Free Student Resume Templates

3 Tips for making a good student resume

Follow these steps to make a resume as a student in high school or college, or a recent grad.

1. Show off your clubs, activities, projects, and volunteer work

If you’re writing a resume with no experience, replace the work experience section of your resume with one that shows your:

• main extracurricular activities
• volunteer work experience
• contracting and freelance gigs

Here’s an example of how to include volunteer work on a high school resume:

VOLUNTEER WORK
Volunteer
Jun 20XX–Aug 20XX
La Petite Academy – Chicago, IL

• Volunteered as a reading mentor twice weekly for 15 elementary school children
• Assisted children in developing literacy skills and fostering a love of learning
• Provided encouragement and stability to children during daily activities

If you still have extra space on your resume, include your extracurricular activities, leadership roles, or major projects you organized, like this:

Sycamore Canyon High School Student Council
Secretary, 20XX – Present

• Write and distribute detailed notes from 10 student council meetings every semester
• Introduced Trello to streamline project management, shortening project timelines by an average of 3 weeks compared to previous semesters

As a student, you can also include hobbies and interests on your resume, especially if they demonstrate soft skills like teamwork or leadership skills. Your interests are even more valuable if they’re connected to the job you’re applying for.

2. Emphasize your education

Getting a degree is a full-time job. Employers understand this, but it’s up to you to explain how your education makes you qualified for the position you want.

You should include the following details in your education section:

• University name
• Major and level of degree (i.e., Bachelor’s or Master’s)
• School location (city and state)
• Anticipated graduation date (month and year)
• Your GPA (if it’s a 3.5 or above)
• Awards or honors
• Dean’s list (if received twice or more)

For example:

EDUCATION
State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Security and Intelligence Concentration)
Anticipated Graduation: May 20XX
GPA: 3.7/4.0
Dean’s List: Fall 20XX, Spring 20XX
Awards:

• Outstanding Achievement in Political Science (Awarded Spring 20XX)
• Excellence in Research Award (Awarded Fall 20XX)

Including relevant school coursework shows that you have exposure to the subject area, and are motivated to complete projects.

Here’s an example of how to include coursework on your resume:

RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Intro to Business

• Completed module covering 10 types of business models and strategies
• Delivered a 10-minute oral presentation on global business ethics
• Collaborated with 3 classmates to develop a complete business plan

3. Highlight your transferable skills

As a student, you can show employers that you’ve got the stills for the job even if you don’t have work experience. Do this by emphasizing your transferable skills from your experience as a student or volunteer.

Choose skills that match the job you’re applying for, then include examples of how you used them in your experience section, if applicable.

Here’s a list of hard skills you may already have that are worth including on your student resume:

• Foreign language
• Microsoft 365
• Google Workspace
• Google Meet
• Google Classroom
• Zoom
• Public speaking
• Presenting
• Research
• Mathematics
• Social media platforms
• Computer skills
• Proofreading

Frequently asked questions

If you still have questions about writing a student resume, check these answers to the most commonly asked questions:

1. How do you write a resume as a student?

To write a resume as a student, focus on your education, skills, and relevant activities instead of extensive work experience. Highlight academic achievements, school projects, volunteer work, and extracurricular involvement to show employers your strengths and potential.

Follow these basic steps:

1. Start with contact information (name, phone number, email, and location)
2. Write a short resume objective explaining your goals
3. List your education and expected graduation date
4. Include relevant experience like internships, volunteering, or projects
5. Highlight key skills such as teamwork, communication, or computer skills
6. Add extracurricular activities or leadership roles
7. Keep your student resume clear, concise, and ideally one page long.

2. How can a high school student write a resume with no experience?

A high school student can write a resume with no experience by highlighting school activities, volunteer work, academic projects, and transferable skills. Employers understand students may not have formal jobs yet, so they look for evidence of responsibility, teamwork, and initiative.

Sections a high school resume can include:

• Education
  • School name
  • Expected graduation date
  • GPA or honors (optional)
• Extracurricular activities
  • Clubs, sports teams, or student organizations
• Volunteer work
  • Community service or nonprofit involvement
• Projects
  • School assignments, competitions, or group projects
• Skills
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Organization
  • Time management

You can also include informal work like babysitting, tutoring, or helping with a family business.

3. How do you format a resume for a college student?

A college student resume should be clear, organized, and easy for employers to scan. Start with your contact information, followed by a brief objective or summary. List your education near the top, then include sections for experience, skills, and extracurricular activities.

A typical college resume includes:

• Contact information
• Resume objective or summary
• Education
• Experience or internships
• Skills
• Extracurricular activities or leadership

Keep the resume one page long, use bullet points, and choose a simple professional font.