How to write a CV for fresh graduates

Have you been worried about how to write a well written CV as a fresh graduate?

Worry no more as you are about to learn how to write a good CV that would recommend you as the best candidate for that job.
Writing a CV can be tiring and overwhelming especially as a fresh graduate. A CV which stands for Curriculum Vitae would be at least two pages long for a fresh graduate .

CV is a document that includes all of your academic background, work history, skills, achievements and experiences. A well-written CV defines your character and describes you as the best candidate for job positions.

Essential Sections to Include in a Fresh Graduate CV

A good CV must have the following sections:

1. PERSONAL INFORMATION
   • This section is the first section which goes on top of your CV. It includes your full name, job title, mobile number, professional email, location( just the city) and links to your LinkedIn profile and personal website/ blogs(optional)
   • Include URLs if you have a personal website or past projects if you’d want to feature your portfolio for certain job applications. For example, add the URL to a site you created or an article you wrote personally, this will help in your application, provided it is relevant to the job.
   • Use a professional email. For example, using an email address that contains your first name and last name would showcase professionalism than using an email with a nickname or pet names.
2. CV OBJECTIVE
   • This section is a short summary of yourself which is usually not more than 3 sentences. This section is mostly under your contact information. It serves an introduction to your CV.
   • This section also serves as an opening statements which helps recruiters and employers understand what you are and your strengths.
   • This section must contain things to hold your recruiters or employers. Think of it as an “elevator pitch” which can help you get potential clients or investors to be interested in you in 10seconds
   • You can use this format for a good CV Objective- (Professional Title) + (Years of Experience)+ (Top 1-2 Achievements) + (Most Relevant Skills)
3. EDUCATION
   • Include your most recent academic qualification and the one before. For university graduates, include your degree and college foundation. If you feel it’s necessary to include your primary qualification, then do.
   • Use this format for your Education section.
     • Type of Degree & Name
     • University Name
     • Dates
     • Your GPA if it’s impressive
   • Optionally, you can add your academic achievements and courses taken.
4. WORK EXPERIENCE
   • It’s not expected of a fresh graduate to have work experience right away. But if you have any, lucky you! Here’s your chance to show it. Part-time positions, internships, and freelancing – are valuable real-world experiences that will differentiate you from others.
   • For this section it’s best if you try to stick with achievements over responsibilities, as they give you the chance to stand out from the competition.
   • For this section, use this format:
     • Position Name
     • Company Name
     • Dates
     • Location
     • Responsibility & Achievement Bullets
5. SKILLS
   • Mention all the skills listed in the job description section
   • Be straightforward and realistic with them. Do not exaggerate.
   • For example, soft skills and hard skills. Focus more on hard skills than soft skills.
6. OPTIONAL SECTION
   • This is for additional sections that may be included in a CV. These sections include non-academic honours and achievement, social volunteering experiences, certifications for various courses and lastly your referees (people willing to prove your character and abilities when employers are conducting your background check like your supervisor, university lecturer, association leaders)
   • You can use this format for this section.
     • Hobbies & Interests: list out your hobbies and interests.
     • Languages: List the languages you know with the appropriate skill level (indicate if you are a beginner or an intermediate or expert).
     • Certifications.Mention the name of the certification, optionally the institute you received it from, and the date.
     • Publications(If you’re a writer or academic). Include the name of your article, the publication name, and a link.
     • Training.Mention the training provider, program name, and a description.
     • Awards.Mention the name of the award and the date you received it.
     • Volunteering Experience, Projects, and Extracurricular Activities.For these items, just format them like you would format your work experience.

Tips for Showcasing Skills and Achievements Without Extensive Work Experience

As a graduate without work experience, it’s important to showcase your skills by researching the company, preparing specific examples, highlighting your unique qualities, and strike a balance between confidence and humility.

1. Think broadly about how you have demonstrated skills.
2. Use a cover letter to expand on your CV.
3. Try to build up more experience to expand your CV.
4. Enrich your CV with:
   • Publications.
   • Awards.
   • Relevant extracurricular activities.
   • Languages.
   • Certifications.
   • Volunteering experience and projects.
   • Trainings.
   • Hobbies and interests.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a CV as a Fresh Graduate

As a fresh graduate writing a CV, the following are not to be included in your CV:

1. Exact address: you don’t have to include your exact address in your CV, not like the recruiter will drop by for a quick chitchat .
2. Date of Birth: it’s unnecessary and might lead to discrimination based on age.
3. Irrelevant Social Media Profiles: Include social media profiles that are relevant to your work or job.
4. Short-Term Jobs: including places you worked for a short-term might not be the best even if you had a good reason for quitting, it might look like you were fired or not competent enough.
5. Irrelevant Skills or Experiences:For example, applying for the role of a website developer , you shouldn’t talk about how much of a cooking pro or hairstylist you are. Mention only skills and experiences that are relevant and allow you to excel at the job you’re applying for.
6. Images, Graphs, or Pie Charts: Avoid turning your resume into an infographic. Applicant tracking systems can’t read images and will automatically discard your CV.
7. Too Much Work History: it’s advisable to list 10 years of work history, what you did 20years ago has no business in your CV and your recruiter doesn’t need to know that.

Conclusion

In conclusion, writing a compelling CV as a fresh graduate is about making a strong first impression. Focus on relevant sections, highlight skills most especially hard/technical skills and avoid common mistakes. Create a CV that effectively showcases your potentials to employers. Always remember that your CV is your marketing tool, so make it count. As you gain more experience, continue to update and refine your CV to reflect your growing expertise and adaptability in the job market. Start now, and put your best foot forward in your job search journey.