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How To Write A Personal Statement For An Internship

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Personal statements are a great way for employers to learn more about the potential interns applying for their internships. It is also a chance for those who want an internship to showcase their amazing skills and talents.

So, that is why it is important that you are able to write a fantastic personal statement. 

A personal statement is an opportunity to show how you are more than just the figures on your resume. It is a chance for you to tell them about your background, challenges you’ve faced, and prove to them that you are the type of person they are looking to hire for this internship. 

It can seem a little daunting trying to figure out what to write about yourself. Well, don’t panic. This guide will help you to figure out what to include and how to write a personal statement for an internship. 

Table of Contents

What Is A Personal Statement?

Plan and reflect, plan your format, writing your opening paragraph , writing about your experience, summarizing, use the active voice, keep your personal statement short and sweet, proofread your work, get someone to give you constructive criticism, don’t repeat yourself, final thoughts .

Before we look at how to write a personal statement, it is important to go through what a personal statement is. 

A personal statement is an essay that goes through the individual’s skills, background, and why the individual would be perfect for the internship . A personal statement should be all about you. 

It might seem like a personal statement is a biography but it is important to keep linking what you’ve put in your personal statement to what you are applying for. This is why it is more like an essay than a biography of your life. 

It is an opportunity to show how you stand out from the other applicants. 

Now that you know what a personal statement is, let’s look at some things you can do to help you write a personal statement. 

The best personal statements are the ones that have been planned out thoroughly. Your personal statement should have a clear structure to it. However, before you can plan what you are going to include, you need to reflect on your life. 

You need to be able to take the time to reflect on your life experiences and what makes you a unique candidate for the internship.

You should go back to the description of the internship and ask yourself what they need that you’ve got to offer. You should think about what you’ve got but they don’t realize they need it. 

If you are struggling with what makes you stand out, then you can ask some of your family and friends. Discuss what qualities they think make you a great candidate for the internship. 

Once you have an idea of what you want to write about to sell yourself, then you can move on to formatting your personal statement.

Personal statements tend to have the same format. They often start with an introduction, then a few main body paragraphs that discuss your skills, experience, knowledge, and how they relate to the internship you are applying for.

Then you might want to include a paragraph of your future goal in relation to your career and link how this internship will help you achieve your goals.

Then it ends with a paragraph that concludes what you have discussed. This paragraph should be like a closing statement of the argument you have explained. 

However, there might be other guidelines as to how you should format your paragraphs from the internship you are applying for. Make sure you follow any instructions they have when it comes to writing your personal statement.

These instructions could be the font you are allowed to use or the size of the font. They might even have a word count limit for how much you can write for each paragraph or in total. 

You might be tempted to state who you are and where you are from in your opening paragraph. However, this doesn’t make you stand out from the crowd like your personal statement is supposed to. 

Instead, you should start your introductory paragraph with a story about the moment in your life that made you decide to pursue the career you have chosen. The point of this story is to hook the reader so that they want to read on. 

For this to be a good opening paragraph, it needs to be personal to you. Don’t go for any generic moment, make sure you are able to convey the importance and influence this moment had over your life. 

The main body paragraphs or the middle paragraphs should be about your experience. You should explain how your experience benefits the internship you are applying for.

During these paragraphs, you want to talk about your experience and what skills you have developed because of this experience. 

Make sure you look over the description of the internship you are applying for and that you have included examples to show that you meet the requirements of the candidate they are looking for. 

The aim of the middle paragraph is to discuss your life and how the things you have experienced in your life have made you right for the role you are applying to.

An example of this would be discussing how being part of the relay team during college has helped you develop resilience, determination, and teamwork skills. 

For your final paragraph, it is important to include a summary of what you have stated in your essay. It is a good idea to link back to the story you included in your first paragraph and develop the significance of that event. 

At this point, some decide to write about their life goals. Others prefer to write a paragraph before their conclusion about these life goals.

Either way is perfectly fine as long as you do include information about your career goals and how this internship will help you achieve your dreams. 

Top Tips 

Here are some tips to help you when writing and after you’ve finished writing your personal statement. 

When writing your personal statement make sure you are using the active voice rather than the passive voice. The active voice will make your personal statement seem more personal and the reader will feel more connected to you when reading your personal statement. 

When writing your personal statement it is important that you are genuine and authentic. The reader will be able to pick up on any moments where you are not being genuine in your personal statement. 

Personal statements are about you, so you need to be yourself when writing about your life. Don’t over-dramatize events that have happened in your life as the reader will be able to see that you’ve done that. 

The point of a personal statement is to prove to the employer that you are worthy of a place on this internship. If you are not being truthful or genuine in your statement then you are proving that you are not worthy of a place. 

You might be tempted to include skills that you haven’t developed yet because those skills seem easy to learn. However, if you do get through to the next stage, then you might be required to demonstrate those skills. This will only reflect poorly on you.

The last thing you want to do for a personal statement is to talk about yourself for pages and pages. This will not leave a good impression of you on your employer. Instead, you want to be selective about what you include in your personal statement. 

They are not interested in where you went to kindergarten. You should only be writing about the life experiences that are relevant to what they are looking for. If you do this, it shows them you are able to stay on topic and cut out any unnecessary information. 

There is nothing more important than proofreading your personal statement. If you send off a personal statement that has a lot of small mistakes littered in it, this gives those reading your personal statement a bad impression.

Sending off a personal statement that hasn’t been checked for mistakes gives the impression that you don’t care. It makes it seem like you are less passionate about the role you are applying for compared to other candidates. 

Attention to detail is a valuable skill that a lot of employers want their interns to have, so if your personal statement has mistakes in it, you’ve expressed to your employer that you don’t have this skill. 

Those who are looking at your application are able to tell when you have rushed your personal statement. So, give a good first impression by thoroughly proofreading your work for mistakes. 

Something that you can do in order to check your work is to get someone else to give you feedback. Ask your family or friends for help with proofreading. They might be able to spot mistakes that you haven’t noticed in your work. 

Having someone else read your work is a great way to see what they know about your personal statement and whether it is effective or not. They can help you with the structure of your personal statement to see if it flows smoothly. 

One thing to keep in mind is that you are not repeating yourself. These could be phrases like ‘I am a good fit for the internship because’. Try not to repeatedly use ‘I’. Instead of explicitly telling them you are a good fit, explain how the skills you have are relevant to the role. 

That brings us to the end of this guide on how to write a personal statement for an internship. The main thing to remember is that a personal statement should highlight your strengths and what makes you valuable to them.

As long as you are true to yourself then you should find it easy to plan what you are writing. Make sure to stick to any instructions they give you about writing your personal statement. 

Hopefully, this guide has helped you feel more confident about writing your personal statement. 

Related Resources

• How To Write An Email For An Internship
• How To Write A Cover Letter Engineering Interns
• How To Put An Internship On A Resume
• How To Apply For An Internship

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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

• Ruth Gotian
• Ushma S. Neill

A few adjustments can get your application noticed.

Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.

• Make sure you’re writing what they want to hear. Most organizations that offer a fellowship or internship are using the experience as a pipeline: It’s smart to spend 10 weeks and $15,000 on someone before committing five years and $300,000. Rarely are the organizations being charitable or altruistic, so align your stated goals with theirs
• Know when to bury the lead, and when to get to the point. It’s hard to paint a picture and explain your motivations in 200 words, but if you have two pages, give the reader a story arc or ease into your point by setting the scene.
• Recognize that the reviewer will be reading your statement subjectively, meaning you’re being assessed on unknowable criteria. Most people on evaluation committees are reading for whether or not you’re interesting. Stated differently, do they want to go out to dinner with you to hear more? Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more.
• Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren’t great in core courses, or perhaps you’ve never worked in the field you’re applying to. Make sure to address the deficiency rather than hoping the reader ignores it because they won’t. A few sentences suffice. Deficiencies do not need to be the cornerstone of the application.

At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.

• Ruth Gotian is the chief learning officer and associate professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and the author of The Success Factor and Financial Times Guide to Mentoring . She was named the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50. You can access her free list of conversation starters and test your mentoring impact . RuthGotian
• Ushma S. Neill is the Vice President, Scientific Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She runs several summer internships and is involved with the NYC Marshall Scholar Selection Committee. ushmaneill

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One of the hardest things you’re ever going to write about is yourself. So, it’s no surprise that writing a personal statement is at the top of nobody’s list of favorites.

But your personal statement is important in your application because here you can express your personal side and show your individuality.

Your statement is very different from a laundry list of experience on your resume. Here is where you can make a more personal connection.

Figuring out how and where to start is usually the hardest part.

Formatting your personal statement correctly gives it a nice flow and takes your reader all the way through.

Here are some tips:

Write an outline

Before you start writing your personal statement, create a rough outline of what you want to say. This will help you organize your thoughts and get a good handle on the flow of your statement. It’s also an early opportunity to work on that first paragraph hook that will make the reader want to learn more about you.

Often, they will ask you to answer or discuss a specific question in your personal statement. Answer the actual question as you tell your story. They are asking for a reason.

Typically, a personal statement outline looks like this:

• Opening paragraph (open with a story…more on this below)
• A few paragraphs on your skills and knowledge that relate to the application—and how that benefits the company
• Your life goals and how you see this job getting you there
• Closing statement which refers back to your story and wraps it all up

Open with a story

Storytelling is always a way to engage the reader and be memorable. Think of a story that relates to how you chose your career path, inspired you or taught you something. If you’re boring, into the trash you go.

A few ideas to get you thinking:

• A teacher or sports coach at school who taught you the value of research, hard work or pushing through
• A relative that taught you a specific skill
• A movie that made you decide to follow your path
• An event in your life that impacted you, such as moving to a new city or country, even something traumatic from which you learned how to bounce back
• A famous person who inspired you to pursue your career

Open your statement with a short paragraph about how and why this changed your life, then make references to it as you write the whole document.

The middle section

Write a few paragraphs on your skills and knowledge. Be specific. Use examples that relate to the job you are applying for. Talk about why you think the company will benefit from these talents.

Show a little enthusiasm for what you do and for what THEY do. This is the place to do that.

Read our post on steps you can take to prep your experience section

The wrap-up

Like every story, there is a beginning, middle and end. Wrap up your story by referring back to your story from the first paragraph. You could quote from the person you wrote about, something like…”What my grandmother always said…” or “ I see the challenges of politics is like moving here from China…it’s like learning a whole new culture and language.”

Remember to:

Pay attention to the requirements

Most application statements come with a strict set of requirements or guidelines. For example, there might be a certain font size, minimum page count or word cap (e.g. 800 words max.). This is not the place to show off your creativity.

Talk to your people about you

You may be surprised at how others see you.

Your friends and fam just might have the insight you’re looking for. Talk to them, and find out what they see as unique about you. It can be hard to come up with a list of strengths on your own because you see yourself in a different way. What they say is true: we are all our own worst critics.

They can help you find those key traits that set you apart from other applicants and even give you the confidence you need to see yourself in a more accurate, praise-worthy light.

Tell the reader exactly why you should be chosen

Even if the topic you are given to write about is a bit abstract, let the reader know why you are the right candidate for the internship position. (You know what happens when you leave things open to interpretation.) Present yourself in a positive light.

Have someone else proofread your statement

This pearl of wisdom is an oldie, but still a goodie. Ask trusted friends, family members or your mentor read over your personal statement to check for flow and grammatical mistakes.

Things like poor grammar and misspellings are a sure way to have your application thrown directly into the rejection pile.

You want to hear the best piece of advice ever? Here it is: do NOT wait until the last minute to start! You’ll totally regret it if you do. Give yourself time to revise and revise until every word on that paper is perfect.

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How To Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out

Table of contents

Laura Jane Bradbury

A personal statement is a chance to highlight your unique qualities, skills, and experiences, all while showcasing your personality.

But whether you're applying for university, a job, or funding, it can be daunting to write about yourself. To increase your chances of getting accepted, it's important to know how to create an effective personal statement.

In my six years as a copywriter, I’ve written many personal statements that get results. In this article, I’ll guide you through what to include, what to avoid, and how to tailor a personal statement based on your application type.

Key Takeaways

• A personal statement is an opportunity to share your unique qualities, experiences, and skills.
• It should always relate to the course, job, or funding you are applying for.
• Include accomplishments and experiences that demonstrate how suited you are to the position or course you are applying for.
• Use clear and simple language to ensure your points are understood.

Your personal statement should be concise and demonstrate how you fit the position or opportunity you’re applying for. It’s important to keep information relevant, rather than listing all of your skills and accomplishments.

Follow these steps to accurately write and tailor your statement.

Understand your prompt

Before you start, make sure you understand what's expected of you. Are there specific instructions, keywords, or phrases that stand out in your prompt? Read through it thoroughly and note the requirements. You can then brainstorm ideas for each point.

Let's say I'm applying for a university journalism course. I've been asked to write a statement that shares why I'm interested and why I would be a good fit. I can use columns to plan my content:

Putting your ideas together first makes it easier to stay on track. Otherwise, you might lose focus and include irrelevant information. 

Show, don't just tell

Once you’ve listed your experiences, skills, and accomplishments, consider how you can demonstrate them with examples. Take a look at the list you created during the previous exercise and organize your points so you have clear examples and proof.

This technique helps you demonstrate your experiences and how they tie in with your application.

When telling anecdotes, use engaging stories that demonstrate your skills. For instance, a story about how I handled a fast-paced news internship proves I work well under pressure. 

Start strong

Recruiters, application tutors, and funders read lots of personal statements. You can make yours stand out with an engaging introduction.

Examples of a strong opening include:

A meaningful statistic

This draws readers in and increases credibility: 

"Communication is the key to marketing success, according to Business Marketing News. With five years of experience communicating and delivering campaigns to global clients, I have the skills and passion to add value to your team."

A personal story

Anecdotes connect the reader with the author’s real-life experience: 

"My first exposure to microbiology was during my time as a research assistant for a microbiologist. I was fascinated by the complex and intricate processes within cells."

An alarming statement

This piques the reader’s interest by making an issue seem urgent:  

“ The fashion industry churns out clothes at an alarming rate, causing mass production of synthetic fibers and harsh chemicals which have a detrimental impact on the planet. Funding my sustainability initiative is vital to mitigating this environmental impact." 

Avoid cliches such as "From a young age, I have always loved...." and "For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for..."

Pro tip: Use Wordtune Editor 's Shorten feature to cut unnecessary fluff and make your intro sharper. Simply type in your sentence and click Shorten to receive suggestions.

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

Admission committees and employers appreciate sincerity and authenticity. While it may be tempting, avoid exaggeration. You can better emphasize your skills and personality by being honest. For instance, rather than claiming I read every type of newspaper in my journalism application, I can focus on my dedication to reading The New York Times.

Your writing style should also feel genuine. Instead of trying to impress with complex language and fancy words, keep sentences simple and direct . This makes them more effective because they’re easier to read. 

Address weaknesses

Addressing weaknesses can show your willingness to confront challenges. It also gives you a chance to share efforts you have made for improvement. When explaining a weakness, exclude excuses.

Instead of saying "I didn't achieve my expected grades due to work commitments impacting my studies," try “While I didn't achieve my expected grades, I am now working with a tutor to help me understand my weak areas so I can succeed in your program.”

Wordtune’s Spices feature can help you develop counterarguments to weaknesses. In the Editor, highlight your text, click on Spices, and then Counterargument . Here’s an example:

Using Wordtune’s suggestion, I can highlight my eagerness to learn and provide examples to support my argument.

Highlight achievements

This is your chance to shine! A personal statement should highlight your best qualities — provided they relate to your prompt.

Ask yourself:

• What are your skills and strengths? Identify both academic and non-academic abilities such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• What challenges have you faced? Reflect on how you have overcome significant challenges and how these experiences have helped you grow. For example, completing a course, learning a new language, or starting a business.
• What are your unique selling points? Consider what sets you apart from other applicants. For example, you may have a unique set of technical skills or experience learning in a different country.
• How have your achievements shaped your goals and aspirations? Sharing your goals shows that you think long-term and have taken the time to make sure you’re applying for the right opportunity.

Connect with the institution or company

Tailor your statement to the specific institution or company you're applying to — this shows you understand their values and have carefully considered where you want to seek opportunities.

To do this, head to the company or institution’s website and look for the About page. Many organizations include a mission statement on this page that conveys its purpose and values.

For example, universities often include their values under “Community” or “Student Life” sections. Here, Princeton University’s “In Service of Humanity” section highlights how they value using education to benefit society. Applicants can engage with this by explaining how they interact with their communities and seek to use their education to help others.

You can also research a company or institution’s social media. Look for similarities — maybe you both prioritize collaboration or think outside the box. Draw upon this in your personal statement. 

End with a strong conclusion

A strong conclusion is clear, concise, and leaves a lasting impression. Use these three steps:

• Summarize the main points of your statement. For example, “My experience volunteering for the school newspaper, along with my communication skills and enthusiasm for writing, make me an ideal student for your university."
• Discuss your future . Share your future ambitions to remind the reader that you’ve carefully considered how the opportunity fits into your plans.
• Include a closing statement. End on a positive note and offer the reader a final explanation for why you would be a great match. For instance, “Thank you for reviewing my statement. I am confident my skills and experience align with the role and your company culture.”

Tip: Learn more about writing an effective conclusion with our handy guide . 

Different types of personal statements

Now you know how to write a personal statement, let’s look at what to focus on depending on your application type.

The length of your personal statement will vary depending on the type. Generally, it should be around 500 words to 650 words . However, a university application is often longer than a statement for a job, so it’s vital to determine what is expected of you from the beginning.

Whatever the length, it’s important to remove and edit content fluff , including any repetition or copy that does not relate to your prompt.

Personal statement checklist

Use this checklist to ensure that your statement includes: 

• An engaging introduction.
• Clear examples of your experiences, skills, and expertise. 
• A commitment to improvement, if required.
• Any applicable achievements. 
• A direct connection to the company or institution’s values.
• A strong conclusion that summarizes information without adding new content.
• Authentic, simple language.

Personal statements are an opportunity to delve deeper and share who you are beyond your grades or resume experience. Demonstrate your ability with anecdotes and examples, address any weaknesses, and remember to use genuine and simple language. This is your place to shine, so follow our tips while displaying your unique personality, and you’ll be sure to stand out from the crowd.

Want to get started and create a powerful introduction? Read our step-by-step guide .

What is the difference between a cover letter and a personal statement?

A cover letter expresses your interest in a position and introduces you to an employer. It’s typically shorter and focuses on your qualifications, skills, and experience for a particular role. A personal statement, however, is common for a job, internship, funding, or university application. It explores your background, goals, and aspirations, as well as your skills and experience.

What is the purpose of a personal statement?

A personal statement is an opportunity to stand out by detailing your background, experiences, and aspirations. It should explain why you are interested in and a good match for the company or institution you are applying to.

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Writing a Personal Statement

Preparing to Write

Brainstorming, don't forget, sample prompts.

A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future. Personal statements can be varied in form; some are given a specific prompt, while others are less structured. However, in general a personal statement should answer the following questions:

• Who are you?
• What are your goals?
• How does this specific program/opportunity help you achieve your goals?
• What is in the future?

A personal statement is not:

• A variation of your college admissions essay
• An academic/research paper
• A narrative version of your resume
• A creative writing piece (it can be creative, though)
• An essay about somebody else

Keep in mind that your statement is only a portion of the application and should be written with this in mind. Your entire application package will include some, possibly all, of the materials listed below. You will want to consider what these pieces of the application communicate about you. Your personal statement should aim to tie everything together and fill in or address any gaps. There will likely be some overlap but be sure not to be too repetitive.

• Personal Statement(s)
• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendations
• Sample of written work
• Research proposal

For a quick overview of personal statements, you might begin by watching this "5 Minute Fellowships" video!

If you are writing your first personal statement or working to improve upon an existing personal statement, the video below is a helpful, in-depth resource.

A large portion of your work towards completing a personal statement begins well before your first draft or even an outline. It is incredibly important to be sure you understand all of the rules and regulations around the statement. Things to consider before you begin writing:

• How many prompts? And what are they? It is important to know the basics so you can get your ideas in order. Some programs will require a general statement of interest and a focused supplementary or secondary statement closely aligned with the institution's goals.
• Are there formatting guidelines? Single or double spaced, margins, fonts, text sizes, etc. Our general guideline is to keep it simple.
• How do I submit my statement(s)? If uploading a document we highly suggest using a PDF as it will minimize the chances of accidental changes to formatting. Some programs may event ask you to copy and paste into a text box.
• When do I have to submit my statement(s)? Most are due at the time of application but some programs, especially medical schools, will ask for secondary statements a few months after you apply. In these instances be sure to complete them within two weeks, any longer is an indication that you aren't that interested in the institution.

Below is a second 5 Minute Fellowships video that can help you get started!

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experiences and motivations as they relate to the programs to which you are applying. This will offer you a chance to organize your thoughts which will make the writing process much easier. Below are a list of questions to help you get started:

• What individuals, experiences or events have shaped your interest in this particular field?
• What has influenced your decision to apply to graduate school?
• How does this field align with your interests, strengths, and values?
• What distinguishes you from other applicants?
• What would you bring to this program/profession?
• What has prepared you for graduate study in this field? Consider your classes at Wellesley, research and work experience, including internships, summer jobs and volunteer work.
• Why are you interested in this particular institution or degree program?
• How is this program distinct from others?
• What do you hope to gain?
• What is motivating you to seek an advanced degree now?
• Where do you see yourself headed and how will this degree program help you get there?

For those applying to Medical School, if you need a committee letter for your application and are using the Medical Professions Advisory Committee you have already done a lot of heavy lifting through the 2017-2018 Applicant Information Form . Even if you aren't using MPAC the applicant information form is a great place to start.

Another great place to start is through talking out your ideas. You have a number of options both on and off campus, such as: Career Education advisors and mentors ( you can set up an appointment here ), major advisor, family, friends. If you are applying to a graduate program it is especially important to talk with a faculty member in the field. Remember to take good notes so you can refer to them later.

When you begin writing keep in mind that your essay is one of many in the application pool. This is not to say you should exaggerate your experiences to “stand out” but that you should focus on clear, concise writing. Also keep in mind that the readers are considering you not just as a potential student but a future colleague. Be sure to show them examples and experiences which demonstrate you are ready to begin their program.

It is important to remember that your personal statement will take time and energy to complete, so plan accordingly. Every application and statement should be seen as different from one another, even if they are all the same type of program. Each institution may teach you the same material but their delivery or focus will be slightly different.

In addition, remember:

• Be yourself: You aren’t good at being someone else
• Tragedy is not a requirement, reflection and depth are
• Research the institution or organization
• Proofread, proofread, proofread
• How to have your personal statement reviewed

The prompts below are from actual applications to a several types of programs. As you will notice many of them are VERY general in nature. This is why it is so important to do your research and reflect on your motivations. Although the prompts are similar in nature the resulting statements would be very different depending on the discipline and type of program, as well as your particular background and reasons for wanting to pursue this graduate degree.

• This statement should illustrate your academic background and experiences and explain why you would excel in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (UMass Amherst - M.S. in Civil Engineering).
• Describe your academic and career objectives and how the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies can help you achieve them. Include other considerations that explain why you seek admissions to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and your interests in the environmental field (Yale - Master of Environmental Management).  
• Please discuss your academic interests and goals. Include your current professional and research interests, as well as your long-range professional objectives. Please be as specific as possible about how your objectives can be met at Clark and do not exceed 800 words (Clark University - M.A. in International Development and Social Change).
• Write a 500- to 700-word statement that describes your work or research. Discuss how you came to focus on the medium, body of work, or academic area you wish to pursue at the graduate level. Also discuss future directions or goals for your work, and describe how the Master of Fine Arts in Studio (Printmedia) is particularly suited to your professional goals (School of the Art Institute of Chicago - MFA in Studio, Printmaking).
• Your statement should explain why you want to study economics at the graduate level. The statement is particularly important if there is something unusual about your background and preparation that you would like us to know about you (University of Texas at Austin - Ph.D in Economics).
• Your personal goal statement is an important part of the review process for our faculty members as they consider your application. They want to know about your background, work experience, plans for graduate study and professional career, qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the program, and any other relevant information (Indiana University Bloomington - M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education).
• Your autobiographical essay/personal statement is a narrative that outlines significant experiences in your life, including childhood experiences, study and work, your strengths and aspirations in the field of architecture, and why you want to come to the University of Oregon (University of Oregon - Master of Architecture).
• Personal history and diversity statement, in which you describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may refer to any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education (U.C. Davis - M.A. in Linguistics).
• A Personal Statement specifying your past experiences, reasons for applying, and your areas of interest. It should explain your intellectual and personal goals, why you are interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary degree rather than a more traditional disciplinary one, and how this degree fits into your intellectual and personal future (Rutgers University - Ph.D in Women’s and Gender Studies).
• Your application requires a written statement to uploaded into your application and is a critical component of your application for admission. This is your opportunity to tell us what excites you about the field of library and information science, and what problems you want to help solve in this field. Please also tell us how your prior experiences have prepared you for this next step toward your career goals and how this program will help you achieve them (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Master of Science in Library Science).
• After watching the video, please describe what strengths and preferences as a learner you have that will facilitate your success in this innovative curriculum. What challenges in our curriculum do you anticipate and what strategies might you use to address these challenges? (MGH Institute of Health Professions PT - They recently redesigned their curriculum)
• Your personal goal statement should briefly describe how you view the future of the field, what your goals are to be part of that future, and what brought you to pursue an advanced education degree in your chosen field. You may include any other information that you feel might be useful. (Northeastern PT)
• Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, describe a meaningful educational experience that affected your professional goals and growth and explain how it impacted you. The educational experience does not need to be related to this degree. Focus on the educational experience and not why you think you would be a good professional in this field. (Simmons PT)
• Personal Statement (500 word minimum): State your reasons for seeking admission to this program at this institution. Include your professional goals, why you want to pursue a career in this field and how admission to this program will assist you in accomplishing those goals. (Regis College Nursing)
• “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to this type of program.” (AMCAS)
• Address the following three questions(Though there is no set limit, most statements are 1–2 pages, single-spaced.): What are your reasons for pursuing this degree? Why do you wish to pursue your degree at this institution? How do you intend to leverage your degree in a career of this field? (Boston University MPH)
• Please submit a personal statement/statement of purpose of no more than 500 words for the department/degree of choice. Professional degree essays require a clear understanding of the _______ field and how you hope to work within the field. Be sure to proofread your personal statement carefully for spelling and grammar. In your statement, be sure to address the following: what interests you in the field of _____ what interests you in a specific degree program and department at this institution and what interests you in a particular certificate (if applicable). Please also describe how you hope to use your ________ training to help you achieve your career goals. (Columbia PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology)
• Because each Home Program requires significant original research activities in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, we are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your previous research experiences. Those who already have such experience are in a better position to know whether they are truly interested in performing ______ research as part of a graduate program. Please include specific information about your research experience in your Statement of Purpose. You may also use the Statement to amplify your comments about your choice of Home Program(s), and how your past experiences and current interests are related to your choice. Personal Statements should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). Make sure to set your computer to Western European or other English-language setting. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts. (Stanford Biosciences PhD)
• Your statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the Department of ____ at ___ University. It would be helpful to include what you have done to prepare for this degree program. Please describe your research interests, past research experience, future career plans and other details of your background and interests that will allow us to evaluate your ability to thrive in our program. If you have interests that align with a specific faculty member, you may state this in your application. Your statement of purpose should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). (Stanford Bioengineering PhD)
• Statement of purpose (Up to one page or 1,000 words): Rather than a research proposal, you should provide a statement of purpose. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at this institution and your relevant experience and education. Please provide an indication of the area of your proposed research and supervisor(s) in your statement. This will be assessed for the coherence of the statement; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; and commitment to the subject. (Oxford Inorganic Chemistry - DPhil)

Related resources

How to write a statement of interest for an internship

How to Write a Statement of Interest for an Internship

Introduction

1. understand the purpose, 2. research the internship provider, 3. highlight relevant experiences, 4. showcase transferable skills, 5. demonstrate passion and motivation, 6. customize each statement, 7. keep it concise, 8. proofread and edit, 9. seek professional help, 1. what is the ideal length for a statement of interest, 2. should i include personal anecdotes in my statement, 3. how can i stand out among other applicants, 4. should i address any weaknesses or gaps in my qualifications, 5. can i reuse my statement of interest for multiple internships, 6. should i include references in my statement of interest, 7. can i include my future career goals in my statement, 8. what should i do if i lack relevant experience, 9. can i use bullet points in my statement of interest, 10. should i include information about extracurricular activities, 11. can i show enthusiasm and personality in my statement, 12. should i mention any challenges i faced in previous experiences, 13. can i use templates or examples to help me write my statement, 14. should i address the reader directly in my statement of interest, 15. can i include my contact information in my statement.

Applying for an internship is an exciting opportunity to kick-start your career and gain valuable experience in your chosen field. One crucial aspect of the application process is writing a compelling statement of interest. This document allows you to showcase your skills, motivations, and aspirations to the internship provider. In this article, we will guide you through the process of writing an outstanding statement of interest that will make a lasting impression.

Before diving into the writing process, it is essential to understand the purpose of a statement of interest. This document serves as an introduction to who you are, your background, and your objectives. It allows the internship provider to gauge your fit for their organization and assess your potential as an intern.

Prior to writing your statement of interest, conduct thorough research on the internship provider. Familiarize yourself with their mission, values, and any specific projects or initiatives they are involved in. By demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of the organization, you can tailor your statement to align with their goals.

When writing your statement of interest, emphasize relevant experiences that demonstrate your skills and qualifications. Highlight internships, volunteering roles, academic projects, or part-time jobs that are relevant to the internship you are applying for. These experiences will provide credibility and show your potential as an intern.

Besides specific experiences, focus on showcasing transferable skills that are valuable in any professional setting. These skills may include communication, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership. Elaborate on how these skills have shaped your abilities and provided you with a solid foundation for success in the internship.

A statement of interest should reflect your genuine passion for the field and the internship opportunity. Clearly convey your enthusiasm and motivation, explaining why you are interested in pursuing this particular internship and how it aligns with your long-term goals. This will help the internship provider understand your commitment and dedication.

Avoid using a generic statement and tailor your writing to each specific internship you apply for. Highlight aspects of the internship that resonate with you and your career aspirations. Address how your unique skills and experiences make you a strong candidate for that particular opportunity.

A statement of interest should be concise yet informative. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and excessive details. Use bullet points or short paragraphs to communicate your points effectively. The internship provider will appreciate a clear and concise statement that quickly captures their attention.

After completing your statement of interest, it is crucial to proofread and edit for clarity and conciseness. Check for grammar and spelling errors, ensuring that your writing is polished. Ask for feedback from peers, mentors, or career advisors to ensure your statement is impactful and error-free.

If you are struggling to write an engaging statement of interest, do not hesitate to seek professional help. Career counseling centers or writing services can provide valuable insights and guidance to help you craft a document that stands out.

10. Conclusion

Your statement of interest is an opportunity to showcase your potential as an intern. Use this document to highlight your experiences, skills, and motivations while aligning them with the goals and values of the internship provider. With careful research, preparation, and editing, your statement of interest will leave a lasting impression and increase your chances of securing the internship of your dreams.

The ideal length for a statement of interest is one to two pages, approximately 500 to 800 words. However, it is crucial to follow any guidelines provided by the internship provider. If no specific length is mentioned, aim for concise but informative writing that captures the important aspects of your experiences and motivations.

Incorporating personal anecdotes can help make your statement more engaging and memorable. However, ensure that these anecdotes are relevant and contribute to the overall narrative of your interest and qualifications. Avoid excessive personal stories that distract from the key points you are trying to convey.

To stand out among other applicants, focus on showcasing your unique experiences, skills, and passion. Highlight specific achievements and demonstrate how they have shaped your abilities. Incorporate statistics or quotes from industry professionals, if appropriate, to add credibility and make your statement more powerful.

If you have any weaknesses or gaps in your qualifications, it is essential to address them briefly in your statement. However, focus on how you have taken steps to overcome these challenges and highlight other strengths that compensate for any potential limitations. Maintain a positive and confident tone throughout.

While it is possible to reuse parts of your statement for multiple internships, it is crucial to customize each document to the specific opportunity you are applying for. Tailoring your statement shows the internship provider that you have taken the time to understand their organization and are genuinely interested in the role.

It is generally unnecessary to include references in your statement of interest, as this document serves as an introduction to who you are and your qualifications. Save references for a separate section or provide them when requested by the internship provider. Focus on showcasing your skills and experiences instead.

Yes, you can include your future career goals in your statement of interest. Highlight how the internship aligns with your long-term objectives and how it will contribute to your professional growth. Demonstrating your aspirations shows the internship provider that you are motivated and committed to pursuing a successful career in the field.

If you lack relevant experience, focus on transferrable skills gained through education, extracurricular activities, or part-time jobs. Emphasize how these skills can be applied to the internship, making you a valuable asset. Don’t forget to highlight any relevant coursework or projects that demonstrate your knowledge and readiness to learn.

Yes, using bullet points can be effective in conveying information quickly and concisely. However, use them sparingly and ensure that the overall structure and flow of your statement remain coherent. Reserve bullet points for highlighting key skills or accomplishments, or to present a list of specific qualities that make you a strong candidate.

Information about relevant extracurricular activities can be valuable if they demonstrate your skills, leadership abilities, or passion for the field. Include activities that are relevant to the internship or showcase qualities that are transferable to a professional setting. However, avoid listing unrelated or trivial activities that do not add value to your application.

Absolutely! Showing enthusiasm and personality can make your statement more engaging and memorable. However, strike a balance between professionalism and personal flair. Maintain a humble and experienced tone to demonstrate your maturity and readiness for the internship opportunity.

Mentioning challenges you faced in previous experiences can be beneficial, especially if you overcame them and grew as a result. Briefly highlight the types of challenges you encountered and focus on the strategies you employed to overcome them. This showcases your resilience and ability to handle adversity.

Using templates or looking at examples can provide helpful guidance when writing your statement of interest. However, avoid simply copying a template or example without personalizing it to reflect your unique experiences and qualifications. Use these resources as inspiration to structure your own statement effectively.

While it is not necessary to address the reader directly in your statement of interest, you can use language that acknowledges the internship provider and aligns your interests with their organization. Write in a manner that shows your enthusiasm for the internship opportunity and your aspiration to contribute to their mission or objectives.

It is not necessary to include your contact information in your statement of interest. Your contact information should typically be provided in a separate section or through the application platform. Focus on the content of your statement and avoid adding unnecessary details that may distract the reader.

In conclusion, writing a powerful statement of interest requires careful preparation and customization for each internship opportunity. By showcasing your relevant experiences, transferable skills, and genuine enthusiasm, you can impress internship providers and increase your chances of securing the internship that will propel your career forward.

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Guidelines for Writing a Personal Statement for Internship

Table of Contents

A personal statement for internship applications suggest that the firm wants to know more about you than just your résumé.

As with any application, the internship personal statement is your chance to demonstrate the organization who you are and why they should hire you. It is a separate document you submit alongside your internship application, resume, and other required documents.

This article explains what an internship entails, provides guidelines and an example to help you draft great personal statements .

What Is an Internship?

An internship is an opportunity to learn about a particular job or field by working in it. It provides students still in school with job experience and enables them to determine if they wish to pursue that career route after graduation.

Internships can also be an excellent way for recent graduates to gain more work experience and make connections in their industry.

A personal statement should begin with an introduction, then description of relevant experiences related to the field , and end with a great conclusion

Internship coordinators will typically have additional requirements, such as requiring you to use a specific typeface (such as Times New Roman or Arial), a particular point size (10 or 12), and a word restriction (500 or 800 words).

Use a standard 10- or 12-point font, and keep the statement to up to two pages if you don’t obtain specific instructions. Put “Personal Statement for” and your name at the top. Other great tips include the following:

1. Seek a Background Connection

Take a moment in your life that made you want to go into this industry and think about it. Hearing a famous politician speak or learning carpentry from your grandfather may have peaked your curiosity.

A captivating narrative will keep the reader interested and make you stick in their mind. The “thread” of your argument should consist of anecdotes.

2. Describe your Abilities and Experiences

Think about what it is that makes someone successful in that industry. Reading the internship advertisement, job description, and LinkedIn profiles of industry professionals can help you understand what an employer wants. Drawing on your findings.

Use the body of your essay to discuss your abilities and experiences. You can discuss, for instance,

• How your leadership on the debate team improved your public speaking
• Your time on a summer construction crew toughened you up and taught you to work hard.

This section still serves as a personal narrative but also makes your case for why you should be chosen as an intern.

3. Proofread Your Draft

Correct any spelling or grammar issues in your initial draft when you’ve finished writing it. Whether a student or a recent grad, your statement should reflect your best efforts as a professional candidate.

4. Conclusion

A story’s beginning is only as good as its conclusion, so ensure they’re connected. The decision should emphasize critical points about your character and the story you’re telling. To conclude reasonably, think about why the story is worth telling in the first place.

Great Example of Personal Statement for Internship

An internship is a great way to gain experience in your desired field. It can allow you to learn about the company, its culture, and how things operate from the inside. Here’s a sample of a great one:

I am writing to apply for the internship program I saw on your website.

I am a recent college graduate looking for an opportunity to gain experience in the marketing field. My studies have focused on marketing and business. An internship would be a great way to learn more about the industry and develop my skills.

I can provide examples of my work from previous jobs or internships and references from professors or colleagues. I would appreciate the chance to come in for an interview to discuss this position further. Thank you for your time.

A personal statement for internship is an opportunity for you to lay out your experience, interests, and future goals . Take your time because it is well worth the investment.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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• Career Development
• Find Internship or Research Experience
• Getting started with research

How to Develop a Personal Statement for Research

• To share your interest and enthusiasm for the specific work you are applying to do
• To demonstrate what you can contribute to the program to which you are applying
• To state the specific lab you want to work in and why
• To state your professional goals and what or how you hope to contribute to this program

First Steps

• Read the personal statement question carefully and analyze what it is asking for
• Visualize your audience: will this be read by a scientist? A physician? An administrator?
• Make yourself as desirable to the selector as possible while being honest about yourself
• Your research interests as they relate to the work you are applying for
• Year of study and current major, related academic and career goals, impressive academic credentials

Experience in the Field

• Any special connection to this work such as prior experience or family background
• Something unique about your research interests or an idea that fuels your own research interests.

Your Proposed Contributions to the Program and Benefits of the Program to You

• Personal qualities that would benefit the program, demonstrated through examples
• What you can do for them; what you seek to gain from the opportunity
• How this specific work fits into your academic and research goals

Writing and Mechanics

Correct usage conveys your attention to detail

• Use strong word choices, particularly verbs and adjectives
• Use the more powerful "I am," rather than "I have always been"
• Make positive statements: "I have experience in…" not "I don't have experience in x, but do have…”
• Craft clear, engaging opening and closing sentences
• Check that the opening statement is supported in the body and consistent with the closing statement
• Organize the statement so it flows from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph
• Proofread for grammar, spelling, paragraph breaks, and correct punctuation

Ask Yourself

• Does this statement show my interest in this specific program , or could it be sent to any program?
• Does this statement describe me specifically, or could any good student in my field use this?

Additional Suggestions:

• Reread the personal statement multiple times out loud for clarity, logic, and flow
• Have someone else read the statement. Ask someone at the Center for Career Opportunities .
• Share your finished personal statement with the faculty member writing your recommendations
• Limit the statement to one and a half to two pages with at least one and a half spacing
• Include a header with your name on each page, which will be numbered as well
• Restating the question/topic
• Rewriting your transcript or resume
• Clichés such as "to make the world a better place"; instead, explain exactly how such a lofty goal will be achieved
• Providing unrelated information, e.g., explaining when you learned you were not interested in computers
• Using phrases like "this opportunity will be fun and interesting for me"; focus on what you can contribute
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CV for internship examples

But to stand out amongst the competition, you’ll need a well-written and compelling internship CV.

It can be hard to know what to include, but I’ll take you through everything you need to know in this guide.

It includes 2 CV examples for an internship and will help you to land interviews and secure that first step on the ladder.

Guide contents

• CV for internship example
• Structuring and formatting your CV
• Writing your CV profile
• Detailing work experience
• Your education
• Skills required for your CV for internship

CV templates 

CV for internship CV example 1

CV for internship CV example 2

Before you start writing your CV, it can be helpful to know what the finished document should look like. Take a good look over the CV example above and try to aim for the same high standard whilst writing your own .

CV for internship CV structure & format

Recruiters are busy, and if they can’t find the information they’re looking for in a flash, it could be game over for your application.

You need to format and structure your CV in a way which allows the reader to pick out your key information with ease, even if they’re strapped for time.

It should be clear, easily legible, well-organised and scannable – check out some simple tips and tricks below:

Formatting Tips

• Length: Recruiters will be immediately put off by a lengthy CV  – with hundreds of applications to read through, they simply don’t have the time! Grabbing their attention with a short, snappy and highly relevant CV is far more likely to lead to success. For an internship , one page of A4 should be enough — but you can go up to two sides if necessary.
• Readability: Help out time-strapped recruiters by formatting your CV for easy reading. Using lots of bullet points and lists will help them to skim through your info, while clearly formatted headings will allow them to navigate towards the content which is most useful to them.
• Design: When it comes to CV design, it’s best to keep things simple and sleek. While elaborate designs certainly command attention, it’s not always for the right reasons! Readability is key, so whatever you choose to do, make sure you prioritize readability above everything.
• Avoid:  Ditch logos, images or profile photos. Not only do they take up valuable space, but they may even distract recruiters from your important written content.

Build your CV now 

Structuring your CV

Divide your CV into the following major sections:

• Name and contact details – Head your CV with your name and contact details, to let the reader know who you are and how to contact you.
• CV profile – A brief paragraph which summarises your skills and experience and highlights why you’re a good match for the role.
• Core skills list – A snappy, bullet-pointed list of your most relevant skills.
• Education  – A summary of any relevant qualifications or professional training you’ve completed.
• Work experience – A structured list of your work experience in reverse chronological order.
• Hobbies and interests – An optional section, which should only be used if your hobbies are relevant to the jobs you’re applying to.

Feel a little unsure of exactly what to include in each of the above sections? Next, I’ll cover each section in more detail.

CV Contact Details

Start off your CV with a basic list of your contact details.

Here’s what you should include:

• Mobile number
• Email address – It’s often helpful to make a new email address, specifically for your job applications.
• Location – Share your town or city; there’s no need for a full address.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL  (optional) – Make sure the information on them is coherent with your CV, and that they’re up-to-date.

Quick tip: Delete excessive details, such as your date of birth or marital status. Recruiters don’t need to know this much about you, so it’s best to save the space for your other CV sections.

CV for internship Personal Statement

Your CV personal statement provides a brief overview of your skills, abilities and suitability for a position.

It’s ideal for busy recruiters and hiring managers, who don’t want to waste time reading unsuitable applications.

Think of it as your personal sales pitch. You’ve got just a few lines to sell yourself and prove you’re a great match for the job – make it count!

Tips to consider when creating your profile:

• Avoid clichés: ‘Determined team player who always gives 110%’ might seem like a good way to fill up your CV profile, but generic phrases like this won’t land you an interview. Recruiters hear them time and time again and have no real reason to believe them. Instead, pack your profile with your hard skills and tangible achievements instead.
• Make it short and snappy: Recruiters are busy, so to ensure your personal statement is actually read, it’s best to keep it short and snappy. 8-12 punchy lines makes for the perfect length.
• Research your target internship: Recruiters can spot a generic, mass-produced CV at a glance – and they certainly won’t be impressed! Before you write your profile (and CV as a whole), read through the job ad and make a list of any skills, knowledge and experience required. You should then incorporate your findings throughout your CV.

What to include in your CV for internship personal statement?

Education + qualifications  – As you’re a junior/entry-level candidate, these are particularly important. Highlight any particularly relevant qualifications and provide a brief summary of your education as a whole. Don’t go into too much detail, though — save the exhaustive list of your qualifications for your education.

Experience – Whether it’s work experience from school, a University placement, a volunteer role or even relevant experience from extracurricular hobbies and projects, give recruiters an insight into what you’ve done so far.

Skills + knowledge – Take a look at the job description to discover what skills and knowledge the employer is specifically looking for. If you can match any, make sure to incorporate them into your personal statement.

Motives – Employers will be keen to know why you’re applying for the roles you’re applying for and how your goals and interests align with the role — after all, they want to hire someone who’s genuinely passionate about gaining the role.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Core skills section

Next, you should create a bullet point list of your core skills , formatted into 2-3 columns.

Here, you should focus on including any skills or knowledge listed in the job advertisement.

This will instantly prove that you’re an ideal candidate, even if a recruiter only has time to briefly scan your CV.

As you’ll have limited work experience, you can dedicate lots of space for your education.

You should list your formal academic qualifications, such as:

As well as any specific sector qualifications or training, if you have any.

Note down the name of the qualification, the establishment at which you studied, and the date of completion.

You can also discuss relevant modules, projects and assignments in more detail, focusing on showcasing the skills gained.

Work experience/Career history

Next up is your work experience section. Start with your current (or most recent) job and work your way back through your experience.

Don’t worry if this section of your CV is short. Employers don’t expect interns to have years of experience — they’re looking for potential.

This could be university placements, work experience, freelance, voluntary, part-time or temporary jobs too.

However, make sure to focus on the transferable skills you’ve picked up during these roles or activities, especially any that are relevant to the internship you’re applying for.

Structuring your roles

Lengthy, unbroken chunks of text is a recruiter’s worst nightmare, but your work experience section can easily become clunky.

To avoid this, use my tried-and-tested 3-step structure, as illustrated below:

Begin with a summary of your role, detailing what the purpose of your job was, who you reported to and what size of team you were part of.

“Reporting to the marketing manager, I undertook a one-month placement at a city-centre marketing agency. I assisted with a range of digital marketing projects including social media marketing and content writing.”

Key responsibilities

Next up, you should write a list of your day-to-day duties within the job.

Even if the role is unrelated, try to highlight any transferable skills that could benefit the internship you’re applying for.

• Used Photoshop to design a range of images for a client’s social media accounts.
• Wrote blogs on the subject of social media marketing for the agencies company blog.
• Used Hootsuite to help schedule social media posts for a range of clients.

Key achievements

Round up each role by listing 1-3 key achievements, accomplishments or results.

Wherever possible, quantify them using hard facts and figures, as this really helps to prove your value.

• Achieved 1k likes on an Instagram post I designed for a sportswear brand.
• Gained the Google Ads and Facebook Blueprint Certifications.

Interests and hobbies

The hobbies and interests CV section isn’t mandatory but can be beneficial if you don’t have much relevant experience under your belt.

Be careful with what you include though. Consider hobbies that exhibit skills that are required for the role you’re applying for, or which show transferable skills or initiative.

For example, being part of a sports team, running your own blog, a creative pursuit or playing an instrument make good additions.

But generic hobbies like ‘watching TV’ won’t impress recruiters, so you’re best off saving the space for other CV sections.

Essential skills for your CV for internship

The skills required will vary from role to role and depending on which sector you’re entering, so make sure to tailor your CV to the job description.

However, most employers value candidates with a range of transferable soft skills, such as:

Communication – Whether it’s customers, clients, colleagues or your boss, your new role will likely involve lots of written and verbal communication. Make sure to pinpoint how you’ve used communication skills during your studies and in extracurricular activities.

Teamwork – Internships and jobs, in general, are often based on working together as a team to achieve certain goals. So, pack your CV with plenty of examples of teamwork, such as being part of a sports team or working on a group project in school/university.

Time management + organisation – Employers want to know you’ll get to work on time, be able to meet deadlines and manage your time effectively. You can prove you’ve got what it takes by sharing examples of times you’ve met deadlines or juggled assignment during your studies or held up a part-time job alongside studying.

IT skills – Nowadays, most jobs include at least some computer work. Employers want to hire interns who are tech-savvy and can get to grips with new programmes quickly. Make sure to highlight how and where you’ve used various programmes and software.

Writing your CV for internship

An interview-winning CV for an internship needs to be both visually pleasing and packed with targeted content.

Whilst it needs to detail your education, experience and relevant skills, it also needs to be as clear and easy to read as possible.

Remember to research the role and review the job ad before applying, so you’re able to match yourself up to the requirements.

If you follow these guidelines and keep motivated in your job search, you should land an interview in no time.

Best of luck with your next application!

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personal statements/essays for summer internships

I'm currently in the process of writing my personal statements and short essays for a variety of summer research programs/internships. I still have not found a formulaic way to write, so I was just wondering how successful applicants among yall have approached them? Do you utilize a narrative and try to write a well written essay, or do you go straight to the point and directly answer their questions about yourself, experiences, hobbies, etc etc?

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Intern personal statement example (including cover letter)

• Reading time: 4 minutes
• Price: Free download
• Published: 31st October 2021
• Word count: 1000 words
• File format: Text

My name is xxxxxx and it is with much enthusiasm that I am applying for the internship with the Mayor’s Office. As a prospective May 2019 VCU graduate studying Sociology and Criminal Justice , a Virginia Western A.S. 2017 graduate, and having diverse work experience, I am confident that I am an ideal candidate for this position.

I note that you are looking for a student with professionalism, leadership, clerical, and customer service skills in the setting of public service. As you will see from my resume, I have developed excellent experience in these varied and valuable qualities. My experience as a Senior Counselor at Camp Bethel Summer Camp, provided the foundation of these desired skills that I have continued to build upon in my academic and work life. Serving as the Youth Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond taught me my most valuable leadership skills. Working as the coordinator was quite daunting in the beginning, but it helped me conquer past fears I had of holding such a crucial leadership role. My time as the Director of Outreach for The #YouDefineYou Project showed me the value of teamwork in order to achieve a common goal. Now, my position as the Child and Youth Program Assistant for the Department of Defense is reinforcing my ability on how to listen in order to learn, understand, and support.

It would be an honor to receive the opportunity to work with such a great political leader. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you to discuss this amazing opportunity. I may be reached xxxxxx or by email at xxxxxx.

————-

I take great interest in improving the quality of life for others through serving my community. Whether it be through volunteer work such as my time with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, or through jobs I have held, I take great pride in serving my community. I am most inspired by Mayor Stoney’s biography and share his vision and commitment for a bright future for the most beautiful city of Richmond. I am interested in this internship in order to better prepare myself for a future career. This internship would give the great opportunity for professional development by further diversifying my skillset, challenging me, and overall giving me a new perspective outside of the school setting. In my future career, I hope to work with children and adolescents in the field of public service. This internship would give me the very best experience in order to prepare for a career in public service. I would be a great asset to the Mayor’s Office with the skillset and dedication I have for public service. It would be an absolute honor to work beside Mayor Sxxxx and the staff in this internship.

As described in the job description, I hope to integrate the knowledge and experiences I have gained in my studies into this “real world” setting. Specifically, I hope to apply theories I’ve learned in my classes on social justice organizing, public speaking, U.S. government, computer applications, writing, etc., and overall, the extremely valuable lessons my professors have taught me throughout my years in college. I would like to learn different means of career development in this internship. I would like to learn what qualities and experiences will help me be the most successful public service employee that I can be. Specifically, skills such as learning how to better operate office or computer equipment, organizing data and records, or overall improving my leadership , teamwork, and writing skills. Lastly, I would also like to use this internship to work on my personal development. This would be fulfilled by developing better confidence, critical thinking skills, and how to approach a professional workplace. I am confident that the Richmond Internship Program greatly assists in these learning objectives.

During the summer of 2016 with Camp Bethel Summer Camp, I was working one of the day camps offered at a church in Roanoke City. This weeklong summer camp was offered at no cost for the families, therefore, gained much attraction in this low-income neighborhood. We accepted all children that wanted to participate, which caused the week to have approximately 60 participants. Camp Bethel asked that the children could be sent with a packed lunch each day. Many of the children in my unit came prepared each morning with their small lunch box, but many of them did not. The first day, I assumed these children’s caretaker(s) had simply forgotten to throw a lunch together for them. At the end of the day, I approached the appropriate caregiver(s) and with much politeness, and reminded them of the packed lunch. The next day, I packed extra sandwiches and snacks in preparation that the lunch will again be an issue for caretakers. It was a good thing I did. A few children were again sent with little to no food for the day. I was then able to see this less as an issue of innocent forgetfulness but as an issue of food insecurity in this community. I saw it as my duty to tell the program coordinator in order to figure out how to better handle this situation. We came to the conclusion that we should continue to pack extra lunches while not shaming these parents. Many of these children were able to have free and reduced lunches during the school year and did not have the transportation to take part in the summer lunch program Roanoke has offered. Whether we had to take children aside and give them a breakfast or pack 10 extra peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we made sure that no child went hungry. This experience has forever impacted me and has steered my work life and career goals to where they are now. It challenged me in ways that helped me work on my observation, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. I am forever grateful that those children came into my life.

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• Welcome to myUMBC

How to Write a Personal Statement for Summer Research

Susanna campbell, career peer liaison to cnms, the purpose of a personal statement .

• Share your interests and enthusiasm for the specific work you are applying to do.
• Demonstrate what you can contribute to the program to which you are applying
• To state the specific lab/program you want to work in and why
• To state your professional goals and what or how you hope to contribute to the program

First Steps

• Read the personal statement question carefully and analyze what it is asking for.
• Visualize your audience: will this be read by a scientist? An administrator? A physician?
• Recite your research interests as they relate to the work you are applying for
• Write your year of study, major, related academic and career goals, and impressive academic credentials

Experience in the Field

• Mention any special connections to the work such as prior experience or family background (i.e. Name drop)
• Write something unique about your research interests or an idea that fuels your own research interests

Your Proposed Contributions to the Program

• List personal qualities and demonstrate these through examples
• State what you can do for them and what you seek to gain from the opportunity
• Explain how the work fits into your academic and research goals.
• Saying “I am” is more powerful than saying “I have always been.”
• Make positive statements. “I have experience in…” not “I don’t have experience in x, but do have…”
• Craft clear, engaging opening and closing sentences.
• Check that your opening statement is supported in the body and is consistent with your closing.
• Organize the statement so it flows from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph.
• Proofread for grammar, spelling, paragraph breaks, and correct punctuation.

When you have finished drafting your statement, ask yourself:

• Does this statement show my interests in the specific program or is it generic?
• Does this statement describe me specifically or could any good student in my field use this?

Some common mistakes to avoid:

• Restating the question/topic or rewriting your resume or transcript
• Clichés such as “to make the world a better place” instead, explain how such a lofty goal will be achieved
• Providing unrelated information
• Any background earlier than high school.

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This question is about careers .

How to write a personal statement for an internship

To write a personal statement for an internship, you need to research the organization, make your personal statement concise, and detail your education and skills. Here are some details on these steps and others you can take to write a personal statement for an internship:

Research the organization

Before writing a personal statement for an internship it is very important to do a fair amount of research on the company you are going to send it to. Here you should find out about:

The internship programs it offers

The specific intern roles it might have

The company culture

The company mission statement

The company vision statement

The company values statement

Ingesting all of this information is very important because it can inform how you write your personal statement. Most organizations have this information, or at least some of it, available on their website. You should also try to hone in on who you send the personal statement to, for example, a specific hiring manager or human resources ( HR ) official.

Make your personal statement concise

A personal statement for an internship should be around one paragraph long, and at most, should not exceed one page in length. If you plan on writing one closer to a page in length you should also break up the text in paragraph form. Here are the items you should cover in your personal statement:

Your background in terms of education and experience

Your interests

Your achievements, talents, and expertise

Your career goals

Use information from the research you performed

Your personal statement should include a section that shows how you line up with the company's core values. This helps the company to feel that you are a good fit for an internship role in their organization.

Detail your education and skills

If you are looking to get an internship, you are probably still in college or have just graduated. You can fill your gap in professional experience by detailing your educational experience. This can include items like:

Your major and minor

If you are/were a part of any clubs or associations at your university

Skills your education has given you

You can also include actual work experience if it is relevant to the industry the company is in. Part-time jobs can even have some basic transferable skills that can be used in the professional context.

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• How To Write A Personal Statement For An Internship

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Undergraduate Research

How to write personal statements, what is the purpose of the personal statement.

Admissions committees review a lot of applications. The personal statement (like a cover letter for a job application) is your time to take your experience and personality and draw a direct line from their program to you! Use the personal statement to fill in any gaps in your resume or other information and pull disconnected pieces of your story together. You do not want to make your application reviewers do more work than necessary. It is not always as easy to connect the dots about someone else as we think it is. Present your story in your own words and reference other things in your application packet (for example: “as you will see on my resume I…”). Be careful, however, to not simply rehash your resume. A personal statement should provide a new and interesting take on what you have in your resume. This is your first (and possibly only) chance to show reviewers who you are and why they should care about you.

What will an admissions committee care about?

• Leadership, People skills
• Clubs and activities, Volunteer work, and Hobbies
• Teaching experience
• Research experience and application of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom or through firsthand experience
• Communication skills — no typos or grammatical errors
• How you became interested in the field
• Genuine interest in the field, and your career plans/ideas
• Brevity — if you can be straightforward and to the point, you will impress the reader more than if you take 10 pages to get around to the same idea.
• That you answered any questions that were asked of you
• Unique and interesting individuals who will be a pleasure to work with

Before you begin, you must determine what any given committee is looking for and tailor your statement — and entire application — to that particular school, program, or job’s needs. Review the application requirements and any other information available to you and put yourself in the reviewer’s shoes. Then, ask yourself these questions:

• What are you applying for?
• How will the personal statement be used?
• What are you trying to accomplish with the essay?
• How competitive is the process?

Once you know what reviewers are looking for, take some time to think about your story. What makes you unique, what are your interests and influences, etc.

Take some time to think about what makes you unique. Make a list of ten things that someone else may find interesting — get help from family, friends, professors, or your mentor if needed.

• Do you have any interesting experiences or talents?
• Was there anything special or unusual about where/how you grew up or where you went to college?
• Did you take an unusual journey to where you are now? (Did you start college as a theater major and change to biochemistry? Why? What happened?)
• Does your family history give you a different perspective than the average applicant?

Brainstorm about what excites you and what motivates you to continue on your educational or professional journey. Admissions officials want to know that you will be a good investment for their institution. Think about times you showed grit or tenacity.

Make a list of your intellectual influences.

• What scientists and articles have influenced your thinking?
• Who were your favorite professors/mentors? Why?
• What is the best paper/exam you have had and what made it good?
• What do you think is the most important “work” in your field?
• What is the most important concept you have learned in college?
• Other educational milestones or guideposts.

Make a list of your “light bulb moments”.

• Where were you/what were you doing when it crystallized in your mind that you wanted to pursue this particular field at a graduate/professional level?
• How has your interest evolved? What were the turning points?
• What experiences have led you to believe you would LIKE to do “this”?
• What experiences have led you to believe you would be GOOD at doing “this”?

Clearly define your career goal or path. List what attracts you to this path and why you think you would be successful in this career.

Explore your educational and research background.

• How have you prepared yourself for success in graduate school?
• What body of relevant knowledge will you take with you?
• What skills are you proficient in? What skills are developing?
• What personal attributes make you likely to succeed in your field of choice?
• List your major projects (when, what) and what your role was What did you really learn?
• Who did you work with? Where?
• Was your research published or presented? (or will in the future?)
• Ramifications of your project…’who cares? so what?’ (important to put your work in the bigger context!)
• What has been your biggest accomplishment/ what are you most proud of? Don’t limit this to just research
• What encouraging words others have said to you?   Write down the “actual words” and when they were said to you (and by whom).

Opening Paragraph/Lines

This is your first (and potentially only) chance to grab the reader and excite them about your application.

• Interesting info about you
• Unusual experiences
• Epiphany experience
• Be vivid in your description
• Career statement
• Phrases such as “ever since I was a little girl/boy” and “my grandfather/grandmother taught me” tend to be over used. You can tell a story from your childhood, but find a more interesting way to introduce it.

This is the time to sine and show the reviewers that you are mature, experienced, and dedicated but not without personality.

The body should answer these questions:

• Why are you here?
• How did you get here? What was your journey?
• What is inside of you that makes you want to do this?
• What comes next?
• What will you spend your time doing between now and graduate school, starting the program, or beginning the job in question?

Successful Essays Offer :

• Specific academic preparation and knowledge
• Demonstration of an understanding of what the student is “getting into”
• Sense of maturity, compassion, stamina, teamwork skills, leadership (indirectly)
• Names of specific potential mentors and aspects about the program that show a good fit
• How the applicant will use the advance degree in a career
• Demonstration of an understanding of the student’s role in the “big picture”

Tell the reviewers what conclusions they should make about you based on your experience, uniqueness, and personality. Politely let them know that you look forward to working with them.

Please remember that you can seek assistance with any of your writing needs at the  MU Writing Center . Their tutors work with students from all disciplines on a wide variety of documents.

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Crafting a Personal Statement

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A Personal Statement is a written component of a student’s application to a graduate or professional degree program that allows a student to explain their reasons for applying, and usually serves as the answer to a specific prompt that is given, such as “How will completing the _____ program at _____ college help you achieve your professional goals?” When no prompt is provided, the goal is to tell your story which creates a more holistic view of who you are and your candidacy.

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