![Student CV: Template + 20 Examples [Also With No Experience]](https://cdn-images.zety.com/pages/student_cv_example_10.jpg?fit=crop&h=250&dpr=2)
Student CV: Template + 20 Examples [Also With No Experience]
Think getting a job as a student with no experience is impossible? Think again. You just need a great CV. Follow our expert advice & you'll be hired in a flash.
You know you're the the ideal candidate. But you haven’t got a conventional work history to prove it. The answer? A skills based CV. Learn how to write it here.
Just graduated? Still studying? Considering a career change? You’ll often be advised to write a skills based CV to overcome your lack of relevant work experience. But there’s a catch.
Few job seekers will actually benefit from using this CV format.
A skills based CV (also known as a functional CV) showcases your key skills rather than a neatly laid out work history as in a traditional chronological CV. Skills based CVs can work well for career-changers, candidates who have limited experience like graduates or students, or candidates in industries with lots of freelancing or project-based experience.
They can also work for ex-military personnel transitioning to a life on civvy street. But if you don’t fall into one of those few categories, don’t even try to write a functional CV. Problem is they’ve become synonymous with candidates who are trying to hide gaps in their employment history.
And ironically, that’s a type of candidate that this format doesn’t work for. If you’re going to venture into the choppy waters of a skills-based/functional CV then proceed with caution. Just follow this guide to safely navigate the hazards.
Want to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.
Sample CV made with our builder—See more templates and create your CV here.
For general tips on CV formatting see our guide: Best CV Format for Job Hunting Success
And for a comprehensive guide to writing a CV, read more here: How to Write a Professional CV for the UK
Every good CV needs to be divided into sections and arranged in the right order. Here’s how to do it for a functional CV.
That structure gives you a solid CV layout that lets your skills take centre stage, without neglecting all of the essential information that recruiters demand. Here’s an example of a skills-based CV that follows that structure to the letter.
Jason Whyte
UI Developer
0777 777 7777
j_whytezety@gmail.com
linkedin.com/j_whytezety
twitter.com/j_whytezety
Skilled UI developer with 4+ years of experience in Android apps and front-end web development. Designed applications that increased user satisfaction ratings on Trustpilot by 30% and resolved persistent compatibility issues for users of Samsung devices. Looking to leverage my passion for enabling efficient and enjoyable user experiences to produce first-class UI for Newbold Designs.
UI DEVELOPMENT
GRAPHIC DESIGN
IT SKILLS
London
Freelance UI Developer
October 2015–Present
BSc in Computing and Information Systems, September 2012–June 2015
University of London, London, UK
Now, let’s go through each section and look at skills-based CV examples to show you how they should be written.
This is the section right at the top of the page where you write your contact information. Here’s what to include.
Your home address? That’s optional, but in all honesty it’s just a waste of valuable page space.
This is the first bit of content the hiring manager will see. The human eye is hardwired to place more focus at the top of the page. Make a strong first impression so you grab their attention and keep hold of it.
Your personal profile should be 3–4 sentences long and targeted to the job you’re applying for. Introduce yourself, offer value to the employer with relevant achievements and skills, and include your career goals. Show some passion for the job and the industry too.
Skills Based CV Example—Personal Statement
Recent LSE BSc Management graduate with 2:1 honours, seeking to obtain a Graduate Management Trainee role with Omicron Consulting to develop my business management and strategic planning skills in a blue-chip consultancy environment. I aim to leverage my passion for data-driven performance and process improvement to become an expert in corporate management consultancy.
Read more: How to Write a CV Personal Statement [CV Profile Examples]
Take note. This is the most crucial section of a skills-based CV. It's the equivalent of your work experience section in a traditional chronological CV. Here’s how to get it right.
How to Write a Functional CV Skills Summary
Now let’s have a look at some examples. First up, a skills summary written by a UI developer whose career has mostly been freelance and project-based work.
Functional CV Skills Summary Sample—Freelancer
UI DEVELOPMENT
GRAPHIC DESIGN
IT SKILLS
Every skill is backed up with impressive accomplishments. This candidate may not have a conventional work history, but this skills summary provides ample proof that’ll they’ll be a great fit for the job.
Now for a skills summary written for a graduate CV.
Functional CV Skills Summary Sample—Graduate
COMMUNICATION
ORGANISATION
IT & TECH SKILLS
This candidate has to write their skills summary a little differently. They’ve not got many impressive professional accomplishments to draw upon, but they’ve still provided solid examples that back up each skill.
Need some skills section inspiration? Read more here: Key CV Skills [Best Top Skills & Examples]
When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your CV here.
When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.
You’re writing a CV based on your skills, so there’s no need to go into detail here. However, you do need to include the basics.
Here’s how to do it:
Optionally, you could add 2–3 bullet points that list key responsibilities and accomplishments.
Try out your functional CV in different templates: 20+ Free CV Templates to Download Now
If you’re an experienced candidate, such as a career changer or freelancer, then you only need include some brief details in your functional CV.
List:
If you’re still studying, or you’ve graduated within the past year and have limited work experience, you’ll need a bit more detail. So—
You need to:
I’ve already mentioned that this CV format has its problems. To be honest, many recruiters hate it. So it’s a good idea to keep them on side by including as much job-winning content as possible. Additional sections are a great way to impress hiring managers.
Examples of additional CV sections for a skills-based CV:
Cover letters? Who has time for that?
You do! Around half of employers still say they'll reject applications without cover letters.
This is how to write a cover letter to accompany your skills-based CV.
And that’s it, now you know how to play an absolute blinder of a skills-based CV. Once more though, you do need to think carefully before using this format. Here’s a handy cheat sheet to help you decide.
Want some more CV tips? Read more: 20+ Job Winning CV Tips & Advice
If you’re in doubt, we’ve made a table to help you decide.
Skills Based CV Pros | Skills Based CV Cons |
Helps candidates without a conventional work history by focusing on skills. | Recruiters dislike the format because they’re not used it and it’s harder for them to skim and pick out the info they need. |
A good choice for freelancers and people in creative industries who’ve pursued a portfolio career. | Difficult to write well. You need to put a lot of thought into your skills summary to make it convincing and relevant. |
Works well for career changers. | Not ATS-scannable. |
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:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Here’s what you need to remember to write an effective skills-based CV:
Got more questions about writing a skills-based CV? Not sure if a functional CV will work for you? Ask away in the comments. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Think getting a job as a student with no experience is impossible? Think again. You just need a great CV. Follow our expert advice & you'll be hired in a flash.
You've got no time for complications. You need an easy to use simple & basic CV template that’ll get you hired. We’ve got 18 expert designs that’ll do just that.
Getting your cover letter format right gives your job application an instant boost. Read this guide and learn how to create an expertly formatted cover letter recruiters will love.