How to Write a Graduate CV in 2026 (with Examples)

Structure Your Graduate CV for Impact

As a recent graduate, your CV structure should be: Personal Details, Personal Statement, Education, Work Experience, Skills, Interests and Activities. Unlike experienced professionals who lead with work history, graduates should put their education near the top — it is your strongest section.

Keep your CV to one page if your experience is limited. Most graduate career advisers at Russell Group universities recommend one page for graduates with fewer than two years of post-university experience. Once you have two or more years of professional experience, your CV can extend to two pages and education moves below work history.

• Put your degree at the top of your CV, above work experience
• Include your degree classification if it is a 2:1 or above
• List relevant modules, dissertation topics, or academic projects
• Keep to one page — it forces you to prioritise what matters most

Write a Compelling Graduate Personal Statement

Your graduate personal statement follows the same three-part formula as any CV profile, adapted for your situation: who you are (degree subject and classification), what you bring (two or three relevant skills with evidence), and what you want (the type of role you are seeking).

For example: 'Recent Computer Science graduate from the University of Manchester (First Class Honours), seeking a junior software developer role. Built three full-stack applications during my degree using React and Python, including a final-year project deployed to 500+ users. Strong problem-solving and team collaboration skills developed through hackathon participation and an Agile development module.'

• Mention your degree subject, university, and classification
• Include two or three specific skills or achievements with evidence
• State the type of role you are seeking — be specific, not vague
• Keep it under 80 words — concise and impactful

Make the Most of Limited Work Experience

You probably have more experience than you think. Part-time jobs, summer placements, volunteering, society committee roles, sports captaincy, and freelance work all count. For each role, write 3 to 5 bullet points focusing on what you achieved, what skills you used, and any measurable impact — even at a small scale.

The key is translation: convert everyday activities into professional language. 'Worked at a pub' becomes 'Managed customer service in a high-volume hospitality environment, handling up to 200 transactions per shift.' 'Was on the committee' becomes 'Served as Treasurer for the Economics Society, managing a £2,500 annual budget and coordinating sponsorship from three external partners.'

• Include part-time jobs — customer service, retail, and hospitality teach valuable transferable skills
• List committee roles in student societies with specific responsibilities and achievements
• Include voluntary work and community involvement
• Quantify wherever possible: 'team of 12', 'budget of £3,000', '200 customers per shift'

Present Your Education Section in Detail

For a graduate CV, your education section should be more detailed than an experienced professional's. Include your degree title, university, classification (or predicted grade), and dates. Add 3 to 5 relevant modules if they are closely related to the role. Mention your dissertation or final-year project title and explain its relevance in one sentence.

Include A-level subjects and grades if they are relevant or impressive — especially for STEM roles or where specific subject knowledge is required. Add any academic prizes, scholarships, or Dean's List recognition.

If you received a 2:2 or Third, consider omitting the grade and focusing instead on relevant modules, project work, and skills gained. Many employers are moving towards skills-based hiring and may not require a specific classification.

• Include A-level grades if they are relevant or impressive
• List modules that directly relate to the job description keywords
• Frame your dissertation as a project: 'Researched X, analysed Y, delivered Z'
• Add academic awards, scholarships, or notable achievements
• If your grade is below 2:1, emphasise modules, projects, and skills instead

Translate University Activities Into Professional Achievements

University life provides rich material for a graduate CV beyond lectures and exams. Societies and clubs, sport teams, elected positions, student journalism, hackathons, and entrepreneurship competitions all demonstrate skills that employers actively look for.

The key is framing these experiences in professional terms:

'President of Drama Society' becomes: 'Led a team of 25 members, managed a £3,000 annual budget, and coordinated 4 productions per academic year, increasing audience attendance by 40%.'

'Played for the university football team' becomes: 'Committed 15+ hours per week to training and competition while maintaining academic performance, demonstrating time management and dedication.'

Skills England identifies digital literacy, analytical thinking, communication, adaptability, and commercial awareness as the top five skills employers will seek from graduates in 2026 — frame your experiences around these themes.

• Use the same professional language you would for a work role
• Quantify impact: number of team members, budget managed, events organised
• Focus on leadership, organisation, and initiative — these are what employers value most
• Connect each activity to a skill the employer is seeking in the job description