3 CV Examples for Students

Many may feel that CV writing is easy.

But writing a CV that stands out takes time and serious effort, especially for newbies. To brighten your job prospects, spend some time studying the three student CV examples in this post.

What to Include in a CV for Students

Before diving into wholly constructed CV examples for students, it is proper to first break down the main components of the document.

1. Contact Information
2. Career Objective
3. Work Experience (if any)
4. Education
5. Skills
6. Additional Sections (optional)
7. References

Student CV Examples

Below are varying CV examples for students. These variations are meant to provide enhanced insight for different student contexts.

CV Example 1: Student CV With No Work Experience

Name: Adebayo Seun Phone: +234 801 234 5678 Email: [email protected] Location: Ibadan, Nigeria

Career Objective

Motivated undergraduate student studying Economics, seeking internship or entry level opportunities to apply analytical, communication, and organisational skills in a professional setting while gaining practical industry experience.

Education

BSc EconomicsUniversity of Ibadan | Mar 2022 – Present

• Relevant courses: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics for Social Sciences
• Academic project: Research paper on youth unemployment in Nigeria

Skills

• Research and econometric analysis
• Written and verbal communication
• Time management
• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, STATA, EViews, Python

Extracurricular Activities

• Member, Economics Students’ Association
• Volunteer, Community Literacy Outreach Programme

Referees

Dr Funke Ade Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics University of Ibadan Email: [email protected] Phone: +234 803 456 7890

Mrs Folake Oladipo Academic Advisor, University of Ibadan Email: [email protected] Phone: +234 805 112 3344

Note: For this CV, Adebayo can easily find activities to use as work experience rather than omitting the work experience section. Academic work or student group activities that involve accomplishing tasks or solving problems can be adapted as work experience.

CV Example 2: University Student CV With Work Experience

Name: Thando Mkhize Phone: +27 72 345 6789 Email: [email protected] Location: Durban, South Africa

Career Objective

Dedicated Marketing Management student seeking part-time or internship opportunities to utilise customer service and sales skills while gaining hands-on marketing and retail experience alongside academic studies.

Work Experience

Sales Assistant (Part-Time), Shoprite Checkers | Apr 2025 – Present

• Assisted customers with product enquiries and purchases
• Maintained accurate cash handling and point-of-sale operations
• Supported merchandising and stock replenishment

Education

Diploma in Marketing ManagementDurban University of Technology | Jun 2023 – Present

Skills

• Customer service
• Sales and upselling
• Communication skills
• Teamwork

Referees

Mr Sipho Dlamini Store Manager Shoprite Checkers, Durban Email: [email protected] Phone: +27 82 456 7812

Mrs Nomvula Khumalo Lecturer, Marketing Management, Durban University of Technology Email: [email protected] Phone: +27 31 373 4000

CV Example 3: Graduate CV for Entry Level Jobs

Name: Brian Otieno Phone: +254 712 345 678 Email: [email protected] Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Career Objective

Recent Information Technology graduate seeking an entry-level IT or ICT support role to apply skills in software development, database management, and technical support while contributing to efficient and reliable IT operations.

Work Experience

IT Support Intern

Kenya Power | May 2025 – Aug 2025

• Provided first-line technical support for staff hardware and software issues
• Assisted with configuring desktops, printers, and network devices
• Supported system updates, backups, and routine maintenance
• Logged and resolved IT support tickets under supervision

Education

BSc Information Technology

University of Nairobi | Jan 2020 – Nov 2024

• Final Year Project: Design and implementation of a web-based student registration system
• Key courses: Programming, Database Systems, Computer Networks, Systems Analysis

Technical Skills

• Programming: Python, HTML, CSS
• Databases: MySQL
• IT Support: Hardware troubleshooting, basic networking
• Tools: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace

Soft Skills

• Problem-solving
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Clear communication

Referees

Mr Joseph Mwangi IT Supervisor, Kenya Power Email: [email protected] Phone: +254 722 456 890

Mr Daniel Kamau Lecturer, School of Computing, University of Nairobi Email: [email protected] Phone: +254 734 889 210

Common CV Mistakes Students Should Avoid

Even a well-intentioned CV can be weakened by errors. Here are some to avoid:

• Including irrelevant information such as age, full address, or a photo (unless required)
• Using a generic CV for every role instead of tailoring it
• Spelling and grammar mistakes that suggest a lack of attention to detail
• Overly long CVs - one page is ideal for students
• Listing responsibilities without stressing achievements
• Not using action verbs to describe achievements

Read more about this in this post:

Conclusion

Student-level CVs do not differ much from those of experienced professionals. The most notable difference is that the latter often has more conventional work experience. But that shouldn't be a problem, because even as a student, you have acceptable alternatives to use in place of regular work experience.

The main task, thus, is understanding how to construct and format a CV as a student. The few student CV examples and tips above should help.