CV Writing Tips and Advice for Graduates

Your CV is the prime factor selling you as the most appropriate candidate for jobs, so getting it right is particularly critical for graduates entering the jobs market.

Tips for Graduate CVs

Even if you have never worked, your graduate CV needs to expand upon your experiences, including education, voluntary jobs and characteristics. You can take a range of real life experiences and tailor them to suit your CV. 

Without doubt, your studies embraced a variety of learning modes including group projects and working as part of a team. Highlight these group experiences and draw examples from real life to illustrate how your team work and team building skills can be a real benefit for employers. It may be appropriate to list out all or some of your university modules to demonstrate your key knowledge and skills.

You can take a range of real life experiences and tailor them to suit your CV. Without doubt, your studies embraced a variety of learning modes including group projects and working as part of a team. Highlight these group experiences and draw examples from real life to illustrate how your team work and team building skills can be a real benefit for employers. It may be appropriate to list out all or some of your university modules to demonstrate your key knowledge and skills.

Highlight these group experiences and draw examples from real life to illustrate how your team work and team building skills can be a real benefit for employers. It may be appropriate to list out all or some of your university modules to demonstrate your key knowledge and skills.

Tweaking your CV for individual employers may seem difficult at first but get into the habit of giving focus to any personal statement or messages you want to stand out. Key skills and attributes can easily be showcased in your CV, ensuring that employers appreciate just what a perfect fit you will be for their jobs. Stressing your expertise and shifting qualifications and experience so they stand out within the format are ways in which your CV can be suited to match employer requirements more exactly.

Your graduate CV should also include details of hobbies and interests, particularly if they are relevant to work applications or likely to rouse employer interest.

Standing Out from the Crowd

The following tips will help ensure your CV stands out from the crowd:

• Use simple black typefaces in Arial or Times, the most appropriate fonts for business use. The only time you might wish to consider alternative fonts and colours would be if you’re applying for design or layout positions, but even then take time to consider whether the employer will appreciate design quirks in a professional CV
• Spacing and headers will give a balanced look to your CV and make it easier to read. Don’t try to cram everything on a single page, particularly if you are highlighting skills and expertise as well as your chronological listing of qualifications and work experiences. A two page CV is an ideal length, and makes much more sense than trying to ensure all information is cramped on one single sheet of paper
• When printing your CV, don’t print your CV double-sided but use additional sheets of paper for each separate page. Don’t forget to number pages to make referencing easier for employers
• A functional CV details your skills and expertise, and is recommended if you’re looking for a good career with a recognised company or market leader. Combining functional aspects into your chronological CV may make the document longer, but employers will appreciate the fact you have taken time to highlight your strengths and note all areas in which you excel

You will find a host more tips on graduate CVs on our website, we would also advise that you print your CV on good quality paper, using a laser printer in order to achieve the best effect.

For more tips on CVs browse our free information section on the Interview Skills website.