Student Resume Examples and Templates for 2024
If you’re a young adult who has limited workforce experience, a student resume template can make a strong case as to why an employer should take a chance on you. The good news is research shows that higher educational attainment is associated with higher median earnings. The template lets young job seekers incorporate the most relevant skills and qualifications learned in their academic careers through positions in school-based clubs and teams, and via internships, part-time work, and volunteer opportunities.
While the student resume template includes the basic elements you’d expect to see in a professional resume, it allows more focus on educational background, skills, and nontraditional work experience.
Student Resume Templates
Your resume is a professional introduction to potential employers, highlighting your skills, achievements, and experiences. Choosing the right resume template is crucial, as it sets the foundation for presenting your qualifications effectively. In fact, with the BLS reporting that as of October 2023, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates with a bachelor’s degree is 12.3%, it indicates that the competition for jobs may be at a higher level.
The best template for students should balance simplicity and professionalism, showcasing your unique attributes while remaining easy to navigate. Your student resume should capture the attention of hiring managers and speak to how your abilities will meet their needs.
What Makes a Student Resume Template?
A student resume should include all the basic elements of a resume: contact info, profile, work experience, education, and skills. However, a few key elements are unique to student resumes:
- The education section can be featured above the work history and be more extensive.
- You can include pertinent details about the degree program, academic accolades, and coursework.
- The experience section can include academic projects and internships in lieu of job history.
- You may include a section on extracurricular school activities, student positions held, and such.
When To Pick a Student Resume Template
In addition to actually being a student, here are the top five reasons to choose a student resume layout:
- To share your key skills and attributes with prospective employers: Hiring managers want to make sure you have the basic skill sets needed for their roles.
- To showcase your academic achievements and completed coursework: This displays a willingness to learn and your passion for specific subject areas, and that you’ll do well with on-the-job training.
- To demonstrate your ability to handle school work and outside responsibilities: Multitasking and time management are important in any job, and employers will be pleased that you have been able to juggle multiple obligations.
- To highlight your interest in a specific field: Your resume can convey your commitment to pursuing industry knowledge and experience.
- To illustrate the transferable skills you learned in past part-time jobs or internships: Soft skills like communication, leadership, and attention to detail have universal appeal, so employers will look for evidence of those traits.
How to get the most out of this template
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), almost 83% of employers anticipate increasing (24.9%) or maintaining (57.7%) hiring levels for the Class of 2024. If you’re a student or a soon-to-be graduate seeking employment, following a student resume template can help you zero in on the important skills and knowledge you’ve developed in and out of school. Writing a compelling student resume can be challenging since you don’t have extensive job experience, but a template will help you highlight qualities that entry-level employers are seeking.
The student resume template provides space to include your school achievements, projects, and any training or certificates you have. Even without formal experience, you can show employers your skills, passion, and determination.
More Resume Templates
Looking for a different resume template? Check out this list:
Frequently Asked Questions: Student Resume Templates
A student resume template may have a space for GPA so students can display they’ve achieved high levels of success. That said, only students who have a strong GPA should include it on their resume.
Student and regular resume templates are similar as they contain many of the same elements. The main difference is that a student resume will put more emphasis on and expand the education section. Also, a student resume may include more nontraditional experiences such as internships or academic projects.
A student resume template should be one page long in nearly every case. Without an extensive background and work history, students can usually fit their most pertinent academic highlights and relevant experiences on one page.
Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.