Apprenticeship student CV: the guide to getting a contract
Did you know that 36% of students looking for a work-study program must send more than 30 applications* before getting a positive response? In an ultra-competitive market, a CV that is poorly structured or too generic can be a major obstacle to your recruitment.
To get an apprenticeship if you are in business school, it is essential to enhance your skills, structure your career path and capture the attention of recruiters in a few seconds. Your resume should be clear, powerful and optimized, especially for online applications filtered by ATS software.
In this article, we reveal to you the best practices, recommendations and tips from BSB apprenticeship coaches to build an effective resume that is adapted to business expectations. Objective: maximize your chances of being retained and getting your work-study contract.
What recruiters look for in a business school resume
The key criteria for an effective resume
Recruiters looking for business school students expect a Structured, clear and adapted to the target sector. A good resume should allow them in a few seconds to identify if a candidate has the skills and potential required for the position.
Three elements are in particular scrutiny:
✔ A targeted and careful application → A generic resume sends a negative signal and shows a lack of thought.
✔ A candidate who knows how to sell himself → Even without experience, it is possible to value your skills and potential.
✔ A clear and striking resume → An airy layout and logical structure make it easy to read and remember the profile.
A well-designed resume demonstrates your professionalism and your commitment, essential qualities for a recruiter.
Why are some resumes discarded in seconds?
On average, a recruiter only passes 6 to 10 seconds on a resume before deciding whether to continue reading. A document that is poorly presented, overloaded with useless information, or poorly structured is unlikely to be retained.
A LinkedIn study reveals that 76% of recruiters reject a resume that does not highlight the expected skills.
The most common mistakes that lead to the rejection of a resume:
❌ An overloaded or illegible design → Too many colors, useless pictograms, or a fancy font make it difficult to read.
❌ Generic and impersonal content → Do not adapt your resume to the offer or the company is sending a negative signal to the recruiter.
❌ A lack of clarity in information → A confusing structure can hinder the understanding of your background.
💡 The solution?
A clear, adapted and well-constructed resume that values your skills and potential, even without significant experience.
The ideal structure of a work-study student CV
An effective resume follows a precise logic that allows recruiters to identify immediately Essential information. For a business school student, each section should be designed to valorize your skills and potential, even in the absence of significant professional experience.
The top of the resume: The hook that grabs attention
The first few seconds of reading are decisive. A recruiter should understand At a glance your objective and your added value.
The three key elements to include at the top of the resume:
- A precise and striking title → “Business school student - Digital marketing apprenticeship” is more effective than “Research apprenticeship”.
- A well-written professional catchphrase → In two or three sentences, highlight your key skills, your specialization and your added value for the company.
- Your essential contact information → Name, first name, telephone, professional email, and link to your optimized LinkedIn profile.
Experience: how do you make up for a lack of professional experience?
A business school student does not always have a long experience in business, but that doesn't mean your resume should look empty. The aim is to value each relevant experience, whether academic, associative or even personal.
The experiences that matter:
✔ Academic projects → Case studies, business games, business simulations.
✔ Associative experiences → Event management, communication, sponsor search.
✔ Freelance or self-entrepreneurship → Independent project management, community management, student consulting.
✔ Student job experiences → Even a position outside your sector can demonstrate qualities such as rigor or interpersonal skills.
Training: highlight your school and its specializations
Your training is a key element which recruiters rely on to assess your profile. For business school students, it is essential to:
✔ Highlight the name of your school → Mention “BSB — Burgundy School of Business” rather than just “Business School.”
✔ Detail the specializations followed → Indicate the relevant subjects related to the position sought.
✔ Valuing an international exchange → An experience abroad can be a real plus on a resume.
A recruiter should immediately understand What is your expertise and how does it align with job expectations.
Skills: structure to pass ATS filters
Many businesses use automatic sorting systems (ATS) to analyze resumes. These software filters applications according to keywords used.
💡 How to structure your “Skills” section to take the ATS?
✔ Divide into two categories → Hard skills (technical skills) and soft skills (behavioral skills).
✔ Use sector-specific terms → “Marketing data analysis” is more effective than “Good command of Excel”.
✔ Get inspired by job offers → Using the keywords of the ads increases the chances of being retained by an ATS.
At BSB, our exclusive Pathfinder support systemTM has a dedicated professional coach who follows you throughout your studies. Individually or through our workshops, your coach helps you formulate a hook that stands out and attracts recruiters from the very first seconds. You will also learn how to transform your experiences into concrete assets adapted to the targeted offer.
5 Common Mistakes You Should Definitely Avoid
Even a well-constructed resume can be rejected if it contains errors that are harmful to its readability, relevance or impact. Here are the most frequent pitfalls that prevent business school students from getting an apprenticeship.
1. A resume that is too long or poorly structured
A work-study student CV must fit on one page. A recruiter only has a few seconds to analyze a profile, he will not go through a document that is too dense.
Best practices:
✔ Go Straight to the point, by highlighting essential information.
✔ Ventilate the text and prioritize sections with clear titles.
✔ Respect a antichronological order : the most recent training and experiences first.
Pathfinder BSB coaching helps students summarize their journey without losing essential information.
2. A resume that is too generic and impersonal
A recruiter immediately spots a Resume sent in bulk without personalization. An effective application should be adapted to the position and the company in question.
How do you avoid this error?
✔ Add a specific title corresponding to the offer (e.g.: “Alternating in marketing project management — Business school student”).
✔ Adapt the tagline by mentioning skills and experiences related to the offer.
✔ Personalize experiences by highlighting the most relevant achievements.
3. Forget the impact of numbers
Recruiters appreciate resumes that quantify the results. A simple job title is not enough: you have to Show your impact by giving concrete examples.
❌ Bad example:
“Management of the social networks of the student association.”
✔ Good example:
“Increase of +40% in LinkedIn engagement in 3 months thanks to a targeted content strategy.”
At BSB, the Pathfinder coachesTM help to formulate experiences by highlighting measurable results.
4. Neglecting proofreading and spelling
A resume containing spelling mistakes or layout errors can be eliminated instantly. Even a simple typo can give the wrong impression of seriousness and rigor.
The reflexes to adopt:
✔ Have your resume proofread by a relative or a teacher.
✔ Use correction tools like Antidote or Scribens before shipping.
✔ Check the consistency of the layout: margins, fonts, alignments.
5. An overloaded or unbalanced layout
A resume should remain professional and legible. Excessive use of colors, pictograms, or graphics can affect the clarity of the document.
The essential rules for an effective design:
✔ 2 colors maximum, with a clear visual hierarchy.
✔ Avoid Fancy fonts, prefer Arial, Calibri or Montserrat.
✔ Maintain consistent alignment and balanced for smooth reading.
The tools to create a powerful resume
A good resume is more than just its content, its formatting and its presentation also play a key role in its impact. To maximize your chances of attracting the attention of recruiters, it is essential to use The right tools and to choose a layout adapted to market requirements.
Resume templates tailored to business school students
A well-structured resume is a resume that stands out visually while remaining professional. Pre-designed templates save time and ensure a clear, modern layout.
Recommended tools for creating an effective resume:
✔ Canva → Ideal for a custom layout with modern and clean designs.
✔ MyCVFactory → Tool specialized in professional CVs with templates adapted to recruiters.
✔ Microsoft Word & Google Docs → Simple and effective, provided you structure your document well.
Use AI to create your resume : a good boost, but not a magic wand
THEartificial intelligence can be a valuable ally in writing your resume: reformulation of sentences, correction of mistakes, keyword suggestions adapted to the position... Tools such as ChatGPT, Rezi or Kickresume allow you to quickly structure a clear and coherent document.
But be careful: a CV generated 100% by AI often lacks nuance, personality and coherence with your project. Recruiters quickly spot a resume that is too standardized.
💡 The right reflex : use AI as a helper, not as an author. Get inspired by the suggestions, but rephrase in your own words, saying what you, and only you, can contribute to a business.
At BSB, stronger than AI, we have the Pathfinder™ coaches. They teach you how to combine the best of tech tools and your uniqueness: formulation of authentic phrases, selection of relevant keywords, critical review... for a resume as powerful as a good work-study pitch.
PDF or Word resume: which format should be preferred?
The format of the resume influences its readability and its passage through automated recruitment software (ATS).
✔ PDF format → Recommended in 99% of cases, as it maintains the layout and prevents display errors.
✔ Word format → Sometimes requested by some companies, in particular to allow internal customization.
💡 Golden rule: Always save your file with a clear name: “CV_Nom_Prenom.pdf”.
Adapt your resume to ATS applications
As mentioned above, many businesses use automatic sorting systems (ATS) who analyze resumes before a recruiter even consults them. A poorly optimized resume may be eliminated before it was even read.
How to structure your resume to pass the ATS?
✔ Avoid overly complex columns and images that are not recognized by the algorithms.
✔ Use keywords related to the offer (use the exact terms of the ads).
✔ Opt for a standard font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) to avoid reading errors.
FAQ — Answers to frequently asked questions about the work-study student resume
Writing a resume often raises questions, especially when you lack experience. Here are the answers to the most frequent questions of business school students looking for an apprenticeship.
What is the best length for a student resume?
One Student resume should fit on one page. Recruiters are looking for clear and relevant information, they won't take the time to read several pages.
Tip: Focus on the most relevant experiences and skills in connection with the targeted apprenticeship offer.
How do you present your experiences when you have little professional experience?
If you have few professional experiences, highlight:
✔ Your academic projects (case studies, business games, simulations).
✔ Your associative commitments (project management, communication, event organization).
✔ Your transferable skills from internships, student jobs or freelancing.
Is it mandatory to put a photo on your resume?
No, a photo is not mandatory, but it is Recommended in certain sectors (communication, trade, marketing, etc.). If you add one, it should be:
✔ Professional (avoid selfies or vacation photos)
✔ Sober and well framed (neutral background, adapted outfit).
How to structure the skills section for a work-study CV?
Recruiters analyze as a matter of priority the skills put forward. It is advisable to classify them into two distinct categories :
✔ Technical skills (hard skills) → tools, software, specific expertise (Excel, Google Ads, project management...).
✔ Relational skills (soft skills) → leadership, communication, stress management, teamwork.
Can pictograms and level gauges be used?
Recruiters prefer a clear text description rather than pictograms or subjective gauges. Avoid progress bars that don't translate a specific level and give preference to an explicit mention:
❌ “Excel ★★★☆☆" → Unclear
✔ “Excel — Advanced Level (TCD, macros...)” → More accurate and efficient
📌 Download our work-study guide and benefit from tailor-made support to optimize your CV and get the work-study program that suits you.
* Source: Hellowork
To remember