Resume Templates for Students

A good template does two things: it saves time on layout, and it nudges you to include the right information in the right order. A bad one wastes space on decoration, hides key details in columns and graphics or encourages vague, copied phrases. For students, the best templates are the plainest. They have a clear structure, plenty of white space and sections that match what employers expect to see. This page offers four layouts you can copy into a word processor, with sample wording to show the level of detail to aim for.

All names and details below are invented for illustration. Replace them with your own true information. This guide is general information, not career advice, and conventions differ by country and field, so check local expectations.

Rules that apply to every template

• One page for most students.
• A readable font, at a moderate size, such as a plain sans-serif or serif.
• Consistent formatting: same fonts, spacing, date style and bullet style.
• Plain structure. Avoid tables, text boxes, headers and footers for key information, since some systems read them poorly.
• Clear headings in a standard order.
• Reverse chronological order within each section, with the most recent first.
• Action verbs at the start of bullets.
• Specific results where true.
• PDF format with a clear filename.
• No photo, age or personal ID details unless local norms require them.
• Proofread carefully.

Template A: Student with no work experience

Use this if your strongest material is education, projects and activities.

[Your Name] City, Country | Phone | Email | Link to professional profile

Profile (optional) [Year] [course] student with experience in [skill or project], seeking [type of internship or role] to [what you hope to do or learn].

Education [University], [Degree and major] | [Expected graduation, month and year] Relevant modules: [three to five modules] [Grade or honors, if customary]

Projects [Project title], [Course or context] | [Month Year]

• [Action verb] [what you did and the tools you used], [result].
• [Action verb] [another contribution or outcome].

Activities and volunteering [Role], [Organization] | [Dates]

• [Action verb] [task] [result].
• [Action verb] [task] [result].

Skills Technical: [tools, software, languages] Languages: [language and level] Other: [certifications, first aid, driving license if relevant]

Sample wording

"Business Analytics Project, Statistics module | March 2026

• Analyzed a public dataset of 5,000 retail transactions in a spreadsheet to identify seasonal sales patterns.
• Presented three recommendations to a panel of staff and classmates, receiving the highest mark in the class."

Remember: invent nothing, and use numbers only if they are accurate.

Template B: Student with part-time work

Use this if you have jobs or volunteering to show reliability and customer-facing skills.

[Your Name] City, Country | Phone | Email | Link

Profile [Two lines linking your experience to the role.]

Experience [Job title], [Employer], [City] | [Month Year to Month Year]

• [Action verb] [what you did], [number, frequency or scale].
• [Action verb] [a responsibility], [result].
• [Action verb] [an improvement you suggested or made].

[Job title], [Employer], [City] | [Dates]

• [Bullet]
• [Bullet]

Education [University], [Degree] | [Expected graduation] [Relevant modules, awards]

Skills and projects [A short list or a line for a relevant project.]

Sample wording

"Retail assistant, Greenfield Store | June 2025 to Present

• Serve up to 80 customers per shift, handling payments and returns accurately.
• Trained three new colleagues on the stock system.
• Suggested a new shelf layout that reduced restocking time, adopted by the manager."

Replace with your own facts. If your job is unrelated to the role, focus on transferable skills such as reliability, teamwork and communication.

Template C: Project-heavy or technical student

Use this for computing, engineering, science and design students whose projects carry most of the weight.

[Your Name] City | Phone | Email | Portfolio or code repository link

Technical skills Languages: [list] Tools and frameworks: [list] Methods or lab techniques: [list]

Education [University], [Degree] | [Expected graduation] Relevant modules: [list]

Projects [Project name] | [Technologies used] | [Link, if public]

• [Action verb] [what you built or analyzed and why], [result].
• [Action verb] [specific technical contribution].
• [Action verb] [testing, documentation or collaboration].

[Project name] | [Technologies] | [Link]

• [Bullet]
• [Bullet]

Experience [Role, organization, dates]

• [Bullet]

Awards and activities [Hackathons, competitions, societies]

Sample wording

"Course Scheduler Web App | Python, HTML, SQL

• Built a web app that lets students compare timetables, storing data in a relational database.
• Wrote tests for key functions and documented setup steps for teammates.
• Collaborated with three classmates using version control, reviewing each other's changes."

Ensure that every skill listed is something you can discuss in an interview. Link to work only if it is tidy and appropriate to share.

Template D: Creative or portfolio-led student

Design, art, media and writing fields often combine a simple resume with a portfolio.

[Your Name] City | Phone | Email | Portfolio link

Profile [Short statement of focus and style.]

Selected work [Project title], [Client or context] | [Year]

• [What you created and for whom.]
• [Result, such as use, feedback or recognition.]

Experience and activities [Role, organization, dates]

• [Bullet]

Education [University], [Degree] | [Expected graduation]

Skills and tools [Software, techniques, languages]

Creative resumes may use more design, but readability still comes first. Many employers read the resume quickly and then click the portfolio. Keep the portfolio link prominent, and make sure it works. If you apply through an online system, upload a plain version in addition to any designed one.

Adapting a template honestly

1. Gather your material. List projects, jobs, activities, courses and skills.
2. Choose the template that fits your strongest material.
3. Fill in each section with accurate details.
4. Rewrite bullets with action verbs and results.
5. Trim to one page.
6. Tailor to each role by reordering and adjusting wording.
7. Proofread and ask for feedback.
8. Save as PDF.

Do not copy the sample wording word for word. Employers see the same phrases again and again, and you may be asked to explain every line.

Check for automated screening

Many employers use applicant tracking systems that read resumes and search for keywords.

• Use standard section headings such as Education, Experience, Projects and Skills.
• Avoid text in images, text boxes and tables for important content.
• Use common fonts and plain bullets.
• Include keywords from the job description where they honestly apply.
• Spell out acronyms once.
• Use a simple file name.

Getting feedback

Show your resume to your careers service, a lecturer or someone in your field. Ask what stands out, what is unclear and what is missing. If you would rather not format it yourself, resume and CV writing can build the document from your details, and you can still use the layouts above to check its structure.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a template for looks, not clarity.
• Copying sample wording.
• Cramming too much onto the page.
• Using multiple columns that confuse systems.
• Inconsistent formatting.
• Leaving placeholder text in.
• Not tailoring.

A quick checklist

• Have I picked the template that fits my strongest material?
• Is every line true and specific?
• Is the layout plain, consistent and one page?
• Have I removed all placeholder text?
• Have I proofread and saved it as a PDF?

Final thoughts

A template is a scaffold, not a substitute for your own story. Pick a clear layout, fill it with accurate, specific information and tailor it for each role. Keep the design plain and the writing precise. Update it often, and let it grow with you.