College Freshman Resume: 6 Examples for Your First Year

By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published 2026-10-14 · Updated 2026-10-14

8 min read

A college freshman resume is one page that puts your college and expected graduation date first, then the strongest things you did in high school and your first semester: jobs, activities, leadership and skills. The one constraint is time, because you have one semester of college to show, so high school still earns its place this year and leaves the page by junior year. The National Association of Colleges and Employers lists the career readiness competencies employers look for, and the examples below map to them. Six complete resumes follow. Written by Mustafa Tarabya, who hired for his own company, read every application himself and now writes CVBooster's guides.

You have been in college for eleven weeks. The internship form wants your relevant professional experience. Your most relevant professional experience is surviving the dining hall. Here is what to write instead.

College freshman resume example for a campus job

A campus job is the most common first application. The reader is a staff member who needs someone reliable for set hours, so availability and any customer-facing work matter most.

The high school diploma line stays for now. It goes once you have a full year of college to show.

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What goes on a college freshman resume

Harvard's career services office says a resume "should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions." In your first year the strongest things are usually these, in this order:

• Education. College name, degree and major (or "undeclared"), expected graduation month and year. Add your college GPA after your first semester if it is strong.
• High school, briefly. School, diploma, year, and GPA if strong. Keep it for freshman year and cut it later.
• Experience. Paid jobs of any kind, including summer jobs, babysitting and family business work.
• Activities and leadership. Clubs, sports, student government, music, with what you did in each.
• Skills. Software, languages and any certificate such as CPR or a food handler card.

Our page on things to put on a resume covers each section in detail.

Example 2: Freshman resume for a first internship

Many first-year internship programs exist for exactly this stage. The resume has to show interest in the field and the habits of someone who finishes work.

The DECA treasurer line is doing the work. A first-year internship reader wants to see money, numbers or responsibility, and a student role can show all three.

Example 3: Freshman resume for a research assistant role

Research labs often take first-year students for data entry, lab prep or survey work. Name the methods and tools you have used, even in class.

The lifeguard line counts twice: reliability on long shifts and a habit of logging measurements, which is half of lab work.

Example 4: Freshman resume with no work experience

No job yet is common and fine. The page runs on school activities, volunteering and skills. NACE defines Teamwork as "Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities", and a team sport or group project shows exactly that.

If this is your first resume of any kind, our first job resume guide covers the basics before you tailor it to college roles.

Example 5: Freshman resume for a summer job

Summer employers hire for a short season and need you for all of it. Put your available dates in the summary or at the top.

Example 6: College freshman resume template

Fill this in when you want the layout without the guesswork. Delete any section you cannot fill with something true.

Mistakes to avoid on a college freshman resume

• Leaving out high school entirely. In your first year you need it. Cut it by junior year.
• Listing a club with no role. Write what you did there, even if it was organizing one event.
• A personal email address that is not professional. Use your college email.
• Two pages. A freshman resume is always one page.
• An objective about growth and learning. If you use one, name the job. Our resume objective examples show how.

Before you send it, ask your campus career center for a review. Kelley School of Business publishes a first-year resume example for its own students, and most colleges have an equivalent, which tells you what your own employers and coaches expect to see.

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Frequently asked questions

Should a college freshman put high school on a resume?

Yes, in your first year. You have only one or two semesters of college to show, so your high school diploma, GPA if strong, and your best activities still help. Keep it short and below your college. Most students drop high school from the resume by junior year, once college work can fill the page.

What should a college freshman put on a resume?

Put your college, major and expected graduation date first, then high school briefly, any jobs including summer and informal work, activities with your role in each, and skills such as software, languages and certificates. Each line should show something you did, not just something you joined.

How do I make a resume as a college freshman with no experience?

Lead with education, then use projects, volunteer work, sports, clubs and informal jobs such as babysitting to show reliability and teamwork. Write each one with what you did and what came of it. Add a skills section and, for campus or hourly jobs, a clear availability line.

Can college freshmen get internships?

Yes. Many companies and colleges run programs for first-year students, often called first-year, exploratory or early insight internships. Your resume for these should show interest in the field through coursework, clubs or projects, and the habits of someone reliable, such as a job held for a long period.

How long should a college freshman resume be?

One page. A first-year student has education, a few jobs or activities and skills, which fit on one page with space to spare. If you are running onto a second page, cut older or less relevant activities rather than shrinking the font.

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