Education-forward
Give strong academic work appropriate prominence when career history is short.
Projects matter
Coursework, dissertations, societies and personal projects can demonstrate useful skills.
Keep it focused
Early-career CVs benefit from clear hierarchy and selective evidence rather than filler.
What to include on a graduate CV
Start with contact details and a short profile tailored to the role. Follow with education, relevant projects, employment or volunteering, and skills supported by evidence. Part-time jobs are valuable when they demonstrate responsibility, customer service, teamwork or reliability.
Turn university work into evidence
Do not simply list module names. Show what you researched, built, analysed, presented or improved. A project becomes stronger when the reader can understand the task, your contribution and the outcome.
Adapt the CV for each application
Use the job description to decide which evidence deserves space. A graduate applying for data work should surface analytical tools and projects; an applicant for client-facing work may emphasise communication, organisation and commercial experience.
Questions people ask
How long should a graduate CV be?
Usually one or two pages is enough. Relevance is more important than filling space.
Can I include part-time jobs?
Yes, especially when they show transferable skills or responsibility.
What if I have no formal work experience?
Use education, projects, volunteering, societies and independent work to show evidence of capability.
Can I use FreeShelf without an account?
Yes.