Student CV Example: What to Write With No Work Experience
A full student CV example in UK format for someone with no work experience, with profile examples, skills, and what to write instead of a job history.
Last updated: 4/10/2026 · Author: MojCV Team · Reviewed by: HR Specialists
Last updated: 4/10/2026
Author: MojCV Team · Reviewed by: HR Specialists
Student CV example
A complete sample for a first-year university student with no paid work experience. Use it to see the order of sections, the length, and how projects and volunteering fill the space.
Noah Bennett
Business Management Student
First-year Business Management student with strong organization, teamwork, and communication skills built through society roles, volunteering, and group projects. Reliable, quick to learn, and looking for part-time work alongside study.
Education
BA (Hons) Business Management (in progress)
Sep 2025 – Jun 2028
Northfield University – Leeds, UK
- First-year modules: Marketing Principles, Business Accounting, and Organizational Behavior. Current average: 2:1.
A-levels: Business (A), Math (B), Geography (B)
Sep 2023 – Jun 2025
Greenhill Sixth Form College – Leeds, UK
- Also 9 GCSEs, including English and Math at grade 6 or above.
Projects
Charity Quiz Night
Feb 2026 – Mar 2026
Business Society • Leeds, UK
- Organized a quiz night for 60 guests, including booking the venue, selling tickets, and managing the budget.
- Raised 780 pounds for a local food bank.
Group Marketing Plan for a Local Cafe
Nov 2025 – Jan 2026
University module • Leeds, UK
- Worked in a team of five to research customers and build a marketing plan for a local cafe.
- Presented the plan to the module tutor and the cafe owner and answered questions from the audience.
Skills
Languages
English (Native or Bilingual Proficiency)
Licenses & Certifications
Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering
Aug 2025
Approved online training provider
- Food hygiene and allergen awareness for hospitality work.
Awards & Achievements
Duke of Edinburgh Award (Silver)
Jul 2023
The Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Completed volunteering, skills, and physical sections and a two-night expedition.
Volunteering
Treasurer
Oct 2025 – Present
University Business Society • Leeds, UK
- Manage the society budget of 1,200 pounds and keep clear records of income and spending.
- Report to the committee each month.
Volunteer
Jan 2024 – Present
Eastside Food Bank • Leeds, UK
- Sort and pack donated food for around 40 families each week, working four hours on Saturdays.
- Welcome visitors and keep records of donations in a spreadsheet.
Courses & Training
Excel for Beginners
Dec 2025
- Formulas, tables, and simple charts.
One click opens this exact CV in the editor, with every job, skill, and qualification filled in. Change the name, the roles, and the results, switch to any template, and download your own PDF. No account and no email needed.
Student CV example and writing guide
Below is a full student CV in UK format, followed by profile examples, what to put in each section instead of a job history, the skills to list, and stronger wording for your bullet points. In the US the same document is called a student resume, and the structure is the same. You can also open this exact CV in the free editor, change it to fit you, and download it as your own PDF.
- Best for
- Students at any level with no paid work experience, including first-year and college students
- Format
- Reverse-chronological, one page, PDF
Why this student CV works
Projects and volunteering fill the gap
A group project, a society role, and a weekly volunteering shift show real responsibility without a job history.
Numbers make small things count
A 60-guest quiz night and 780 pounds raised show scale and results, not only effort.
Education comes first and stays short
Degree, A-levels, and GCSEs are listed in one clear block with grades, so an employer sees the level at a glance.
Student CV profile examples
The profile (also called a personal statement in the UK) is the short paragraph at the top of your CV. Write your job title, your experience, the type of work you do, and one result. Pick the example closest to your level and change the details. For more detail, see how to write a CV summary.
First-year Business Management student with strong organization, teamwork, and communication skills built through a society role and volunteering. Looking for part-time work alongside study.
Student profile: first-year university
Level 3 Health and Social Care student with placement experience in a care home. Patient, reliable, and good with people, and available evenings and weekends.
Student profile: college student
Sixth form student completing A-levels in English, History, and Politics. Confident writer and speaker, with experience of running a school debating club and volunteering at a youth center.
Student profile: school leaver
Mature student returning to study after a career break, now in the second year of a Psychology degree. Organized and dependable, with a strong record of managing family and study commitments.
Student profile: mature student
International student at a UK university, fluent in English and Spanish. Adaptable and friendly, with experience of volunteering and student ambassador work, looking for part-time work within visa limits.
Student profile: international student
Skills for a student CV
Teamwork
Working with others on group projects, societies, and volunteering.
Time Management
Balancing study, activities, and deadlines without missing any.
Communication and Presenting
Writing clearly and speaking confidently to groups.
Microsoft Excel
Basic formulas and tables for budgets and records.
Social Media Content
Planning and posting content for a society or small business.
Budgeting
Managing a small budget and keeping clear records.
Customer Service
Helping people politely, in person or online.
Problem Solving
Finding practical answers when plans change.
Soft skills for students: reliability, willingness to learn, and working well with others. Show them through projects and volunteering in your bullet points instead of listing them. For the full picture, see what skills to include on a CV.
What to put in the education section of a student CV
With no job history, education goes first. Keep it clear and put the most recent level at the top.
UK
- Current course: degree title, university, start and expected end year, and your average or predicted grade if it is good.
- A-levels, BTEC, or Highers: list each subject with the grade or predicted grade.
- GCSEs: summarize them in one line, for example 9 GCSEs including English and Math at grade 6 or above.
- Relevant modules or projects, if they match the job.
US and international
- High school diploma and GPA, if it is 3.5 or above.
- College courses and honors or dean list awards.
- Relevant coursework, if it matches the job.
How to list them
- Put the newest course first and use years, not full dates.
- Leave out grades that are not strong, and list the subjects instead.
- If your course is not finished, write in progress with the expected end year.
Student CV bullet points for projects and volunteering
Use these lines as a base, then change the details to match your workplace and results.
Projects and study
- Worked in a team of five to research, plan, and present a marketing plan for a real business.
- Organized a charity event for 60 guests, including the venue, tickets, and budget.
- Wrote a 3,000-word report and presented the findings to the module tutor.
- Used Excel to track budgets, costs, and ticket sales.
Volunteering and societies
- Sorted and packed donations for around 40 families each week at a local food bank.
- Managed a society budget of 1,200 pounds and reported to the committee each month.
- Welcomed visitors and answered questions at university open days.
- Led a small team of volunteers and shared out tasks fairly.
Weak and strong student CV bullet points
Many CVs list tasks. Scope and results make yours easier to trust.
Good at teamwork
Worked in a team of five to build and present a marketing plan for a local cafe.
Helped at a charity
Packed and sorted food for around 40 families each week as a weekly volunteer.
Organized an event
Organized a quiz night for 60 guests and raised 780 pounds for a food bank.
Responsible with money
Manage a society budget of 1,200 pounds and report to the committee each month.
Student CV with no work experience: where to start
You do not need a job to have a CV. Employers hiring students know you are studying. Show them what you have done instead: projects, volunteering, societies, clubs, and informal work such as babysitting or tutoring.
Checklist for a student CV with no experience
- Start with a two-line profile about who you are and what you want
- Put education first, with grades and a one-line GCSE summary
- Add projects, society roles, volunteering, and awards with numbers
- List skills that match the job, and your availability around study
- Keep it to one page
Student CV format and length
Use reverse-chronological order, one page, and a clean layout. Put education first, then projects and volunteering, then skills. Save it as a PDF unless the employer asks for Word. For the standard order, see the sections of a CV and the order to put them in, and how long a CV should be.
Student CV FAQ
What should a student put on a CV with no experience?
Put education first, then projects, volunteering, society roles, awards, and skills. Informal work such as babysitting or tutoring also counts.
How long should a student CV be?
One page. A student does not need more, and a short CV is easier to read.
Should I include my GCSE or high school grades?
Yes, briefly. In the UK, summarize GCSEs in one line. In the US, list your GPA if it is 3.5 or above.
Should a student CV have a profile?
Yes. Two lines at the top saying who you are, what you offer, and what you want make the CV easier to read.
Can I put school or university projects on my CV?
Yes. Projects show real skills. Say what you did, who you worked with, and the result.
Do students need a cover letter?
Often yes for jobs and internships. A short cover letter helps most when you have little work experience.
Looking for more? See all student CV examples and guides.
Build your student CV
Use this structure as your baseline, then tailor your experience and results to each job description.
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