A résumé, also called a CV in many countries, is a short document summarising your education, experience and skills. Employers, apprenticeship providers and some programmes use it to decide whom to interview. Recruiters often skim résumés quickly, so yours needs to be clear, focused and easy to read. In this lesson you will learn how to write a strong one-page résumé, even if you have never had a paid job.
What to include
| Section | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Contact details | name, phone number, professional email, town or city |
| Profile (optional) | 2 to 3 sentences about who you are and what you are looking for |
| Education | school, expected graduation date, relevant subjects, achievements |
| Experience | jobs, volunteering, internships, school roles, projects |
| Skills | technical skills (software, languages) and transferable skills |
| Achievements and activities | awards, clubs, sports, certifications |
Contact details
Use a professional email address, such as your name, not a nickname. You do not usually need to include your full home address, date of birth or a photo; norms vary by country, so check local guidance.
Experience counts, even unpaid
Many students think they have nothing to put on a résumé. In fact, lots of experiences show valuable skills:
- babysitting, pet sitting or tutoring
- volunteering at a charity or community event
- leadership roles, such as team captain, prefect or club organiser
- school projects, competitions or science fairs
- running a small online shop or creative channel
- helping in a family business
Write strong bullet points
Describe each experience with bullet points that start with an action verb and, where possible, include a result or number.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Helped at the school fair | Organised a team of 8 volunteers to run the school fair, raising 1,200 dollars for charity |
| Was in charge of social media | Created weekly posts for the drama club, increasing followers from 150 to 400 in one term |
| Did tutoring | Tutored two Year 7 students in maths weekly; both improved their test scores |
Useful action verbs include: organised, created, led, managed, designed, improved, trained, built, analysed, coordinated, presented and solved.
Example
Before: Worked at a café. Made coffee and served customers.
After: Barista, Corner Café (June 2025 to present). Serve up to 100 customers per shift in a fast-paced environment. Trained two new staff members on the coffee machine and till system. Recognised as “employee of the month” in March.
Formatting tips
- Keep it to one page as a student.
- Use a clean, simple layout with clear headings and consistent fonts.
- List experience in reverse chronological order, most recent first.
- Use bullet points rather than long paragraphs.
- Save and send it as a PDF unless asked otherwise, with a clear file name such as Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf.
- Proofread carefully, and ask someone else to check it too. Spelling mistakes can cost you an interview.
Tailor it
Adjust your résumé for each application. Read the job description, note the skills they want, and make sure your most relevant experience appears near the top using similar wording, as long as it is honest.
Be honest
Never exaggerate or invent experience. Employers may check references, and dishonesty can lead to losing a job offer.
References
A reference is someone who can confirm your skills and character, such as a teacher, coach or former employer. Always ask permission before listing someone. Many résumés simply say “References available on request”.
Using AI tools
AI writing tools can help you brainstorm action verbs or check grammar, but make sure every word is accurate and sounds like you. Recruiters value authentic, specific details over generic phrases.
Sample student résumé layout
JORDAN LEE
Brighton | 07700 900123 | jordan.lee@example.com
PROFILE
Reliable Year 12 student seeking a weekend retail role.
EDUCATION
Hillview Secondary School, expected graduation June 2027
Subjects: Maths, Business, English
EXPERIENCE
Volunteer, Oxford Road Food Bank (2025 to present)
- Sort and pack donations for 60+ families each week
- Trained three new volunteers on stock procedures
SKILLS
Customer service, teamwork, Excel, conversational SpanishNotice how short, specific lines make the page quick to scan. The phone number, email and names here are fictional examples. Use the same structure, but fill it with your own real experiences and keep the spacing consistent. A clean, consistent layout signals care and attention to detail.
Key takeaways
- A résumé summarises education, experience and skills on one clear page.
- Unpaid experiences, like volunteering and school roles, count.
- Start bullet points with action verbs and include results or numbers.
- Tailor each résumé, proofread carefully and always be honest.
Practice
Draft your one-page résumé with all main sections. Write at least four bullet points that start with action verbs and include at least two numbers or results.
Answer: résumés will vary. A strong draft has a professional email, reverse chronological order, specific bullet points such as “Coached 12 under-10 football players weekly”, and no spelling errors.