CV Examples for Students: A Guide with Tips
When you’re a student, applying for that first job can be a daunting process. Whether you’re aiming for a part-time role or your first job as a university graduate, your CV is crucial to your chances of success. In this article, we discuss how to write a CV as a student, providing CV ideas for students that will help you make a positive impression with employers.
Key Sections to Include in CV
Whether you’re an experienced employee or a student just starting out in your career, your CV will contain the same sections. However, the order can vary. Candidates with plenty of work experience tend to choose a traditional or reverse-chronological CV, which places the main emphasis on your achievements in work. For students, on the other hand, a functional or skills-based CV can be more suitable. This references your skills and education before listing any work history.
Take a look at the sections to include in your CV below:
- CV header: this contains your name, your contact information, your location and any relevant professional information such as LinkedIn profiles, portfolios, professional titles or key foreign languages.
- Personal statement: this is your personal introduction, where you spend two-to-three sentences summarising your key skills and achievements, and outlining your career ambitions.
- Work experience: this section might be less relevant for student CVs, but it’s still best to mention anything that shows you have experience in the workforce.
- Education: list your highest or most relevant qualifications, including any you’re still studying towards (with expected grades if necessary).
- Skills: this is one of the most important sections for students, graduates and entry-level candidates. Mention any relevant technical skills, as well as useful transferable skills.
- Optional sections: add details of certifications, volunteer work, internships, work experience, hobbies and interests or foreign languages. For a student, any of these can help you stand out from the crowd.
Below you’ll find some detailed information on writing some of the key sections of your student CV.
Personal Statement for Student CV
The personal statement is your chance to introduce yourself to prospective employers. Sometimes called the CV summary or CV objective, this short paragraph provides an opportunity to draw attention to any key skills, qualities, experience and achievements that you feel particularly proud of. Consult the job description for guidance on what to focus on.
You can also use this section to explain your planned career pathway, and how this role fits in your journey. State what you bring to the role, what you hope to get out of the role, and why you want to work for the company. As a student, you might wish to reference career progression opportunities, gaining useful experience, training, the reputation of the company and your enthusiasm for taking on a new challenge.
Here’s an example personal statement for a student CV:
An enthusiastic, ambitious student seeking graduate accountancy roles with a market-leading firm. A thorough, meticulous trainee accountant with strong analytical skills, an understanding of UK financial regulations and knowledge of accounting software.
Skills for Student CV
If you’re a student or a recent graduate and you don’t have much relevant work experience, you might want to use a functional CV format. This places skills and education above your work history. Generally, employers recruiting for student or graduate jobs won’t expect candidates to have much relevant work experience. As such, they’re more likely to focus on your skills.
Review the job description to understand the skills required for the role. Mention any of your skills that match those listed. You can create a list of hard skills and soft skills, or combine them in one list. Hard skills might be technical skills that you’ve learned while studying, or that you’ve gained through work experience or other activities. Soft skills are transferable skills that reflect your personality and working style. These are essential for understanding whether you’ll be a good fit for the role, the team and the working culture of the organisation.
If you’re using a functional CV layout, emphasise each skill by including a brief explanation of how and where you’ve used that skill to make an impact. You can also add an indication of your competency level.
Listing Work Experience in a Student CV
As a student, your relevant work experience might be a bit thin on the ground. A functional CV helps to relieve any concerns about a lack of relevant work experience, by placing more emphasis on your skills and education. However, it’s still important to list any previous employment, so the hiring manager can understand your experience in the workforce.
List any previous jobs you’ve had, referencing the job title, the name of the employer, the location and the dates you worked there. Underneath each entry, add some brief bullet points outlining what you did in the job, including any achievements and any skills you learned. Even if the job seems irrelevant to the role you’re applying for, try to pick out some skills or highlights from the role that can help to make a positive impression on employers.
Writing a Student CV with No Experience
Even if you’ve got no relevant work experience, it’s still possible to write a compelling CV that shows employers you’re right for the job. Use a functional CV format, which places your skills and educational qualifications in the most prominent positions in the document. For graduate and entry-level jobs, employers are likely to look more closely at your qualifications and basic skills over your work experience, so this format suits junior-level applicants.
Another way to boost your chances of success without work experience is to utilise optional sections, such as certifications, internships, languages, hobbies and volunteer work. You can use these sections to show you’ve got the necessary skills and experience for the job, even if you haven’t got any paid work experience.
Quick Tips for a Successful Student CV
Follow these quick tips for a standout student CV:
- Don’t include personal information: avoid any personal information such as your age, gender or nationality, and don’t include a photo. The UK Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination based on several personal characteristics, so it’s best to avoid as much of this as possible in your CV.
- Tailor your CV: always review the job description and adapt your CV to make sure it reflects the requirements of the role. Use keywords from the job description to help show you have the necessary skills and experience.
- Structure your CV for ATS scanning: using clear headings and referencing keywords throughout the document will help your CV to pass through any automated scanning stage (ATS). Many recruiters and employers now use these to sort and rank CVs.
- Keep it concise: aim for a maximum of two pages and use clear, simple, professional language throughout your CV.
- Use a professional CV design: Adding subtle, stylish design elements to your CV can help it make a strong impression with employers. CVwizard’s tools and CV templates make it easy to create a beautiful CV in minutes.
Key Takeaways for Successful Student CV
Even if you lack experience, it’s possible to create a CV that showcases your qualities and leads to job interviews. Focus on your skills and educational achievements, and use optional sections such as volunteer work, certifications and training to show you’ve got what it takes to succeed in the role. Use a clean, eye-catching CV design to help your CV stand out. CVwizard can help with its range of easy-to-use CV templates and library of CV articles, containing all the tips and guides you’ll need for a winning CV. Sign up today to get started.
