What really counts on a student CV
A clear goal
"2-month communications internship, from April" reads in one second. "Motivated student seeking an opportunity" says nothing.
Your education first
The qualification you are studying for, the institution, the year, and the subjects or specialisms linked to the role.
Anything that looks like work
Internships, summer jobs, regular babysitting, volunteering, course projects, personal projects.
Proven skills
The software and languages you have actually used, with a level or a context.
Turn a job or a project into a strength
A job unrelated to your field still shows reliability, customer contact or organisation. Say it with facts.
- Restaurant job: "Weekend waiting staff for 2 years, taking orders and handling payments at peak times".
- Course project: "Market research for a local brand in a team of 5, presented to the company".
- Association: "Treasurer of the student union, managing an annual budget and expense claims".
- Personal project: "Created a video editing tutorial channel, one video a month".
A simple, true result is enough. What matters is that every line answers "what did you actually do?".
The sections of a student CV
Header and goal
Name, target job or internship, contact details, town. A one-line goal with dates and length.
Education
Most recent first. Once you are in higher education, the baccalauréat alone is enough, without detail.
Experience and projects
Group internships, jobs and standout projects. Three or four well-chosen lines beat a list.
Skills and languages
Tools, software, languages with a level. Soft skills are better shown in your experience than in a list.
Interests
Optional, worth keeping if they are specific and show commitment.
The most common mistakes
Filling space for the sake of it
An airy, precise page beats a page full of pointless detail.
Skills with no proof
"Proficient in Excel" with no example is not convincing. "Pivot tables for a management project" is.
A vague language level
Replace "English: good level" with "English: B2" or a test score.
Spelling mistakes
Read it aloud, then have someone else check it. One typo in the title is enough to move on to the next CV.
Make your student CV with Joblio
A guided form if you start from scratch
Joblio asks for your education, experience and skills, and helps you write them up.
Suggestions, never imposed
Rewording, profile summary, suggested skills: you accept or reject each suggestion.
Free and on one page
Twelve templates included, no card needed and no watermark on the PDF.
Frequently asked
questions
What should go on a student CV with no experience at all?
Your education, course projects, volunteering or sports activities and practical skills. A project seen through to the end is experience worth telling.
Should I include jobs unrelated to my studies?
Yes, especially if they lasted. They show you are reliable and can work in a team or with customers. Describe each one in a single useful line.
How many pages for a student CV?
One, always.
Which format should I send?
A PDF, unless asked otherwise. It keeps the layout and, if it is text (not an image), screening software reads it correctly.
See also
Apprenticeship CV
Writing a CV for an apprenticeship: what employers read first, your schedule and course, example wording and a free one-page template.
CV with no experience
Writing a CV with no work experience: what to include instead, how to present projects and skills, an example summary and a free template.
ATS CV
How an ATS reads your CV, why you should tailor your CV to each job, the format rules that work everywhere and the myths to forget.
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