Below, you’ll find several CV examples, a customizable template, and practical tips to help you write a standout 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.
College student CV example
This undergraduate CV example shows how to make a strong case for yourself using the experience you already have. It highlights your most relevant qualifications, presents them with confidence, and guides the reader through a clear story of your growing skills and interests.
Not sure whether to use a CV or resume? The main difference is that CVs are used to apply for academic positions, while resumes are used for jobs outside of academia.
High school student CV example
If you’re 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
When applying for internships, focus your CV on relevant coursework, academic projects, and skills that match the internship’s requirements.
Grad school CV example
A CV for a grad school application should emphasize your academic achievements and research experience.
Academic CV example
An academic CV is 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 language proficiency or specialized research techniques.
Because an academic CV can be longer than a standard CV, you should provide more detail about your scholarly achievements and contributions to your field.
Research CV example
If you’re applying for a research role, include all relevant research projects, conference presentations, publications, and lab work on your CV.
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
Here are some tips to help you start writing your CV.
1. Include the right sections
One of the key benefits of a CV is its flexibility. You can adjust the layout to highlight your strengths, whether academic, extracurricular, or project-based, even if you lack formal work experience.
Start by including the essential sections, then add optional sections to showcase your potential and create a well-rounded impression.
Necessary sections for a student CV
While you can customize your CV, you should always include these core sections:
- Contact information: Place this at the top. Include your name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile (if relevant), and city/state.
- Education: Include your degree, university name, expected graduation date, GPA (if strong), and relevant coursework or academic honors.
- Experience: Include internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or leadership roles.
Optional sections for a student CV
Depending on what you want to emphasize, adding optional sections can strengthen your CV and help it stand out:
- Personal statement: A brief 2–4 sentence introduction highlighting your academic focus, career goals, and key strengths.
- Skills: A list of relevant technical or hard skills.
- Certifications: Any licenses, short courses, or certifications that align with your target role or industry.
- Extracurricular activities: Include student government, clubs, sports, or event planning roles.
- Projects: Highlight school, personal, or freelance projects that show your skills in action.
- Awards and honors: Scholarships, academic awards, or other forms of recognition.
- Publications: Particularly useful for students in journalism, writing, or research-heavy fields.
- Languages: If you’re multilingual, include your language proficiency level.
2. Expand your education section
As a student, your education is likely your strongest asset, so make sure your education section stands out. List details relevant to the job, such as:
- Academic honors like cum laude
- Dean’s list
- GPA (if it’s 3.5 or above)
- Awards or scholarships
- Relevant coursework
- Projects
Here’s a great example of an effective education section for an aspiring journalist:
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in English
New York University | 20XX
Honors: Summa cum laude (GPA: 3.8/4.0)
Dean’s List for four consecutive semesters
Relevant Coursework: Creative Writing, Modern American Literature and Culture, News Writing, Multicultural Writing, Public Affairs Reporting
3. Detail your relevant experience
Instead of a traditional work experience section, create a “relevant experience” section. Include only roles or projects that directly relate to the position you’re applying for.
This approach lets you highlight internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, and academic projects that demonstrate your qualifications for the role.
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
Even if your previous experience is limited, you’ve likely developed valuable transferable skills through your studies, extracurricular activities, and 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 listed in the job description that match your own 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
From classroom to career
Frequently asked questions about student CVs
Here are the answers to some common questions students have about writing a CV:
What is a CV vs. a resume?
A resume is typically one page and tailored for job applications. A CV is longer, more detailed, and commonly used for academic or research positions.
How do I write a CV with no experience?
Even without formal work experience, you can still write a strong CV by highlighting your enthusiasm to learn.
Begin with your strengths and education — include your current school, expected graduation date, relevant coursework, academic achievements, and GPA (if 3.5 or higher).
Include volunteer work, extracurricular activities, sports teams, clubs, leadership roles, and significant school projects. These additions demonstrate qualities like responsibility, teamwork, and commitment — qualities employers value highly.
Add skills you’ve developed through school, activities, or personal projects. For example, communication skills from presentations, organizational skills from managing schoolwork, or technical skills from 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 2–3 sentence professional summary. After that, organize your CV sections by importance:
- Education
- Relevant Experience
- Skills
- Additional relevant sections
Use dark text on a 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. Finally, save your CV as a PDF to preserve the formatting.
Does a CV need a photo?
No. In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, you should not include a photo on your CV unless a job posting specifically requests it.
How long should a CV be?
Keep your student CV to a maximum of 1–2 pages. With limited work experience, you can showcase your qualifications effectively within this length.
Quality matters more than length: a concise, well-organized one-page CV is stronger than a weak two-page CV filled with irrelevant information. Remember, employers often spend only 6–10 seconds scanning a CV, so every word should count.
Additional resources
We’ve compiled a list of resources you may find helpful when writing your student CV:
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