College Resume Templates and Examples for 2024

College Resume Templates and Examples (Downloadable)

• Entry level
• Midlevel
• Senior level

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Whether you’re joining the 80% of part-time working students, or you’re about to graduate and make that first career move, your resume must show you’re ready for the workforce. It should demonstrate your ability to take all of the theoretical knowledge you’ve gained in class and use it in the real world. In this guide, we’ll help you create a resume that translates your academic success into professional potential.

Key takeaways:

• Emphasize adaptability and growth: Communicate to hiring managers that, despite any lack of experience, you’re eager to grow within your field and willing to put in the work.
• Use numbers to quantify: Whether leading a successful fundraiser or contributing to a research project, use numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to bring value to your achievements.
• Optimize for applicant tracking systems: Understand what employers are looking for and incorporate keywords from the job posting throughout your resume to ensure it passes through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

How To Write a College Resume Example

Create an engaging college resume that stands out in a competitive job market by starting with a professional resume template. Your college resume should include these sections:

• Contact information
• Profile
• Key skills
• Professional experience
• Education and certifications

1. Share your contact information

No matter how impressive your resume is, it won’t matter if potential employers can’t reach you for an interview. So, make it easy for them by providing your best contact information at the top of the page. List your full name and a few direct lines of contact, like a phone number and email address. Also, include your location and a link to any online professional profiles or portfolios.

2. Craft a profile summarizing your qualifications

Similar to a social media bio, the profile is where you’ll sum up who you are and what you offer in the professional world. It should include enough compelling information to pique the reader’s interest and show you can meet the most essential job requirements. You can include a job title, years of experience, and a few key strengths.

Consider what makes you valuable to the employer. For example, if you’re a computer science major with experience in software development, highlight a significant app project or tech internship. Or, you might mention your proficiency in programming languages and your ability to work in a team environment.

3. Showcase your relevant experience

Because this is a college resume, your experience section might also include unpaid positions. Outside of professional work, you can list things like volunteer time, club participation, and internships. Any role where you applied your skills in a real-world setting is valuable. Start with your most relevant experience first, and create bullet points to outline your responsibilities and achievements.

Remember to include examples of times you’ve used both technical and interpersonal abilities. If you have limited experience in the job you’re applying for, highlighting how you’ve used soft skills can be especially useful. When hiring managers know you have the right attitude, work ethic, and potential, they’re more likely to take a chance on you.

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

It’s easy for your professional experience section to become redundant and vague, but quantifying your experience is one way to bring clear value to your work. When you link numbers and measurable data to the job duties you performed, you demonstrate your ability to achieve results. This unique and specific information is a great way to stand out from other applicants.

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

It’s essential to align your resume with details from the job descriptions of the positions you’re applying for. You can easily do this by incorporating relevant language and target keywords into the text. Tailoring your college resume for each application is a great way to increase your chances of landing an interview.

Your goal should be to highlight the skills and requirements you know hiring managers are looking for. This shows your understanding of the role and how your qualifications align with their needs. Remember, a customized resume communicates your genuine interest and commitment, something that will capture the attention of employers.

What if you don’t have experience?

Don’t let your lack of paid professional experience discourage you. You can highlight transferable skills acquired through internships, coursework, volunteering, and extracurricular activities. Showcase any projects, research papers, or leadership roles you undertook during your academic journey.

Employers value enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, so emphasize your ability to adapt quickly and work collaboratively. Demonstrating your potential and eagerness to contribute can help overcome any lack of experience and increase your chances of securing an entry-level position.

4. Outline your education and related certifications

For a college resume, your education section might just be your biggest strength. Always begin with your highest degree first. Include the name of the school, its location, your attendance dates or expected graduation date, and your GPA score if it’s over 3.5.

Outside of your formal education, include any relevant certifications that could make you stand out in your field. From software proficiency to industry-specific credentials, these extras could be the small touch that sets you apart from similar applicants.

5. Create a list of your most relevant skills and proficiencies

Employers use ATS to scan through stacks of resumes, and they are looking for a specific set of skills. Highlighting your qualifications with a key skills section will make their jobs easier. This strategy helps hiring managers quickly assess your capabilities and determine whether you fit the role well. Below, we’ve listed some common examples, but the skills you include on your college resume will depend on the position you’re applying for.

Resume writer’s tip: Use descriptive action verbs

Action verbs add dimension to your resume and demonstrate a proactive approach to work. These words bring your experiences to life, showing the employer how you actively contributed to projects. Statements that start with “I was responsible for” can become redundant and take up too much space. Instead, begin bullet points with powerful action verbs like the ones below to make your college resume more engaging and memorable for potential employers:

How To Pick the Best College Resume Template

Your first step in crafting a compelling college resume is selecting the right template. The best resume template for college students or recent graduates is clean and modern, allowing your qualifications and achievements to shine. Choose a classic font and avoid heavy graphics to ensure ease of reading. Remember, your resume reflects your professional identity, so keep it simple, concise, and well-organized.

College Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Frequently Asked Questions: College Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with a college job description?

Even though employment is projected to increase within promising industries like IT, companies within these sectors continue to scale back hiring efforts and cut jobs. In such a competitive market, aligning your resume with each job description is key. Your resume must show that you’re qualified and demonstrate how you meet the employer’s needs.

For instance, suppose you’re applying for an internship, and the company is looking for someone to support its social media marketing efforts. In that case, you would highlight any experience you have managing social media pages, growing a following, and increasing audience engagement.

What is the best college resume format?

A combination resume is the best choice for college students as it highlights your most impressive skills first, whether that’s leadership, coding, or project management. This is especially helpful if you haven’t had any relevant jobs yet. In this format, the work history section can come last, rounding out your resume by providing a look at any relevant past experiences you have.

Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume

Your application is incomplete without a cover letter. When you can, always take the opportunity to write one and describe how your passions and skills align with the needs of the employer. Especially if you lack any professional experience, a cover letter is the best way to explain how your education and extracurricular activities have prepared you.

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Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.