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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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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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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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How to write a personal statement for an internship.

When employers ask you for a personal statement as part of your internship application packet, it signals that they want to know more about your background than the facts and figures on your resume reveal. While an internship personal statement is your chance to share more of your personal side , as with all application materials, it's also an opportunity to sell yourself and to prove you're the person the employer wants as an intern. Typically, this is a separate document that you attach to your internship application, along with your resume and other requested materials.

Personal Statement Formatting

The format for a personal statement includes an introductory paragraph, a few paragraphs that describe your experiences and how they relate to the career field or the internship for which you're applying, and a paragraph that wraps it all up and ties the beginning to the end. Often, internship coordinators will have other guidelines, such as limiting you to fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial, using only 10- or 12-point size font, and limiting the statement to 500 or 800 words, for example. If you don't get any guidelines, use a common font of 10- or 12-point size, and limit the statement to one or two pages. At the top, type "Personal Statement for," followed by your name.

Find a Thread

Think of a time in your life that shaped your decision to pursue this field . Maybe you saw a famous politician speak and it inspired you to pursue politics, or your grandfather taught you basic carpentry and it inspired you to pursue a career in construction. These are the types of stories you'll want to use as the "thread" of your statement. Start off your statement with a paragraph that tells this story. Later, you'll also weave in more details that relate to the story. A good story will encourage the reader to continue reading , and also help her remember you.

Relate Your Experience

The middle paragraphs should include information about your experience and how it can benefit the organization. Think about the skills or characteristics that make a person successful in that particular field. Read job descriptions and the internship posting to get an idea of what the employer wants, but also check out the resumes and self descriptions of people in the field on sites such as LinkedIn. Based on all of that research, use the middle paragraphs to talk about skills or knowledge you have, such as how being the captain of the debate team helped you hone your public speaking skills, or how working on a construction crew during the summers has taught you to be tough and hard-working. You're still telling a story about your life here, but you're also making a case about being the best internship candidate .

Sum It All Up

As with any good story, the beginning should be tied to the end. Once again, share a tidbit about the story you introduced in the beginning of the statement. For example, you might share a quote from that famous politician, or talk about your grandfather's best carpentry work. At this point, it's also good to talk about your overall goals in life and how you see this particular internship fitting into your plan.

Once you've written that first draft, read it over carefully and remove spelling and grammar mistakes . You may be a student or a recent graduate, but employers will still expect professionalism in your personal statement.

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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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How to Write a Personal Statement (with Tips and Examples)

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is a personal statement, 6 tips on how to write a personal statement, personal statement examples (for college and university), faqs about writing personal statements, conclusion on how to write a personal statement.

How do you tell someone who you are in just a few hundred words?

It’s certainly no easy task, but it’s one almost every college applicant must do. The personal statement is a crucial part of any college or university application.

So, how do you write a compelling personal statement?

In this article, we’ll give you all the tools, tips, and examples you need to write an effective personal statement.

A personal statement is a short essay that reveals something important about who you are. It can talk about your background, your interests, your values, your goals in life, or all of the above.

Personal statements are required by many college admission offices and scholarship selection committees. They’re a key part of your application, alongside your academic transcript, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities.

The reason application committees ask you to write a personal statement is so they can get to know who you are. 

Some personal statements have specific prompts, such as “Discuss a period of personal growth in your life” or “Tell us about a challenge or failure you’ve faced.” Others are more open-ended with prompts that essentially boil down to “Tell us about yourself.”

No matter what the prompt is, your goal is the same: to make yourself stand out to the selection committee as a strong candidate for their program.

Here are some things a personal statement can be:

It can be funny. If you have a great sense of humor, your personal statement is a great place to let that shine.  

It can be vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to open up about hardships in your life or failures you’ve experienced. Showing vulnerability can make you sound more like a real person rather than just a collection of application materials.  

It can be creative. Candidates have got into top schools with personal statements that take the form of “a day in the life” descriptions, third-person short stories, and even cooking recipes.

Now we’ve talked about what a personal statement is, let’s quickly look at what a personal statement isn’t:

It isn’t a formal academic paper. You should write the personal statement in your natural voice, using first-person pronouns like “I” and “me,” not in the formal, objective language you would use to write an academic paper.

It isn’t a five-paragraph essay. You should use as many paragraphs as you need to tell your story instead of sticking to the essay structure you learned in school.

It isn’t a resumé. You should try to describe yourself by telling a clear and cohesive story rather than providing a jumbled list of all of your accomplishments and ambitions.

Here are our top six tips for writing a strong personal statement.

Tip 1: Do Some Serious Self-Reflection

The hardest part of writing a personal statement isn’t the actual process of writing it.

Before you start typing, you have to figure out what to write about. And that means taking some time to reflect on who you are and what’s important in your life.

Here are some useful questions you can use to start your self-reflection. You can either answer these on your own by writing down your answers, or you can ask a trusted friend to listen as you talk about them together.

What were the key moments that shaped your life? (e.g. an important friendship, a travel experience, an illness or injury)

What are you proud of? (e.g. you’re a good listener, you always keep your promises, you’re a talented musician)

How do you choose to spend your time? (e.g. reading, practicing soccer, spending time with your friends)

What inspires you? (e.g. your grandmother, a celebrity, your favorite song)

Doing this self-reflection is crucial for figuring out the perfect topics and anecdotes you can use to describe who you are.

Tip 2: Try to Avoid Cliché Topics

College application committees read thousands of personal statements a year. That means there are some personal statement topics they see over and over again.

Here are a few examples of common personal statement topics that have become cliché:

Winning a tournament or sports game

Volunteering in a foreign country

Moving to a new home

Becoming an older sibling

Being an immigrant or having immigrant parents

If you want to make a strong impression in the application process, you need to make your personal statement stand out from the crowd.

But if your chosen personal statement topic falls into one of these categories, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use it. Just make sure to put a unique spin on it so it still delivers something the committee hasn’t seen before.

Good writing = better grades

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Tip 3: Show, Don’t Tell

One common mistake you might make in your personal statement is to simply tell the reader what you want them to know about you, such as by stating “I have a fear of public speaking” or “I love to cook.”

Instead of simply stating these facts, you should show the committee what you’re talking about through a story or scene, which will make your essay much more immersive and memorable.

For example, let’s say you want the committee to know you overcame your fear of public speaking. Instead of writing “I overcame my fear of public speaking,” show them what it was like to be onstage in front of a microphone. Did your palms get clammy? Did you feel light-headed? Did you forget your words?

Or let’s say you want the committee to know you love to cook. Instead of writing “I love to cook,” show them why you love to cook. What’s your favorite dish to cook? What does the air smell like when you’re cooking it? What kitchen appliances do you use to make it?

Tip 4: Connect the Story to Why You’re Applying

Don’t forget that the purpose of your personal statement isn’t simply to tell the admissions committee who you are. That’s an important part of it, of course, but your ultimate goal is to convince them to choose you as a candidate.

That means it’s important to tie your personal story to your reasons for applying to this specific school or scholarship. Finish your essay with a strong thesis.

For example, if your story is about overcoming your fear of public speaking, you might connect that story to your ambition of becoming a politician. You can then tie that to your application by saying, “I want to apply to this school because of its fantastic politics program, which will give me a perfect opportunity to use my voice.”

Tip 5: Write in Your Own Voice

The personal statement isn’t supposed to be written in a formal tone. That’s why they’re called “personal” statements because you have to shape it to fit your own voice and style.

Don’t use complicated or overwrought language. You don’t need to fill your essay with semicolons and big words, unless that’s how you sound in real life.

One way to write in your own voice is by speaking your personal statement out loud. If it doesn’t feel natural, it may need changing. 

Tip 6: Edit, Edit, Edit!

It’s important to revise your personal statement multiple times in order to make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.

A single typo won’t kill your application, but if your personal statement contains multiple spelling errors or egregious grammar mistakes, you won’t be putting your best foot forward.

ProWritingAid can help you make sure your personal statement is as clean as possible. In addition to catching your grammar errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes, it will also help you improve weaknesses in your writing, such as passive voice, unnecessary repetition, and more.

Let’s look at some of the best personal statements that have worked for successful candidates in the real world. 

Harvard Personal Statement Example

Love. For a word describing such a powerful emotion, it is always in the air. The word “love” has become so pervasive in everyday conversation that it hardly retains its roots in blazing passion and deep adoration. In fact, the word is thrown about so much that it becomes difficult to believe society isn’t just one huge, smitten party, with everyone holding hands and singing “Kumbaya.” In films, it’s the teenage boy’s grudging response to a doting mother. At school, it’s a habitual farewell between friends. But in my Chinese home, it’s never uttered. Watching my grandmother lie unconscious on the hospital bed, waiting for her body to shut down, was excruciatingly painful. Her final quavering breaths formed a discordant rhythm with the steady beep of hospital equipment and the unsympathetic tapping hands of the clock. That evening, I whispered—into unhearing ears—the first, and only, “I love you” I ever said to her, my rankling guilt haunting me relentlessly for weeks after her passing. My warm confession seemed anticlimactic, met with only the coldness of my surroundings—the blank room, impassive doctors, and empty silence. I struggled to understand why the “love” that so easily rolled off my tongue when bantering with friends dissipated from my vocabulary when I spoke to my family. Do Chinese people simply love less than Americans do?

This is an excerpt from a personal statement that got the applicant admitted to Harvard University. The applicant discusses her background as a Chinese-American by musing on the word “love” and what that means within her family.

The writer uses vulnerable details about her relationship with her grandmother to give the reader an understanding of where she comes from and how her family has shaped her.  

You can read the full personal statement on the Harvard Crimson website.

Tufts Personal Statement Example

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry’s “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go,” and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon. Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration. Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear. I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

This is the beginning of a personal statement by Renner Kwittken, who was admitted into Tufts University as a pre-medical student.

Renner uses a humorous anecdote about being a pickle truck driver to describe his love for nanomedicine and how he got involved in his field. You can feel his passion for medicine throughout his personal statement.

You can find Renner’s full essay on the Tufts Admissions page.

Law School Personal Statement Essay Example

For most people, the slap on the face that turns their life around is figurative. Mine was literal. Actually, it was a punch delivered by a drill sergeant at Fort Dix, New Jersey, while I was in basic training. That day’s activity, just a few weeks into the program, included instruction in “low-crawling,” a sensible method of moving from one place to another on a battlefield. I felt rather clever for having discovered that, by looking right rather than down, I eliminated my helmet’s unfortunate tendency to dig into the ground and slow my progress. I could thus advance more easily, but I also exposed my unprotected face to hostile fire. Drill sergeants are typically very good at detecting this type of laziness, and mine was an excellent drill sergeant. So, after his repeated suggestions that I correct my performance went unheeded, he drove home his point with a fist to my face. We were both stunned. This was, after all, the New Army, and striking a trainee was a career-ending move for a drill sergeant, as we were both aware. I could have reported him; arguably, I should have. I didn’t. It didn’t seem right for this good sergeant, who had not slept for almost four days, to lose his career for losing his temper with my laziness. Choosing not to report him was the first decision I remember making that made me proud.

These are the first three paragraphs of an anonymous personal statement by a Wheaton College graduate, who used this personal statement to get into a top-25 law school.

This statement describes a time the applicant faced a challenging decision while in the army. He ended up making a decision he was proud of, and as a result, the personal statement gives us a sense of his character.

You can find the full essay on the Wheaton Academics website.

Here are some common questions about how to write a personal statement.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

The length of your personal statement depends on the specific program you’re applying to. The application guidelines usually specify a maximum word count or an ideal word count.  

Most personal statements are between 500–800 words. That’s a good general range to aim for if you don’t have more specific guidelines.  

Should Personal Statements Be Different for Scholarships?

Many scholarship applications will ask for personal statements with similar prompts to those of college applications.

However, the purpose of a personal statement you’d write for a scholarship application is different from the purpose of one you’d write for a college application.

For a scholarship application, your goal is to showcase why you deserve the scholarship. To do that, you need to understand the mission of the organization offering that scholarship.

For example, some scholarships are meant to help first-generation college students get their degree, while others are meant to help women break into STEM.

Consider the following questions:

Why is this organization offering scholarships?

What would their ideal scholarship candidate look like?

How do your experiences and goals overlap with those of their ideal scholarship candidate?

You can use the same personal anecdotes you’d use for any other personal statement, but you’ll have a better chance of winning the scholarship if you tailor your essay to match their specific mission.

How to Start a Personal Statement

You should start your personal statement with a “hook” that pulls the reader in. The sooner you catch the reader’s attention, the more likely they’ll want to read the entire essay.

Here are some examples of hooks you can use:

A story (e.g. When the spotlight hit my face, I tried to remind myself to breathe. )

A setting description (e.g. My bedroom floor is covered with dirty laundry, candy wrappers, and crumpled sheet music. )

A funny anecdote (e.g. When I was a little kid, my friends nicknamed me Mowgli because of my haircut. )

A surprising fact (e.g. I've lived in 37 countries .)

There you have it—our complete guide to writing a personal statement that will make you stand out to the application committee.

Here’s a quick recap: 

A personal statement is a short essay that shows an application committee who you are

Start with a strong hook that pulls the reader in

Tell a story to engage the reader 

Write in your own voice, not in a formal tone

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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January 23rd, 2023

How to Write a Perfectly Formatted Personal Statement for Internship in 2023? With Examples

Personal statement for internship is a very important document in the applicatio n for internship programs. This guide will show you:

• How to write personal statement for internship?
• Interview-fetching personal statement for internship examples for reference
• Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding personal statement for internship.

What is a Personal Statement for Internship?

Personal statement for internship is a self-written document that you submit to a company or organization when you apply for internship there.

It is very important to know what is a personal statement for an internship before writing it because it is different from personal statement for course admissions .

How Important is a Personal Statement for Internship?

Internship is a brief period that acts as a bridge between your academic formation and full-time professional career .

As this period is a stepping stone to your career, you need to intern at the best place possible. And that requires you to write a winning personal statement.

A carefully written personal statement for internship accomplishes the following goals.

• It helps you showcase your personality, achievements experiences, and future goals.
• It enables the organizations to figure out your suitability more closely than from a CV.
• It gives you the opportunity to speak about your goals so that the employer might consider you as their employee in future.
• Personal statement is a personalized document. Thus, employers can easily know whether you have crafted it seriously or not.

NEED EXPERTS HELP FOR WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT? CLICK HERE NOW!

How to Write Personal Statement for Internship in Seven Simple Steps?

It is already established that you need a perfect internship personal statement to sell yourself to the prospective employer. Here are the key steps to write a powerful personal statement internship.

Brainstorming:

Only you can know about your strengths and weaknesses. Take time to reflect on the areas that can be your selling points.

Write a strong introduction:

Every word in the introduction counts. So, try to make it attention-grabbing. Start with an experience from your past that influenced your decision

Write in active voice:

Most students forget about this. A personal statement written in active voice looks more impactful than one written in passive voice.

Talk about your competencies:

Highlight your competencies and how the employer can benefit from them. Use anecdotes to show how you applied your skills and qualities in the past.

Simple and straight to the point:

A generic approach is a big no in writing internship personal statement. Make it specific, simple and straight to the point.

Be true to yourself:

If you don’t possess leadership quality and highlight it in your statement, you may be asked to lead a team of interns and be in real trouble.

Familiarize yourself with the organization:

Research about the organization that are applying and know about it through and through. Your familiarity will be an added merit.

Know the Ideal Format for Personal Statement for Internship

The use of the right personal statement format for internship will make it look well-organized and brings in a good flow.

It enables the reader to scan it easily and find the points that they are specifically looking for. Here is a commonly recognized personal statement format.

Opening paragraph/introduction

This is the most important part in your internship personal statement. This is where you establish your story and grab the attention of the reader.

First body paragraph

Talk about a domain specific skill that you have and support it with ample evidence from past. Demonstrate how the employer will benefit from this quality of yours.

Second body paragraph

Use this paragraph to talk about a personal strength such as leadership quality and elaborate how you applied it. Show how it will favor you during the internship.

Future goals

Talk about your short term as well as long term career goals and say how much you think this internship will help you reach there.

Present your conclusion as the summation of the story you presented. End it with a reiterating closing statement that shows your suitability for the program. 

Read more here on personal statements:

Sample for Internship Personal Statement

Here is an example of personal statement for internship. Use this only as a reference. Do not attempt to do personal statement examples copying as it can lead to plagiarism.

Personal Statement for Internship

My name is ____________ and with much enthusiasm and excitement, I would like to intern at your organization during this summer for the post of Digital Marketing Intern. The internship at your firm is highly sought-after and well regarded due to its quality and highly career oriented level. I am sure with my existing experience and professional mindset, I would be able to perform well in my domain. I am sure this opportunity would surely propel my career and give me a chance to advance in my chosen field.

I understand that you are looking for a candidate, who is professional in approach and dedicated to work. I believe that I possess the right talents you seek for this post and I would be delighted to enhance my skill set with the right guidance and advice received from your end. The post Digital Marketing Intern is a dream for me as I always sought to build a career in this field due to its huge growth opportunities. During my masters in Business Administration at ______________ (name of the institute), I had an overall development as a Marketing Associate in a few of our Management Fests. I also handled social media handles like Instagram, Facebook. Twitter, etc for the popularity of the fest. This gave me hands-on experience in management, administration, web traffic, analytics, content development, etc. This was a golden opportunity for me to polish my skill set and acquire new ones.

As described in the job description, I would like to try my hands on revenue management and analysis of consumer behavior. I would also like to exhibit my skills in Email marketing, Search Engine marketing, advertising, campaigning, etc. This position is a perfect combination of your desires and my skill set. I hope through this internship, I can give an outlet to the theoretical knowledge I have gained. I am sure with my creative writing expertise I can create attractive content for your clients. Through interaction with fellow mates and senior officials I hope to enhance my skill set and digital knowledge. I am sure with the experience gained, I can become a master in my chosen field. As described in the description, I am an expert in social media content and social media campaigns. With this internship I would like to enhance my knowledge on various tools used and techniques implemented.

I would be honored if I receive this internship and opportunity to work with an amazing company. Let me express my gratitude for your time and consideration and I really look forward to hearing from you so that we can take this discussion further. I may be reached _______ or by email at ___________.

Pro Tips from Experienced Internship Personal Statement Writers

It is important to present a concise personal statement for internship that shows your confidence. It can be a challenging task. Follow these key tips from experts to compose a polished piece of writing.

Gather materials:

Your internship personal statement should be in compliance with other documents. So, keep all those docs ready at hand to refer them easily.

List all important information:

On a piece of paper, note down all important information that may be required while writing your internship personal statement.

Write in first person point of view:

Personal statement for internship is a document that is exclusively about you. So, write it using first person singular ‘I’.

Beware of duplication:

Do not repeat any information that has already been said in your personal statement. Also, try to avoid repeating the course titles in the writeup.

Make it unique:

The best way to make your personal statement unique is to present it in the backdrop of an experience you had which influenced your decision.

Keep it brief:

Remember that personal statement is different from statement of purpose. It is a rather brief and concise version which doesn’t go beyond one typed page.

Revise your statement:

It is recommended to write a rough draft at first and then keep it revising and improving gradually. This way, you will get a flawless draft at last.

Seek professional help if needed:

If you don’t feel 100% confident about your personal statement after completely writing it, seek professional help which will help get it made more impactfully.

Six Mistakes That Can Negatively Affect Your Internship Personal Statement

The six common mistakes student often make while composing their personal statement for internship. Beware of them and try to avoid them in your writeup.

• Not doing enough research about the internship program and the organization.
• Writing the document generically without focusing on the key themes.
• Not saying sufficiently about what and how you can contribute to the firm that hires you.
• Not seeking feedback on your personal statement for internship from someone who is familiar with it.
• Not being genuine and writing things that are not true to your experience or skills.
• Not proofreading and correcting the mistakes. Even if they are minor like spelling errors, they could break your chances.

It is completely okay to seek personal statement writing help for internship from experts if you lack the expertise to compose it perfectly. It will improve your acceptance chances and save you from unnecessary worries.

Top 10 Internship Programs You Will Need a Personal Statement For

Today, almost all internship programs ask applicants to include a personal statement in their application. The top 10 programs are:

• Dietetic internship
• Summer internship
• Medical internship
• Research internship
• Law internship
• Semester internship
• Quarterly internship
• Holiday internship
• Fall internship
• Spring internship

All things considered…

You may have good track records as a student but your prospective employer wouldn’t know about them unless you describe them in a personal statement for internship.

Reading this blog, you have got to the nitty-gritty of writing a strong personal statement to produce in your internship application.

If you still got any doubts or want to share your feedback with us on this blog, use the comment section below.

What is the ideal length for a personal statement for internship?

Personal statement for internship needs to be short and concise. It shouldn’t exceed more than a page in typed version, which would be about 500 words in length.

Who will review my personal statement for internship?

Your personal statement for internship will be checked and verified by the program officer or the HR team of the company/organization/institute you are applying to.

Should I submit a resume along with my personal statement for internship?

It is recommended to verify what documents you are expected to include in the application for internship. Resume is normally asked.

What will happen if my internship personal statement fails to comply with the requirements?

If your personal statement is found to be incomplete or doesn’t meet the requirements put forth by the program, it might lead to the rejection of your application. Once rejected, you won’t probably get a second chance. Therefore, it is important to give as much attention and seriousness as possible while writing it.

Can my teachers or professors write my personal statement for internship?

Personal statement is different from a letter of recommendation. Hence, it is not your teachers or professors who have to write it. Of course, you can seek their guidance before writing it.  If you are not confident to write it on your own, it is better to seek the assistance of a professional who knows about it well.

Mrs Jizah M

Mrs Jizah M has always enjoyed writing down her thoughts since school days. What just started as a hobby slowly transformed into a passion. Her writing skills were first acknowledged by few of her professors when she wrote content for the college website; this was a turing. Slowly she started getting freelance works and later on, a series of events led her to specialize in academic and higher education related documentations. In additional to personal statements, she along with her team writes LORs, SOPs, college application essays, admission essays and all similar types of documents.

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What is a personal statement?

The personal statement, also called the statement of purpose, is a special type of writing sample. Personal statements are commonly requested when applying to scholarship programs and graduate/professional schools. They may also be requested for certain types of jobs, such as competitive teaching and research appointments in education, for positions with non-profit organizations, or for internship applications. It is a writing sample describing you at your best, your reasons for choosing the field you have chosen, your research interests, your objectives, and the unique ways you can contribute to the program/organization to which you are applying. Some personal statement prompts may ask you to describe your experiences and principles around concepts of diversity.

If a position asks for a diversity statement in particular, review our diversity statement resources .

A statement of purpose is designed to communicate five things:

• Writing ability, including grammar, punctuation, organization, creativity, expression, etc.
• Connections between your past education/experiences and future goals.
• Your philosophy of the field and why you are pursuing an opportunity in that area.
• What makes you unique and how you can add to the diversity of the program.
• How you can be an asset to the organization or the school, now and in the future.

What makes a personal statement compelling?

Good personal statements tell stories that demonstrate your strengths.

• Know your strengths. How can you be of value or how can you contribute? Begin by looking at your good experiences for evidence of your strengths and then ask those who know you best for their thoughts. Don’t overlook the value of a true friend’s honest assessment of your strengths. Many people find they have hidden strengths that are only obvious to their closest friends and family.
• Know your audience. Research the program(s) and organization(s) you are applying to by searching online, reading catalog/program descriptions, and emailing for more information. Talk with professors, graduate students, advisers, and colleagues you met through internships.
• Make a good case for the “match” between you and the program or organization to which you are applying.
• Tell a story that demonstrates your strengths through examples to set you apart from others and show how you can contribute. Avoid just writing a first-person essay where each paragraph is a direct response to the points you are being asked to address. Avoid starting every sentence with “I” or “I want”.

How do I get started?

• Set a timetable for yourself. Ideally, you should work on your essay for at least a month.
• Identify your strengths. Reflect on your response to the question, “what are three words people would use to describe you and why?”.
• Intellectual influences. Who were your favorite professors (and why)? Identify the best paper you ever wrote, the most influential book you have read, and the single most important concept you have learned.
• Encouragement. Write down the actual words of a professor, teacher, or someone else in your life who encouraged you to pursue this field of study.
• Turning points. Where were you and what were you doing when you first thought of going in this particular direction? How have your interests evolved?
• Experiences. List volunteer, travel, family, and life experiences that have inspired you to follow this career path.
• Academics. How have you prepared to succeed academically?
• Skills. What skills have you honed through your experiential and educational choices?
• Personal attributes. What personal attributes make you particularly likely to succeed?
• Be sure to tailor your statement to fit content, length, and other requirements of the individual scholarship/department/program to which you are applying.
• Create an outline for each paragraph before you write it, making sure that all of the components of the questions/prompts are being addressed.

What are some basic tips for writing a personal statement?

• Tell concrete, vivid stories, and use examples to demonstrate your strengths and “match.”
• Don’t have too many different ideas in your essay. Only include information that supports your thesis or is consistent with your theme.
• Don’t exaggerate or make things up.
• Write in the active voice.
• Be yourself – don’t use words or styles you wouldn’t normally use.
• Be clear, concise, and direct; make each word count.
• Try not to repeat an idea too many times.
• Don’t write an autobiography – you are marketing yourself, not telling your life story.
• Don’t be a clown (although some humor can be appropriate).

Organization

• Follow directions regarding length. If no limit is given, aim for 1.5 to 2 pages of single-spaced text.
• Don’t start your essay with “I was born in” or anything similar to this statement.
• Start your essay with an attention-grabbing lead: an anecdote, quote, question, vivid description of a scene, etc.
• Link your paragraphs with transitions.
• End your essay with a conclusion that refers to the introduction, relates to your theme, or summarizes your main points.
• Revise your essay at least three times.
• Ask someone to critique your personal statement. You can utilize Career Services or the Writing and Communication Center
• Proofread! Don’t rely exclusively on your computer for spell check and grammar check.

Personal statement examples

Poor personal statement.

Having graduated with an MA in English from Purdue University, with an emphasis on the writing of poetry, I feel that I have come a long way as a writer. I think that my poetry is strong, but I also feel that I need to continue in a concentrated study of writing and poetry. This is an important stage for me, and I think that continuing in a writing program – especially one as strong as the University of Washington program – is the best way for me to accomplish my goals. Eventually I would like to be teaching poetry writing at the college level. After teaching creative writing at Purdue, I realize that it is something that I would like to continue doing as a career, along with writing my poetry. I have also taught composition at Purdue, and I enjoy teaching at that level as well. If accepted into the program at UW, upon graduation I would like to teach composition, and continue to write and publish poems, in the hopes that I will eventually be able to publish enough to allow me to gain employment as a creative writing teacher.

Better personal statement

Every morning at 10:00 a.m. I come face to face with the power of language so free; it happens in a classroom. The students I teach at Seattle Central Community College come from night work in an industrial bakery, from a Vietnamese refugee camp, from a 9-to-5 job in a car wash, or from the day care center where they have left their children. All come to the English Skills Shop to improve their use of language and they move through the same process I have undertaken: uncovering their voices. When they get discouraged, I read aloud excerpts from their own writing. They applaud themselves. In this room, their varied experiences count. I remind them that the only reason to learn how to write well is because they have something to say. And they do. Until this past summer, I had no training in creative writing, nor even in literature; all my knowledge was absorbed like trace minerals from mass consumption of contemporary American fiction. The writer who does most masterfully what I attempt in my own stories is Wallace Stegner. He makes the intricate webs connecting his characters visible by illuminating the tears of dew balanced on each strand. Last summer I enrolled at the University of Washington and have been working ever since to find resonance in my own stories and study the voices within others’. Through an advanced short story class and a creative writing conference, along with literature and critical theory classes, I’ve become a more critical reader and a better writer.

I’m looking for a graduate program which combines the two elements I’ve found most valuable in my recent studies: strong mentors and tight community. I seek teachers who can pull me out of the details of works and phrases to see the whole piece, its form and contradictions. I seek guidance; the self-motivation is there. To balance the hours of solitary writing, I want a graduate program, which nurtures a supportive community. Throughout this process of thawing my voice, I’ve taken periods of formal training and applied the techniques; I see graduate schools as one of these steps. Through it expect to move to another level in my writing and myself, the ability to honestly and compellingly explore the world through stories. The stronger and more fluid connection between my life and writing, the better I’ll be able to teach that connection to others. I would like to write my own stories and teach others how to write theirs. In the end, both undertakings help us all find our voices.

Good personal statement (with commentary)

My awakening to the wonder of human cultural diversity began with my entry into Army Basic Training. Living in an open barracks for three months with women from every corner of the United States opened my eyes and mind to the amazing variety of cultural groups just within our own country. Since then, I have lived, worked, and traveled in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. I gained valuable cross-cultural experience as a member of a multi-national task force, which provided Emergency Medical Service in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. In addition to these experiences, my Army training has enabled me to develop strong skills in leadership, teambuilding, and organization. These are all qualities that will help me to be successful in my chosen field of Community Health Nursing. [In this paragraph, she shares her turning points, skills and attributes. She also connects her past and present.]

I have chosen the focus area of cross-cultural nursing because I know that making health programs culturally accessible is as important as making them geographically and financially accessible. This has been clearly demonstrated to me at the Washington Poison Center where we provide telephone information services to the entire state of Washington. Poison Center services are underutilized by non-English speaking population groups and those with English as a second language. This is due, in part, to a lack of awareness or understanding of the services provided by the Poison Center. Cross-cultural health education is the key to informing these populations of the benefits of using Poison Center services. [In this paragraph, she discusses why she is applying for this program and talks about some related experiences.]

As a cross-cultural nursing consultant, I will work with multidisciplinary teams planning and implementing community health programs for underserved populations. I will bring to these teams the unique nursing perspective and an expertise in the effects of culture on health-seeking behaviors for underserved populations. Washington State has a rapidly growing Hispanic population with a large subculture of migrant farm workers. I intend to spend some time in rural eastern Washington working with Public Health officials and community leaders to increase the focus on primary prevention for this population group. I am also interested in working with Hispanic populations in other locations. With these plans in mind, I am currently studying Spanish. In addition, I plan to teach cross-cultural nursing subjects in the academic setting and in other venues such as hospital in-service training. [In this paragraph, she talks about her future goals. She also describes why she is a unique candidate.]

• 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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Personal Statement for Internship

Ai generator.

Introduction I am a third-year student at Stanford University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and I am eager to apply for the Software Engineering Internship at Google. My passion for technology, combined with my academic background and hands-on experience, has prepared me to contribute effectively to your team and further develop my skills in a dynamic and innovative environment.

Academic Background At Stanford University, I have maintained a 3.8 GPA while taking challenging courses in data structures, algorithms, and machine learning. My coursework has provided me with a strong foundation in software development and problem-solving. Additionally, I have worked on various projects, including developing a mobile app that tracks and analyzes user fitness data, which won first place at the university’s hackathon.

Professional Experience Last summer, I interned at XYZ Tech Solutions, where I worked on a team to develop a web application for managing client relationships. My responsibilities included coding, testing, and debugging software modules using Python and JavaScript. I also collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and ensure the application met client needs. This experience enhanced my technical skills and taught me the importance of teamwork and effective communication in a professional setting.

Personal Qualities and Skills I am a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual with a strong passion for technology and innovation. My ability to learn quickly and adapt to new challenges has enabled me to excel in fast-paced environments. I have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and I am proficient in programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++. Additionally, my excellent communication skills and collaborative nature make me a valuable team member.

Future Goals My long-term goal is to become a software engineer specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning. I am particularly interested in developing intelligent systems that can solve real-world problems and improve the quality of life. This internship at Google represents an ideal opportunity for me to gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge technologies and to learn from industry leaders. I am excited about the potential to contribute to innovative projects and to further my understanding of AI and machine learning applications.

Conclusion In conclusion, my passion for technology, strong academic background, and relevant professional experience make me a strong candidate for the Software Engineering Internship at Google. I am eager to bring my skills and enthusiasm to your team and to learn from the exceptional professionals at Google. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background, skills, and aspirations align with the goals of your internship program.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

10 Examples of Public speaking

20 Examples of Gas lighting

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.

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!

• 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
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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?