How to craft a winning CV for university and internship applications
A good CV highlights your passions and achievements while showcasing your potential
Learn how to stand out when crafting a CV for university or internships. Photo: ShutterstockAlthough university might feel far away, now is actually the perfect time to start enriching your experiences and begin preparing one of your most important documents: your curriculum vitae (CV).
A CV provides a summary of your successes and evidence of your skills. It’s also important for university or internship applications. Here are some tips for crafting a great CV.
1. Highlight achievements and activities
Universities in particular look beyond grades to find well-rounded, passionate students. Make sure to include the following:
Academics: Note significant achievements, such as consistent high performance, awards, participation in competitions and special projects.
Extracurriculars: Showcase your contributions.
– If you were in any clubs or societies, mention your roles or achievements (like the president of the debate club, for example)
– If you played sports, highlight your involvement on the team, any leadership roles you held, and competitions you participated in.
– For arts and culture-related activities, note your talents and some projects you took part in (e.g., Drama Club: played the lead role in our school’s production of Hello Kitty on Stage).
Participation in extracurricular activities shows you have valuable skills like teamwork and communication. It also shows you are passionate about learning.
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2. Emphasise early experience and volunteering
Including work and volunteer experience shows responsibility and transferable skills.
– Part-time jobs: Highlight your duties and learned skills (e.g., handling money, communication).
– Internships/shadowing: Describe your role and the knowledge you gained.
– Volunteering: Be specific about the organisation, your role, and the skills you developed (e.g., leadership skills).
Even small experiences showcase initiative!
3. Focus on transferable skills and potential
Highlighting what you have already accomplished gives universities insight into what you could do. Make sure that you:
– Identify your skills: Consider your strengths, such as communication, organisation, problem-solving, or teamwork. Reflect on your experiences to identify and provide evidence for these skills.
– Showcase your potential: Your CV can hint at your future. Strong performance and involvement in relevant areas (e.g., science clubs for science programmes) show passion.
– Use action verbs: Describe your experiences actively (e.g., “Led discussions” instead of “Was in charge of discussions”).
Key CV Tips
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Keep it concise: Aim for one page
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Be honest: Never exaggerate
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Proofread: No errors allowed
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Professional format: Keep it clean and readable with consistent formatting
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Tailor later: Adjust your CV for specific universities and programmes