How to write the perfect graduate CV

The very first step you need to take after graduating is creating a CV in order to apply for a job. If you don’t have much professional experience just yet, you will need to adjust your summary to highlight your skills and focus on the positive qualities you have.

Your CV is your most valuable tool to help reach the first important stage - the job interview. The more effort you put in when creating it, the more likely you are to receive an invitation for an interview.

To get to your dream position, you will need more than just good CV writing skills. In this article, we’ll be sharing with you 5 tips to help you create the perfect graduate CV and be easily noticed by employers.

Choose a story you want to tell

Before you start writing a biography, you need to choose a story that has value and that’ll impress the person reading it. You can include brief information such as:

· What are your greatest accomplishments to date

· How you manage to cope with difficulties

· Why you chose this career / field of work

· How dedicated you are to your profession

· How motivated you are in acquiring the skills needed to succeed in this job

Choose a starting point to begin with and focus on adding value to what you’re writing to leave a strong message.

Keep things simple

When compiling your summary, it's a good idea to keep things simple. Refrain from giving too much detail about any of your achievements or skills that you have acquired. You can list the most important highlights, but do not give too elaborate descriptions. Most CVs only fit on one page, as employers do not have much time to go through each application. HR departments usually tend to go into more detail, but that’s not always guaranteed.

We often encounter graduates who try to create an outstanding CV, but they end up achieving the opposite effect instead. Creativity is always welcomed, but overdesign can be quite distracting. If you think that a classic, simple design might be the better option, go for simple fonts and plain colour schemes. If you want to stand out, choose a reliable CV Builder that can offer you templates different from those used by the masses and help create a truly memorable CV.

Learn how to create a custom CV using Jobbri’s exclusive templates.

Focus on your education and work experience 

You most likely don't have much work experience yet because you have just graduated. In that case, you will need to put an emphasis on the type of education and qualifications you have in your CV.

In the first section of your CV, focus entirely on the kind of education you have acquired, list all the schools you’ve attended in reverse chronological order (from last to first). Then describe all the additional courses you’ve taken related to the job you are applying for, as well as the grades you’ve obtained in them.

You should also list the skills you’ve acquired and the things you’ve accomplished in each course. If you already have professional experience and have worked while studying, make sure to include that as well. Be brief and just mention the position; when you’ve worked there and some of its duties. If you can relate these to the job you are applying for, that’s even better.

Add recommendations 

Including some recommendations at the bottom of your CV can help you make a good impression on potential employers. At best, include two recommendations - an academic one and one from the company you previously worked for.

It is important that they are honest and not too honeyed, in order to leave a positive impression and show that you are reliable and trustworthy.

Edit and check several times

Before submitting the final version of your CV, be sure to edit it and check for errors and inaccuracies several times. You may have missed crucial information or made a spelling mistake. This may not seem like a big deal, but it can certainly make a bad impression.

Once you're done with editing, set the summary aside for a few days and come back to review it properly. This will make it easier for you to rate the content and decide if you need to add / remove something, or if it’s already good as it is.

Finally, we’d recommend that you ask another person to read your CV. Their opinion would definitely be more objective than your own and may reveal inaccuracies that need to be addressed. You could also ask your teacher or HR colleague who’s experienced in staff recruitment and knows what a perfect CV should look like.

Conclusion

Realization after graduation may seem like a huge challenge, but with the power of small steps and consistency, you will be able to climb to the top. The basis of success is a well-written CV that can guarantee you an interview for your dream job. What happens next is entirely up to you.

Need help creating a CV? At Jobbri.co.uk you will find a variety of custom CV templates designed to impress even the most rigorous HR specialist. Take a look at our offers and make the perfect CV here: