Below, we’ve included several CV examples, a fill-in template, and writing tips to help you write a compelling CV – even if you have no work experience. Our free-to-use cv builder can make you a cv in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.
Student CV example
A student CV should highlight your educational background, relevant experience, and key skills that make you a strong candidate.
Below is a student CV example for a soon-to-be graduate.
Not sure when to use a CV or resume? The main difference between the two is that CVs are used to apply for academic positions while resumes are used for jobs outside of academia.
High school student CV example
As a high school student, your CV should focus on your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and any volunteer work or part-time jobs you’ve held.
Internship CV example
As a student, gaining internship experience in your chosen field can give you a huge advantage when applying for your first job after graduation.
When applying for internships, your CV should emphasize your relevant coursework, academic projects, and any skills that align with the internship requirements.
Grad school CV example
A grad school CV should emphasize your academic achievements, research experience, and scholarly activities.
Academic CV example
An academic CV is typically used for positions in academia or research and is more detailed than a standard CV.
Include information about any grants, fellowships, or funding you’ve received. List your professional memberships, academic honors, and relevant skills such as languages or specialized research techniques.
An academic CV can be longer than a standard CV, so feel free to provide more detail about your scholarly achievements and contributions to your field.
CV template for students
Here’s a student CV template you can use when applying for jobs or internships:
Email | Phone | Address | LinkedIn
Professional Summary
Soon-to-be graduate with [degree] and [# of years] experience. Strong [set of relevant skills]. Seeking to leverage my [academic background and expertise] to fill [job position] and help achieve [Company’s Name]’s goals.
Education
Degree Name / Major
University, Location | Start Date – End
- List your GPA (if 3.5 and above)
- Display any honors you have, such as Dean’s list
- Include any relevant coursework that pertains to the job you’re applying to
Relevant Experience
Most Recent Title or Position
Employer Name / Location / Start Year – End Year
- Include a bulleted list of relevant responsibilities and achievements
- Quantify your experience by adding numbers to give the hiring manager a better grasp of your experience
- Be as specific as possible. Use software, tools, or programs names
Previous Title or Position
Employer Name / Location / Start Year – End Year
- Make sure to use the past tense of verbs if you’re no longer in this position
- Make sure to include at least three bullet points when detailing experience
- Use action verbs, instead of phrases such as “responsible for” and “duties included”
Skills
- Include a bulleted list of skills you’ve gained from college, jobs, volunteer, or internship work
- Consider skills that will be important to have regarding the job you’re applying for
How to write a student CV
To help you get started writing your CV, here are 3 tips for student job seekers.
1. Expand upon your education section
As a student, your education is likely your strongest asset, so make sure you expand upon your education section. List any details that are relevant to the job, including:
- Academic honors like cum laude
- Dean’s list
- Your GPA (if it’s 3.5 or above)
- Awards or scholarships
- Relevant coursework
- Projects
Here’s a great example of an education section for an aspiring journalist:
Bachelor of Arts in English
New York University, New York, NY | 20XX
Honors: Summa cum laude (3.8/4.0)
Dean’s list for 4 consecutive semesters
Relevant Coursework: Creative Writing, Modern American Literature and Culture, News Writing, Multicultural Writing, Public Affairs Reporting
2. Use a “relevant experience” section
Instead of a work experience section, create a “relevant experience” section and only list professional experience directly relevant to the position you’re applying for.
This allows you to include internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, and even academic projects relevant to the position you’re applying for.
Quality over quantity: Early-career academics often feel the pressure to amass as many publications or teaching experiences as possible. Instead, focus on fewer but significant contributions that you can speak passionately about.
Dr. Andrew Stapleton of Academia Insider
For each experience, use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements. Focus on transferable skills and quantifiable results whenever possible.
This approach allows you to show that you’re qualified even if you don’t have extensive formal work experience.
Here’s an example of a relevant experience section:
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Marketing Intern
InnoTech, Philadelphia, PA
Summer 20XX
- Assisted in developing and implementing social media strategies, resulting in a 15% increase in engagement across platforms
- Conducted market research and competitor analysis, contributing to a successful product launch that exceeded sales targets by 10%
- Created content for email marketing campaigns, achieving an average open rate of 18%
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to organize two industry events, each attracting over 200 attendees
Market Entry Strategy for a Sustainable Fashion Brand
International Business Strategy
Spring 20XX
- Led a team of 4 to develop a comprehensive market entry strategy for a hypothetical eco-friendly fashion startup
- Conducted primary research, surveying 500 potential customers to assess market demand and preferences
- Performed SWOT and PESTEL analyses to identify key opportunities and challenges in the target market
- Presented strategy to a panel of industry professionals, receiving a grade of 95% and commendation for actionable recommendations
Consumer Behavior Analysis in E-commerce
Consumer Behavior and Analytics
Fall 20XX
- Analyzed consumer purchasing patterns on a major e-commerce platform using data from 10,000 transactions
- Used statistical analysis and data visualization tools (R and Tableau) to identify key trends and segments
- Developed customer personas and journey maps to guide marketing and UX improvement recommendations
- Findings led to a 15% increase in conversion rate in a simulated A/B test of the proposed changes
3. Focus on your transferable skills
Regardless of your previous experience, you have likely developed many transferable skills through your studies, extracurricular activities, and work or volunteer experience.
Transferable skills: Highlight any non-academic experience that has equipped you with skills relevant to research, teaching, or service.
Dr. Andrew Stapleton of Academia Insider
Identify the skills from the job description that match your skill set and list them on your CV.
While your skills section should be tailored to the position you’re applying for, here are some common transferable skills that can strengthen your CV:
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Data analysis (Excel, R, SPSS)
- Image editing software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Statistical analysis
- Negotiation
- Customer service
- Conflict resolution
- Time management
- Project management
- Research skills
- Presentation skills
- Public speaking
Lauren Mastroni
Digital Content Writer
Lauren Mastroni is a Digital Content Writer dedicated to crafting engaging content and providing actionable advice that empowers people in their job searches. An enthusiastic contributor to the Resume Genius team, Lauren has a passion for developing valuable resources for job seekers. Lauren holds an M.S. in Psychology from University of Derby and currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan. She enjoys learning all she can about the career space, and is committed to helping job seekers of all experience levels navigate the job hunt and advance their careers. You can reach Lauren at lauren@resumegenius.com.
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