Graduate recruiters see hundreds of CVs from people with similar degrees. What sets yours apart is evidence: a dissertation or project with a result, internships, part-time work written up well and responsibility outside your course. This example is for an economics graduate applying for analyst schemes.
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Example graduate CV
A fictional person, employers and figures, to show the format. Replace every detail with your own.
Economics graduate (2:1, University of Nottingham) with a summer internship in financial analysis and strong Excel, Python and data skills from my dissertation. Organised and reliable after three years of part-time work alongside study. Looking for a graduate analyst role in finance, consulting or the public sector.
Experience
Summer Intern, Financial Analysis, Trentside Capital Partners, Nottingham (Jun 2025 - Aug 2025)
Built Excel models comparing three investment options for a client report reviewed by the partners.
Cleaned and analysed five years of sector data and summarised the trends in a two-page brief.
Presented findings to the team at the end of the internship.
Customer Service Assistant (part time), Riverside Leisure Centre, Nottingham (Oct 2023 - Jun 2026)
Worked 10 hours a week through university, handling bookings, payments and complaints.
Suggested a change to the class booking rules that cut no-shows.
Tutored two Year 10 pupils weekly; both improved by at least one GCSE grade.
Education
BSc (Hons) Economics, 2:1, University of Nottingham, 2023 - 2026. Dissertation: the effect of bus fare caps on town centre footfall (Python, regression analysis), 72%.
A levels: Maths (A*), Economics (A), History (B), Clifton Grove Sixth Form, 2021 - 2023
Training and certifications
Financial Modelling in Excel, Online course, 2025
Skills
Excel (models, pivot tables), Python (pandas, statsmodels), Data analysis, Report writing, Presenting, Teamwork, Time management
A graduate personal statement to adapt
Economics graduate (2:1, University of Nottingham) with a summer internship in financial analysis and strong Excel, Python and data skills from my dissertation. Organised and reliable after three years of part-time work alongside study. Looking for a graduate analyst role in finance, consulting or the public sector.
Key skills for a graduate CV
Analysis - From your degree, dissertation or projects, with the tools you used.
Communication - Presentations, reports and explaining complex ideas simply.
Teamwork - Group projects, internships, sport and societies.
Commercial awareness - Understanding the employer's sector and what drives it.
Digital skills - Excel, data, coding or design tools.
Organisation - Balancing study, work and other commitments.
Leadership - Committee roles, captaincy or leading a project.
What a UK graduate CV needs
Degree, grade and dissertation - Many graduate schemes ask for a 2:1, so give your classification or predicted grade, plus your dissertation and its result.
Internships and placements - Written like jobs, with what you did and the result.
Part-time work - It shows reliability and real-world skills. Write it up properly, even if it is not in your field.
Extracurriculars - Society roles, sport, volunteering and projects that show the competencies the employer lists.
Right to work - If you are an international graduate, a line on your right to work in the UK, such as the Graduate visa, helps.
Achievement bullets to adapt
The figures are invented to show the format. Use your own.
Built Excel models comparing investment options for a client report.
Analysed bus fare cap effects on footfall in Python for a dissertation that scored 72%.
Worked 10 hours a week throughout university.
Tutored two pupils who each improved by at least one GCSE grade.
Suggested a booking rule change that cut no-shows at a leisure centre.
Graduate CV questions
How long should a graduate CV be?
One page is usually best. Use two only if you have several internships or a placement year with a lot to show.
Should I put my A levels on a graduate CV?
Yes, briefly. Some graduate schemes ask for minimum UCAS points or A level grades, so include them under your degree.
What if I have no experience related to my degree?
Write up part-time jobs, projects and society roles to show the skills the employer wants. Many graduate roles care more about potential than sector experience.