Computer Science Internship Resume—Samples and 25+ Tips

A computer science internship might be a bigger deal than you realize. Your career and life could look very different depending on where you end up doing an internship. It’s a chaotic system.

A computer science career path is very sensitive to initial conditions. So give it your all. Write a computer science internship resume that’ll get you more interviews than ever.

In this guide:

• A computer science internship resume sample better than most out there.
• How to come up with computer science internship resume job descriptions and achievements.
• How to write a resume for an internship in computer science that stands out.
• Expert tips and examples to give you an unfair advantage in landing a computer science internship.

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Studying computer science gives you so many options. Check out our other entry-level and computer science-related guides:

• .NET Developer Resume Example
• Computer Science Resume Example
• Cyber Security Resume Example
• Data Scientist Resume Example
• Entry Level Resume Example
• Entry-Level Business Analyst Resume Example
• Full Stack Developer Resume Example
• Internship Resume Example
• Investment Banking Resume Example
• IT Resume Example
• Java Developer Resume Example
• Network Engineer Resume Example
• Programmer Resume Example
• Software Engineer Resume Example
• SQL Developer Resume Example 
• Technical Resume Example
• Technical Support Resume Example
• Technical Writer Resume Example
• Web Developer Resume Example
• Resume Examples for All Jobs and Professions

Computer Science Internship Resume Sample

Here’s how to write a resume for a computer science internship at least as good as the one above:

1. Choose the Right Computer Science Internship Resume Format

It’s difficult to respect messy and poorly formatted code. Sure, it might work, but it’s too much of a hassle to deal with, and doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Besides, there are piles of code waiting to be read.

Now set: code = ”computer science internship resumes” and run that again. This is how you get your resume format right:

Computer Science Internship Resume Format

• Use the reverse-chronological resume format—it’s the done thing for computer science internship resumes.
• Choose a professional-looking resume font like Noto or Calibri in 10–12 pt.
• Use one-inch resume marginsand make good use of white space.
• Pay attention to resume length. A one-page resume is what you want, unless you’re changing careers.
• Include at least these things in your resume: Header, Objective/Summary, Work Experience, Education, and Skills.
• Use a simple resume template as it’s more readable. If you are familiar with the tool, you might even want to try LaTeX resume templates.

Don’t include an address in your resume. Your resume header should contain only your name and surname, email address, telephone number, and optionally your LinkedIn profile.

Expert Hint: Save or export your computer science internship resume in PDF unless you’ve been explicitly asked for something else. PDF will help protect your formatting.

2. Start with an Attention-Grabbing Computer Science Internship Resume Objective or Summary

Just like a BASH script begins with a shebang, your computer science internship resume needs to start with a resume profile.

Most people applying for internships aren’t exactly swimming in work experience. If this is you, start with a career objective.

Use:

1. One adjective (efficient, motivated, diligent)
2. Job title (student, graduate)
3. Years of experience (2+, 3+, if any at all in another field)
4. How you’ll be able to help (find out what they need)
5. Your most relevant 2–3 achievements (draw upon your academic and other work)

These computer science internship resume examples will give you a better idea:

Computer Science Internship Resume Example—Objective

Highly motivated Computer Science graduate with proven firmware design skills and 2+ years’ experience working in IT. Looking to contribute to StalkNet’s data-mining platform by leveraging up-to-date knowledge and analytical techniques. Secured bespoke sync protocols over TOR, created custom ISO to re-purpose 17 machines and counting.

Up and coming computer scientist with some IT experience looking for exciting new opportunities for growth and development with an ethical company.

The first one ticks all the boxes. It’s concrete and focused on what the candidate can do for the employer. The second one—not so much.

Got some more or less relevant work experience? The go with a career summary instead. It’ll let you draw on your experience:

Computer Science Internship Resume Example—Summary

Highly-motivated computer scientist with proven firmware design skills and 3+ years’ experience working in microprocessor design. Looking to contribute to StalkNet’s data-mining platform by leveraging up-to-date knowledge and analytical techniques. Implemented RISC-V for a 20% increase in efficiency, analyzed microcode redundancies, reducing code base by 700+ lines.

Computer scientist with firmware design skills and 3 years’ experience working in microprocessor design. Looking for new challenges with clear promotion paths. Worked on microcode efficiency.

Once again, the first one is all about what the candidate can do for the employer—Not the other way around, like in the second resume summary. It also quantifies everything possible.

Expert Hint: Write your qualifications summary last. You’ll do a much better job once you’ve got your job descriptions, skills, and education sections ready.

3. Write Winning Work Experience and Skills Sections for Your Computer Science Internship Resume

Your resume is there to get you an interview. You get an interview by showing that you’re the best candidate for the internship. You do that by describing past achievements in your resume that point to future potential.

How to write a job description for a computer science internship resume:

1. Patiently go back over the job ad or internship announcement.
2. Take note of the skills and duties it hints at or outright mentions.
3. Think of times you’ve used those skills to impress employers or professors.
4. Write bullet points that describe those achievements, quantifying everything.

The following computer science internship resume examples illustrate this:

Computer Science Internship Resume—Sample Job Descriptions 

IT Support Specialist

PhilipTek Solutions

2018–2020

• Functioned as an internal helpdesk, fielding up to 20 calls per day.
• Developed in-house roster software with built-in, secure syncing over TOR.
• Created custom Linux ISO to resurrect 17 out-of-date and unsecured computers.
• Streamlined backup procedures, reducing resource load by over 50%.

IT Support Specialist

PhilipTek Solutions

2018–2020

• Fielded internal helpdesk calls.
• Came up with secure roster solution for internal use.
• Loaded Linux onto otherwise unsecured computers.

 

A good resume work experience section is filled with achievements that are concrete and backed up with numbers.

Start each achievement with a resume power word and lean on something like an APR (Action-Problem-Result) formula if you get stuck.

Expert Hint: If you’re writing a resume with no professional experience at all, you can skip the work experience section and go straight to describing your education.

One more thing—You’ll also need a resume skills section.

But don’t just copy-paste a bunch of internship skills you found online. Let the job ad and your actual abilities be your guides. The lists below are just jumping-off points.

Skills for a Computer Science Internship Resume

Hard Skills

• Calculus
• Computer and technology knowledge
• Data analysis
• Discrete mathematics
• Experimentation
• Information systems management
• Linear algebra
• Mathematics
• Problem-solving
• Programming languages
• Software development
• Statistics
• Technical writing

Soft Skills

• Attention to detail
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• Determination
• Organization
• Patience
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Training and teaching

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4. Make Sure Your Education Section is Pulling Its Weight

It’s not the only way into computer science, but people who get into the field without formal education are as rare as hen’s teeth. The basics are simple: Degree, school, years attended.

Additionally, provide bullet points with skills for resumes. Here’s an example:

Computer Science Internship Resume Example—Education Section

MS in Computer Science, Ohio University

2020–2022

• Used electives to specialize in decentralized & distributed processes.
• Launched popular open-source project ‘LibreOrDeath’.

BS in Computer Science, Ohio University

2016–2020

• Pursued passion for blockchain-based technologies.
• Co-founded the BIOS Flashing Club.

Clean and simple, but also constantly hammering home the point: This is the intern you’re looking for.

Short on computer science work experience? Extend your education section by including bonus bullet points on projects, classes, and other accomplishments, especially if you are writing a recent college graduate resume.

5. Uncomment Some Additional Sections in Your Computer Science Internship Resume

More is not always more. At least not more for its own sake. But the core resume sections of experience, education, and skills aren’t going to cut it for an internship resume.

Add one or two additional sections:

• Certifications
• Volunteer work
• Non-academic courses
• Conferences
• Languages other than English
• Awards
• Professional references

Here’s a computer science example: 

Computer Science Internship Resume—Sample Extra Sections

Competitions

• PenTest Pyramid, 2019
• BASH Scripting Challenge, 2017

Projects

• LibreOrDeath protocol for flashing FOSS firmware
• Contributed 39% of commits to MyCarta project

Software

• Analytical: Minitab
• Modeling: MATLAB
• Development: Apache Kafka, Eclipse IDE, Ruby
• OS: Bash, Linux, UNIX Shell
• Web development: Django, JavaScript

Really, anything and everything is fair game as long as it’s directly relevant to the internship at hand.

And, finally: You need a computer science internship cover letter. Unless you’ve been explicitly asked not to, you risk having your resume ignored if you don’t write a cover letter. 

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Key Points

For a computer science internship resume that pulls in interviews:

• Use the computer science internship resume template given above. It incorporates proven elements and uses evidence-based approaches.
• Put computer science internship resume achievementsin your summary, work history (if any), and education sections to make the right impression.
• Pick the right computer science internship skills. The job ad will be your best guide here.
• Write a computer science internship cover letter. Make it a showcase of the value you can bring to the company, even as an intern.

Any lingering doubts when it comes to writing a resume for an internship in computer science? Drop any questions, comments, and feedback down below and we’ll get back to you.

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