for the engineering department.”
“To conduct user interviews and usability testing to gather feedback for product development.”
Showcase Skill Application:
“Apply data visualization techniques using Tableau to present key performance indicators to management.”
“Utilize CRM software (e.g., Salesforce) to manage client interactions and track sales leads.”
“Leverage project management tools like Asana to track project timelines and team progress.”
Quantify Expectations (if possible):
“Aim to increase engagement metrics on social media by 15% through targeted content strategies.”
“Expected to contribute to a project that aims to streamline the onboarding process for new hires.”
“Will assist in analyzing a dataset of over 1,000 customer feedback entries to identify trends.”
Example of a Full Internship Entry:
Let’s say you’re interning at a tech company as a Software Engineering Intern.
Experience
Tech Innovations Inc. – Silicon Valley, CA
Software Engineering Intern | June 2024 – August 2024
Will collaborate with senior engineers to design, develop, and test new features for the company’s cloud-based analytics platform.
Expected to write clean, efficient, and well-documented code in Java and Python.
To participate in daily stand-up meetings and contribute to agile development processes.
Aim to enhance user interface elements, potentially improving user experience metrics by 10%.
Will gain hands-on experience with version control systems like Git and CI/CD pipelines.
Pro Tip: Tailor these bullet points to the specific job you are applying for. If the job description emphasizes data analysis, highlight how your internship will involve that.
Structuring Your Resume for Maximum Impact
Beyond just the content, the way you structure your resume plays a vital role in how effectively your upcoming internship is perceived.
1. Choose the Right Resume Format
Chronological: Best if you have a steady work history. Your upcoming internship will be listed first in the experience section.
Functional: Focuses on skills rather than work history. You could list the internship under a “Skills Development” or “Practical Experience” section.
Combination: Blends both. You can have a strong skills summary at the top, followed by a chronological experience section where your upcoming internship is featured prominently.
For most students and recent graduates, a chronological or combination format works best, as it clearly shows your career progression and current opportunities.
2. Resume Sections to Consider
Contact Information: Essential. Make sure it’s up-to-date.
Summary/Objective (Optional but Recommended): A brief statement at the top can highlight your upcoming internship and career goals.
Example Summary: “Highly motivated and results-oriented [Your Major] student with an upcoming Software Engineering Internship at Tech Innovations Inc. Eager to apply strong problem-solving skills and programming knowledge in a real-world environment to contribute to innovative software solutions.”
Education: List your degree, university, GPA (if strong), and expected graduation date.
Experience: This is where your upcoming internship will likely live.
Skills: Include relevant technical skills (programming languages, software) and soft skills (communication, teamwork).
Projects: If you have academic or personal projects that showcase relevant skills, include them.
Awards & Recognition: Any honors or achievements.
3. Quantifying Your Impact (Even Before You Start)
This can be tricky, but it’s powerful. Think about the goals of the internship or the scale of the projects you’ll be working on.
Scale: “Will contribute to a project involving the analysis of user data from over 50,000 active users.”
Goals: “Aim to optimize a process that currently takes 3 hours, reducing it by an estimated 30%.”
Learning Objectives: “Will develop proficiency in Python scripting for data automation tasks.”
Table: Resume Section Placement Guide
| Your Experience Level | Recommended Placement for Upcoming Internship | Reasoning |
| :————————————- | :——————————————– | :———————————————————————————————————————————————– |
| Limited/No Prior Work Experience | Prominently in “Experience” or “Internships” | Makes it your most significant credential, showcasing initiative and future potential. |
| Some Relevant Work Experience | Within “Experience” (chronologically or by relevance) or in a separate “Internships” section. | Allows you to group similar experiences or highlight the internship based on its prestige and relevance to the target job. |
| Extensive Professional Experience | Within “Experience,” potentially after other roles if less directly relevant to the target job. | Ensures it doesn’t overshadow more established career achievements, but still shows continued professional development and learning. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While highlighting your upcoming internship is great, there are a few pitfalls to watch out for:
Overstating Your Role: Don’t claim responsibilities or achievements that are not part of the internship. Stick to what you’ve been told or what’s typical for the role.
Using Vague Language: Avoid generic phrases like “helped with tasks.” Be specific about what you will do.
Incorrect Dates: Double-check your start date and duration to ensure accuracy.
Forgetting to Tailor: Generic bullet points won’t be as effective as those tailored to the job you’re applying for.
Listing it Too Early: If you’re still in the interview process and haven’t received a formal offer, it’s best to wait until you have confirmation.
Tips for Different Career Stages
For Students & Recent Graduates
Emphasize Learning: As a student, employers understand your primary goal is to learn. Frame your bullet points around the skills you’ll acquire and the knowledge you’ll gain.
Connect to Academics: If possible, mention how your coursework or academic projects have prepared you for the internship.
Leverage the “Objective” or “Summary”: This is a prime spot to announce your upcoming internship and your career aspirations.
For Mid-Career Professionals & Career Changers
Focus on Skill Transferability: Highlight how the internship will allow you to apply your existing skills in a new context or gain new, relevant skills for a career pivot.
Frame it Strategically: If the internship is a stepping stone, ensure your resume clearly articulates the connection between your past experience, the internship, and your future career goals.
Be Concise: While still detailed, ensure the internship description is proportionate to your overall experience.
Example: Before and After
Let’s imagine you have a few previous roles and are now adding an upcoming internship.
Before:
Experience
XYZ Corp. – Anytown, USA
Customer Service Representative | Jan 2023 – Present
Assisted customers with inquiries and resolved issues.
Managed customer accounts and updated records.
ABC Solutions – Somewhere, USA
Office Assistant | May 2022 – Dec 2022
Provided administrative support.
Organized office supplies.
—
After Adding Upcoming Internship:
Experience
Global Tech Inc. – Metropolis, USA
Data Analytics Intern | June 2024 – August 2024
Will analyze large datasets to identify trends and provide actionable insights for the marketing department.
Expected to create data visualizations using Tableau to present findings to stakeholders.
To assist in developing predictive models using Python and SQL.
Will gain hands-on experience with A/B testing methodologies.
XYZ Corp. – Anytown, USA
Customer Service Representative | Jan 2023 – Present
Assisted an average of 50+ customers daily, resolving inquiries and escalating complex issues.
Managed customer accounts, ensuring data accuracy and updating records in the CRM system.
ABC Solutions – Somewhere, USA
Office Assistant | May 2022 – Dec 2022
Provided comprehensive administrative support, including scheduling meetings and managing correspondence.
Organized and maintained inventory of office supplies, ensuring availability for staff.
Notice the changes:
The upcoming internship is listed first because it’s the most current and forward-looking experience.
The bullet points for the internship use action verbs and describe specific, expected tasks and learning outcomes.
Quantification is used where possible (e.g., “analyze large datasets,” “create data visualizations,” “developing predictive models”).
Previous roles are still included but are now placed chronologically after the internship.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I put an internship on my resume if I haven’t officially started yet?
A1: Yes, absolutely! It’s a great way to show you’ve secured valuable experience. Just make sure to clearly indicate that it’s an upcoming or ongoing role with future dates.
Q2: What if I don’t have a formal job title for my internship?
A2: Use the title that was provided to you by the company. If it’s very informal, you can use a descriptive title like “Research Assistant Intern” or “Project Support Intern” based on your duties. When in doubt, ask your internship supervisor for the official title.
Q3: How specific should I be in the bullet points for an upcoming internship?
A3: Be as specific as you can based on the internship offer letter, job description, or conversations you’ve had with the hiring manager. Focus on the key responsibilities and the skills you expect to develop or use.
Q4: Should I put “Pending” or “Confirmed” next to the internship dates?
A4: It’s generally better to state the expected dates clearly (e.g., “June 2024 – August 2024” or “Starting June 2024”). The context of having secured the position implies it’s confirmed. Avoid informal terms like “pending” which might sound uncertain.
Q5: What if the internship is unpaid? Does that matter?
A5: No, it doesn’t matter whether the internship is paid or unpaid. What matters is the experience, skills, and knowledge you will gain. Treat it with the same professionalism as a paid role on your resume.
Q6: How do I phrase bullet points if I’m not sure about the exact tasks?
A6: Use phrases that indicate your intended activities and learning goals. For example, “Will assist with…”, “Expected to contribute to…”, “Eager to learn and apply skills in…”, “To gain experience in…”. This manages expectations while still showcasing your role.
Q7: Can I include an internship offer that I haven’t formally accepted yet?
A7: It’s generally best practice to only include opportunities you have officially accepted. If you’re still in the offer stage, wait until you’ve signed the agreement or received a formal confirmation before adding it to your resume.
Final Thoughts: Your Resume is a Living Document
Adding an upcoming internship to your resume is a smart strategy that showcases your ambition and commitment to growth. By clearly stating the company, your title, and expected dates, and