How To Write A CV For Your First Job

You are ready to enter the job market and you need to create your very first CV. Creating a CV can feel like an intimidating task, especially if you don’t how to write a cv as a fresh graduate

But don’t panic – with some tips and tricks, you can put together a job-winning CV that showcases your skills and qualifications to potential employers.

What should your first CV include? The basics are your personal details, education history, and any relevant work experience – whether paid or unpaid. You’ll also want to add a career profile or statement at the top that summarizes your key qualities and goals.

 For you to craft a resume for entry-level position,, this is the most important information to focus on:

1. Career Profile

Your profile is your chance to grab the hiring manager’s attention right from the start. Keep it to 2-3 concise paragraphs that highlight your strongest selling points such as communication skills, problem-solving ability, or enthusiasm for the industry.

Emphasize any qualities or experiences that are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. Crafting a compelling CV profile as a recent graduate helps make up for a lack of experience.

2. Education

List your high school and any post-secondary qualifications you’ve earned so far in reverse chronological order. Include the name of the school or college, location, dates attended, qualifications earned, and your grades if they are good.

Even if you never finished your degree, include your education to date. Strong grades demonstrate your academic ability.

3. Work Experience

Hopefully, by now you’ve had at least some part-time jobs, or internships to include, even if they’re not closely related to your target career. List any roles you’ve had, employed or volunteered, with company name, dates of employment, and a brief bullet point list of 2-3 responsibilities and achievements.

Quantify your results where possible with numbers. Gaps are okay for a first job seeker, so shy away from fabricating roles.

4. Skills

Your skills section is another way to showcase your strengths without experience. In addition to technical skills, be sure to highlight soft skills gained through education, hobbies, or previous jobs like teamwork, customer service, communication, or problem-solving.

Employers value these skills highly. Backup your claims with concrete examples where possible.

5. Additional Sections

You can selectively include extra sections for awards certificates or language abilities. Only include relevant information and skip empty sections. Try to keep your overall CV to one page if possible, for your first role.

You can expand it as your experience grows.

6. Formatting

Be consistent with your formatting choices – stick to the same fonts, font sizes (no more than 3 sizes), and stylistic elements throughout. Leave decent spacing between sections for readability.

Tailor your CV template to highlight your strongest points rather than using generic templates online. Have someone proofread for any errors before submitting.

7. Cover Letter

Along with your CV, always include a customized cover letter for each application. This is your chance to specifically express your interest in the company and role, and highlight 2-3 of your qualifications that align closely with what the employer is looking for in the job description.

A strong cover letter is key for standing out as a young applicant.

Conclusion

Creating  an effective CV for your initial job application may feel like a hard task, but with the right tone and focus on your strongest selling points through a targeted profile and examples, you can effectively showcase your potential despite limited experience.

Remember that companies are looking for candidates who can develop and grow within their roles, so make sure to showcase your potential to learn and improve. If you want to take your resume to the next level, consider seeking our professional CV writing services today.