Students on the verge of graduating this summer have probably written CVs before. But how you put together a CV for a part-time job and your first “proper job” is completely different. Employers and graduate schemes will have much higher expectations from you than your local supermarket or sportswear shop. Here are some essential tips for clinching that interview.
Which Font to Use?
It may seem innovative to use Comic Sans and print your CV on pink paper to make it stand out, but that isn’t going to impress anyone. Potential employers aren’t looking at presentations skills, they want to know how good a fit you will be for the business. Use an attractive font such as Calibri over something plain like Arial or outright ugly like Times New Roman, but don’t overdo it.
Consider a Bullet List Summary
One particularly useful tactic is a bullet list at the beginning consisting of your key points. For example:
- 1st class degree from a Russell Group institution
- 1st Class dissertation mark
- Dean’s Award in my final year
- University rugby captain
This will help them locate further information and determine almost right away whether you’re right for the role.
Information to Include in your Graduate CV
You need to include your degree and grade, naturally. But consider the modules that went into your degree. Are any modules especially relevant or did you perform well in any coursework relevant to the job? You simply must include this detail – it may be the difference between choosing you or another candidate.
One area that many students overlook is their extra-curricular interests – some will list them at the end as an afterthought, some won’t bother to put anything. A student who has no interests may seem dedicated, but they may reject you as too dull – they’re looking for somebody who is right for the team as well as the job. If you managed or organised a student union, that will show you are willing to take on responsibility, for example.
Information You Should Probably Exclude
The paper round you had when aged 13 or one-day leaflet delivery jobs are unlikely to be important, so keep these details brief. Also, leave off unimportant extra-curricular activity. Maybe you like going to the pub, nights out with friends and nights in relaxing in front of Netflix. None of these things will tell them anything about you that will make you stand out. As stated above, listed non-work activities should be limited to that which is relevant or those that will make them sit up and take notice. The point here is to emphasise the most important aspects of the CV and minimise those things that are not quite so important.