Building a strong resume and CV: Ten tips for students and new graduates

Master the art of resume building with these ten detailed resume tips for professionals, students and new graduates. From creating a strong summary to highlighting your accomplishments, you will learn how to stand out from your peers.

Landing your first job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. The years spent studying or earning a degree have led to this very moment. Whether you are applying for a part-time job to support your studies or seeking your first full-time role, your resume or CV is the key to getting noticed. Even if you do not have any prior working experience, building a strong resume and CV profile will allow you to highlight your skills, achievements, and potential. 

When there is a job opening, recruiters receive hundreds of applications for one single role. It is common knowledge that recruiters spend an average of six to seven seconds scanning each resume. In other words, you have about seven seconds to make an impression. However, how can you showcase your skills with no experience? You do this by having a well-structured, clear and compelling portfolio that communicates your strengths effectively. The key is to focus on what you have rather than what you lack. Your education, skills, volunteer work, extracurricular activities and internships all count.  

Table of Contents

In this blog, we will break down the resume structure and how to create a CV for students with no experience. The following practical CV and resume tips for students and recent graduates will help you increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Understanding a resume and curriculum vitae (CV) 

Before we explore the tips that will help you in writing a resume or a CV to apply for your dream job, it is important for you to understand these terms individually. While both documents share key information, there are significant differences. Whether it is a resume profile for students or a CV for students with no experience, both serve different purposes and understanding them will help you write the right one for you. 

Resume 

The term 'resume' comes from the French word 'résumé,' which translates to 'abstract' or 'summary.' Typically, a resume is a crisp and concise document, usually limited to one or two pages. It outlines your academic achievements, professional experiences and relevant skills for the job you are seeking. Recruiters and hiring managers across various sectors, including business, nonprofit, government and private industries often request a resume as part of the hiring process. The following are the key elements of a resume: 

  • Header: Add your full name, contact information (phone number and email), professional title and LinkedIn profile. 
  • Professional summary: Write a short introduction highlighting your key skills and career goals. 
  • Education: List your degree, higher educational institute and graduation year. 
  • Work experience: Include relevant internships, part-time jobs or volunteer work.  
  • Skills: Mention hard and soft skills relevant to the job. 
  • Achievements: Highlight your accomplishments, awards, academic or extracurricular activities. 

Curriculum Vitae (CV) 

The term’ curriculum vitae' is derived from Latin and roughly translates to 'course of life.’ Generally referred to as a CV, this document offers a more comprehensive overview of a person’s academic, research and scientific fields. Unlike a resume, which highlights professional skills and work experience, a CV profile for students focuses on educational background, qualifications, research projects, publications and notable academic achievements. The key essentials of a CV are: 

  • Personal information: Add your full name, including your contact details (phone number and email) and LinkedIn profile. 
  • Academic background: List your degrees, higher education institutes you attended and relevant coursework. 
  • Research and publications: Mention any research papers, theses and articles you contributed to. 
  • Skills and competencies: Technical and research-based skills. 
  • Certifications and training: Additional academic qualifications. 
  • Professional memberships: Include any affiliations with academic or research organisations you were/are a part of. 
  • References: List the name and contact details of your academic mentors or research supervisors. 

Difference between a resume and a CV 

Feature Resume CV
Purpose It is used for job applications in the business, nonprofit and private sectors. It is used when applying for academic, research and scientific roles.
Length One to two pages. Flexible with more than two pages.
Focus The goal is to highlight skills, experience and education relevant to a specific job. The goal is to provide a comprehensive history of your academic and professional experience.
Structure A resume structure includes a summary of education, experience and skills. A CV includes a detailed academic background, research, publications and affiliations.
Customisation You will have to customise your resume for each job application. Your CV will remain largely unchanged except for some occasional updates.
References Optional Required

Resume tips for students with no experience

As a new graduate, your resume will look a lot different from a professional with years of experience under their belt. However, even without formal work experience, you can make your resume stand out by following our resume tips for recent graduates and students.

1. Write a compelling resume objective 

Start by creating a professional summary. It should be a concise, impactful statement that describes who you are, your strengths and why you will be a great fit for that particular role. For example: 

“Motivated and result-oriented business and management student with exceptional communication and organisational skills. Eager to secure an entry-level marketing position where I can leverage my creative and collaborative spirit to drive impactful marketing strategies.” 

2. Emphasise your education 

Since you may not have professional experience, your education will be one of your strongest assets. To write an impressive resume, include relevant coursework, academic achievements and any special projects you were a part of during your educational years. For example: 

BSc in Computer Science 

Global Banking School (GBS), London 

Class of 2025 

Data Structures, AI Fundamentals, Software Development. 

3. Include internships or volunteer work 

Writing a compelling resume objective is just the first step. You have to back up those good resume objective statements with evidence. If you participated in any internships during your studies or after graduation, be sure to highlight them as part of your work experience. Additionally, you can also mention any volunteer work you have done with organisations. For example: 

Marketing Intern 

XYZ, London 

2nd May–1st September 2023 

Managed social media content strategy and increased user engagement by 20%. 

4. Mention certifications or training 

When it comes to resume building, any certifications or formal training relevant to your field is always a bonus. You should include them and add relevant work experience and skills you gained while earning those qualifications to stand out from your peers. For example: 

Google Digital Marketing Certification (2024) 

5. Add extracurricular activities and workshops 

For a recent college graduate resume, it is the extras that will put you on top of the other candidates. If you were involved in any student organisations, sports teams or clubs, mention how they helped you develop relevant skills. For example: 

President 

Student Debate Society 

Organised 10+ events and improved membership engagement by 30%. 

CV tips for students with no experience

A CV for students with no work experience should focus on academic and research achievements. The key is to provide a detailed account of your educational background, academic projects, research contributions and any relevant extracurricular activities you were involved in during your studies.

1. Start with an academic summary 

A CV profile for students should begin with a brief overview of their academic background and research interests. Your student CV summary should describe your relevant coursework, skills and any practical experiences that highlight your commitment to your field. For example: 

“Final-year health and social care student with a keen interest in applied research and mental health well-being.” 

2. Detail your education history 

An undergraduate student CV should include a list of your degrees, educational institutions attended, graduation dates and key coursework. It will be helpful if you can highlight any relevant projects or extracurricular activities that showcase your academic, research and analytical skills and interests. For example: 

BSc (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management 

Global Banking School (GBS) 

2021-2025 

Business and ethical awareness, financial accounting, business and corporate law, corporate governance and leadership, audit and assurance and UK taxation. 

3. Highlight presentations and publications 

The great thing about a CV is that you have unlimited space to add your accomplishments. If you have given presentations or contributed to academic publications, include them in your CV. You can also mention any academic mentors, research supervisors or professors who can attest to your abilities. 

“Presented research on ‘Digital Supply Chains’ at the XYZ AI Conference, 2024.” 

4. Follow general formatting guidelines 

When creating a CV, it is recommended to adhere to standard formatting conventions. Choose classic fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial, which are widely accepted fonts for professional documents. Aim for a font size between 11 and 12 points for the main content, while section titles can be slightly larger at 14 to 16 points. Ensure that your CV is printed only on one side. Set your document margins to one inch for a clean and polished presentation. 

5. Mention academic achievements 

If you received any scholarships, fellowships or awards during your studies, highlight them in a separate section. These accomplishments will showcase your dedication and excellence to the hiring person. Adding academic clubs, student leadership roles, and community engagement activities to your CV will add value. For example: 

“Recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence, 2022.” 

Building a strong resume or CV as a student or new graduate only seems challenging when you have no idea on how to proceed. No matter the role you are applying for, after reading our blog and learning about CV and resume writing tips, you will have an idea about how to begin. So, make sure to write a compelling objective and highlight your strengths to stand out. By emphasising your educational background, skills that you can apply to the job, relevant projects, workshopsor any other experiences, you can customise your resume and showcase your abilities. A well-structured resume and CV can help you increase your chances of landing interviews and getting closer to your dream job. Proofread your resume and keep refining your CV from time to time as you gain more experience. 

FAQs about building a strong resume and 10 tips for students and new graduates

A1. When writing a resume with no experience, you have to focus on your educational qualifications, skills and any relevant projects or extracurricular activities. It is always recommended to highlight your volunteer work, any internships that you completed and transferable skills you have acquired, such as leadership and problem-solving. 

A2. A student CV summary should include details of academic background, key skills acquired and career aspirations. You should create a professional summary, emphasise your education, showcase your skills and highlight your achievements. Your goal should be to keep it relevant to the position you are applying for. 

A3.  Students should include the following key components in their CV: 

  • Add your contact information 
  1. Full name 
  2. Professional title 
  3. Email address 
  4. Location 
  5. Phone number 
  6. LinkedIn profile link 
  • Include detailed educational background 
  1. Qualification 
  2. Honours and/or awards 
  3. Research focus 
  4. Research experience 
  5. Presentations and publications (both academic papers and books) 
  • Teaching or lecturing experience 
  • Work/professional experience 
  • Certificates 
  • Languages  
  • References 

A4. An impressive CV objective is clear and concise and must be customised to the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a data analyst position, you can write: “An aspiring data analyst with strong Excel and SQL skills, eager to apply data-driven insights to business decisions.” 

A5. Yes, AI tools can help you with formatting, and they can also provide valuable suggestions. However, at the end of the day, personalisation sets you apart from your competitors. You will have to customise your resume to reflect your experiences and the specific job for which you are applying. 

A6. The career objective for resumes is a brief statement summarising your career goals, whereas the cover letter is a separate document explaining why you are a great fit for the position. 

A7. The key resume building tips are: 

  • Customise your resume for each job. 
  • Use clear and concise language. 
  • Write a compelling resume objective. 
  • Add your contact information such as your full name, phone number, email ID and location. 
  • Remember to add relevant work experience. 
  • Highlight measurable achievements to showcase your skills. 
  • Proofread your resume to avoid errors.