How To Write A CV As a Student

Key Takeaways

• You do not need lots of work experience to write a strong CV as a student.

• Focus on your education, skills, and experiences that show reliability, teamwork, and motivation.

• Keep your CV clear, well structured, and tailored to the role you are applying for.

• Update your CV regularly as you gain new skills, experience, and qualifications.

Writing a CV as a student can feel tricky, especially if you don’t have much work experience yet. You might be unsure what to include, how formal it needs to be, or whether anything you have done is ‘good enough’ for an employer or university.

The good news is that you don’t need years of experience to create a strong CV. What matters most is presenting your education, skills, and achievements clearly.

We’ll take you step by step through how to write a CV as a student. You’ll learn what to include, how to structure your CV, and how to tailor it for different opportunities. Let’s make sure you can create a CV that helps you stand out from the crowd.

What To Include On A Student CV

A strong student CV doesn’t need to be complicated. What it does need to be is clear, easy to read, and well organised.

Employers and admissions teams should be able to see instantly who you are, what you are studying, and what skills or experience you can offer.

Most student CVs follow a similar structure. The sections below are commonly included.

Personal Details

At the top of your CV, clearly state your basic contact information so employers can easily get in touch with you.

You should include:

• Your full name

• Your email address

• Your phone number

• Your town or city (you do not need to include your full address)

Keep this section simple and professional. Use an appropriate email address, ideally one that includes your name rather than a nickname.

You should not include:

• Your age or date of birth

• Your marital status

• Your nationality or religion

• A photograph, unless you are specifically asked for one

Leaving these out helps keep your CV focused on your skills and experience rather than personal details irrelevant to your application.

Personal Statement or Profile

A personal statement, sometimes called a profile, is a short paragraph at the top of your CV that introduces you to the reader. It offers a quick snapshot of who you are, what you’re studying, and what you can offer.

Keep it brief. Three to five sentences is usually enough.

Write in a confident tone, but keep it natural. You don’t need to sound too formal. Just show that you’re a motivated, reliable student, ready to learn and contribute.

Your personal statement should focus on:

• Your current level of study, for example, GCSE, A Level, or university

• Your key strengths, such as teamwork, organisation, communication, or reliability

• Your career interests or the type of opportunity you are applying for

For example, you might mention that you are a motivated A Level student with strong communication skills, a good work ethic, and an interest in a particular field, such as business, healthcare, or engineering.

Avoid vague phrases like “hard-working” or “team player” unless you can back them up with examples elsewhere in your CV. Your personal statement should feel specific to you, not generic.

Education

The education section is usually the most important part of a student CV. List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent studies.

Include:

• The name of your school or college

• Your current or most recent level of study, for example GCSEs or A Levels

• The years you attended, for example 2023–2025

If you’re still studying, make this clear. You could write something like:

A Levels (currently studying), September 2024–present.

Include subjects you are taking, especially if they are relevant to the role or course you are applying for. For example:

A Levels: Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology.

Whether you include grades depends on your stage and confidence. You might include:

• Predicted grades for A Levels

• Final grades if you have already completed qualifications, such as GCSEs

For GCSEs, you do not usually need to list every subject in detail. You could write something like:

GCSEs: 8 GCSEs including English and Maths (Grades 9-5).

If your grades are particularly strong or relevant, you can list them more fully.

Keep this section neat and easy to read. Avoid long sentences. Bullet points or short lines work best.

Work Experience

If you have any work experience, include it on your CV, even if it is part-time, temporary, or voluntary.

List your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role.

For each role, include:

• the job title

• the name of the organisation

• the dates you worked there

Under each role, add two or three short bullet points explaining what you did and what skills you developed. Try to focus on what you achieved, not just your duties.

For example, instead of writing “worked on the till”, you could say:

• Handled cash and card payments accurately and responsibly

• Provided friendly customer service in a busy shop environment

If you have limited or no paid work experience, you can still include:

• volunteer roles

• work experience placements

• school or college responsibilities, such as prefect, student ambassador, or mentor

• regular commitments, such as coaching, babysitting, or helping in a family business

Skills

The skills section is your chance to show employers what you can do and how you could add value to their organisation.

Include a mix of hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills are specific, practical abilities, for example:

• Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel

• Google Docs or Sheets

• basic coding or digital tools

• design tools such as Canva

• foreign languages

List these clearly, and only include skills you are genuinely confident using.

Soft skills are personal and transferable qualities that employers value, such as:

• communication

• teamwork

• time management

• organisation

• reliability

• problem-solving

Where possible, link your skills to real examples from school, college, volunteering, or part-time work. For example, instead of simply writing “teamwork”, you could show it through a phrase such as:

• “Worked as part of a team to organise a school charity event”

Keep this section concise and relevant to the role you’re applying for. Avoid long lists, and prioritise the skills that best match the opportunity.

Achievements and Awards

This section is optional but useful if you have relevant achievements. It gives you the chance to highlight your level of commitment, effort, or talent.

You can include achievements from school, college, or outside of education, such as:

• academic awards or certificates

• leadership roles, such as prefect, form representative, or club captain

• completing programmes like Duke of Edinburgh, NCS, or similar

• sporting achievements or team successes

• music, drama, or creative awards

• volunteering milestones or recognition

When listing achievements, keep them factual and specific. For example, instead of writing “did well in sport”, you could write:

• “Captained the school hockey team to a regional final”

• “Awarded Year 12 Academic Achievement Prize in English”

• “Completed Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award”

Two to four relevant achievements are usually enough.

If you do not have formal awards, you can still use this section to showcase meaningful accomplishments, such as organising a school event, completing a major project, or contributing significantly to a club or society.

Hobbies and Interests

Including hobbies and interests is optional, but gives employers a sense of your personality. It’s another chance to demonstrate positive qualities, such as teamwork, creativity, or dedication. 

For example, you might mention:

• playing team sports, which shows collaboration and discipline

• volunteering or community activities, which show reliability and care for others

• music, drama, or creative projects, which show dedication and confidence

• coding, blogging, or content creation, which demonstrate initiative and digital skills

Avoid listing very general interests like “watching TV” or “socialising with friends”. These do not add much value to your CV.

Where possible, add a little detail to make your interests more meaningful. For example, instead of writing “football”, you could say:

• “Play for a local football team and help organise training sessions”

• “Volunteer weekly at a community food bank”

• “Run a photography page on social media”

If you are applying for a specific role, choose interests that relate to the skills or qualities the employer is likely to value.

References

References are people who can vouch for your character, work ethic, or academic ability. Employers may contact them to confirm what you are like as a student, employee, or volunteer.

As a student, suitable referees usually include:

• a teacher, tutor, or head of year

• a college lecturer or careers adviser

• a manager from a part-time job, work experience placement, or volunteering role

If you don’t yet have work experience, a school or college reference is perfectly acceptable.

On your CV, you can either:

• list your referees with their name, role, organisation, email address, and phone number or

• write: “References available upon request.”

Many students choose the second option, especially if space is limited or they have not yet asked someone formally to be a referee.

If you do plan to include named referees, make sure you ask their permission first and check that they are happy to be contacted.

How to Write a CV If You Have No Work Experience

It is completely normal to have little or no formal work experience as a student. You can still write a strong CV by focusing on what you can demonstrate rather than what you have not done yet. 

Highlight your education, skills, and personal qualities, as employers are often looking for attitude, reliability, and potential at this stage.

If you don’t have paid work, draw on other experiences such as school projects, volunteering, sports, clubs, or leadership roles. Focus on what you did and the skills you developed through these, such as teamwork, communication, organisation, or problem-solving.

Our guide to work experience and list of great work experience ideas provide plenty of inspiration to help you start exploring the world of work.

Tailoring Your CV

Your CV should not be exactly the same for every application. Tailoring your CV means adjusting your personal statement, skills, and examples so they match what the employer or university is looking for.

Here are some simple ways to adapt your CV for different opportunities.

Part-Time Job

For part-time roles, employers usually care most about your reliability, teamwork, and customer service skills.

In your personal statement, briefly highlight traits such as punctuality, responsibility, and a willingness to learn. In your skills section, prioritise skills such as communication, time management, and working under pressure.

When describing any experience, focus on practical examples, such as working with others, handling customers, or meeting deadlines.

Internship

For internships, employers often look for motivation, initiative, and relevant interest in the field.

Emphasise your academic subjects and relevant projects. Mention any experience that connects to the role, such as volunteering, work experience, or school activities.

Use more specific language in your personal statement. For example, refer to the industry you are interested in and what you hope to gain from the internship.

Graduate Job

For graduate roles, employers expect more detail and professionalism.

Structure your CV clearly and include a stronger personal statement that explains your career goals. Highlight any leadership roles, significant projects, or achievements.

Focus on the impact of what you did rather than just listing tasks. Where possible, use action verbs such as “led”, “organised”, or “managed”. 

Exchange Program

For an exchange or study-abroad application, focus on adaptability, independence, and cultural awareness.

Highlight any travel, language skills, or experiences that show you can adjust to new environments.

In your personal statement, explain why you want to study abroad and how it will support your academic or career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Should A Student CV Be?

A student CV should usually be one page.

Only move to two pages if you have substantial, highly relevant experience, such as multiple internships, significant volunteering, or specialist achievements.

Should I Include My GCSE Grades On My CV?

Yes, you can include them, especially if you are still at school, in sixth form, or early in your studies.

You do not need to list every subject. As you gain more experience or higher qualifications, you can gradually reduce the detail.

Do I Need A Cover Letter As Well As A CV?

Often, yes. A CV shows your skills and experience, while a cover letter explains why you are applying and why you are a good fit.

If the employer or university does not ask for one, you do not have to submit it, but it can still be useful for competitive applications.

Final Thoughts

Writing your first CV can feel tricky, especially if you do not have much experience yet, but it is a skill that gets easier with practice. It is worth the effort. A clear, well-structured CV that highlights your education, skills, and strengths will help you present yourself professionally and confidently.

Start your CV early and update it regularly as you gain new qualifications and achievements. These will add up over time and make your CV stronger.

Once you have a CV that clearly reflects your abilities and what you have to offer, you’ll be in pole position to apply for part-time jobs, internships, work experience, and future opportunities. Taking the time to get it right now can open many doors later on.