How to craft a graduate CV

Creating your very first CV after university can be frustrating. You may feel like you don’t have much to say, or that you don’t have enough experience to share.

It’s easy to assume that you’ll struggle to fill just one page of your first CV, so we’ve put together an outline of information you can use to fill it out.

Work experience

This is one of the most important factors to include on your CV. If you have worked at a marketing agency writing blogs for a couple of weeks, note it down. If you’ve worked voluntarily at your local newspaper publication, put it on your CV. Not only will examples like these show that you have gained work experienced during your education, it shows your willingness to work in your desired area, especially if you sacrificed your free time.

You should also list any skills you picked up during your work experience that might benefit the role you’re applying for. Even if the role was unrelated, pick out skills that could be transferable and talk about them. The main point is to stick to specifics, and don’t include anything that doesn’t apply to the job.

Relevant areas in your degree

You will have developed a number of skills during your degree that you can use towards your first job. Whether you held presentations, completed a lot of written work (that’s a guarantee), or ran specific projects, it’s all relevant to the world of work. Make a clear comparison in your CV of how these skills can be applied to the role you’re applying for. This can be especially helpful if your degree isn’t specifically related to the job you’re seeking.

Extra activities

University doesn’t just prepare you for a job, it allows you to explore different activities, societies and groups that can help you prepare for the real world. Include any extra-curricular activities you took part in at university that can show social skills or knowledge for your desired sector. Sports is a popular extra-curricular activity that recruiters like to see, mostly because it can show that you are comfortable working in a team environment – and, if you were especially lucky to be a captain of your basketball team, for example, this is a clear example of displaying leadership qualities on your CV.

Awards

Awards on your CV show first hand where you shine – whether you received Most Valued Player in a sport at university, or you received an accolade for a special project you worked on, it’s all relevant for your CV. Try to explain how these awards reflect a particular skill you have, and how the skill can be transferred to the role.

Career goals

Because you don’t have an awful lot to show, take this opportunity to share your future ambitions with your potential employer. What’s your 5 year plan? What’s the ultimate career goal? Do you see yourself as a manager? Information like this shows ambition, and makes your CV stand out more than the regular ones. Tailor your objectives for each job application, especially if they are in different industries.

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