Everyone tells you: "You need experience to get hired."
But how do you get experience if no one will hire you without it?
Here's the truth: You have more experience than you think. Class projects, volunteer work, student organizations, part-time jobs, and even personal projects all count—if you present them correctly.
TL;DR
- Education goes first (include GPA if 3.5+, coursework, honors)
- Replace "Work Experience" with "Relevant Experience"
- Projects are your secret weapon—treat them like jobs
- Skills section is critical for ATS matching
- One page only—quality over quantity
- Use our Student Resume Templates for the right format
The Student Resume Reality (2026)
of employers prioritize skills over degrees
What you can DO matters more than where you studied
Source: ResumeGenius, 2026
applications per internship opening
Competition is fierce—your resume needs to stand out immediately
Source: NACE, 2024
average time recruiters spend on a resume
Make your qualifications visible at a glance
Source: Eye Tracking Study, Ladders
Good news: Employers know students don't have 10 years of experience. They're looking for potential, learning ability, and relevant skills—not an extensive work history.
The Student Resume Structure
When experience is limited, structure matters even more:
- 1
Header
Name, phone, professional email, LinkedIn, city/state
- 2
Resume Objective
2-3 sentences: what you're studying, what you're seeking, what you bring
- 3
Education
University, degree, expected graduation, GPA, relevant coursework, honors
- 4
Relevant Experience
Internships, research, projects, volunteer work—anything applicable
- 5
Projects
Academic or personal projects with technologies used and outcomes
- 6
Skills
Technical skills, software, languages—tailored to the job
- 7
Activities & Leadership
Clubs, organizations, leadership roles
Writing a Student Resume Objective
With no work history to summarize, use an objective statement to explain what you're seeking:
Strong Student Objective
Graduating Computer Science student at UC Berkeley (GPA: 3.7) seeking software engineering internship at a fintech company. Experienced in Python and React through 3 team projects including a stock portfolio tracker with 500+ users. Eager to apply data structures knowledge to production systems.
Weak Objective
"Hardworking student seeking internship opportunity to learn and grow professionally."
The formula:
- Who you are (major, year, school)
- What you want (specific role/industry)
- What you offer (skills, projects, achievements)
- Why you're a fit (enthusiasm + specificity)
The Education Section: Your Headline
For students, education goes at the top—before experience:
Strong Education Section
Bachelor of Science in Marketing University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Expected Graduation: May 2026 | GPA: 3.68
Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing Analytics, Consumer Behavior, Brand Management, Market Research Methods
Honors: Dean's List (4 semesters), Marketing Club President, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity
Certifications: Google Analytics Certified, HubSpot Inbound Marketing
When to Include GPA
| GPA | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 3.5+ | Include it prominently |
| 3.0-3.49 | Include if the employer requests it |
| Below 3.0 | Leave it off |
| Major GPA higher | List "Major GPA: X.X" if significantly better |
Relevant Coursework
Include 4-6 courses that directly relate to the job you're targeting:
- For Marketing: Consumer Behavior, Digital Analytics, Market Research
- For Finance: Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance, Investment Analysis
- For Tech: Data Structures, Algorithms, Database Systems, Machine Learning
Turning Projects into Experience
Projects are your secret weapon. They prove you can apply what you've learned.
Project Format
Personal Finance Tracker | Python, Flask, PostgreSQL, Plaid API Solo Project — University of Texas, Fall 2024
• Built full-stack web application enabling users to track spending across 5+ linked bank accounts • Implemented Plaid API integration for secure bank connections with 500+ beta users • Designed PostgreSQL database schema handling 10K+ transactions with categorization algorithms • Deployed to Heroku with CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions
Project elements to include:
- Project name and tech stack
- Context (class, hackathon, personal)
- What you built and who it's for
- Technical challenges you solved
- Quantified results (users, performance, scope)
Project Types That Impress
Strong Project Examples
- Capstone/Senior projects with real-world applications
- Hackathon projects (especially winners)
- Open source contributions
- Personal apps with live demos
- Research projects with faculty
- Freelance work (even for friends/family)
- Technical blog or portfolio website
Activities & Leadership
Student organizations show soft skills that projects can't:
Activities Format
Marketing Club, University of Michigan | President September 2023 – Present
• Lead 50-member organization planning 15+ professional development events annually • Secured 5 corporate sponsors ($8K total) for annual case competition • Coordinated workshop series with VP-level speakers from General Motors, Ford, and Quicken Loans • Increased membership 40% through social media redesign and campus outreach campaign
What matters:
- Leadership positions
- Quantifiable impact (membership growth, funds raised, events organized)
- Transferable skills (project management, communication, budgeting)
Skills Section: Your Keyword Bank
This section is critical for ATS matching—especially for students with limited experience:
Student Skills Format
Technical: Python, SQL, R, Tableau, Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP), Google Analytics, Figma
Software: Microsoft Office Suite, Slack, Asana, Salesforce, HubSpot, Adobe Premiere
Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Conversational), Mandarin (Basic)
Certifications: Google Analytics Certified, AWS Cloud Practitioner, HubSpot Content Marketing
Include These Skills ✅
- Specific software (Excel, Tableau, Python)
- Industry tools (Salesforce, HubSpot, Figma)
- Certifications with names
- Languages with proficiency levels
- Relevant technical skills
Skip These ❌
- 'Microsoft Office' without specifics
- 'Social media' (too vague)
- 'Hard worker' (soft skill, unproven)
- 'Fast learner' (show, don't tell)
- Basic skills everyone has (email, typing)
Part-Time Jobs Count Too
Even non-professional jobs build transferable skills:
| Basic Description ❌ | Achievement-Focused ✅ |
|---|---|
| Worked as a cashier | Processed 200+ transactions daily with 99.5% accuracy while managing customer inquiries |
| Tutored students | Helped 15+ students improve grades by an average of 1.5 letter grades in calculus and statistics |
| Server at restaurant | Managed 8-table section serving 100+ customers nightly; maintained 4.8-star customer rating |
| Camp counselor | Supervised 12 campers daily, planned 30+ activities, and first-aid trained for emergency response |
Resume Examples for Students
The Computer Science Student
Jake's Template
1-col layout
Figure: Technical student resume — projects-forward, GitHub link prominent. Use This Template
The Business Student
Harvard Template
1-col layout
Figure: Business/finance student resume — education-first, clean and traditional. Use This Template
Template Recommendations for Students
| Template | Best For | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jake's Template | CS, Engineering, Tech | Project-focused, GitHub visible |
| Harvard Template | Business, Finance, Law | Traditional, education-forward |
| Classic Executive | MBA students, leadership roles | Professional, clean |
| Modern Bold | Marketing, Design students | Modern look with personality |
Volunteer Work Matters
Especially when paid experience is limited:
Volunteer Experience Format
Habitat for Humanity | Team Lead January 2023 – Present
• Lead teams of 15+ volunteers on 6 home construction projects • Coordinated logistics for 500+ volunteer hours quarterly • Trained new volunteers on safety protocols and construction basics
Volunteer work proves:
- Initiative and values
- Teamwork and leadership
- Time management (balancing with school)
- Real-world application of skills
Common Student Resume Mistakes
Avoid These Errors
- Including high school — Drop it after freshman year of college
- Listing every club — Quality over quantity; choose 3-4 most relevant
- Generic objective — "Seeking opportunity to grow" says nothing
- Padding with irrelevant jobs — Focus on transferable skills only
- No quantification — Even students can add numbers (15 members, 3 projects, $500 budget)
- Using a two-page resume — One page only for students
- Ignoring ATS — Use clean templates you can build with our Resume Builder
Pre-Submit Checklist
Student Resume Audit
- Education section at the top with GPA (if 3.5+)
- Relevant coursework tailored to the job
- Projects described with tech stack and outcomes
- Skills section includes specific tools and software
- Activities show leadership or initiative
- Every bullet has a number or specific outcome
- One page only
- Professional email address
- Tailored to this specific job posting
Your Move
You don't need 5 years of experience to land your first internship. You need to prove you can learn, contribute, and deliver value.
Your projects, coursework, and activities already demonstrate this—if you present them the right way.
Build Your Student Resume
Our AI-powered builder helps you highlight what matters—even without work experience.
Create My Resume FreeRelated Resources
- Skills Finder Tool — Get keywords for your target industry
- Resume Summary Generator — Create objectives that stand out
- Entry-Level Resume Guide — More tips for first-job seekers
- Browse Student Templates — Clean, ATS-optimized formats
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a resume with no experience?
Focus on education (coursework, GPA, honors), academic projects, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and skills. Replace 'Work Experience' with 'Relevant Experience' and include projects that demonstrate capabilities.
Should I include my GPA on a student resume?
Yes, if it's 3.5 or higher. If it's below 3.0, leave it off. You can also list your major GPA if it's significantly higher than your overall GPA.
What should a college student resume look like?
One page, education at the top, followed by relevant experience (internships, projects, volunteer work), then skills. Use a clean, ATS-friendly template.
How long should a student resume be?
One page only. Even if you have limited content, don't pad with irrelevant information. Quality matters more than length.
Should I use a resume objective or summary?
For students with no work experience, a brief objective statement (2-3 sentences) works well to explain what you're seeking. Experienced interns can use a summary.
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