You've got enough to worry about at college. There's the constant pressure to achieve and all the stresses of campus life to contend with. Looking for a job is yet another thing to worry about. But don't let it get you down. Writing an undergraduate resume doesn't have to be hard.
We've got an easy formula that'll help you write an undergraduate college student resume that best shows off your abilities. You'll get examples and a step-by-step guide that'll make writing that undergrad resume a piece of cake.
One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:
[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three . With the same stuff.
Looking for some examples relevant to your field of study? See:
Check out these other undergrad-related resume examples and guides:
Writing an academic application? Have a look at these CV guides:
Undergraduate Resume Template Joseph Dvořák
joe.dvorak@gmail.com
(718) 333-9999
linkedin.com/in/josephdvorak
Objective Statement
Current university student enrolled in business economics with 2 years of experience handling financial matters part-time for small accounting firm. Maintained accounts for over 50 small and medium-sized businesses while saving them over $55K in 2 years. Seeking to leverage accounting skills and forecasting abilities to become the junior financial analyst for PJ Gorman.
Work Experience
Junior Accounting Specialist May 2017–July 2019
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Organized weekly, monthly, and yearly budgets and tax records for individuals, families, and small businesses.
Audited financial records and supporting information for accounting errors and miscalculations.
Provided financial forecasting models for families and small businesses in order to increase savings and maximize revenue.
Analyzed business plans and strategies for effectiveness and viability.
Key Achievements
Barista Shift Supervisor March 2016–May 2017
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Managed all aspects of opening and closing, including cash drawer reconciliation and deposit slips.
Handled supplies ordering and vendor payments in a timely manner.
Oversaw promotional offerings to reflect seasonality and customer sentiment while remaining within budget.
Key Achievements
Education
Majoring in Business Economics (Bachelor of Science)
New York University, New York, NY
Expected Graduation: 2021
Relevant Coursework: Business Economics, Public Policy, International Finance, SMB Budgeting Behaviors, Business Ethics, Global Business Management, Sales and Marketing, Business Operations, Management Information and Decisions, Advanced Statistics.
Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY
Graduated: 2017
Key Skills
Awards
Memberships
Languages
Above was our concept of a great undergraduate resume sample.
Time to tweak yours.
Here’s how to write an undergraduate resume that will get you the job:
1. Choose the Best Format for Your Undergraduate Resume
An undergraduate
Since you’re probably a fresher on the job market, your undergraduate resume has to prove your worth at a glance.
Use a proven resume format.
Here’s how to format an undergraduate resume:
There are various types of resumes , like combination or functional , but stick to the gold standard: chronological.
Pro Tip : The right format for your undergraduate resume is the PDF resume format . PDF files appear correctly on any device. Just look at the job description first to be sure they don’t explicitly ask for a Microsoft Word document.
2. Write an Undergraduate Resume Objective or Summary
Start strong—
With a catchy resume profile :
Like an effective elevator pitch , it gives employers, HR department staff, and hiring managers a quick spiel as to how you are the best job candidate.
Worked throughout your college years and have plenty of experience?
Choose the career summary
The summary statement on an undergraduate resume talks up your past. It gives your background, experience, and skills, plus a numbered achievement to win them over.
Are you new to working outside of school?
Choose the career objective
Instead of your storied employment history, the objective statement promotes your career goals and aspirations. However, it, too, includes a key, quantifiable win to show you’re top talent.
Pro Tip : Any undergraduate's resume heading statement goes at the top of the page just under your contact deets. However, write it last. With this strategy, you’ll have a better idea of the best content to pitch in this prime location.
3. Don’t Neglect the Work Experience Section on your Undergrad Resume resume job descriptions .
How?
Here’s the best strategy for getting a passing grade on it:
Start with your current or most recent job, then the one before that, if applicable. Below each job title , add the company name and location, dates of employment, and several (4–6) bullet points detailing your experience. Use powerful resume phrases (e.g., spearheaded research , implemented changes , etc.) to begin each bullet point. Use quantifiable achievements able to be measured rather than standard job duties and responsibilities. Target your resume . No employer likes reading generic applications.
Pro Tip: Writing a resume with no experience in the particular job title you’re applying to? If you held any other past work, such as being a bartender or waitstaff , list those job duties which most relate to the job you’re applying to.
4. Make Your Resume Undergraduate Education Section Shine
A college undergrad slacking on their resume education section is unacceptable.
So—
Here’s how to list your education history on an undergrad resume:
Pro Tip : How to put expected graduation date on a resume? Check your university’s website for school-specific standards for writing education on your undergraduate resume. For example, the University of Pennsylvania gives recommendations on how to list the school name, graduation date format, and coursework.
5. Highlight Your Job Skills on an Undergraduate Resume
According to the National Center for Education Statistics , the employment rates of college graduates are lower now than they were in 2000.
To get a job you’ll need an undergrad resume which obtains summa cum laude honors from the employer.
How?
Show them you’re talented with the best undergraduate skills section:
Undergraduate Resume Examples of Skills List
However—
Don’t just throw a generic list of common hard skills and soft skills onto your undergrad resume.
That’ll get you dismissed immediately.
To write a solid skills summary for a resume, do this instead:
Pro Tip: Most of the skills we listed are soft skills. However, hard skills are often more important, so check the job responsibilities to see what they’re looking for and include them on your resume, too.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a professional resume template here for free
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder exactly how to make it better.
6. Add Other Sections to Your Undergraduate Resume
Those previous sections above were non-negotiable, like core college classes.
But—
You need to stand out among other students if you really want to land that job. So, add some additional undergrad resume sections—
Here are some great additions for any undergraduate resume:
Undergraduate Resume Examples of Extra Sections to Add
It's no longer customary to list references on a resume , so skip those. If anyone needs those, they will reach out to you.
7. Attach an Undergraduate Cover Letter to Your Resume Do you need a cover letter for a resume ?
Well, 53% of hiring staff say that an undergrad resume without an undergrad cover letter simply won’t get a passing grade.
So—
Here’s how to write a cover letter for an undergraduate resume they’ll love:
For more tips on writing a great application letter, check out how long a cover letter must be .
Pro Tip : Follow up on your job application after you send your undergraduate resume, but wait at least a week.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Undergraduates, got any questions? Need assistance with listing your academic history or editing an undergraduate research assistant resume? Write to us down in the comment area, and thanks for reading!
