CV template: Graduate

Whether you graduated recently or you’re on the cusp of leaving university, you need to make sure your CV is in good shape to stand out from the thousands of other graduates.

To give you some leverage, we’ve worked with the experts at StandOut CV to craft a graduate template CV, to show you where to place information such as grades, awards and qualifications.

This template will help you structure your CV effectively, although don’t copy the content word-for-word. Instead, focus on your own achievements and why you’re right for the role.

You can use our graduate CV template whether you’re applying for a graduate scheme or an entry-level career position. Check out our graduate job searching guide for tips or read on to take in our tips on how to write a graduate CV.

Emphasise what you gained from your studies

Did you know your studies have handed you a wealth of transferable skills to reference on your CV? Completing assignments shows you can work to deadlines while revising for exams or planning your dissertation shows motivation and organisation.

Sure, you might not have much work experience under your belt, but your studies have set you up with a range of transferable skills that will help you enter the workplace.

Touch on your results

Discussing any successful results on your CV will show employers that you’re an achiever and can, therefore, bring success to your next job.

If you achieved the results you wanted, you should stress your grades to show you’re the best, your capacity for learning and how productive you could be in the workplace.

On the other hand, if you didn’t get the grades you hoped for, focus on what you learned from this – research suggests that work experience is more important than the grade you achieved anyway.

Detail any successes in part-time work

Although you may be applying for graduate roles with a brand new professional focus, it’s still good to mention a track record of success from previous part-time positions.

Instead of just detailing your duties, be more specific to give the recruiter a clearer picture of how you can thrive in the workplace. For example, instead of stating that you served customers, writing something such as ‘served 30 customers each hour, showing strong organisational skills to accurately remember and produce complex drinks orders’ would be a little better.

Also, an emphasis on success in part-time roles will show how you can adapt to duties in the workplace.

For more tips on how to write a CV, see our guide.