FREE GRADUATE WORD CV TEMPLATE
Download a graduate CV template for Microsoft Word and create a professional application even if you have limited full-time experience. The editable DOCX layout helps you present your degree, placements, part-time work, projects, skills and achievements clearly.
Microsoft Word • DOCX format • Graduate-focused layout • Editable • Free download
Graduate CV Template Overview
This graduate CV template is designed for university graduates who are entering the job market and may not yet have a long professional employment history. Instead of relying only on full-time work experience, the layout gives appropriate space to education, placements, internships, university projects, part-time work and transferable skills.
The aim is not to make limited experience look larger than it is. A strong graduate CV should show what you have already learned, where you have applied those skills and how your academic and practical experience relates to the role you are targeting.
File Format
Editable Microsoft Word DOCX document.
Best For
Recent graduates and candidates beginning a professional career.
Main Focus
Education, experience, projects, achievements and transferable skills.
Graduate CV Template Preview
The preview below will show the same graduate CV layout included in the downloadable Word file.
GRADUATE CV TEMPLATE PREVIEW
What Should a Graduate CV Include?
A graduate CV should focus on evidence that demonstrates your potential, relevant knowledge and ability to contribute in a professional environment.
Contact Details
Your name, telephone number, professional email address, location and relevant professional links.
Graduate Profile
A short introduction explaining your degree, relevant strengths and the type of opportunity you are targeting.
Education
Your degree, university, dates, classification and relevant academic detail.
Experience
Internships, placements, part-time jobs, volunteering or other experience that demonstrates useful skills.
Projects
Relevant university, personal or group projects that demonstrate practical knowledge.
Skills
Technical, digital and transferable skills that relate to the vacancy.
Graduate CV Example
This example shows how a recent graduate can present academic experience alongside internships, projects and transferable skills.
Graduate Personal Profile Example
Business Management graduate with practical experience gained through a university placement and part-time customer service work. Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills, with experience using Excel to analyse data and prepare reports. Seeking a graduate operations or business support role where academic knowledge and practical problem-solving skills can be developed further.
The profile establishes the candidate’s degree, relevant experience, useful skills and target role without making exaggerated claims.
Graduate Work Experience Example
Business Operations Intern
Northbridge Solutions Ltd | Leeds
September 2025–June 2026
- Supported weekly operational reporting and maintained Excel trackers used by the project team.
- Reviewed customer and service data and helped identify recurring administrative issues.
- Prepared meeting notes, updated action logs and followed up outstanding tasks with team members.
- Created a simplified reporting template that reduced manual data preparation for weekly meetings.
Customer Service Assistant
City Retail Group | Leeds
2023–2025
- Assisted customers with product, order and returns enquiries in a busy retail environment.
- Processed transactions accurately and helped maintain customer service standards during peak periods.
- Developed communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills while balancing work with university study.
How to Write the Education Section of a Graduate CV
Education is often more important on a graduate CV than it is for an experienced professional, so it may appear before the employment section when your degree is particularly relevant to the role.
BA (Hons) Business Management – 2:1
University of Leeds | 2023–2026
- Relevant modules: Business Analytics, Operations Management, Marketing Strategy and Project Management.
- Final-year project: Evaluated the impact of digital process improvements on customer service efficiency.
- Member of the university Business Society and participated in employer-led case study workshops.
You do not need to list every module. Select academic information that helps demonstrate your suitability for the type of role you are targeting.
What If You Have Little Work Experience?
Graduates do not need several years of full-time employment to create a useful CV. Experience can come from several sources.
- University placements
- Internships
- Part-time jobs
- Summer work
- Volunteering
- Student societies
- University projects
- Freelance or personal projects
- Relevant extracurricular activities
The important question is not simply whether the experience was a full-time professional job. Consider what you did, what skills you developed and how those skills relate to the vacancy.
If you have almost no employment history at all, see our no experience CV template for Word.
Skills to Include on a Graduate CV
Your skills section should reflect the requirements of the role and be supported by genuine experience wherever possible.
Professional Skills
- Written and verbal communication
- Teamwork
- Organisation
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Research and analysis
Digital & Technical Skills
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- PowerPoint
- Microsoft Teams
- Data analysis tools
- Role-specific software
Avoid filling the section with generic claims. Where possible, your work experience, projects and education should provide evidence that you have used these skills.
How to Tailor a Graduate CV to a Job
- Read the vacancy carefully. Identify the skills, qualifications and responsibilities mentioned repeatedly.
- Move the most relevant information higher. A relevant placement may deserve more space than an unrelated part-time job.
- Adapt your profile. Explain why your degree and experience fit the specific type of role.
- Select relevant academic detail. Include modules and projects when they directly support the application.
- Use evidence. Explain what you actually did rather than relying only on words such as motivated or hardworking.
- Use relevant terminology naturally. Do not add skills or qualifications that you do not possess.
Graduate CV vs Student CV
Graduate CV
- Degree normally completed or close to completion
- Greater emphasis on graduate employment
- Placements and internships become particularly valuable
- Academic projects can support professional applications
- Focus moves towards entry-level professional roles
Student CV
- Education is still in progress
- May focus more heavily on part-time work
- University or school activities can have greater importance
- Often used for internships, placements and student jobs
If you are still studying, see our student CV template for Word.
How to Edit the Graduate CV Template in Word
- Replace the example name and contact information.
- Rewrite the graduate profile for your own degree and target role.
- Update the education section with your university, degree and results.
- Add relevant modules or projects only when they strengthen the application.
- Replace the example employment with your own internships, placements or part-time work.
- Add genuine achievements and evidence where possible.
- Update the skills section for the specific vacancy.
- Remove every example or placeholder entry before sending the CV.
For help with the Word document itself, see our guide to editing a CV template in Microsoft Word.
Download the Graduate CV Template for Word
Download the editable DOCX file and replace the example graduate information with your own education, experience, projects and skills.
File type: Microsoft Word (.docx) • Editable graduate CV template
Graduate CV Template FAQs
How long should a graduate CV be?
A graduate CV should be long enough to present relevant information clearly without unnecessary detail. Many graduates can create an effective one-page CV, while others may need additional space for placements, projects and relevant experience.
What if I have no graduate work experience?
Use evidence from internships, placements, part-time work, volunteering, university projects and extracurricular activities. Focus on skills and responsibilities that relate to the role you are applying for.
Should education come before work experience?
It can. If your degree is highly relevant and you have limited professional experience, placing education near the top of the CV may make sense. If you have substantial relevant experience, that experience may deserve greater prominence.
Should I include my degree classification?
You can include it when it is relevant to the role or when the employer specifies an academic requirement. Always present academic information accurately.
Should I include university projects?
Yes, when the project demonstrates knowledge or skills relevant to the job. Explain what you worked on, what you personally contributed and which useful skills or tools you applied.
Can I edit this graduate CV template in Word?
Yes. The template is provided as an editable Microsoft Word DOCX file so you can replace all example content with your own information.
Explore Other Word CV Templates
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