After graduation, it’s time to shift from study mode to work mode. To land the job you want, it’s important that you know how to create an effective CV. Graduates without a lot of work experience may need to do some creative writing and formatting to adapt a CV to promote your skill set and education rather than your work experience.
As you go throughout your career, your CV will grow naturally. To help you get a solid start and get the job in your field, we have a few tips to create a standout CV for recent graduates.
Craft a Personal Statement
Start your CV with a well-written personal statement. This is your chance to catch the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter even though you may lack work experience compared to others. Place this statement at the top of your CV, and tailor it each time you use it for a new job.
In your personal statement, include information about who you are as a person, your career plan and goals and what you have to offer the company that makes you the best choice. Mention specifics about the company you’re applying to so anyone reading it knows you have done your research on the job and the organization.
Your objective allows you to tell the story you want to tell. You may want to discuss adversity you’ve faced, why you chose a specific career, your track record of high achievements or proactive efforts to learn more about your chosen industry. Your summary statement allows you to set the tone for the rest of your CV.
Avoid fluff in your personal statement. This is like the idea of an elevator pitch. If you had 30 seconds to catch someone’s attention, what would you share about yourself, your education, your goals and your experience?
Focus on Your Education
If you don’t have a lot of work experience in your chosen field, your CV should focus more on your education. The first section of your CV should be about courses you studied and degrees you earned. Include all schools you attended in reverse chronological order. If you received a good grade in classes that are relevant to the position you want, include them in your CV.
Don’t just list the course you took or the degrees you earned. Make sure to add the skills you gained and the accomplishments you had along the way.
List Work Experience
List any amount of relevant work experience you have, no matter how small. If your work experience doesn’t match the job you’re applying for, keep it simple. Focus on the transferable skills you learned such as public speaking, communication and leadership.
If the job does match the industry you’re applying for, expound a bit more on it. Include quantifiable explanations in bullet form to highlight how you improved the company or department you worked for.
Use Relevant Keywords in Your CV
Many companies use applicant tracking systems to sort through CVs and resumes. This cuts back on work hours and makes hiring departments much more efficient. Unfortunately, it can also leave your CV out of the running if you don’t have the right information in it.
If you need help writing a convincing CV, you may want to use a CV template. Templates can help with formatting, writing style and keywords that make your CV attractive, efficient and to the point.
Check the job description. What keywords are included in it? Make sure those words are in your objective or summary statement, the experience and skills section, or your cover letter. Don’t stuff your resume full of keywords but use them naturally so a software program will flag your CV. If you can’t use keywords naturally, use synonyms for them. Remember to change these words each time you apply for a new job.
Highlight Honors and Extracurricular Activities
When applying for an entry-level position right out of college, the competition is steep. One way to set yourself apart from similar candidates is to highlight extracurricular activities you did or high honors you received. You may have participated in competitions, received special awards from your department or performed research in your career field. If it comes down to your CV and another similar one, your extracurriculars could be the thing that puts you in front.
If you don’t have a lot of work experience, recruiters may turn to social media to find out more about you. One of the platforms used most often by recruiters is LinkedIn. In your CV, include a link to your profile, but make sure it’s customized and cleaned up before you direct a potential employer to it.
Customize your LinkedIn profile. Stay up to date on who you connect with, what articles or posts you comment on and update your About Me information. Include a recent picture and update your profile regularly.
Send Your CV In a Professional Email
Use an email address that has your name in it if possible. Send your CV through that email to seem more professional. Avoid using childish phrases or personal emails when possible.
Spark Talking Points for an Interview
While your CV is used to catch the attention of a recruiter, you can also set yourself up for success if you’re prepared. Within your CV, include unique information about yourself. For example, trying some of the following:
- Did you have a gap year where you traveled?
- Do you have an unusual hobby?
- Did you study abroad for a time?
Keep the information professional, but don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and catch their attention.
Embrace the Gaps in Your Story
If you have unaccounted for gaps in your history, or unusual periods of time where you didn’t study or work, weave that information into your CV when appropriate. Losing a loved one or dealing with an illness can show resilience and strength, but you only need to touch on it lightly, and then use it as a talking point in the interview if you feel it’s appropriate.
Some additional information or mitigating circumstances can be included, but you can avoid discussing gaps if you feel it’s necessary by using a different format to make a convincing CV, such as a skills CV format.
Start Your Story
After graduation, your career begins. It’s an exciting time to find the right job and work hard to get it. Your CV is a vital part of that, and when written correctly, your education, achievements and transferable skills overshadow your lack of work experience.
