A strong CV is crucial when applying for psychology internships. Admissions committees need to see not just your academic credentials but also your readiness for work and professional development.
Essential CV Components for Psychology Students
Contact Information
- Full name
- Professional contact number
- Professional email address (use your university email when possible)
- LinkedIn profile (if maintained professionally)
Education
- Degree program with specialization
- University name and location
- Years of attendance
- CGPA/percentage (especially if above 3.5/80%)
- Relevant coursework (particularly clinical courses)
Clinical Experience
List experiences in reverse chronological order:
- Institution name and department
- Duration and dates
- Responsibilities and skills developed
- Types of assessments conducted or observed
- Therapeutic approaches you’ve been exposed to
- Patient populations you’ve worked with
Research Experience
- Project titles and brief descriptions
- Research methods employed
- Statistical or qualitative analysis performed
- Findings or publications (if applicable)
- Supervising faculty member
Workshops and Training
- Name of workshop/training program
- Organizing institution
- Date and duration
- Specific skills acquired
- Relevant certifications earned
Professional Skills
Organize by category:
- Assessment Skills: Specific tests you can administer (WAIS-IV, MMPI-2, etc.)
- Technical Skills: Statistical software, test administration software
- Therapeutic Exposure: CBT, DBT, REBT, Psychodynamic, etc.
- Professional Skills: Report writing, case conceptualization, MSE
Relevant Volunteer Experience
- Organization name
- Role and responsibilities
- Skills relevant to clinical practice
- Populations served
Languages
- List languages you speak fluently enough to conduct assessments or therapy
- Indicate proficiency level (fluent, conversational, basic)
Psychology CV Best Practices
Formatting Guidelines
- Keep your CV to 1-2 pages maximum
- Use consistent, professional formatting
- Choose readable fonts (11-12 point size)
- Use section headings for easy navigation
- Save and send as a PDF to maintain formatting
- Name your file professionally: LastName_FirstName_CV
Content Recommendations
- Emphasize clinical skills and experiences
- Quantify your experience where possible (e.g., “Conducted intake interviews with 15 adult clients”)
- Use professional terminology that demonstrates your knowledge
- Highlight experience with diverse populations
- Include specific assessment tools and therapeutic approaches you’re familiar with
Tailoring Your CV
- Research each internship site’s specialties and focus areas
- Emphasize experiences that align with the site’s clinical orientation
- Adjust your skills section to highlight relevant competencies
- Consider creating different versions for different types of internships
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing irrelevant extracurricular activities
- Including high school information (unless you have minimal experience)
- Using vague descriptions of responsibilities
- Neglecting to update contact information
- Overlooking spelling or grammatical errors
Sample CV Sections
Professional Summary Example
“Final-year MSc Clinical Psychology student with training in cognitive and personality assessment. Experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings with adults experiencing mood and anxiety disorders. Seeking an internship opportunity to develop therapeutic skills in evidence-based interventions.”
Clinical Experience Example
Psychology Intern, Department of Psychiatry, City Hospital
June 2024 – August 2024
- Administered and scored cognitive assessments under supervision (MoCA, MMSE)
- Observed diagnostic interviews for mood and anxiety disorders
- Participated in weekly multidisciplinary team meetings
- Documented session notes following institutional guidelines
- Assisted with group therapy sessions for substance use recovery
Skills Section Example
Assessment Skills:
- Cognitive assessments (WAIS-IV, MMSE)
- Personality assessments (MMPI-2, 16PF)
- Depression and anxiety scales (BDI-II, BAI, DASS-21)
Clinical Skills:
- Mental status examination
- Clinical interviewing
- Case conceptualization
- Report writing
- Treatment planning
Using AI Tools for CV Development
AI-powered tools can help streamline your CV creation process while ensuring you include essential psychology-specific elements:
Benefits of AI for Psychology CVs
- Helps structure information according to field standards
- Suggests professional phrasing for clinical experiences
- Checks for consistency in terminology
- Identifies gaps in your presentation
Effective AI Usage Strategies
- Initial Draft Assistance
- Use AI to transform rough notes into structured sections
- Generate professional descriptions of your clinical experiences
- Create consistent formatting across sections
- Refining Your Content
- Ask AI to suggest more precise psychological terminology
- Get help phrasing your experience with specific assessments or therapeutic approaches
- Request improvements for weak sections (like translating coursework into practical skills)
- Professional Check
- Have AI review your CV for psychology-specific conventions
- Check that you’ve included all relevant clinical competencies
- Analyze whether your CV aligns with your target internship’s focus
- Customization Help
- Generate tailored versions for different internship types (hospital-based, community mental health, specialized clinics)
- Adapt your skills section to emphasize relevant competencies for each site
Important Considerations
- Always verify accuracy: Double-check all technical terms and assessment names
- Maintain authenticity: Only include experiences and skills you genuinely possess
- Use as a supplement: AI should enhance, not replace, your understanding of the field
- Final human review: Always have psychology professionals review your AI-assisted CV
Example AI Prompts for Psychology CVs
For Generating Clinical Experience Descriptions:
- “Help me describe my experience administering the WAIS-IV in a professional way”
- “Convert this basic description of my hospital internship into professional psychology terminology: [your description]”
- “How should I describe my observation of CBT sessions during my internship?”
- “Create a bullet point about conducting mental status examinations that would impress a clinical supervisor”
Remember be specific, give lots of context and edit thoroughly. AI is your intern, not your editor.
For Limited Experience:
- “I’ve only had one psychology observation experience. Help me present this effectively on my CV”
- “Suggest how to highlight transferable skills from my research assistant position for a clinical internship application”
- “How can I frame my coursework experience with psychological assessment as a practical skill?”
For Skills Section Development:
- “Generate a comprehensive list of technical skills relevant to a clinical psychology intern”
- “What are the most important assessment competencies to highlight for a child psychology internship?”
- “Help me categorize these psychology skills into appropriate sections: [list your skills]”
For Professional Summary Creation:
- “Write a professional summary for a psychology student interested in neuropsychological assessment”
- “Create three different professional summary options for my CV targeting: 1) hospital setting 2) rehabilitation center 3) community mental health clinic”
- “Refine this professional summary to sound more clinically oriented: [your draft summary]”
For Customization:
- “How should I modify my psychology CV to emphasize addiction treatment experience for a rehabilitation center application?”
- “Help me adapt my CV skills section to highlight competencies relevant for a trauma-focused internship”
- “Suggest how to reorganize my CV to emphasize my research experience for an academic hospital placement”
For Formatting and Structure:
- “What’s the most professional way to list psychological assessment tools I’m familiar with?”
- “How should I format my CV to highlight both research and clinical experience equally?”
- “Create a template for presenting workshop attendance in a psychology student CV”
Remember to provide AI with specific details about your actual experience and skills to get the most accurate and personalized results.
Proofread Thoroughly
Always have your CV reviewed by:
- A faculty member in psychology
- Your university’s career services
- A fellow psychology student
This ensures your CV meets professional standards and effectively communicates your qualifications.
Remember that your CV represents your professional identity. It should demonstrate not only your academic preparation but also your understanding of clinical practice and your readiness to work with clients in a supervised setting.