How to Write a Student CV (Step-by-Step Guide with Examples)

Creating a good CV is an essential step to landing your job. Whether at a secondary school, college, or university, you need to know which template to choose and what to include in a CV as a student while ensuring it is applicant tracking systems (ATS) friendly. However, finding a new job can feel like a job, especially when you lack work experience.

To gain a competitive edge in the fiercely competitive market, highlight your relevant skills, qualifications, and additional experience. Doing so ensures you effectively differentiate yourself and make a lasting impression on potential employers. Our CV templates for students or fresh graduates in the UK can help you craft a modern CV with a colour of your choice. Remember, the key lies in making your CV presentable and easy to read while tailored to your desired job target.

Additionally, explore our CV example guides for retail, hospitality, or supermarket for more inspiration.

Student CV Example

Download this CV example - a university student CV.

This student CV sample features Penelope, a third-year university student looking to kickstart her career in Human Resources. She opted for a one-column format and a simple CV template. By including education at the top of the CV, she draws the recruiter's attention to key skills and qualifications. Part-time or voluntary experience has been strategically incorporated into the additional experience section with years only.

See our matching student cover letter example to accompany your new CV!

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What to include in a student CV?

There are certain must-haves and optional sections on a CV. Once you have populated your job-specific CV with relevant experience, skills, and personal details, carefully assess what optional information would still be beneficial to include. For more information, refer to the cornerstone article on how to write a good CV.

When tailoring your student CV for a specific role, research a position of interest to ensure you are using keywords and skills that are both relevant and accurate. Making a job-specific CV may seem more time-consuming, but you are guaranteed to reap the rewards with a well-written CV. The length should be at most two pages, preferably one page for students or individuals with little to no experience.

A good student CV should contain at least the following:

• Personal information

• Personal profile

• Work experience (if applicable)

• Skills

• Education.

Consider the following sections, only if applicable:

• Additional experience

• Courses and certifications

• Technical proficiencies

• Languages

• Hobbies and interests

• References

• Achievements.

Refer to our blog article outlining the CV writing process and explaining the difference between a master and job-specific CV.

How to write personal profile for a student CV

A personal statement, also known as a personal profile, is a brief professional statement at the top of your CV summarising your areas of expertise and achievements. Start by highlighting your education, previous work history, and career goals. Keep it clear, concise, and specific to the job description you’re targeting.

To learn more, read our blog article on how to write a personal profile.

For more information, check out our undergraduate CV article.

Refer to our school leaver CV guide for more tips.

See our graduate CV article for more information.

Explore our internship CV guide for more tips and examples.

What skills to put on a student CV

Skills come in many forms, some more naturally than others. When deciding what to include on a CV, don't be tempted to invent skills just because you think it would be more beneficial. Instead, carefully assess your top skills and differentiate between relevant hard and soft skills.

Refer to how to add skills on a CV for more information about polishing this section.

How to include work experience on a student CV

This section aims to include relevant jobs, explaining your day-to-day duties, applied knowledge, and key achievements or learnings. Only include experiences that are relevant to the position or where you have obtained transferable skills. That will help you land a job, ensuring you possess the core competencies for your desired job. Refer to the work experience on a CV blog for more information.

Examples of work experience on a student CV:

Digital Marketing Assistant | Atlas Copco, London, UK | 2023 - Present

Executed content marketing campaigns to enhance brand visibility and distinguish from competitors. Enhanced marketing systems for improving efficiency in CRM and automation systems. Conducted market analysis and research to maintain high client satisfaction.

• Successfully increased social media engagement by 20% by implementing a content calendar and strategic posting.

• Contributed to optimising email marketing campaigns, resulting in a 15% improvement in open and click-through rates.

• Improved marketing systems such as CRM and automation systems, including Salesforce, Eloqua and Workfront.

Refer to the marketing CV and marketing cover letter to learn more about tailoring your CV to this role.

Coctail Bartender | Cosy Club, Bristol, UK | 2022-2023

Craft and serve a diverse range of cocktails precisely, ensuring high-quality customer experiences. Maintain cleanliness and organisation of the bar area, adhering to hygiene and safety standards. Engage with customers, providing recommendations and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

• Received commendation for mixology skills, contributing to a 15% increase in positive customer feedback.

• Implemented a streamlined inventory system, reducing waste and minimising stock discrepancies by 10%.

• Led the creation of a themed cocktail menu, resulting in a 25% increase in sales for featured drinks.

Check out our bartender CV article for more details on how to craft a CV for this profession.

Part-time Social Media Intern | Cosy Club, Bristol, UK | 2022-2023

Managed social media, growing Instagram following by 5K in three months. Elected to manage all social media accounts and grew Instagram following by 5K in three months. Developed a strategic content marketing plan across different social media platforms.

• Successfully increased Instagram following by 5K, enhancing online presence.

• Implemented a content marketing plan, resulting in a 25% rise in customer engagement.

• Collaborated with influencers to create sponsored content, resulting in a 15% boost in brand credibility and trust.

Refer to our part-time CV example article for more industry-specific tips and examples.

Economics tutor | University College London, UK | 2020-2022

Provide individual and group tutoring to first-year economics students, tailoring sessions to address their learning needs.Tutored students with an emphasis on comprehension, application, and mastery of course materials. Developed and curated instructional materials tailored to specific topics and learning styles.

• Improved the academic performance of tutees by 20%, with three students achieving over 90 as a final grade.

• Initiated and produced new classroom materials and resources, enhancing the overall learning experience for students.

• Received recognition for implementing effective teaching methodologies, increasing student participation and improving learning outcomes.

See our closely related teacher CV example article for more inspiration.

Waiter | The Cottage, Manchester, UK |2018-2020

Provided exceptional customer service by taking orders, serving meals, and addressing customer inquiries with a friendly and professional attitude. Collaborated with team members to ensure smooth operation of shifts, including routine inspections, efficient service, and ongoing training processes. Maintained a clean and organized dining environment, including table setup, routine cleaning, and adherence to hygiene standards.

• Awarded "Waiter of the Month" for consistently maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction through attentive service.

• Contributed to improving shift management procedures, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced wait times.

• Received positive customer feedback for excellent verbal communication skills and ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced dining environment.

See our related waiter/waitress CV article to learn more about this role.

How to write a student CV with no experience

If you have little to no work experience, change the primary focus of your CV to education by utilising a skills-based CV format. Alternatively, consider creating an additional experience section with part-time or voluntary work experience where you can just elaborate on the role, company/organisation, and date with months excluded. A strategic CV aims to help you land more interviews where you can elaborate within the job interview itself. 

Example of no work experience for a student CV:

Sales Intern | Primark, Birmingham, UK | 2022 - Present

Support the sales team in various tasks to enhance customer engagement and contribute to achieving sales targets. Assist in maintaining customer relationships, learning about product features, and participating in sales strategies to drive business growth.

• Implemented a targeted email outreach campaign, resulting in a 15% increase in lead response rates.

• Collaborated with the sales team to develop and deliver a product demonstration, leading to a 10% improvement in conversion rates.

• Proactively researched and reached out to potential clients, contributing to a 20% expansion of the sales growth.

Explore our sales CV guide for additional tips on tailoring your CV for a job

Examples of additional experience:

• Internships or job shadowing: Consider it a substitute for work experience. You should aim to assist with as many tasks or projects as possible during an internship. Use this experience to learn as much as possible or even job shadow someone to see if this career is right for you or what skills you need to build on. Additionally, skills gained from an internship make you more valuable as an employee.

• Traineeships and apprenticeships: Just like internships, they bridge the gap between your academic, personal, and professional interests. It signals to a recruiter that you have hard skills gained during your practical experience. You can look at it as an investment in your career. Although you usually don’t get paid much for these kinds of training, the reward is much better than it seems at first glance.

• Self-employment, freelancing, or volunteering: This can be a benefit, but you should also make sure it is relevant or shows transferable skills. Include your position, company or client name(s), and dates.

Any of these would be a great example of a CV for a student in a university. Think of activities or experiences most relevant to your position and incorporate them in your career documents.

For more career advice, refer to our blog on how to write a CV with no experience.

How to list education on a student CV

CVMaker strongly advises focusing on academic accomplishments, courses, and student societies when writing a CV as a university student. As for the layout of a CV,  it is beneficial to place education above work experience. Another feature that should stand out is a brief description of your education, with which you can include relevant keywords and any projects or skills obtained during your studies.

See the CV education article for more information.

Structure:

[Degree] in [program name], [institution/school name], [Location], [date range, year of graduation, or in progress]

When structuring the education section, always include the degree/diploma type, the level, the institution/organisation, completion date/in progress, and relevant subjects. As a student looking for an internship or graduate, it is best to include only final year courses and projects that are relevant and any grades such as first-class Honours or even if you have two majors. Take a look at the following part you can incorporate:

• University degree: Include the completion date of your bachelor's, master’s, or doctoral degree. Alternatively, you can mention your expected graduation year or in progress, relevant courses, and good grades.

• Degree description or thesis topic: If you have little to no work experience, you can convert your education into a job description by incorporating the skills you learned or university projects.

• Relevant university courses: Include courses directly under your degree program where you mention them in bullet points. Focus on those courses that match the job description or company’s goals.

• Certificates, courses, and training: If you completed external courses, incorporate them into the education section. Alternatively, try to format your CV by separating these sections to fill the white space or to make it stand out even more. To improve your chances of getting a job, don’t hesitate to add professional courses and certifications if they relate to your field of study.

• A-Levels or GCSEs: Avoid listing secondary education and all your subjects. Instead, state your final grade and the number of credits or courses you have achieved. Remember that this section is not mandatory and we advise you to avoid it in the CV. If you studied in an international high school, it could be an excellent addition to highlight your open-mindedness and ability to work in a diverse and multicultural team.

For more CV tips for students, refer to our blog on how to enter the workforce after graduation.

How to mention hobbies and interests on a student CV

This optional section should usually be avoided on your CV. Think of it as a last resort when you have already filled in all the required sections. If you’re applying for a journalism job, highlighting your flair for creative writing or interest in design could be a good idea.

If relevant, incorporate hobbies and interests under the additional experience section, where you can elaborate on side jobs, volunteering, or other experiences. We suggest avoiding hobbies such as socialising with friends, playing games, or reading because they don’t add value to your CV.

Examples of hobbies and interests on a student CV:

• Drawing

• Blogging

• Photography

• Volunteering

• Cooking

• Coding

• Acting in a theatre.

For more information, see this article on how to include hobbies and interests.

Key takeaways

With the above examples and tips, you should know more about what makes a good student CV, the types of sections, and the importance of tailoring your CV to a specific job. Considering our expert advice, you are better positioned to craft an outstanding, well-structured CV.

CV tips for students:

• Always include correct and up-to-date personal information

• Exclude outdated or unprofessional email addresses

• Use simple, concise, and professional language.

• Exclude information that is false or that you are not able to back up within an interview.

• Avoid using colloquial terms or slang.

• Apply for entry-level jobs or internships as you kickstart your career.

• Proofread your CV for typos and spelling mistakes.

Next steps?

Explore our services below to help you get started, create from scratch or improve your CV within a few seconds:

• CV Builder: create a tailored and well-formatted CV using our easy-to-use builder.

• Cover Letter Builder: apply with a matching cover letter template with a clear layout so you can easily personalise and adjust to your career goals.

• CV Writing service: connect with one of our experts to receive feedback and get quick, professional advice on tailoring your CV to a specific job. 

• Blog: see our guides and brief articles to educate yourself on the best strategies to improve your job prospects. Additionally, check out our blog on how to start a cover letter to enhance your writing skills.

For additional examples of professional CVs and various formats, explore the following options:

• Chronological

• Academic

• Simple

• Skills-based.

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FAQ

What is the best CV structure for a student CV?

Begin with contact details, then progress to the core components of your CV, such as education or work experience. Remember that a personal profile is at the very top of your CV but is written last. Write in complete sentences starting with an action verb or adjective to make your writing more convincing and concise.

How is a student CV different from other CVs?

The big difference, generally speaking, is that you won't have as much experience as someone who has been in the job market for a long time. Little work experience is usually a drawback, but employers understand that students are unlikely to have all the required skills – unless you talk about mature students who have returned to education mid-career. Therefore, a student CV will need to make more of the positive attributes of the individual concerned rather than highlighting the relevant work experience. The only difference is the traditional (chronological) and skills-based (functional) CVs.

What is the best CV format for students?

If you have applied the correct layout and followed a strategic structure, then formatting is the last thing you must do when writing a CV. There is no one correct way to submit a CV, but there are a few things to consider, such as type of content, font type, font size, or spacing between sections. Ideally, a CV should not be longer than two pages, so if you can format it to fit into one page or avoid white space, that is highly recommended.

For more information, see our article on writing a chronological CV for more information

How long should my student CV be?

Aim to keep the text on your CV brief and concise. Your CV needs to involve one or a maximum of two pages. However, it does not imply your CV cannot be longer than the recommended number of pages. A longer CV is more applicable for academic positions and STEM industries.

See our article about the CV length for more information and tips.

How to write a CV while in university?

To write a student CV, follow all the steps of the writing process, including but not limited to planning, researching, creating a master CV and a job-specific CV, followed by proofreading and editing. Utilise action verbs and short paragraphs to get your message across. Look out for the keywords that show up on the company website and the job vacancy post. See our example of a CV for a student in a university above as guidance. If you are looking for a placement during your studies, follow our guide on how to write a work placement cover letter to accompany your CV.

Is there a specific writing style to use for a student CV? 

Use clear language and cohesive structure, avoid ambiguities and include strong action verbs to persuade your recruiter. Stick to the keywords on the company’s website and job position. CVs are formal documents and should be treated as such, even if the employer considers themselves different from other companies.

What layout is best for a university student CV?

A CV layout should follow an easy-to-read structure. The sections must be formatted so that your work experience or education follows your summary. Alternatively, next to each other if you opt for a two-column CV.

Refer to how to improve your CV for more details.