As a college freshman in 2026, you may find yourself with limited work experience in your chosen field. While you might have had part-time jobs, it can be challenging to articulate those experiences effectively alongside other relevant achievements.
Conventional resume advice often caters to individuals with more established careers. However, as a first-year college student, most of your experiences are likely rooted in academics, extracurricular activities, or personal projects.
Regardless of what opportunities you are pursuing—be it internships, part-time jobs, or scholarships—a polished and strategically crafted resume is essential to showcase your potential as a candidate. This article will outline the fundamental components of a college freshman resume, provide guidance on crafting your own, and include an example resume to help you get started.
Key Takeaways:
-
Your resume should encompass the following sections:
-
Resume objective/summary
-
Educational background and extracurricular involvement
-
Work experience
-
Relevant skills
-
-
To ensure your resume remains one page, craft concise bullet points that do not exceed two lines each.
-
Thoroughly proofread your resume to eliminate any spelling or grammatical errors.
What Is a College Freshman Resume?
A college freshman resume is specifically tailored for first-year students. At this stage, you are embarking on your journey to define your career aspirations and personal identity. This transitional phase is filled with opportunities to acquire experience, develop specialized skills, and understand professional conduct.
Though you may not yet possess extensive experience, you’re not expected to. Resumes are vital in various application processes, including:
-
Work-study opportunities
-
Internships
-
Student leadership roles
-
Scholarships
-
On-campus or part-time employment
Unlike traditional resumes that focus solely on adult professional experiences, it’s acceptable for college freshmen to include relevant high school accomplishments. This distinction is what sets a college freshman resume apart from a standard professional resume.
What to Include in a College Freshman Resume
Your resume should feature the following sections:
-
Contact information. This is perhaps the most crucial section of your resume, linking all content back to you. It should be prominently displayed at the top of your resume, with your name highlighted as the most significant text.
Include the following:
-
Resume objective/summary. Position this section at the top of your resume. It should provide a concise introduction to your skills, experiences, and career goals.
Keep this summary under 150 characters, focusing on your educational background and relevant skills. Avoid vague language; instead, be specific about how your experience aligns with the role you’re applying for.
-
Educational background. This section will likely be one of your strongest as a freshman, so place it prominently. Start with your major or primary focus of study to show the skills you’re developing.
List your institution and expected graduation date, along with any honors or awards you’ve received. You may also include relevant coursework that aligns with the position you’re targeting. Including high school information is acceptable if noteworthy achievements warrant it.
-
Work experience. It’s entirely normal for freshmen to have limited professional experience. However, any job you’ve held, even if not directly related to your field, should be included.
Employers value work ethic, and any part-time job or internship demonstrates your commitment and developing professional skills. List your positions in reverse chronological order, detailing:
-
Your job title
-
The period of employment
-
The organization’s name
-
Your key responsibilities and accomplishments, presented in 2-5 bullet points
-
-
Relevant skills. This section highlights your competencies, including both hard skills (learned through training) and soft skills (innate abilities).
While soft skills are crucial, hard skills provide more concrete evidence of your capabilities. Ensure all listed skills are pertinent to the position you seek, tailoring this section to match job descriptions.
-
Extracurricular activities. As a college freshman, significant achievements often arise from extracurricular involvement, such as clubs, sports, or student government.
These experiences can convey your personality and capabilities, so include only those that demonstrate notable commitment. You can present this as a separate section or integrate it with your educational background.
-
Optional sections. Consider additional sections that may enhance your resume’s appeal. Combine related sections where appropriate.
Ensure that any information included is relevant and valuable to the position. Optional sections may include:
-
Awards and honors
College Freshman Resume Template and Example
-
Resume Template:
First Name Last Name email@email.com | (555)-555-5555 | City, State | linkedin.com/firstnamelastname (optional)
RESUME SUMMARY
Freshman university student majoring in [major] seeking to utilize skills in [hard skill] to excel in a [job title] role. A [soft skill] individual hoping to contribute to [company name]’s broader goals of [company’s publicly-stated goals].EDUCATION
[Name of Major] | [X.X] GPA (only if over 3.0)
[Name of College/University] | [City, State]
Expected Graduation Year: 202X[Honors/Awards]
[Relevant Coursework/Extracurriculars][Name of High School] | [X.X] GPA (only if over 3.0)
[City, State]
Graduation Year: 20XX[Honors/Awards]
[Relevant Extracurriculars]RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
[Most Recent Job Title] | [Start Date] – [End Date] (Month, Year or MM/YYYY)
[Organization Name] | [City, State]- [Impressive accomplishment]
- [Quantifiable experience]
- [Use present tense if still working this job]
[Previous Job Title] | [Start Date] – [End Date] (Month, Year or MM/YYYY)
[Organization Name] | [City, State]- [Use past tense verbs to start each bullet]
- [Strong action verbs work best]
- [Use numbers when possible]
EXTRACURRICULARS
- [Brief 1-2 line description of your involvement with a relevant extracurricular activity]
- [Avoid repeating items already listed in your education section]
RELEVANT SKILLS
- [Hard skill 1] (Specify software/tools you’re proficient with)
- [Hard skill 2]
- [Hard skill 3]
- [Hard skill 4]
- [Soft skill 1] (Ensure soft skills are reflected in experience, education, and summary/objective)
- [Soft skill 2]
-
Resume Example:
Here’s an example of a college freshman resume that incorporates the tips provided. Use this as a reference during your writing process:
Malia Davis Phone: 608-281-4823 | Email: maliabdavis@gmail.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maliabdavis | Website: maliadaviswork.com
OBJECTIVE
Digital Marketing and Communications student with academic experience in social media content creation. Seeking to leverage writing, marketing, and design skills to enhance customer engagement at Pinecone Ltd.’s social media outlets.EDUCATION
Digital Marketing and Communications Major,
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
2020 – 2024 (expected graduation year)
Relevant Coursework: Intro to Social Media Marketing, Intermediate Social Media Marketing, Understanding Algorithms, Intro to Graphic Design
Extracurriculars:- Member of OSU writing group meeting weekly to refine writing skills.
- Member of Marketing and Communications Fraternity, collaborating on monthly volunteer marketing initiatives.
Grand Rapids Montessori High, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Graduation Date: 2020
GPA: 4.0WORK EXPERIENCE
Marketing Intern
Lovepups Rescue Center, Wyoming, Michigan
2020-05 – 2020-08- Collaborated on diverse marketing materials for both print and digital platforms.
- Independently wrote and designed pamphlets and flyers to enhance community awareness.
- Streamlined digital marketing files for better accessibility.
- Boosted Lovepups membership rates by 20%.
Server/Team Member
Starlight Cafe, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2018-06 – 2019-09- Managed customer orders both in-person and via phone.
- Balanced cleaning and customer service duties to ensure optimal customer experience.
- Influenced customer decisions by promoting new menu items and special deals.
SKILLS
- Strong understanding of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram algorithms and content strategies.
- Intermediate proficiency in HTML and CSS coding.
- Academic and professional writing expertise.
- Skilled in Adobe Photoshop.
- Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills.
- Fluent in Spanish.
- Project leadership capabilities.
AWARDS AND HONORS
- Top 2% of graduating class at Grand Rapids Montessori High (100 students).
- Achieved perfect attendance award for four consecutive years.
- Recipient of the Linda Everly Honors Scholarship for outstanding academic achievement at OSU.
Tips for Writing a Resume in College
Here are three essential tips for crafting an effective resume as a college freshman:
-
Strategically decide on sections. Before creating your resume, brainstorm potential content extensively. After listing everything, highlight the most relevant items and categorize them effectively to avoid redundancy. Core sections like education and work experience are essential, but think creatively about other sections to include.
-
Write effective bullet points. Consolidate details into concise bullet points within each section. Incorporate language from the job description to strengthen relevance. Focus on brevity and clarity, starting each bullet with a strong action verb and aiming for no more than two lines per point.
-
Use the right format. The design and layout of your resume reflect your professionalism. Choose colors and structures that resonate with you while maintaining readability. Follow formatting norms, including reverse chronological order and consistent fonts, while ensuring your name stands out as the largest text.
-
Proofread your resume. Avoid the common pitfall of submitting a resume with typos or grammatical errors. Review your document multiple times and consider having a peer or professor critique it for clarity and accuracy.
-
Stick to one page. Keep your resume concise—one page is optimal. Employers typically have limited time to review resumes, so focus on relevant information.
-
Seek assistance if needed. Don’t hesitate to approach your professors or your campus career services for help. They can provide valuable feedback and guidance on how to structure your resume effectively for prospective employers.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
Expert
Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.
