Graduate CV Examples & Tips to Start Your Career

Graduate CV examples for UK jobs

A graduate CV offers a snapshot of your potential. From coursework and academic projects to volunteering and transferable skills, all the sections you include must express your readiness for the job market. 

Learn to make a CV for graduates using proven career expert tips and see professional graduate CV examples created by experienced CV writers.

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Finance graduate CV example

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Psychology graduate CV example

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Marketing graduate CV example

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Engineering graduate CV example

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Graduate CV template (copy & customise)

You can easily copy and customise this graduate CV template. Just read my tips on writing a CV for graduate jobs when you scroll down.

How to write a graduate CV in the UK

Writing a CV for a graduate is all about showing your readiness for real-world challenges. Let’s find out what makes a good CV that shows you’re not only book-smart but also street-smart and eager to prove it.

1. Tailor your graduate job CV to your chosen industry

To create a good job search strategy, you must understand the reality of the labour market for graduate applicants.

To succeed in your job search, make your graduate CV as professional as possible. Good CV formatting shows you are organised and career-ready, even with limited experience. A CV layout with the right structure can highlight your academic achievements, projects, and transferable skills without overwhelming the reader.

Follow these tips:

• Follow the reverse-chronological order when listing your experience and education 
• Choose a professional CV template, keep it simple and avoid distracting design elements
• Use consistent headings, bullet points, and spacing
• Stick to a readable font, like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Keep the CV length to 1–2 pages
• Save as PDF to preserve your formatting
• Name your file clearly, for example, “Dean Jones – Graduate CV”, to help recruiters identify your application quickly.

You can save time with a dependable CV maker such as LiveCareer UK CV builder; alternatively, you can try using AI to write parts of your CV.

2. Build a strong graduate education section

The education section of your CV for graduate jobs should reflect both your academic ability and the real-world skills behind it. 

Here's how to create a good education section: 

• List your degree first, including the university, qualification, and graduation year
• Include key coursework, thesis topics, or research areas
• Highlight skills gained through study and academic projects
• Add extracurricular activities that show leadership, teamwork, or initiative
• Include school qualifications only if relevant or requested

3. Present relevant experience from uni, internships, and other activities

Work experience is most effective when it highlights outcomes. What matters most is showing how you contributed and what you learned.

Describe relevant experience this way:

• List job title, employer, location, and employment dates
• Describe on relevant achievements and outcomes
• Include measurable results where possible

“Students with limited work experience can make their applications more appealing by ensuring their CV is clear and comprehensive, listing all relevant achievements without exaggeration. It's crucial to be honest about your experience while highlighting any academic or extracurricular accomplishments. Additionally, the 'About Me' section is a valuable opportunity to include personal attributes or unique experiences that set you apart from other candidates”.

4. Include the right mix of graduate skills in your CV

The skills in your CV connect what you’ve learned with labour market needs. Research shows that better alignment of graduates' skills with job requirements improves employment prospects, so make sure to ace this CV section.

Common skills in graduate CVs include:

• Administrative skills
• Communication skills
• Computer skills
• Decision-making skills
• Digital skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Organisational skills
• Problem-solving abilities
• Transferable skills such as research and data analysis

Show the skills that truly matter:

• Review the job posting to spot the required skills
• Make a list of your hard skills and soft skills that match the job requirements
• Describe how you’ve used each skill in one line
• Keep the list concise: up to 10 skills

Listing your skills in a separate CV section isn’t enough to get that job. To make an impressive CV, add your key strengths to the graduate CV profile, too. Your personal statement should feel confident and tailored, not generic or overlong.

Make a graduate CV profile that resonates with employers:

• Introduce your degree, subject, and institution
• Explain what value you bring, including relevant skills or academic strengths
• Highlight experience, internships, projects, or standout coursework
• Align your career goals with the employer’s objectives
• Keep it around 3–5 sentences

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

5. Make your graduate CV go above and beyond

Optional CV sections can add depth to your graduate job application. Pick 2–3 from this list:

• Volunteering: Shows you demonstrate responsibility and actively contribute to your community
• Projects or research: Highlight your ability to think critically in real-world scenarios
• Awards and achievements: Help you stand out among other candidates
• Language skills and proficiency levels: Signal your ability to communicate across cultures
• Certifications or training: Help to validate your expertise in relevant areas
• Hobbies and interests: Offer insight into your personality

Thoughtful extra sections can elevate your CV from standard to distinctive.

6. Write a cover letter that strengthens your graduate CV

A good graduate cover letter gives you room to add context to your application. 

Here’s how to make your letter count:

• Start your cover letter by stating your interest and your strongest qualification or achievement
• Explain how your skills and experience match the role
• Demonstrate how you can contribute to the employer’s goals
• Show enthusiasm, professionalism, and cultural fit
• Close your cover letter with a call to action requesting an interview or discussion
• Follow a formal cover letter structure with a professional sign-off
• Write a follow-up letter within 1–2 weeks

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.

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FAQ about graduate CVs

What to write on a CV for a graduate?

In your graduate CV, include information about your academic strengths and relevant experience from internships, part-time jobs, volunteering, and university projects. Combine job-related hard skills with transferable abilities, and make sure they reflect the job requirements as outlined in the job posting.

How to write a CV as a graduate?

A graduate CV must include a personal statement, an overview of your education, and your work history (starting from the most recent role) along with a list of skills that match the job profile. Your CV should be easy to scan at a glance.

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

• National Careers Service, Graduate Schemes
• The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
• The National Minimum Wage in 2026
• Mercedes Teijeiro, Paolo Rungo, Jesús Freire, "Graduate competencies and employability: The impact of matching firms’ needs and personal attainments"
• Martin Humburg, Rolf van der Velden, "Skills and the graduate recruitment process: Evidence from two discrete choice experiments"
• Tara Van Bommell, PhD, "The power of empathy in times of crisis and beyond (2nd edition)"