Graduate CV Example & Writing Guide

Crafting a powerful graduate CV that catches the eye of employers can be daunting, especially when you're just starting out in your career. Don't worry – at cvapp.ie, we've got your back!

Our easy-to-use CV builder and collection of expert graduate CV examples and templates can help you create a standout CV that effortlessly showcases your unique skills and experience.

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How to write a graduate CV

To create a strong CV, start by including these essential sections:

• The CV header
• The CV personal statement
• The employment history section
• The skills section
• The education section

Additionally, be sure to consider these tips to help elevate your CV:

1. Discuss any professional experience relevant to the graduate role, including any internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or academic projects demonstrating transferable How to list special skills on your CV.
2. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible, using numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work.
3. Showcase key skills sought after by employers, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, adaptability, and technical proficiency.
4. Ensure your CV is well-organised, error-free, and visually appealing. This can help reflect your professionalism and attention to detail.

Structuring your graduate CV format

While each CV format has its advantages, the reverse chronological CV format is typically the best option when highlighting professional growth as a graduate due to its clear presentation of experience over time. 

This format allows jobseekers to highlight their most recent and relevant experiences, such as internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work, in reverse chronological order, providing potential employers with a clear and detailed overview of their professional development and skills.

If you don’t have much job experience, however, it can also be a good idea to use a combination CV or functional CV, which can highlight your transferable skills and accomplishments gained through education, volunteering, extracurricular activities, or personal projects.

List your contact details

Begin your CV with a clear and compelling header that includes your essential contact information, such as: 

• Full Name & Job Title: List your first and last name and include the graduate role you are applying for.
• Professional Email Address: Use a professional email address that includes your name.
• Contact Number: Include a phone number where you can be easily reached, ideally with a professional voicemail greeting.
• Location: List your city and county, and if applicable, indicate your willingness to relocate (e.g., "Dublin, County Dublin, (Open to Relocation).”
• LinkedIn Profile: Include a link to your LinkedIn profile to showcase your professional background and network.

Include an engaging personal statement

Your personal statement is your chance to highlight why you’re the ideal candidate for the graduate role. 

In 2-4 concise and impactful sentences, showcase your academic accomplishments, relevant skills honed through coursework or extracurricular activities, and your specific career goals. 

Highlight transferable skills like critical thinking, effective communication, collaboration, leadership potential, and adaptability, as these are highly sought-after by employers across various industries.

For example: “Recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English and strong communication and leadership skills seeking a position in marketing.” 

Looking for similar examples to help elevate your graduate CV? Check out our related student CV example or academic CV example. 

Be sure to review our adaptable graduate CV examples below:

Highlight your work experience

The work experience section of your CV should be structured using bullet points and action verbs to portray your contributions and successes in past roles, highlighting specific responsibilities and quantifiable achievements.

Consider the following examples: 

• Tutored students in mathematics
• Assisted companies with social media marketing
• Volunteered at a local non-profit organisation

These could be reworded as follows: 

• Tutored 10+ students in mathematics, improving average test scores by 15%
• Managed social media campaigns, increasing engagement by 30% and driving a 10% increase in website traffic
• Led a team of 5 volunteers in organising a fundraising event for the Irish Red Cross that raised €5,000 for the organisation

Highlighting specific achievements and data can effectively demonstrate your suitability for the graduate position.

Outline key skills relevant to the graduate role

In your CV's skills section, tailor your list to the graduate role you're applying for. 

Carefully review the graduate job description to gain a clear understanding of the required skills and qualifications, ensuring you emphasise those that best align with the graduate position. 

While the specific skills will depend on the graduate role you’re applying for, common skills include:

Highlight both hard skills (e.g., programming languages, data analysis software) and soft skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving) that demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Detail your education & relevant certifications

In the education section of your CV, showcase your education journey, beginning with your most recent qualification. Include the name of your qualification, the institution where you earned it, and the years you studied there.

You can include the following details: 

• Formal Education: List all academic qualifications earned and any details relevant to your graduate degree, including any outstanding results, awards or relevant publications. 
   
• Certifications: Include any relevant, industry-specific qualifications, e.g., (e.g., IELTS, TEFL), or workshops you’ve attended. 
   
• Training: If you have completed any professional development courses, certifications, or training programmes relevant to your field, list them here as well.

Select an appropriate CV layout and design for a graduate CV

When crafting your graduate CV, prioritise a clean and organised appearance to make a solid first impression. Avoid excessive formatting or design elements, keeping your CV concise and focused on clarity. 

Remember, it’s best to opt for a professional, one-page format that efficiently highlights your most relevant qualifications. 

Consider using a simple and professional template to enhance readability and capture the attention of potential employers.

Save your CV as a PDF file to maintain formatting consistency across different devices and platforms, ensuring it can be quickly approved by the (ATS).

Elevate your graduate job prospects with a polished CV created using our professional online builder. 

We’ll help you highlight your academic excellence and skills with a tailored CV and impressive graduate CV templates that highlight your potential and get you hired faster.

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