5+ College Student Resume Templates and Cover Letter Samples (+Extra Career Tips)

The job search process is one of the most frustrating times for recent graduates and college students. Data from Business.com shows that nearly 90% of applicants to 300 job postings available online do not receive a response from employers.

Creating and submitting a college student resume for internships, volunteer opportunities, and part-time or full-time jobs is a tactical step to increase your value to employers.  According to The Conversation, students with internship experience have lower unemployment rates, higher salary offers, and better grades.

A well-crafted college student resume will increase your chances of achieving a great career path. Through this article, Cake will guide college students who need inspiration. We also provide college student resume templates, tips for preparing for a future career, salary estimates, and other useful information. Check out this article about now!

Listen to This Before You Make The Leap Into Your Career

1) Don't Be Hard on Yourself

Before starting college, many people think it is easy to get an internship. But recent research suggests otherwise. There are several situations that prevent college students from getting internships.

A survey conducted online from March 13-30, 2023, included 2,430 students from various universities. 23% found it difficult to find internships they were interested in, 20% said they couldn't afford them, and 17% said they couldn't move to a location that matched their internship.

This means that many situations and conditions prevent students from participating in internships. Not to mention, 81% of college students work part-time jobs to pay their tuition. Internships may not be able to meet this need.

You may be in the same complicated situation as thousands of other students. Our advice is not to be too hard on yourself, because it's not your fault. Instead of feeling like a failure, you can start to think clearly and ask for help.

During the interview process or in your college resume cover letter, you can explain your situation and apply for a paid internship. Alternatively, you can ask the campus if there is a scholarship program that can cover your daily expenses during your internship.

2) Think About What You Want To Do In the Future

What do I want to do in the future? How can I make that dream come true? What will it take to prepare me for the world of work? These kinds of questions must often be on the minds of many students about to graduate. As a prospective "new player" in the professional world, realizing your own dreams requires careful consideration. First, you need to figure out what field you want to work in after graduation.

This is a crucial moment because you will decide whether your career will be in line with your major or whether you will choose to enter another field. Let's do a visualization. You are an accounting major with the ability to create illustrations. When you graduate, you hope to become an illustrator rather than an accountant.

So the step you take to achieve this goal is to sign up as an intern illustrator at one of the publishing houses. Instead of focusing on your educational background, you prefer to highlight your portfolio of personal and commercial projects on your college resume.

3) Define What Success Means to You

LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and other types of social media offer students the opportunity to learn about jobs or even connect directly with professionals. But on the other hand, seeing too much of other people's lives can be overwhelming. You see a friend bragging about her success on LinkedIn, and suddenly there's anxiety and fear that your career won't be on the same level.

These feelings are certainly common among college students. In addition to the fear of future failure, college students also have their own anxieties about academic situations, ranging from grades to relationships with instructors and others.

According to the book Immunity to Change, everyone deals with anxiety all the time. The way to reduce these feelings is to define success (and failure) in your own terms.  You might think that success is having a job that fits your hobbies or a job that gives you more free time. Then make it a habit to remind yourself that failure doesn't mean the whole world has to stop.

4) Make Sure You Are Always Willing to Learn

As a college student, change is inevitable. You may find yourself in an internship environment that is completely different from your college environment, or you may find that the skills you've learned are suddenly completely unused.

Another problem is that even at the internship level, the competitive pressure is just as great as when you are looking for a job. It's not a pleasant situation for a college student to be in, but there's nothing you can do about it. What you need to do when faced with a changing situation is to be adaptable. This key skill can be learned by being open and willing to learn. You just have to embrace it.

An internship is an opportunity for a college student to understand that learning in class and learning in practice are different things. Companies need future employees who can bridge the gap between theory and practice. The willingness to learn is also a long-term investment. A college student who continues to be open to new things will be better at his or her job.

5) Trust Your Instincts

What did Albert Einstein say about intuition? Ah, yes, "I believe in intuitions and inspirations. Sometimes I feel I am right." But is trusting your gut instincts to make decisions about your future justified?

Instincts don't come out of a vacuum. Human instincts are shaped by encounters with people, the environment in which we live, the small and large events in our lives, and the genes we have acquired since we were in the womb.

In short, instinct is a decision-making tool that should not be ignored. You might get an offer to move cities for an internship, and if your gut says, "Go for it," then you might consider taking it. Instinct is a reason you can't clearly articulate. To be clearer and more comprehensive, you still need to gather information, data, and other rational considerations before making a decision.

How to Find A Suitable Internship Program?

1) Meet the Professionals

The opportunity to speak directly with professionals helps students explain their strengths in more detail. Not many platforms offer the ability to match professionals with interns or recent graduates. Also, not all internship and job opportunities are posted on job boards. Most rely on networking and word of mouth to find ideal candidates.

Cake understands this problem, which is why we created Cake Meet! Cake Meet is a networking platform that brings together job seekers, recruiters, mentors, and other professionals to share and discuss information.

By simply swiping, you can match and chat directly with recruiters and headhunters. Of course, if positive signals exist, the chat can develop into a job or internship offer.

To get 10 extra swipes, check out our referrals program.

2) Perform Self Assessment That Can Help Strength Your College Resume

According to Cornell University, self-assessment helps students evaluate themselves realistically. The results of self-assessment will tell you what needs to be improved, what needs to be enhanced, and what needs to be eliminated.

You can start self-assessment by making a list of things you like, hobbies you do often, tools you are learning, and things you want to learn in the future. You can use this list to assess what strengths you have that can be developed, weaknesses that need to be improved, and also key skills that can be highlighted when writing a college student resume.

From there, it's easy to identify the types of jobs, industries, and career paths that are right for you. You can also determine the work environment, work culture, and lifestyle you want to live.

3) Think About Balancing Work and Life Before Sent Your College Resume

Work-life balance is not only beneficial for employees but also for employers. It is a fact that employees who are mentally and physically healthy are more productive. A college student who also has to find time to study should consider this work-life balance attitude to be stress-free.

One study found that 56% of 375 students could not get an internship because of a heavy course load. This situation is most common among students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Free time to take care of yourself or just relax is virtually non-existent.

When looking for an internship, make sure the company you choose understands the burden students face. Communication and transparency from the start can help avoid misunderstandings with HR. Then, convince HR that the situation you are experiencing will not affect your commitment to your work. 

Set realistic expectations for what you can accomplish for the company in terms of energy and time. This will make it easier for HR to adjust your schedule and workload during your internship. This type of communication strategy will familiarize you with the teamwork system in the workplace. As part of a team, it is easier to achieve goals when each member understands and can support each other.

4) Leverage Your Campus Resources

Every university has strategies and platforms to expand its network for new graduates or students looking for internships. Unfortunately, sometimes the dissemination of information is not massive, making it difficult for students to access or even know about it.

Here are some steps you can take:

• Seek information and advice from the department head or faculty who can help.
• Establish communication with the Career Center and Student Affairs.
• Join alumni groups and create a map of alumni who are already working, then contact potential alumni via LinkedIn or other social media. If communication goes well, see if the person is willing to provide an internship referral.
• Frequently attend campus-sponsored seminars if the material presented is relevant to your major. This is a great way to network by getting to know the speakers.

5) Believe That Education Loans Won’t Keep You From a Good Career

For some people, higher education is a luxury. That's why many countries offer educational loan programs. For higher education, this program is known as a college student loan.

This loan program ensures that the cost of tuition, daily living expenses, books and supplies needed by students are covered. As written by Investopedia, the loan repayment is deferred while the borrower studies up to six months after obtaining the degree.

The United States has an educational loan forgiveness policy if the borrower meets the qualifications. For example, civil servants who have worked for 10 years and made 120 payments, teachers who teach in low-income schools, people who have made loan payments for 20 to 25 years in the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) program, and others.

So will education loans make it harder for new graduates to get jobs? For finance-related positions, information about the financial situation of prospective employees is indeed needed. However, it is not easy for companies to access a candidate's credit score because the government usually has rules to protect such personal information.

Candidates also have the right to refuse to provide financial information because it can lead to bias and discrimination. So you don't have to provide any explanation about your student loans. So don't worry, having student loans won't end your career.

Expected Salary for New Graduates and Internships

As mentioned above, unpaid internships are legal under the conditions outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act:

• The purpose of the internship is vocational training in an educational setting, not regular full-time employment.
• The primary interest of the intern is to gain professional experience.
• The establishment of an internship program is not intended to replace the work of permanent employees. Therefore, the internship process must be closely supervised by employees.
• Although they have become interns, it does not mean that at the end of the program students will be given permanent jobs by the company.
• Both employers and interns understand that there is no pay during the program.

According to Global Internships, to compensate for the lack of wages, interns may receive academic credit, a stipend, free or subsidized housing, and access to a network of professionals.

In recent years, however, many groups have begun to criticize the unpaid internship system. The slogan "Experience doesn't pay the bills" is often used by students to call on companies to create more paid internship positions. As a result, paid internships have become more competitive than unpaid internships.

So how much are interns paid? According to Indeed's survey, the average standard wage in the United States is $12.88 per hour. Of course, for recent graduates, the average is even higher, depending on the minimum wage in each country.

Guidelines for Writing a College Student Resume

The sections in a college student's resume are actually not that different from the professional version. However, the placement of each section is not the same because the highlighted information or urgent information that needs to be read by the hiring manager is also different.

In addition, it is more common in student resumes to use a resume objective rather than a resume summary. Read the full explanation in the section below.

Personal Information

Today's student resumes always include personal information. This data is used by recruiters to identify candidates better. Personal information is included not only in college resumes but also in cover letters. Just in case, be aware that not all personal information can be included in a college freshman's resume for security reasons. This also applies to any other information you include in your cover letter.

• Name: Obviously, the first piece of information to include is your full name. If you have an international name, it is best to include both.
• Email address: In the working world, all correspondence is often done via email or a communication tool that can be used for team collaboration. This way, all communication between you and the hiring manager is perfectly recorded.
• Phone number: A phone number is used when the hiring manager needs a quick response or wants to confirm some application information. Try to use a phone number that is connected to an easily accessible instant messaging application.
• Your City: Information about where you live is needed to estimate your distance from the office. If you are a potential candidate, the hiring manager should consider compensating you for transportation costs or the possibility that you may need to move closer to the office.
• LinkedIn account: Who says LinkedIn accounts are only for college graduates? College students can also use them to connect directly with professionals.
• Portfolio: Use your portfolio to document your routine, work, hobbies, or personal projects that can support your professional performance.

Resume Objectives on Your College Resume

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the summary section is not commonly used for college student resumes. This is because the resume summary emphasizes work experience and accomplishments, two things that are not available to students who are just starting their internships.

Instead, college student resumes use career objectives. These are statements about career goals, future expectations, and key skills that support the achievement of those goals. The resume objective is only two to three sentences long.

Professional Experience

The experience section doesn't always have to be on a college student's resume. But if you have had part-time jobs, other internships, or even volunteer work, you can list them in this section. This information will help the hiring manager make a decision.

Since you are not at a professional level, you do not need to quantify your accomplishments or performance. Just clarify what you actually did on the job. Using bullet points will help organize your college student resume.

Don't forget to use action verbs to make your statement powerful and memorable. You can learn more about action verbs in this article. The following is an example of an internship experience that you may want to use as a guide.

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Financial Analyst, CAEK Corp, Jan 2023 - July 2023

• Learned about the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), and Strategic Guidance Plan process.
• Conducted trend monitoring analytical studies for presentation to senior financial analysts and management team.
• Applied accounting principles while learning cost accounting standards and International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Assist the team in establishing, developing, and maintaining efficient and effective business relationships with internal clients.

Skills You Should Highlight on Your College Resume

This is an important part of the college application resume that lists your skills. These hard and soft skills are used to determine the candidate's fit with the company's needs. The list of skills relevant to the internship you are applying for is also listed in the cover letter and resume objective. To clarify the type of skills you have, divide the list into two sections: technical and non-technical skills.

Non-technical skills emphasize interpersonal skills. Technical skills emphasize mastery of tools. For example, a computer science student has the ability to optimize website performance and a strong foundation in data analysis and event planning. These three skills are included in technical skills.

Education History

Whether you are a computer science student or a mechanical engineering student who knows many tools, information about your educational history is always at the top of the list of college student resumes. 

Internships are also part of the collaboration between the university and the company you are applying to. This means that your educational background will always be relevant, as recruiters also check alumni affiliations. If possible, include information about the courses you have taken. This type of information is a plus because it allows the hiring manager to judge your enthusiasm and sincerity in the field you are applying for.

Other Information

Certifications and Awards

The list of certificates and awards is not as relevant at the professional level, but for students, it demonstrates your activity outside of campus affairs. If you have a long list of certificates and awards, be sure to include only the most recent and relevant ones. Even if you don't read them carefully, too much-outdated information will only make the recruiter skip over your student resume. To keep it organized, always use bullet points!

Project Section

The projects section is one of the most interesting sections because of the variety of information you can include. Were you involved in a specific project? Either a personal project, a class project, or an extracurricular activity. If so, it's time to shine in this section!

The projects mentioned in the student resume are not avant-garde projects. You could list a media outlet or blog you write for, a short film you started, a podcast where you share your thoughts or YouTube content.

References

References or recommendations are the best way to show that you are a capable person. Ask for a letter of recommendation from your professor who knows about your strong academic performance, your analytical skills, and your career goals.

Professors on your reference list will likely be contacted by the hiring manager to confirm that the information on the student's resume is accurate and appropriate. They will also ask for your professor's personal opinion of you and whether you are a good fit for the internship.

References

• Gladhys S., Professor of Finance, Gadjah Mada University
• Yogyakarta, Indonesia
• (085)-1133-xxxx, [email protected]

Language Skills

Another skill you need to master is foreign language skills. Yes, fluency in English, both written and spoken, is the most common requirement of employers. Mastery of other foreign languages will also set you apart from other candidates.

Tips for Writing a College Student Resume

Understanding College Student Resumes

In the academic world, the use of a curriculum vitae is more common than the use of a resume. This is because a CV, which is often interchangeable with a resume in some countries, contains a more complete and comprehensive professional history.

The limit of information included in a CV, from a list of work experience to education, can go back up to 15 years. That's why a CV can be more than 10 pages long. For college students, using a resume instead of a CV is the right choice. 

First, these college resumes are focused on gaining work experience instead of pursuing an academic career. Second, there are not many college students who have extensive experience at the professor level that requires a CV. What is the limit on the number of pages of a resume? Ideally, it should be 1 to 3 pages. The more concise, the better because recruiters don't have much time to read through all the applications.

Understanding college student resumes is important because it relates to the goals you want to achieve. For example, if a college student wants to focus on academics, he or she can write a resume for an internship as long as the work experience qualifies.

Research The Company and The Position You Are Applying For College Resume

For a college student about to graduate, getting an internship that paves the way to a stable job is a dream. But finding a company that takes internships seriously is not easy. There are times when companies treat interns the same as other employees.

These unpleasant situations can be avoided by doing your research. Yes, research can help you find internship opportunities that match your professional interests, career goals, and academic major. 

Find A Partner

In addition, research is also a part of choosing companies that are not expected to provide growth opportunities for interns. An easy way to do research starts with finding a partner. Of course, not only do you need internship information, but so do your college friends. 

The more friends you have, the easier it will be to gather information and share opinions. Don't be afraid that your partner will steal the internship opportunity. Internship standards can vary greatly from person to person. 

Check the Social Media

You can also check social media accounts and the company's official website. Then, you can conduct research by asking alumni who have worked at the company. The point is that there are many ways to get comprehensive and relevant information about the company you are applying to.

If you want to make sure that the company is a red flag or not, there are several websites that contain reviews from employees and former employees that you can easily access. This research process cannot be done in a few days. It is better to set aside two to one month to gather as much information as possible.

Choosing The Right College Student Resume Format

There are three types of college student resume formats that are commonly used. All three have different functions and are tailored to the level of experience and needs of different students.

• Chronological College Student Resume: This is the most common format used in the professional world. All relevant information is written in reverse chronological order, with the most recent experience at the top. It is the easiest format for recruiters to read. Students can also use the same format if they have at least some work, internship, or volunteer work. The list of such experiences is located directly below the education history.
• Functional College Student Resume: Don't have any experience? Don't worry; interns often use a functional student resume! Instead of highlighting the jobs you've done, this type of resume is designed to showcase your skills. You can replace the "Experience" section with "Relevant Skills". At the bottom of your skills section, describe an activity (or activities) that validate your skills.
• Combination College Student Resume: This last college student resume format is really unique and rarely used. However, this type of combination works well for students who have a variety of experiences. For example, you worked several part-time jobs during college, ranging from waitress to virtual assistant. This type is a bit unique because, with a very diverse list of jobs, you can put the education section at the bottom as needed. Having a resume with various backgrounds allows you to apply for internships that align with your major.

The next step after determining the right college student resume is to pay attention to the layout of the resume itself. Some fonts should be avoided because they make the resume less professional, as well as the addition of emoticons and letters of different sizes.

Using Keywords and Tailoring Your College Student Resume

Placing keywords in your cover letter, resume objective, and work experience list is the way to get your college resume through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This artificial intelligence engine uses keywords to assess a candidate's compatibility with company standards.

Finding the right keywords is actually quite easy. You can look through the list of requirements, qualifications, or responsibilities in the internship posting. Look for phrases that are emphasized, and you'll find the keywords you need there.

The problem is that even though the same internship position is open, the requirements may be different for each company. If this is the case, the only thing you can do is create multiple versions of your student resume. This trick is called tailoring or customizing. For example, take a look at the internship ad below and find the words that could be keywords:

You will find: 1. internship, 2. copywriting, 3. social advertising, 4. research and analysis skills, 5. social media, 6. marketing content. Then, incorporate these keywords as naturally as possible. You can also search the company's website and social media for additional keywords.

Digital Marketing (Unpaid Internship) Job Description

College Student Resume Sample and Template

College Student Resume Template for Internship with Relevant Experience (Chronological Format)

College Student Resume Template with No Experience (Functional Format)

College Student Resume Template (Combination Format)

College Student Cover Letter Example

There is a good reason why a cover letter should be included with a college student's resume when submitting an application. To companies, a college student applying for an internship program falls into the inexperienced group.

For a paid internship program, which has more applicants than an unpaid internship, a cover letter is just as important as a resume. The cover letter is a bold statement that you are a suitable candidate, even with minimal relevant experience.

There is an art to writing a cover letter. You can't just include the same information as your resume, which will only make a recruiter question your communication skills. Despite its importance, a hiring manager will spend no more than a minute scanning your cover letter. What you need to know is what to include in your cover letter. Check out Cake's tips below to learn more.

• Since internships are the earliest part of your future career, remember that your cover letter should include your goals, skills, and strengths. This type of information will make your college application resume stand out from other candidates.
• The first paragraph contains basic information such as your college name, major, GPA, and a list of skills. You can also include information about your previous work experience or internships.
• The second paragraph is a more detailed description of your skills. For additional information, write about course materials that will support your performance as an intern.
• The next paragraph can be filled with an affirmation of why you are a suitable intern candidate for the company. To reinforce this, give reasons why you chose this company over others.
• Close the letter by showing how excited you are to be able to contribute as an intern and also emphasize your strong desire to continue learning.
• As with your resume, keyword placement is important to make it easier for the hiring manager to scan. The keywords required may vary from internship to internship, so you may need more than one cover letter to apply to each company.

FAQs

1) Is it possible to get an internship with no experience or activities?

The principle of the internship program is to provide sufficient professional preparation before students enter the job market. So, actually (and supposedly), internships do not require any experience from the candidate.

However, the development of social media in recent years has raised the qualification standards for interns. From the company's point of view, prospective interns can access many self-development platforms for free via the Internet.

Companies are also sorting out which candidates are actively using social media (making it easier for recruiters to assess them) and which are not. In some countries, the tendency to impose strict requirements on prospective interns is also part of the debate among many groups.

So the answer could be no and it could be yes. If you do not have any activities, then what you need to emphasize in your student resume and cover letter is your skills. If you get the chance to interview with recruiters, make the most of it. Train yourself to project a confident aura that impresses them.

2) What are the chances of getting an internship that is not related to my major?

Applying to an internship program that matches your major is advantageous. You can easily get recommendations from your professors or even get additional funding from the department head.

However, there are always opportunities to try new things, even if they do not match your background. In this case, you may need to create a college student resume that emphasizes your skills list more than your educational background.

Having the courage to look for different internship programs may free you from the competitive job market. So basically, there is only one condition to do it: you need to strengthen your college student resume to attract recruiters!

3) What should I do if my college student resume is rejected?

This is an interesting question. If your college resume is rejected, the first thing you should do is take some time to think about it. This will improve your mood and make your mind clearer. Then, do a thorough evaluation. If you can't figure out what's wrong with your college student resume, ask your friends and family to give you an honest assessment.

Is my college student résumé evocative? Did I use the right keywords? Do my skills match what the company needs? Did I use the right format? These questions can help you determine the quality of your college student resume. Don't forget always to review the requirements and job responsibilities to make sure you are a qualified candidate.

Key Takeaways About College Resume

• Having internship experience and working part-time or full-time while studying will reduce the chances that a college student will have difficulty finding a job.
• Although unpaid internships are legal, in recent years, many companies have offered paid internship programs that are definitely more competitive.
• Important points to highlight in a college student's resume are skills relevant to academic achievement. In addition, use the resume objective as a way to introduce yourself professionally.
• If you have a heavy academic load, include work-life balance variables when looking for an internship program that suits you. Good luck with your college resume!

This college resume article will help the undergraduate student to get better internship opportunities. Strong academic performance and relevant skills are key to creating an eye-catching college student resume. In addition to online resume builder and free resume templates, Cake also provides various important information about the world of work. We offer job seekers meet-ups, informative articles, student resumes, and professional resumes. Join us now! 

— Originally written by Erika Rizqi—