Ensure your CV layout is structured to best highlight your unique experience and life situation.
Graduate CV Template (Text Format)
FORENAME & SURNAME
phone: 07123 456 789 | email: professional-email@email.com | location: Town/City, Postcode | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/your-profile
GRADUATE CV PERSONAL STATEMENT
Recent [Degree Title] graduate with hands-on experience in [Experience]. Seeking to leverage my skills in [Relevant Abilities] to fill the [Position Title] position at [Company Name]. Recently completed an [Internship/Work Placement] at [Company Name] where I honed my [Skill], [Skill], and [Skill] skills. A [Adjective #1] and [Adjective #2] worker aiming to contribute to [Company Name]’s success.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Volunteer Role Title (e.g. Volunteer Legal Advisor)
Company/Organisation Name, Town/City
Month 20XX–Month 20XX
- Use the present tense for your current [Volunteer Job Title] role or past tense for a former volunteer role
- Include a bulleted list of your achievements as a volunteer
- Start each bullet point with an action verb (like ‘develop’ or ‘manage’) to grab attention
- Use hard numbers when possible to quantify your accomplishments as a [Volunteer Job Title]
- Mention how you’ve used some of the [Industry] skills listed in your skills section to demonstrate that you really have these abilities
Internship Job Title (e.g. Translation Intern)
Company/Organisation Name, Town/City
Month 20XX–Month 20XX
- List relevant accomplishments from your previous role as a [Intern Job Title]
- Assuming you’re no longer working in this [Intern Job Title] role, use past tense verbs to describe your work
- Include 3–6 bullet points for each [Industry] role, both your current one and previous ones
- Skip the pronoun ‘I’ and begin directly with a verb
- Because you’re a graduate, feel free to include [Industry]-relevant extracurricular activities if you lack work internship experience
KEY SKILLS
- List skills relevant to the [Job Title] job you’re applying for
- Look at the job advert for ideas of the skills the employer wants and that are common in the [Industry] sector
- Emphasise hard/technical skills in this section
- Be as specific as possible by including names of [Industry]-relevant tools, equipment, and software you’ve mastered
EDUCATION
University Name, Town/City (20XX-20XX)
Course Type & Title, Degree Classification (1st/2:1/2:2/3rd)
Relevant Units: List uni classes you took that have prepared you for the graduate role, separated by commas
Dissertation Topic: Dissertation Title
[Name] Secondary School (20XX-20XX)
A-Levels: Subject 1 (A), Subject 2 (A), Subject 3 (A)
GCSEs: # Grades 9–4 including Maths, English, & ICT
QUALIFICATIONS
- List any [Industry] qualifications or certifications you hold relevant to the role or graduate scheme you’re applying for
- Remember to include the issuing authority, the date of issue, and the date of expiry (if there is one)
OPTIONAL SECTIONS
- Include any optional sections you think will make a positive impact on your job application
- Such sections may include language skills useful in the role, voluntary work, and industry professional development in the field you’re graduating from
- Don’t include a references section or say ‘References Available Upon Request’. It takes up space you can use to argue you’re the right candidate for the graduate role, and the employer will ask for your references later if they take your application forward
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
- Add 3–6 hobbies you take part in outside of your studies
- The aim is to show you have a well-rounded personality
- Consider hobbies that use skills you can apply in the [Industry] industry or to the [Job Title] role (e.g. volunteering for the Citizens Advice Bureau shows legal consultation skills)
8 graduate CV examples by subject and degree type
Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a CV in a way that best emphasises your strengths.
We’ve prepared eight CV examples for you, so no matter what you studied and to which level, you can take inspiration from one of our graduate CV samples. Let’s get started.
1. Engineering graduate CV example
Engineering specialities differ: you may be a civil engineer, mechanical engineer, or aerospace engineer. Here’s a chemical engineering graduate CV example that should provide ideas no matter your field:
Why this is a good graduate CV example
- Uses elements that stand out: This example uses button elements to help key information stand out, like contact details and key skills.
- Has international experience: The candidate has worked in both the UK and Ireland, which highlights their dynamism and ability to adapt to new environments and situations.
- Makes use of a one-column design: Simple CV templates often use one column. These designs are much easier and less fiddly to fill in, saving you time.
Get this CV example
2. Science graduate CV example
There are many fields of science, but here’s a bioinformatics science CV example for you to glean ideas from:
Why this is a good graduate CV example
- Rates each skill: This applicant includes six hard skills on their CV, and rates all of them objectively so employers can see where the applicant might hit the ground running and where they might need some training. This level of honesty can endear you to employers.
- Uses a bold colour scheme: Ensure employers don’t lose your CV in a pile of applications by using a bold yet professional colour scheme like this enticing red.
- Impresses despite short experience entries: With only voluntary work and internships under their belt, this applicant still manages to impress with strong bullet points that feature numbers.
Get this CV example
3. Accounting graduate CV example
A career in accounting can be prosperous and fulfilling. To get onto that accounting graduate scheme you’ve been eyeing, consider how this applicant has written their CV:
Why this is a good graduate CV example
- Uses a conservative design: Accounting is a traditional industry, so keep your CV lowkey. Use black, grey, and/or white coupled with a simple design.
- Includes relevant interests: Team sports is a good hobby to highlight on any CV because it demonstrates good teamwork and communication abilities.
- Adds CV icons: Want your contact details to stand out? Consider using CV icons to draw the grad scheme recruiters’ eyes to them and get in touch with you for an interview.
Get this CV example
4. Finance graduate CV example
Ready to enter the heady world of finance? Peek at our finance CV example to see how to write yours:
Why this is a good graduate CV example
- Uses a traditional design: Like accounting, financial firms prefer to see a conservative design. This CV uses mostly black with some green highlights — just to help it stand out.
- Is one page long: This candidate doesn’t have much professional experience just yet, so they’ve used a one-page CV template. That’s absolutely fine when you’re inexperienced. You can ‘graduate’ to a standard two-page CV when you’ve gained experience and skills.
- Includes a relevant hobby: This candidate mentions they read financial literature when they’re not working, showcasing their passion for the finance sector.
Get this CV example
5. Marketing graduate CV example
Take marketing theory and put it into practice in a marketing job. Here’s an effective marketing graduate CV example to show you how to apply for one:
Why this is a good graduate CV example
- Benefits from a modern CV design: This two-column, brightly orange CV design is perfect for marketing roles. Marketing firms tend to respond well to modern, creative designs, so use a template like this for your marketing application.
- Keeps your location private: Employers reach out to candidates primarily by email or phone, so it’s becoming more common not to list your address on your CV for privacy reasons. This candidate has just listed their city, but you can also just list your postcode, or even the first half of it (e.g., DL13).
- Includes a relevant dissertation title: This applicant wants a social media role, so they’ve listed their dissertation title, which fittingly is about social media trends.
Get this CV example
6. Law graduate CV example
If the law beckons, you’ll need to make your case with your CV. Here’s a law graduate CV, edited and approved by legal recruiter Paul McGinn, that you can draw inspiration from:
Why this is a good CV example
- Features relevant voluntary work: Although this candidate is only a graduate, they’ve made sure to impress law recruiters by including voluntary work, specifically for the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
- Includes key certifications: Gaining an LLB is only the start if you wish to become a paralegal, solicitor, or barrister. This applicant includes two key certifications that signal to employers they’re committed to their chosen legal career path.
- Mentions hobbies that utilise skills useful in the legal profession: Rowing demonstrates good teamwork skills, volunteering for the CAB shows client relation skills, and chess demonstrates strategic thinking skills — all vital CV skills for would-be lawyers.
As a graduate, you are building your experience, knowledge, and exposure to all aspects of the legal industry. Try as many sectors or specialisms as possible to make sure you are working in an area that you’re passionate about — this is your career and you want it to be magical!
— Paul McGinn, Legal Talent Acquisition Recruiter at Irwin Mitchell
Download this CV example
7. Psychology graduate CV example
Whether you’re a Jungian or a Freudian, you’ll be ready to apply for jobs in the psychology field once you’re done looking over our psychology CV example:
Why this is a good graduate CV example
- Includes a detailed education section: This graduate has an enviable academic background, and they detail it in full along with their relevant qualifications.
- Uses strong action verbs: Action verbs are strong starts to your bullet points and help you sound proactive, keep your sentences short, and focus on your accomplishments instead of your daily duties.
- Has a space-saving design: Instead of including your contact details on a separate line, this CV template lets you pop them next to your name.
Get this CV example
8. PhD graduate CV example
If you’ve graduated with your master’s and are embarking on a PhD, you might be looking for side jobs or internships, so a CV is vital. Here’s a PhD grad CV sample you can take a look at for ideas:
Why this is a good graduate CV example
- Includes relatively large amounts of experience: It’s uncommon for graduates to have a lot of experience, but this candidate’s done three internships and one voluntary role. Kudos to them — this’ll impress employers and gives the candidate the chance to fill their entire first page solely with work experience.
- Provides examples of job-relevant interests: This candidate says they like foreign film and writing poetry, showing they immerse themselves in languages when they’re not on the clock, and that they have a creative side — essential for a translator.
- Has copious international experience: The applicant’s language skills can’t be dismissed — not only have they lived and worked in France, but they’ve spent time in France and Spain as part of their bachelor’s course.
Get this CV example
How to write your graduate CV
With record numbers of undergrads and postgrads graduating every year, you might worry about standing out from the competition.
However, don’t worry needlessly: 9 in 10 graduates are in employment, and you have our expert tips to help you excel with a great grad CV.
1. Start by summarising your CV in a personal statement
A CV personal statement begins your CV, so it should sum up your education, qualifications, and skills. Take a look at these five examples to get an idea of what to include in your statement:
2. Add numbers to your CV
Numbers leap off the page to catch recruiting managers’ attention, and they also put into context your capabilities. So add some numbers (e.g., percentages and amounts in pounds) to your CV, especially your work experience section. For example:
10 good graduate CV bullet points
- Assisted in the design and testing of a new hydraulic system, improving efficiency by 15% over previous models during a 6-month internship at BAE Systems
- Conducted 30+ complex chemical assays to support a research project aimed at developing new pharmaceutical treatments during a summer internship at GlaxoSmithKline
- Processed monthly invoices exceeding £300,000 and assisted with financial reports that informed budget adjustments during a 3-month internship at FinTrust Accounting Services
- Analysed and forecasted financial performance for products generating revenues of over £1 million, contributing to a 10% increase in budget efficiency during a 4-month internship at Barclays
- Developed and implemented a Python script that automated data entry tasks, reducing processing time by 7% during an internship at TechSolutions
- Managed a social media campaign that increased company engagement by over 50% across Facebook and Instagram during a 2-month summer internship at CV Genius
- Researched and drafted legal briefs for commercial law cases involving over £50,000 in disputed assets, contributing to three successful settlements during a 4-month internship at Heath & Callaghan LLP
- Observed administration of cognitive-behavioural assessments to over 100 participants, compiling data that contributed to a study on stress reduction techniques during a summer placement at Bristol Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Collected and analysed spatial data using GIS software for a study on urban sprawl, helping to map trends across 50 square miles during a 3-month internship at GeoAnalytica
- Contributed to the conceptual design and model creation of a 10,000 sq ft sustainable office building, which won a local architectural award, during a 6-month internship at EcoDesign Architects
3. Write a full education section
The more experience you have, the shorter your CV’s education section can be. However, at the start of your career, expand on your education.
On a graduate CV, give employers the full facts on your:
- degree title
- classification (if it’s a 2:1 or higher)
- relevant units — that means any modules you studied that have a connection to the job you’re applying for
- dissertation topic: so employers can see you’re capable of undertaking a longer, in-depth project independently
- A-Levels/Scottish Advanced Highers, so employers can see what other subjects you specialised in during sixth-form college
- GCSEs/Scottish N5s (you just need to specify you passed Maths, English, and ICT as a minimum for most jobs)
Here are some examples:
4. Add skills from the job advert
If you’re not sure what skills to add to your skills section, check the job advert and add the skills you see that you’ve mastered. Here’s a list of some common graduate CV skills:
Good graduate CV hard skills
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Statistical analysis
- Technical writing
- Software proficiency
- Programming languages
- Financial forecasting
- Legal research
- Molecular techniques
- Multilingual communication
Sources
Takeaways
To sum up, write a great graduate CV by:
- looking at examples of graduate CVs
- writing a compelling CV personal statement
- adding numbers to your CV
- formatting your education section so that it’s easy to parse
- including skills from the job ad
Our editorial process
These CV examples and writing tips were written in line with our editorial process. Each was written by a CV expert and approved by a certified professional CV writer (CPRW). Additionally, the law graduate CV example was edited and approved by an external reviewer, Paul McGinn, a recruiter at the law firm Irwin Mitchell.
