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How to Write a Resume for College Application

Looking for a perfect college resume template? Learn how to write your college application resume and get into any college you want.

A college application resume shouldn't be a snooze-fest of grades and dull work history. It's time to flip the script.

Say goodbye to the cookie-cutter approach and dive into crafting a resume for a college application that speaks volumes about the awesome things you've achieved—things you may not even realize.

This guide will show you:

• A great college application resume example.
• How to write a resume for college application that gets you into the best institutions.
• What to include on a high school resume for college.
• Tips & tricks to get your college resume template noticed.

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Looking for a different kind of college resume? We've got you covered:

• Academic CV Template
• College Freshman Resume
• College Student Resume
• Engineering Student Resume

High School Graduate

• High School Student Resume
• Law School Application
• Law Student Resume
• Recent College Graduate Resume
• Undergraduate College Resume

Our review of over 500,000 resumes built with our tool revealed that*:

- Students usually finish building their resume in just 26.3 minutes. - The most popular resume templates for students are Cascade, Diamond, and Concept. - Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Multitasking rank as the most common skills listed by users. - 29.73% of our users include certifications on their resumes.  * The data comes from the last 12 months (August 2023-August 2024).

Now, I’ll show you a fantastic college application resume.

College Application Resume Example

Phoebe Parsons

Personal Info

Address: [Phoebe's Address]

Phone: 555-123-4567

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/phoebeparsons

Driven high school graduate with a 3.85 GPA, seeking admission to The University of Iowa. Dedicated part-time zookeeper with a passion for animal care and extensive volunteering experience at an animal shelter. Demonstrated academic commitment by maintaining a 3.85 GPA, and led a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden on the school premises.

Linden Heights High School, Des Moines, IA

September 2021–May 2024

• Maintained a 3.85 GPA, excelling in Physics, English, and History.
• Recognized by four teachers for exceptional communication skills.
• Graduating in May 2024.
• Combined SAT scores of 1350 (700 Verbal, 650 Math).

High School Project: Green Oasis Initiative

• Led a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden on the school premises.
• Implemented eco-friendly practices, resulting in a 30% reduction in water usage.
• Provided fresh produce to the school cafeteria, contributing to a 20% increase in students choosing healthier meal options.

Zookeeper Assistant

Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, IA

July 2022–Current

• Assisted in daily animal care routines, focusing on the well-being of diverse species.
• Collaborated with senior zookeepers to implement enrichment programs, improving animal welfare.
• Maintained a 98% positive feedback rating from zoo visitors.

Furraria Animal Shelter, Des Moines, IA

January 2020–July 2022

• Devoted over 500 hours to animal care and community outreach.
• Successfully implemented a social media campaign, increasing shelter adoptions by 25%.

Co-founder, Operator

Paws for a Cause, Des Moines, IA March 2021–Present

• Launched and managed a social fundraising campaign for animal welfare.
• Mobilized a network of volunteers, raising $15,000 for shelter improvements.
• Established an online presence with 10,000 followers across social media platforms.
• Animal Care
• Social Media Management
• Fundraising
• Project Leadership
• Team Collaboration
• Time Management
• Communication
• Spanish—Bilingual
• Italian—Full Working Proficiency
• Wildlife photography: Organized a trip to photograph several endangered bird species in North America.
• Passionate about wildlife conservation and habitat preservation.
• Creative Writing: Runs a nature-oriented blog with around 2,000 monthly readers

A college application resume serves as a supplement to the college application. It offers admissions officers a quick overview of the applicant's accomplishments. A college application resume often includes extracurricular activities, academic performance, volunteer experience, hobbies, and awards.

Here’s how to write a resume for college applications that opens the doors to the best colleges.

1. Pick the Best Format for College Application Resume

There are around 57,000 applicants that try to get into Harvard each year. And only about 2,000 get admitted. So, about 3.5–4%. To be in the 4% that do get in, you need to have jaw-dropping academic achievements from high school—

And your college application resume format needs to be flawless. Follow this formula for the best college resume template:

• Pick a professional, simple resume template . 
• Use the best resume fonts , like Arial or Cambria, in 10–14pt. Add big headings, utilize white space, and set 1-inch margins on your resume .
• Create your resume header first. Add name, address, phone, email, and social media links. No photo.
• Add a college resume objective. Next, the education section, then activities and job experience.
• List bonuses like hobbies, volunteer work, publications, and certification on your resume for college. They show you can get things done.
• Write a one-page resume. One page is the perfect length for a resume for college applications.
• Save your resume as a PDF rather than a DOC . PDFs are machine-readable and keep their formatting on all software and devices. But, some colleges will prefer other file types or applications through The Common App .

Expert Hint: Since you’re applying to college, you might’ve heard the term CV being tossed around. But you don’t need to create a detailed CV when writing a high school resume for college. If you’d like to learn more about the differences between CVs and resumes , click the embedded link.

2. Craft a Powerful College Resume Objective

With an impeccable format all ready, your college admission resume has been given the privilege of being read for a couple of seconds. That’s not a lot of time.

This is why you need a resume objective . Present the admission officers with something that will open their eyes faster than a project deadline. Use:

• A resume power adjective ( enthusiastic, passionate ).
• “ High school graduate ” or “ student ”.
• Your goal ( seeking admission to The University of Iowa )
• An attention-grabbing achievement (l ed a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden )

Here is a practical example of what to do and not do:

College Application Resume Objective—Example

Passionate high school graduate with a 3.3 GPA and 1300 combined SAT scores. Graduating from high school in May 2024.

The first example is effective because it succinctly highlights the candidate's outstanding GPA, combines academic excellence with relevant, practical experiences , and showcases leadership through a sustainability project.

The bad example falls short as it lacks depth, offering only basic information without providing insights into the candidate's character, skills, or accomplishments. It's generic and doesn't engage the reader with meaningful details.

As for GPA, the higher it is, the better. But what constitutes high ? We can extrapolate from a study on undergraduate GPA as a selection tool . For the best results, you want a 3.6+ GPA score.

If you graduated from high school long ago, pursued a career, and are only now trying to get into college, use a resume summary . Instead of focusing strictly on your academic achievements, present 1–2 quantified professional work achievements . Especially if they’re relevant to the course you’re trying to get into.

Expert Hint: Don’t make your college application resume profile first. Build it after the rest of your high school resume for college. Then, you’ll have a full curriculum to pick from.

3. Show Educational Prowess

That goes without saying. You need to build a strong education section on a college application resume. But, you’ll include a bit more information than if you were writing a resume tailored for a job .

A university cares for your grades. So you need to show your GPA, SAT, and you can also highlight your best A+ subjects. On top of that, include additional information that shows your commitment to gaining knowledge, as well as other practical, relevant achievements gained during high school.

These college resume samples show the difference:

Education on a High School Resume for College—Example

New West Charter School, Los Angeles, CA

2014–2019

• Co-Captain of Track Team.
• SAT Scores >1300

The first of these two examples shows you weren’t just stuck to your classroom desk. It presents stunning achievements that are certain to catch an eye.

Meanwhile, the second example is bland and gives an inconclusive SAT score value.

Expert Hint: If you’ve already graduated once, present your university projects, relevant coursework , internships, and other achievements you can pull from your time studying.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now .

4. List Activities on a Resume for College Applications

A typical college application resume would end here, which is fine if you DON’T want to get into a university. To make your resume for college application fire—

Take as much time as you need and list interesting activities on your college resume. Hobbies, interests & extracurricular activities on a college admission bring a plethora of advantages . Think of these activities that are:

• Relevant to the course you want to enroll in.
• Prove vital skills.

These high school resume for college show how:

Activities on a Resume for College—Example

Paws for a Cause, Des Moines, IA

March 2021–Present

• Road biking
• Fund raising

The second example might work if you need to fill some space on a regular resume. But for a college application resume, it just doesn’t make the cut.

The first example presents tangible work experience and showcases the candidate’s hobbies in great detail, proving multiple skills.

What activities can you show on a resume for college applications?

• Class Rank if it’s impressive.
• Certifications : They prove your skills and show your dedication and motivation towards learning a specific subject.
• Jobs : Jobs show work ethic on college admission resumes.
• Awards : Essay competitions, speaking, chess club, etc.
• Volunteer Work : Red Cross, bake sales, crowdfunding.
• Projects : Have you done public service or built a website? Projects show your dedication to a goal.
• Social Media Followings : Have you built a following on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? That shows communication and persistence.
• Passions : Have you done lots of paintings? Read a ton of books? Passions show you’ve got the drive to learn something that matters.
• Sports : Don’t just list sports on a college resume. Add accomplishments like races won or records broken.
• Positions : List captainships, Eagle Scout rank, or positions in church or 4-H groups. Those all energize high school resumes for college.
• Hobbies & Interests : Are you good a fishing? Crafts? Hobbies prove you can work toward a goal.
• Known Languages : Command of a foreign language looks great on college application resumes.

Expert Hint: Remember to prove as many statements as possible by providing details. Strong college application resume bullet points like “ Successfully implemented a social media campaign, increasing shelter adoptions by 25% ” are incredibly effective.

5. Showcase Your Skills

In the previous section of the article, I mentioned skills several times. And I’m going to talk about resume skills again. This is because you’re going to write a skills section on your college application resume.

Normally, you’d do it to target some resume keywords from the job application. This time, you’re mostly targeting what the admission officer might value. This means hard skills that are important for the curriculum, and soft skills that highlight your character and potential contributions to the university community.

Don’t copy any lists you find on the internet. Always take your time and choose 5–10 most relevant skills. Here’s a list of some of the most crucial ones for inspiration:

Skills for a College Application Resume

• Communication Skills
• Strong Work Ethic
• Collaboration
• Self-Motivated
• Fast Learner
• Critical Thinking
• Creative Thinking
• Presentation
• Negotiation
• Interpersonal Skills
• Physically Fit
• Problem-Solving
• Tech Skills
• Computer Skills
• Programming
• Public Speaking
• Social Media

Expert Hint: If you don’t know the differences between hard and soft skills , click the embedded link to learn all about this subject.

6. Supply Your College Application Resume With a Cover Letter

Some colleges will require you to send a cover letter and your college application resume. Other ones will not specify, even though they most likely consider cover letters necessary .

Keep to the standard cover letter format . Start with your and the recipient’s contact information. Next, write an introductory paragraph that works similarly to the resume profile. In the middle section, showcase your achievements and skills. In the end, focus on your motivation and values.

You can learn how to write a cover letter from our guide.

Expert Hint: Do you have what it takes to win a scholarship? Write a scholarship resume and a scholarship cover letter that will make you stand out from the crowd. 

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

For a college application resume that puts you in a toga:

• Use the college resume template at the top .
• Set the right college application resume format . That way, you’ll show you’re organized and take things seriously.
• Make your education section meaningful . Show accomplishments in your high school student resume education section.
• List resume activities in your bullet points . Add details and numbers that show you’re not playing around.
• Add a college application cover letter . In it, elaborate on your achievements, motivations, and personal aspirations.

Do you have any questions on how to write a high school resume for college that sparkles? Still not sure what goes on a resume for college application? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Mariusz is a career expert with a background in quality control & economics. With work experience in FinTech and a passion for self-development, Mariusz brings a unique perspective to his role. He’s dedicated to providing the most effective advice on resume and cover letter writing techniques to help his readers secure the jobs of their dreams.

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Level Up Your Student Resume With Professional Templates

Impress hiring managers and schools with a clean-cut, classic resume that makes your strengths and achievements shine.

Professional

Worried that your resume won’t be taken seriously as a high school or college student? This resume template’s sharp format frames you as an up-and-coming professional to watch.

With its compelling icons and thoughtful use of color, the Cool resume template is a top choice for anyone looking to create an attention-grabbing resume.

Charm hiring managers and schools with an ultra-modern student resume that instantly conveys why you’re a candidate worth interviewing.

Contemporary

You want to be a leader of tomorrow, so shouldn't your student resume look equally forward-thinking? The Contemporary’s eye-catching but refined looks can help you prove you’re a trailblazer.

Effortlessly stand out from the crowd with the Awesome resume template’s unique two-column design and easy-to-read format.

How to Write a Resume Objective or Summary for your Student Resume

In order to impress schools and hiring managers from the get-go, your resume needs to have a strong opening section. That’s why we strongly recommend including a resume summary at the top of your resume, underneath your contact information.

In the past, applicants for schools or jobs could choose between writing a resume objective or a resume summary. Now, resume experts generally agree that including a resume objective is no longer in line with best practice. The reason is that a resume objective essentially highlights your goals as a candidate. In contrast, a resume summary conveys how you will be able to support the school or company you’re applying for to meet their goals.

So what exactly is a resume summary, then? A resume summary is the first major section of your resume. It should succinctly present the case for why you’re an ideal candidate for the position or school you’re applying for. 

As it should only be two to four sentences long, you will need to focus only on your most relevant qualities and attributes that make you an attractive candidate or prospective student.

In order to write a strong resume objective or summary, you must make two things crystal clear:

• What the academic or professional position is you are applying for 
• What makes you the best person to fulfill it

Let’s start with the first part. You should clearly state the purpose of your application. For example, you may wish to:

• Study at a particular college or join a particular program/course 
• Be hired for a job at a college fair or internship fair 
• Be hired as an entry-level worker or summer worker

Next, you must summarize some of the standout qualities and attributes that make you worth considering for the given role. The qualities and attributes you highlight should be directly relevant to the role and should be expanded on in the other sections of your resume. You can mention such things as your:

• Educational background
• Academic achievements
• Soft and hard skills
• Work experiences
• Volunteer work
• Any other standout achievements

Try your best to use keywords from the job advertisement or school application to demonstrate that you possess the very qualities and attributes the hiring manager or school is looking for. 

Keywords are words or phrases within a job ad or school application that represent what the hiring manager or school are looking for from their ideal candidate. Keywords can include particular competencies, skills, experiences, attributes, studies, and so on.

How to Write a Work Experience Section for your Student Resume

The work experience section is perhaps the resume section that students dread the most when creating their high school resume or college resume. The reason is that many students don’t know where to begin or may not have held a job before. 

The good news is that writing a compelling work experience section really isn’t as difficult as it seems - even if you’ve never been in the working world before. In either case, the most important thing is to make sure your work experience section sounds as relevant as possible to the given job or educational opportunity you are applying for. 

If you don’t have any work experience at all, don’t stress! You can instead focus on your: 

• Volunteer work 
• School activities
• Side projects

Spend time brainstorming how to present these experiences in a way that makes them as relevant as possible to the job or school you are applying for. 

For example, did you demonstrate any soft or hard skills that will be useful to the role or your studies? Or maybe you achieved something that showcases what an excellent employee or student you will be? Remember, framing is everything when it comes to your resume! You can do this by integrating keywords that apply to your experiences throughout this section. This will help you to work out what professional experiences will capture the hiring manager or school’s attention. 

However, be sure to steer clear of ‘keyword stuffing’! This term is used to describe when people unnaturally add keywords to their resume in order to game the system. Always integrate keywords in a natural-sounding way and only use those that genuinely apply to your skills and experiences. 

It’s also important to think about this section as a way to showcase your very best professional achievements in each past position. That is, instead of just listing what you did, focus on conveying how your actions and skills made a positive difference.

In order to make your achievements shine, you will need to: 

• Start each one with a verb (action word).
• Make them short and snappy: Stick to one sentence each.
• Quantify them using numbers, percentages, and examples where possible.

For each position you include in this section, you will need to state the title you held, the company name, and the dates you worked there.

If you’re unsure of how to format your work experience section, simply use one of our expert-designed resume templates and our resume builder to ensure you get it right. You can also check out the expert tips for writing your work experience section we’ve included within our resume builder .

How to Write a Skills Section for Your Student Resume

Just like your work experience section, your resume’s skills section should be as relevant as possible to the position or educational opportunity you are applying for. 

Analyze the job ad or school application to identify skill-based keywords. You may wish to print out the job ad or school application and physically highlight these words to make it easier for you to work out which keywords to focus on.

Keep in mind that there are two types of skills to look out for:

• Soft skills: Those related to your interpersonal or communication skills.
• Hard skills: Technical, practical skills.

You will need to include a balance of both to show that you’re a well-rounded candidate. Think carefully about which ones are most applicable to your skillset and the job or school at hand, and list 6 to 8 of the most relevant ones in this section. 

Don’t forget you will also need to integrate skills throughout your work experience section too.

If you’re finding it hard to come up with relevant skills to add to your high school or college resume, don’t worry. Our resume builder has hundreds of examples of skills you can simply click and add to your resume.

Again, if you want to see how to effectively format this section, check out one of our many resume templates.

How to Write an Education & Coursework Section for your Student Resume

Your education & coursework section is one of the most important sections in your high school resume or college resume.

Even if an application does not specifically ask you to share your educational background on your resume, it is generally expected that you will. After all, your studies help to paint a picture of your knowledge, skills, interests, and academic abilities. 

As you can see from our library of resume templates, there are a few different ways that you can format your education & coursework section. That said, the general format of this section is as follows: [High School or College Name]

[Dates attended] 

[Subject studied (optional)]

If you want to guarantee you don’t make any formatting errors, just use our resume builder to create your resume! 

How to Write an Awards & Achievements Section for your Student Resume

Want to take your student resume to the next level? Adding an awards & achievements section is an easy way to capture attention. 

Before you say, “But I don’t have any awards or achievements!” take a moment to think back on your studies so far. Chances are that you have much more to highlight than you first realize. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

• Your GPA (If 3.5 or higher)
• Being part of the student body
• Academic awards
• Professional awards
• Valedictorian and Dean’s lists
• Being in the top X% of your class/course
• Professional achievements e.g. selling X amount of products or increasing profits by Y%
• Relevant school/college societies or groups you are part of
• Scholarships
• Any journals you have been published in or research papers you have written
• Relevant non-profit work you have completed (such as volunteering and fundraising)

So how can you correctly format this section of your resume?

You can list each award or achievement, along with the date you received/achieved it and any other specifics that would help the person reading it better understand why the award or achievement is relevant. 

If you are short on space, you can feature your academic awards and achievements in your education & coursework section instead.

Related Student Resume Examples & Samples

Take a look at the following tried-and-tested resume examples and samples for inspiration.

When you’re ready to make your own impressive high school or college resume, our state-of-the-art resume builder will guide you every step of the way.

College Student Resume

High School Student Resume

Internship Resume

How to Build a Resume for College Applications

Step 1: Brainstorm Things You’re Proud Of

Step 2: filter out irrelevant info, step 3: organize the remaining details, sample college application resume, frequently asked questions about college application resumes.

When going through the college application process, you may find some schools request a resume. You can write a great college resume by focusing on experiences that align with each program or university you apply to. Follow these three steps:

Jot down positive memories and details about your high school academics, extracurriculars, or other life areas. For instance, maybe you’re proud of participating in the debate team, ranking in the top 10% of your class, or teaching yourself HTML outside school. Here’s a list of areas to consider:

• Academics and education (high school GPA, class rank, honors, or awards)
• Community service
• Foreign language proficiency
• Hobbies and interests
• Internships
• Personal accomplishments, such as running a marathon
• SAT/ACT scores
• School clubs and societies
• Summer coursework
• Technical or computer skills
• Travel or study abroad experience
• Volunteer experience
• Work experience

Don’t be concerned if you only have information for a few of these areas. Also, it’s not yet crucial whether the information you’re generating is well organized or even relevant to your college application — we’ll get to that in Step 2. For now, just write everything down as it occurs to you. The only rule is that each detail must be something you’re generally proud of having done or participated in.

As you complete this step, keep the following tips in mind:

• Colleges and universities typically want students who are engaged, diligent, and curious about the world. They also like to see that a student can balance their school and non-school commitments. So when you’re brainstorming, view your experience through this lens and write down anything that speaks to your developing or showing these qualities.
• Restrict yourself to “I” statements, as in “I earned an A in Calculus. I did spring track all four years of high school. I was a server at Domino’s last summer. I helped my restaurant place No. 3 in the region for customer service….” This writing method forces you to focus on what you’ve done and achieved rather than possibly going off on tangents about other people and events that wouldn’t fit in your final resume.
• The college resume is a great place for information you can’t fit elsewhere in your application. In particular, if you’re filling out the online Common Application , strict character limits may keep you from giving as much detail as you’d like about a certain topic. So use your resume brainstorming to fill what would otherwise be an information gap in your overall application.

Once you’re done brainstorming, prepare a list of (unorganized) details about yourself that you feel good about. This isn’t a resume, but it is the best possible foundation for one. Next, go through and delete any details that don’t relate to your college application.

Review one item at a time, always asking yourself the same yes-or-no question: “Does this overlap with the types of things I’d like to do as a student at this college?” If your answer is no or probably not, delete that detail. Or at least move it to a different document for now — maybe it’ll make the cut on your application for another college.

To help find the right answer for each item you review, take cues from what you know about the school. Refer to their website, brochures, notes from the campus tour, or any other information that reminds you what the school is known for and what you’re most drawn to. For example, say you brainstormed many details about high school track and the race times you achieved. But the college in question doesn’t have a track program (or it does, but you don’t plan to join). You can pare back your high school track experience on your resume to the basics since it wouldn’t factor heavily into your attending this college. On the other hand, if you’re proud of doing track because it helped you gain a strong sense of collaboration that aligns with the college’s values, consider featuring this on your resume.

In all cases, remember your resume isn’t meant to be a comprehensive overview of your life experience. Instead, it’s designed to focus on those parts of your experience that help a college admissions officer see you’d be a strong addition to their campus community. View your brainstorming notes through that person’s eyes, and you’ll gain the best insight into what details you can safely leave out.

Group your remaining information into section categories (refer to the list in Step 1 if that helps). Then you’re ready to plug them into a template and finalize your resume. Keep these pointers in mind:

• If you brainstormed in “I” statements, in many cases, you could simply remove the pronoun “I,” and any articles (“a,” “an,” “the”) that appear later in the sentence. That will give you the desired “tight writing” style for resumes.
• Put your resume sections in order of their relevance to your college application. Completing Step 2 above should help you quickly determine which sections are generally most relevant. But know that in virtually all college applications, the most important area will be your high school education, so that should probably go first.
• Use any broader statements you’ve written about your general strengths and qualities as the basis for a profile summary at the top of your resume. Including a profile is a great strategy for any career stage or transition. It lets you call the reader’s attention first and foremost to your top strengths and experiences.

After completing these three steps, you’ll have a compelling resume that showcases all — and only — the details that can help you get into college and thrive there. What’s more, it will give you a solid idea of how you can build an effective, focused resume for the many career opportunities to come.

Joseph Corbin (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Philadelphia, PA 12345 | www.linkedin.com/example

Diligent and engaged student with strong academic performance in high school, including an “A” average for mathematics. Excelled in leadership roles for multiple school athletics and extracurricular activities. Naturally curious and eager to explore new topics.

Graduate, Benjamin Franklin High School, Philadelphia, PA | August 2019 to June 2023 3.7 GPA | Top 10% of graduating class | “A” average in all mathematics classes, including AP Calculus SAT scores: 760 math, 680 verbal (1440 combined)

School Athletics and Activities 

Spring Track Team Co-Captain – Senior year

• Voted into a team leadership role; coordinated with the head coach to help organize meets and answer various questions from team members
• Served as a valued mentor and resource to underclassmen

Member – All four years

• Gained and demonstrated strong dedication and teamwork
• Helped team rank in the top four out of 18 high schools in the region for three consecutive years

Debate Team Member – Junior and Senior year

• Collaborated closely on a 10-person team to form and organize compelling debate arguments

Professional Experience

Host / Server, Domino’s Pizza, Philadelphia, PA | Summers 2020 and 2021

• Greeted visitors and took and served food orders in a fast-paced environment
• Proposed several changes to the order entry process for servers and delivery drivers, increasing efficiency and collaboration
• Helped restaurant place No. 3 in the region for customer satisfaction in July and August 2021

Hobbies and Interests 

Running | painting | avid reader (over six books per month)

Advanced proficiency in Spanish (“A-minus” average for all four years of high school)

Technical Skills

Microsoft Office (advanced Excel) | HTML

Should I write a resume for college applications? -

Yes. Creating a resume ahead of time gives you one less thing to worry about as you navigate the college app process. Even if you don’t end up using it directly, your college resume can help you clarify what areas or themes you’d like to emphasize in your application essay or interview. It will also give you a head start on applications for future entry-level or internship opportunities.

Does my college resume have to be one page? -

No. Rather than aiming for a certain resume length , focus on following the above process. Be diligent about deleting information that doesn’t speak to your desired college experience. In most cases, that will leave you with a one-page resume. But if you end up with two pages, don’t worry — it may just mean you have that much relevant information to share.

What template should I use for my college resume? -

For aspiring college students, a clear and straightforward resume template is best. Opt for a layout that lets the admissions officer quickly review your best details. Select a traditional resume font , and avoid any template with a colorful or elaborate design. Also, ensure the template complies with applicant tracking system (ATS) technology.

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College Student

College Student resume examples & templates

Choosing the right resume format for car sales

Include your contact information, make use of a summary, outline your college work experience, include the relevant key skills that make you a great candidate (even as a college student), detail your education & relevant certifications, pick the right resume layout and design for a college student resume.

Stepping out into the professional world as a college student or fresh graduate can seem difficult and confusing, with so many options on the path to a good job. You can give yourself a winning edge with the right methods for creating an awesome college resume. You might actually get a dream job right out of the gate, with a little luck and a toolbox of insights. 

Writing a resume for a college student is different from one for an established professional. You’ll need to highlight varied experience from internships , academic positions, volunteer work , and more. Remember, other college students have the same coursework and degrees to show, so your resume is key to proving why you’re the best candidate for a competitive position.

Resume guide for a college student resume

Accelerate success with Resume.io. Our guides and resume examples cover over 500 professions, and our resume builder makes creating a compelling resume easier than ever.

This resume guide and corresponding college student resume example will cover the following:

How to write a college student resume

• Choosing the right resume format for college students
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your college experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the job market looks like, and what salary you can expect

The very first step in writing your college student resume is understanding what sections to include. Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Lack of work experience is what usually makes student or graduate resumes inherently different from most job seekers. 

But, you can still build a strong professional profile to impress anyone! To create a persuasive narrative, gather as much information as possible about the job you’re applying for, the skills needed, and the people doing the hiring. Identify the company’s needs and showcase how you’re the person who can fulfill those needs. To craft a great college student resume, stick to this winning formula:

• Remember to highlight accomplishments rather than responsibilities. All of your classmates were assigned similar tasks, but what unique value did you bring to the class or internship?
• It’s essential to customize each application you submit for the specific employer or opportunity. You should not only tailor the writing but also the formatting and tone of your resume.
• When submitting online, optimize your resume with appropriate keywords so it won’t be filtered out by ATS screening software . Read more about ATS below.

Optimize for the ATS

Automated recruiting technology is a reality in today's job market and hiring practices. You'll need to understand the nature of applicant tracking systems (ATS) to pass this technical barrier to getting an awesome position. 

ATS software is designed to help recruiters and hiring managers sort through hundreds of resumes. This is done by automatically processing, analyzing, and scoring your resume based on keywords. As a result, certain vital sections of your resume will require extra attention.

The terms that describe job qualifications and requirements are often the same ones that the ATS searches for when processing your resume. So, pay attention to what’s obvious and give yourself an easy advantage. Stay consistent with the employers' terminology in your resume wording. 

U.S. survey results show that, in general, 75% of resumes are never seen by human eyes. Automated screening technology can become a resume black hole. If you're sending your resume through an ATS channel, keywords may be the deciding factor whether a recruiter will actually get to see it. To learn more about conquering the ATS, check out our article Resume ATS optimization .

The most commonly used chronological resume format is designed as a straightforward way for job candidates to organize their experience and qualifications below employer headings and dates, in order from most recent to earliest. But, for college students or recent graduates who lack work experience, other resume formats may be more suitable. 

Like every consideration when preparing your resume, the format you choose should depend on the type of job and industry, and how best to present yourself as an ideal match. 

In cases where specialized knowledge and skills are just as important as where you have worked until now—if not more so—a functional resume may be your best bet. It offers greater flexibility to emphasize your most relevant strengths up front in a section labeled “Experience.” 

A hybrid, or combination, resume format offers even more versatility. Job seekers can integrate chronological and functional elements in the most applicable manner, and perhaps even put their education section higher up on the page. 

Never underestimate the importance of a distinctive resume header to set yourself apart from other candidates. An eye-pleasing header design gets your resume noticed for the right reason. Not only does it contribute to the document’s overall reader-friendliness but also readily identifies who you are and how you can be contacted for an interview.

The most important goal is that your contact information is easily accessible. Just as important, however, is that it’s professionally presented. 

• Full name & title . List your first and last name. Use the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address . Use a clean format like [email protected] . Don’t use a quirky, unprofessional email address or an .edu.
• Phone number . List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting.
• Location . List only your city and state . Note 'Willing to Relocate' here if applicable.
• LinkedIn . Even as a college student, you should create a LinkedIn profile that is active , relevant, and aligned with your resume. Include the URL in your header.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth : Not necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination .
• Personal details : Marital status, social security number, passport number , etc.

Jenna Smith

Research Assistant

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[email protected]

Rarely does a college student or new graduate have much to showcase in the way of rich work experience. But, what you can have is a college student resume that paints a picture of a determined, positive, and productive personality. 

This is what your summary is for . It's your personal story. In fact, it may be your best chance to stand out from hundreds of other applicants, including college students with similar educational backgrounds. 

So, make sure not to squander this valuable opportunity by merely copying and pasting a block of generic text. Instead, catch the recruiter's eye off the top, in the very first line of your resume summary. Show that you've done your homework and that you have what it takes to succeed.

The whole point of the resume summary is to project a certain character and image, which is relatively easy to do in this more flexible freeform resume section. Since we're dealing with first impressions and perceptions, that image needs to be purposefully crafted. Here are some examples of possible content:

• Describe the personal qualities you think are appropriate for the industry and position. Inspire the future employer's confidence that you're a good fit for the job.
• Use action verbs and energetic, positive language. Come across as an upbeat, vibrant, productive person who will be a joy to work with and employ.
• Sprinkle in one or two of the most valuable skills you bring to this job. For example, CRM software knowledge for an office manager job could be a crucial advantage.
• Mention one or two aspects of your work / life experience that show you are productive and determined.

Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our related resumes: 

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You can find adaptable college student resume example summaries below:

Eager and ambitious business administration student with a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. Demonstrated leadership abilities through involvement in student organizations and extracurricular activities. Strong academic foundation in finance, marketing, and management, supplemented by hands-on experience gained through internships in the business sector.

Creative and empathetic sociology student with a keen interest in cultural studies and social justice. Proficient in critical thinking, research, and written communication, with a focus on exploring complex societal issues and promoting diversity and inclusion. Seeking opportunities to apply my interdisciplinary perspective and storytelling abilities in roles that foster social change and promote understanding across diverse communities.

Enthusiastic and driven computer science student with a passion for technology and innovation. Possesses a solid foundation in programming languages such as Java, Python, and C++, coupled with coursework in algorithms, data structures, and software engineering. Experienced in developing web applications, mobile apps, and software solutions through hands-on projects and internships.

Even as a student, your work experience section needs to shine. Luckily, “experience” can be defined as more than just transitional employment. Let’s look at how this resume section can give you an edge by reflecting your life experience and your vibrant, productive personality. 

• Internship experience . This is one of the most impressive substitutes for "full" employment experience. Recruiters pay special attention to this when considering student or graduate resumes .
• Summer / temp jobs . Experience as a waitress , clerk , or nanny counts for more than you might think in terms of transferable skills. Courtesy, patience, discipline, dependability, willingness to work long hours are just a few examples.
• Social initiatives / volunteer work . These are almost always impressive on a college student resume. Volunteering demonstrates altruistic traits and a cooperative team spirit .
• Self-directed or community projects . Cite examples of commitments and collaborations that extended from your personal interests and talents.

List your current (or most recent) job at the top of this section and work your way back to your first job. Only go back as far as you’ve been in college and stick to experience that is directly related to the role you are applying for. 

Under each employer and role heading, describe your contributions in concise bullet point statements, omitting “I.”  Start each bullet point with an action verb like led, motivated, orchestrated, collaborated, or managed.

Make sure to focus on results and concrete information that demonstrates tangible outcomes as opposed to generic duties. This will impress the employer and help them see why you’re a cut above other college students.

Take a look at the college student employment history resume sample below:

Sales Associate at Coffee Grinders, Boston  September 2015 - June 2018 

• Greeted customers and assisted them with purchasing products.
• Helped customers grind coffee beans and sample new products.
• Maintained a clean and welcoming store environment.
• Handled financial transactions.
• Monitored and recorded inventory records.

How to write a college student resume with no work experience

Remember, no employer is expecting to see a 10-year work summary on your college student resume. Concentrate on projecting a positive, productive image to make a strong first impression. 

If you have no experience, your summary can be a goal statement—perhaps a bit more imaginative but still relevant and focused. Just aim for a general description, combining a variety of past projects, personal qualities, and life experiences. 

In your employment history section, showcase your involvement in extracurricular activities such as clubs, organizations, sports teams, or volunteer work. Describe your roles and responsibilities within these activities, highlighting any leadership positions or notable achievements. 

Finally, include a skills section where you can list any technical skills , languages , software proficiency, or certifications that are relevant to the jobs you're applying for. By focusing on your academic achievements, skills, and extracurricular activities, you can create a compelling resume that demonstrates your potential as a college student with no prior experience .

The skills section of a college student resume should be defined by the job you're looking to attain. Even at this early stage of life, job seekers often have more relevant skills and professional qualities than they give themselves credit for. The trick is to choose and describe them correctly on your resume.

Start by creating a master list. The master list is a free-form document—electronic or even a piece of paper—where you write down every skill and quality you can think of. Keep your master list handy for reference whenever a new job opportunity arises. Grab it for easy cherry-picking to tailor each new version of your specific resume to the job application.

Once you've found an actual job application or opportunity, tailor your resume and skills section to the job listing. We've talked about keywords already, and the point of this step is to satisfy both the hiring specialist and the ATS. 

Pay attention to the skills terminology used in the job description and ensure your skills outline matches the same wording if possible. This may seem trivial but may become the difference between getting a job interview and being filtered out.

Make sure to understand the difference between hard skills and soft skills and how to assess their relative importance to specific jobs and employers. Hard skills are pragmatic tools used in daily duties (for instance, computer skills or math aptitude) while soft skills relate to social interactions , self-management, teamwork, and so on.

Check out a college student resume sample for the skills section below.

• Office Technology Skills
• Motivated Attitude
• Social Media Platforms
• Advanced Communication Skills

As a college student, your education is likely the most consequential experience you’ll have to show on your resume. That’s why it’s important to carefully complete this section with the right details to impress the hiring manager or scholarship committee.

As with your employment history section, you’ll want to list each degree from most recent to oldest. Create a subheading with the degree name, university, dates attended, and location. Since you’re likely still studying, you can add “present” instead of an end date.

Underneath the subheading, you should add 2-3 bullet points that describe your most impressive academic achievements, relevant coursework , and leadership roles. It’s also a good idea to include your expected graduation date if you’re still a student. Your GPA is also an essential piece of information, but only list it if it’s 3.5 or above. If your GPA for your major is significantly higher than your overall score, include that instead. 

If you’re still in college, you can add your high school education in much the same way as your college one. If adding a GED , simply include the date completed. Once you’ve completed a bachelor’s degree or higher, remove your high school details to make more room for professional experience on your resume. 

Check out our adaptable education resume sample below and learn more about adding your education to your resume .

Bachelor of Film and Media Studies, Boston University, Boston  August 2016 - Present 

• Working towards a Film and Media Studies degree

High School Diploma, Regis High School, New York  September 2012 - May 2016 

• Graduated with High Honors
• President of the Journalism Club

Layout, design and formatting considerations are vitally important for a successful college student resume. There are two main reasons for this: visual perception by humans and processing compatibility with automated systems. 

Make it easier on recruiters. Employ chunking, which makes the text more readable and digestible by breaking it into bite-sized pieces. This is achieved through the use of white space and graphical elements such as boxes, lines, images, and other formatting that improves legibility.

Recruiters are likely to pay a lot more attention to your resume if you apply a visually attractive, suitably-formatted template based on research-backed design principles.  Just as you should customize the content of your resume for each position you apply to, your layout and design should also match the image of the employer or opportunity. 

Professionally designed resume templates make it easy to create a perfectly formatted layout and give you the ability to switch between styles with ease.

Key takeaways for building a college student resume

You can get an awesome job as a college student. Your college student resume is a hugely important instrument for that. The summary section provides the best opportunity for your college student resume to stand out and show personality.

The education section is a focal point for most college student resumes. Your resume skills section will be defined by the job you are pursuing within a specific industry. Tailor it to the job description and your knowledge of the industry. 

Our online resume builder makes the process of college resume creation much easier and helps avoid hidden technical pitfalls.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

How to Write a Resume for College Applications

Contributing Writer

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• High school resumes for college differ from professional resumes.
• A resume for college applications should use bullet points and employ strong action verbs.
• Resumes for college applications should include academic history, awards, and activities.
• Opinions on the importance of high school resumes for college vary.

Most U.S. colleges have similar application processes . Many schools use the Common App , and prospective students usually need to submit official transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, one or more personal essays , letters of recommendation , and a resume.

The resume is often the trickiest part for applicants, as many high school students do not have much professional experience. Unlike a traditional resume, however, a college application resume focuses more on extracurricular activities, academic performance, volunteer experience, hobbies, and awards than it does on employment history.

Still, putting together this document can seem daunting for many students. We created this guide to alleviate that stress. Read on to learn more about how to write a resume for college applications.

How Important Is a High School Resume for College?

Not all college applications require a resume, but it's always good to submit a resume if it's an option.

For example, the Common App only requires an activities list. However, you can still submit a resume, which can provide schools with a fuller picture of your academic performance, interests, and hobbies. You can also upload a resume to the locker section of the Coalition Application .

While some college admissions experts place premium importance on college application resumes, others do not. A resume shows admissions departments evidence of your academic achievements during high school. It also demonstrates your work and volunteer experiences, and what you can bring to the community beyond the classroom.

Don't embellish, but do include unique experiences and specific accomplishments to stand out from the crowd. You should also avoid generalities and cliches.

Additionally, your resume can help your recommenders write the best possible letters for your applications. You can also submit your resume as part of scholarship applications .

What to Include in a Resume for College Applications

A college resume differs from a typical professional resume in several ways. Below, we go over what to put down on your high school resume for college.

Name and Contact Information

The top or header of your resume should include your full name and email address, phone number, and home address. If you have a personal website or LinkedIn profile showcasing your work or achievements, you can also include those URLs in this section.

Education and Academic Accomplishments

In this section, list the name of your high school and the dates you attended. You can also provide information like your GPA and class rank , AP or IB courses you've taken, and your ACT or SAT scores if you think they'll help your case.

Work and/or Volunteer Experience

For high schoolers, work experience can include internships , part-time jobs, job shadowing, and study abroad experiences. Volunteer experience can be particularly important on a high school resume for college, as it demonstrates to admissions departments that you're willing to contribute to your community. Make sure to highlight any leadership positions you held or currently hold.

Extracurricular Activities

Colleges want students who participate in and contribute to campus life beyond the classroom. You can mention sports, clubs, and non-school-related activities that you participated in. This section helps colleges get a more complete picture of who you are and what you care about.

Honors and Awards

You can list your proudest achievements in this section. Include academic awards received from your school, ranks from external organizations (like Eagle Scout or Gold Award), and any athletic accomplishments.

Skills, Interests, and Achievements

In this section, you can mention languages you speak, computer skills, and soft skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership. You can also briefly mention hobbies you're passionate about, especially if they relate to the major you plan to pursue in college.

How to Write a Resume for College: 5 Essential Tips

How you structure and write your resume is almost as important as what you include.

For instance, resumes for college applications should list all achievements, jobs, volunteer experience, and awards in reverse chronological order. The most recent job should be at the top of the section, with your previous position below it, and so on. You can see how this looks on our resume example below.

But first, here are five essential tips on how to write a resume for college.

1. Include a Professional Email Address

A professional email address — perhaps [email protected] , or a similar choice — sends the right message to colleges. Colleges may not hold an unprofessional email address against you; however, providing a simple email address that includes your name is a better choice just in case.

2. Start With Your Education

Unlike a professional resume, a college resume should feature your education at the top. Colleges understand that if you're a first-year applicant, you likely don't have much, if any, professional experience. Colleges are first and foremost educational institutions. As such, academic performance is the most important factor in determining who to accept.

3. Use Bulleted Lists

You should always use bullet points instead of paragraphs when listing information in your resume. Bullet points make your resume easier to read. Admissions departments wade through thousands of resumes. They're much more likely to read and consider a clean, digestible list of your accomplishments than a dense, muddled document.

4. Employ Strong Action Verbs

Use strong action verbs with each bullet point in your resume. For example, if you worked as the manager of an ice cream shop during the summer, avoid writing "was the manager at Scoops Ahoy" as a bullet point. Instead, try "directed a team of five employees" or "trained five employees in company policies."

5. Limit It to One Page

No resume should extend past one page. Even after high school, a resume longer than a page is more like a curriculum vitae, or CV . In high school, a long resume likely contains fluff and filler. Keeping your resume to one page is good practice for writing concisely — a crucial skill in college and beyond.

College Application Resume Example

Derek Henry 150 15th Ave. South Nashville, TN 37212 (615) 777-7777 [email protected]

Hillsboro High School, Class of 2021 GPA: 3.9

• Administrative Assistant, Tennessee Titans (2019-Present)
• Maintain and clean player equipment in locker room.
• Coordinate community outreach programs with local middle schools.
• Organize player scouting reports for front office.
• Student Volunteer Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity (2018-Present)
• Participated in five 50-hour builds in different Nashville neighborhoods.
• Led and organized 8-10 students who participated in builds.
• President, Habitat for Humanity Club (2018-Present)
• Secretary, Yoga Club (2018-Present)
• Member, Ultimate Frisbee Team (2017-Present)
• Running Back, Football Team (2017-Present)
• Principal's List, Six Semesters
• Cum Laude Society
• National Merit Finalist
• Outstanding Senior, 2021
• Computer: Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop
• Language: Spanish (conversational)

Feature Image: pondsaksit / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

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How to Write a Resume for College – A CollegeAdvisor Guide

How to write a resume for college – introduction.

Standing out as a stellar applicant in the college admissions process is tough. One way to separate yourself from the crowd is by crafting a strong resume for college. Your college resume can highlight information about your background, activities, and achievements. Some of these might not be indicated elsewhere in your college application or recommendation letters . 

In this article, we will teach you how to write a college resume. We’ll highlight 5 simple steps to building your college application resume. We will also discuss what a college resume is and why you may need a resume for college. Additionally, we will provide examples on how to write a resume for college by reviewing college resume examples. Finally, we’ll walk you through some college resume templates in our example college resumes.

So, let’s look at how to write a college resume and explain what makes a good college resume, why you should include a resume for college in your applications, and more!

What is a college resume? 

A high school resume is typically a one-page document that complements your college application . Your high school resume (or college resume) can help you showcase your achievements and extracurriculars for college. It does this by sharing information that is not elsewhere within your college applications. The goal of a college resume is to show the college admissions officers who you are and how you spend your time outside of the classroom . 

Before we jump into how to write a college resume, let’s examine some things that make up a good college resume.

A good college resume should include: 

• Clear structure
• Concise language (bullet points over essay-style)
• Relevant details
• Strong formatting

As we discuss how to write a resume for college, you might wonder what purpose a college resume serves. In short, a college resume is a summary of experiences that you can use to add depth to your college applications. You can also think of a college resume as your high school resume, or a resume for college. Your college resume will include a brief description of each of your experiences and extracurriculars for college. 

While we examine how to write a resume for college, you should first note that your college resume should include key details like your educational details, GPA , extracurricular activities/jobs, and honors/awards. As we’ll discuss, your college resume will have other key features. We’ll go through each of these as we learn how to write a resume for college. 

Many colleges list a college resume within their college application requirements. But, even if a college resume is not listed in the college application requirements, we recommend creating one anyway. 

We will look at a sample college resume later in this article, along with a 5-step guide to creating a resume for college that you can use as you begin writing your college resume. 

Do I need a resume for my college applications? 

No, you do not necessarily need to include a college resume with your college applications. However, a high school resume or resume for college can be a helpful tool in the college admissions process. 

So, how could including a resume for college application be beneficial? First, including a college resume in your college applications can help highlight your skills, experiences, and qualifications to the admissions office of your dream school.  

Having a college resume can help you showcase your extracurricular activities in your college applications. You can highlight leadership positions, accomplishments, interests, and activities on your college resume that might not appear elsewhere in your college applications. 

Creating a resume for college application can also demonstrate your accomplishments and experiences to college admissions officers. Even if a high school resume is optional in the list of college application requirements, including one in your college applications can help you stand out. Standing out is incredibly important in the admissions process, especially if your ideal college is high on the list of college rankings . 

It is a good idea to start putting together your college resume as you near the end of high school.

You may forget the names of clubs, supervisors, mentors, teachers, etc. as you get ready to apply to college. So, the earlier you can gather all the information for your high school resume, the better! That way, all of your experiences are fresh in your mind, and you can create the strongest resume for college possible. 

When should I prepare my college resume? 

As you begin the process of applying to college, you might be wondering when to prepare your college resume. The ideal timeline for creating your high school resume can start as early as 9 th grade. 

In general, you won’t want to include anything on your high school resume before 9 th grade. Like other college application requirements, college admissions officers are only interested in the activities you have participated in during high school. 

Keep a list starting in 9th grade

As early as 9 th grade, you can start keeping a list of your accomplishments and activities. Even though you won’t need to format this list into a college resume yet, it will be the basis for your future college application resume.

As you begin the college admissions process, you can use the list you created and turn it into a college resume. As you apply to college and prepare your college resume, research which college resume format works best for you. Reviewing a sample college resume or college resume template can help you find the perfect college resume format. 

As you look through college resume examples, think about which aspects of the college resume template you like the best. Then, adapt things from those college resume examples to fit your college resume. Once you have decided on a college resume format, list your accomplishments, jobs, and activities within that college resume format. 

Summer before senior year

The best time to create your high school resume is during the summer before your senior year. This gives you plenty of time to perfect your college application resume. 

We’ll examine the necessary components of a successful college resume in the next section of this article. So, read on!

What should a high school student put on a resume? 

As you begin the college admissions process, you may be asking yourself what to include on your high school resume. You can start the college application resume writing process by brainstorming how you spend your time outside of your courses. 

Think about everything you have done or achieved since you started high school and write it down. Your high school resume should highlight your activities, interests, and skills. Pay particular attention to these factors as you consider what to include on your high school resume.

Your high school resume will be organized categorically. Some of the most common categories for a resume for college application include personal information, work experience, extracurricular activities, volunteer experience/community service, education, and skills.  In addition to the categories listed above, below is a list of some other things that high school students should list on their resume for college.

Top ten things to list on your college resume:

• School name and address
• Contact Info
• GPA or Class rank, if applicable
• Internships & volunteer roles
• Awards and honors
• Extracurricular activities
• Leadership positions
• Language competencies

As we mentioned earlier, you may not have information or experiences for every category listed above. That’s perfectly fine! Focus on what applies to you and what you can include on your high school resume as you learn how to write a college resume. 

What does not belong on my high school resume? 

Now that we have examined what to include on your high school resume, let’s discuss what does not belong on your college application resume. 

Keep it current

In general, you should avoid including any activity or achievement from before 9 th grade on your resume for college. However, it’s okay to include something that is particularly impressive and/or attached to a current activity. 

For example, if you have 12 years of experience in playing the violin, you will want to include that on your high school resume. However, if you joined your middle school band for a semester, you should likely leave that out of your college resume. Your resume for college should reflect activities that matter to you now.

Avoid listing daily duties

There is no need to include informal everyday activities on your college resume, such as cooking for your family or cleaning around the house. When you are crafting your resume for college, it’s best to stick to things that are relevant to admissions committees or future employers. 

Note that this is one area where your college resume differs from your activities list. For instance, if you spend considerable time caretaking your three siblings, you may choose to include that on your activities list within the Common App. However, the same responsibilities likely shouldn’t appear on your resume for college.

Keep it clear

As you examine college resume templates and college resume examples, take note of the language and structure in a sample college resume. It’s important to use concise language and clear structure throughout your resume for college. 

Additionally, do not include excessive text or overly detailed explanations on your college application resume. You want your resume for college to be simple and clear. In general, you should limit your high school resume to one page, or two at the absolute maximum. Most people who review your college resume will spend about 30 seconds with it. So, your resume for college should be easily scanned, above all. 

When you use concise language throughout your college resume, it will make it easier for your reader to understand your accomplishments. Because most people will skim your high school resume, having a clear structure throughout will make it easy to read. Keep it simple and keep it consistent. 

Steer clear of images and graphics

While you might come across this in your college resume format research, it’s best to avoid including images or graphics in your college application resume. Although this is a new trend and can be seen on multiple college resume examples and college resume templates, it can be distracting and take up valuable space on your high school resume.  

For instance, if you volunteered at twelve different soup kitchens, there is no need to list each one separately. That will become tedious and take up too much space on your essential resume for college application. 

Finally, you should never misrepresent your qualifications on your high school resume. Be honest about your involvements, however many you have. It’s not worth potentially getting caught in a lie or an exaggeration during a college interview.

Where do I submit my college application resume? 

While you apply to college, you might be wondering what to do with your resume for college applications. Many college application portals will include a section for your college resume, especially if a resume for college is listed as one of the college application requirements. 

Most college application portals list the high school resume section as optional. While you are applying to college, you might notice that most colleges require that you fill out an activities section as part of the application process. The activities section will ask you to list your extracurriculars for college. Often, your activities section will serve the same purpose as your college resume. 

If you choose to include a high school resume with your college application, it should reflect your accomplishments in more detail than your activities section. Additionally, if you choose to include a resume for college with your application, make sure it adds something new to your activities list. 

You will receive access to your college’s application portal once you have completed the process of applying to college but before you receive a college acceptance letter and officially enroll . When it’s time to upload your high school resume, be sure to upload it as a PDF rather than a Word document. That way, you can ensure that your formatting of your college resume stays consistent on every application. 

We’ll provide more details about the college resume format later in this article, when we examine college resume examples and college resume templates. 

How often should I update my college resume? 

It may be helpful to update your resume (or other records) every six months to a year in order to avoid missing any important details. You can use your college resume for more than just your college application requirements. In fact, there may be internships or other opportunities you seek out in high school that will ask you to submit a high school resume. Updating your college resume often will help you keep track of your experiences and accomplishments. 

In general, you should update your high school resume as often as it works for you. However, when you are almost done applying to college , you will want to make sure that your college resume is up-to-date and accurate before including it with your application. 

No matter how often you update your resume for college applications, we encourage you to keep copies of any old college resume examples you might have. Having old copies of your college resume can help you in the future as you begin to tailor your college resume for potential reviewers. 

How to write a resume for college

Now that we have a better understanding of what makes up a college resume, let’s focus on how to write a resume for college. You can begin writing your college resume by creating a list of your key details . Your key details will be the starting point for your college resume. 

First, you will include information about where you go to school, as well as your current GPA and any Honors statuses. You will also want to list your academic interests on your high school resume, including what you hope to study or pursue beyond high school. 

You will also include your extracurricular activities and the years you engaged in them on your resume for college. Additionally, you will want to add any jobs or internships you have had and the dates you held them. You can also list any leadership positions and the years you held them on your college resume. 

Finally, you will want to include any special skills you have on your resume for college. This can include certifications as well. 

Once you have a list of your key details, you will want to organize these details into sections on your high school resume. For some, these sections might include Objective, Education, Leadership Positions, Work and Internship History, and Special Skills.  

College Resume Walkthrough

Linked about is our college resume walkthrough. Let’s do another walkthrough of these sections here to see what kind of information to include in each one. 

Your objective is the reason why you are writing your college resume. This section will vary depending on where you send your resume. 

If you are creating a resume for college applications, you should include information about your intended major or future career in this section. However, if you are sending your high school resume to a potential employer, your objective section will include information about why you are uniquely skilled for the job. 

Education 

The education section of your college resume should include all high schools you have attended, along with your GPA and anticipated date of graduation. 

If your high school provides you with a class rank, you can also include that piece of information within this section of your resume for college. 

Additionally, you can include your SAT or ACT score within this section, especially if you are submitting your resume for college applications. 

Leadership Positions 

Be sure to highlight any leadership positions you have held in your college resume. This includes any appointed positions you have received and even informal leadership positions. 

For example, if you were voted Class President of your Student Council, you can include that information here. Or maybe you are a peer mentor on your soccer team—you can include those details within this section of your college resume. 

Work and Internship History 

This section of your high school resume will list your whole work history, including internships , summer jobs , or part-time jobs. 

You will want to include the job title, company, dates of employment, and a brief outline of your duties for each of the work or internship experiences in this section of your resume for college. 

Special Skills 

Finally, this section of your college resume will outline any technical or soft skills you might have. Soft skills include things like teamwork, communication skills, and conflict resolution. 

In this section of your resume for college, you can also include any languages you speak or certifications you have. 

After you have organized your high school resume into sections, you will want to include a bulleted list detailing your responsibilities within each of your engagements/leadership roles. Be sure to include only relevant details in your descriptions, as it’s important to be concise on your college resume.  

Remember to include the years for every role/activity on your college resume. You will want to list them with the most recent positions/activities at the top of your resume for college. 

College resume format

Your college resume format is one of the most important features to consider as you apply to college. As you construct your college resume format, make sure that it’s readable. 

Most people won’t look at your college resume for more than 30 seconds. So, any reader should be able to skim your high school resume and come away with a relatively clear idea of your qualifications and background. 

The ideal college resume format will have the name of the student clearly listed at the top of the college resume. Another aspect of a strong college resume format will have clear sections with strong headlines. Additionally, the best college resume format will include bulleted lists where appropriate. 

We will look at the college resume format in action as we review some college resume examples and college resume templates. 

College resume examples

As we review our sample college resume, we will explain how to use it to craft your own college resume when you apply to college. Use this sample college resume as a reference point for your resume for college. Then, adapt it to fit your own unique needs. 

We will discuss the sample college resume in the next two sections of this article. As we review the sample college resume, pay particular attention to what makes this college resume clear and effective. You can use this sample college resume as a college resume builder while you apply to college. 

At first glance, you can see that this college resume is organized. This resume for college has clear sections and a concise structure. What makes this college resume clear and effective is its formatting, language, and length. Be sure to incorporate these same elements into your own high school resume as you apply to college. 

Remember, this sample college resume is just one of many college resume examples available. Figure out what you like best about this sample college resume and use it to craft your own college resume. 

Sample college resume – What works? 

The key features of this sample college resume are its formatting, language, and length. Focusing on these in your own college resume will ensure that your resume for college stands out. 

Clear delineated sections

The formatting in this college resume works so well because it includes clearly delineated sections and organized by year. Keeping your information and experiences organized by year is an effective format for a resume for college applications. 

Simple and straightforward language

Another feature of this college resume that works well is the language. There is clear language and details throughout this resume for college that provide context for each role and accomplishment. For example, each of the work experiences in this high school resume feature a brief description of the student’s role and duties/responsibilities. 

Concise structure

Additionally, this resume for college application features a concise structure that helps the reader clearly understand the purpose of each section. The descriptions within this college resume are brief but comprehensive. Having a concise structure and clear language throughout your college resume is key. 

The final key feature that works well in this college resume is the length. This resume for college is just one page in length. Ideally, you want your college resume to fit on one page, but that is not a hard and fast rule. If you have a wealth of experiences and extracurriculars for college, your college resume can go over the typical one-page length. 

Even though this high school resume is a little over one page, it does not have any irrelevant details or extraneous information on it. As you begin writing your college resume, be sure to only include relevant details on it. 

As you learn how to write a college resume, keep track of what features work well and incorporate them into your own college resume. If you are unsure if the sample college resume will work for your college resume, don’t worry. There are plenty of college resume examples and college resume templates to choose from as you are applying to college. 

College resume template

There are multiple college resume examples that you can review as you start your college resume or college application letter . Looking at a college resume template can help you decide on the formatting, language, and length that works best for you. 

Hunter College has a web page with college resume examples and college resume templates. Use it as a resource as you build your high school resume. 

If possible, you should avoid using form templates as you construct your college resume. Instead, think of the college resume template as a guide. You should aim to format your resume for college in the way that works best for you. 

It’s best to be a bit unique as you create your high school resume. Looking at a college resume template can help you find your own distinct style. You can also incorporate different aspects from a college resume template into your own college resume. 

However, be sure to avoid any hard-to-read fonts or unnecessary details in your formatting as you learn how to write a college resume. While your resume shouldn’t look like it was made using a stock college resume template, it also should not be overly crowded.

College resume builder

There are also college resume builder resources, like this one from Wheaton College , that will help students build their college resumes. You can use a college resume builder to format your own resume for college. 

At CollegeAdvisor.com, we host webinars on topics that help you apply to college. We have a webinar on how to write a resume for college, with plenty of college resume examples. We also have a webinar with advice from former Admissions Officers on how to build your college resume. 

Once again, you should generally avoid a pre-formatted college resume builder or college resume template. Instead, use these college resume examples as a jumping off point as you begin the college admissions process. 

Formatting your high school resume yourself makes it easier to make any quick edits or fix any formatting quirks. If you were to use a college resume builder or college resume template, these adjustments may be a challenge. 

Build your College Resume in 5 Simple Steps

Having examined some college resume examples, let’s review 5 simple steps for how to write a resume for college. 

Five Steps to Build your College Resume

Make an accurate list of your experiences, awards, education, and qualifications. You will use this list as the outline for your resume for college. 

Choose the best college resume format for the job. Before you finalize your choice of college resume format , review a college resume template or college resume examples for guidance. Then, create a resume header for your college resume. 

Add your accurate information by section on your resume for college. Reference the college resume examples you reviewed previously to choose the sections you will use on your high school resume. Organize each list by year, placing the most recent item at the top of your resume for college. Be sure to separate your extracurricular experiences from your awards/honors, creating two lists (or more if necessary). 

Format your lists to be clear and readable , and add your name and contact information as the header of your college resume. 

Ask a friend, family member, or mentor to copy edit your resume for college! Having another set of eyes on your high school resume will help you create the strongest resume for college possible. 

How to write a college resume – Final Thoughts

In this article, we reviewed how to write a college resume. As we discussed the purpose of a college application resume, we examined college resume examples and described key features that work in a college resume. We hope the college resume examples we featured in our article on how to write a resume for college help you craft your high school resume as you apply to college.

Need help crafting the perfect college application resume? CollegeAdvisor.com can teach you how to write a resume for college. Register for a free CollegeAdvisor.com account and receive access to hundreds of articles and webinars. These resources will help you craft your college resume as you begin applying to college.

This article was written by  Claire Babbs . If you want to get help with your college applications from Claire or other  CollegeAdvisor.com  Admissions Experts , click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Write a College Resume (+ Example Templates)

Written by Alexis Allison , College Essay Guy Team 

How do you sum up your life’s work on a single piece of paper?

First things first. Remember that you are not your college resume. You are a human being, not a human doing . If you don’t have a rockstar resume, that’s okay. Work with what you’ve got.

Now that we’ve got the touchy-feelies out of the way, let’s talk about how to write an amazing resume.

• How Important is the College Resume?
• How Do I Pick a College Resume Template?
• What Are The Most Important Parts of a College Resume Template?
• Contact Information
• Awards and Honors
• Finishing Touches
• What do I do With My College Resume?

How Important is the resume for college?

Well, it depends.

In general, most colleges have a dedicated space on their application system called the Activities List where you will be able to list out all of the things you’ve been involved in outside of school. That section is your BEST place to share those details. Don’t skip it.

However, some colleges offer the option of submitting a separate, more traditional style resume. (Think PDF-style resume that you upload.)

If you feel like you’ve totally communicated all of the important details in your Activities List, you may not need to submit a separate resume. In fact, for many colleges, you may not even have the opportunity to upload a traditional PDF resume.

But if given that option, should you do it?

Some colleges strongly recommend that you submit a resume along with your application (see UT Austin’s policies for certain programs .) While others forbid it (see UVA’s FAQ section. ) So be sure to check with individual colleges to see what they prefer.

However, keeping a professional resume on hand will serve you in a few  other ways. How?

Your resume:

Serves as a foundation for the Common App Activities List (or vice versa—see this post if you’ve already written your activities list).

Gives teachers and counselors a framework for their letters of recommendation.

Provides you with a list of ready-made talking points for an admissions interview.

May inspire your Common App essay.

Is a requirement for many scholarships or internship and employment opportunities (read: $$).

Finally, it’s like having your own business card. There’s a “professional cool” factor when you’ve got a slick resume to slap on someone’s desk.

Now, let’s make one.

For this post, we use examples from this resume template —but feel free to use any of the others linked below.

College Resume Templates:

College Resume Template #1: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

College Resume Template #2: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

College Resume Template #3: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

College Resume Template #4: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

College Resume Template #5: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

College Resume Template #6: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

Note: To use these example college resume templates yourself: Click on the link, go to "File" > "Make a copy..." > "Ok"

We also recommend checking out some of Canva’s ready-to-use, customizable resume templates . Choosing the right template is kind of like choosing the right outfit for an interview. You want it to look sharp and feel like you. Ultimately, though, the outfit (or template) doesn’t guarantee success—it’s how you rock what you’ve got that matters the most.

For whichever template you choose, make sure you do the following: Go to File > Make a copy , and copy the document to your Google Drive.

Read along and make it your own!

How do I Pick a College Resume Template?

You’ve heard it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Well, when it comes to college resume templates, looks matter too. Think of the resume like your first impression.

Here are some things to consider when it comes to format and design.

(Don’t) Give ‘em Helvetica. Choose a serif font. What’s a serif font? It’s a font with little feet at the bottom of each letter, like Times New Roman. The opposite of a serif font is a sans-serif font, like Helvetica—no feet, see? A serif font looks a little more traditional and professional on a resume.

Create a style for each level of information. Bold or capitalize headings. Use italics or underline if you’d like. Make use of bullet points. The key here is consistency. There’s not one right way—just choose a style and stick to it.

Commit to one page. Your concision will gain you brownie points from college admissions counselors who’ve read one too many applications.

Respect white space. Leave the document’s margins at 1 inch. Keep a space between each section. White space is both a useful design tool and gentle on the reader’s eyes.

Use this one. Ex: Times New Roman

Don’t use these. Ex: Helvetica

Here are 5 things you need for your college resume:

Relevant contact information

Detailed education history + test scores

Experiences (think “Activities List”!)

Awards/honors

Additional skills

I recommend sharing those details in this order, from top to bottom: contact information, education, experience and skills. If you’ve received honors and awards, you’ll have a separate section for those, too—but not all of us are that cool.

1. Contact Information

Include the following:

Your name. If you go by a nickname, use the name that’s attached to your college application—again, consistency is key.

A professional email that you check regularly. If you don’t have one, make one. If you’re still using ZendayaLover99 from middle school, it’s time to make a change—for everyone’s sake.

Your cell phone number.

It might look something like this:

[email protected]

123-456-7891

2. Education

This section requires a little more work. Include the following:

High School Name, City, STATE (start year – end year).   

GPA, weighted and unweighted.

Best test scores (ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, AP).   

Relevant coursework. This section allows you to show off any extra classes you’ve taken in high school that reflect an interest in your major. So, if you want to be a doctor and you’ve taken Anatomy, add it!

Here’s a sample:

North Shore High School, Somewhere, TX (2015-2019)

GPA: Weighted: 3.6 / Unweighted: 3.2     

Relevant Coursework: Advanced Journalism, Desktop Publishing, Multimedia Graphics

3. Experience

Remember those kids who started random clubs like underwater basket-weaving just so they could write “Club President” on their resumes? Even if the club never met? Right.

This section is your chance to show that you’re different, because it’s more than just your responsibilities . It’s also about your accomplishments . What’s the difference?

Responsibilities vs. Accomplishments

Maybe the underwater basket-weaving club president was responsible for hosting meetings, planning events and organizing a fundraiser. But if she didn’t actually accomplish any of those things, she can’t add them to her resume. So  consider both your responsibilities and accomplishments, whether in a club, on a team, at a job, through a service project, etc. and then think of those accomplishments in terms of numbers.

Why numbers matter

Numbers give context and scale, plus they can help you stand out. Here’s what we mean:

Say you’re the editor of your school’s newspaper. Think back to how many papers you’ve published. How many articles? How many meetings have you led? How many students in each meeting? Say you babysit neighborhood kids. How many kids? How old are they? How often do you babysit? For how long each time? Maybe you work at a coffee shop. How many shifts per week? How many hours per shift? How many people do you serve on average each shift? Maybe you’re the team captain for your lacrosse team. How many warm-ups do you lead each week? For how many teammates? Do you lead team study sessions to help keep everyone’s grades up? How often?

Use strong active verbs

Once you’ve got the numbers, think of active verbs that describe exactly what you did. Here’s your chance to show that you’ve led, managed, organized, created, problem-solved, budgeted, maintained, coached, produced, written, presented, scheduled, built, developed, traveled, bought, bid, sold, delivered, etc.

Some tips for organizing the Experiences section of your college resume:

List experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent activities and working backward.

For each activity, list the organization/business (even if it’s just your school), location, your position, and the dates of experience. The dates show much you’ve invested in that activity.

Avoid first person. Instead of saying “I managed,” just say “managed.”

Keep verb tenses consistent. So, if you’re still participating in the activity, use present-tense verbs. If you’re not, use past-tense verbs.

Want a huge list of verbs you can use to perfectly describe your experiences? Boom, here you go .

Need help thinking about your experiences?

Sit down with a parent, guardian, teacher who knows you well, or good friend, and ask them to help you remember what you’ve done.

Note that “experiences” can include lots of things. Don’t sell yourself short; even taking care of your younger siblings could count (if you’ve spent significant time and energy!).

Other ideas for your Experiences section:

Taking care of an elderly neighbor.

Volunteering at your house of worship.

Organizing weekly pick-up basketball in your neighborhood.

Working on your parent’s/friend’s car.

Organizing a fantasy football league in your class.

Serving on the board or council for an organization/group.

Taking summer art classes.

Selling homemade crafts on eBay.

Teaching your little sister to play the guitar.

Writing a regular blog about baking cakes.

Showing pigs through your local 4-H troupe.

Competing in local beauty pageants.

Click here for a list of other activities you may not have considered — but that count.

4. Awards and Honors

Think of this section as your trophy case on paper. Maybe your essay last year received second prize in the school-wide writing competition, or your science fair project or miniature pony got you best-in-show. Maybe you’re an Eagle Scout and you earned all 137 merit badges (yes, it’s possible!). Maybe your ball-handling skillz got you Most Improved Player on your JV basketball team.

Get this: you can also include if you were selected for something. (Examples: “1 of 200 students selected to serve as student/admin liaison” or “1 of 4 students chosen to represent our school at the national conference.”)

And, as with the Experiences section, take the time to give a brief, specific summary that captures just how awesome you are. Make sure to do this:

Include the name of the award and, if it’s obscure—or only someone from your town would recognize it— briefly describe what it is.

List the organizations involved, your position and the date you received the award (month and year works).

Be specific and use numbers. First place out of how many schools/teams/participants?

Avoid using “I.”

This final section should be short and sweet, like a toddler eating a cupcake.

What are skills? Anything you can do that could be relevant for college or your major. If you’re hoping to study theater and you can do the Daffy Duck voice or know how to swing dance, include a few gems! These often create great conversation starters for an interview, for example.

Tips for writing the Skills section of your college resume:

Avoid cliches like “punctual,” “passionate,” “organized,” “hard-working,” “team-player.” These days everyone and their mother is a punctual, passionate, organized, hard-working team-player.

Instead, focus especially on computer and language skills. Modern employers lurve ‘em

If you’re a Google Drive maven, add “Google Apps for Work”

If you can rock Word, Powerpoint and Excel, add “Microsoft Office Suite”

If you know how to hack or code, include it.

If you’ve taken Spanish I, include it. If you’re studying Arabic through Rosetta Stone, or High Valyrian through Duolingo, include it!

Some examples of other skills you might include:

Sports-related skills

Technical skills (welding, fixing cars, construction, computer repair, etc.)

Data analysis skills

Communication or teaching skills

Writing skills (Maybe you can create comics, or write screenplays or newspaper articles; maybe you know AP style or APA style like the back of your hand—include it!)

Speech and debate skills

Artistic skills (Which mediums can you work with? With which types of paint do you thrive?)

Interpretation/translation skills (This goes beyond just speaking a language!)

Musical proficiencies (Can you read music? Play five instruments? Sight-read?)

Keep going on the Skills section until it starts to feel ridiculous. Or until you’ve listed, say, 8-10 max, whichever comes first. How do you know if it’s starting to get ridiculous? Give it to at least one person (but no more than three) to edit before you send it out.

NEXT STEp: STAY AHEAD BY GETTING FAMILIAR WITH COLLEGE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Save your resume as a PDF with a professional, clear title. Include your name and the word “Resume.” Avoid titles like “asdjks.pdf” or “Resume.pdf,” which can come across as unprofessional or confusing. Remember, details matter.

Example: JohnSmith_NYU_Resume.pdf

Don’t write, “References available on request.” It sounds nice, but whoever reads your resume knows to contact you if he or she needs references, so it’s just wasted space.

Don’t include an “Objective.” They know your objective is to get into college, get a job/scholarship/internship. Anything more specific will come across in your essays and interviews.

You’ve got a slick digital resume. Now what?

If you’ve decided it makes sense to share your resume with colleges beyond what you’re sharing in your resume, you can typically do so within each school’s application system.

The Common App typically lets schools decide whether or not to offer an upload function within each colleges individual supplemental section.

If you can afford it and plan to do interviews in person, go to your local office supply store and buy some thick, white or off-white resume paper. Grab a professional-looking folder while you’re at it (no folders with kittens or polka-dots). Print 10 or so copies to keep on hand. When you ask teachers for letters of recommendation, give them a copy. When you walk into an interview , whether it’s for college or a job, bring a copy for every interviewer. Hand one to your significant other’s parents! J/K.

Finally, keep your resume updated. As you gain new experience, skills and awards, add them! If you stay on top of your resume, sending it out in will be a snap (after all, you’ll be in college—you’ve got better things to do).

More Resources

Already written your Activities List and want to turn it into a resume? Here’s how .

Want to see some other college resume templates? Feast your eyes .  

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Why do I need a resume?

A resume is a formal document that displays an individual's professional background and relevant skills. Most resumes consist of work history, education, a professional summary and a list of skills. Resumes are usually the first impression a potential employer has of you.

Whether you have little to no experience, or just want to update your existing resume, our team is here to help. We have workshops, individual support and a free resume builder called Career Coach. Let’s help you create a polished resume that will assist in getting that interview.

Career Coach:

Our online resume builder is designed with ease in mind. Even if you have no prior experience in resume writing, our user-friendly interface makes it a breeze to create a professional-looking resume. Simply fill in your information, and let our builder guide you through the process.

Reasons to use our resume builder:

Time-saving: Our resume builder provides pre-designed templates and pre-filled content, reducing the time needed to create a resume.

Professional appearance:It will improve the visual appeal of your resume.

Customization: Resume builder allows customization to fit specific needs.

Guidance: Resume builder offers guidance on organization and writing to make your resume more effective.

Resume Tips and Templates

Resume Tips

• Resume Checklist: Guidelines for compiling a resume
• Watch Common Resume Sections Tutorial

Resume & Cover Letter Templates

• Sample Resume for Internships
• Sample Resume for Minimal Work Experience
• Sample Resume for Chronological
• Sample Resume for Functional
• Cover Letter Template

Why You Should Create a LinkedIn Profile:

You can use LinkedIn to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career.

Six good reasons to use LinkedIn

A good way to network

Recruiters use it

Research companies

Join groups that provide support

Find informative and helpful posts

Access to job opportunities all around the world

LinkedIn: Creating Your Profile

Whether you're a current student or well into a successful career, linkedin could be one of the most valuable tools in your toolkit., "creating a profile" will show you how to set up your linkedin account and how to make the most of it.

Watch Creating Your LinkedIn Profile Tutorial

Using LinkedIn Effectively

Now that you have your profile set up, listen to some insider tips on maximizing your experience, from joining groups and discussions to networking the right way.

"Using LinkedIn Effectively" will show you how to make the most of it!

Watch Using LinkedIn Effectively Tutorial

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Resume Genius

The World's Smartest Resume Builder

Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

Free Online Resume Builder

Make your professional resume   in minutes.

From generating bullet points to automatic formatting, our resume builder will help you make a professional resume quickly and effortlessly.

Leverage the latest tech

Our resume builder lets you make a fully customized resume in minutes. Use our software to your advantage & apply for jobs faster.

Generate bullet points

Your resume’s experience section is what employers care about most. Autogenerate experience bullet points that prove your on-the-job skills.

Auto-format each section

Formatting can be time-consuming. Don’t let margins & spacing slow you down – put in your details and the resume maker does the rest.

Instantly download your resume

Easily download your resume as a PDF, for Word, or in text format. Use the dashboard to test different templates to see what works best for you.

Get expert feedback

The job market is extremely competitive. Get an edge on other applicants with professional feedback after you’ve made your resume.

Launch your job hunt

Equipped with your perfected resume, you’re ready to take on the job market. Get more job interviews & earn better job offers.

Choose your favorite resume template

Regardless of your background, there’s a template in the Genius resume maker that’s perfect for highlighting your experience & skill set.

Choose your favorite cover letter template

Let the Genius cover letter generator automatically format the content of your cover letter into a professional, HR-approved template.

Look at resume examples for inspiration

We have over 400 professional resume examples on our website. Each sample was written and approved by our team of career experts .

Look at cover letter examples for inspiration

We have over 200 professional cover letter examples on our website. Each sample was written and approved by our team of career experts .

• Administrative Assistant
• Architecture
• College Student
• Customer Service
• Graphic Design
• Project Manager
• High School
• Medical Assistant
• Software Engineer
• Retail Sales Associate
• Graphic Designer
• Information Technology (IT)

Build your resume

How to use our resume builder in 3 steps

Putting together a complete job application has never been easier. Make a resume with our professional resume builder, and then quickly generate a matching cover letter. In minutes you'll be ready to apply for your next job.

Use AI to write your resume

In a few clicks, generate a resume summary and pre-written bullet points that showcase your qualifications and skill set.

Pick a resume template

See how your resume looks using different templates. Choose the template that fits the job you want and best suits your personality.

Download your resume

Save your newly built resume as a PDF, Word Doc, or TXT file directly to your browser. You’re now ready to start applying for jobs!

Expert Guides & Advice

Read guides to improve your resume

Whether you’re new to job hunting, changing fields, or looking to land a higher-paying gig, we’ll teach you how to put together a resume that earns more interviews.

Resume Help

From the gold-standard format to variations that help you highlight your top qualifications, we’ll teach you how to format your resume like a pro.

Conrad Benz

Your professional resume summary quickly shows employers you have the experience needed to do the job. Learn how to write one with our examples and tips.

The difference between a CV and a resume depends on the country and context. We explain further, and provide clear definitions of both.

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the interview. Ace that interview by preparing with these 25+ common interview questions and answers.

Walkthroughs & Video Shorts

Watch videos for more resume-writing ideas

If you’d rather master the arts of resume writing and formatting through video content, we’ve got you covered. Learn how to make a resume with no experience, use a resume template, or build your resume from the beginning with our resume builder in short but comprehensive YouTube videos and TikToks.

How to Make a Resume in 2024 (with free resume templates!)

240+ Free Resume Template Downloads (Google Docs & MS Word)

Make Your Resume with Resume Genius | Builder Walkthrough

How to Write a Resume with ChatGPT 2024 (with prompts!)

The best resume template for ANY job

Best resume tips to get noticed

Top things to add to your student resume

What colors should you use on a resume?

How to make a resume in MINUTES

Job seekers love our resume builder

Level up your job hunt

Build an application that gets more job offers

Landing more interviews and earning better job offers all starts with your resume. Here's how to ensure your application stands out today:

With a good resume template, you don't need to worry about details like formatting.

Customize each section

Fill in your personal information and write about your work experience.

Emphasize your skills

Take skills from the job advertisement, then tie them into your resume.

Attach a cover letter

A resume will get you the job, but a cover letter will get your foot in the door.

Our experts have been cited in top publications around the world *

All of our authors are authorities in job hunting, interviewing, and resume writing. Some instances the media and press have cited our team's expertise include:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is resume genius.

Resume Genius is the internet’s premiere free resource for job seekers, and features powerful resume builder and cover letter generator software for anyone looking to apply for competitive jobs across the globe.

Over the past decade, Resume Genius has helped millions of users put together winning job applications by providing thorough writing guides, cutting-edge software, and free downloadable templates. Staffed by a team of seasoned career experts and HR professionals, Resume Genius seeks to help users (both old and new) find and grow their careers.

How do I build a resume?

You can build a resume with our resume creator — simply upload your existing resume and edit it or start from the beginning. Check out our resume builder today and learn how to make a resume that gets you more job offers in your chosen industry.

Is Resume Genius legit?

Yes, Resume Genius is legit. ResumeGenius.com is SSL Certified and protected by Norton AntiVirus, and all of the downloads and software on ResumeGenius.com are protected as well. Read, download, and navigate our content with ease, so you can spend more time focusing on that job you’ve got your eye on and getting ready to submit an application that earns you that job.

Is my information GDPR compliant and safe?

Yes, your information is GDPR/CCPA compliant and safe. We take the privacy of each user seriously, and allow everyone to opt out of some or all of the non-essential cookies we use across the website. If you’d like to request that we remove any of your personal data or check what personal data we’ve collected from you simply click here , or send us an email at [email protected] .

We outline the data we collect and why we collect it in our privacy policy . And if you’d like to see a list of cookies our website collects and how to opt in or out of cookies, read our cookie policy .

Can you help me build a cover letter?

Yes, we can help you build a cover letter. Our cover letter builder helps you fill out each line of your cover letter quickly — without the need to actually write it yourself. Simply put in your information and our software will provide suggestions for every sentence, helping you make a professional cover letter in just a few minutes.

Additionally, we provide more than 200 free cover letter templates that you can use to format and design your cover letter so it looks professional.

Do you support languages outside of US English?

Yes, we support languages outside of US English. If interested, please check out our UK English content on CVGenius.com , and French content on CVGenius.com/fr .

Who writes your resume examples?

Our resume samples are written by a mix of in-house experts and guest contributors who have years of experience in their respective industries.

All of our samples are reviewed by an in-house Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) . Our CPRWs also write and review all of the guides and resources in our blog.

Does Resume Genius also provide CV resources?

Yes, Resume Genius also provides CV resources. In addition to our AI-powered CV maker , we also have a variety of CV templates and expert guides available.

For example, we have guides on how to write a CV for a job , as well as how to format your CV . Whether you’re applying for an academic job or are applying for corporate work, our resources will help you polish your CV and impress employers.

Why is Resume Genius the best website to make my resume with?

Here are some reasons why Resume Genius is the best option for making a resume or CV:

• User-Friendly Interface: Never made a resume before and not sure where to start? Our resume builder clearly guides you through the process of building and polishing your resume, making the whole process simple.
• Template Variety: Our platform offers a variety of customizable resume templates catering to different industries, roles, and experience levels.
• AI Content Suggestions: Our software provides generated content suggestions based on your career path that you can use to fill out your resume with ease.
• Formatting Assistance: We automatically handle formatting, ensuring that your resume and cover letter look professional and well-organized.
• Keyword Optimization: Worry about ATS software no more. Our builder optimizes your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS) by suggesting common industry-related keywords and skills.
• World-class Expertise: Collectively the Resume Genius staff has decades of job searching and resume writing experience. With multiple Certified Professional Resume Writers and Certified Career Coaches on our team, all the advice on our website is approved by experts.

More questions? Visit our FAQ library .

Ready to start making your resume?

Don't let your resume hold you back from getting the job you want. Our builder software helps you create a resume that highlights your qualifications and lands you more interviews.

100% FREE TEMPLATES

Use our templates to win the job.

Each template on our website was designed by HR and hiring professionals to help jobseekers easily apply for work.

Sign up for more free templates & career resources!

In addition to this template, you'll also receive:

• Early access to our newest premium templates
• Job-specific resume tips & free examples
• Access to our exclusive newsletter for jobseekers
• Notifications of product improvements

* By sharing your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from our team. You can easily opt out of future emails on the dashboard of your account or by unsubscribing directly from the link at the bottom of an email you receive from us.