How I Finally Landed My First Internship Interview (And You Can Too)

Hey my love, Welcome to my gumroad blog series, I hope you're doing well — or maybe you're just as anxious as I was, scrolling endlessly through LinkedIn, scanning Canva templates, and searching for that one resume that will finally pass the ATS and get you into an interview. Let me stop you right there — especially if you're still using Canva for your resume. That was my first mistake too.

It all started when my friends and I were panicking about how we’d land our very first internship. We were checking job portals, LinkedIn, Indeed — everything. I remember nervously submitting my very first resume to a big automation and tech company. I was proud of it: it had a nice picture of me on the top, colorful emojis next to my contact details, and a blue-and-yellow theme I thought looked trendy.

The result? Crickets.
Not a single call. Not even a “we received your resume” email. I was heartbroken and confused. Where did I go wrong?

Around the same time, a friend of mine paid someone on Fiverr to design his resume. It came back polished, professional, and — let’s be honest — a little dramatic. He wore formal glasses in his picture and the design screamed “I’m expensive.” He told us, “Just pay and you’ll get the call.”

But something didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t want to get something done just for the sake of it. I wanted something better — not just something pretty.

From Fresher to Finally Figuring It Out

I’ve always been a social person. I love people, and I tried to be part of societies, events, anything that helped me engage — but at some point, I was pushed out of circles, overlooked, even questioned for no reason. I started pulling back. Eventually, I wasn’t getting involved at all.

I thought I had nothing solid to show. I wasn’t a team lead. I didn’t hold any executive titles. I was just a "team member" in a couple of events. And if you're an introvert like me — even if you love people — sometimes it feels like you just don’t get the space to step up. I had to accept that this was my reality, and that’s when I decided to shift the focus.

I picked one skill. Just one.
And I gave it everything. I took courses on Coursera, worked on myself through mini-projects, and tried to create something I could talk about — even if it wasn’t a paid job or a recognized role. I built experience in my own way.

Then came the resume writing process again, and this time, I knew better.
No Canva. No pictures. No emojis.
I didn’t want something loud — I wanted something that quietly communicated who I was.

The Day I Discovered the Resume That Actually Works

I was in my business communication class when I came across two words: functional and chronological resume.

That moment changed everything for me.

A chronological resume was meant for people with actual job experience — people who’ve already interned or worked somewhere. I didn’t fit that box.
But a functional resume? It focused on skills. It allowed me to highlight what I was good at, even if I didn’t have big roles to show for it. That’s what I needed. That’s what most freshers need.

So I created mine from scratch.

No fluff.
Just a clear objective.
Skills — with actual proof from my mini-projects and learning.
Education.
And a clean format with ATS-friendly keywords that recruiters would actually search for.

I didn’t expect much when I submitted it. But to my surprise — I got a call.

A real internship interview.
No fancy design. No overdone visuals. Just a functional resume that told my story in a way that made sense to a recruiter.

Here’s What You Need to Know

"Fancy fonts, pretty icons, two-column tables — none of it matters if your resume doesn't get seen.If you want interviews, you need a clean, ATS-friendly resume. Period."

Don’t waste months making the same mistakes I did.
You don’t need to look perfect — you need to look real.
If you’re a student, a fresh graduate, someone with no experience — don’t let that hold you back. Pick one skill. Master it. Work on real examples you can include in your resume. And then, choose a resume format that supports your journey, not someone else’s.

I’m not just sharing my story — I’m sharing what worked for me, so you don’t have to go in blind. That exact resume format is available for you.
It’s 100% free. I’m also including a Resume Checklist that will make sure you don’t miss the small things that actually matter — the little things that can make or break your first call.

👇
Get the FREE ATS-Friendly Resume Template + Checklist
Perfect for:
✨ Fresh Graduates
✨ Students with No Experience
✨ First-Time Internship Seekers
✨ Anyone Confused Between Functional vs Chronological Resume

You’ve got this.
Seriously — just start.
That one resume could be your turning point

How to Use This Free Toolkit:

1. Download the resume template and checklist
2. Customize your details, skills, and education
3. Follow the checklist to fix common ATS issues
4. Apply with confidence — and wait for that interview call 🔔

💬If Help Needed?
After customizing the template, if you’d like me to review your resume, suggest improvements, or point out hidden formatting issues, feel free to email me (check Pinterest bio). I believe in empowering you — I’ll gladly help you strengthen it.