Landing a college placement requires a CV that shows what you've done, who you are, and why you're right for the role. Employers in 2025 want clarity, impact, and relevance. In this guide, you'll learn:
- Why your CV matters for placements
- What's changed in 2025
- How to structure it section by section
- Examples that feel real
- Final tips and mistakes to avoid
Let's build your placement CV the right way.
Why a CV Still Matters for Placements
A placement CV isn't just a resume. It's your first professional introduction. Recruiters look for:
- Skills that match their role
- Results from your work or studies
- A clear layout they can skim in 6 seconds
- ATS-friendly formatting they can parse
In 2025, that first impression is still crucial. According to Careers.JNJ, ATS systems now screen nearly all large-company CVs, but humans make the final call, so stand out but stay scannable.
2025 Trends for Student CVs
a. Clean, minimal design
Use simple layouts, sans-serif fonts, bullet points, and clear headings. This makes your CV ATS-friendly and recruiter-friendly.
b. Include a personal summary or objective
Recent grads should add a 2–3 sentence objective to introduce their goals. Say what you bring and where you aim to go.
c. Focus on results, not duties
Use numbers like "managed a team of 8" or "raised ₹15k for charity" to show impact.
d. Pull from coursework, projects, activities
Without full-time work, include academic and extracurricular achievements like clubs, research, and events.
e. Add soft skills in context
Mention communication, team leadership, and organizing, all with examples.
Section-by-Section Guide
Here's a typical student/placement CV structure:
Name · Phone · Email · LinkedIn
Objective · (optional but helpful)
Key Skills
Projects & Achievements
Work Experience / Volunteering
Education
Certifications & Awards
Interests (optional)
References (optional)
Let's break it down:
A. Header & Contact
- Full name, Indian phone (+91...), professional email, city
- Include LinkedIn if it's polished
Example:
Neha Sharma · +91‑98765‑43210 · neha.sharma@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/neha‑sharma · Bengaluru, India
Tip: Keep this in the main body, not header/footer. ATS may skip them.
B. Objective (2–3 lines)
Only use if you don't have work experience. It needs to connect past work and ambitions.
Example:
"Final-year Mechanical Engineering student at NITK with experience leading a 5-member robotics design team. Seeking a placement in an R&D role to develop automation solutions in the automotive industry."
This shows who you are and what you want, and it's tailored.
C. Key Skills
Use a bullet list with both hard and soft skills.
Example:
- CAD & SolidWorks modeling
- MATLAB for data analysis
- Team leadership & project coordination
- Presentation & technical writing
Tip: Only list 5–7 key skills with no clutter. Pick what employers care about.
D. Projects & Achievements
This is your main section if you lack full-time roles.
Example:
Robotics Arm Project – Team Lead (Jan–Apr 2025)
- Led 5-team design and integration, completing assembly two weeks ahead of schedule
- Programmed control system using Arduino & MATLAB; decreased error rate by 20%
Data Science Assignment – Personal Project (Mar 2025)
- Analyzed public COVID-19 dataset with Python; built ML model with 85% prediction accuracy
These bullets tell a story and include numbers.
E. Work / Volunteering Experience
Even internships, part-time jobs, or campus roles count.
Example:
Peer Tutor – NITK Peer Tutoring Program (Aug 2023–Present)
- Tutored 20+ first-year students in C programming; increased pass rate by 30%
Cafeteria Assistant – Campus Mess (Jun–Aug 2024)
- Managed daily orders and inventory; reduced food waste by 15% via tracking system
Use one to three bullets per job. Focus on results, not chores.
F. Education
List your degree and university, month/year, GPA or percentage, and highlight relevant courses or achievements.
Example:
B.Tech Mechanical Engineering, NITK (2021–2025)
CGPA: 8.4/10
Relevant coursework: Mechatronics, Automation Systems, Thermodynamics
Include awards, technical certifications like "Certified SolidWorks Associate" (CSA).
G. Certifications & Awards
Add relevant accolades or online course certificates.
Example:
• Certified SolidWorks Associate (2024)
• Udemy – Advanced MATLAB & Simulink (2023)
Adds credibility and shows continued learning.
H. Interests (Optional)
Include interests that show teamwork, leadership, or relevant skills.
Example:
• Captain, NITK Basketball Team
• Volunteer, Teach-for-India (teaching STEM to underprivileged children)
These show extra layers of who you are.
I. References
Not needed in CV. "References available on request" is enough.
Example Placement CV (Full)
Neha Sharma · +91‑98765‑43210 · neha.sharma@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/neha‑sharma · Bengaluru, India
Objective
Final-year Mechanical Engineering student at NITK with experience leadinga robotics
design team and strong CAD skills.
Seeking a summer R&D placement in automotive automation.
Key Skills
• CAD & SolidWorks modeling
• MATLAB data analysis
• Team leadership & project coordination
• Technical writing & presentation skills
Projects & Achievements
**Robotics Arm Project – Team Lead** (Jan–Apr 2025)
• Led 5-team design and integration; completed two weeks ahead of schedule
• Programmed control system using Arduino & MATLAB; decreased error rate by 20%
**COVID-19 Data Analysis – Personal Project** (Mar 2025)
• Analyzed public dataset using Python and Jupyter; created ML model predicting case growth with 85% accuracy
Work Experience
**Peer Tutor – NITK Tutoring Program** (Aug 2023–Present)
• Tutored 20+ students in C programming; increased class average pass rate by 30%
**Cafeteria Assistant – NITK Campus Mess** (Jun–Aug 2024)
• Managed orders/inventory; reduced food waste by 15% via tracking system
Education
B.Tech Mechanical Engineering, NITK (2021–2025)
CGPA: 8.4/10
Relevant coursework: Mechatronics, Automation Systems, Thermodynamics
Certifications
• Certified SolidWorks Associate, 2024
• MATLAB & Simulink (Udemy), 2023
Interests
• Captain, NITK Basketball Team
• Volunteer STEM tutor with Teach-for-India
References available on request
Best Practices & What to Avoid
Use ATS-friendly Layout
One-column, sans-serif font (Arial/Calibri size 11–12), clear headings, bullet points, and no graphics or headers/footers. Prefer to match placement guidelines.
Quantify Achievements
Always tie your work to results like percentages, numbers, and weeks early.
Use Action Verbs
Start each bullet with active verbs like "Led," "Reduced," "Analyzed" instead of "In charge of".
Tailor for Each Placement
Use keywords from placement ads (e.g. "AutoCAD," "data analysis") instead of generic ones.
Don't Add Buzzwords
Skip generic words like "hard-working" without proof. Show with examples.
Keep It 1–2 Pages
One page is ideal. When justified, two is fine with no fluff.
Proofread
Typos or spelling errors can kill your application. Use tools like Grammarly and ask someone else to review.
Extra Tips for 2025 Placements
- Match tone to company. Formal for big firms, friendly for startups.
- Add LinkedIn or GitHub links if portfolio is relevant.
- Include digital badges (e.g. Coursera) to show continued learning.
- Keep multiple CV versions like one for R&D, another for internships.
- Use ATS-tools like SpeedUpHire to check your CV before submitting.
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Listing projects with only generic statements, no results
- Including every club/activity without context
- Using overly academic language instead of keeping it professional
- Ignoring placement instructions (e.g., "PDF only")
- Inconsistent formatting or mixing fonts
Final Thoughts
Creating a placement CV in 2025 doesn't have to be stressful. Focus on:
- Relevant skills and activities
- Measurable impact and clear examples
- Clean formatting and ATS-readiness
- Tailoring for each placement
- Proof and polishing
Follow this guide, use the examples, and customize for your career interests. You'll build a CV that opens doors and gets you placed.