How to Make Your First CV: Good CV Examples & Templates

A good first CV should include your contact details, a short personal statement, education, skills, and any relevant activities like volunteering or school projects. Keep the layout clean and easy to read, using clear headings and consistent formatting. Paired with a tailored cover letter, your CV becomes a powerful introduction to employers and a chance to show your enthusiasm and readiness to learn.

In this guide, you’ll find good CV examples for the first job, beginner-friendly templates, and practical tips to help you make your first CV stand out.

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.

Create your CV now

Create a professional CV now!

NO

YES

Create your CV now

We created the sample on the right using our builder. See other good CV examples like this one.

First CV template for an internship

Internship CV example

Use this example

Use this example

First CV template for an apprenticeship

Apprenticeship CV example

Use this example

Use this example

First CV template for volunteering jobs

Volunteering CV example

Use this example

Use this example

Want to see alternate guides for job starters? Check this list:

• Career Change CV
• CV for a 16-Year-Old
• CV for a Part-Time Job
• Customer Service CV
• Internship CV
• Nanny CV
• Retail CV
• School-Leaver CV
• Shop Assistant CV
• Student CV

How to make a good CV for the first job?

A well-written CV is essential because it allows potential employers or institutions to quickly assess your suitability for a role. A good CV highlights your qualifications and sets you apart from other candidates, making it a critical tool in securing interviews and advancing your career. Having an up-to-date CV is necessary to present your best professional self.

Now, let’s explain how to make a CV for the first job in more detail:

1. Use the right formatting

First impressions count—and your CV’s layout is the first thing employers notice. To make sure your first-job CV looks professional and is easy to read, follow these key formatting tips:

• Put your contact details at the top of your CV, so you’re easy to reach out to.
• Prepare a clear CV structure with the right section order and ensure your layout has enough white space to avoid looking cluttered.
• Pick the right CV font, such as Arial or Calibri, with a size that fits between 10 and 12 points. You can use slightly larger fonts for section headings and your name at the top.
• Stick to black text for body content. Headings can be in a different colour or bold for clarity, but keep the overall design simple and professional. 
• Keep your CV length in check and don’t go beyond one page. Avoid unnecessary repetition and verbosity.
• CV templates can be helpful starting points, but you can just as easily create a strong, tailored CV using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or similar tools.
• Download your CV as a PDF to preserve the formatting, your CV layout, fonts, and overall appearance of your document.

A clear, well-organised CV makes a great first impression and helps employers spot your strengths right away. Get the basics right, and you’ll be one step closer to landing your first job.

2. Start your first CV with a strong personal statement

The first-job CV has one serious drawback. It doesn’t contain a comprehensive work experience section, which is usually the highlight of a CV that makes up for other possible deficiencies. But how could you create a compelling work history section, being on a start line?

Instead, use other means to turn a recruiter’s attention towards you. For starters, apply a personal statement that conveys key information about you as a growing professional.

A compelling CV introduction does three things:

• Introduces you as a job starter.
• Shows what you can offer the employer.
• Proves that your goals match the company’s vision.

The personal statement in your first CV doesn’t have to be long. On the contrary, it should be concise and consist of 3–4 sentences at maximum, which is around 50–150 words. Answering the following questions will help you get straight to the point:

• What adjectives describe you best as a young professional?
• What is the achievement you’re most proud of?
• What do you hope to achieve working for this company?

Many employers, specifically large companies and organisations, use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter and screen job applications. When crafting your personal statement, make sure to include the company name and the position you are applying for. Additionally, try to reflect what was outlined in the job ad, paying particular attention to specific job keywords.

As an extra clue, consider writing your personal statement once the overall CV structure and content are all ready. It’ll be just easier to draw the most significant information out of it and make your personal statement more substantial.

See how it’s made in these examples:

Good CV examples for the first job: personal statement

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

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.

Create your CV now

3. Showcase work or internship experience on your first CV template

Gaining first-hand work experience, especially for your first job CV, can be a valuable step in launching your career. But not everyone is lucky enough to have some working background already when graduating.

However, there are many other ways to gain knowledge about your field and put it into practice. What qualifies as work experience if you haven’t had a formal job yet? See below:

• Internships: Paid or unpaid placements where you gained practical experience.
• Volunteering: Any role where you contributed time or skills to help an organisation or cause.
• School or university projects: Especially group assignments, presentations, or anything that mimics real-world tasks.
• Part-time or casual work: Babysitting, tutoring, retail, or food service, even if informal.
• Freelance or personal projects: Running a blog, managing social media, coding a website, or creating content.
• Extracurricular roles: Club leadership, event organising, or being part of a sports team.
• Helping in a family business: Assisting with admin, customer service, or deliveries.

When preparing your work experience section, follow the typical chronological CV format, which puts your most recent work activities first. Organise your work experiences this way:

For each role, create bullet points that describe your responsibilities and achievements on a CV. However, focus on what you contributed and learned instead of what you just did.

To make your job descriptions more powerful, use action verbs and numbers where possible. This means saying: Assisted senior support engineers in diagnosing and resolving 70+ technical issues, instead of: Helped senior support engineers with technical issues. That makes a difference, right?

See these examples for better comprehension:

Good CV examples for the first job: work experience

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Gaining work experience is a gradual process, and it takes time to find the ideal role in your chosen field. But limited work experience doesn’t always put you in a weak position. Employers realise that recent graduates may not have extensive working backgrounds, so they focus on transferable skills, personal qualities, and your potential for growth and success.

4. List your education degrees on your first job CV

As a recent graduate, you likely have an impressive educational title or certification to show off in your first CV template. And that’s of great importance because employers use the education section to assess your suitability for a job. 

Your education section can be your strong point if you present it clearly and concisely. But first, you need to know how to write a degree on a CV.

Here’s the template you can use for university degrees:

If you don’t have a university degree, you should outline your secondary education like this:

Look at the following education section examples:

Good CV examples for the first job: education

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

As your career progresses, the significance of your education may diminish in comparison to your work experience. So you may choose to put less emphasis on the education section in further versions of your CV.

5. Underline skills and talents on your first job CV template

If you doubt your candidature due to your limited employment history, this is something that might help you look at yourself more favourably.

While headhunting, employers don’t necessarily focus on a candidate’s professional expertise. Very often, they look for individuals who bring different skills and perspectives to their company or organisation. They value their fresh perspective and innovative ideas, which can help them thrive and outperform competitors.

To prepare a captivating skill list for your CV, tailor it to the job you’re applying for. It’s important that you emphasise the skills most relevant to the position you’re targeting. Additionally, prioritise skills most essential to the job and place them at the top of your list.

These examples illustrate it best:

First CV template: skills

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

As an extension, you can provide more specific information about each skill you decide to display. By providing a more detailed description of each skill, you narrow it down and make it easier for a recruiter to grasp your actual ability.

6. Add extra sections to your first job CV template

Have you ever seen someone buying a car spur of the moment? Employment, too, carries significant costs, responsibilities, and implications, so it rarely happens overnight. What’s more, recruiters like to investigate more into your candidature, taking as much relevant information into consideration as possible.

And since you’re a fresher, you must reveal your strong points and showcase your abilities convincingly. To this end, use additional sections that provide a more detailed picture of your qualifications and personality.

There are many extras you can include to enhance your first job CV, and here they are:

• Achievements and awards
• Certifications and training
• Relevant coursework
• Hobbies and interests
• Additional projects
• Languages
• Other activities

These examples will give you the clue:

First CV examples: added sections

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

While certifications or courses seem pretty concrete, your hobbies and interests might require some extra effort. When listing them on a CV for the first job, enrich them with short descriptions. And lastly, include hobbies or activities that reflect positively on your character or showcase relevant skills. Generic, vague terms won’t get you that first longed-for job.

7. Attach a cover letter to your first job CV

A strong CV already puts you at the forefront, but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll be offered a job. It’s worth asking: What if I’m competing with many candidates who have similar achievements and skills? Will my first CV be strong enough?

If you’re looking for a job in a competitive market, you should arm yourself with patience. But there’s something more you can do to pursue your career goals. Develop a targeted cover letter to go with your first CV. Such a proactive approach puts you a step forward toward your vocation.

Writing a cover letter shouldn’t take much time. Once you have your first CV ready, it’s easier to write a cover letter as it provides context for it.

Here’s what a good cover letter should include:

• Header that is in line with British standards
• Employer’s address and a well-formed salutation
• Cover letter opening that introduces you as a candidate
• Short presentation of your key achievements
• Cover letter closing that emphasises your interest in the next steps
• Sign-off that matches the salutation.

How long should a cover letter be? A cover letter is usually one page in length. It counts 250–400 words in total, is focused, and uses concise language. When writing your cover letter, stick to the main points relevant to the job (and your qualifications), and your document will support your application, not the reverse.

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.

Create your CV now

What to avoid when writing your first CV?

When crafting your first job CV, it’s important to present yourself professionally and avoid common pitfalls that could weaken your application. Here are key mistakes to watch out for:

• Spelling and grammar errors: Typos can make you seem careless. Always proofread your CV or ask someone else to review it.
• Overly long or wordy CVs: Stick to one page and keep descriptions clear and to the point.
• Unnecessary personal information: Avoid listing your age, gender, marital status, or a photo unless it’s specifically required.
• Generic content: Tailor your CV to each role by matching your skills and experiences to the job description.
• Vague skills: Don’t just say “good communicator” or “team player.” Provide short examples that show these skills in action.
• Unprofessional email addresses: Use a simple, professional email like firstname.lastname@email.com.
• Including irrelevant hobbies: Only mention interests that show valuable skills or relate to the role.

A good CV shows effort, clarity, and relevance—avoid the above mistakes to make a strong first impression and stand out from other applicants. By keeping your CV focused, polished, and tailored to the job, you'll show employers that you're serious, capable, and ready to take on your first role.

Who will review your CV for the first job?

A CV is usually reviewed by hiring managers, recruiters, and HR professionals responsible for filling the role. Hiring managers oversee the specific position, recruiters source and screen candidates, and HR ensures compliance with company policies and requirements. For senior roles, also department heads or executives may also review your CV to ensure your qualifications align with the job requirements and company goals.

As I mentioned earlier, a CV is often first scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which filters applications based on keywords and formatting. To increase your chances, tailor your CV with relevant keywords to ensure it passes the initial screening. Best of luck with your job search!

A cover letter alone simply won’t be enough—you need an impactful CV, too. Create your CV in minutes. Just follow our wizard and fill in every CV section with ready-made content. Get started by choosing a professional CV template.

Create your CV now

How we review the content at LiveCareer

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.

Sources

• Ali A., (2020) What are Applicant Tracking Systems, and how can your online job application score highly in one?. Youth Employment UK
• Career experiences 101. De Paul University

Frequently asked questions

How do I write a good CV for my first job?

To write a strong first CV, focus on what you can offer, such as your education, skills, and any relevant experience from school, volunteering, or part-time roles. Use a clear, simple format and tailor your content to match the job description. Keep it concise, as one page is usually enough. Additionally, make sure your CV is well-organised and free of errors. Use bullet points for responsibilities and achievements to make your CV easy to scan. Always customise your CV slightly for each role to show that you’ve read the job ad carefully.

How do I write a CV if I have no experience?

Even without formal work experience, you can include school projects, extracurriculars, volunteering, or personal projects that show your abilities. Highlight transferable skills like teamwork, communication, or problem-solving. Use your personal statement to show enthusiasm and your willingness to learn. You can also list achievements from academic or club activities to demonstrate reliability and motivation. Employers value initiative and attitude, especially in first-time applicants.

How do I introduce myself in a CV?

Start your CV with a short personal statement. Describe who you are, what you’re studying or have studied, and what role you’re looking for. Briefly highlight a few key strengths that match the job to help employers quickly see your potential. Keep the tone professional, yet confident—show that you’re ready to contribute. Avoid clichés and focus on what makes you a strong candidate for that specific role.