Writing a CV as a graduate is hard when you have limited work experience — but employers hiring graduates look for potential, transferable skills and evidence of what you can do. Here's how to build a graduate CV that competes. See also how to write a CV.
Lead with what you have
Put education and relevant projects near the top, followed by any work experience (including part-time and voluntary roles). Your degree, dissertation, group projects and placements all demonstrate real, transferable skills.
Turn academic work into evidence
"Led a five-person group project delivering a working prototype in eight weeks" shows leadership, teamwork and delivery. Frame academic achievements the way you'd frame work achievements — with action and result.
What to emphasise
- Transferable skills with evidence (teamwork, problem-solving, communication).
- Technical skills and tools relevant to the role.
- Extracurriculars that show initiative and drive.
- A tailored personal profile focused on the role and employer.
Prove your employability
Graduate employers increasingly value evidenced capability. Build and demonstrate it with Career Coach and your Career Passport™, and prepare for what follows in our graduate careers resources.
Practise what you've learned
Turn this into a stronger CV now. CV Optimisation checks your CV against a specific role, and Job Intelligence™ decodes exactly which skills and keywords the vacancy wants so you can mirror them. Build the evidence behind your CV in your Career Passport™.
When you have little work experience
A graduate CV leads with what you can evidence: your degree and relevant modules, projects and dissertations, part-time work, volunteering, societies and any internships. Frame each with outcomes — "Led a team of 5 on a final-year project that won departmental recognition" — the same result-led approach a senior CV uses.
Structure for a graduate
- Personal statement naming your target role and strongest evidence.
- Education (higher, since it's your main asset) with relevant modules and grades.
- Projects & experience — academic, part-time and voluntary all count.
- Skills mirroring the advert, kept ATS-friendly.
Turn "no experience" into evidence
Employers hiring graduates expect potential, not a decade of roles. Show initiative, transferable skills and genuine interest. Every project, society role and part-time job is evidence of the skills employers want. Then tailor for each application using our how to write a CV guide.