How to Write a Graduate CV: A Practical UK Guide
What goes on a graduate CV
A graduate CV should be two pages maximum [1]. Use a clean font — Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman at size 11 or above — and let headings and bullet points do the heavy lifting [1]. Recruiters decide quickly, so make every line earn its place.
These are the sections every graduate CV needs, in the order that works best when you have limited work history:
- Contact details — name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL. No date of birth, no nationality [1].
- Personal statement — three to five lines introducing who you are, what you studied and what you are looking for. Aim for under 150 words [5].
- Education — reverse chronological order, starting with your degree. Include institution, dates, subject and grade [1].
- Skills — a short section covering technical tools, languages or relevant competencies.
- Work history and experience — paid jobs, placements, volunteering, society roles. Most recent first [1].
- Hobbies and interests — optional, but useful if it adds evidence of relevant skills or character [5].
- References — 'Available on request' is fine; you do not need to name referees on the CV itself [5].
If you have significant work experience — a placement year, for example — you can move work history above education. For most graduates, education comes first.
How to write each section of your graduate CV
Contact details and LinkedIn
Keep this simple. A professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com) and a LinkedIn URL are enough. If you have a portfolio or GitHub relevant to the role, add it here too.
Personal statement
This is the hardest section to write and the most important. A formula that works: who you are → what you bring → what you want. For example: 'A recent History graduate from the University of Leeds with experience of qualitative research, stakeholder communication and event coordination. Looking to apply analytical and project management skills in a public sector communications role.' Change the final sentence for every application [5].
Education
List your degree first: institution, dates, subject, classification. Then A-levels, then GCSEs (you can summarise GCSEs as 'nine GCSEs A*–C including Maths and English' rather than listing them all). If specific modules are directly relevant to the role, name them. If your dissertation is relevant, one line describing it adds value [5].
How to write your degree classification on a CV
| Classification | How to write it on your CV |
|---|---|
| First-class honours | First-class honours (1st), BA History, University of Leeds, 2022–2025 |
| Upper second-class honours | Upper second-class honours (2:1), BSc Psychology, University of Bristol, 2022–2025 |
| Lower second-class honours | Lower second-class honours (2:2), BEng Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, 2022–2025 |
| Third-class honours | Third-class honours (3rd), BA English Literature, University of Exeter, 2022–2025 |
| Pass / ordinary degree | BA Business Studies (Pass), University of Hertfordshire, 2022–2025 |
Work history and experience
List each role with employer name, job title and dates. Then two to three bullet points using the STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, Result — to show what you actually did and what happened as a result [1]. Start each bullet with a strong verb: managed, delivered, analysed, coordinated, built.
If you have no paid work history at all, this section can include: university society roles, volunteering, course projects, hackathons, or any freelance or informal work. The section heading can be 'Experience' rather than 'Work history' to make this feel natural [1].
Skills
Be specific. 'Good communication skills' tells a recruiter nothing. 'Presented findings to a 40-person seminar group' tells them something real. List software, tools and languages with an honest indication of level. Do not pad this section.
Graduate CV with no experience: what to include
A graduate CV with no experience is not a blank CV — it is a CV that draws on a different kind of evidence. Most graduates have more than they realise.
Think across these categories:
- Degree work — dissertations, group projects, presentations, lab reports, case study analyses
- Part-time or casual work — retail, hospitality, tutoring, delivery, bar work. All of it shows reliability and transferable skills
- Volunteering — charity work, community projects, student union roles
- Societies and clubs — treasurer, captain, committee member, events organiser
- Online courses and certifications — Google, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, Codecademy
- Independent projects — a blog, a YouTube channel, an app, a small business, freelance design work
The key is to write about these using the same STAR-method bullet points you would use for paid work [1]. Unpaid experience is real experience and belongs on your CV [1].
Turning a society role into a CV bullet
- Situation
- You were social secretary of a university running club with 80 members.
- Task
- Organise a charity 10K event and recruit sponsors.
- Action
- Contacted 12 local businesses, secured three sponsorships, coordinated logistics for 80 runners and promoted the event across social media.
- Result
- Raised funds for a local hospice and grew club membership in the following term.
This belongs on your first job CV. It shows project management, communication and commercial awareness — skills every employer wants.
Tailoring your graduate CV for every application
A generic CV sent to 50 employers is less effective than a tailored CV sent to 10. Tailoring does not mean rewriting everything — it means adjusting your personal statement, reordering your bullet points and mirroring the language in the job description [1].
Here is a quick tailoring checklist for each application:
- Read the job description and highlight the key skills and requirements
- Check your personal statement mentions at least two of those requirements by name
- Move your most relevant bullet points to the top of each section
- Use the employer's own words where they match your real experience — do not invent anything
- Check the company name and role title are correct if you reference them directly
- Remove or shrink sections that are not relevant to this particular role
Tailoring takes time, but it is the single biggest lever you have on your application success rate. CV Studio can help you align your CV to a specific job description in under a minute — every change is shown, and nothing is invented.
Once you have tailored your CV, use the CV job-fit check to see how well your CV lines up with the role and where the gaps are.
Common graduate CV mistakes to avoid
These are the errors that cost graduates interviews:
- Too long — two pages is the limit. One page is fine if you genuinely cannot fill two [1]
- Generic personal statement — if it could belong to any graduate, rewrite it
- Responsibilities without results — 'responsible for social media' is weaker than 'grew Instagram following from 200 to 1,400 in six months'
- Spelling and grammar errors — get someone else to read it [1]
- Inconsistent formatting — same font, same date format, same bullet style throughout
- Lying or exaggerating — employers check; it is not worth it
- Leaving out unpaid experience — volunteering and society roles count [1]
- Using a photo — standard UK CVs do not include a photo
- Outdated contact details — check your email and phone number are current [1]
The CV checker gives your CV a 0–100 readiness score with up to three specific fixes — no sign-up needed, nothing stored.
What the 7-second rule means for your graduate CV
You may have heard that recruiters spend about seven seconds on an initial CV scan. The exact number varies, but the principle is sound: if your name, degree, a relevant skill and a clear layout do not register immediately, your CV may not get a second look.
To pass the scan:
- Put your name in large text at the top
- Keep your personal statement to three or four lines — not a paragraph
- Use bold section headings with clear white space between them
- Lead each bullet point with a strong verb, not 'I was responsible for'
- Do not bury your degree classification — it should be visible at a glance
A clean, readable layout is not about design flair. It is about making it easy for a busy recruiter to find the information they need in the order they expect it [1].
Building your first graduate CV today
The fastest way to start is to write one strong bullet point about one thing you have done — a project, a job, a society role — and build from there. You can try turning one thing you have done into a CV line on the homepage without an account; nothing is stored.
If you want to build a full CV from scratch, the Fresh Grad Wizard asks you six questions — about your degree, projects, part-time work and activities — and turns your answers into a complete first CV. Two questions can be skipped. It is free with a free account.
If you are a recent graduate, Grad Plus gives you Plus-level access at £6 a month for your first 12 months — an academic email is approved automatically.
Once your CV is ready, practise talking about it. The Interview Coach gives you eight role-specific questions with STAR feedback and a model answer — so you are ready when the call comes [2].
Not sure where your CV stands? Paste it into the CV checker for a free readiness score — no account needed, nothing stored.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a graduate CV be?
Two pages is the standard for a UK graduate CV. One page is acceptable if you genuinely cannot fill two without padding. Never go to three pages at this stage of your career. Use the space you have well: clear sections, strong bullet points, no filler.
What do I put on a graduate CV if I have no work experience?
Use degree projects, dissertations, volunteering, society roles, part-time or casual work, online courses and any independent projects. Write about each one using STAR-method bullet points — Situation, Task, Action, Result. Unpaid experience is real experience and belongs on your CV [1].
How do I write my degree grade on a CV?
Write the full classification followed by the abbreviation in brackets: for example, 'Upper second-class honours (2:1), BA History, University of Leeds, 2022–2025'. If your result is pending, write 'Expected 2:1' or 'Predicted 2:1'. Do not abbreviate without explaining — not all employers know what 2:1 means [5].
Should I include a photo on my UK graduate CV?
No. Photos are not standard on UK CVs and including one can create unconscious bias issues for employers. Leave it out unless you are applying for a role — such as acting — where appearance is directly relevant to the job.
How do I explain a gap on my graduate CV?
Be brief and honest. If you travelled, say so. If you had health or caring responsibilities, a short neutral phrase is fine. Gaps between study and your first job are normal and rarely a problem for graduate roles. Focus the rest of your CV on what you did, not on what you did not do [1].
Should I tailor my CV for every job?
Yes — at least your personal statement and the order of your bullet points. Mirroring the language in the job description and leading with your most relevant experience makes a real difference. A generic CV sent everywhere is less effective than a targeted one sent to fewer roles [1][5].
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