How to List Internship at the Same Company Twice on Your Resume
So, you’ve landed not one, but two internships at the same company. That’s a huge accomplishment! It means not only did you perform well enough to be invited back, but you also gained a second opportunity to dive deeper into the work and grow professionally. But now that it's time to update your resume, you might be wondering how to present this unique situation. How can you showcase both experiences without being repetitive or cluttering up your resume? Don’t worry—you're in the perfect position to highlight your growth, increased responsibility, and continued passion for the company.
By listing these internships strategically, you can craft a narrative that speaks to your development and value as a future employee. Here’s how to do it:
1. Separate and Conquer: Treat Each Internship as Its Own Experience
The first rule of thumb when listing two internships from the same company is simple: treat them as distinct experiences. Even though you worked for the same company, each internship was likely different in terms of responsibilities, learning opportunities, and outcomes.
Just as you would separate internships from two different companies, break these down individually. This allows you to showcase both the consistency of your performance and the differences in your roles.
Why Does This Matter?
Employers look for progression. By splitting up your internships, you provide a clear visual that communicates your growth. A single, lengthy description might imply that you had the same responsibilities and didn’t evolve over time. Listing them separately shows that you didn’t just repeat the same experience—you took it to the next level.
2. Use Strategic Titles & Timelines
While the company remained the same, chances are your role shifted in some way. Your responsibilities may have expanded, or you may have been given a more specialized focus in the second internship. Use this to your advantage by tailoring the job titles to reflect that progression.
Different Titles, Different Stories
If the nature of your work evolved, make that clear through distinct titles. For example, if your first internship was general ("Marketing Intern"), but you later focused on a more specific area ("Digital Marketing Specialist Intern"), use that differentiation. This not only makes the two internships feel distinct, but it also highlights your ability to move into more advanced roles. Even if the titles aren’t officially different, you can still add slight variations to reflect the growing scope of your responsibilities.
Clear Dates Matter
Including the exact dates of each internship is crucial. It helps the reader understand the timeline of your progression and eliminates any confusion. Make sure to use month and year (e.g., "June 2022 - August 2022" for your first internship, and "June 2023 - August 2023" for the second) to clearly distinguish between the two time periods.
3. Tailor Your Bullet Points to Show Growth
Here’s where the magic happens. The bullet points under each internship are the key to differentiating the experiences and showcasing your growth. Don’t just repeat the same duties or achievements for both stints. Even if you did similar tasks, the impact of your work likely grew, and your role within the company may have shifted.
First Internship:
For your first internship, emphasize the foundational skills you developed. Focus on what you learned about the company, its processes, and your role within the team. Highlight any projects you contributed to, and make sure to explain the skills you gained during this early experience. This will set the stage for the increased responsibilities you took on during the second internship.
Second Internship:
Your second internship should reflect your growth. Maybe you took on more leadership roles, mentored other interns, or had a greater impact on the company’s projects. This is where you want to show how your responsibilities increased. Focus on advanced skills, any new tools or technologies you worked with, and measurable impacts of your work.
Example:
Here’s how you might differentiate two internships at the same tech startup:
First Internship:
Software Engineering Intern | Company X | Summer 2022
- Assisted in developing new features for the company's mobile app using Java, contributing to a 10% increase in user engagement.
- Collaborated with senior engineers to debug and optimize the application, improving overall performance by 15%.
- Gained experience in Agile methodologies, learning the full software development lifecycle and participating in daily stand-up meetings.
Second Internship:
Web Development Intern | Company X | Summer 2023
- Led the development of a new web application feature using React.js, resulting in a 20% increase in customer acquisition.
- Mentored a team of three new interns on coding standards, best practices, and company processes, improving onboarding efficiency by 30%.
- Delivered technical presentations to senior management, offering data-driven recommendations that were implemented in the final product.
In this example, both internships are clearly defined, but the bullet points for the second experience focus on leadership, higher-level contributions, and advanced technical skills.
4. Honesty and Transparency: No Inflating
While it's important to show growth, make sure you're being completely honest about your titles and responsibilities. If you exaggerate your role or misrepresent your contributions, it could come back to haunt you in an interview. Plus, recruiters are skilled at spotting inconsistencies in resumes.
Rather than inflating your titles or achievements, focus on how your skills evolved and the impact of your work. The truth is impressive enough—especially if you can show a natural progression in your career path. Companies appreciate honesty, especially when it comes to entry-level roles like internships.
5. Leverage Your Cover Letter to Tell the Full Story
If you're struggling to explain the significance of having two internships at the same company on your resume, don’t forget you have a valuable tool at your disposal: your cover letter. This is your opportunity to provide additional context.
In your cover letter, explain why you chose to return to the company. Highlight your passion for their mission, your enthusiasm for the work, and how the second internship built on the foundation of the first. Discuss what drew you back—perhaps it was the company culture, the exciting projects, or the opportunity to work with a team you admire. Use this space to emphasize your loyalty, dedication, and personal growth.
Why Does This Matter? Crafting a Narrative of Growth
Interning twice at the same company can be a huge asset. It demonstrates loyalty, commitment, and your ability to evolve. Instead of thinking of it as a potential resume hurdle, see it as a powerful story of your professional development. By thoughtfully separating your experiences, emphasizing growth, and being transparent, you can turn two internships at the same company into a compelling narrative that highlights your strengths and readiness for future challenges.
Remember, a well-crafted resume doesn’t just list experiences—it tells a story. And your story is one of dedication, adaptability, and continuous learning. Make sure that shines through, and you'll leave a lasting impression on any hiring manager.