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Graduation. The magical moment where fun stops, and you become a fully responsible, conscious adult. It’s time to take your first steps on the path to success you have been planning for so long.
In this guide, we’ll help you write a graduate CV that outperforms your peers. You’ll see a graduate CV example perfectly suited to fresh graduates and a ready-to-use graduate CV template.
Create an effective CV in minutes. Choose a professional CV template and fill in every section of your CV in a flash using ready-made content and expert tips.
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After analysing 6 million CVs created with our builder, we found out that*:
*The data comes from a period of the last 12 months (August 2023-August 2024).
Emma Johnson
Junior Accountant
85 Castle Street
Manchester
M1 1AE
07563472819
emma.johnson@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/emmajohnson
Personal Statement
First-class Accounting and Finance graduate from the University of Manchester with advanced knowledge of financial reporting, audit principles, and taxation laws. Adept at leveraging numerical and analytical skills to identify discrepancies and optimize financial performance. Seeking a Junior Accountant role at Deloitte, where I can contribute to high-level audit processes and financial advisory services.
Education
University of Manchester
B.Sc. Accounting & Finance – First-Class Honours
September 2020–June 2023
Highfield Secondary School, Manchester
A Levels: Mathematics (A*), Economics (A), Business Studies (A)
September 2018– June 2020
GCSEs: 9 A* grades, including Mathematics and English
September 2016–June 2018
Key Modules:
Relevant Skills
Work Experience
Audit Intern
PwC, Manchester
June 2022–September 2022
Finance Assistant
ABC Enterprises, Manchester
August 2020–May 2022
Volunteering
Volunteer Tax Advisor
Community Tax Help Service, Manchester
January 2022–April 2023
Sophia Patel
Law Graduate
12 Queen's Avenue
London
E1 4AB
07348752619
sophia.patel@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/sophiapatel
Personal Statement
Highly motivated LLB Law graduate from the University of Leeds, awarded a 2:1, with a focus on Commercial and Contract Law. Experienced in legal research, drafting, and client communication through internships at prestigious London law firms. Aspiring to start a Training Contract at Clifford Chance to develop into a commercial solicitor.
Education
University of Leeds
LLB Law – 2:1
September 2020–June 2023
Key Modules:
Kingston Sixth Form College, London
A Levels: English (A*), Law (A), Economics (A)
September 2018–June 2020
GCSEs: 8 A* grades, including English, Mathematics, and History
September 2016–June 2018
Relevant Skills
Work Experience
Legal Intern
Baker McKenzie, London
July 2022–August 2022
Paralegal Assistant
XYZ Solicitors, London
November 2021–April 2022
Volunteering
Pro Bono Legal Advisor
LawWorks, London
February 2022–May 2023
James Liu
10 Elm Street
Bristol
BS1 5TD
07894563201
james.liu@gmail.com
github.com/jamesliu
linkedin.com/in/jamesliu
Personal Statement
A Computer Science graduate from the University of Bristol with a first-class degree. Proficient in Python, Java, and SQL, with practical experience in developing scalable web applications and AI models. Enthusiastic about joining a software engineering team at Google to apply innovative programming solutions to real-world challenges.
Education
University of Bristol
BSc Computer Science – First-Class Honours
September 2020–June 2023
Key Modules:
South Gloucestershire College
A Levels: Mathematics (A*), Computer Science (A), Physics (A)
September 2018–June 2020
GCSEs: 10 A* grades, including Mathematics and Computer Science
September 2016–June 2018
Relevant Skills
Work Experience
Software Development Intern
Amazon Web Services, London
June 2022–September 2022
Web Developer
Freelance, Bristol
May 2021–June 2023
Volunteering
Coding Tutor
Code Club, Bristol
October 2021–April 2023
Amelia Reed
20 Regent Road
Birmingham
B1 2TR
07463281929
amelia.reed@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/ameliareed
Personal Statement
A creative and data-driven Marketing graduate from the University of Birmingham with a 2:1 in BSc Marketing and Management. Experienced in SEO, social media campaigns, and market research. Seeking a role at Ogilvy to create impactful marketing strategies and drive brand growth.
Education
University of Birmingham
BSc Marketing and Management – 2:1
September 2020–June 2023
Key Modules:
Broadway Sixth Form College, Birmingham
A Levels: Business Studies (A), Economics (A), Psychology (B)
September 2018 – June 2020
GCSEs: 9 A* grades, including English and Business Studies
September 2016 – June 2018
Relevant Skills
Work Experience
Marketing Intern
Unilever, Birmingham
June 2022–August 2022
Sales and Marketing Assistant
Local Start-up, Birmingham
September 2021–May 2022
Volunteering
Social Media Manager
Charity Fundraiser Group, Birmingham
November 2021–April 2023
Chloe Carter
14 Willow Lane
Oxford
OX1 2DP
07784562134
chloe.carter@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/chloecarter
Personal Statement
Ambitious Psychology graduate from the University of Oxford with a first-class degree, specialising in Clinical Psychology and Research Methods. Experienced in statistical analysis, experimental design, and supporting mental health initiatives. Seeking an Assistant Psychologist position to contribute to evidence-based therapy practices and research.
Education
University of Oxford
BSc Psychology – First-Class Honours
September 2020–June 2023
Key Modules:
Oxford High School
A Levels: Psychology (A*), Biology (A), Sociology (A)
September 2018–June 2020
GCSEs: 9 A* grades, including Mathematics and Science
September 2016–June 2018
Relevant Skills
Work Experience
Research Assistant
Oxford Mental Health Research Unit
June 2022–September 2022
Mental Health Support Worker
Mind Charity, Oxford
October 2021–May 2023
Volunteering
Peer Mentor
University of Oxford
September 2021–June 2023
Daniel Ahmed
45 Industrial Road
Glasgow
G3 6HY
07982456123
daniel.ahmed@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/danielahmed
Personal Statement
Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Glasgow with a 2:1 degree. Experienced in CAD design, thermodynamics, and materials analysis. Seeking a Graduate Mechanical Engineer role at Rolls-Royce to contribute to innovative design and manufacturing projects.
Education
University of Glasgow
BEng Mechanical Engineering – 2:1
September 2019–June 2023
Key Modules:
Glasgow Academy
A Levels: Mathematics (A*), Physics (A), Chemistry (B)
September 2017 – June 2019
GCSEs: 10 A* grades, including Mathematics and Physics
September 2015 – June 2017
Relevant Skills
Work Experience
Engineering Intern
Rolls-Royce, Glasgow
June 2022–August 2022
Workshop Assistant
XYZ Engineering Firm, Glasgow
September 2020–May 2021
Volunteering
STEM Ambassador
Glasgow Schools Outreach Program
November 2021–April 2023
Hannah Wilson
9 Exchange Place
London
EC2M 7QA
07765321849
hannah.wilson@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/hannahwilson
Personal Statement
A Finance graduate from the London School of Economics with a first-class degree. Experienced in investment analysis, risk management, and financial modelling. Aspiring to join J.P. Morgan as an Investment Analyst to leverage analytical skills and drive sustainable financial growth.
Education
London School of Economics
BSc Finance – First-Class Honours
September 2020–June 2023
Key Modules:
City of London School
A Levels: Mathematics (A*), Economics (A*), Further Mathematics (A)
September 2018 – June 2020
GCSEs: 10 A* grades, including Mathematics and Economics
September 2016 – June 2018
Relevant Skills
Work Experience
Investment Analyst Intern
Goldman Sachs, London
June 2022–August 2022
Finance Assistant
ABC Financial Services, London
October 2021–May 2023
Volunteering
Financial Literacy Workshop Facilitator
London Community Centre
February 2022–March 2023
Kiera Hopkins
79 Southlands Road
Poldean
DG106SA
07025862939
kiera@hopkins.com
linkedin.com/in/kierahopkins
Personal Statement
King’s College London PhD graduate in Philosophy and Logic with expertise in interdisciplinary analysis and advanced critical thinking. My doctoral research focused on privacy rights in the digital age, combining philosophical frameworks with statistical and sociological methodologies. With experience in policy research, academic teaching, and public engagement, I am eager to contribute to evidence-based policy development as a policy analyst at Deep Think Tank.
Education
King’s College London
PhD Philosophy & Logic
September 2019–June 2023
King’s College London
BSc Philosophy & Logic – 2:1
September 2016 – June 2019
Highsted Grammar School, Sittingbourne
A Levels: Sociology (A*), Philosophy (A*), Psychology (A), History (A),
General Studies (A)
September 2014–June 2016
11 A* GCSEs, including Mathematics and English
September 2012–June 2014
Relevant Skills
Advanced Research & Analysis
Teaching & Communication
Policy Engagement
Work Experience
Teaching Fellow
King’s College London
September 2021–May 2023
Policy Research Intern
London Policy Institute
June 2018–August 2018
Crew Member
McDonald’s, Bethnal Green Road
June 2017–September 2019
Volunteering
Volunteer Tennis Coach
Southwark Community Centre
March 2017–August 2019
Philosophical Society Treasurer
King’s College London Student Union
October 2018–June 2019
Languages
A graduate CV is a job application document presenting your education and work achievements. Since graduates typically have limited professional experience, this type of CV emphasises educational achievements, extracurricular activities, internships, voluntary work, and transferable skills.
An effective graduate CV describes you as a strong candidate. It should:
If you’re writing your first-ever CV, start from the basics, like understanding what a good CV is and choosing the right style. You’ll often come across three CV formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid. The hybrid CV format is typically recommended for graduates because it allows you to highlight both your relevant skills and experiences.
Here’s our expert advice on writing a graduate CV:
First impressions matter. And the first impression you make isn’t when you walk into the interview room. The real first impression is your CV's personal statement.
This is why it’s important to grab attention, avoid waffle, and show them your value.
Instead of being descriptive about everything you did, put yourself in the employer’s shoes and think about what’s the most essential to them.
Answer the following questions with one sentence each:
Here’s the most useful advice: Leave writing your graduate CV personal statement until last.
Once you have outlined all your education, skills, and experience and reviewed the job ad multiple times, the personal statement will practically write itself.
And yes, you should write a targeted CV for every position, rounding off your CV personal statement with an objective statement like: “Looking to leverage my proven research skills to help J.T Investments make better, more profitable decisions.”
Personal Statement
King’s College London PhD graduate in Philosophy and Logic with expertise in interdisciplinary analysis and advanced critical thinking. My doctoral research focused on privacy rights in the digital age, combining philosophical frameworks with statistical and sociological methodologies. With experience in policy research, academic teaching, and public engagement, I am eager to contribute to evidence-based policy development as a policy analyst at Deep Think Tank.
A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.
When writing a CV, especially a CV with no experience, I always advise prioritising your strongest section, be that education, work experience, or skills. For most fresh graduate CVs, the education section will be the strongest.
If you have some prestigious internships completed, feel free to start with your work experience section, and shift education down.
Whatever you do, record your degree in the following way:
[University Name]
[Degree Class] BSc [Degree Name](Year Graduated)
Follow by a list of bullet points describing the strengths you acquired during the course of study. You can also incorporate extracurricular activities that have directly contributed to your academic or professional development. These can be sports, community service, clubs, or organisations that present you as a well-rounded individual with diverse experiences and interests.
Should you include your school grades on your graduate CV? The answer is: Does the employer ask for any? If not, you may be well served to save the space, and just put something in the style of:
[School Name]
[Number of subjects]A*-[your lowest grade] A-Levels
The A*- [lowest grade] trick is much safer if you have at least one A*. However, writing an impressive degree description and personal statement should render this aspect almost irrelevant.
King’s College London
PhD Philosophy & Logic
September 2019–June 2023
King’s College London
BSc Philosophy & Logic – 2:1
September 2016 – June 2019
Highsted Grammar School, Sittingbourne
A Levels: Sociology (A*), Philosophy (A*), Psychology (A), History (A), General Studies (A)
September 2014–June 2016
11 A* GCSEs, including Mathematics and English
September 2012–June 2014
Sure, you might lack extensive experience. But remember those 'transferable skills' they kept preaching about at school? Turns out they're pretty important. Emphasising them in your CV could be your ticket to success, just like they said.
The graduate CV we are building is in a hybrid format, meaning we will prioritise these skills over listing work experience. They will work perfectly unless you have something super-relevant and impressive, as already mentioned.
So, how do you know which skills to put on your CV? Just scour the job ad and try to put yourself in the employer’s shoes and determine which ones are the most important to them.
Besides transferable skills that can be applied across various roles and functions, there are hard skills that make you an expert in a specific area. They enable you to perform effectively and contribute to the company’s success.
See this example:
Relevant Skills
Advanced Research & Analysis
Teaching & Communication
Policy Engagement
Your work experience section is where you prove your skills in action. It’s a showcase of how your experiences, no matter how small or unrelated they may seem, have equipped you with valuable skills for the role you're applying for.
For those following the graduate CV format, your work history can be presented in a straightforward way: job title, employer name, location, and dates of employment.
However, if you have impressive or relevant experiences, make them shine! Include specific achievements and contributions that highlight transferable skills or directly align with the job you're targeting. Here's how to structure a compelling work experience section to maximise its impact:
[Job Title]
[Employer Name, Location]
[Dates of Employment]
And you’re almost done.
If, however, you have a lot of impressive and relevant experience, and have opted to shift your work experience section up, you may choose to record your work experience like this:
Work Experience
Teaching Fellow
King’s College London
September 2021–May 2023
Policy Research Intern
London Policy Institute
June 2018–August 2018
Crew Member
McDonald’s, Bethnal Green Road
June 2017–September 2019
“Students with limited work experience can make their applications more appealing by ensuring their CV is clear and comprehensive, listing all relevant achievements without exaggeration. It's crucial to be honest about your experience while highlighting any academic or extracurricular accomplishments. Additionally, the 'About Me' section is a valuable opportunity to include personal attributes or unique experiences that set you apart from other candidates”.
When writing a CV for graduate students, we abide by one rule of thumb above all: Include anything that will help your chances. But, of course, anything that’s relevant.
Volunteering is relevant, because it shows your ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, as well as showing off your human side. 82% of managers would rather hire someone with volunteering experience.
Foreign languages always advance the chances of your application. Other sections of your CV could include achievements, awards, projects, or hobbies and interests. Keep them relevant.
Volunteering
Volunteer Tennis Coach
Southwark Community Centre
March 2017–August 2019
Philosophical Society Treasurer
King’s College London Student Union
October 2018–June 2019
Languages
A cover letter is essential for landing a job. Some applications may require you to paste it into their applicant system instead of submitting it as a separate document. Either approach works, as long as you adhere to the proper cover letter format.
How to write a graduate cover letter? Hook them in your first paragraph showing your biggest achievement. Next, present how your skills and experience will help you to excel at your job. Remember to include a cover letter ending with a call to action asking to meet or schedule a phone call to discuss the role further.
Now you know how to write your graduate CV. But, it should also be easy to read and scan. Studies reveal that recruiters often review dozens, if not hundreds, of CVs for a single job opening. To ensure your graduate CV rises to the top of the pile, follow these essential CV formatting rules:
If you don’t hear back after a while, follow up. It’s an expression of interest that might tip the scales.
To wrap up, explore these additional tips to ensure your graduate CV adheres to the best CV writing practices:
You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.
Does that answer your questions on crafting a graduate CV? Was our graduate CV example helpful and easy to follow? And did you find the graduate CV template enjoyable to use? Use the comments section below. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.
About the author
Since 2013, the LiveCareer UK team has shared the best advice to help you advance your career. Experts from our UK editorial team have written more than one hundred guides on how to write the perfect CV or cover letter.
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