Cash on Campus Mastering the One Page Student CV

Why a One‑Page CV Matters
Students are often judged on first impressions. Recruiters spend only a few seconds on each CV, and the majority of resumes that exceed one page are skimmed or discarded. A single page forces you to prioritise the information that will grab attention, making your application concise, focused and professional.

Core Components
Contact Information
Your name, phone number, email address, and a professional‑looking LinkedIn profile link should sit at the top. Keep this section short and clear; avoid unnecessary details like your full mailing address.

Objective or Summary
A brief 1‑2 sentence statement that links your academic background and career goals to the role you’re applying for. It should answer the recruiter’s quick question: “What can you bring to this position?”

Education
List your university, degree program, expected graduation date and, if relevant, your GPA or honors. Include only the most recent institution if you have multiple degrees.

Experience
This can be academic projects, internships, part‑time jobs or volunteering. Use a reverse‑chronological order, placing the most recent role first. For each entry, list the role title, employer, dates, and a short bullet list of achievements.

Skills
Hard and soft skills that are relevant to the position. Separate them into categories such as “Technical Skills” or “Communication.”

Achievements and Awards
Include scholarships, contests, or recognitions that demonstrate excellence and initiative.

Extracurriculars and Leadership
Highlight clubs, societies, or sports teams where you held a leadership role or contributed to a project.

References
State “References available upon request” unless the job posting asks for them to be included.

Tailoring for the Role
The best CVs are never generic.

• Read the posting carefully and note the keywords and phrases that appear repeatedly.
• Replace generic action verbs (“responsible for”) with stronger verbs such as “designed,” “implemented,” or “led.”
• Quantify results whenever possible (“increased social media engagement by 30 %”). Numbers give recruiters an immediate sense of impact.

Design Tips

• Font: Stick to one professional typeface like Calibri, Arial or Garamond, 10–12 pt for body text and 12–14 pt for headings.
• Margins: Use 1‑inch margins all around.
• Whitespace: Avoid cramming information; allow breathing space so the document feels open.
• Bullet points: Keep them short (one line each) and use the same bullet style throughout.
• Consistency: Align dates and job titles on the same side to create a clean visual rhythm.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Typos or grammatical errors: A single mistake can cost you an interview. Proofread and ask a friend or career adviser to review.
• Including personal data: Do not list your marital status, religious affiliation or a photo unless required.
• Too many buzzwords: Overusing “proactive” or “team player” without backing them up looks hollow.
• Repetition: Each bullet should introduce a new skill or accomplishment.

Sample Outline
Below is a template you can copy and paste, then customize for each application.

[Name]  
[Phone] • [Email] • LinkedIn: /[profile]  

Objective  
Motivated economics student seeking a summer analyst role at a leading investment firm, eager to apply quantitative analysis skills to real‑world financial challenges.  

Education  
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, University of Example  
Expected May 2025 | GPA: 3.8/4.0  

Experience  
Research Assistant, Economics Department, University of Example  
Sep 2023 – Present  
 • Collected and cleaned survey data from 1,200 participants  
 • Developed Excel model to forecast inflation trends, improving prediction accuracy by 12 %  

Intern, XYZ Marketing, New York, NY  
Jun 2023 – Aug 2023  
 • Designed social media campaign that increased engagement by 30 %  
 • Coordinated cross‑functional team of 5 to deliver project on time  

Skills  
 • Statistical Software: Stata, R  
 • Microsoft Office: Advanced Excel, PowerPoint  
 • Languages: English (native), Spanish (intermediate)  

Achievements  
 • Dean’s List, 2022‑23 academic year  
 • First Place, University Debate Championship 2023  

Extracurriculars  
 • President, Economics Society (2023‑24)  
 • Volunteer, Local Food Bank (2022‑present)  

References  
Available upon request

Checklists and Final Review
Before you hit send, run through this quick checklist:

• Length: Does the CV fit on one page?
• Relevance: Are all items tailored to the specific job?
• Clarity: Is the layout easy to scan?
• Proof: Have you checked for spelling and grammar?
• Contact Info: Is your email professional and free of typos?

A well‑crafted one‑page CV demonstrates that you can communicate key information efficiently—a skill that is highly prized in any profession. Keep refining your template as you gain experience, and always remember that the goal is to make it easy for recruiters to see why you are the perfect fit for the role.