resume writing tips for students

How to Write a Resume

• College students and recent grads must learn how to craft engaging resumes to land jobs.
• A strong college resume uses simple fonts, clear organization, and action verbs.
• Be sure to proofread your final resume and have somebody look it over for you.

Formatting and writing a professional resume is a challenge that even seasoned workers often struggle with. As a college student or recent graduate, you likely have limited work experience, making the resume-writing process all the more difficult.

But don’t get discouraged — there are several steps you can take when putting together a college student resume or college graduate resume to help you stand out from other applicants.

Below, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of tips and examples to teach students and recent college graduates how to write an effective resume.

Table of Contents

What sections should you include on a resume.

Your resume should include the following sections in a similar order as this:

• Name and Contact Information
• Work Experience

As a college student or recent graduate, you’ll probably want to add additional sections to showcase your relevant achievements and skills. Here are some examples of optional sections you could include:

• Extracurricular/Volunteer Activities

Honors and Awards

• Certifications, Skills, and Training

Digital Proficiency

• Foreign-Language Proficiency

Hobbies and Interests

Tips for formatting a college student resume, choose a professional font and font size.

Selecting the right font and font size ensures your resume looks presentable and professional. Stick with simple fonts, such as Calibri, Cambria, Helvetica, or Georgia. For example, you could use Georgia for your name and section headings, and Calibri for the rest of your resume.

Many contend that 12 pt is the ideal font size for the resume body, though if you’re having trouble fitting in some of the text, you may go down to 11 pt. What’s important is that you don’t make your font so small that it’s difficult to read at a glance.

For headings and subtitles, increase the font size about 4-6 pts larger than your body text. For section titles, consider using bolding, underlining, or capitalization to provide even more visual emphasis.

Use Appropriate Margins

Setting your margins correctly is crucial to presenting an organized and readable resume to potential employers.

Microsoft Word’s default page margins are 1 inch — the standard margin size for resumes. If you need a little more room, however, you can move your margins within a range of 0.5-1 inch. For instance, you could drop your top and bottom margins to 0.5 inches and your left and right margins to 0.75 inches.

Left-Align Key Content

Making your college student resume easily accessible means aligning your content in an effective manner. In most cases, you’ll left-align the bulk of your resume, including your contact information, as people’s eyes naturally move from left to right when reading in English.

That said, not everything has to be left-aligned. You might prefer to align job titles, company names, and responsibilities to the left, and align secondary information, such as dates and locations, to the right. Stay consistent throughout your resume and left-align anything you want to stand out.

Strategically Apply Bold, Italics, and Caps

Use bold, italics, and caps to draw a hiring manager’s attention to important information on your resume — but don’t go overboard. The key here is to choose what to emphasize wisely.

If you’re a recent college graduate with some internship experience , you might decide to bold the names of the companies you interned at rather than your job titles. If, however, you believe your titles better convey your qualifications for the position, you could do the opposite.

You might also bold your college degree or your school’s name depending on what you want to draw more attention to.

A good rule of thumb is to use bold to emphasize important titles and italics for secondary information relating to the bolded titles. Caps should generally only be used for your name and section headings.

How to Write a Resume Header

Create a professional email address.

If you’re still using an old email address from high school, it’s time to create a new professional account. Choose a popular email provider like Gmail or Outlook and keep your address simple by using your full name or a variation of your first and last name.

Update Your Contact Information

Your contact information must be up to date so that potential employers won’t have any issue reaching you. Make sure to include your first and last name, phone number, and email address in the header of your resume, and double-check that these are correct.

If location is important or relevant to the company, you may also include your city and state in your header. You can usually skip putting down your full home address.

Insert Relevant URL Links

If you don’t have a lot of work experience but do have a portfolio of relevant work you can show, you should insert links to your personal website and/or online portfolio in your resume header.

You might also consider including a link to your LinkedIn profile to help the hiring manager get a better sense of your professional presence. Steer clear of adding links to any other social media accounts unless the job specifically requires social media skills.

How to Write a Resume Body: 8 Essential Tips

1. tailor your resume to the job description.

Tweaking your resume so that it aligns with the position is vital. Start by carefully reading the job description to identify keywords and key phrases. Next, insert these terms throughout your resume wherever applicable. Most hiring managers will search for keywords related to critical skills , even if the resume is processed through an applicant tracking system.

If you’re having trouble finding keywords, you can run the job description through a word cloud generator, which should help you identify prominent words and phrases. Once you’ve finished crafting your resume, run it through that same generator to see whether its keywords align with those in the job description.

2. Focus On Education

For a college student or recent grad, your academic history should come first in the body of your resume, since your educational background will be one of the most important factors for employers.

In each education entry, include your major and degree, the institution’s name, your (prospective) graduation date, and any minors. You can also add relevant coursework, favorite fields of study, thesis/dissertation titles, honors and awards, or academic achievements (e.g., dean’s list).

Bachelor of Arts, Digital Technology and Culture Washington State University | Pullman, WA Minor: English Rhetoric and Professional Writing

Relevant Coursework: Writing and Rhetorical Conventions, Technical and Professional Writing, Electronic Research and the Rhetoric of Information, Advanced Multimedia Authoring, Usability and Interface Design

3. Include Work Experience

While your previous work experience might not relate exactly to the jobs you’re applying for, it’s still important to show hiring managers that you are employable, can complete tasks effectively, and can develop new skills. Ideally, you’ll discuss internships and jobs for which you can highlight transferable skills and experiences .

For each work entry, put down your job title, the company’s name and location, the dates you worked, and 2-4 bullet points summarizing your responsibilities and achievements in that role. Start each bullet point with a strong action verb (see tip 7 below) instead of the first-person “I.”

If you don’t have any work experience, you’ll need to include additional sections that illustrate your achievements and skills in a non-work-related setting.

Writing Consultant, WSU Writing Center Washington State University — Pullman, WA

• Created and maintained lists of media contacts.
• Researched opportunities across online media channels.
• Produced product pitches and press kits.
• Supported event organization.

4. Showcase Your Skills

Put down your strongest and most relevant skills that will help you perform well in the job you’re applying for. Don’t shy away from discussing soft skills — those personality traits and handy life skills , such as public speaking and time management, that many employers look for when hiring.

5. Consider Adding Additional Sections

Adding additional non-work-related sections after the skills section on your college resume can help you stand out from other applicants with similar educational backgrounds and skill sets.

Here are some examples of sections you could add to the end of your resume:

Extracurricular Activities

An activities section is ideal for students or recent grads who have limited to no prior work experience. Listing relevant activities gives you the chance to show where and how you developed certain skills outside your education. Just make sure your activities reflect the type of work you’ll be doing in the position you’re applying for.

You’ll want to list any academic-related honors and awards you’ve received in your education section. If you’ve earned any honors outside your college experience that are relevant to the job, you can create a separate section that briefly explains the significance of each award.

Certifications and Training

If you’ve received any training and/or certifications that prove you have specific skills or knowledge relevant to the position, put these in a separate section.

Those applying for a job that requires experience with specific software, digital tools, or web languages should include a digital proficiency section at the end of their resume to prove they’re technologically qualified. You could also include this section in place of a standard skills section if digital proficiencies are more relevant to the role.

If you have any space left at the end, consider throwing in some hobbies and interests. Companies are increasingly emphasizing work culture and prefer to hire candidates whose personalities fit well with their environment. Research the company and choose hobbies and interests that clearly echo the company culture and/or support the position you’re applying for.

6. Quantify Wherever Possible

Numbers included in conjunction with job responsibilities can pique hiring managers’ interest by providing a clearer idea of what it looks like when you apply your knowledge and skills. For example, you might put down that you increased sales 20% over a six-month period, or that you assisted around 50 customers each day at your retail job.

7. Stick With Action Verbs

Many resumes are littered with the same trite words, which is why you should make an effort to switch up common words and phrases with stronger action verbs. This is especially important when writing the first word for each bullet point in your work experience section, as you want to immediately catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Use verbs such as “converted,” “analyzed,” and “composed” to portray your achievements in a more engaging manner. You might even consider using a thesaurus to help you find stronger synonyms for common words, or referring to this list of action verbs created by Harvard .

8. Use Reverse Chronological Order

Always use reverse chronological order, which means listing your entries starting with the most recent (and then working your way back in time from there). This organizational trick gives hiring managers a clearer sense of what you’re currently doing, what you recently accomplished, and how these experiences might translate to the open position.

Last Steps for Finalizing Your College Resume

Take time to edit and proofread.

Carefully edit and proofread your resume before you submit it. A resume that’s grammatically correct will make you look more professional and appealing than a resume filled with typos. While both Microsoft Word and Google Docs do a decent job of detecting technical errors, other tools, such as Grammarly , are better at catching minute grammar mistakes.

After you’ve cleaned up your resume, slowly read it over to look for any awkward phrases, inconsistencies, ambiguous descriptions, or poor word choice and tweak as needed.

Get Another Set of Eyes to Look It Over

The final step is to show your resume to someone who can provide you with constructive feedback – including key do’s and don’ts . If you’re still in college, you might turn to your university’s career or writing center; otherwise, take your resume to a mentor , friend, or family member you trust.

You’ll want them to check your grammar and analyze whether the resume sells you as the best person for the role. Ask the reviewer questions like “Does this resume portray me as the best candidate for this job?” and “Is this resume engaging?” If their answer to either question is no, go back and revise your resume.

Feature Image: PeopleImages / E+ / Getty Images

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Basic Resume Writing Tips for Students with Examples + Templates

From step-by-step process to formatting and making your resume unique, here are basic resume writing tips for students based on what I learned from my career counselor at Harvard.

Resume writing can be a boring and overwhelming task that many students try to put off until as long as possible. And I was once like that too! The more experienced you become as a professional, the easier your resume writing process will become, too. However, when you’re a student, either when applying a job or for university, resume writing can seem daunting.

If you’re a college student without experience, your first resume may feel empty and unimpressive. It may make you feel like you don’t have any big achievements. But don’t let that demotivate you, since that’s the case with almost everyone!

Importance of Resume Writing for Students

Before we get on with resume writing tips for students, let’s make sure you know why you need a perfect resume. A good resume can is the first step towards starting your professional career . It can help you impress prospective employers, get a good salary and a lot of contacts that will help you throughout your career.

It may seem like an easy way out to just get the format from your classmate/internet and copy it. However, remember that the quickest way is usually the worst. Resume writing may seem like a very time-consuming task, and it definitely is. But all the time is really worth it because a well-crafted resume has the power to get you that job interview and even an offer. Or multiple!

So, from all my experience of resume writing and helping others craft an excellent resume, I’ve created the ultimate guide to resume writing for students. Based on all the tips I learned from my Harvard career counselors who helped me write the perfect resume that got me countless job interviews, here are some resume writing tips that I wish I knew as a student.

Basic Resume Writing Tips for Students

Let’s start with the simple but important tips:

1. Keep your resume short .

One page resume is more than enough for students. This is a tip my Harvard career counselor gave me, “Unless you have 5+ years of experience, your resume has no need to be longer than a page.” A short resume helps busy interviewers go through it quickly and get to the next part – which is the main interview. This is one of the top resume writing tips for students.

2. Keep your resume concise and make it to the point .

The more concise it is, the more efficient you seem to the interviewer.

3. Never repeat facts .

A repetitive resume makes it seem like you’re just in it to waste the interviewer’s time. It can be frustrating for the interviewer. It only highlights the fact that you don’t have enough experience or qualifications.

4. Keep your resume black-and-white only and avoid colors or artwork.

This is one of the top resume writing tips for students of art or design. A simple black and white resume is easy to print and pass around the office. Plus, a simple b/w resume efficiently puts the focus on your qualifications. Just use black color for all the text. Use bold, underline or italics to emphasize things, where necessary.

5. Your photo is not necessary in your resume unless your industry requires it.

6. your resume should be easily printable ..

It should fit on the paper perfectly. This will make it easier for managers to print it out for office discussions after you’ve emailed them. If you’re printing it, make sure the resume is printed well and the words are not faded, etc.

7. Also, your resume should be easy to read .

So make use of bold and underline or italics to highlight different parts of the resume.

8. Use the same format throughout the resume.

And divide your text into columns as required. Keep the titles in a bigger font-size. Stick to the same date format, for example July 2019, or 07-2019.

9. Avoid grammatical or punctuation errors at all costs.

This is one of the most important resume writing tips for students. Nothing is more off-putting than grammatical or spelling errors. They make you seem lazy and unprofessional. Check and recheck your grammar, spelling and punctuation as many times as possible. Attention to detail makes you seem intelligent, and will subconsciously make your employer offer you a higher salary.

10. Avoid mentioning unnecessary details and skills in your resume.

For example Google searching or MS Word. Such skills are really common and it’s taken for granted that everyone knows these nowadays and they’re not worth mentioning in a resume.

11. Don’t miss out on the important details .

For example experience (if any), education details, such as marks/grades, your city, your interests, contact number and email address.

12. Don’t make your resume too empty .

Even if you don’t have a job experience, try to fill it in with experiences or extra-curricular activities. Here are some other things to mention:

• Honors and awards
• Any clubs that you were a member of or in a leadership position
• Your interests or hobbies
• Your skills, software skills or technical skills

Resume Format for Students

I have created three resume templates for students that you can download and use (they are for desktop-use, and don’t open in mobile for some reason).

01 CareerNuts Resume Template

02 CareerNuts Resume Template

03 CareerNuts Resume Template

Other than these, you can find loads of resume templates (not downloadable) here .

What to Include in Your Resume

• Contact Information
• Work Experience
• Extra-Curricular Activities
• Achievements/ Awards

Step-by-Step Resume Writing for Students

Step 1. planning.

The first step of resume writing is to jot down the particulars in your notebook. The first among any resume writing tips for students is thorough planning.

Think of your achievements , interesting experiences or work that you may have done that can be added to your resume. A lot of students forget their own achievements or think of them as too small to be added. Travel, sports, art, at-home projects or helping your parents with their business – all are good ideas to consider. Everyone has some interesting qualifications or achievements to add.

Step 2. Document Format

Start with a Word Document of A4/ standard letter size. Set one-inch margins on all four sides.

You can pick a font (Calibri Regular is good) and a font-size (11 or 12pt). Use a simple font, preferably sans-serif. Choose a good font size, something that’s easily readable. Choose a line height of at least .75 and no more than 1.25.

Then, create your resume header that will contain your contact information. Start with your name, email address, phone number and address. You can center it or keep on on the left side.

Step 3. Create Resume Sections

Start with resume section titles : Resume summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills, Extra-Curricular Activities, Achievements/ Awards, Interests, Languages.

Add an extra line break after each section, and extra space after each section title.

Step 4. Add Particulars

Your summary can be something like, “A Computer Science engineer (B.Tech) with excellent coding skills looking for challenging opportunities that can utilize my technical knowledge.”

Use bullet points or paragraphs to talk about your summer internships or any other work experiences. Mention dates and duration. This is one of the resume writing tips for students that even professionals often forget. For example:

Work Experience SUMMER INTERNSHIP May 2018- Aug 2018 : Worked at Cole, Johnson & Partners as an Intern Architect. FREELANCE PROJECT Feb 2019- June 2019 : Assisted Urban Design Asst. Prof Rick Preston in independent design project.

Mention your academic experience – degrees, grades or marks.

Fill in the rest of the sections. For example: Software Skills: Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop, Flash AS3, HTML5, CSS.

Step 5. Add Details

Explain all the particulars in your resume, so that your prospective employer understands your skills and roles in better detail. For example, while listing your program of study for masters or bachelors degree, you can mention its details in one line , explain what it is and some of the courses you took.

If you’re mentioning your summer internship, explain it in a line and mention your job responsibility . Mention what projects you handled in your summer internship or group projects in school or college. If you participated in any multi-city or international projects, mention the city and country. For example:

FREELANCE PROJECT

Feb 2019- June 2019 : Assisted Urban Design Asst. Prof Rick Preston in independent project – designing a 2000 sq. ft. residence in Shoreditch, London.

• Responsible for creating presentation plans & facade details for client meetings.
• Collaborated with landscape consultant to create proposal.
• Collaborated with lighting consultant for briefing & plans.
• Created 3D renderings of final design.

If you participated in any event or won an award , list the event name and year or explain its importance.

Step 6: Tailor Your Resume

Modify your resume for the job you are applying to. This is one of the lesser-known resume writing tips for students.

For example, say you’re an engineer are applying for engineering, project manager and marketing positions. Make three separate resumes for each field. Modify your technical skills, software skills, etc. or prioritize the order in which they are presented to suit each position. Look up the job descriptions online for the positions you’re applying to, see what is required and try to include those details in your resume if possible.

Here’s one of the top secret resume writing tips for students. Try to list your most impressive qualification first in the resume.

For example, if you did a summer internship at a prestigious firm, at least that first. If you have a degree from an Ivy League institution or other prestigious college, at least that first. If your job experience includes early promotions, leadership roles, or you worked on great projects there, list that first.

Step 7: Handling the Tricky Sections

A lot of people think that you should mention both your strengths and weaknesses in your resume. However, I don’t believe that listing your weaknesses makes sense and it’s sort of becoming an outdated thing to mention, so you don’t have to include that. Here are some of the strengths you can mention: punctual, energetic, team player, leader ship qualities, proactive, creative or problem solver. These are just some of the examples of course you can think of yourself your personality and see what you should include and what best suits you.

Most students who send job applications in my company, start their resumes with a section called “Objective”. This is the trickiest section and most of the times, it makes me reject the applicant straight away. That’s because a lot of applicants’ objective doesn’t match the position they’re applying for.

So make sure you think about it carefully before sending your application. Either way, the objective section is getting outdated these days to. So in my opinion, you don’t even need to include it in your resume.

Step 8: Let Your Resume Make You Shine

Don’t be too humble, don’t hide your strengths. Don’t be too shy to list your expertise our skill sets.

Step 9: Edit, Edit, Edit

Once your resume is in place, sleep on it. Keep editing it over the next week, and take advice from professionals. Once you’re satisfied with it, print a few copies.

Step 10: Send Out Those Copies!

Don’t fold your resume. Keep it neatly in a folder if you’re going for an interview or a career fair. Also check out the ‘What Next’ section below on how to prepare for job applications.

How Long Does it Take to Make a Resume

Crafting a good resume takes more than a day. First of all, it’s a good idea to just jot down your achievements, etc. on the first day. And then patiently craft your resume over a few days. Show it to your career counselor, parents or mentor and keep improving over the next few weeks. Your resume should be well thought of. Obviously, creating a good resume takes a lot of preparation, which often starts years before even making a resume.

Resume Writing Tips for Students: Dos and Don’ts

• Never lie on a resume.
• Be prepared to answer questions about something that you’ve written in your CV.
• It’s better to not write anything as your ‘mission statement’ or ‘objective’ then write something bad or unrelated to do the job you’re applying to.
• Never be lazy with your resume. Keep improving it as much as you can before every job application or interview.
• If the interviewer asks you something about your resume and you don’t know the answer, or if you feel that a detail worked against you in an interview, change it before your next interview. Use every opportunity to improve your resume.

How to Make a Resume Stand Out

You don’t want to come across as a generic student who graduated out of a generic school. There are plenty of those in any country, and employers find no reason to offer them jobs. Your resume should make you look interesting. Also, it should be a conversation starter. If your resume looks factory made, dull or empty, you may as well not have any! Here are some resume writing tips for students on how to craft a unique CV:

1. Make Your Resume Visually Unique

Firstly, if you are appearing for campus placement or college career fair, think of how your resume will stand out among your classmates with similar experiences or details. Here are some tips:

• Choose a unique format or font.
• Add unique highlights to make you stand out. For example, clubs, extracurricular activities, internships or grades etc.

2. Keep Improving It

Resume making is an ongoing process and you should always keep working towards its improvement. So find new opportunities to fill your resume or add interesting details in it that make you stand out as an applicant.

3. Curate an Impressive Section of Extra-Curriculars

What are your interests: academic or extra/curricular? Think about those and work towards them so you have new achievements to list in the resume. Here are some examples:

• Join student clubs
• Try to get a published in a magazine or college newspaper
• Find leadership positions and clubs or student organizations.
• Try to participate in events so that you can win awards.
• Speak and debates or participate in sports.
• If you’re a designer, take up freelance projects.
• If you’re an artist, put up an exhibition, either in school or outside. Or participate in art competitions.
• If you’re academic, assist your professor on an independent project or on a book. Or become a teaching assistant or research assistant.
• Participate in a competition or do an independent freelance project outside the college.
• Teach a class or give tuition classes to younger children.
• Work at a non-profit organization.

4. Show Why You Should Be Hired Without Saying It

Resume writing tips for students are not just about listing your skills and experiences. Instead of your goals or interests, think about why you should be hired. What will you bring to the table at the workplace? What skills will you contribute to an organization? Furthermore, what unique qualifications you have that a company can benefit from? Structure your resume accordingly.

5. Don’t Think of Learning, Think of Contributing

Lastly, job is not offered to those who love to expand their horizons are those who are in it only to learn. Instead, jobs are offered to those who are in it to contribute to the organization. Learning should be left to college, jobs are for making a contribution.

Resume writing tips for students don’t end just here. Then, you need to be ready for the interview.

1. First of all, be proactive in getting help to improve your resume or applying to more and more jobs.

2. Have an email draft ready for job applications, which you can use as soon as you hear of an opening.

3. Create an email signature listing your name, academic qualifications and website or portfolio. Here’s an example: Shilpa Ahuja MDesS’11, Harvard University Graduate School of Design CareerNuts.com [email protected]

4. Make a proper email address that looks formal and use it to send your job applications, such as [email protected] . Keep it professional. Avoid inappropriate words like cool, badass, girl/boy etc. in it.

5. Also, create a cover letter, which you’ll have to send along with your resume for job applications.

6. Interview preparation is just as important as making a resume. So, practice speaking, talking about yourself, explaining your qualifications, projects, extracurricular activities, ambitions and answering technical questions or questions about your field of study. Here’s a guide on how to dress well for your interview .

Hope all these resume writing tips for students were helpful. Have any questions? Let me know below and I’ll try my best to help out!

How Should a Student Prepare for Campus Placement?

Shilpa Ahuja is the editor of Career Nuts. She has a Masters in Design Studies (MDesS) degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, class of 2011. Shilpa is an entrepreneur and founder of Shilpa Ahuja Digital Media, an online publishing company that includes HowtoGetinto-Harvard.com, a Harvard admissions guide and ShilpaAhuja.com, one of India’s most-read digital fashion magazines. She is also the creator of SlubShop, a trend-based online fashion store, and Audrey O., a comic series that represents the lifestyle of millennial women. She also has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Chandigarh College of Architecture (B.Arch), class of 2007. She has worked in interior project management for The Park hotels and in graphic design and education technologies for Harvard Law School. Originally from Chandigarh, Shilpa enjoys art, creative writing, fashion and travel. Her art has been exhibited at Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Aroma Hotel, Chandigarh. Her work has been published in University of Fashion blog, Jet Airways magazine, Chandigarh Times and Indian Design & Interiors magazine. She is also the author of the book “Designing a Chinese Cultural Center in India”.

7 thoughts on “Basic Resume Writing Tips for Students with Examples + Templates”

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Resume for College Student: A Guide

With a college student resume format, you can highlight your experience, educational background, and extracurricular achievements to stand out as a strong candidate.

Resume writing often focuses on experience, highlighting transitions, promotions, and skills learned. 

However, a resume for a college student is a little different. As most college students have yet to start their career journey, professional experience is likely limited to part-time roles rather than large career steps. With this in mind, a resume for a college student emphasizes other areas—like extracurricular activities and academics—and how these experiences will benefit future career steps. 

Discover what a college student’s resume includes, as well as valuable tips on how to write your resume efficiently for a successful job search.

How does a college student’s resume differ from a professional resume?

Since most students at college haven’t yet had a career, their resumes are a bit different compared to someone with decades of professional experience. For this reason, a student’s resume is usually contained to a single page. 

For college students, the work experience section on their resume is generally short, and more emphasis is placed on educational attainment, extracurricular activities, awards, and skills. You can also include hobbies or other interests, which are usually left off the resume of someone more experienced. 

Consider a chronological college student resume format, which is favored, with the most recent experiences listed first. However, sections hold different amounts of weight compared to someone with a long career history, so the order of sections may vary. For example, resumes for current and recent college graduates often feature the education section first and the experience section further down the page. 

7 key components of a resume for college students

It’s important to lay out your student resume clearly and concisely. Keep your resume professional by avoiding slang terms, using basic fonts like Times New Roman or Arial, and keeping the format clean and easy to follow. As you build your resume, use these seven key resume components as a guide.

1. Contact details

Organize your contact details clearly at the top of your resume. Your contact information allows an employer to call you for job interviews or an admissions counselor to discuss the university programs you’ve applied for. 

Include your full name and preferred contact information, such as your telephone number, email address, or both. Ensure your email address is professional, using your name to identify you. Adding your physical address is optional. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile or a portfolio if you have one, making sure any links you include lead to professional and relevant content.

2. Objective

After your contact details, the first section of your college resume is your objective, where you can outline who you are, your strengths, and your career aspirations. In the objective, you're telling the reader what you can do for them and how the position you're applying for will support your career goals. 

Alternatively, you can include a resume summary, which outlines your skills and experiences but not your career goals. This allows you to tailor your opening statement to the job you're applying to without overarching statements about your career trajectory. 

3. Education

The education section is ideally located below your objective statement because it is usually the strongest demonstration of your abilities as a student or recent graduate. List your educational achievements, graduation dates or expected graduation dates, and which colleges you attended.

You can also include your accomplished majors, minors, and GPA of 3.0 or above, as well as any projects and coursework you've undertaken relevant to your future career or the job you're applying for. This is also a good place to reference any academic awards or scholarships. 

Highlight both workplace and technical skills on your resume. Skills don’t have to come from professional experience; you can show how you've gained relevant skills through part-time jobs, college courses, volunteer work, sports, or anything else you worked on during your education. 

Workplace skills are of particular relevance at this stage in your career. An employer wants to know that you've honed your communication skills, leadership abilities, and problem-solving skills. These are also transferable skills, as they are valued in almost any position.

It’s also important to highlight your technical skills. These can include writing and editing, understanding Adobe Creative Cloud, or being fluent in another language, for example. List your technical skills that are relevant to the job you are applying to. 

5. Experience

As a student, you can rank your professional experience above or below your skills, depending on the strength or extent of your professional experience. 

Experience doesn’t need to be paid work. It is perfectly acceptable to include volunteer work in this section, along with experience at internships or part-time work. Showing that you have the dedication to work part-time or take an internship while studying is a great quality. Personal projects and freelance work count as experience as well, as do any leadership positions through university clubs or societies. 

6. Activities, associations, and awards

In addition to the above sections, you may want to include an optional section highlighting extracurricular activities, associations, and awards. You can include these in your education and experience section if relevant, but if you have a lot to include here, your activities can stand out in their own section. 

7. Interests

Another optional section is for your interests. This is especially useful if you don’t have much professional or volunteer experience to list. Hobbies and interests can highlight what type of person you are, and you can use them to further demonstrate your relevant skills and qualities by listing activities that promote teamwork, leadership, dedication, and commitment. 

Tips for writing your college student resume

To give maximum impact and to highlight your strengths, consider these top tips when writing the content of your college student resume.

Share achievements over duties.

The person reading your resume wants to know what you can do and what you’ve achieved. When writing your experience section, it is more effective to focus on your achievements than to list your duties. The duties of a role can be quite uniform, so listing achievements will help highlight why you stand out above your peers. 

Be clear and concise.

Keep your information clear, concise, and easy to scan. Use a 10-point font or larger and plenty of white space. Make an impact in as few words as possible because a busy recruiter won’t have the time to read multiple pages. Use consistent formatting, such as headings all the same size and font, and remember that bullet points are easier to read than paragraphs.

Provide measurable examples.

Use measurable examples when citing your accomplishments. This allows you to quantify your achievements and highlight your impact. Think about using percentages, dollar amounts, and timespans. 

Proofread. 

Once you’ve finished writing your resume, it’s important to proofread it. To give a good first impression, ensure your document is free from mistakes. Proofreading to make sure your grammar, spelling, and formatting are correct also shows that you have strong attention to detail. 

College student resume template

Use the following template example to help you write your college student resume. You can adapt it to make it your own and add, remove, and move sections to align with your experience, education, and skills. 

Address: Brooklyn, New York 

Email: [email protected]  

Telephone: 895-667-776

Objective statement:

Information technology college student with a major in cybersecurity and a 3.9 GPA average seeking a position in internet security for a government organization. 

New York University

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology: Cybersecurity

Expected graduation date: May 2025

Dean's List 2023

Achieved two merit-based scholarships

Course highlights: Information technology, coding, and Python

Excellent customer service skills

Ability to build a rapport and make people feel comfortable

Skilled in working with others and collaborating on ideas

Excellent problem solver

Proficient in Python, UI, and MS Suite

Relevant experience:

IBM internship: December 2023

Shadowed members of the Internet security team

Acted as part of the troubleshooting team, taking 40 calls and signposting to leads

Selected out of 150 students to take part in the internship

Gio’s Pizza—waiting staff: January 2021 to December 2022

Took customer orders for kitchen staff

Served food to customer tables

Interacted with staff and customers

Awarded Employee of the Month three times

Awards and accolades:

NY Junior Hackathon 2019

Won the junior hackathon with over 500 participants

Hobbies and interests:

Talented programmer—entering hackathons, building apps, and designing websites

Highly active with a love for mountain biking and hiking

When it comes to resume writing, it’s important that you choose your format, sections, and what information to include based on where you are in your career and what you’re looking to do next. As a student, you may have less work experience than a seasoned professional, so it’s important to highlight your education and skills.

If you're in college and need to compile a resume, you will find support and short courses on Coursera, such as How to Write a Resume , offered by New York State University. You can also browse Coursera to find Professional Certificates to expand your skills, so you have more to add to your resume, such as the Google IT Support Professional Certificate , which doesn't require any prior experience. 

Keep reading

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• Career switch
• Career planning

5 minute read

October 20, 2023

Resume for Students [Writing Tips, Samples & Skills]

Writing a resume can be a daunting task, especially for students who are just starting out in their career journey. however, a well-crafted resume can be the key to opening up new opportunities and landing your internship, dream job or academic programme. .

With so many different resume formats to choose from, it can be challenging to know where to begin. But fear not, because in this guide, we will walk you through the process of creating the perfect resume for students. We will provide you with valuable writing tips, samples, and skills that will help you stand out in a crowded job market.

Whether you’re a freshman trying to secure your first internship or a senior preparing to enter the workforce, this article has everything you need to know to write a winning resume. So, let’s dive in and start crafting the perfect resume for your future success!

Understand the purpose of your resume

First things first, understanding the purpose of a student’s resume is crucial. It’s not just about highlighting qualifications, skills, and achievements; it’s also about aligning them with your specific goals and aspirations. A well-crafted resume strategically showcases your potential, transferable skills, growth, and progression, opening doors to academic and professional opportunities.

To make that positive first impression, your student resume should present credentials clearly and organised, highlighting relevant information and demonstrating your potential and future capabilities. By continuously tailoring your resume to specific goals and opportunities, you can greatly increase your chances of academic and career success.

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Gather your details: What should you include in your resume?

When it comes to creating a student resume, having a well-structured and informative document that effectively showcases your qualifications and experiences is essential. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to include in your student resume.

Contact information

Start with your full name and include only the most reliable phone number and professional-sounding email address. A LinkedIn profile can bolster your resume if it’s professionally maintained.

Objective or summary statement

Although optional, a concise one to two-sentence objective or summary statement can convey your career or academic goals and what you bring to the table. Tailor this section to match the specific opportunity you’re applying for.

Highlight your current or most recent educational experience at the top of your resume. List your degree in progress, your expected graduation date, and your major or minor. You can also include your GPA if it’s strong, relevant coursework, or academic achievements.

Work experience

Include any part-time jobs, internships, or work-study positions. Detail your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role, highlighting transferable skills and achievements that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Relevant coursework or projects

This section should highlight coursework or class projects that are directly related to your job or academic program. To enhance your skills and knowledge, mention specific projects, research, or assignments.

List both hard (technical) and soft (interpersonal) skills relevant to your job or academic program. Tailor this section to match the requirements of the opportunity.

Extracurricular activities

Highlight your involvement in student organisations, clubs, volunteer work, or community service. Focus on leadership roles and any accomplishments or contributions.

Awards and honours

List any academic awards, scholarships, or other recognitions you’ve received, including the name of the award, the granting organisation, and the date received.

Although optional, you can include a line that says “References available upon request.” Prepare a separate reference sheet to provide when requested.

Remember, your student resume should be unique and tailored to your individual experiences and qualifications. It should showcase not only your achievements but also your potential for growth and development. With these tips, you can create a standout resume that sets you apart from other students. 

Looking for career guidance? If you are exploring career changes and need professional advice, register for a complimentary session with WSG’s Career Coaching today.

What resume format should you use as a student? 

When deciding on what resume format to use as a student, it’s important to consider a variety of factors. The three most common formats are chronological, functional, and combination –, and your experience, the job or opportunity, gaps in work history, skills emphasis, and industry norms all play a role in determining the best format for you.

If you have a strong and consistent work history, or relevant internships to showcase, a chronological resume may be the most effective option. This format presents your work and educational experiences in reverse chronological order, with your most recent experiences listed first. A chronological resume is particularly suited to those pursuing a job directly related to their major or previous work experiences, as it promotes their career progression and work continuity. However, it can also emphasise gaps in work history or lack of experience if you’re just starting out.

For those with limited work experience but who want to highlight their skills and abilities, a functional resume is a good option. This format focuses on your skills and qualifications rather than your work history, and is ideal for redirecting attention to your transferable skills. It is effective when your work experiences are not directly related to the job you’re applying for. One downside of a functional resume is that some employers may prefer a traditional chronological format.

A combination resume, as the name suggests, combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats. This format starts with a skills summary or qualifications section, and then includes a chronological list of work and education experiences. It offers the best of both worlds by showcasing your skills while still providing a work history. However, it requires careful organisation to ensure a cohesive narrative.

To choose the best resume format for yourself, consider your individual circumstances, the job or academic programme you’re applying for, and industry norms. It’s important to tailor your resume format to the specific requirements and preferences of the organisation or employer. Regardless of the format you choose, remember to customise your resume for each opportunity to maximise your chances of success. 

Ultimately, the goal is to create a resume format that effectively highlights your strengths, experiences, and qualifications in a way that aligns with the goals of your job or academic applications.

Tips for student resume

• Use action verbs such as “managed,” “developed,” and “improved” to highlight your accomplishments and skills.
• Include quantifiable metrics such as percentages or numbers to showcase the impact of your work.
• Incorporate keywords and phrases from the job posting throughout your resume, especially in the skills section.
• Focus on relevant achievements that directly relate to the responsibilities listed in the job posting.
• Address specific requirements mentioned in the job posting, such as software, certifications, or qualifications.

Overall, the resume can be one of the most powerful tools you have as a student. It’s your opportunity to get noticed and stand out from the pile of applicants. Take some time to go over the resume tips laid out in this article, and make sure that yours highlights your best skills and experience for the job you’re applying for. With this done, you will be ready to go out into the job market with confidence, looking forward to making your mark! 

Use these career tips to help increase your chances of landing your next job role on MyCareersFuture. Start applying now!

Chronological student resume template

[Your Full Name]

[Your Phone Number] | [Your Professional Email Address] | [LinkedIn Profile URL]

[Insert a concise objective or summary statement tailored to the specific opportunity.]

Education :

[Your Degree] in [Your Major]

[University Name]

Expected Graduation Date: [Month, Year]

Current Cumulative GPA: [Your GPA, if strong]

Relevant Coursework:

– [Course 1]: [Description of course and relevance to field]

– [Course 2]: [Description of course and relevance to field]

– [Course 3]: [Description of course and relevance to field]

Work Experience:

[Job Title]

[Company Name] – [Location]

[Start Date] – [End Date]

– [Describe your responsibilities and achievements in this role. Focus on transferable skills.

– [Describe your responsibilities and achievements in this role. Focus on transferable skills.]

Technical Skills:

– [List your technical skills, such as software proficiency, programming languages, etc.]

– [Another technical skill]

Soft Skills:

– [List your soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, etc.]

– [Another soft skill]

Extracurricular Activities:

– [Leadership position or involvement in a student organisation, club, or volunteer work]

– [Another extracurricular activity]

Awards and Honors:

– [Name of Scholarship/Award], [Granting Organisation], [Date Received]

– [Name of Honor Society], [Date Inducted]

References:

References available upon request.

Chronological student resume example

9123 4567 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/in/johnlin/

As a highly motivated and detail-oriented undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, I am seeking a challenging opportunity to apply my academic training, practical experience, and exceptional interpersonal skills to a dynamic team.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – National University of Singapore

Expected Graduation Date: May 2023                     Current Cumulative GPA: 3.85

• Marketing Management: An in-depth study of marketing strategy, consumer behaviour, advertising, and promotion. Developed skills in market research, branding, and digital marketing.
• Managerial Accounting: Focus on financial and managerial accounting concepts, costing systems, budget planning, and decision analysis. Developed skills in financial statement analysis, cost behaviour, and variance analysis.
• Business Ethics and Social Responsibility: An examination of the legal and ethical responsibilities of businesses, sustainability, corporate governance, and social impact. Developed skills in developing and evaluating business strategies relating to key ethical issues.

Sales Associate I ABC Company                                                                   June 2020 – Present

• Assisted customers with product selection, inquiries, and transactions in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Developed and maintained a broad knowledge base of products, promotions, and services to provide accurate and timely information to customers.
• Utilised strategic upselling techniques to increase revenue and enhance customer satisfaction, resulting in a 15% increase in monthly sales.
• Partnered with team members to execute store objectives, maintain a clean and organised sales floor, and complete daily tasks, contributing to seamless operations.

Marketing Intern I XYZ Pte. Ltd                                     August 2019 – December 2019

• Collaborated with a team of marketing professionals to execute various projects, including social media campaigns, market research, and content development.
• Assisted in creating and scheduling social media content, resulting in a 25% increase in engagement rates within the first month of my internship.
• Conducted market research and analysed customer feedback to inform marketing strategies and enhance customer experience.
• Designed and developed visually appealing graphics and videos to boost online engagement, contributing to a 10% increase in website traffic.

Relevant Coursework or Projects:

• Market Research Project: Conducted a market research project on the perfume industry, including a questionnaire survey of 500 respondents. Analysed data using SPSS and created a report of findings and recommendations.
• Digital Marketing Project: Developed a digital marketing plan for a new startup company. Conducted a SWOT analysis, identified target audience segments, created social media content, and developed a budget plan.
• Business Plan Competition: Participated in the prestigious Berkeley Business Plan Competition. Worked with a team to develop a business idea, conduct market research, create a financial plan, and present to a panel of judges. Placed in the top 10 teams.
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)

Social Media Management (Hootsuite, Buffer)

Data Analysis with SPSS, Excel

Strong Communication (verbal and written)

Team Collaboration (cross-functional teams, diverse workgroups)

Problem Solving (analytical and strategic thinking)

Time Management (multitasking, prioritising, meeting deadlines)

Vice President, Business Club: Collaborated with other student leaders to plan and execute events, initiatives, and programs for the benefit of the student community. Led the development of a mentorship program connecting students with alumni.

Volunteer, Food from the Heart: Organised and participated in community service projects, such as food packing and delivery, to give back and contribute to local causes.

Participant, National Advertising Competition: Engaged in a national advertising competition that involved creating a comprehensive advertising campaign for a client, including market research, creative development, and media planning.

NUS Achievement Scholarship, National University of Singapore, May 2020: Awarded to students with an exceptional academic record and demonstrated financial need.

President’s Honour Roll, April 2020: Recognizes business students in the top 10% of their class and demonstrates leadership abilities.

References are available upon request.

Take the guesswork out of your career planning with CareersFinder on MyCareersFuture. Gain personalised jobs and skills recommendations tailored to your profile. Try it now!

Functional student resume template

Current GPA: [Your GPA, if strong]

– [Course 1]

– [Course 2]

– [Course 3]

Relevant Projects:

– [Project Title]: [Brief description and relevance]

Functional student resume example

9123 4567 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/in/janeteo/

Enthusiastic and results-driven marketing professional with a strong foundation in social media and content creation. Seeking opportunities to leverage my skills, knowledge, and passion to make a meaningful impact. Committed to continuous learning and innovation.

• Data Analysis with Google Analytics and Tableau
• Experience with social media management tools such as Hootsuite
• Strong Communication: Experienced in communicating with clients, team members, and stakeholders
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrated ability to analyse data and make strategic decisions
• Problem Solving: Skilled in identifying and solving problems in a collaborative environment
• Time Management: Proficient in managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines
• Team Collaboration: Adept at working with diverse teams to achieve common goals

Bachelor of Science in Marketing – Singapore Management University

Expected Graduation Date: May 2022                                                        Current GPA: 3.9

• Consumer Behaviour
• Marketing Research
• Brand Management
• Digital Marketing
• Social Media Campaign for Local Non-Profit: Developed and executed a social media campaign, resulting in a 20% increase in donations and volunteer sign-ups.
• Marketing Research Project: Conducted market research on a local eco-friendly fashion startup, resulting in recommendations for branding and target audience.
• Brand Management Case Study: Analysed the rebranding efforts of a major clothing retailer, recommending changes to improve customer retention.

Social Media Intern I ABC Company                                         June 2021 – September 2021

• Created social media content and managed accounts for multiple clients, resulting in increased engagement and followers.
• Conducted competitor research and made recommendations for improved social media strategies.
• Collaborated with designers and copywriters to create visually engaging content.

Sales Associate I XYZ Retail                                                         October 2019 – Present

• Provided exceptional customer service, resulting in a 95% customer satisfaction rating.
• Achieved and surpassed monthly sales goals by utilising effective communication and sales techniques.
• Cross-trained in several departments, including visual merchandising and inventory management.
• Vice President, SMU Marketing Association: Organised events and connected members with industry professionals.
• Volunteer, Food from the Heart: Assisted in packaging and distributing food to those in need.
• Participant, National Student Advertising Competition: Collaborated with a team to develop a comprehensive advertising campaign for a real client.

SMU Marketing Association Scholarship, SMU, 2021

National Honors Society in Marketing, Inducted May 2021

Available upon request.

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Home > Blog > Career Tips > Getting a Job > Top Tips And Examples for a College Student Resume

Getting a Job , Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

Top Tips And Examples for a College Student Resume

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: September 8, 2019

Whether you’re applying for part-time or full-time work, having an up-to-date resume is necessary. While you’re earning a degree, your college student resume will help to showcase what you have accomplished so far and give prospective employees an indication as to when you will graduate.

There are many different ways to write a resume, so it’s useful to know these tips for college students specifically and to take a look at resume examples .

Photo by  Bram Naus  on  Unsplash

What is a resume.

A resume is a document that you provide to employers when you apply for a job. The document shares some personal information like your name and contact information, and then dives deeper into your career objectives, educational background, work experience, range of skills and accomplishments.

A resume is different from a curriculum vitae (CV) as it is more like a marketing document while a CV is highly based on credentials and academic achievement. Also, resumes tend to be shorter than CVs.

Top Tips to Write Your College Student Resume

While you’re still in college, you may not have work experience that is directly related to the degree or field in which you want to enter. But that’s okay! You can still make all previous experiences count to showcase your skills and accomplishments.

These are some useful tips and examples to help you create your college student resume:

1. Focus on education:

Once you graduate and have accrued work experience, your educational background falls to the bottom of your resume. But, while you are in college, it should be listed at the top. In this section, you should include the name of the institution at which you are studying, its location, your major field of study, extracurricular activities and any coursework that is relevant for the job position for which you are applying.

2. Focus on the right skills:

Depending on the job you’re applying for and your experience, not all skills will be relevant. Instead, focus on the skills that make sense for the position. For example, if you are applying for a business development job and have experience as a waiter, you don’t need to describe how you served customers. Instead, you can focus on the communication aspect of the job as that’s relevant to business development.

3. Include keywords:

These days, job applications and resumes often get filtered electronically. For this reason, you should optimize your resume with keywords and key phrases that directly relate to the position you want. One of the easiest ways to do this is to pull keywords from job descriptions for the position you are seeking.

4. Include extracurriculars:

Listing your extracurricular activities showcases your well-roundedness and can also provide insight into your interests and skills.

Choose Your Format

When writing your first resume, you may feel overwhelmed by where to start. But, with the help of tools and templates, this process can be made easy. There are many different ways to create your resume.

Some options include:

1. Templates:

Use a pre-made resume template that has the sections and fonts already laid out for you.

2. Free software:

You can leverage free software to write your resume, like ResumeGenius .

3. Create your own:

Another option is to get ideas for formats from friends, family or online. Then, you can create your own resume using software like Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign.

Writing Tips

The process of writing a resume can be made enjoyable if you take it step by step.

1. Start by listing everything:

Write everything you’ve done down with bullet point descriptions. Organize the information into their sectors like Education , Experience, Extracurriculars, etc.

2. Narrow down to relevant info:

Once you have everything listed, you can extract the relevant jobs and information depending on the position for which you are applying. Since you’ll want to keep your resume to just one page, this is how you can edit it down.

3. Include keywords from job requirement in your resume:

As mentioned before, take a look at job descriptions for the position. Then pull and include relevant keywords so that electronic resume filtering systems can match your resume to open positions.

4. Use action verbs:

In the description bullet points under job titles, start each sentence with strong action verbs. Instead of saying “Responsible for x,y, z” you can use verbs like “created,” “designed,” “implemented,” etc.

5. Quantify your impact:

Additionally, in your descriptions, you should try to quantify your impact as much as possible. For example, if you worked as a marketing intern and improved a process or helped to increase newsletter open rates, you should share that kind of information. This shows employers ways in which you can make their business better.

6. Edit and receive feedback first:

Before pushing send, be sure to edit your resume, and of course, use spell check. The format and overall presentation says a lot about you, as well, so you want to make sure you avoid any mistakes. Ask people you trust for feedback because they may catch a mistake that you may have missed.

Resume Submission

Once you’re done writing your resume, there are certain best practices for submission.

1. Cover letter:

Write a cover letter that is professionally formatted. In this letter, you will help to further describe why you are a good fit for the position and it will complement your resume.

2. Follow up:

Be sure to show interest in the job by following up if you haven’t heard back after about a week.

Photo by  Amy Hirschi  on  Unsplash

Wrapping up.

With a well-written resume, you open the door for many opportunities. Regardless of the amount of work experience you’ve acquired thus far in your college career, you can construct a strategic resume to land the position of your dreams.

Starting with your education and including your work experience and various extracurricular activities and skills helps to showcase more about who you are to a prospective employer. Once you’ve reviewed your resume and gotten feedback, you can submit it with a cover letter and await a response to hopefully get an interview!

Once you enter the workforce, you should continuously update your resume with new experiences so that you’re ready to submit a resume when a position of interest becomes available.

At UoPeople, our blog writers are thinkers, researchers, and experts dedicated to curating articles relevant to our mission: making higher education accessible to everyone. Read More

In this article

• May 29, 2022
• Education Advice

Resume Writing Tips for College Students

UOTP Marketing

Compiling a resume is a tricky thing to do for college students. They’ve seen people submit their resumes before, and they know that what gets listed first is the work experience. And that’s what they don’t have yet, so what else should be on the resume of a college student?

We have gathered some of the top resume tips for you to read and see how to create a top-notch content that will impress your potential employer. After all, your resume will be the first contact that your employer will have with you. So you might as well invest in it!

How to Make a Good Resume for College Students

Without further ado, let us introduce you to some great tips that will help you make a top-notch resume.

1. Highlight the indented position

Your employer must know you are aware of the position you’re applying for. Most people focus on bragging their achievements so much that they forget to mention how they would add their own values to the vacancy that is announced. So read all the details regarding the job you’re applying for, do some research on how that job is perceived in the labor market, and connect the data with what you put down in the resume.

2. Specify your Education

Whether that be a major or minor. You should highlight the education you have pursued, putting down the coursework that relates to the job you’re applying for, and other relevant educational experiences that you have. Make sure you double-check the eligibility, and to see if the job you’re applying for corresponds to your degree. Although, in some cases, there might be exceptions.

3. Elaborate on your experience

Leadership skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills do not appear all of a sudden once you start working strictly from 9-5. They emerge slowly as you experience different stages of your life that help you build up your professional strengths. And through your resume, you can choose to mention internships, community work, or volunteer work that has shaped your mindset of today.

Employers love creative people who can make the best out of every experience, so you have one shot to wow them with how you connect your life lessons with future goals. Do not be humble, and use the opportunity.

4. List your achievements

If you won a creative writing contest on your first year of college, or you lead a whole winning team through a project management task – make sure to bring that up in your resume. Your achievements will show your recruiters the areas on which you’re best at, and will make them want to get to know you personally. Surely, you will be asked to elaborate on them during the interview, so you choose wisely the recognitions you are going to list.

5. List down your special skills

Everything that makes you stand out from the masses is worth noting here. Whether you speak multiple languages, know how to use several computer programs, or have a way with words during public speaking. Let all of this information sink in your resume, as it will pay off for the next stages of your recruitment process.

6. Double-check your writing

People’s professionalism often gets judged on the way they write and present their written pieces to a specific audience. Bear in mind that your resume will be revised carefully by people whose only job is to actually go through resumes and choose a proper candidate. So make sure to spell check everything more than twice, use appropriate grammar, and especially proper capitalization.

7. Put your judgment to use

Try looking at your resume from a neutral perspective. Consider you are an HR representative in the company that you are applying to. Ask yourself questions like: Is this resume outstanding? Does it awaken my curiosity to meet this person? Would you hire you? Try updating your CV until the point where you have answered yes to all of these questions.

8. Have someone read it

Although trying to read your resume from a neutral perspective is recommended, having someone give you a third or fourth opinion is also very convenient. You should not fear criticism, specifically constructive one, as people try to let you know where you need to add up or reduce irrelevant information about yourself.

9. Transmit self-confidence

Do not underestimate people’s ability to read between the lines. Make sure to choose your articulation very carefully by letting your employer know that you’ve got the leadership skills , passion, and commitment to own the work. That is why experts in this field suggest that you use expressions such as I firmly believe, I am convinced, etc.that give away your level of self-sufficiency and confidence.

How to List Skills to Resume

Knowing what skills to add to your resume and how to list them is actually a skill itself — it can make or break your resume. The first thing you want to consider is the aesthetic part of your resume. You can either list the skills in a separate section of the paper or integrate them into your job experience section. Whichever option you decide to go by, the next step is to carefully select the skills you want to add. Do not add skills just for the sake of adding them. Moreover, avoid at all costs listing skills that are not relevant to the requirements of the job you are applying for. While you might be tempted to list every skill, focus only on the most important ones, and leave space to discuss the ones not mentioned during the job interview.  

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Highlight only the relevant hard skills that qualify you for the job. These include the educational background and experience, so do not include anything that does not fit the job description.

Soft skills, also known as transferable skills , are also essential to list on your resume. These are universal skills that can be applied to any profession and the skills that employers look for in new candidates. Transferable skills include critical thinking, multitasking, technology proficiency, teamwork, and communication skills. 

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) , the most valued skills hiring managers look for are problem-solving and effective teamwork, followed by written communication skills, leadership skills, strong work ethic, analytical skills, initiative, detail-oriented, and technical skills. 

In order to know exactly what skills to add to your resume, carefully research the company and read the job description. 

College Student Resume Template

The following is a template that includes all the essential information you should include in your resume.

These are our top 9 resume writing tips all wrapped up for your next job application.

Whereas for any relevant information that the University of the Potomac can help you with, please contact us .

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10 Resume Writing Tips for College Students

• Post author By Guest

Creating a captivating resume can be a daunting task for college students – the reason for that is obvious: at this early stage of their lives, students haven’t reached many significant achievements .

However, when you take a look at the list of skills that are valuable for employers , you will understand that there is much more you can write about than what you initially anticipated. If you know how to write a resume, you will easily convince your potential employer that you possess the exact skills they are looking for!

Here are some resume writing tips that will help you present your background in a manner employers would appreciate:

1) Before you start, make a list of your experiences:

Your resume descriptions will require precise language that should sound professional, but represent your personality at the same time. Achieving that tone is the most challenging aspect of writing resumes – anyone could take inventory of their experience, but not everyone can make them sound in a way that will make the employer think “ That’s exactly what I need! ”

The best approach is to start with small steps and make a list of the most significant experiences you have gone through up to this point. You can list any achievements from the fields of academics, internships, jobs, athletics, community service , and school activities. Distinguish the experiences of the list that helped you learn the most or motivated you the most.

2) Highlight the most relevant experiences and skills:

Take a look at that list you just brainstormed – what are the most relevant experiences and skills for the job you’re applying for? The most effective applicant resumes are those that are aimed toward the requirements for a specific job. While you’re at college, you have the ability to arrange a meeting with the staff of Career Services. This is a valuable opportunity for you to see your future in a certain career and understand what that niche requires.

Don’t worry if you can’t make a final decision just yet – you can pick a broad area or several goals for employment and make a few versions of your resume, depending on the job you are applying for.

3) Show yourself as a dynamic person:

When you describe your experiences relevant to a specific job, you should present yourself as an active persona. Add powerful impressions to your statements with action verbs that will represent your skills, such as trained, learned, organized, wrote, interviewed, oriented, researched, led, evaluated, calculated, etc.

READ MORE:   Key Action Words to Use in your Resume

4) Make your experiences sound impressive and responsible:

The mundane aspects of your individual experiences should be left out if you want your resume to present you as a responsible person who acts as a real professional.

5) Include information about the successes you achieved in a certain role:

When you write about an experience, try to portray any accomplishment or success you achieved in that role. Employers are only looking for job candidates who are able to achieve positive results for their companies, so these aspects of your resume will be greatly appreciated.

For example, when you write about being part of a certain organization, think about how you made it a little better and contributed to its success.

6) Appreciate yourself as an engaged learner:

This is your most important role as a student in college, so make sure to include the successes you have achieved while studying. If you have a high GPA, make sure to include that information in the resume. Describe the serious academic projects you took part in, such as independent studies or senior theses. This will present you as an active learner with skills in presentation, research, and writing.

7) Showcase leadership skills:

Your potential employers will value leadership skills, so make sure to include information about motivating, training, leading, recruiting, and organizing your peers while taking part in a certain co-curricular activity. Not all students can have leadership skills, so you should be proud of such accomplishments and make sure to include them in your resume.

READ MORE:  6 Things You Must Do to Be a Great Mentor and Leader

8) Give value to community service:

Your potential employers will appreciate the fact that you took part in community service. This type of activity indicates that you are a mature person who is willing to give without expecting anything in return.

9) Review and revise:

If you want your resume to end up being perfect, you will have to review it obsessively. You cannot allow any grammar or spelling mistakes to go unnoticed under your radar. Don’t be afraid to ask for constructive criticism from your friends, parents, advisors, and career services staff.

10) Share samples of your work:

Your perfect resume will be worthless if it doesn’t entice potential employers to seek more information about you and your work. Include a link to a portfolio site, LinkedIn page, or your personal webpage, where you will showcase recommendations and samples of your work.

Your resume can make a great impression on potential employers only if you work on it obsessively and perfect it to the best possible version. Take your time to complete it and make sure to follow all the above-mentioned steps.

Author: Robert Morris is freelance writer from essay writing service Ninjaessays.com. Loves writing tips and tricks for students. He is interested in improving his writing and learning through technology.

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