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 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 an undergraduate CV example. When writing your own, tailor the content to suit the specific role or opportunity you’re pursuing.
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.
Research CV example
If you’re applying to graduate school or for a research assistant role or position in an academic lab, then a research CV is the ideal format for showcasing your qualifications.
Include all research projects, undergraduate research, independent studies, and lab work.
You should also list any conference presentations or publications.
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. Include all relevant sections
Your undergraduate CV should highlight what type of student you are while avoiding unnecessary details. Always include the essential sections such as your:
- Contact information
- Professional summary
- Education
- Relevant experience
You can then add as many additional sections you like, as long as they’re relevant to the position or specifically requested in the job listing, such as:
- Technical and soft skills
- Academic and personal projects
- Certifications
- Languages
- Extra-curricular activities
- References
This undergraduate added references to their CV because the position application requested it. References Dr. Maria Rodriguez
Professor of Biochemistry
University of Washington
Email: m.rodriguez@washington.edu
Phone: (555) 987-6543
Dr. James Kim
Senior Investigator
National Institute of Health, Washington
Email: james.kim@nih.gov
Phone: (301) 555-0123
Dr. Emily Thompson
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
University of Washington
Email: e.thompson@washington.edu
Phone: (555) 987-6544
2. 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 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
3. Use a “relevant experience” section
Instead of a traditional work experience section, create a “relevant experience” section and include only roles or projects that directly relate to the position you’re applying for.
This approach lets you include internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, and even academic projects that are relevant to the position you’re targeting.
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 helps demonstrate your qualifications even if you lack 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
4. Focus on your transferable skills
No matter your previous experience, you’ve likely developed valuable 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
Additional resources
We’ve compiled a list of resources you may find helpful when writing your student CV:
- CV format examples and guide
- Academic CV
- How to write a CV
- CV examples
- CV templates
- CV builder
- How to list publications
- How to list references on your CV
- How long should a CV be?
- CVs vs cover letters
- What to include in a CV in 2025
Frequently asked questions about student CVs
Here are some common questions about student CVs:
What is a CV vs. a resume?
A resume is typically one page and tailored for job applications while a CV is longer, more detailed, and commonly used for academic or research positions.
How do I write a CV for a 16 year old with no experience?
Even if you lack experience, you can highlight your enthusiasm to learn.
Begin with your strengths and education — include your current school, expected graduation date, relevant coursework, and academic achievements. Add your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher.
Include volunteer work, extracurricular activities, sports teams, clubs, leadership roles, and significant school projects to demonstrate qualities like responsibility, teamwork, and commitment – qualities employers value highly.
Add skills you’ve developed through school, activities, or personal projects. These might include communication skills from presentations, organizational skills from managing schoolwork, or technical skills gained through computer classes or personal interests.
What is a simple CV format?
A simple CV format starts with your contact information at the top, followed by a brief professional summary (2-3 sentences). Then, organize the remaining sections by importance: Education, Relevant Experience, Skills, and additional relevant sections.
Use dark text on white background for a clean, professional look. Avoid graphics, bright colors, or elaborate formatting unless you’re in a creative field where design skills matter. Save your CV as a PDF to ensure the formatting stays intact.
For most student applications, keep your CV to 1–2 pages. Include only information that’s relevant to the role or highlights valuable skills.
Is a CV a cover letter?
No, a CV and cover letter are separate documents, each serving a distinct purpose in your job application.
Your CV outlines your education, experience, skills, and achievements. It offers a clear, factual overview of your background and qualifications, organized into sections with bullet points for easy reading.
A cover letter is a personalized, one-page narrative that explains why you’re interested in a specific role and how your background makes you a strong candidate.
In other words, your CV provides the “what” – what you’ve done, studied, and accomplished. Your cover letter explains the “why” and “how” – why you want the position and how your experience makes you a strong fit.
Does a CV need a photo?
No, you should not include a photo on your CV — especially for applications in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom — unless it’s specifically requested in the job posting.
How long should a CV be?
Keep your student CV to a maximum of 1–2 pages. With limited work experience, you should be able to present your qualifications effectively within this length. Focus on quality content rather than trying to fill space.
It’s better to have a strong, concise one-page CV than a weak two-page CV filled with irrelevant information. Employers often spend only 6–10 seconds on an initial CV review, every word should count.

Leora Joy Jones
Career Expert & Content Writer
Leora Joy Jones is a multidisciplinary creative who writes career content for job seekers. She is passionate about empowering people to invest in personal development. From recent graduates to career changers to DIY freelancers, she aims to cheerlead her readers to make informed choices. Born in the USA and raised in South Africa, Leora now lives and works in Taiwan. She has a BFA in Fine Arts, an MA in Art Curation, and over 10 years experience writing and editing words on many topics. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
View Leora's ProfileClick to rate this article
4.7 Average rating