How can I improve my CV as a graduate?

On hackajob, when you create your profile, you build a structured version of your experience, skills and preferences. This structured profile helps with matching, and you can also download it to use in your applications elsewhere. It is a good foundation to work from if you are refining your CV.

Keep your CV clear and easy to read

Hiring managers often review many applications. A CV that is structured and easy to scan gives you a better chance of being considered.

Try to avoid:

• Long paragraphs that are difficult to skim
• Decorative graphics or charts that distract from the content
• Irrelevant personal details
• Inconsistent formatting
• Spelling or grammar mistakes
• A CV longer than two pages

Instead:

• Use short bullet points
• Keep formatting consistent throughout
• Use clear headings
• Make sure your key skills and experience are easy to find

Before sending your CV, read it as if you were reviewing it for the first time. Can you quickly understand what this person is good at?

Show what you have done, not just what you studied

As a graduate, you may not have extensive professional experience. What matters is demonstrating your ability through projects, coursework, internships or part-time roles.

For each experience, include:

• What you were responsible for
• What tools or skills you used
• What the outcome was

For example, instead of writing:

“Worked on a group university project.”

You could write:

“Collaborated in a team of four to deliver a market research project, analysing survey data and presenting recommendations to 30 participants.”

Specific examples help employers understand your contribution.

Tailor your CV to the type of role you want

If you are exploring different career paths, consider slightly adjusted versions of your CV. Emphasise the skills and experiences that are most relevant to each direction.

This does not mean rewriting everything. It simply means prioritising what is most relevant for that application.

Include examples of your work

If possible, include links to work that demonstrate your skills. Depending on your field, this could include:

• A portfolio website
• Writing samples
• Presentations
• Research projects
• Campaign results
• Case studies
• GitHub repositories
• Data dashboards

Real examples help employers understand how you apply your knowledge in practice.