9 tips for writing a recent graduate CV (with examples)

You’ve completed your degree and are ready to enter the world of work. Exciting times. But before you start applying for jobs, you need to ensure that your recent graduate CV is fit-for-purpose. Fear not… we have the know-how to help you optimise your recent graduate CV and make it the best it can be. Below, we take you through 9 tips on how to write a CV for a recent graduate.

1. Use a clear format and structure

A clear CV format is vital to your application’s success. You need to focus on the order of your CV because it’s important to draw attention to its most important aspects. 

A chronological CV typically begins with your personal profile, followed by your skills, work experience, and education. But as you’re crafting a CV for a recent college graduate, your education section is most likely your strongest asset. To highlight this, you can place your Education section above the Professional Experience section.

Remember to organise your CV into sections with clear, bold headings. Additionally, present relevant skills and key accomplishments on the first page to impress recruiters early on, and encourage them to continue reading.

Top tip: Always tailor your CV for every job you apply for by matching your skills and qualifications with what the employer is looking for.

2. Include a personal profile

Also known as a personal statement, the personal profile sits at the top of your recent graduate CV. This needs to be a summary of your expertise and suitability to the role. Don’t feel the need to reel off all of your attributes, just pick the highlights. As a recent graduate, focus on factual, relevant information, and desirable qualities that will make you stand out.

3. Convey key skills

Showcase how the skills you’ve developed during your studies are transferable to a working environment. Did you develop any leadership, project management, time management, or communication skills? These are among the best skills to include on your CV as they are crucial for the workplace.

This also applies to the other skills and characteristics you might have honed outside of education, such as through hobbies, interests, and work experience. Organisations are always on the lookout for talented and unique individuals.

4. Showcase your education

As a recent graduate, you should list your education immediately under your skills section. This is because you’re likely to have little or no work experience. That’s to be expected. You’ve spent all your time so far in education. 

If this is the case, ask yourself if your recent graduate CV is properly conveying just how much time you spent studying, crushing deadlines, and achieving goals. This is what recruiters expect to find when they review a recent graduate CV.

Your degree is your biggest asset, so the more detail you include about your time at university, the better. Incorporate details of your grades, modules, and assignments, and any extracurricular activities in which you participated.

5. Highlight any work experience

Applying for jobs without work experience is tough, but not impossible. We’ve all got to start somewhere, right? As you can’t rely on relevant work experience, think of any extracurricular activities that could help exhibit transferable skills within a working environment. For example, playing a sport requires focus and teamwork skills, which are welcome attributes in the workplace.

If you’re an arts graduate, maybe crafting a graphic design CV, emphasise your creativity. Do you have a portfolio? Platforms such as Wix and WordPress allow you to professionally showcase your work, demonstrating both initiative and creativity to employers. Feel free to attach it alongside your CV or even include a hyperlink, so recruiters can see examples of your work. 

Similarly, if you’re preparing a sales CV, make sure to highlight any examples of responsibility and leadership.

Top tip: Include any volunteer work on your CV as it’s viewed positively by employers.

6. Include relevant hobbies

While not normally a section on a CV for someone with a few years of experience under their belt, listing relevant hobbies and interests on your recent graduate CV will add depth.

7. Don’t go over two pages

The optimum CV length is two pages, with exceptions, of course. No employer wants to read a novel of a CV, so keep it concise. As you’ll likely be able to keep your recent graduate CV to just one page, just avoid complicated language or jargon that might distract your reader from your core message.

8. Proofread, proofread, proofread

Just like university essays, don’t forget to proofread your CV before sending it off. After all, you’ve just spent the last few years being scrutinised on grammar and spelling, so why stop now? This applies to everyone though – not just those who studied English!

A recruiter is going to be tough when it comes to picking up on any mistakes on your recent graduate CV –  so make sure this doesn’t happen. Ask a friend or family member to read your CV through, as a fresh pair of eyes can spot a mistake that you might have missed.

9. Tell the truth

While it might be tempting to exaggerate, lying on your CV or making any false claims is a complete no-no. Doing this could lead you to losing more than just a job opportunity further down the line. Employers should want you based on your attributes, so don’t lie under any circumstances as it could really harm your career.

Need more help when brushing up your recent graduate CV? Start with a free CV review today and let the experts guide you to job-search success.

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