Graduate CV
How to write a CV for graduate jobs and internships
By Alexander Phillip · Career Coach and Recruitment Expert · Updated July 2026
Quick answer
A strong graduate or internship CV leads with a short summary of your degree and career goal, then your education with your course, results and final year project, followed by internships, industrial attachments, skills and any leadership. Keep it to one page, show potential and what you can already do, and tailor it to each graduate scheme or internship you apply for.
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What employers want from a graduate CV
Graduate schemes and internships often attract many applicants with similar degrees, so employers look for the ones who show potential and a little more. They want to see your qualification, of course, but also evidence that you can apply it: a strong final year project, an industrial attachment, leadership, or skills that fit the role.
The goal is to stand out honestly among your peers. A focused one page graduate CV that connects your studies to the job you want beats a plain list of modules every time.
What to include on a graduate or internship CV
- A short summary stating your degree and the career or internship you want
- Education: your course, institution, year and your classification or strong results
- Key modules and your final year project, with what you did and learned
- Internships, industrial attachments and any part time or holiday work
- Projects, competitions and leadership in clubs, class or community
- Skills, including computer and any technical skills relevant to the role
- Referees such as a lecturer or supervisor, with their permission
What makes a graduate CV stand out
- A clear goal that matches the scheme or internship you are applying for
- A strong final year project explained in plain, confident language
- Any attachment or internship, with the real tasks you handled
- Transferable skills such as research, teamwork and communication
- Leadership or initiative, in student groups, community work or your own projects
- Tailoring your summary and skills to each employer
Turn academic experience into CV content
| What you have done | How it can go on your CV |
|---|---|
| Completed a final year project | Research, planning and problem solving, with a real result you can explain |
| Did an industrial attachment | Practical workplace experience and the tools and skills you used |
| Led a student club or class | Leadership, organising and working with a team |
New graduate with no work experience yet?
That is normal, and it is not a problem. Lead with your degree and project, add attachments and skills, and apply early to graduate schemes. Our guide to writing a CV with no experience covers the details of filling out a CV before your first job.
Frequently asked questions
What should a graduate put on a CV?
A short summary with your degree and goal, your education including your course, results and final year project, any internships or attachments, projects, leadership, skills, and referees. Keep it to one page and tailor it to the scheme.
How do I write a CV for an internship?
Lead with your course and the internship you want, then highlight relevant modules, your final year or class projects, and transferable skills. Show that you are eager to learn and can already contribute, and tailor it to the specific internship.
Should I include my GPA or classification on a graduate CV?
Include it if it is strong or if the employer or scheme asks for it. If it is average, focus instead on your project, attachments and skills. Never misstate your results, because employers can verify them.
Is one page enough for a graduate CV?
Yes. Early in your career a single, focused page is ideal and looks more confident than stretching thin content over two pages. Keep it relevant to the role.
How do I stand out as a graduate with no work experience?
Lead with a clear goal, a strong final year project and any attachment, then add leadership and transferable skills. Apply early and tailor each CV. Our guide to writing a CV with no experience walks through this in detail.
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