A Guide to Writing a Winning Student Resume for Your First Job or Internship

Landing your first job or internship is exciting, but writing a resume when you have little to no job experience can feel like trying to fill a blank page with magic. The good news? You don’t need years of work behind you to impress employers. You just need to learn how to highlight what you do have: your skills, achievements and potential.

This guide will help you create a strong resume that makes hiring managers say, “We need to meet this student!”

Step 1: Start with the Basics

Your student resume doesn’t have to be fancy; just clean, clear and ATS-friendly (that means easy for an applicant tracking system to read).

Include your:

• Full name.

• Phone number and email.

• City and province.

• LinkedIn profile (optional but professional!).

Tip: Keep it one page. Employers love short, clear resumes that get straight to the point.

Step 2: Write a Catchy Resume Summary

Entry-level or not, your resume should start strong with a confident summary. Think of it as your mini-introduction: 2–3 sentences that show who you are, what you’re studying, and what you’re aiming for.

Example:

“Motivated college student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, with hands-on experience in coding projects and strong problem-solving and communication skills. Excited to apply my technical skills and learn from industry professionals in a professional setting.”

This short summary instantly helps you highlight skills that are relevant to the job, and that’s exactly what hiring managers look for.

Step 3: Showcase Your Education Like a Pro

 

Since you might not have much work history yet, your education section is your time to shine.

Include:

• Your school, qualification and expected graduation date.

• Relevant coursework (like “Digital Marketing”, “Business Writing” or “Advanced Spanish Proficiency”).

• Academic honours or personal projects that show dedication and curiosity.

Pro tip: Add online courses or certifications - they show you’re serious about professional development and learning new skills.

Step 4: Add Relevant Experience (Even if it’s Not a Job)

If you don’t have formal job experience, don’t panic, it’s perfectly fine! You can still include things like:

• Volunteer work.

• Extracurricular activities.

• Part-time jobs.

• Personal projects.

• Internship application examples (if you’ve done one before).

  
  

The trick? Frame them around key achievements and transferable skills. like leadership abilities, teamwork or time management.

Example:

“Led a school club project that raised funds for charity. Developed strong skills in communication and planning, becoming a valuable asset to the team.”

Step 5: Highlight Your Key Skills

Create a section called Key Skills or Essential Skills and list the ones that match the job description.

Include a mix of:

• Soft skills: Communication, teamwork, adaptability, creativity.

• Technical skills: Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Canva, coding languages or design software.

Resume tip: Use bullet points to make it neat and easy to scan. Hiring managers only spend a few seconds per resume!

Step 6: Pair it with a Great Cover Letter

Even the most standout resume needs a well-written cover letter to complete it.

Your cover letter is where you connect your story to the specific job. Tell them:

• Why you’re interested in their target company.

• How your relevant skills and career goals align with theirs.

• What makes you different from other candidates.

Keep it short, warm and personal. Employers love authenticity! 

Step 7: Use Resume Templates

You don’t have to start from scratch. Use free resume templates from Google Docs, Canva or Word. Just make sure it looks clean, modern and easy to read.

If you want something extra polished, you can even ask a certified professional resume writer to help refine your professional resume layout.

Step 8: Review and Refine

Before you send your job application, check: 

✅ Spelling and grammar. 

✅ Formatting (consistent fonts and spacing). 

✅ Whether it matches the job ad or job requirements.

A quick review can be the difference between getting noticed and getting lost in a pile of applications.

Step 9: Believe in Yourself

Remember, everyone starts somewhere. Whether you’re a high school student or a college student taking your first step into the working world, your enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to learn matter more than experience.

So go ahead - create that functional resume, send that cover letter and chase that new career path with confidence. You’ve got this.

You’re More Ready than You Think

Your first job or internship isn’t about being the most experienced; it’s about showing that you have potential, passion and a mindset to grow. Every project, every class, every hands-on experience has shaped you for this moment.

So take a deep breath, trust your journey and go out there with your strong resume in hand. The right opportunity will find you when you show up as your authentic self.