Writing a CV as a student with little or no work experience can feel hard. But if you highlight the right sections, an inexperienced CV can still be impressive. Below is a realistic example prepared from a university student's internship application — if you like it, you can edit it in one click with your own details.
This example is inspired by a 3rd-year university student applying for an internship. It highlights a software internship, a club role, and course projects. If you're also a university student, a high school senior, or a recent graduate looking for an internship, you can adapt the same structure to your own field (engineering, business, design, healthcare).
In an intern CV's summary, clearly state 'in which field and what kind of internship you're looking for.' Example: '3rd-year Computer Engineering student looking for a summer internship in frontend development.' This helps the employer direct you to the right role.
Many students think 'an internship doesn't count as work,' but that's wrong. An internship goes in the work experience section and is a real contribution. Write what you did, what you learned, and concrete outputs (how many components you built, which process you contributed to). Instead of 'did an internship,' write 'built 12 components during my internship.'
When experience is scarce, the education section leads. Write your school, department, and grade; if ongoing, add 'ongoing' and the expected graduation year. If your GPA is high, if you excelled in relevant courses, or if you got a scholarship, definitely mention it. Study abroad and exchange programs are valuable signals too.
If you have no work experience, projects are your best proof. Capstone project, course project, a hackathon, or an app you built on your own — all are valuable on a CV. For each, add what you did, which technologies you used, and the outcome if any (number of users, an award). Add your GitHub link if you have one.
Student clubs, volunteering, and team sports concretely show skills like teamwork, leadership, organization, and responsibility. Write your role and the work you actually did (e.g., 'organized a hackathon for 600 attendees'). Employers take this section seriously.
Writing 'advanced' for everything as a student hurts credibility. Instead, use honest levels like 'beginner,' 'intermediate,' and 'advanced.' Group technical skills (programming languages, software) and languages separately. If you can document your foreign language level (a certificate), add it.
If you have no work experience, a teacher, an academic advisor, or your internship supervisor who knows you well can be a reference. Share their contact details only after asking them first. Writing 'available on request' and not going into detail is an accepted approach too.
Since experience is limited, one page is enough and ideal. Compress the content and avoid unnecessary detail. A recruiter looks for short, clear information on a student CV.
Add internships, course projects, capstone projects, volunteering, and student club roles to the work experience or projects section. They're all valuable contributions and save you from the 'I haven't done anything' impression.
Yes. High school students can prepare a CV for internships and part-time jobs too. Highlight your school, grades, club activities, summer internships, and skills. A high school CV should also be one page.
Common in Turkey but not required. If you add one, it should be professional, clear, and current. In technical fields (software, engineering) a photoless CV is widely accepted too.
A teacher, an academic advisor, or an internship supervisor who knows you well is suitable. Don't put their contact details on your CV without asking first. If you're unsure, writing 'available on request' is enough.
Add technical skills relevant to your target internship (programming languages, software) with an honest level (beginner/intermediate/advanced). Write concrete skills instead of vague phrases like 'very hardworking.'
You can also browse our other example CVs prepared for different industries.
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