CV Writing Tips for Students: Complete Guide for 2025

Mark Barrow

Starting your career journey can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re competing against hundreds of other applicants. If you’re wondering what to include in a CV as a student, you’re not alone, this is one of the most common challenges facing university students and recent graduates today.

Creating a standout CV doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right approach and understanding of what employers actually want to see, you can craft a compelling CV that showcases your potential, even with limited work experience.

Why Every Student Needs a Strong CV

Whether you’re applying for internships, part-time jobs, graduate schemes, or seeking accommodation references, a well-crafted CV opens doors. It’s your personal marketing tool that demonstrates your value to potential employers, scholarship committees, or even landlords who want responsible tenants.

In today’s competitive landscape, knowing what to include in a CV as a student can make the difference between landing an interview and having your application overlooked.

Essential Components: What to Include in a CV as a Student

1. Contact Information and Professional Details

What to include:

• Full name (matching your professional social media profiles)
• Professional email address (avoid nicknames like “partygirl2003@email.com“)
• Phone number with professional voicemail
• LinkedIn profile URL, if it’s appropriate for the application!
• City and postcode (full address not necessary for security reasons)
• Portfolio website or personal domain (if relevant)

Student tip: Use your university email if it looks more professional than your personal one.

2. Personal Statement or Objective

This is where you leave a lasting first impression on the recipient.

Here, list your career goals, projects, and achievements. We recommend keeping this section: avoid listing your whole life story, as it could deter the interest of your potential employer.

If you can keep it to a few sentences describing what you’re looking for in a role and any unique abilities you bring to the table, you’re good to go!

Focus on:

• Your degree subject and year of study
• Key skills or achievements
• Career aspirations relevant to the role
• What unique value you bring

Example for a Marketing student: “Third-year Marketing student at [University] with proven leadership experience managing social media campaigns for student societies. Seeking a digital marketing internship to apply analytical skills and creative thinking while gaining hands-on industry experience.”

3. Education Section

In this section, include any A-level or university degrees you have obtained: this section is sure to impress the employer.

If you have yet to receive your degree classification, don’t fret! You can include your expected grades or previous percentages to demonstrate your potential.

If you wish to include them, a summary of the key subjects, such as Maths, English, and Science, or anything specifically related to the role will suffice.

For current students, include:

• University name, degree title, and expected graduation date
• Current grade average or classification (if strong)
• Relevant modules, dissertations, or major projects
• Academic achievements, scholarships, or honours
• A-levels with grades (if recent and relevant)
• Key GCSEs (Maths, English, Science) if space permits, these aren’t as necessary if you have higher education qualifications.

Pro tip: If you’re in your final year, you can write “Expected First Class Honours” or “Predicted 2:1” based on current performance.

4. Work Experience (Including Non-Traditional Experience)

Here, employers can evaluate whether you are an ideal candidate based on your previous experience. For students who have little to no experience, this can be daunting.

However, you don’t need to panic! Any part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work, or research projects can be included to showcase your skills and work ethic.

Traditional work experience:

• Part-time jobs (retail, hospitality, tutoring)
• Internships and work placements
• Summer jobs
• Freelance or contract work

Alternative experience to include:

• Significant volunteer roles
• Leadership positions in societies or sports teams
• Organising events or fundraising campaigns
• Running your own small business or side hustle
• Relevant university projects with real-world impact

For each role, include:

• Job title and organisation
• Dates of employment
• Location
• 2-3 bullet points highlighting achievements using action verbs
• Quantifiable results where possible

Example: Customer Service Assistant | Local Retail Store | Sept 2023 – Present

• Managed customer inquiries and complaints, maintaining 95% customer satisfaction rating
• Trained 3 new team members on point-of-sale systems and store procedures
• Handled cash transactions exceeding £2,000 daily with 100% accuracy

5. Skills Section

In this section, you should include a mixture of hard and soft skills for the perfect CV. Hard skills include areas such as technical skills and data analysis, and soft skills refer to communication skills and problem-solving, which can be applied to any job.

Divide your skills into categories that matter to employers:

Technical/Hard Skills:

• Software proficiency (Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, programming languages)
• Digital marketing tools (Google Analytics, social media platforms)
• Data analysis tools (Excel, SPSS, R)
• Industry-specific software
• Languages (include proficiency level)

Transferable/Soft Skills:

• Communication and presentation abilities
• Leadership and teamwork
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Time management and organisation
• Adaptability and learning agility

Student-specific skills to highlight:

• Research and analytical abilities
• Independent living and self-management
• Multicultural awareness (especially relevant for international students)
• Digital literacy and tech adaptability

6. Projects and Achievements

This section is particularly valuable for students with limited work experience:

• University projects with real-world applications
• Dissertations or research projects
• Group projects demonstrating teamwork
• Personal projects or entrepreneurial ventures
• Competitions, awards, or recognitions
• Publications or presentations

7. Extracurricular Activities

Listing your hobbies and interests gives you a chance to show the employer the type of person you are. Include interests in sports, societies, volunteer work, and anything that demonstrates skills highly transferable to the workplace. These can include:

• Student society memberships and leadership roles
• Sports teams and athletic achievements
• Volunteer work and community involvement
• Cultural activities and creative pursuits
• Relevant hobbies that demonstrate transferable skills

Focus on activities that demonstrate:

• Leadership and initiative
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Commitment and reliability
• Skills relevant to your target industry

8. Additional Sections (When Relevant)

Certifications and Training:

• Professional certifications
• Online course completions (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning)
• First aid or safety training
• Industry-specific qualifications

Publications and Research:

• Academic papers or articles
• Blog posts or online content
• Conference presentations
• Research assistance roles

9. References

The reference section is used to prove to the employer that you have people who can vouch for your abilities. Here, you can include previous employers, teachers, or tutors. Ensure you include their full name, contact details, and job description.

Always ask for a person’s permission to be contacted! Doing so will make you seem polite and professional.

Include 2-3 references such as:

• Academic tutors or professors
• Previous employers or managers
• Volunteer coordinators
• Professional mentors

For each reference, provide:

• Full name and job title
• Organisation and contact information
• Relationship to you
• How long they’ve known you

Alternative: You can write “References available upon request” to save space.

Advanced Tips for Student CVs

Tailoring Your CV for Each Application

Understanding what to include in a CV as a student means recognising that one size doesn’t fit all:

• Read job descriptions carefully and mirror relevant keywords
• Prioritise relevant experience – put your strongest, most relevant sections first
• Customise your personal statement for each application
• Highlight transferable skills that match the role requirements

ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Optimisation

Many employers use ATS software to screen CVs:

• Use standard section headings
• Include keywords from the job description
• Avoid complex formatting, graphics, or unusual fonts
• Save as both PDF and Word document formats
• Use a clean, simple layout

Digital Presence Integration

Modern students should consider:

• LinkedIn profile that matches your CV
• Personal website or portfolio for creative fields
• GitHub profile for technical roles
• Clean social media presence (employers do check)

Your LinkedIn profile is particularly important as it acts as your online CV and networking hub. Since many employers now check LinkedIn profiles alongside traditional CVs, it’s essential to optimise this platform effectively. Learn the specific strategies and techniques that will make your profile stand out in our comprehensive guide: How to Build an Impressive LinkedIn Profile as a Student.

Common Student CV Mistakes to Avoid

1. Focusing on responsibilities instead of achievements – Show impact, not just duties
2. Including irrelevant information – Every line should add value
3. Poor formatting and typos – These suggest lack of attention to detail
4. Underselling transferable skills – Part-time jobs teach valuable skills
5. Making it too long – Keep it to 1-2 pages maximum
6. Using generic personal statements – Tailor for each application
7. Forgetting to quantify achievements – Numbers make impact clearer

Formatting and Presentation Best Practices

Layout and Design

• Use a clean, professional font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman)
• Maintain consistent formatting throughout
• Use bullet points for easy scanning
• Include plenty of white space
• Keep margins between 0.5-1 inch
• Use a simple colour scheme (maximum 2 colours)

Content Organisation

• Start with your strongest section (usually Education for students)
• Use reverse chronological order for experience and education
• Keep descriptions concise but impactful
• Ensure all dates and details are accurate
• Proofread multiple times and ask others to review

Leveraging Your Student Lifestyle

As a student, you have unique experiences that many working professionals don’t:

• Independent living skills – Managing budgets, household responsibilities, and time management
• Diverse cultural exposure – University environments offer multicultural experiences
• Continuous learning mindset – Demonstrate adaptability and growth
• Fresh perspectives – Your recent education means up-to-date knowledge in your field
• Digital nativity – Natural comfort with new technologies and platforms

Building Your CV While Still Studying

Don’t wait until graduation to start building your CV:

• Seek relevant part-time work or internships during term time
• Join student societies and take on leadership roles
• Volunteer for causes you’re passionate about
• Participate in university projects with real-world applications
• Attend networking events and career fairs
• Develop digital skills through online courses
• Document your achievements as they happen

Knowing what to include in a CV as a student is about more than listing your qualifications; it’s about strategically presenting your potential and the unique value you bring. Remember, every successful professional was once a student with limited experience.

Your student years provide numerous opportunities to build a compelling CV. From managing independent living arrangements to balancing academic commitments with part-time work, you’re developing skills that employers value highly.

Focus on presenting your experiences in a way that demonstrates growth, responsibility, and potential. With the right approach, your student CV can effectively compete with more experienced candidates and open doors to exciting opportunities.

Ready to put these tips into action? Start by auditing your current experiences and identifying the transferable skills you’ve developed. Remember, the best time to start building your professional profile is now, while you’re still studying and have access to university resources and opportunities.

Focus on Your Studies While We Handle Your Accommodation

Creating an impressive CV and building your professional network takes dedication and focus, that’s why having a supportive living environment is crucial to your success. At Luxury Student Homes, we understand that students need more than just a place to sleep; you need a home base where you can concentrate on your studies, develop professional skills, and build the experiences that will make your CV shine.

Our student accommodations in Liverpool are designed with your academic and professional success in mind. View our student accommodation in Liverpool and discover how the right living situation can enhance your university experience and career prospects.