So you need a resume. The problem is, you're still in school...or you haven't landed that first big job after graduation. No worries! You're in the right place. Here is your Student Resume 101 course with plenty of examples to get you started.
These resume examples were created by ZipJob's team of professional resume writers with you in mind. Our resume writers have published more than 200 resume examples since May 2020.
Here are over a dozen student resume examples. We also have some general advice for how to write an awesome resume as a student below all the examples.
Click on the job title you have (or want) to view the full resume, plus a guide from our experts and an ATS-friendly downloadable template.
On-campus job resume examples
Related job titles: Assistant Teacher.
Related job titles: College Tutor.
Many schools have students working in the departmental offices as an office assistant or front desk associate.
Did you work in the student store? That's retail experience. Here's a sales associate resume.
Did you work in a campus cafe or restaurant? Here are a couple of food and beverage resumes that might help you identify important skills and experience employers want to see.
Similar job titles: Food Service Manager, Fast Food Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, Bar Manager.
Did you take pictures for your school newspaper or get your photograph featured on the university website? Look at this freelance photographer resume example for ideas about how to make your hobby a career.
If you worked in an on-campus gym or fitness center, you might like these resume samples:
Intern resume examples
Internships span virtually all industries, so each resume will be tailored for a specific field such as engineering, human resources, or marketing. Don't forget to write a thoughtful internship cover letter to accompany your resume!
How to write a resume as a student
The biggest challenge for most students is that they are writing their first resumes and starting with a blank page. Some schools offer resume templates of guide books on writing a good first resume, while others leave it up to the students to create this important professional document. The examples above target some jobs we commonly find students applying for. However, if you're simply trying to write a resume without a target in mind (for a school assignment, perhaps), your job gets trickier.
Here is an example of a graduate school resume we posted a few years ago. We've updated our format since then, but the content and sections still hold. Take a look, then read on for more details.
Graduate student resume example
First, notice that the Professional Experience section is very short. It's also placed at the end, since it is not the most compelling part of this resume. Above it, there is an Education section and room for additional details.
Education section for a student resume
When you're a student, your resume's education section may well be longer than your professional experience. That's fine! You can bulk the details of your education with these items:
Your stellar GPA
Your relevant coursework
Your academic awards, honors, and accomplishments
Your extracurricular activities, affiliations, and memberships
Additional education like certifications, online courses, or continuing education
Here's a tip from a professional resume writer: use your education section to incorporate keywords from job descriptions. When you're lacking in industry experience but you excelled in class, your course titles can be used to describe your experience with common skills like "Business Writing 101" or "Accounting Fundamentals." When possible, also include projects that put your skills in action.
In 2020, the skills you put on your resume are important for two reasons: making you look perfectly qualified to an employer and helping you show up on an ATS (applicant tracking systems) scan. Try to match your skill set to the job description using the exact same language. This will help you look like a great match for any position!
Experience section for a student resume
You may have more experience than you realize. Internships, volunteer work, part time jobs, and freelance gigs are all perfectly acceptable to include here. You don't have to be a full time employee or even a paid employee to have professional experience.
Whenever possible, take the best parts of your work experience and place them in a sectioned titled "Career Highlights" or "Selected Accomplishments." Include any awards or recognition you've earned along with your key skills, qualifications, and unique offer.
Summary
It's possible to write a great resume as a student! When writing (or updating) your student resume, it's smart to compare your experience with recent job listings in your desired field as well as updated professional resume samples. That will give you a better idea of how your resume should look and what skills you should focus on.
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Written by
Caitlin Proctor, CPRW, Certified Professional Résumé Writer
Caitlin joined the ZipJob team in 2019 as a professional resume writer and career advisor. She specializes in strategic advice for executives, career pivots, and remote workers. Read more resume advice from Caitlin on ZipJob’s blog.
