In this blog, we’ll teach you how to write a student CV, giving student CV examples to help you.
How to write a student CV
Landing your dream job starts with your CV. This is your first impression to potential employers, so it’s crucial to make it count. If you’re wondering, ‘What does a good CV look like?’ Let’s break it down together and show you what to write in each section.
Before we jump in…
What should I include in a student CV?
If you’re wondering what to include in your student CV, we’ve got you covered. Find an overview of each section below, and some helpful student CV examples, too.
1. Contact details
At the very top of your CV, you’ll need to add your contact details. Keep this up to date so that employers can get in touch with you when you apply for a new job.
Example
Make sure to include your:
Full name
Address
Email address (make sure it’s one you check regularly, but also one that sounds serious!)
Phone number
CAP top tip!
You can make this section stand out by including a tagline, such as ‘Graduate graphic designer’ or ‘Graphic design student’.
CAP top tip!
Some employers have an anonymous recruitment process, meaning that they won’t look at your personal information in order to help them choose who to take forward in the process. Look out for this on job applications, as you may need to remove this section before submitting your CV.
2. Introduction
If you want to introduce yourself in more detail to an employer, you could include a small personal statement to sum yourself up in a couple of sentences. Here’s an example of what a Graphic Design student could write, looking for a part-time job.
Example
‘Creative and enthusiastic Graphic Design student seeking a part-time position to gain practical experience in a customer-facing role. I am eager to apply my design skills and learn about customer service in a dynamic environment.’
3. Relevant experience
This section is all about including your employment history, and gives you a place to list the jobs you’ve worked, starting from the most recent.
With each job role, include:
The job title
The name of the company
How long you worked there (e.g. January 2024 – January 2025)
The main job responsibilities, especially any relevant to the role you’re applying for
Any achievements, such as training you gave to others
If this is the first job you’re applying for as a student and have never had paid work before, use this space to talk about university placements, internships, work experience or any volunteer work you’ve done.
Example
Summer 2024 — Communications Intern at Christians Against Poverty
Researched and created engaging content for CAP’s website and social media channels, aligning with their brand and key messages.
Assisted with the ideation, planning and implementation of appeals and campaigns.
Provided general administrative support to the Communications team where needed.
CAP top tip!
Has this job example sparked your interest in CAP? Why not take a look to see if we have any job opportunities coming up?
4. Education
Use this section to tell your employer about your education, such as your university degree, A‑levels, college qualifications, BTECs, NVQs and GCSEs. All experience is helpful, so don’t worry if you haven’t gone to university or don’t have a degree.
If you’re in further education, put this information at the top of this section. You can also add in your predicted grade if you know this. If you’re unsure how to write your degree on your CV, here’s an example below.
Example
2021–2024 University of [insert name]. BA (Hons) Graphic Design. Predicted 2.1
CAP top tip!
All experience is helpful, so don’t worry if you haven’t gone to university or don’t have a degree. Employers are looking for relevant experience which you may be able to show in other areas.
You could add an overview of your course highlights into this section too. Here’s an example that a final year English Literature student could write:
Example
Wrote a 10,000-word dissertation on how female black writers use science fiction to talk about black history and current events in the media, in which I achieved a first. Collaborated with peers and archivists to create an exhibition on modern-day poets and their achievements.
CAP top tip!
It’s all about selling yourself as much as you can. You could even create a section on your student CV called ‘Relevant projects’ if you have a lot to share.
Example
2019–2021 [Insert name of college or sixth form]
Sociology A, English Literature B, Psychology B
2014–2019 [Insert name of high school]
9 GCSEs A‑C including English and Mathematics
CAP top tip!
You don’t have to include each GCSE grade as this’ll take up too much room. A brief overview like the one above is okay, including your English and Mathematics results.
5. Achievements and skills
An achievements and skills section on your student CV is a place to house a list of other things that don’t quite sit in your work or education history. If you’re wondering what skills to put on your CV, find some examples below.
Example
Communication
Currently volunteer in the university’s student union to help deliver key communication messaging to students via social media.
Strong listening skills and can explain information clearly. Shown evidence of this when interviewing participants for my undergraduate dissertation.
Attention to detail
Demonstrated an attention to detail when creating error free web copy and emails during my summer internship.
Connected smaller aspects of literary theory and texts to the bigger picture through discussing the overall context in my university assignments.
IT
Designed charity promotional materials in Photoshop (self-taught) for my Great North Run fundraiser.
Took a data analytics online course to find the best ways of presenting data for my dissertation.
Awards
Completed a first aid training course.
Passed level one sign language course and working towards a level two certificate.
Completed the gold Duke of Edinburgh award.
6. Hobbies
Although this section is optional, employers don’t just want to see your experience — they might want to see who you are as a person. This can give them an indication of whether you’ll be a good fit for their team.
Example
I enjoy getting involved in charity work in my spare time. In the summer, I took part in the Great North Run, raising £600 for a local children’s hospice. My goal is to race in the London Marathon for charity in the future.
My main hobbies outside my studies include reading and writing. I’ve recently attended a writing workshop, and hope to publish my own book in the future.
Answering your student CV questions
Your CV should be one or two pages long, but if you can, keep things as concise as possible and avoid repetition.
Use a font like Arial, with a standard font size for the main text (don’t make the text tiny to fit it all on one page). You can make your headings larger to help them stand out.
If you’ve had no work experience and you’re unsure what to include in your CV, think about the skills you’ve gained in your studies. Have you taken part in a group project or presentation? Have you shown that you can think critically for your assignments? Have you shown good time management skills through balancing multiple deadlines? You can also include your hobbies and interests on your CV, such as volunteering work
You don’t have to write a list of your references on your CV. Instead, write ‘References available on request’ at the end.
Student CV tips
1. Add in keywords
Many employers are now using applicant tracking systems. This is a type of software that can scan your application to see if you’re a right fit for the job. Have a look at the job profile to see if there are any keywords or phrases that stand out to you. Try to add some of the words into your CV and give evidence of how you meet those skills.
2. Personalise your student CV to each job you apply for
With applicant tracking systems in mind, it’s good to know that every employer will word the job description differently. For each role you apply for, carefully look through it and adapt your CV where needed. You can create a new version of your CV for each job you apply for.
3. Consider the layout
Make use of bold text, headings and bullet points to make it easier for an employer to read your student CV. Consider which formatting techniques you use (such as text boxes) as some employer’s CV scanners or software may not pick every element up. Combat this by using a simple layout or saving it as a PDF.
4. Change the order of your sections
The examples we’ve written above are just guidelines, and you might need to change the layout of your CV sections depending on the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a part-time role in a restaurant, your previous experience working as a barista might be more relevant than a specific project you’ve worked on during your university course. In these situations, re-order your sections in line with the specific skills the employer will be looking for.
5. Get your student CV checked
Get your CV checked by someone else to make sure it’s the best it can be. Why not chat to a careers advisor at your university or college and see if they can read it for you? They might even be able to give some personalised tips for applying for jobs or give job recommendations in your local area.
You can also join a free job club near you, where you’ll gain the skills and support you need to find a job you’ll love.
6. Attend your local careers fair
Careers fairs can connect you with different employers from industries and help you find networking opportunities. Employers could tell you about any job opportunities coming up or give you information about internships.
Find a handy list of online and in-person careers events on Youth Employment UK’s website.
Your next steps
Maybe you’ve landed your first job at university, congratulations! It’s now time for you to learn how to budget all the money landing in your bank each month. Read our two helpful blogs to get you on the right track and make your relationship with money a healthy one:
