If you’re a university student or have just graduated, writing a professional CV for the first time can be rather daunting. Never fear – this guide will help you write an impressive grad CV that employers will love.
Name and contact details
Firstly, your name and contact details need to be displayed clearly at the top of your graduate CV – and not “curriculum vitae”.
Your name should act as the title to this document, so make sure it’s big and bold. You might also like to write your graduate status next to it if your degree is an essential requirement for the role you’re applying for. For example:
Forename Surname | X Graduate
Underneath, detail your email address, phone number and a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one. You might also like to include your location if you feel it is appropriate. For example:
Location: Town, City
Telephone: xxx
Email: xxx
LinkedIn: xxx
Personal profile
Next up is your personal profile. This section is a short introduction, about three or four sentences, intended to provide a quick overview of what you’re about and where your career is going. As your profile is the first chunk of the CV a recruiter reads, you need to really sell yourself in these few lines.
In the first sentence, introduce your professional graduate status. It might read something like this:
“A recent graduate with a 2:1 degree in English Literature from the University of Warwick…”
The second line or two is your chance to showcase the most impressive skills and qualities you can bring to the role. Expand on industry-specific knowledge and transferable workplace skills you have gained throughout your degree, and try to tailor this to the job description as much as possible.
Then, finish your personal profile with a line that explains what you’re looking for vocationally right now. For example:
“I am looking to secure a graduate role in a friendly, fast-paced workplace, where I can utilise my transferable skills and highly-developed writing abilities.”
Part 2 of this blog will be published tomorrow.
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Laura Slingo is Digital Copywriter for independent UK job board, CV-Library. For more expert advice on job searches, careers and the workplace, visit their Career Advice pages.
