Student CV: 5 CV Examples for Students [2024]

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 student CV. It will help you make a good impression and get your foot in the door in the form of an invitation to a job interview.

In this guide, you'll find CV examples for students with and without work experience, a ready-made student CV template, and expert tips for enhancing your student CV. After the reading, you won't have any doubts about how to write a student CV to get your dream job.

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We created the sample on the right using our builder. See other good CV examples like this one.

Need different CV examples for students? Check out the below recommendations:

• Academic CV
• Apprenticeship CV
• Cleaner CV
• Customer Service CV
• CV for a 16-Year-Old
• CV for a Part-Time Job
• Early Years Practitioner
• First CV Guide
• Graduate CV
• Internship CV
• Law Student CV
• Nursery Assistant CV
• PhD CV
• School Leaver CV

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

CV Examples for Students: Student CV template

If you're wondering whether to write a CV or a resume, don't. A CV is the best option in the UK. First, let’s discuss what a CV should look like and how to write a student, and then you’ll look at expert CV examples for students.

1. Write a personal statement for your student CV

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 CV 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 examples for students with no experience: personal statement for the UK

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 work experience section for your student CV (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 don'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.

CV examples for students: job description

3. Showcase the perfect education section on your student CV template

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.

Besides listing your degree, to further improve the education section of your GCSE student CV, show relevant coursework, memberships, and other extracurricular activities. They serve a similar role to work achievements in your work history section.

GCSE student CV: education section 

“Interns and students should focus on highlighting any academic achievements when crafting their first professional CV. This includes involvement in student societies, extracurricular activities, workshops, student government, scholarships, and notable grades. They should also list any additional courses they've completed and detail projects undertaken both during and outside their studies. These elements demonstrate initiative, skills, and a proactive approach to learning and development”.

4. Mention transferable skills in your student CV template

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 (e.g. customer service skills, IT skills). 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:

CV examples for students: skills section

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 examples for students with no experience: extra sections

6. Keep your student CV template clean with the right formatting

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 (ideally, research free CV templates) and follow these rules:

• Stick to reverse-chronological order as recruiters are most familiar with it and that's what makes a good CV. Go for a skills-based CV only if that's what you want to highlight the most.
• 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. Including your address on a CV isn't necessary.
• 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 one of the best CV templates; ideally, a basic CV template without fancy graphics if you're applying to a traditional company. Opt for a modern CV template if you aim to work in creative industry. 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 (even though you use Word CV template). 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. Also, ensure it aligns with a student CV template for consistency.

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

CV Examples for Students in the UK

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 and CV examples for students? Do you have any questions regarding any particular student CV example? Or 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 student CV

How to write a student CV in the UK?

Before you start writing, rethink your CV outline. Break your CV into must-have sections like personal details, CV profile, work experience or volunteering, skills, education, and additional sections. List your job experiences chronologically, starting from the most recent occupation. What’s also essential, write your CV aiming for consistency in style and tone to assure clarity and readability. If applying for multiple jobs, tailor your CV to each.

Where can I find good CV examples for students?

You can check our expert CV examples tailored to 60+ jobs if you seek specific samples to help your student CV. Find dedicated CVs for professions that might interest fresh graduates; these can be a receptionist CV, a sales assistant CV, a marketing CV, and many more. We’ve also got different guides to help you write your first CV, linked at the beginning of this article.

How do I write a CV for GCSE students?

When including GCSEs on your CV, specify the total number of exams taken and briefly summarise your grades. Do not list each individual GCSE, as it can lead to unnecessary clutter and consume valuable space on your CV with redundant information. Consider prioritizing your academic profile by putting it above your work history to highlight its significance.

How to write a CV for students with no experience in the UK?

If you don’t have professional experience, focus on these CV sections:

1. Contact details.
2. Personal profile.
3. Education and coursework.
4. Work history/volunteering.
5. Relevant skills.
6. Additional sections.

Include any extracurricular achievements you have. Write about your academic awards and honours, projects you worked on, or leadership positions you held. Mention hobbies and interests if they add value to your CV.

How long should a student CV be?

In most cases, the ideal CV length is 1–2 pages of A4 paper. However, when writing a student CV, you should strive for a single-page CV. It is enough to cover all the critical information recruiters expect to find through your application.

If you happen to go over the recommended length, adjust the font size or reduce the space between sections and entries. It will help condense the text volume and make your student's CV more concise.

What to include in a student CV in the UK?

In a student CV with no experience, focus on skills and qualifications that make you the right candidate. Each section should be distinguished and present the most fundamental information first. For example, if you’re preparing your skills section, enlist your abilities, starting from those critical in your future role. You must also provide job-related keywords so your CV can be qualified by applicant tracking systems (ATS). See how to write an academic CV using dedicated templates and examples.

What are the best skills for a student CV?

The best skills for a student CV vary based on the targeted job. However, there’s a set of transferable skills that are universally relevant for most student CVs:

1. Time management
2. Good organisation
3. Communication
4. Presentation skills
5. Collaboration skills
6. Leadership qualities
7. Critical thinking
8. Self-motivation
9. Stress management
10. Adaptability

When preparing the skills section of your CV, align them with the demands of the position you’re interested in. Also, provide examples of how you have demonstrated these skills through your previous responsibilities.

How to write a student CV summary?

For a student CV summary that grabs a recruiter’s attention, include a few academic or professional achievements. If you don’t have work experience yet, recall relevant projects, part-time gigs, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities. Eventually, mention related coursework or certifications.

In your student CV profile, include 2 to 3 key skills that differentiate you from other candidates. Underline the abilities a recruiter searches for and lists in the job ad. Keep the whole short and concise, and use the third person. Read more about how to start a CV successfully.