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

If you need a CV for students but have little or no formal work experience, build it around what you do have: coursework, projects, volunteering, student leadership, part-time work and skills. Below is a complete student CV example you can copy and 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 based on evidence. Aim for one page. Use two pages only if you have a lot of relevant experience. Our guide to a one-page CV shows how to fit everything in.

Include these sections:

• Header: Your name, cell number, email address and location (city and province). A LinkedIn profile or online portfolio is optional.
• Profile summary: 2–4 lines that match the job you want. It is not your life story.
• Education: Qualification, institution and dates. Add key modules only if they are relevant, and results or awards only if they are true.
• Projects: Coursework or personal projects that show skills the job needs. These are especially strong on a CV for a university student.
• Experience: Part-time work, tutoring, vacation work, job shadowing (spending time watching someone do their job) or informal work. Present it professionally and honestly.
• Volunteering and leadership: Committees, residence leadership, societies and community work.
• Skills: Software and tools, admin skills, communication and languages.
• References: "Available on request" is fine. Or list 1–2 referees if they have given you permission.

Not sure what order to put things in? See the best order of CV sections in South Africa.

If you want an easy way to structure all of 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 for South Africa. Replace everything in [square brackets] with your own details. Delete any section that does not apply to you.

This example is for a BCom student applying for admin or customer service work. If you are aiming for a different kind of job, keep the structure and change the details.

Before you use it, check these points:

• LinkedIn and portfolio: Delete these lines if you don't have them. Nobody expects a student to have both.
• Languages and modules: Change them to your own.
• School achievements: Add only real ones. If you have none, delete that line.
• Certificates: Only list a driver's licence if you actually have one. Delete the whole section if you have no certificates yet. Read more about certificates on a CV.
• References: You can replace "Available on request" with 1–2 referees (name, role, cell number, email). Ask their permission first. See how to list references on a CV.

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 profile summary is the short paragraph at the top of your CV. A recruiter reads it first to decide if you fit the job. So it must match the job you're applying for.

Use this pattern:

1. Who you are (e.g. "Second-year BCom student")
2. What you're aiming for (e.g. "seeking an entry-level admin role")
3. Proof of skills (e.g. "confident with Excel from coursework")
4. What you're known for (e.g. "reliable and accurate")

Weak: "I am a hardworking, motivated student looking for an opportunity to grow."

Strong: "Second-year student seeking an entry-level admin role. Confident with MS Word and Excel from coursework, with event coordination experience from my residence committee."

The strong version tells the recruiter exactly what you can do. Pick the template below that is closest to your target job and edit it.

Template 1: Admin or receptionist role

Template 2: Retail or customer service

Template 3: Business or finance internship

Template 4: IT or tech (no experience yet)

Template 5: Teacher assistant or ECD support

For more examples, see how to write a personal profile on a CV and our CV personal statement examples.

How to add experience when you have "none"

Many students do have experience. It just isn't called "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 about what it was.

For each item, write 3–5 bullet points about your tasks and what you achieved. Start each bullet with an action word, like "handled", "organised", "supported" or "captured".

Here is how to turn informal work into a strong CV bullet:

Weak: "Helped at my uncle's shop."

Strong: "Served customers and handled cash payments at a family-owned spaza shop on Saturdays; helped count stock and record deliveries in a notebook."

The strong version shows a recruiter you can deal with customers, handle money and keep records. Those are real job skills.

For a full guide, read how to write a CV with no experience in South Africa.

Projects section: your secret weapon on a CV for university students

Projects are often the strongest proof on a student CV. They show a recruiter what you can actually do, not just what you studied.

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 or portfolio piece (if you're applying in creative fields)
• A mini research report, case study or fieldwork summary

Each project should answer four questions:

1. What was the goal?
2. What did you do?
3. What tools did you use?
4. What was the output (report, presentation, spreadsheet, poster, prototype)?

You can use this layout for each project:

Avoid writing only "Worked in a group on a marketing project". A recruiter learns nothing from that. Say what you did and what you produced.

Formatting tips that help recruiters scan your CV

Recruiters often look at a CV for less than a minute before deciding whether to read on. Make it easy for them.

• Keep it readable: clear headings, dates written the same way every time, simple bullet points.
• Use a professional email address: ideally your name, e.g. thandi.mokoena@… not partygirl99@….
• Save as PDF: unless the employer asks for Word.
• Don't overcrowd: white space makes it easier to scan.
• Be consistent: use past tense for past roles ("handled") and present tense for current roles ("handle").
• Keep the layout simple: some companies use software to sort CVs. Plain headings and no tables or text boxes help. See our guide to an ATS-friendly CV.

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 proof for the role: tools, tasks and projects.
• Listing every subject or module: Only include relevant modules or highlights. A finance internship doesn't need your first-year psychology module.
• Unrealistic skill claims: Don't claim "advanced Excel" if you can't use it confidently. Say what you can do, e.g. "tables and basic formulas". You may be tested in an interview.
• Spelling and formatting errors: Proofread slowly and ask someone else to check it too.

For more, see our list of common CV mistakes.

Do you need a cover letter too?

Not always. But a short cover letter can help when your CV is light on experience. It gives you space to explain why you want the job.

Keep it to 150–250 words. Include:

1. The role you're applying for
2. Why you fit
3. 2–3 proof points from your projects or part-time work
4. When you're available

Short student cover letter template

For more help, see how to write a cover letter. Applying for an internship? Use our internship application letter template.

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

Quick checklist before you submit your CV for students

• Your CV for students is 1 page (or 2 pages only if needed)
• Your profile summary matches the job title you're applying for
• Education includes your expected completion date (if you're still studying)
• Projects show job-relevant outputs (not just "worked in a group")
• Experience bullets are specific, honest and easy to scan
• You've checked spelling and asked someone else to read it
• The file name is professional, e.g. "Name_Surname_CV.pdf"

Sending your CV by email? Read how to email a CV in South Africa. Finishing your studies soon? Our graduate CV template is the next step.

Build and download your student CV on CV Hub

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

1. Create a free CV and add your education, projects and skills
2. Choose a CV design that suits entry-level applications
3. Log in to CV Hub any time to update and download it again

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