How to Write Your First CV as a Graduate

In this guide, we will walk you through how to build a strong graduate CV, while introducing CVQuest, a helpful platform that connects job seekers with employers.

Follow these simple steps to ensure your CV makes a lasting impression.

The first section of your graduate CV should clearly list your personal information.

Ensure that this section is professional, straightforward, and easy to locate at the top of the document.

Include:

Full Name

Email Address

Phone Number

LinkedIn Profile (optional)

Location (city, state)

For graduate students, it’s important to make sure your contact details are professional, particularly your email.

Avoid using casual or humorous addresses. A clean format featuring your name is best for a formal document like a CV.

This sets the tone for the rest of your graduate CV, showing that you take your job search seriously.

A personal statement, or summary, should be placed directly below your contact information.

For graduate students, this section is an opportunity to summarize your academic background, professional aspirations, and relevant skills.

Keep it short, around 2-4 sentences, but impactful.

Mention your field of study, career goals, and how your experiences have prepared you for the roles you are targeting.

For example: "Recent Computer Science graduate with a focus on software development and data analytics.

Seeking to apply academic knowledge and project experience to a dynamic and innovative company."

This gives potential employers a snapshot of your skills and ambitions, helping them quickly understand your value.

For graduate students, education is one of the most significant sections of your CV, especially if you lack extensive work experience.

When detailing your education, include:

Degree Title

Institution Name

Graduation Date (or expected date)

Relevant Courses or Achievements

If you have achieved any notable academic successes, such as awards, high grades, or published work, make sure to highlight these.

This is especially important for students in academic or research-focused fields.

Example: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, XYZ University, 2023

Relevant Coursework: Circuit Design, Robotics, Renewable Energy Systems

Graduate students should tailor the education section to their intended career path, focusing on what aligns most closely with the job descriptions they are applying to.

While you may not have years of professional experience,

many graduate students have valuable internships, part-time jobs, research projects, or volunteer work that can be showcased.

Include this experience in a dedicated section titled “Experience” or “Relevant Experience.”

List each role with the following details:

Job Title/Position

Company or Organization Name

Duration (Start and End Dates)

A few bullet points summarizing responsibilities and achievements

Example:

Intern, ABC Tech Solutions, June 2022 – August 2022

Assisted with software testing and debugging processes for client systems

Participated in team meetings to discuss project improvements

Developed data reports that improved efficiency by 15%

For graduate students, if you have worked on any significant academic or personal projects related to your field, these should also be included in this section.

Focus on measurable achievements and contributions that demonstrate your skills.

Employers are often looking for specific skills when reviewing graduate CVs. Include both hard and soft skills relevant to your chosen career path.

For example, a computer science graduate student might list:

Programming Languages: Python, Java, C++

Data Analysis: Excel, SQL

Software: MATLAB, AutoCAD

Strong communication and team collaboration skills

Tailor this section to match the job descriptions for the positions you're applying for.

Graduate students can leverage their technical proficiencies, but don’t underestimate the importance of soft skills, such as leadership or problem-solving.

While not necessary, including extracurricular activities or volunteer work can enhance a graduate CV.

Employers value well-rounded candidates, and extracurriculars can demonstrate initiative, teamwork, and leadership abilities.

Example:

President, University Coding Club

Organized and led weekly meetings for over 50 students

Hosted coding challenges and workshops for beginners

If the activities or volunteering are related to your career path, make sure to highlight that, but even unrelated positions can show commitment and soft skills.

Before sending out your graduate CV, it’s essential to tailor it for each job application.

While the core sections remain the same, you should tweak keywords and focus based on the job description.

This demonstrates to employers that you have taken the time to align your qualifications with their requirements.

CVQuest offers resources to help you connect with employers and tailor your CV.

By joining the platform, graduate students can gain insights on the job market, search for relevant positions, and receive tips on improving their CVs.

A common mistake many graduate students make is submitting their CV without thoroughly proofreading it.

Grammar and formatting errors can give a negative impression, so take the time to review your document carefully.

You can also ask a mentor or peer to proofread it for you.

Once finalized, upload your CV to job platforms like CVQuest, where potential employers are actively searching for candidates like you.