Should I Include Internships on My Resume

Everyone · Explainer · Updated October 1, 2026 · LearnLife Editorial

What exactly is an internship and why is it important for your resume?

An internship is a temporary work experience designed to give you practical skills in a real workplace, often related to your career or studies. It can be paid or unpaid and usually lasts a few months. Internships matter for your resume because they show employers you have hands-on experience, understand workplace culture, and have applied your knowledge in real situations. For someone just starting their career or changing industries, internships can be the strongest evidence of professional ability.

For example, if you are applying for a job in graphic design but have only done school projects, an internship where you created marketing materials for a small business helps prove you can do the work. It shows you have familiarity with deadlines, client communication, and software tools. Even if you’ve held part-time or unrelated jobs, internships aligned with your career goals help employers understand your commitment.

How do you properly list internships on your resume?

Start by deciding where to place internships on your resume. If you have limited paid experience, list internships under your main “Work Experience” or “Employment History” section. If you have multiple internships, especially in different fields, you might create an “Internship Experience” section to highlight them clearly.

Use this format for each internship:

Company Name – Position Title (Intern) | City, State | Month – Month

Then, under each entry, include 3-5 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements. Use action verbs like “developed,” “organized,” “analyzed,” or “coordinated.” Focus on tasks relevant to the job you want and include any measurable results.

For example:

GreenTech Solutions – Environmental Intern | Boston, MA | June – August

• Conducted research on sustainable materials to support product development.
• Assisted with data collection and analysis for environmental impact reports.
• Presented findings to the team, contributing to improved project planning.

If you lack paid work history, internships may be your main experience, so present them confidently and clearly.

When should you keep internships on your resume and when can you remove them?

You should keep internships on your resume if they demonstrate skills or knowledge relevant to the position you seek or if you have limited other work experience. For recent graduates, internships often provide the only professional background. Even if you have full-time work, internships that highlight specific industry knowledge, technical skills, or leadership may still be valuable.

However, as your career progresses and you gain more paid work experience, you can remove older or less relevant internships to keep your resume concise. For instance, if you have ten years of full-time experience in accounting, a college internship in retail management is unlikely to add value. Aim to keep your resume focused on the last 10-15 years and experiences most related to the job.

Should internships be listed under work experience, or in a separate section?

Whether to include internships under “Work Experience” or a separate “Internships” section depends on your career stage and how many internships you have. If internships are your primary experience, combining them with paid jobs under “Work Experience” can create a stronger narrative. This shows all relevant roles where you contributed professionally.

If you have several internships or want to emphasize them separately, use a dedicated “Internship Experience” section. This helps recruiters quickly see your practical training and projects. For example, a student applying for a marketing role might have:

Internship Experience

• Marketing Intern, Company A
• Social Media Intern, Company B

This organization clarifies your career development and training. Avoid separating internships if it makes your resume look fragmented or if you have minimal other work history.

How should you handle unpaid internships on your resume?

Unpaid internships are common and should be included if they provided meaningful experience. Clearly label the position as “Intern” or “Internship” so employers understand it was a training role, not a full paid job. Describe your duties and accomplishments just as you would for paid positions.

For example:

City Hospital – Communications Intern (Unpaid) | Chicago, IL | Summer

• Created patient education brochures and social media posts.
• Supported event planning for community health outreach.
• Learned HIPAA guidelines for confidential patient information.

If asked about compensation in interviews, be honest but emphasize the skills and experience gained. Including unpaid internships is especially important if they are relevant to your career goals or helped you build a professional network.

What if you have many internships, part-time jobs, or unrelated experience?

If your resume includes multiple internships, part-time jobs, or unrelated roles, prioritize those most relevant to your career goals. Too many entries can overwhelm a reader and dilute your key qualifications. Consider grouping similar experiences or removing less relevant ones.

Use this checklist to decide what to keep:

1. Is the experience related to the job you want?
2. Does it show transferable skills such as communication, organization, or teamwork?
3. Is it recent or shows professional growth?
4. Would it impress a hiring manager for your target role?

You can also use categories or tables to organize. For example, separate “Relevant Experience” from “Additional Work Experience” or use bullet points to list shorter roles briefly. For instance:

Additional Experience

• Barista, Café Corner | Part-time | 2 years
• Library Assistant, Local Library | Part-time | 1 year

This way, you highlight your primary qualifications while still showing work ethic and responsibility.

What are the next steps to improve your resume with internships?

After deciding which internships to include, take these steps:

1. Match your internship descriptions to keywords from job listings. This helps get past resume scanners.
2. Use specific action verbs and show accomplishments, not just duties. For example, say “Increased newsletter subscribers by 10%” instead of “Handled newsletter.”
3. Keep your resume length to one or two pages, focusing on quality and relevance.
4. Add a “Skills” or “Certifications” section to highlight abilities learned during internships.
5. Update your online professional profiles, like LinkedIn, with detailed internship descriptions.

For example, if you interned in finance, mention software you used, reports you prepared, or presentations you made. This adds depth and makes you a stronger candidate.

Including internships is a valuable way to show practical experience, especially early in your career. Present them clearly and tailor your resume to the job you want, and you’ll make a strong impression on employers.

Frequently asked questions

Should I remove internships from my resume once I have full-time jobs?

Generally, yes, if your full-time jobs demonstrate the skills and experience needed. Keep internships only if they add unique or relevant value.

Can internships count as work experience on job applications?

Yes, internships usually count as work experience, especially if they involved significant responsibilities similar to paid jobs.

How should I list multiple internships from the same company?

List each internship separately with dates and distinct duties, or combine them under one heading if the roles were very similar.

Should I mention internships in a cover letter?

Yes, mentioning internships in your cover letter can highlight relevant experience and explain how they prepared you for the role.

Is it okay to include internships from a different industry?

Include them only if they demonstrate transferable skills or help tell your career story. Otherwise, focus on experience within your target industry.

How detailed should internship descriptions be?

Aim for 3-5 bullet points per internship, focusing on specific tasks, skills, and accomplishments that relate to the job you want.