Creating a strong, professional resume as a student or recent graduate can be challenging. Without hands-on work experience, it can be difficult to grab the attention of prospective employers and internships. Despite these obstacles, there are many strategies to create an impactful resume that highlights the strongest aspects of your education. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide expert tips to help market your skill set effectively as you pursue internships and entry-level jobs.
Most Popular Student Resumes
Recent Marketing Graduate Resume Example
Why this Recent Marketing Graduate resume example is strong:
This resume stands out by showcasing specific achievements, such as a 150% increase in click rates and 100% growth in LinkedIn followers. The experience listed emphasizes strong project contributions, which enhance the candidate’s expertise in social media marketing—a vital skill in the marketing field. For more tips on structuring experience like this, see how to make a resume effective.
Recent Economics Graduate Resume Example
Why this Recent Economics Graduate resume example is strong:
This resume demonstrates practical financial experience gained through an internship, coupled with a strong academic foundation in economics. The resume includes detailed academic projects and relevant skills like financial analysis and forecasting, which bolster the candidate’s industry readiness. Find out more about highlighting projects and skills effectively in resume skills for finance.
Recent Engineering Graduate Resume Example
Why this Recent Engineering Graduate resume example is strong:
This example highlights strong technical skills and hands-on experience in application development. Specific academic projects, like a fantasy football app, show the candidate’s applied knowledge and creativity in software engineering. Key skills like JavaScript and Python further strengthen the profile for technical roles. Learn more about listing technical skills here: how to emphasize technical skills.
Student Athlete Resume Example
Why this Student Athlete resume example is strong:
This resume showcases the candidate’s leadership and performance, which are evidenced by specific statistics and achievements as a team captain. The metrics, such as 800 running yards and All-American recognition, offer tangible proof of dedication and success, ideal for any future leadership roles. See more on building strong leadership sections in resume outline examples.
Computer Science Student Resume Example
Why this Computer Science Student resume example is strong:
By listing high-impact internships and projects, this resume highlights the candidate’s hands-on experience in software engineering and machine learning. Technical keywords like Python and AI ensure it’s optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS), making it well-suited for entry-level tech positions. Learn more about keywords in optimizing for ATS.
Legal Student Resume Example
Why this Legal Student resume example is strong:
This resume demonstrates the candidate’s legal research experience, solid legal writing skills, and internship experience, which aligns well with entry-level legal positions. Detailed descriptions of tasks like document review and court proceedings give hiring managers a clear view of their applied skills. Find advice on crafting strong legal resumes in resume summary examples.
Student Teaching Resume Example
Why this Student Teaching resume example is strong:
This resume showcases practical teaching skills like differentiated instruction and classroom management, along with quantifiable achievements such as a 12% GPA increase. The resume is structured to reflect the candidate’s readiness to handle classroom responsibilities, making it ideal for teaching roles. See more on structuring teaching experience here: resume skills for teachers.
Internship Resume Example
Why this Internship resume example is strong:
The resume combines recent academic achievements with relevant work experience, like managing tasks for a magazine. Listing language skills, including proficiency in Spanish, adds value, as bilingual abilities are often sought after in publishing and editorial roles. Find more tips on creating a well-rounded resume here: resume outline examples.
College Student Resume Example
Why this College Student resume example is strong:
This resume effectively highlights key technical skills in UX design, MySQL, and Java, along with practical tech support experience. The candidate demonstrates a well-rounded skill set ideal for technical support roles by showcasing troubleshooting and customer relations skills. Learn more about balancing technical and interpersonal skills here: how to make a resume stand out.
Nursing Student Resume Example
Why this Nursing Student resume example is strong:
This resume lists relevant healthcare experience, including externships and CNA experience, alongside certifications such as Basic Life Support. The inclusion of skills like patient-centered care and wound care, backed by quantifiable metrics like a 15% patient satisfaction increase, adds to its strength for entry-level nursing roles. For more on presenting healthcare skills, see resume skills for healthcare.
Student Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Student Resume
1. Create a profile by summarizing your student qualifications
As a student without years of hands-on work experience, you’ll need to create an impactful opening summary to grab the attention of prospective employers. Start by mentioning you’re a recent graduate in a specific field, and then provide three to four industry-specific skills in your opening sentence. Incorporate key terms that match the job posting, as this will show hiring managers you have their desired skill set, even if you lack industry experience.
Professional Profile - Example #1
Profile
A recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in economics, specializing in finance, financial modeling, accounting principles, and risk assessment. Adept at forecasting long-term business outlooks and identifying financial risks.
Professional Profile - Example #2
Profile
A recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, specializing in social media, communication, content writing, and brand messaging. Adept at developing and implementing engaging content to grow brand awareness and expand social media presence.
2. Outline your experience in a compelling list
If you’ve completed internships or held an entry-level position in your field, feature this information prominently in your professional experience section. Focus on your positive contributions to the organization and your cultivated industry knowledge. Suppose your work experience isn’t relevant to your field. In that case, still include it on your resume, as these jobs can still help to demonstrate your ability to interface effectively with diverse teams and customers.
Professional Experience - Example #1
Academic Projects
Financial Analyst Projects, University of Syracuse, New York, NY
September 2022 – June 2023
- Developed financial documentation for a three-month simulation of a startup e-commerce business, which included translating hypothetical business events into financial reporting
- Created 12 pages of journal entries and financial statements using MS Excel, including reconciliations and month-end close
Professional Experience - Example #2
Professional Experience
Marketing Intern, Roque & Harmen Legal Associates, Seattle, WA
February 2023 – June 2023
- Provided support to the marketing team for all digital initiatives, including copy for social media posts, blog content, and strategy development
- Contributed to a 150% increase in click rates and a 100% increase in followership on LinkedIn over a three-month period
- Attended meetings with the marketing department to discuss social media strategy
3. Make a list of your key skills and proficiencies as a student
In addition to your education, consider completing certifications to bolster your job applications. This information will also show employers that you’re furthering your knowledge of the field even without hands-on work experience. For example, if you’re a computer science student, completing a bootcamp course or obtaining a CompTIA certification will show prospective employers you have a strong understanding of the basics.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Software Engineering
- Miami Dade College, Miami, FL September 2019 – June 2023
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Social Media Marketing Certification, Hootsuite Academy, 2023
- CompTIA A+ Certification, 2023
4. Make a list of your student-related skills and proficiencies
Most organizations utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to identify qualified candidates for job openings. If your resume lacks a certain number of key skills, you may be rejected before your document reaches the hiring manager. To mitigate this risk, incorporate key terms directly from the job description into your profile, professional experience, and skills sections. Below, you’ll find a list of common keywords across a wide range of industries:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Business strategy |
| Client relations | Communication |
| Customer service | Data analysis |
| Data analytics | Digital marketing |
| Economics | Financial analysis |
| Financial reporting | Health care |
| Information technology | Operations management |
| Marketing strategy | Patient care |
| Process improvement | Project management |
| Sales | Software development |
5. Highlight volunteerism or extracurricular activities
Consider highlighting volunteer experience and extracurricular activities on your resume as a student, especially if you struggle to reach the one-page mark. Although much of this experience won’t be explicitly relevant to your target industry, it can help prospective employers better understand who you are as a candidate.
How To Pick the Best Student Resume Template
If you struggle to find the right template, you’re not alone. With such a variety of options, selecting the suitable template for your needs can be challenging. Find a well-organized template with a visual appeal that doesn’t distract the reader from your content. Ultimately, your qualifications, academic projects, and education will always determine whether the hiring manager decides to bring you in for an interview.
Frequently Asked Questions: Student Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for student resumes?-
You may run out of action verbs during the resume-building process, especially as a student. Often a limited number of verbs can describe your academic projects, internships, and work experience. Differentiating your usage of action verbs will keep your bullet points fresh and compelling. We’ve compiled a list of verbs you can use to build out your resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Analyzed |
| Collaborated | Communicated |
| Conducted | Coordinated |
| Created | Delivered |
| Designed | Developed |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Improved | Managed |
| Oversaw | Performed |
| Planned | Provided |
| Supported | Troubleshot |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
Aligning your resume with the job description is essential for generating interviews on the open market as a student or recent graduate. You’ll likely encounter strong competition, even for entry-level positions. As you craft your document, carefully analyze each job posting before submitting your application and incorporate skill sets and qualifications that match that organization’s needs.
For example, if a company is looking for a software developer with a firm grasp of application development, you’d highlight academic or independent projects demonstrating this knowledge. If you’re applying for an entry-level financial analyst role centered around business intelligence, you may want to showcase your knowledge of financial modeling. If you can’t display an internship or project, emphasize skills and coursework that match the role you’re applying for.
What is the best student resume format?-
Although a functional resume approach may seem appealing for a student with limited experience, still avoid crafting a resume that only highlights your skills. Providing details for your academic projects and even work experience outside of your target field is still important for differentiating yourself from the applicant field. Use a combination approach that features your most relevant skill sets and coursework while providing hiring managers with enough information to assess who you are as a candidate.
Including a matching cover letter can help bolster your application as a student or recent graduate. Instead of industry experience, this shows prospective employers who you are and why you’re interested in joining their team. Be sure to mention specifics about the organization’s mission statement, reputation, or culture and why this draws you to apply for the position. For more information, visit our student cover letter guide.
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