5 CV Examples for Students + Template to Use

Whether you’re a student or a fresh graduate, you might not have much professional experience under your belt. But don’t get discouraged—you can still find a great job with a CV for students.

Your student CV will be how you introduce yourself to your potential new employer. It’ll help you make a good impression and get your foot in the door in the form of an invitation to a job interview. Follow along with our CV examples for students, and you’ll start working sooner than you think. 

In this guide, you'll find:

• A ready-to-use CV template for students.
• How to write a student CV to get the dream job.
• What CV format for students you need to use.
• CV examples for students with and without work experience.
• Expert tips for enhancing your student CV.

Create an effective CV in minutes. Choose a professional CV template and fill in every section of your CV in a flash using ready-made content and expert tips.

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The LiveCareer online CV maker lets you build a professional CV fast and download it as a PDF or DOC.

Need a different CV example? Check out the below recommendations:

• Academic CV
• CV for a 16-Year-Old
• CV for a Part-Time Job
• First CV Guide
• Football CV
• Graduate CV
• PhD CV
• School Leaver CV

Haven't found what you're looking for? See all our CV samples.

Student CV template

First, let’s discuss how to write the perfect student CV, and then you’ll look at some examples of professional student CVs.

1. Write a CV personal statement for students

To open the doors of the recruitment process, you need a key. And we have one that can open every lock. The perfect CV personal statement.

What is a personal statement in a student or graduate CV? It’s a short, succinct paragraph that comes right after your personal details and before anything else. It’s where you introduce yourself as a candidate and start making a case for why you’re perfect for the job.

In a personal statement for a student CV, you want to show the following:

1. Who you are
2. What you have to offer
3. What you’re aiming for

You should fit it in just a few sentences, in less than 150 words. Remember, this is a short introduction. You want to keep it sweet and straight to the point.

Now, how do you go about writing a personal statement? It depends on whether you have any relevant work experience or not. 

If you do, include a quantified work achievement to show your gained experience. But what if you have no experience? You can still find solid and compelling things to say on each of the three topics above. 

Start by brainstorming a list of the transferable skills you have and relevant experience you’ve gained (whether as a volunteer, a student or thanks to your certifications, courses or hobbies). 

Also, remember to tailor your student CV to each job you apply for. Tailoring is vital because it helps you pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) test. Simply seed keywords from the job description and add them to your personal statement. 

Whether a given company uses an ATS or not, a human recruiter will eventually skim through your CV, looking for many of the same keywords. So if the job ad asks for “teamwork skills,” use this term rather than “collaboration skills”. For more customisation, use the name of the company and the name of the position you’re applying for in your student personal statement.

This section usually starts a CV but is easier to write last, once you have the rest of your CV in front of you (and that's why it's often called a CV summary). 

CV personal statement for UK students—example

Creative and independent Digital Marketing student with a passion for developing innovative marketing strategies. Proficient in MS Excel and social media marketing, with an excellent phone manner and meticulous attention to detail when following through with procedures. Looking to join XYZ Inc. as an office assistant to develop my knowledge and gain hands-on experience while providing valuable assistance to the company.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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2. Add a student work experience CV section (if you have it)

In most CV guides, the all-important work experience section of a CV is described as the focal point of your application. But on a student CV, it’s usually not the case. As a student, school leaver or graduate, you’re not likely to have a lot of prior work experience.But that doesn’t mean you can’t have any experience.

Internships, freelancing, and work programmes do count as work experience. Some students even include volunteer work as work experience, although it should generally be listed under a separate section.

Although you may want to show yourself from the best side and list as many achievements you had in the previous workplace, you should answer this question first: Is it relevant? If not, you might want to avoid putting it on your CV. Padding your application with irrelevant details is one of the fastest ways to make the recruiters not want to read your student CV.

But it’s not just what you type in. Your information must be in presentable form. And that’s the job of your CV’s format. The best student CV format is known as the reverse-chronological format. This means putting your most recent job description first and working your way back from there.

For each job description, include your position, company name and location, and dates of when you started and finished working there (or if you’re still working there), plus no more than six bullet points describing what you did in your role. 

Start each bullet point with an action verb like “performed,” “checked,” or “managed.” Focus on quantifiable achievements instead of job duties. Avoid phrases like “responsible for,” like the plague. Use the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) formula to phrase your bullet points. And as always, keep it tailored to the job advert you’re responding to.

Student CV example—job description

3. Showcase the perfect education section on your student CV

Your work experience section has every right to be a little on the sparse side, but your education section should be right on the money for the job you’re after. If you have zero experience, or your work experience section is very much underdeveloped, move your education section directly under the personal statement.

There's usually no need to include grades or list all your GCSEs (except for Maths and English—some employers will be on the lookout for these as a minimum). If you’re a high school student, your education section still won’t be very robust, so list all your A-levels subjects.

If you’re a university student, then include your expected graduation date, the name of the degree and the name and location of the university. Of course, if you’ve already graduated, include either the starting and graduation month and the year or the graduation date.

To further improve your education section, show relevant coursework, memberships, and other extracurricular activities for a CV. They serve a similar role to work achievements in your work history section.

Student CV example—education section 

4. Mention transferable skills in your student CV

If you think that as a student with little or no professional experience you have no skills to brag about in your CV, you’re more than wrong. Remember how we mentioned keywords when writing a student CV? They will be of huge help when writing a skills section as well. Here’s how:

First, pull up a copy of the job advert and pay close attention to the skills they're looking for. Make a list of relevant skills that you can back up with evidence from your work, school and personal life. There'll be skills on your list that don't match up with the advert, but that's fine—save those for future job applications.

Choose 5-10 relevant skills (aim to have a mix of hard and soft skills) and back each one of them up with a concrete example. Think of this as a bit of show and tell. Don't just claim to have these skills. Describe situations in which you've demonstrated them. Anyone can make a list of awesome-sounding skills stand out by bringing concrete evidence to the table.

But, a word of caution—don’t go overboard with skills, as they can bloat your student CV in an instant. And a one-page CV is considered the ideal CV length. Try to aim for five well-described skills if you’re running low on space, or more, if you have a lot of blank space left on your student CV.

Other than hard skills, which are job dependent, some of the most valuable and universal skills for a student CV include:

• Verbal and written communication
• Time-management
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Organisation
• Flexibility
• Problem-solving abilities
• Motivation
• Patience
• Persuasion
• Negotiation skills
• Multitasking
• Quick learning

Now, take a look at how you should approach describing your chosen skills:

Skills in a student CV—example

5. Enhance your student CV by adding additional sections

A perfect CV is a snapshot of you as an employee, a concise record of your education, qualifications, and experience. But these sections are what everybody has in their student CVs. To stand out from other applicants, add extra sections to your CV.

So, when preparing your student CV template, always make space for 1-3 bonus sections. Use any of the following:

• Volunteer Work
• Known Languages
• Certifications
• Completed Courses & Training
• Awards and Honours
• Hobbies and Interests
• Memberships

The key here is to keep it relevant to the job you’re going after. This isn’t about putting your whole personality on display, only the parts of it that are relevant to the kind of work you want to be doing.

If you’re applying for a role in SEO, a “professional fisher certificate” won’t be a helpful addition, but a “Google Analytics certificate” will be of great benefit. The same goes for any other bonus section. Having an interest in swimming doesn’t benefit your student CV if you’re applying for an analytical office job.

Also, there is no need to add references to your CV, as recruiters know they can ask for them. But, if you have some space left and your references are of great value, you can add a references section and mention that “references are available upon request”. But only do that if you know you have someone strong to back your application up.

As for volunteer work, it can be one of the most important assets of your student CV. It serves a similar role as the “work experience section.” If you have volunteering experience, really think about what relevant experience you have gained during the practice.

CV example for students—extra sections

6. Keep your student CV format clean

As much as you want this CV to set you apart, you don’t want to depart from the standard CV format too much. Here’s why: recruiters are busy people who’ll only have as little as a few seconds to scan through your student CV the first time. So, to set the best student CV template, follow these rules:

• Stick to reverse-chronological order as recruiters are most familiar with it.
• Use standard section names and leave your contact details at the top to make it easy for whoever reads your CV to find what they're looking for.
• Use a standard, professional-looking CV font such as Calibri or Arial for a clear student CV layout.
• Use 1.15 line spacing and double space after subheadings in your CV, making it clear and pleasing to the eye.
• Use a basic CV template without fancy graphics if you're applying to a traditional company. And try not to make your CV too long.
• Student CVs, and CVs in general, should be one page long (you can eliminate unnecessary details such as your date of birth).
• Send your student CV in PDF format unless asked to do otherwise. PDFs will keep your CV structure intact.

One last piece of CV advice. If you don't hear from them for a week, write a follow-up e-mail. It’s a small gesture, but hiring managers expect it, as it shows your commitment.

7. Add a cover letter to your student CV

Writing cover letters might seem painful at first, but not including one is a fairly reliable way of having your student's CV rejected before it’s even read. Around half of employers still expect to receive a cover letter (although they might not mention it in the job ad).

When writing a cover letter, keep it positive and enthusiastic, but don’t go overboard. Start your cover letter by hooking the recruiter with previous achievements and passion for the role. Show how your skills and experience can help the company. End your cover letter with a call to action and ask for an interview. Above all, tailor your cover letter to the company in question as much as possible and format it like a standard business letter.

How long should a cover letter be? No longer than one page. For higher readability, use a simple cover letter template without fancy infographics.

Student CV templates—examples

Now that you know how to write the perfect student CV, let’s take a look at a couple of student CV examples and discuss what makes them work.

Student CV template—internship example

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This student CV example shows how to present your internships. Adding them to the work section of your student CV is the way to do it. Internships give you hands-on experience; in this example, this experience is highly relevant to the job our candidate is pursuing. Additionally, the candidate makes a note of available references if the recruiter would like to see them.

Student CV template—high school example

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If you’re looking to gain work experience early on, high school is one of the better times to get an internship or a part-time job. Remember to showcase your education on top and any potential part-time jobs right under that. When describing your education as a high schooler, you can also list your relevant A-level subjects.

Student CV template—no experience example

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Writing a CV with no experience is always difficult. For a student CV template without experience, you must remember to have your education section on top. Follow it up with well-described skills, and then use the bonus CV sections to enhance your student CV and make it more appealing than those of other applicants.

Student CV template—new grad example

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With a new graduate CV example, there is one vital thing you don’t want to forget. Your personal statement should mention that you have already finished your studies. And if you’ve only worked as an intern or had a part-time job at the time of your studies, consider showing your education section above the work experience on your student CV.

Student CV template—example with experience

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If you’ve already worked whilst studying, your student CV will be almost unrecognisable from a regular CV. Spend a bit more time developing your work experience section than you would with any of the previous student CV examples.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Has this guide taught you what you wanted to know about CV templates for students? Do you have any questions regarding any student CV examples? Maybe you’re looking for help with your own student CV? Leave a comment below. We’ll be happy to reply.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Frequently asked questions about CV examples for students 

How to write a CV as a student?

To create the perfect CV for a student, follow these steps:

1. Hook the recruiter with a captivating personal statement.
2. Write an expansive education section.
3. Show your work experience if you have any.
4. Select relevant skills for your CV, and prove them with concrete examples.
5. Add bonus CV sections to make you stand out from the crowd.
6. Use a great student CV template with proper formatting structure.
7. Proofread your student CV.
8. Save it as a PDF.

How to make a CV for students with no experience?

As a student with no work experience, you must focus and develop, parts of your student CV other than the work history section. This means you should:

1. Work on your CV education section by including additional information, such as relevant coursework and club memberships.
2. Add applicable hard skills and soft skills found in the job ad, and prove you have them with examples.
3. Showcase your expertise even without experience through bonus sections. Certifications and volunteer work on your student CV will make it soar in value.

What to include on a student CV?

When creating a CV for students, it should include the following:

1. Personal information (name, phone number, email address)
2. Personal statement (brief overview of qualifications)
3. Education section (educational background with achievements)
4. Work experience (if applicable)
5. Skills (both hard and soft)
6. Bonus sections (awards, certifications, personal projects, etc.)

How to write a good student CV using CV examples?

CV examples provide an excellent framework to make your own process of writing a student CV much faster. To make a good student CV using examples, keep these points in mind:

1. Analyze the structure and CV format and apply it to your student CV
2. Carefully read each CV section example to learn how to write it effectively.
3. Inspire yourself with pre-written educational and work achievements.
4. Learn how to utilize your skills best.
5. Make use of provided action and power words.
6. See how to quantify achievements for maximum impact.

And remember to always tailor your content to the specific job you’re applying for, as well as to proofread and edit your student CV before sending it.

How should a 16-year-old write a CV?

If you're a 16-year-old in the UK, writing a CV for the first time can seem daunting, but don't worry—it's easier than you might think. Add your skills, competencies, and past experiences (like volunteering). Put emphasis on your educational background and any extracurricular activities outside of school, such as sports or hobbies. Remember to add some bonus sections to spice up your application.

Do students need a CV?

In a vast majority of cases, you’ll need a CV when applying for a job as a student. Ultimately, it's always a good idea for a student to prepare both a CV and a matching cover letter, so you can easily apply for any job when an opportunity arrives.

Why is a CV important for students?

A CV is vital for students as it provides a comprehensive overview of their qualifications. It also demonstrates professionalism and allows students to showcase their education, skills, experiences, and achievements in a detailed and organised manner. A well-crafted CV is an important tool for students in securing internships, part-time and full-time jobs.