Internship Certificate for Students: Format, Sample

An internship certificate is an official document awarded to a student upon successful completion of their internship program. The internship certificate formally recognises and acknowledges the contributions, efforts and knowledge acquired by the student during the term of their internship and helps to pursue higher education or secure a position in a company. 

An internship certificate sums up what an intern has worked on during his/her internship period. It is a single document that shapes the formative years of any aspiring professional. A well-written internship certificate in a proper internship certificate format is a valuable asset for a job-seeking fresher or a student seeking to get admitted to a top university abroad. Any future jobs/internships that the interns get depend entirely or mainly on their previous internship certificate letters. For organisations, crafting an internship certificate involves using a thoughtful format and content to reflect the hard work and contributions of the intern towards the project, compellingly. There are various free Internship certificate online for students which are offered on platforms like Internshala, LinkedIn, Forage, and Coursera, often offered by major companies (IBM, Infosys, TCS) or specialised training providers (ThinkNEXT, EasyShiksha) in tech, marketing, data, or other fields. In this article, we will learn more about an internship certificate, its components, format, template, and more.

Also Read: Differences between a Co-op and an Internship

What is an Internship Certificate?

An internship certificate is an official document that is handed to an intern upon the successful completion of their internship during a fixed period. The certificate for completion of an internship formally recognises an intern's contributions, efforts, hard work, dedication and acquired skills. A well-written internship certificate letter with a good format turns out to be an asset for any job-seeking fresher. 

Internship Certificate Format

When it comes to the internship certificate format, there is no fixed format. Different organisations use different formats to align with their standards. The format of an internship certificate includes some essential components. These components are listed below. 

1. Organisation’s Logo: An organisation’s logo is the first thing that appears on top of any internship certificate. This gives the certificate its authenticity. 
2. Certificate Title: The title of the certificate should be clear. For example,  “Certificate of Completion of Internship” or “Internship Completion Certificate”.
3. Company’s Address: Some companies write their addresses right after the certificate title. Some companies prefer to mention the organisation’s registered address as a letterhead along with the company’s logo. The choice of both depends on the company, and both are considered equally relevant.

4. Issuance Date: Every internship letter carries the date of its issuance just below its title. This determines the date from which the validity of the certificate begins. 

5. Certificate Body: The body of an internship certificate begins with addressing the details of the intern, including his name, education and address (if applicable), along with the name of the project he has worked on. In the next line, the dates of commencement and end of the internship are mentioned along with a brief explanation of the intern’s code of conduct during the entire internship period and significant accomplishments made (if any). Supervisors may also take this space to praise the outstanding work of the intern, along with skills acquired or improved during the internship period.  

6. Signatures: In the end, an internship letter is concluded with the signatures of the supervisor or the concerned authoritative person. Some organisations prefer to affix the certificate document with the organisation’s official seal. This gives the certificate added authenticity. 
7. Contact Details: Most companies also provide information on their communication channels, like phone numbers, fax numbers, and website links.

Please note that the sequence of these components may vary among companies, supervisors and HR heads.

Universities abroad also provide opportunities for internships as part of their placement drives. Some of the universities that offer internships are listed below.   

• Colorado State University
• Boston University
• Columbia University

An internship certificate is required for several reasons and purposes. Those who need an internship certificate, irrespective of their purpose, are listed below.

• Students and Recent Graduates: Students and recent graduates require internship certificate to present as proof of their work experience. The certificate clearly demonstrates tasks accomplished and skills undertaken by students during their internship.
  
• Employers and HR Professionals: HR professionals and employers need internship certificates from candidates or applicants during the hiring process because the certificate acts as proof of participation and completion of the internship by the candidate.  
  
• Academic Institutions and Career Counsellors: Several academic institutions and career advisors require internship certificates to refer to them as the official record of the intern's contributions towards the internship project. Additionally, the certificate also demonstrates any new skills acquired by the candidate, whether they have dealt with a tedious task and how they completed it.

Also Read: Bonafide Certificate

Internship Certificate Sample

Here is the sample of an internship certificate- 

Internship Certificate PDF Template

We have given several internship certificate format samples above. Here, in this section, we will provide you the internship certificate template to refer to for your future communications. Check here for the internship certificate PDF. 

Importance of Internship Certificates

An internship certificate plays a significant role in acknowledging a student’s contributions and achievements throughout the internship. You may check a few more points on the importance of the internship certificate below. 

1. An internship certificate mentions the student's relevant experience along with the skills acquired during the internship.
2. It also helps to boost confidence as it represents the list of skills acquired and projects worked on during the entire internship period. 
3. An internship certificate indicates that the student has early experience in the industry and so can get better remuneration.
4. Students can even do a teaching internship at their college or join a nearby industry relevant to their field. During an internship, students get to learn work ethics, and they get to see how working in industries, research or corporate offices feel like. So, by doing an internship, students can get an idea of how the work (that they had doe briefly during their internship) would feel like for the rest of their time and hence they can choose and make better decision on the type of work that they want to do or the career they want to opt for. 

Tips for Writing an Effective Internship Certificate

The tips for writing a good internship certificate letter are below. 

1. Use formal language.
2. Be concise and write only to-the-point information.
3. Proofread carefully for any errors.
4. It is advisable to use high-quality paper for the internship certificate or to print it on a nice printer.

How to Get a Good Internship?

Internships give you good opportunities to learn about industry trends and new technologies. The steps to get a good internship require you to create your professional front first. You have to make a profile for yourself that mentions your skills and other professional qualities.  

The steps to get a good internship are given below.

1. Make a good resume and write all the relevant keywords that an HR looks for. For example, if you are looking for an internship in marketing then, you should use keywords like “SEO”, “marketing” or “branding” in your resume/CV.
2. Once you finish making your CV, refer to different job sites to find the best internship at your preferred company and location for yourself. You can refer to LinkedIn, FoundIt, Indeed, Naukri and Internshala for various internship opportunities. Or, you can also find good internship opportunities if you have a good alumni network. You can ask them for a referral to their company.
3. Shortlist some companies according to your preferences and then send a humble request to the concerned authoritative person/HR to ask for an internship opportunity at their organisation. This is also your chance to ask for a stipend for your internship.
4. If the company’s HR gets what they’re looking for in your resume then, you will receive a call from them. Take this opportunity to get to know about the role, duration, internship certificate and stipend provided for it. 

Other Useful Reads:

• A Complete Guide on Date Format
• Academic Transcripts
• Free Online Internships with a Certificate
• Consolidated Marksheet

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