The best examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates

Examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates (by situation)

Let’s skip the theory and start with real examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates in different situations. Think of these as starting points you can plug your own details into.

Example of a resume template for a STEM graduate with projects

This template works well if you’ve done technical projects, capstones, or research, even if you have limited paid experience.

Header
Name | City, State | Phone | Professional Email | LinkedIn URL | Portfolio/GitHub (if relevant)

Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of X
Graduation: May 2024
GPA: 3.6/4.0 (include if 3.3 or higher and recent)
Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Databases, Machine Learning

Technical Projects
Online Grocery Price Tracker | Python, BeautifulSoup, PostgreSQL
• Built a web scraper that tracked prices from 5 grocery sites, storing 10,000+ records in a SQL database.
• Created a dashboard to visualize weekly price changes and identify the cheapest store per item.

Campus Shuttle Tracker App | React Native, Firebase
• Collaborated with 3 classmates to design and ship a real-time campus shuttle tracker used by 200+ students.
• Implemented push notifications that reduced average wait times by an estimated 5 minutes.

Experience
IT Support Assistant, University Help Desk
Aug 2023 – May 2024
• Resolved 15–20 technical support tickets per shift, maintaining a 95% satisfaction rating.
• Documented recurring issues and suggested process changes that cut repeat tickets by 10%.

Skills
Languages: Python, Java, SQL
Tools: Git, Linux, AWS (basic)
Soft Skills: Problem-solving, communication, teamwork

This is one of the best examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates in STEM because it moves projects up, where recruiters will see them quickly.

Example of a resume template for a business or marketing graduate

If you’ve done internships, campus leadership, or volunteer work, this style helps you tell a clear story.

Header
Same structure as above.

Education
Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing, State University
Graduated: December 2024
Honors: Dean’s List (4 semesters)
Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Marketing Analytics

Experience
Marketing Intern, Local Retail Brand
June 2024 – August 2024
• Assisted with social media content calendar across Instagram and TikTok, contributing to a 25% increase in followers over 3 months.
• Pulled weekly analytics reports using Meta Business Suite and Google Analytics to track engagement and click-through rates.
• Coordinated 3 in-store events, helping grow weekend foot traffic by 18%.

Student Ambassador, College of Business
Sept 2023 – May 2024
• Led campus tours for groups of 10–30 prospective students and families, explaining academic programs and student life.
• Collaborated with staff to organize open house events drawing 400+ attendees.

Projects
Digital Marketing Campaign Plan (Course Project)
• Developed a 12-week digital campaign strategy for a mock client, including budget, channel mix, and KPIs.
• Used Google Trends and competitor analysis to recommend SEO and paid search tactics.

Skills
Marketing: Social media management, content planning, email marketing (Mailchimp)
Analytics: Google Analytics (GA4), Excel, basic Tableau
Other: Public speaking, writing, event coordination

Among the best examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates in business, this one shows impact with numbers, even without years of experience.

Example of an entry-level resume template for education or social sciences

Use this if your experience is a mix of tutoring, volunteering, and campus involvement.

Header
Same structure as above.

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Regional University
Graduation: May 2024
Minor: Sociology
Relevant Coursework: Developmental Psychology, Research Methods, Statistics

Experience
Peer Tutor, Psychology Department
Jan 2023 – May 2024
• Tutored 10–15 students per semester in Intro to Psychology and Statistics, focusing on study strategies and test prep.
• Created study guides and practice quizzes that helped students raise exam scores by an average of one letter grade.

Volunteer Mentor, Youth After-School Program
Sept 2022 – Dec 2023
• Mentored middle school students 2 afternoons per week, supporting homework completion and social skills.
• Coordinated small-group activities to encourage collaboration and conflict resolution.

Research & Projects
Senior Research Project: Social Media Use and Sleep Quality in College Students
• Designed and conducted a survey of 120 students, analyzed results using SPSS, and presented findings at the campus research symposium.

Skills
Research: Survey design, data collection, basic statistical analysis
Interpersonal: Active listening, conflict resolution, mentoring
Technical: Microsoft Office, SPSS (basic)

This is a strong example of an entry-level resume template for recent graduates going into education, counseling, or human services, where people skills matter as much as technical skills.

Example of a resume template for recent grads with mostly part-time or retail work

If you worked through school and don’t have formal internships, you still have plenty to show.

Header
Same structure.

Education
Associate of Arts, Community College
Graduation: May 2024
Relevant Coursework: Business Communication, Intro to Management

Experience
Shift Lead, Coffee House
Jan 2022 – May 2024
• Supervised 3–5 team members per shift, handling opening/closing procedures and cash reconciliation up to $3,000 daily.
• Trained 8 new hires on customer service standards and POS systems, helping reduce order errors.
• Managed rush-hour lines by reorganizing tasks, cutting average wait time during peak by an estimated 3 minutes.

Sales Associate, Clothing Retailer
June 2021 – Dec 2021
• Assisted 50+ customers per shift, consistently meeting or exceeding daily sales goals.
• Maintained visual merchandising standards that aligned with corporate guidelines.

Projects & Campus Involvement
Treasurer, Business Club
• Managed a $2,000 annual budget, tracked expenses, and prepared monthly reports.

Skills
Customer Service, Cash Handling, Time Management, Team Leadership, POS Systems

This is one of the best examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates who worked through school and want to highlight reliability, leadership, and customer-facing skills.

Example of a skills-based (functional) resume for career changers or nontraditional grads

If your education is new but your work history is in another field, a skills-first layout can help.

Header
Same structure.

Summary
Recent graduate with a Bachelor’s in Information Systems and 4+ years of experience in hospitality management, seeking an entry-level business analyst role. Skilled in data tracking, process improvement, and stakeholder communication.

Skills & Related Experience
Data & Analysis
• Used Excel to track weekly sales and inventory for a 150-seat restaurant, identifying patterns that reduced food waste by 12%.
• Completed a capstone project building a dashboard to visualize customer feedback trends.

Process Improvement
• Redesigned table rotation and shift scheduling, improving average table turn time by 10%.
• In coursework, mapped order fulfillment processes and suggested changes to reduce bottlenecks.

Communication & Leadership
• Managed and trained a team of 10 servers, holding weekly check-ins and performance reviews.
• Presented findings from a systems analysis project to a class of 30 and faculty.

Education
Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, City University
Graduation: August 2024

Additional Experience
Restaurant Manager, XYZ Bistro
2019 – 2024

This skills-based structure is a powerful example of an entry-level resume template for recent graduates making a pivot into a new field.

How to choose between these examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates

Looking at all these examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates, it can be tempting to mash everything together. Instead, pick one main structure based on what you want to highlight.

If your best evidence of skill lives in class projects, personal projects, or a portfolio, put Projects high on the page. If you’ve had internships or serious part-time roles, let Experience do the heavy lifting. If you’re changing careers, a Skills & Related Experience section near the top can connect your past and future.

The U.S. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) regularly surveys employers on what they value in new grads—things like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving show up consistently as top priorities (NACE Job Outlook). Your template should make those qualities obvious, even if your job titles are entry-level.

Key trends for entry-level resumes in 2024–2025

When you’re picking from the best examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates, it helps to know what’s changed lately.

One-page is still standard.
For most new grads, a one-page resume is enough. Recruiters often spend only seconds on an initial scan.

ATS-friendly formatting matters.
Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. That means:

• Stick to simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman).
• Use clear section headings like Education, Experience, Skills.
• Avoid text boxes, columns, and graphics that can confuse parsing.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management explains how automated systems are used in federal hiring, which is similar in spirit to how many private employers screen applications (OPM Hiring Information).

Skills sections need to be specific.
Instead of listing “Microsoft Office,” break it down: Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables), PowerPoint (presentations for 30+ audience), Word (formatted reports). Recruiters in 2024–2025 are scanning for real tools and technologies.

Keywords from the job description matter more than ever.
If a posting asks for “customer support,” “ticketing systems,” and “escalation,” and your resume says “helped people with problems,” you’re leaving opportunities on the table. Adjust your wording to mirror the job description when it’s accurate for your experience.

Career centers at universities like Harvard share updated advice on tailoring resumes to job postings, including examples and templates (Harvard Office of Career Services).

Turning your background into a strong template

You’ve seen several real examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates. Now, here’s how to shape your own.

Start with a clean, readable layout
Use clear section headings, consistent formatting, and enough white space so the page doesn’t feel cramped. Left-align everything. Use bold for headings and job titles, italics for dates or locations if you like, and bullet points for responsibilities and achievements.

Lead with your strongest section
If your degree is your main asset (brand-new field, little experience), put Education first. If you’ve had a solid internship, put Experience first. If you’re pivoting careers, lead with Summary and Skills & Related Experience.

Translate student experience into “work” language
A lot of what you’ve done in school maps directly to workplace skills. For example:

• Group project → “Collaborated with a team of 4 to…”
• Club leadership → “Organized weekly meetings for 20 members and coordinated 3 events per semester.”
• Research paper → “Conducted literature review of 25+ academic sources and presented findings to class of 30.”

Quantify wherever you can
Numbers make your impact concrete, even in entry-level roles. You can quantify:

• People: number of customers, students, team members.
• Time: how often you did something, or how long it took.
• Results: percentage improvements, money handled, attendance at events.

Common mistakes to avoid when using entry-level resume templates

Even the best examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates can go wrong if you fill them in carelessly.

Overloading the resume with buzzwords
“Hardworking, motivated, passionate, driven” says very little if you don’t back it up. Show those qualities through actions and results instead of stuffing adjectives.

Including every job you’ve ever had
You don’t need to list the summer you mowed lawns in 9th grade. Focus on roles from the last 4–5 years or those that clearly relate to the job you want.

Using the same resume for every application
Templates are starting points, not final products. Take a few minutes to adjust the skills section and bullet points to match each job description.

Ignoring spelling and grammar
Typos still get resumes tossed. Tools like spell check and grammar check help, but also ask a friend, mentor, or campus career center to review. Many universities and community colleges offer free resume reviews through their career services offices.

Quick FAQ about examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates

What are some real examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates I can copy?
The examples above—STEM with projects, business/marketing with internships, education/social sciences with tutoring and volunteering, part-time/retail with leadership, and skills-based for career changers—are all real structures you can adapt. Each one shows a different way to organize Education, Experience, Projects, and Skills depending on your strengths.

Can I use a template from my university career center?
Yes. Many career centers provide at least one example of an entry-level resume template for recent graduates on their websites. Those are often aligned with employer expectations. You can use them as a base and then customize. Check your school’s career services site or a well-known resource like Harvard’s career office.

Do I really need a different template for each job?
You don’t need a completely new design each time. Start with one of the best examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates that fits your background. Then create slightly different versions for, say, “customer service,” “operations,” and “marketing” roles by adjusting your bullet points and skills.

Should I include my GPA and coursework?
If you graduated recently and your GPA is strong (often 3.3 or higher), include it. Listing relevant coursework can help when you lack direct experience, especially for technical or specialized roles. As you gain more work experience, you can remove coursework and possibly GPA.

Is a summary or objective necessary for an entry-level resume?
Not required, but a short, focused summary can help frame your story, especially if your path is nontraditional. Keep it to 2–3 lines and make it specific to the kind of role you’re targeting.

The bottom line: Pick one of these examples of entry-level resume templates for recent graduates, plug in your real experiences, and edit until every bullet shows action and impact. Your first job is not about having a perfect history—it’s about presenting the story you already have in a clear, confident way.