Student CV Example and Writing Guide
A student CV is judged on potential rather than experience. Recruiters look for strong study habits, initiative and transferable skills from part-time work, societies, volunteering and projects. Keep it to one page and lead with education.
What employers look for in a Student
- Academic performance
- Part-time or volunteering experience
- Projects and competitions
- Communication and teamwork
- Reliability and initiative
Student CV example
Use this sample as inspiration. Replace every number and detail with your own real achievements.
Your Name
Student
City, Country · phone · email@example.com · linkedin.com/in/yourname
Professional profile
Final-year student with two internships and three years of part-time customer-facing work. Balanced full-time study with 20 hours of work per week while maintaining a 3.5 GPA. Strong communicator with practical skills in Excel, research and presentations.
Experience — key achievements
- Maintained a 3.5/4.0 GPA while working 20 hours per week in retail
- Led a 5-member team project that won first place in a university business case competition
- Organised 4 society events attended by 250+ students, managing a $2,000 budget
- Tutored 6 high-school students in mathematics, with 5 improving by at least one grade
- Completed a 3-month internship supporting a marketing team with research and content scheduling
- Volunteered 60+ hours at a local food bank coordinating weekend donation drives
Skills
Research · Microsoft Excel · Presentations · Report Writing · Customer Service · Teamwork · Time Management · Google Workspace · Problem Solving · Event Organisation · Social Media · Languages
Entry-level Student CV profile
No experience yet? Lead with education, projects and transferable skills. Here is a profile you can adapt:
Motivated undergraduate student with strong academic results, part-time work experience and leadership in university societies. Organised, quick to learn and comfortable working in teams. Seeking an internship or part-time role to build practical experience.
Career objective version: Enthusiastic student seeking an internship or part-time position to apply academic knowledge, organisational skills and a strong work ethic while gaining hands-on industry experience.
Typical Student responsibilities
Do not copy duties straight onto your CV. Instead, turn each one into an achievement with a number — for example, how many, how much, or how much faster.
- Support team members with day-to-day tasks
- Conduct research and prepare summaries
- Assist with events and communications
- Provide friendly customer service
- Learn and apply new tools quickly
Key skills for a Student CV
Read our guide to the CV skills section and how to use CV keywords.
Certifications worth listing
- Online courses (Coursera, edX, Google)
- Language certificates
- First aid
- Microsoft Office Specialist
Requirements vary by country and employer — always check the job advert and the relevant licensing body.
How to write a stronger Student CV
- 1
Put your target job title — "Student" — directly under your name so recruiters and ATS see the match immediately.
- 2
Open with a three-line profile: experience level, two or three core skills and one measurable result.
- 3
Write experience bullets as action verb + task + result. Aim for a number in at least half of your bullets.
- 4
Mirror the exact skills and tools named in the job advert, but only those you genuinely have.
- 5
Use a clean, single-column layout and save as a text-based PDF unless the employer asks for Word.
Applying abroad?
CV conventions — photo, length, personal details — change from country to country. Read the guide for your target market:
Student CV — frequently asked questions
What should I include in a Student CV?
Include a short professional profile, reverse-chronological experience with measurable achievements, a skills section and your education. Employers hiring for student roles especially look for: academic performance, part-time or volunteering experience, projects and competitions.
What are the best skills for a Student CV?
Strong student CVs usually feature skills such as Research, Microsoft Excel, Presentations, Report Writing, Customer Service, Teamwork. Match the exact wording of the job advert and prove key skills inside your experience bullets.
Which certifications help a Student CV stand out?
Depending on your country and level, useful credentials include Online courses (Coursera, edX, Google), Language certificates, First aid, Microsoft Office Specialist. List them with the year achieved or your expected completion date.
How long should a Student CV be?
One page for students and early-career candidates; two pages for most experienced professionals. Senior or highly specialised candidates may need more, but every line should be relevant to the role.
Can I create a Student CV for free?
Yes. The BuildCVFast builder is free to use. Choose "Student" as your job title to load a starting profile, skills and bullet points, then edit them with your own details and download a PDF.