Getting your first job offer to kickstart your career is always challenging. All your education and skills will prove futile if you cannot find your way in the competitive market and start working in the domain that interests you and offers a promising future. One significant step to start exploring the job market is writing an effective resume. For students, writing a resume is another challenge because they do not have any work experience to include. Moreover, freshers usually do not have any certifications to their name to make their resume attractive and stand out from other candidates. That is why even candidates with an MBA from Golden Gate University search for a student resume format that can give them a foundation to build a fruitful document.
Basic Resume Format for Students
Whether you are writing a resume for a student or a working professional, there are certain sections that are common. I have listed a few aspects that are always there in a simple resume format for students.
Contact Information
It is the fundamental information that is there in every resume. This section introduces you to the employer or anyone reading the resume document. You will give basic information:
- Name
- Permanent Address
- Contact Information
- E-mail Address
A few formats also include additional details, like your gender, age, marital status, and more. However, these details are totally ignorable.
Objective or Summary Statement
You can consider this section as a quick summary of your resume. It is just a two to three-line description that speaks about your career goals and gives a clear idea about your vision. The challenge most students face is writing an apt objective with a precise word count. You can seek assistance from the online resume builders and proofread it to ensure it is just your vision put into good words. A sample objective will look like:
- High school student with proven [skills] looking for a [position] at [company]. Proven [skill] as [extracurricular position]. I wish to use [skills] to [achieve goals].
- Hardworking recent graduate in [degree] from [school]. Excellent [skills] and [skills]. Experienced in [function], function, and [function] at [company].
Education Section
The education section is always there in all the resumes, be it for students or professionals. You do not have to give a full-fledged handbook of all you have studied. Just write about your qualifications, with your score and the university from which you did it. You can add all the degrees and diplomas in this section, and make sure you choose a template that lets you portray it in a sorted manner. You can also highlight the qualifications that you think should definitely catch the eye of your employer, like an MBA (Global) from Deakin Business School or other renowned universities.
Other Core Elements in a Student Resume
I have discussed the basic resume format and the sections that you will find in every resume. Apart from that, there are a few other elements that you should preferably add to your resume to make it look more elaborate and increase your chances of getting hired. These components are:
Certifications / Specialization
Many students with a clear vision of the future complete certification courses or specializations during their college. If you are also an ambitious student, you should add it to your resume. Speak briefly about your certifications, mentioning the areas you covered and any additional information you wish to put on your resume.
Work Experience
I know we are talking about resume format for students with no experience, and when you are straight out of college, you actually do not have any relevant job experience. However, you can still add your work experience to the resume. Mention your internships, projects you have handled, and any volunteer work you did at the college level. Mention all the details and write about what you have learned, too. The image below explains how you can mention your work experience.
Hobbies
Your employer wants to know about your hobbies, and you should include them in your student resume format. However, avoid mentioning irrelevant hobbies like listening to music or likewise, as it will not make any difference.
Skills
You have to learn new skills when you have an MBA degree or a Post Graduate Certificate in Data Science & AI from IIITB. Your resume is the place where you mention these skills. Talk about soft skills you have gained or any technical expertise you feel is worth mentioning.
Languages You Know
It is another optional section in the resume format for students with no experience. However, you should include it only if you have a certain number of languages to mention. For example, you should add this section to your resume if you have learned foreign languages.
As these options are optional, it is up to you to decide which one you would want to put in and which ones you want to skip. Strategically, include the ones that you feel will add weight to your resume, and if you do not have enough info for a particular section, skip it!
College Student Resume Template Examples
If you are just out of college and want to apply for jobs, you should check out the basic resume examples to learn how you can strengthen your application. I have listed a few examples for your reference.
Template 1: Source Link
Template 2: Source link
How to Write a Student Resume with No Experience?
I have listed all the components of a resume, and you can use that information to write an effective document to strengthen your job application. If you still need help, refer to the step-by-step guide mentioned below.
Step 1: Gather Information
Before you sit to write your resume, gather all the information you would require while building it. Keep your educational qualification details and certifications handy so you do not have to feel the mess of looking around for documents.
Step 2: Introduce Yourself & Write your Objective
Start your resume by giving your personal details, like your name, address, contact number, and everything I have mentioned before. Moving on, create a short, precise, yet effective objective that clearly speaks about your career goals.
Step 3: Education & Skills
The next section should be a table of all your educational qualifications with your score and the subjects you specialized in. Just under your educational details, include your certifications and skills you have learned.
Step 4: Additional Details
Once you have mentioned everything written in the steps above, the next step is to see if you want to add any additional detail. It can be your certification course, the languages you have learned, or your hobbies.
Step 5: Proofread
After everything is done, proofread your resume for any errors. Understand that a resume should always be written with correct details. Moreover, grammatical errors and other mistakes will create a poor impression. So, proofread the entire document before sending it across.
This step-by-step guide can help you write an effective resume for your job application. Make sure you curate this document with utmost attention to avoid chaos and enjoy all its perks.
Mistakes to Avoid in Student Resume
I have always emphasized building an attractive, informative, and sorted resume in an easy-to-understand format. However, all your hard work in curating such a document will fail if it is filled with mistakes. Some of the common mistakes that you should always be considerate about are listed below.
- The most common mistakes are spelling or grammatical errors. It is a big turn-off for your employer as a person ready to enter the job market is not expected to make such mistakes. So, it is advisable to proofread your document twice once it’s ready.
- Another mistake is to give too much information or too little. You cannot be so precise that you miss out on details. At the same time, you cannot write an entire book in your resume. Use fewer words, but provide all the information required.
- Many students refrain from adding details about their certifications or skills, thinking they would discuss it during the interview. It is a disastrous mistake as you might not even get that opportunity if you skip mentioning your abilities.
- Lastly, putting the wrong contact information is another blunder that would kill your chances of getting hired. If you do not update your phone number on your resume, how are the employers supposed to reach out to you?!
So, these are the common mistakes you should always avoid while writing a resume. The best way is to write documents using assistance from a resume builder and get the final file proofread by someone.
Conclusion
Whether you have an MBA in International Finance from ACCA or a postgraduate degree from a globally renowned university, you would have to sail through massive competition to get a job. So, to not leave any stone unturned, your resume should get your attention. Consider it a document that represents you before you actually meet the employer and curate it in a way you would want your employer to know you. Get a popular resume format from the web and use a resume-building tool to customize it according to your requirements. Send it across to apply for your targeted job roles, and you will see a significant rise in the number of interview calls you get.
What is the best format for a student resume?
Any format that lets you put the information in a sorted manner is best for a student's resume. It should put all the information in an easy-to-understand and easily identifiable way. Just ensure that your employer or the screening expert does not have to put extra effort into reading your resume.
How to create a resume?
Creating a resume is no less than a project, and it requires attention and precision. You can use online resume-building tools for your assistance. These tools provide ready-to-use templates, which you can pick and edit according to your requirements.
How do I write a fresher resume?
Gather all the information you think you would be adding to your resume. Start by giving your personal details, career objectives, educational details, and skills. You can use a resume builder to help you put everything in a sorted format.
