If you want to apply for a graduate jobs and opportunities in South Africa, a well-written and comprehensive CV is an essential tool to showcase your skills and qualifications. Compiling your graduate CV with no experience can be quite a challenge.
Applying for jobs as a recent graduate provides a unique challenge. If you've graduated and you're ready to take on the world of jobs, here are some tips on how to compile a graduate CV.
How To Compile A Graduate CV
Step 1: Start with your personal details
This includes the classic personal details such as your name, address and contact details and email address. Make sure this information is clear and easy to read.
Step 2: This is your personal statement
A personal statement is a brief summary of your skills, experience, and achievements. It should be tailored for the opportunity you're applying for and highlight that you're the best person for the job.
Keep it straight to the point and avoid using generic statements.
Step 3: List all your qualifications
Do this by starting with your most recent qualification and then go backwards. Include the name of the institution, the qualification you got and the year you got it and your results.
If you're currently studying towards a qualification, include the expected date of completion.
Step 4: Your work experience
Include any work experience you may have, starting from the most recent job. List the name of the company, your job title, the dates of your employment, and your responsibilities and achievements.
If you have little or no work experience, include any internships, volunteer work, or extra-curricular activities you may have been involved in.
Step 5: Highlight your skills
Highlight any skills you have that are relevant to the learnership you're applying for. These could include computer skills, language proficiency, and any technical skills you have.
Step 6: List your achievements
This isn’t a must but if you’ve got any awards or notable accomplishments, you should definitely include them. This should be done in a separate section on your CV.
This will also help showcase your strengths and demonstrate your ability to succeed.
It’s important that your CV is short but to the point and shows the best of you and why you should be chosen.
