Graduate CV Example
Your degree is fresh in hand and job ads asking for "at least 2 years of experience" can feel disheartening — do not give up. The job of a graduate CV is to fill the experience gap with internships, university projects, societies and volunteering. The example below shows how to build a strong CV with no full-time work experience. Keep it one page, ATS-friendly and free of photos or personal details.
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Olivia Parker
Graduate Industrial Engineer (Entry-level)
Manchester, UK
Summary
Graduated in Industrial Engineering from the University of Manchester with a 2:1. During a 40-working-day placement at a manufacturing company I joined a process-improvement project and worked with real data. I can carry out data analysis with Excel, SQL and basic Python; I developed my analytical thinking and teamwork on my final-year project and in student society events.
Experience
Production Planning Intern · Siemens (Manufacturing Plant)
Jul 2025 - Aug 2025- ›Joined the production planning team for a 40-working-day placement and compiled daily production reports in Excel
- ›Collected time-study data for a bottleneck analysis on an assembly line, contributing to a proposal that cut cycle time by 8%
- ›Built an Excel stock-tracking template that halved manual reporting time
Final-Year Project — Appointment Optimisation · University of Manchester
Oct 2024 - May 2025- ›Developed an appointment-scheduling model for an outpatient clinic with a team of 3
- ›Our linear programming model in Python (PuLP) reduced patient waiting time by 23% in simulation
- ›Presented the results as a 15-page report and a panel presentation, and the project was awarded a first
Sponsorship Coordinator · University of Manchester Industrial Engineering Society
Sep 2023 - Jun 2024- ›Ran the sponsorship process for a 200-person careers summit, liaising with 6 companies
- ›Raised a total of £4,500 in sponsorship, a 30% increase on the previous year
- ›Coordinated task allocation for a 12-person volunteer team on the event day
Skills
Education
BEng Industrial Engineering (2:1) · University of Manchester (2021 - 2025)
What to Highlight in a Graduate CV
- ✓Always put your degree classification (if a 2:1 or above) and your subject in your summary — with no experience, this is your most concrete proof
- ✓Write internships, your final-year project and society roles like real work experience, in a "role + organisation + dates + bullets" format
- ✓In every bullet show the result you achieved, not just what you did: add numbers like "cut by 8%", "raised £4,500"
- ✓Cut part-time jobs (waiting tables, etc.) that do not fit the target role if they are irrelevant, and put academic projects in their place
- ✓Keep the CV to one page; for a graduate, two pages reads as padding
Technical Skills
- •Excel (pivot, formulas)
- •SQL queries
- •Basic Python
- •Data visualisation
- •MS Project
- •Report writing
Soft Skills
- •Willingness to learn
- •Teamwork
- •Time management
- •Communication
Common Mistakes
- ✕Saying "I have no experience" and leaving internships and projects off the CV entirely
- ✕Sending everyone the same CV and not tailoring the summary and skills to the job
- ✕Filling the page with unnecessary personal details like a photo, marital status or date of birth
- ✕Writing non-distinctive hobbies like "listening to music, travelling"
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I put on my CV if I have no work experience at all?
Internships, university and final-year projects, student society roles, volunteering and personal projects all count as experience. If you write them with a role title, organisation, dates and result-focused bullets, your CV will look full.
Should I include my degree classification?
If it is a 2:1 or above, include it, because it is a concrete achievement. If it is lower you do not have to; highlight your projects and skills instead.
How many pages should a graduate CV be?
One page is ideal. Spreading it over two pages when your experience is limited exposes the gaps; condense the content and put your strongest bullets at the top.
Build your own Graduate CV in 5 minutes
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