CV for students: A copy-and-paste example (plus what to include)

If you need a cv for students and you don’t have much (or any) formal work experience, build it around what you have: coursework, projects, volunteering, student leadership, part-time work, and skills. Below is a complete copy-and-paste student CV example you can edit, plus a simple checklist to make it recruiter-friendly in South Africa.

What should a cv for students include (South Africa)?

A strong student CV is short, specific, and evidence-based. Aim for one page (two pages only if you have substantial experience).

• Header: Name, mobile number, email, location (city/province), LinkedIn/portfolio (optional).
• Profile summary: 2–4 lines matching the role you want (not a life story).
• Education: Qualification, institution, dates, key modules (only if relevant), and notable results/awards (only if true).
• Projects: Coursework or personal projects that show job-relevant skills (great for a cv for university student roles).
• Experience: Part-time work, tutoring, vacation work, job shadowing, informal work (present it professionally and honestly).
• Volunteering & leadership: Committees, residence leadership, societies, community work.
• Skills: Tools/software, admin skills, communication, languages.
• References: “Available on request” is acceptable; or list 1–2 referees if you have permission.

If you want an easy way to structure this, you can create a free CV and fill in each section step by step.

Copy-and-paste student CV example (you can edit)

Use this as your student cv template south africa baseline. Replace the placeholders with your details and delete anything that doesn’t apply.

FULL NAME SURNAME Bloemfontein, Free State | 0XX XXX XXXX | youremail@email.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourname (optional) | Portfolio: yoursite.co.za (optional)

PROFILE Final-year BCom student seeking an entry-level administration / customer service role. Strong written communication, confident with MS Excel and accurate data capture from coursework and part-time retail experience. Known for reliability, neat record-keeping, and calm customer support during busy shifts.

KEY SKILLS

• MS Office: Excel (basic formulas, tables), Word, PowerPoint
• Administration: filing, scanning, email inbox management, meeting notes
• Customer service: in-person and telephonic communication
• Accuracy: data checking, attention to detail, basic reconciliation
• Languages: English (fluent), Afrikaans (conversational) (edit to your languages)

EDUCATION

University of the Free State — Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Major in Business Management 2022 – Present (Expected completion: Nov 2026)

• Relevant modules: Business Management, Intro Accounting, Marketing, Business Communication (edit to your modules)
• Highlights: Group projects with weekly presentations; Excel-based assignments for budgeting and reporting

High School Name — National Senior Certificate (NSC) 2017 – 2021

• Subjects: English, Afrikaans, Mathematics/Maths Lit, Life Orientation, … (optional)
• Achievements: (only if true) Top 10 in grade / Merit award / leadership role

PROJECTS (COURSEWORK & PRACTICAL WORK)

Customer Service Improvement Mini-Project (University coursework) — 2025

• Worked in a team of 4 to map a simple customer journey and identify 3 service gaps (response times, handovers, complaint logging)
• Created a one-page process guide and a basic complaint log template in Excel
• Presented recommendations clearly to class; incorporated feedback and resubmitted final document

Excel Budget Tracker (Personal/portfolio project) — 2025

• Built a monthly budget spreadsheet using categories, totals, and basic formulas
• Added a summary sheet to track spending trends month-to-month
• Focused on neat formatting and easy printing/sharing (useful for admin roles)

WORK EXPERIENCE

Sales Assistant (Part-time) — Local Retail Store, Bloemfontein Feb 2024 – Present (Weekends & holidays)

• Assisted customers with product questions, sizes, and returns in a friendly, calm manner
• Handled cash and card payments and balanced the till with supervisor support
• Maintained tidy displays and restocked shelves during quiet periods
• Captured basic stock information and escalated discrepancies to the shift lead

Tutor (Casual) — Peer tutoring (University/Community) Jul 2023 – Nov 2023

• Supported 2 first-year students with weekly study plans and assignment preparation
• Explained concepts simply and checked understanding using short practice questions
• Improved my planning and communication skills through structured sessions

VOLUNTEERING & LEADERSHIP

Residence/Society Committee Member — (Name of residence or society) 2024 – 2025

• Helped plan events and communicated updates to members via email/WhatsApp groups
• Coordinated sign-up lists and basic attendee tracking

Community Volunteer — (Organisation/initiative name) 2023

• Assisted with sorting donations and preparing packs for distribution
• Worked respectfully with a team and followed instructions and safety rules

CERTIFICATES (OPTIONAL)

• Short course: (e.g., Basic Excel / Customer Service / First Aid) — Provider, Year
• Driver’s licence: Code B (if you have it) — Valid (don’t add if you don’t)

REFERENCES Available on request. (Or list 1–2 with permission: name, role, contact number, email.)

Want to turn this into a clean layout quickly? After you create a free CV, you can choose a CV design and download a professional version.

How to write a student profile summary (with 5 templates)

Your summary should match the job you’re applying for. Use the pattern: who you are + what you’re aiming for + proof of skills + what you’re known for.

• Admin / receptionist (student): “Second-year student seeking an entry-level admin role. Confident with MS Word/Excel, accurate data capture, and professional email communication from coursework and volunteer coordination.”
• Retail / customer service: “Final-year student with weekend retail experience handling customers, payments, and stock support. Reliable, punctual, and comfortable working shifts.”
• Internship (business/finance): “BCom student seeking a finance internship. Completed accounting and Excel-based reporting assignments; strong attention to detail and deadline discipline.”
• IT / tech (no experience yet): “Computer science student looking for a junior support role. Built small projects and enjoy troubleshooting; comfortable explaining steps clearly and documenting issues.”
• Teacher assistant / ECD support: “Education student seeking school-based experience. Patient communicator with tutoring experience and strong planning skills.”

How to add experience when you have “none”

Many students do have experience—it’s just not labelled as “employment”. You can include:

• Part-time work: cashiering, waiting tables, call centre shifts, promotions, tutoring.
• University responsibilities: class rep, residence committee, event planning, peer mentor.
• Volunteering: community projects, church groups, sports coaching, fundraising.
• Informal work: babysitting, helping in a family business, weekend admin for a small business (be clear and truthful).

For each item, write 3–5 bullet points focused on tasks and outcomes. If you don’t have numbers, don’t invent them. Use detail instead (tools used, type of customers, type of records, shift work, accuracy checks).

Projects section: your secret weapon as a cv for university student

Projects are often the strongest “proof” on a student CV. Choose 2–4 projects that match the job. Good projects include:

• A group presentation where you researched, analysed, and recommended an action
• A spreadsheet you built for tracking, budgeting, or reporting
• A small design/portfolio piece (if you’re applying in creative fields)
• A mini research report, case study, or fieldwork summary

Each project should answer: What was the goal? What did you do? What tools did you use? What was the output (report, deck, spreadsheet, poster, prototype)?

Formatting tips that help recruiters scan your CV

• Keep it readable: clear headings, consistent dates, simple bullet points.
• Use a professional email address: ideally your name.
• Save as PDF: unless the employer requests Word.
• Don’t overcrowd: white space makes it easier to scan.
• Be consistent: same tense and style (past tense for past roles, present tense for current roles).

If you already have a CV started, it’s worth taking 10 minutes to update your CV profile so each section is complete and consistent.

Common mistakes on student CVs (and what to do instead)

• Writing a vague objective: Replace “I am a hardworking person” with role-specific proof (tools, tasks, projects).
• Listing every subject/module: Only include relevant modules or highlights.
• Unrealistic skill claims: Don’t claim “advanced Excel” if you can’t use it confidently. Say what you can do (tables, basic formulas).
• Too personal: Skip ID number, full home address, religion, marital status. City/province is enough.
• Spelling and formatting errors: Proofread and ask someone to check it.

Do you need a cover letter too?

Not always, but a short cover letter can help when your CV is light on experience. Keep it to 150–250 words: the role, why you fit, 2–3 proof points (projects/part-time work), and availability.

If you’re also applying to customer-facing roles, you may find it useful to borrow phrasing from our related guide: Sales representative CV: Example and template you can copy (especially the sections on achievements without making up numbers).

Quick checklist before you submit

• Your cv for students is 1 page (or 2 pages only if needed)
• Profile summary matches the job title you’re applying for
• Education includes expected completion date (if still studying)
• Projects show job-relevant outputs (not just “worked in a group”)
• Experience bullets are specific, honest, and easy to scan
• File name is professional (e.g., “Name_Surname_CV.pdf”)

Build and download your student CV on CV Hub

If you want a faster way to put everything into a clean format, you can:

• Create a free CV and add your education, projects, and skills
• Choose a CV design that suits entry-level applications
• Log in to CV Hub anytime to update and re-download

If you get stuck, read the CV Hub FAQ or contact CV Hub for help.