Why Kickresume is the best free resume builder for students
We, at Kickresume, understand all the struggles and difficulties students face when searching for a job. We were once students too, and that’s also one of the reasons we founded this company—to help other fellow students simplify their job-seeking process by having a platform where you can craft resumes and cover letters that will pass ATS scans easily.
Building a compelling and ATS-friendly resume as a student or recent graduate can be challenging, especially when you have limited or no formal work experience. However, there are several strategies to it—for example highlighting your education, skills, and extracurricular activities can help you create a resume that effectively showcases your potential to prospective employers.
These comprehensive guides will walk you through the process of writing various types of student CVs, including those for internships and positions requiring no prior experience.
How to write a resume with no prior work experience
Everyone has to start somewhere, and when you lack formal work experience at the beginning of your career path, it's essential to focus on other aspects of your background that demonstrate your capabilities and readiness. You can use our free resume writer for that as well.
1. Craft a professional resume summary.
A good way to start your resume is with a resume summary that outlines your career goals and highlights your enthusiasm for the field. This section should be concise, typically 2-3 sentences, and tailored to the specific role you're applying for. For example:
Recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, possessing strong research and analytical skills. Eager to apply academic knowledge to real-world environmental challenges and contribute to sustainable solutions.
2. Emphasize education.
When you have no prior work experience, your educational background is one of the most significant assets of your life. Therefore, you should include details such as your degree, institution, graduation date, relevant coursework, and any honors or awards. For instance:
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
University of XYZ, Graduated: May 2025
Relevant Coursework: Environmental Policy, Conservation Biology, Geographic Information Systems
Honors: Dean's List (2023-2025)
3. Highlight relevant projects and extracurricular activities.
If you’ve participated in any academic projects, volunteer work, or student organizations that align with your career interests, describe your role, the skills you utilized, and the outcomes. For example:
Research Project: Analysis of Local Water Quality
Conducted field research on water samples from 10 local sites, analyzed data using statistical software, and presented findings to the university's Environmental Club, leading to a community awareness campaign.
4. Showcase transferable skills.
Try to identify skills you gained throughout your education and list activities that are applicable to the workplace, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Also, provide examples of how you've demonstrated these skills.
5. Utilize a functional resume format.
Consider using a functional resume format that emphasizes skills and qualifications over chronological work experience. This approach enables you to categorize your experiences under skill headings, making it easier for employers to assess your potential.
👉 With your free Premium plan, you’ll have access to all of our tools and features that will help you build a perfect resume even with no prior work experience. For more detailed guidance, read our article on how to create a resume without experience.
How to write a resume for an internship
Securing an internship requires demonstrating your readiness to apply academic knowledge in a professional setting. We also have a free resume builder that can help you with that. Here's how to tailor your CV for an application that will pass ATS systems and get you the internship:
1. Start with a targeted objective statement or resume summary.
This section is one of the most important ones on your resume, as it is often the first thing the reader sees. Therefore, you should clearly state your intention in the desired field and mention the specific skills or knowledge you bring. For example:
Aspiring marketing professional seeking an internship to leverage strong analytical skills and creativity in developing effective marketing strategies.
2. Detail relevant education and coursework.
Here you should include your degree program, university, and relevant courses that have prepared you for the internship. For instance:
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
ABC University, Expected Graduation: December 2025
Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Market Research
3. Highlight academic projects and case studies.
Now, describe projects where you've applied theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Include the project objective, your role, and the outcome. For example:
Market Analysis Project
Conducted a comprehensive market analysis for a hypothetical product launch, utilizing SWOT analysis and developing a strategic marketing plan that received top marks in the class.
4. Include extracurricular involvement.
If you have participated in clubs or organizations related to your field, include them in your resume to demonstrate your commitment and skills. For example:
Vice President, University Marketing Club
Organized workshops and guest lectures, increasing member engagement by 30%.
5. List technical and soft skills.
Lastly, mention specific technical skills (also known as hard skills) and soft skills (e.g., proficiency in marketing software, data analysis tools), and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork) relevant to the internship.
👉 For additional tips and examples, visit our Kickresume's internship resume samples.
How to write a student resume
The purpose of a student CV is to effectively display your academic achievements, skills, and potential to prospective employers. So, how do you write one that is compelling, ATS-friendly, and will serve you well? We have a free resume maker perfect for this purpose. Let’s break it down:
1. Begin with a strong objective or summary.
Start by clearly stating your career goals and what you aim to contribute to the organization. It’s always best when you tailor this section to align with the specific role or industry according to the job posting.
2. Emphasize education.
As a student, your education is a primary focus. Include your degree, institution, expected graduation date, relevant coursework, and academic honors.
3. Highlight relevant experience.
This can include internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or significant academic projects. Describe your responsibilities and achievements in each role, focusing on transferable skills.
4. Showcase skills.
List both hard and soft skills (e.g., software proficiency, foreign languages) and soft skills (e.g., communication, leadership) that are relevant to the position.
👉 If you’d like to learn more, see specific examples, and read more in-depth guides, check out this article on how to write a perfect student resume for free.
How to write a college resume
As a college student, your CV should reflect your academic accomplishments, extracurricular involvement, work experience, and the skills you've developed. Here's how you should structure your university student resume for maximum success, or simply use our free resume generator and have the results in seconds:
1. Contact information
Begin with your full name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile (if available). Ensure this information is current and professional.
2. Objective or resume summary
A well-written resume summary is a great way to introduce yourself to the reader, and a resume summary also sets the tone for the rest of your CV. A good university student resume summary can look like this:
Senior University Student with a major in Computer Science. Specialized in software development and programming, with 10+ mobile app projects completed between 2021 to 2022. Three-time recipient (2020-2022) of the Academic Excellence Award given by the university’s Computer Science Department.
3. Education
List your college name, degree pursued, major/minor, and expected graduation date. Mention relevant coursework, honors, or academic achievements, awards, and certifications that add value to your application.
Here's an example of a well-crafted education section on a university student’s resume:
The University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, N.C.
B.A. in Communications
Charles D. Owen High School, Black Mountain, N.C.
High School Diploma
4. Experience
Detail internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or significant projects. Use bullet points to describe responsibilities and achievements, starting each with action verbs. For example:
Duke University, Durham, N.C.
Outdoor Programs Leader
August 2021 to Present
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Trained intensively for 10 weeks, earning First Aid, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid certifications.
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Led monthly weekend backpacking trips with 10 undergraduate participants, supervising daily activities and ensuring the safety of students.
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Maintained the office work schedule and performed morning and night-time inventory checks when on duty.
5. Skills
Highlight both hard and soft skills relevant to the position you're seeking. This may include proficiency in specific software, languages, or transferable skills like communication and teamwork.
6. Extracurricular activities
Include your activities whether in clubs, organizations, or sports teams. By doing this, you’ll demonstrate your commitment, involvement, and the value you bring to your future employment.
Additional tips:
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Tailor your CV: Customize your resume for each application according to the job posting with customized keywords, emphasizing the most relevant experiences and skills. With your free Premium plan, our tools can help you with that, making the whole process effortless and fast.
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Keep it concise: Aim for a one-page resume, focusing on quality over quantity.
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Proofread: Ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Consider having a mentor or career advisor review it. We can help you with that.
👉 For more insights, visit our detailed guide on how to write a free university student resume.
How to write a high school student resume
A well-written and ATS-friendly high school student resume can open doors to many job opportunities and universities. Therefore, it’s important to create one that emphasizes education, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and any part-time employment. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to write a high school student resume with our free resume creator:
1. Contact information
Start with your full name, phone number, and a professional email address. Ensure your email is appropriate, ideally a combination of your first and last name.
2. Resume summary
A resume summary is a brief statement that outlines your career goals and what you hope to achieve. It is one of the first things the reader sees when looking at your resume; that's why it’s important to make it look good and contain valuable information. A good resume summary for a high school student can look like this:
Hard-working High School Senior with 2+ years of experience volunteering as the high school office assistant, providing morning announcements and assisting with student check-ins. Co-president of the Student Debate Club, responsible for planning weekly Tuesday meetings.
3. Education
Include the name of your high school, expected graduation date, GPA (if 3.0 or above), and relevant coursework. Mention any honors or awards.
How you should list your high school education:
East Rowan High School, Salisbury, NC
High School Diploma
Academic Achievements:
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Student Body President, 2021 to Present
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Principal’s Honor Roll, 2020 to Present
4. Experience
List any part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer experiences. Use bullet points with action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements.
This is a good example of a work experience entry from a high school student’s resume:
Barron Collier High, Naples, FL
Varsity Soccer Captain
August 2020 to Present
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Led team of 20+ students in daily practice drills, physical conditioning, and scrimmages.
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Designed new uniforms for the team and successfully presented these designs to the Head Coach for approval.
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Provided teammates with encouragement and motivating speeches, helping several to create more balanced schedules with time for their school work set aside.
5. Extracurricular activities
If you can, highlight your involvement in any clubs, sports, or organizations. It adds value to your skills and showcases your contribution, making your resume more practical for future employers.
6. Skills
Mention both hard and soft skills. For instance, proficiency in a foreign language, computer skills, or strong communication abilities.
Additional tips:
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Be honest: Don’t sugarcoat anything and represent your experiences and achievements truthfully.
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Avoid irrelevant information: Build your resume only on the information relevant to the role you’re applying for.
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Limit to one page: As with the majority of CVs, your high school student resume should also be concise and just one page long.
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Proofread: Always double-check what you write. We understand it sometimes might not be easy to spot your own mistakes, therefore we offer proofreading services to make your resume flawless.
👉 For more detailed information on how to write a great high school student resume with pictures, tips & tricks, and high school student resume samples, check our thorough guide.
Let's get your student CV ready!
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