Graduate CV template

by Michael Cheary

Just graduated, but unsure how to demonstrate your skills and experience on your CV?

So, you've thrown your graduation cap in the air, framed that hard-earned degree, and now you're ready to take on the world (of work). There's just one small hurdle: writing a CV. How do you show a potential employer you're the right person for the job when you have limited professional experience?

Here’s our advice on what to include in a graduate CV, section by section, along with a free, downloadable graduate CV template to get you started.

Download your free graduate CV template

Just here for the template? Click the link below to download it in Word format.

Graduate CV format

As a graduate, you might not have an extensive work history just yet - and that’s OK. 

The key is to structure your CV in a way that brings your strengths to the forefront. Prioritising sections such as your education and skills can help showcase what you have to offer, even if your experience is limited.

Here’s a simple graduate CV structure to follow:

1. Name and contact details
2. Personal statement
3. Education
4. Skills
5. Work experience
6. Hobbies and interests (optional)
7. References

If you have very little (or no) work experience, you can place the skills section before work experience to put extra emphasis on what you can bring to the role. 

How should I format my CV?

Preview of our graduate CV template

Advice on formatting a graduate CV

When it comes to the format of your graduate CV, here’s how to keep things professional:

• Keep it to two pages max. If you hit page three, it’s time for a trim - no one’s that interesting (not even Beyoncé).
• Use a clean, readable font. Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at size 10-12 are always good options. Avoid Comic Sans at all costs.
• Be consistent with headings and bullet points. An unclear layout or confusing formatting will make your CV hard to digest. 

CV layout: dos and don’ts

CV layout examples

How to write a graduate CV

A standard graduate CV should be no longer than two pages of A4. Recruiters spend an average of just seven seconds scanning each CV, so it needs to be concise and easy to read.

Here's what you should include:

1. Contact details

Start with the basics. At the top of the page, list your name, location, phone number, and email address. You can also add a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one.

2. Personal statement

Your personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV that summarises who you are, what you have to offer, and what your career goals are. Think of it as your elevator pitch.

For a graduate CV, this is your chance to stand out. Aim for 3-4 sentences and tailor it to every job you apply for, using the job description to draw attention to the key skills and qualities the employer is looking for.

A good graduate personal statement should answer three questions:

• Who are you? (e.g., 'A highly-motivated and creative marketing graduate with a 2:1 degree from the University of Manchester.')
• What can you offer the company? (e.g., 'Possessing strong analytical skills demonstrated through dissertation research on social media engagement, and practical experience in content creation from a summer internship.')
• What are your career goals? (e.g., 'Looking for a junior marketing assistant role where I can apply my knowledge and grow my skills in a dynamic team.')

How to write a personal statement for job applications

Graduate personal statement example

 

A driven and detail-oriented Economics graduate with a passion for data analysis and problem-solving. Completed a final-year project exploring the impact of government policy on small business growth. Eager to contribute strong analytical and communication skills in an entry-level research or analyst role and grow within a supportive team.

3. Education

This is the most important section of your graduate CV, so place it right after your personal statement. List your qualifications in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent one.

For your university degree, include:

• The name of the university
• The name of your degree (e.g., BA (Hons) History)
• Your start and end dates
• Your final grade (or expected grade)

You can also list a few relevant modules, projects, or your dissertation topic, especially if they align with the job you're applying for. This is a great way to show off your specific knowledge.

After your degree, add your A-levels (or equivalent) and then your GCSEs. For GCSEs, it's fine to summarise them (e.g., '10 GCSEs, grades A*-C, including Maths and English').

Graduate education example

 

University of Manchester

BA (Hons) History, 2020 – 2023

Expected grade: 2:1

Relevant modules:

• Modern European History
• Research Methods
• Dissertation: "Social Media’s Impact on Historical Awareness"

A-levels:

• History (A), English Literature (B), Psychology (B)

GCSEs:

• 10 GCSEs, grades A*-C, including Maths and English

Which parts of my education should I include in my CV?

4. Work experience

You might not have a long list of jobs to include here, and that's OK. Any experience is good experience, whether it's a part-time job, an internship, a work experience placement, or even volunteer work.

For each role, list:

• Your job title
• The name of the company
• The dates you worked there
• A few bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements

Focus on transferable skills. Did your weekend retail job teach you customer service and cash handling? Did your internship involve data entry and teamwork? These are all valuable skills that employers want to see.

Whenever you can, use numbers to show your impact. For example, instead of saying 'Helped increase social media followers', try 'Helped increase Instagram followers by 15% over three months'.

Graduate work experience example

 

Sales Assistant

ABC Retail Store, London

June 2023 – September 2023

• Provided excellent customer service, assisting an average of 50 customers per day with product inquiries and purchases.
• Managed inventory and restocked shelves, ensuring the store was well-organized and visually appealing.
• Collaborated with a team of 10 to meet daily sales targets, achieving a 15% increase in sales during the summer period.

Work experience letter template

How to: Get work experience

5. Skills

This is a dedicated section to highlight your key skills and abilities.

You can split it into different categories, like 'Technical (or hard) Skills' (e.g., Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, programming languages) and 'Soft Skills' (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving).

Read the job description carefully and mirror the language it uses. If it asks for a 'team player', make sure you list 'teamwork' as one of your skills - remembering to always back your claims up with real-life examples.

Graduate skills example

 

Technical Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Canva for graphic design.
• Familiar with programming languages such as Python and Java.

Soft Skills

• Strong communication skills, demonstrated through group projects and customer-facing roles.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities, showcased during university assignments and part-time work.
• Teamwork and collaboration, developed through academic group work and retail experience.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Graduate skills – what are employers looking for?

Five CV skills employers look for in every jobseeker

6. Hobbies and interests (optional)

A hobbies and interests section is a great way to show a bit of your personality, but only include it if it adds value. 

Ask yourself: does this hobby make me a better candidate for the job? For example:

• Playing for a sports team shows teamwork and dedication.
• Writing a blog demonstrates written communication skills.
• Volunteering for a charity shows commitment and empathy.

On the other hand, listing more generic hobbies like 'socialising with friends' or 'watching movies' is unlikely to impress a recruiter. And remember, only include interests you're happy to talk about in an interview.

Hobbies and interests: Should I include them in my CV?

Six extracurricular activities to add to your CV

7. References

You don't need to list your referees on your CV. Simply writing 'References available upon request' at the bottom is perfectly fine.

Prepare a separate document with the names and contact details of two referees. One should ideally be an academic reference (like a university tutor) and the other a professional one (like a former manager). Always ask for their permission before you share their details.

How to get a reference

How to write a CV

Free CV Writing Masterclass

Graduate CV examples

Wondering what a great graduate CV looks like for your field? 

Here are a few short, snappy examples for four different subjects - all showing snippets from the same key sections: Personal Statement, Skills, Education, and Work Experience. 

Use these as a template to build your own:

CV template for IT graduates

View all graduate IT jobs

CV template for Marketing graduates

View all graduate marketing jobs

CV template for Engineering graduates

View all graduate engineering jobs

CV template for English graduates

View all graduate jobs

Grab these frameworks, tailor them to your own experiences, and you’ll be on your way to landing a job you’ll love.

Final thoughts

Writing a graduate CV can feel daunting, but it's really just about presenting your skills and potential in the best possible light. 

With a clear structure and content that is carefully tailored to the role you’re applying for, you'll be able to create a graduate CV that helps you to stand out to employers.

And once your CV’s up to scratch, you’ll be ready to start applying for graduate jobs, then preparing for the interview (which may include familiarising yourself with the most common graduate interview questions)... 

How to: Find a new job

View all graduate CV and interview advice

What job can I do with my degree?

Ready to find a job you’ll love? View all graduate jobs now.