If you’re a student trying to write your first resume, you’re probably staring at a blank Google Doc wondering: What do I even put on here? You haven’t had a corporate job yet. Maybe you’ve worked part-time, joined some clubs, or just started university. Is that enough?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: You don’t need a long career history to make a great resume. You just need to show who you are, what you’re learning, and how you’ve taken initiative. That’s what internships, part-time jobs, and programs look for when hiring students.

Here’s how to turn your education, school projects, volunteering, and side-hustles into a resume that gets you noticed.

What a Student Resume Should Actually Do

Let’s clear this up first: the goal of a student resume isn’t to show you’ve done it all. The goal is to show:

• You’ve learned relevant skills

• You know how to work with people

• You take initiative or have potential

• You’re interested in the field you’re applying to

That’s it. If you’ve done some group projects, handled a club’s social media, or even helped your cousin’s small business — that’s resume-worthy. You just need to frame it properly.

Resume Layout for Students (Clean, Clear, 1 Page)

Most students overthink formatting. Just keep it simple.

A good layout follows this order:

1. Name & Contact Info

2. Objective or Summary (Optional)

3. Education

4. Experience (part-time jobs, internships, volunteering)

5. Projects / Clubs / Extracurriculars

6. Skills

7. Certifications / Courses / Awards

Stick to one page unless you have significant internships. Use Calibri or Arial, 11pt font, and standard margins. Don’t include a photo unless asked, and avoid clutter like graphics or icons — especially if applying to companies that use resume scanners.

How to Write Each Section (With Student-Friendly Examples)

1. Name & Contact Info

Place this right at the top, center or aligned left.

If you’re applying to tech or design internships, include GitHub or portfolio links.

2. Resume Objective or Summary (Optional but Useful)

This is a 2–3 sentence intro explaining who you are and what you’re looking for. Skip it if you’re short on space, but it can add clarity.

Second-year Computer Science student with strong interest in backend development and cloud computing. Looking for hands-on internship experience in a tech-forward environment. Fast learner and dedicated team player.

Keep it tight. Tailor it to each internship or role.

3. Education (Your Biggest Asset)

As a student, your education section goes near the top. List:

• Degree type and major

• University name

• Graduation year (or expected)

• Relevant coursework (optional)

• GPA (if above 3.3)

Example:

Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Chulalongkorn University, Class of 2026
GPA: 3.6/4.0
Relevant Coursework: Media Planning, Research Methods, Digital Strategy

This section can also include scholarships or awards if you have them.

4. Experience (Even If It’s Not a “Real Job”)

You don’t need office jobs to have experience. List:

• Retail or service jobs

• Tutoring or mentoring

• Club leadership

• Volunteering

• Internships (paid or unpaid)

Structure it like this:

Event Coordinator – Student Activities Committee
Mahidol University — Aug 2023 to Present

• Planned and executed 4 major student events with 200+ attendees each

• Managed a budget of ฿20,000 for event logistics

• Coordinated between vendors, student reps, and university staff

Focus on what you did, not just your title. Use action verbs like led, managed, created, supported, etc.

5. Projects or Extracurriculars

This section is especially useful if you have little to no work experience. School projects show your ability to manage time, work with others, and apply your knowledge.

Example:

Sustainability Campaign (Marketing 202 Group Project)

• Designed and launched an Instagram campaign to raise awareness on eco-friendly habits

• Conducted surveys of 150 students to analyze behavioral shifts

• Earned highest grade and was featured by the department's blog

If you're in design, add portfolio links. If you're in tech, add GitHub links. If you’re in business, highlight competitions or simulations.