When I first gained admission into a tertiary institution, I knew very little about how to build a CV as a student.
In my mind, a CV belonged to the professional world. I thought I would finish school, collect my certificate, start searching for jobs and then figure out what to write.
At the time, that seemed like a reasonable plan.
But as I progressed through school, I began to understand something I wish I had known from my first year: you do not start building your CV when you graduate. You build it through the choices you make, the opportunities you take and the experiences you gather along the way.
The people you meet, the projects you contribute to, the skills you develop and even the small responsibilities you handle can eventually become part of your professional story.
And the earlier you start, the more opportunities you have to grow.
So, how do you build a CV as a student in Nigeria, especially when you have little or no formal work experience?
You start with what is available to you.
Whether you attend a university, polytechnic, college of education or another tertiary institution, your academic journey provides opportunities to develop the skills and experiences that employers and professional organisations value.
Here are six practical ways to begin.
1. Put Yourself Where Opportunities Can Find You
One thing I have come to understand is that opportunities do not always arrive when we feel ready for them.
Sometimes, a scholarship announcement appears in a student group. A professional organisation opens applications for a fellowship. A student association needs volunteers for an event. Someone shares an internship opportunity with a deadline just a few days away.
Students who stay informed have a better chance of discovering these opportunities early.
But if you are not paying attention, you may never know they existed.
Start looking for opportunities before you urgently need them.
Join relevant student communities, follow credible professional organisations and pay attention to platforms that share internships, scholarships, fellowships, competitions and volunteering opportunities.
You do not have to apply for everything you see. Focus on opportunities that align with your interests and the direction you want to grow.
Sometimes, the first step towards building your CV is simply knowing where to look.
2. Be Intentional About the People Around You
Think about the people you spend the most time with.
What do your conversations revolve around? Do you share useful opportunities? Do you encourage one another to try new things, learn new skills or take meaningful steps towards your goals?
The people around you can influence what you know, what you try and what you believe you can achieve.
I have come to appreciate that building meaningful relationships is not necessarily about knowing the most popular or influential people.
It is about connecting with people who encourage growth.
A classmate may introduce you to a student organisation. A lecturer may recommend a useful programme. A senior student may share an internship opportunity or explain how to prepare for an application.
Sometimes, one conversation with the right person can introduce you to something you would never have discovered on your own.
Build friendships that support your growth, not just your social life.
Attend relevant events, participate in meaningful conversations and stay connected with people who share useful knowledge.
You do not need a large network to begin. Start with genuine relationships.
As those relationships grow, you may discover opportunities to learn, collaborate and contribute.
3. Start With the Little Opportunities
One reason students struggle with building their CVs is that they sometimes believe only big achievements count.
They wait for prestigious internships, major leadership positions or opportunities with impressive titles.
But what happens to all the smaller experiences along the way?
A student who volunteers at an event may learn how to coordinate activities and work with different people.
Another student who writes for a departmental association may develop research, writing and communication skills.
Someone who contributes to a community project may learn teamwork, problem-solving and responsibility.
None of these experiences requires a formal job title.
Yet each can help a student develop useful abilities.
If you want to build a CV without work experience, start by gaining experience wherever you can contribute meaningfully.
Volunteer. Participate in projects. Support student initiatives. Take part in community activities.
Do not dismiss an opportunity because it seems too small.
What matters is not how impressive the opportunity sounds, but what you learn and contribute through it.
Over time, these experiences can become valuable parts of your CV.
4. Develop Skills Beyond Your Academics
Your academic qualification matters. But what other skills are you developing?
This question becomes particularly important when students begin exploring internships, graduate programmes and employment opportunities.
A strong academic record can open doors, but practical skills can help you demonstrate what you are capable of doing.
Depending on your interests, you could develop skills in writing, public speaking, research, graphic design, data analysis or digital technology.
You might also strengthen your communication, teamwork, leadership or organisational abilities.
You do not need to master everything.
Choose skills that genuinely interest you and align with the opportunities you hope to pursue.
Then practise.
If you are learning graphic design, create sample designs. If you enjoy writing, contribute to student publications. If you are interested in research, participate in relevant projects.
I believe students should pay as much attention to applying what they learn as they do to collecting certificates.
Certificates can demonstrate that you completed training. Practical experience helps you explain what you can actually do.
When you eventually update your CV, these experiences can provide examples of your abilities.
5. Take Responsibility and Learn to Follow Through
Not every leadership experience comes with a title.
Sometimes, leadership begins when you accept responsibility for a task and complete it well.
You may help organise an event, coordinate a group assignment, manage a small project or support an activity within your student community.
These responsibilities may seem ordinary at the time.
But they can teach you how to work with others, meet deadlines, solve problems and remain committed to your responsibilities.
Consider a student who helps coordinate a departmental seminar.
The student may handle registration, communicate with participants, work with a team and ensure activities run according to schedule.
That experience offers opportunities to develop organisation, communication and teamwork skills.
The student can later describe those actual contributions when preparing a CV.
Do not focus only on collecting leadership titles. Focus on becoming someone who can take responsibility and deliver results.
As you progress through your academic journey, look for opportunities that challenge you to grow.
Be willing to contribute, learn from mistakes and improve.
Those habits can prepare you for future professional responsibilities.
6. Document Your Experiences as You Go
There is one mistake I would strongly encourage every student to avoid: waiting until the final year to remember everything you have done since gaining admission.
By that time, you may have participated in several activities, completed projects, attended training programmes and handled different responsibilities.
But can you remember the details?
Can you explain exactly what you contributed or achieved?
This is why documenting your experiences is an important part of building your CV as a student.
Start keeping a simple record of your activities.
Include your volunteer work, projects, leadership responsibilities, training programmes, certifications, achievements and practical skills.
Whenever you complete an activity, note what you did, what you learned and the impact of your contribution.
For example, instead of recording only that you volunteered at an event, write down the responsibilities you handled.
Did you coordinate participants? Help organise materials? Manage registrations? Support communications?
These details can help you describe your experience accurately when you eventually prepare your CV.
You can also build a professional digital presence.
LinkedIn offers opportunities to document your skills, projects and professional interests. Other platforms, including TikTok, may help students in creative fields showcase relevant work.
Choose platforms that align with your goals, and be intentional about what you share.
You do not need to publish every achievement. Focus on building a credible record of your growth.
Your CV will become easier to update when you document your experiences as they happen.
What Can You Include in Your CV Without Work Experience?
Many students assume that they cannot prepare a CV because they have never worked for a company.
But formal employment is not the only source of relevant experience.
A student CV can include several types of information:
- Education: Your institution, course of study, qualifications and expected graduation date.
- Relevant skills: Abilities such as communication, research, digital literacy, teamwork and problem-solving that you can demonstrate.
- Projects: Academic assignments, personal projects and collaborative activities that show how you apply your knowledge.
- Volunteering: Community service, event support and other contributions that demonstrate responsibility and initiative.
- Leadership experience: Responsibilities you have handled in student associations, committees, project teams or community groups.
- Training and certifications: Relevant courses, workshops and professional development activities.
- Achievements: Awards, competitions, scholarships and other accomplishments.
- You may not have something to include under every heading, and that is fine.
Your first CV does not need to be impressive. It needs to be honest, relevant and capable of growing with you.
As you gain more experience, you can update the document to reflect your development.
Why Should You Start Building Your CV From Your First Year?
The final year often arrives sooner than students expect.
At that stage, many begin searching for internships, graduate opportunities or jobs. They start asking what employers want and how to make their applications stand out.
Some discover that they have developed useful skills but never documented their experiences.
Others realise they could have explored more opportunities earlier.
I believe students can avoid some of these challenges by becoming intentional about their development from the beginning.
You can pursue academic excellence while building practical skills, participating in meaningful activities and developing relationships that support your growth.
You do not have to choose between getting good grades and preparing for life after graduation.
Both matter.
And if you are already approaching graduation or have recently completed your studies, you have not missed your opportunity to begin.
Start where you are.
Look at the experiences you already have, identify the skills you want to develop and take practical steps towards your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building a Student CV
When should you start building your CV?
You should start building your CV from your first year in a tertiary institution. You can begin by documenting your education, skills, projects, volunteering and other relevant experiences, then update your CV as you grow.
How do you build a CV as a student in Nigeria?
Start by identifying your relevant skills, education, projects and achievements. Seek volunteering, training and internship opportunities, document your contributions and organise your experiences into a clear, professional CV.
Can you create a CV without formal work experience?
Yes. You can include academic projects, volunteering, student leadership, practical skills, training and relevant achievements. Describe your actual contributions rather than inventing employment experience.
What skills should an undergraduate include in a CV?
Include skills relevant to the opportunity you are pursuing. These may include communication, teamwork, research, writing, digital literacy, problem-solving and leadership. Choose abilities you can confidently demonstrate.
How can you improve your CV before graduation?
Develop practical skills, participate in projects, volunteer, build professional relationships and document your achievements. Review your CV regularly and update it as you gain experience.
Your CV Is a Record of Your Growth
There is something I think every student needs to understand: not every experience has to be extraordinary to count.
Volunteering at an event can teach teamwork. Writing for a student organisation can strengthen communication skills. Contributing to a project can teach responsibility and consistency.
What matters is not how many activities you can list, but what you have learned, what you can do and how you have grown through those experiences.
You may not have much to put on your CV today, and that is okay.
Your first CV does not have to tell the story of someone who has achieved everything.
It only needs to show where you are starting.
You do not have to join every organisation, pursue every opportunity or do everything at once.
Choose experiences that align with your interests. Give yourself room to learn. Build meaningful relationships and remain open to opportunities that can help you grow.
Your years in a tertiary institution are not simply a period of waiting for graduation.
They are an opportunity to begin preparing for the future.
Start with what you have. Take advantage of the opportunities available to you. Keep learning, keep contributing and document your progress.
The choices you make today shape the CV you will present tomorrow.
