Are you looking for an expert guide on how to write an undergraduate CV? If yes then continue reading this article. Here, we also have a free undergraduate CV sample for you to download and use.
So without much delay, we will delve deeper into how to write an undergraduate CV.
Note: If you need any form of assistance with your CV/Resume, you can contact us today. An expert will review or revamp your resume and help you improve it to capture better the key things that will help you stand out.
Why Do You Need A CV As An Undergraduate?
Most individuals would believe that because undergraduates are still students and lack professional experience, they don’t require a CV. But now is the moment for them to start from fresh on their CV because they need one when applying for:
- A part-time job.
- Internship.
- Voluntary jobs.
- Admission into a graduate school and some other instances.
When crafting an undergraduate CV, can be challenging if you have limited or no work experience. Every section of your undergraduate CV is important, so it’s essential to tailor it effectively to catch the recruiter’s eye. Join me as we explore some tips to help you create a compelling undergraduate CV.
Tips For Writing A Winning Undergraduate CV
Here are a few tips for writing an outstanding undergraduate CV:
- Begin with a captivating yet concise profile summary.
- Avoid cliché words.
- Use standard format, font, and font size.
- Use industry-related keywords.
- Add functional contact details.
- Prioritize education and its experiences over work experiences.
- List all relevant characteristics, regardless of their professionalism or relationship.
- Treat your extracurricular activities like jobs.
Top 20 Skills To Include In Your Resume As An Undergraduate
As an undergraduate seeking a job, here are 20 important skills you can add to your CV for you to make a good impression on your employer. Also, note that these skills are not to be added all at once but carefully select them according to your job.
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
- Customer Service
- Active Listening
- Creativity
- Critical Thinking
- Adaptability
- Project Management
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Data Analysis
- Writing
- Technical Skills
- Time Management
- Enthusiasm
- Research
- Marketing
- Organization Skills
- Analytical Skills
Top Five Skills To Include In A Content Writer CV
In your CV, include only the skills that are relevant to your job and omit the others. For example, let’s identify the top five skills for a content writer and an engineer from our list.
- Writing
- Communication
- Research
- Data Analysis
- Creativity
The Top Five Skills Of An Engineering Student
- Critical thinking
- Data analysis
- Research
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork/collaboration
These skills are what we just coined out from the top 20 skills mentioned. It is not an all-inclusive list although it can come in handy for you when the time comes.
A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Write An Undergraduate CV
Want to learn how to craft a standout undergraduate CV, even if you don’t have any prior experience? Check out this step-by-step guide!
Step One: Carefully Write Down Your Contact Information
First, in addition to creating a CV, you should also aim to be reachable by recruiters for further inquiries. The contact information you provide is crucial for them to get in touch with you, so make sure to provide accurate details. Here are the key contact details to include in your resume.
- Full Name: Use your full name as it appears on all your credentials. Avoid using nicknames or abbreviations.
- Phone Number: It is best to use an active phone number which will always be available in case your recruiters decide to contact you.
- Address: You should only include the city and country wherein you reside. Other details such as house or street number, and so on should be left out – for security reasons.
- Email Address: A professional email address that contains your name and surname should be used. Avoid the use of nicknames or monikers for your professional email address.
- Website: If you have a working website you can add it but if you don’t have it, a link to your profile on any professional platform is what you need.
Step Two: Write A Compelling Profile Summary
Secondly, write a very good profile summary that can sell you out as the best candidate even at first glance. Your profile summary should not be lengthy for employers to read through. More about this profile summary is discussed below.
Step Three: Highlight Your Skills
Every industry has its specific skills requirements. Be sure to acquire technical skills and add them to your resume. Additionally, to increase your chances of getting hired, differentiate your soft skills from your hard skills.
Step Four: Quantify Your Work Experience (if any)
When describing your work experience, include numbers and figures to quantify your achievements. These are like the spices of your work experience. If you don’t have prior work experience, you can change this heading to “career experience.” just like we have in sample 1 – follow the example there. Here’s how to write about your work experience:
Title Of The Job, Name of company/organisation | Location | Duration
- Work experience 1 xxxxxxxx
- Work expeerince 2 xxxxxxxx
- Work expeerince 3 xxxxxxxx
- Work expeerince 4 xxxxxxxx
Title Of The Job, Name of company/organisation | Location | Duration
- Work experience 1 xxxxxxxx
- Work expeerince 2 xxxxxxxx
- Work expeerince 3 xxxxxxxx
- Work expeerince 4 xxxxxxxx
Step Five: Education
The education section should showcase your academic journey, highlighting achievements, grades, research projects, and extracurricular activities. Here’s an example of how to structure the education section.
Degree & Course of study, Name of institution | Location | Entry month and date – Graduation month and year.
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- Grade: If it is above 3.0 for a 5.0 GPA
- Research Project: write the undergraduate project you carried out
If you haven’t graduated yet the most important things to add here are your Course of study, Name of institution, expected year of graduation, majors and minors, and extracurricular activities in this format.
Degree & Course of study, Name of institution | Location
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- Expected Graduation Year:
- Majors:
- Minors:
- Activities:
Step Six: Volunteer/Internship
Add your volunteer or internship experience. Here is how to write that
Role : Organisation | Location | Date
- Activity 1 xxxxx xxxx xxxx
- Activity 2 xxxxx xxxx xxxx
- Activity 3 xxxxx xxxx xxxx
- Activity 4 xxxxx xxxx xxxx
Step Seven: Add Certifications & Training
Acquiring a certificate related to your field shows that you are enthusiastic and passionate about the industry. There are several online platforms where you can receive free training and obtain a professional certificate, so take advantage of that to get started.
Step Eight: Mention Your Hobbies/Interests
Another important section for you as an undergraduate is mentioning your hobbies and interests. It’s best to highlight only those hobbies that are related to your industry. For example, if you’re applying for a job in the banking industry, hobbies like traveling, dancing, or sleeping are not recommended. Instead, activities like reading, analysis, and research would be more beneficial.
Furthermore, let’s look at the most important sections in your undergraduate resume below.
Important Sections For You As an Undergraduate With No Experience
The most important sections to appear on your resume as an undergraduate with no prior job experience are as follows.
1. Profile Summary
A profile summary is an overview of the entire resume, one from which an employer or hiring manager can conclude whether or not to hire an individual. For your profile summary to stand out, it should highlight your skills, education, work experience, and relevant training you have undergone. Another key importance of this section is that most recruiters don’t always spend much time on one particular resume so tailoring yours compellingly will make them more interested to look further into your resume.
2. Skills
Highlight the skills you possess which are useful for the job you are applying for. Above, we have listed 20 skills for every undergraduate, ensure to use them at will. This is one of the sections that will sell you out if done properly.
3. Education
When creating your undergraduate education section, it’s important to showcase your academic journey by including all the years of your academic career. A CV is a professional document used by hiring managers, recruiters, and employers to learn about your past experience, current activities, and future plans. Therefore, be sure to include all relevant academic achievements and progressions, as well as any other accomplishments.
4. Work Experience
As an undergraduate, if you have worked for someone include it under the work experience section. All you need to do is highlight the type of job, the name of the employer/company, and the dates you started and ended the job. Also, list the activities that you carried out while working.
Furthermore, in case you don’t have prior work experience, here are six jobs you can easily find and start working to get experience.
- Secretary/Personal assistant
- Waiter
- Translator
- Office Assistant
- Receptionist
- Marketer
5. Other Relevant Sections
Since it is an undergraduate resume, not much is required from you because you lack industry know-how however, you are expected to show a certain level of enthusiasm or passion for the job and that is where these sections we are about to mention come in. Let’s see.
- Training or certifications
- Internships
- Languages
- Hobbies/Interests
Hopefully, with this explanation, you can now write your resume perfectly!
Benefits Of Earning A Certificate
You might be wondering why you need to acquire a certificate. As an undergraduate, getting additional training and certificates will
- Expand your knowledge and skills
- Gain credibility
- You will have a competitive advantage over other applicants
- It can also increase your earning potential
Free Undergraduate Resume PDF Download
- Click here to download a free undergraduate CV – Sample 1
- Click here to download a free undergraduate CV – Sample 2
Conclusion
It is also worthy of note that a typical undergraduate resume alone is not always enough, a cover letter, and how you send an application email, among other things are what is going to set you apart from other candidates. Here is an article that will help you prepare for the interview and how to send a professional application via email.
How We Can Help You With Your Resume
We are a career brand that renders career services such as CV/Resume writing, personal statement/statement of purpose writing, LinkedIn Optimisation, Interview Guide, and Career coaching. We want to ensure we help you to navigate the tides of the academics, and corporate world. Contact us today to get an outstanding resume!
Good luck!
