Crafting A Cv: A Guide For University Students

A CV is an essential document for university students to showcase their experiences, skills, and academic credentials when applying for jobs, internships, or academic positions. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to crafting a CV, there are several key considerations and best practices that can help students create a compelling and effective CV. This includes determining the correct structure and format, highlighting relevant experiences and accomplishments, and tailoring the CV to the specific opportunities being pursued. Additionally, seeking feedback from mentors and advisors can help ensure that the CV accurately represents the student's strengths and capabilities. In this article, we will explore the process of creating a strong CV for university students, covering various aspects such as content, presentation, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Formatting and structure

Length and Layout:

Keep your CV concise and clear. Aim for no more than two sides of A4 paper, excluding your cover letter. Use a simple and clear layout with headings, formatting (bolding, italics, underlining), and spacing to make the document easily readable.

Font and Text Size:

Choose a standard and easily readable font such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman. Ensure the font size is between 10 and 12 points. Use black font colour to maintain professionalism.

Personal Information:

Provide your full name, professional email address, and primary phone number at the beginning of your CV. Ensure this information is accurate and formatted correctly to facilitate easy contact by potential employers.

Education:

Start with a brief summary of your educational background, including the name of your university, your major, any minors, your expected graduation year, and your GPA (if competitive). You can provide further details about specific courses and academic achievements in subsequent sections. If you have limited work experience, consider expanding this section to highlight relevant subjects, projects, awards, and grades.

Work Experience:

Include your professional experience, focusing on field-related content. Provide concise descriptions of your roles, accomplishments, and transferable skills. List your experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. You can also include any volunteer work, internships, or research positions relevant to the opportunity you're targeting.

Skills:

Create categories for different types of skills, such as languages, technical skills (software, hardware), laboratory skills, design skills, and communication skills. Highlight any abilities that align with the specific requirements of the position you're applying for.

Achievements and Awards:

Include a section that showcases your academic and professional achievements, such as awards, certifications, scholarships, and fellowships. Providing dates for these accomplishments adds credibility to your CV.

Hobbies and Interests:

While not always necessary, including a concise list of hobbies and interests can help showcase your personality and set you apart from other candidates. Choose hobbies that demonstrate a love for learning or determination, as these can highlight transferable skills.

References:

Provide a list of at least three professional references who can speak to your skills and candidacy. Include their full names, positions, and contact information. You can also write "References available upon request" and provide their details later if needed.

Remember to proofread your CV for grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Regularly update your CV to ensure it remains relevant to the opportunities you're pursuing. Seek feedback from mentors and peers to refine and improve your CV.

Professional and educational experience

When creating a CV as a university student, you should focus on your professional and educational experience. This section should include any internships, part-time work, or research projects you have been a part of. If you have little to no work experience, you can include extracurricular activities, volunteering, and personal projects.

Begin with a concise summary of your professional experience, highlighting the skills and achievements relevant to the job you are applying for. Include the name of the organisation, your job title, and the dates of your involvement. You can also provide a brief description of your role and accomplishments, emphasising any transferable skills. For example, if you worked part-time in a cafe, you can mention how you followed procedures and managed multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

If you have research experience, provide a short description of the project, the methods employed, and your specific contributions. You can also mention any presentations or publications that resulted from your research. Remember to focus on field-related content and use technical language appropriate for your discipline.

In the education section, list your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Include the name of the programme, school, and year attended. If you are still pursuing a qualification, mention your expected completion or graduation date. You can also include relevant subjects, coursework, projects, awards, and grades that enhance your application.

If you have little to no work experience, consider a skills-based CV that emphasises your abilities and qualifications. You can take free online courses to develop new skills and showcase your motivation. Volunteering and personal projects are also great ways to build experience and demonstrate your capabilities.

Achievements and awards

When writing a CV as a university student, it's important to focus on your skills, education, and any relevant experiences you may have. Even if you don't have extensive work experience, there are still ways to showcase your strengths and accomplishments.

• Academic Achievements: Start by listing any academic accomplishments, such as scholarships, awards, or honours. Include the name of the award, the institution, and the date received. For example, "Dean's Award for Academic Excellence (2019), University of XYZ". If you received a scholarship, include it in this section or the education section, depending on who awarded it.
• Extracurricular Activities: Were you part of any clubs, societies, or sports teams? Did you hold any leadership positions? These experiences can showcase your teamwork, dedication, and leadership skills. For example, "Captain of the University Football Team, leading the team to the National Championship in 2022".
• Volunteer Work: Any volunteer positions or community service you've participated in are worth mentioning. They demonstrate your initiative, compassion, and willingness to contribute beyond what is required. For instance, "Volunteer Tutor at the Local High School, providing weekly tutoring sessions in Mathematics and English for at-risk students".
• Personal Projects: If you've undertaken any personal projects or initiatives that showcase your skills and dedication, include them. For example, "Created and executed a successful fundraising campaign for a local charity, raising $5000 in one month".
• Online Courses: If you've taken any relevant online courses or certifications, list them here. This shows your proactive approach to learning and self-improvement. For instance, "Completed the Google Analytics for Beginners course offered by Google".
• Work Experience: While you may not have extensive work experience, you can still highlight any part-time jobs, internships, or freelance work you've had. Emphasize the skills you developed and how they relate to the job you're applying for. For example, "Freelance Graphic Designer, utilizing Adobe Creative Suite to create marketing materials for local businesses".

Remember to tailor your achievements and awards to the specific job or opportunity you're applying for. Consider what skills and qualities the employer is seeking, and showcase how your accomplishments align with their requirements.

Personal details and references

When writing a CV as a university student, it's important to remember that it's not just about your work experience. Instead, focus on your skills and how they relate to the job you're applying for.

Personal Details

The 'Personal Details' section of your CV is your first chance to introduce yourself to a potential employer. It is important to get this right to increase your chances of getting an interview. Here are some tips on what to include:

• Write your name in a larger font than the rest of your CV to make it stand out. Middle names are optional.
• Include your mobile phone number, double-checking that it is the correct number.
• If the job requires you to drive, mention your clean driving licence.
• If applying for a web design role, include a link to a website you have created.
• If you are still studying, include your expected completion or graduation date.
• You can include your marital status and information about your family if you think it will make your application more attractive. However, this is not necessary.
• Since the Equality Act of 2010, it is no longer necessary to include your age as it is now illegal for recruiters to discriminate based on age.
• With the exception of government positions, your nationality should be omitted.
• Do not include your work phone number or email address. Use your personal email address or create a new account specifically for your job search.

References

Unless the employer specifically asks for references in the job listing, there is no need to include them on your CV. If they do ask for references, here are some tips:

• Include former or current managers, as well as former or current coworkers with whom you worked closely. If you have never worked before, you can include a former or current professor.
• Write a sentence explaining how you know the reference, where, when, and for how long.
• Include your own name, phone number, and email at the top of the sheet.

Cover letters

A cover letter is a great way to introduce yourself to a prospective employer and explain why you are the best fit for the role. It is a concise, one-page document that highlights your skills and experiences and how they align with the job requirements. Here are some tips for writing an effective cover letter as a university student:

Structure and Format:

Use a professional and simple format, such as a Word or Google Docs template, which you can customize to your needs. A cover letter should be concise and well-structured, typically comprising three to four paragraphs. Begin with an introduction, followed by a paragraph highlighting your relevant skills and experiences, and end with a conclusion that reiterates your interest in the role and why you are a strong candidate.

Highlight Your Skills:

Even if you have limited work experience, focus on the skills you have gained through your studies, extracurricular activities, and personal projects. Emphasize how these skills align with the job requirements. For example, if you are applying for a role in administration, highlight your organizational and communication skills.

Provide Concrete Examples:

Instead of merely stating your skills, provide specific instances where you have demonstrated them. For example, if you are applying for a role in event management, mention your experience organizing a successful fundraising event for a university society, showcasing your planning and execution skills.

Show Your Enthusiasm:

Express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Explain why you are interested in the position and how your skills and experiences have prepared you for it. For instance, you could mention how your involvement in a particular university project has inspired you to pursue a career in that field.

Edit and Proofread:

Before submitting your cover letter, carefully review it for any errors or typos. Ask a friend or career advisor to proofread it for a fresh perspective. A well-edited cover letter demonstrates attention to detail and ensures your application is taken seriously.

Remember, a cover letter is your chance to make a strong first impression and showcase your unique qualifications. Focus on your strengths, be confident, and tailor your letter to the specific job you are applying for.

Frequently asked questions