Undergraduate College Student Resume Template & Guide

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Undergraduate Resume Template

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 is a college or university student who hasn’t yet completed a 2-year (associate degree) or 4-year (bachelor’s degree) study program. An undergraduate resume should show the hiring manager that you have a strong academic background that makes up for your lack of substantial work experience.

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:

• Start with your resume contact information in the professional header.
• Use big, bold resume section titles to allow each resume area to speak for itself.
• Choose a professional resume format. For most cases, the chronological resume layout is most ideal.
• Pick the best resume font, and use white space to keep your resume uncluttered.

There are various types of resumes, like combination or functional, but stick to the gold standard: chronological.  

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.

3. Don’t Neglect the Work Experience Section on your Undergrad Resume

Whether writing a computer science undergraduate resume or a resume for undergraduate research, nail your 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.

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:

• Start with your associate degree or bachelor’s degree at the top.
• Add the major, school name, school location, and completion date.
• If you’ve taken any classes related to the job you’re applying to, add them under a “relevant coursework” subsection.
• Mention relevant extracurriculars.
• Include any proud university wins such as graduating cum laude, making the dean’s list, etc., on your resume.
• If you’ve completed an associate degree or bachelor’s degree, don’t list high school on your resume.
• It’s worth mentioning pending diplomas with a note “currently purusing degree in [field]”.

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

• Work well under pressure
• Organizational skills
• Administrative skills
• Presentation skills
• Detail-oriented
• Critical thinking skills
• Teamwork skills
• Project management skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Decision making skills
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Management skills
• Technical skills
• Time management skills
• Problem solving skills
• Creative thinking skills
• Collaboration skills

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:

• Think of all the resume job skills you have related to the job to which you’re applying.
• Include both soft skills and hard skills in your list of abilities.
• Find the best keywords to put on a resume by paying close attention to the job responsibilities area of the job ad.
• If a keyword in the job duties matches something you have, add that to your undergraduate resume.
• Some skills are implied, e.g., MS Office suite skills and basic computer skills.

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.

Making a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide, use ready-made content tailored to your job and have a resume ready in minutes.

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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

• Certifications for a resume
• Language proficiency skills
• Side projects
• Portfolio
• Achievements and awards
• Student association memberships
• Hobbies and interests
• Volunteer experience
• Internships
• Publications

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:

• Before you begin writing, get the cover letter formatting in order.
• Begin with great cover letter openings which are compelling and brief.
• Highlight your value to the company and why you want to work specifically for them.
• Offer a powerful call to action in your cover letter conclusion.

For more tips on writing a great application letter, check out how long a cover letter must be.

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. Here’s what it may look like:

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Looking for some more resume guides and examples? See:

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• Entry-Level Resume Sample
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