A simple structure for your first CV
1. Personal profile
Two or three lines about your studies, target role and skills you can demonstrate.
2. Education
Course, institution, dates and relevant coursework or projects.
3. Projects and volunteering
Explain what you did, your contribution and the tools you used.
4. Skills
Include tools and languages you can actually use, supported by examples.
A complete first CV example
This fictional example targets an Administrative Assistant role. Use the structure and replace all qualifications and activities with your own.
Alex Taylor
Entry-level Administrative Assistant
Manchester · alex@example.com · +44 XXXX XXXXXX
Personal profile
Business administration student with coursework in spreadsheets, document organisation and professional email. Seeking an entry-level administrative role where I can contribute careful record-keeping and follow-up.
Education
Business Administration course · Example College · 2024–2026. Final project: planning orders and organising supporting documents.
Course project
Class event coordination · 2026. Built a spreadsheet for registrations and tasks, checked duplicate entries and kept the team updated on outstanding work.
Volunteering
School supply collection · 2025. Sorted donations, answered participant questions and recorded deliveries alongside two other volunteers.
Skills and languages
Excel: tables, filters and basic formulas used in my course project. Document organisation and professional emails. English: fluent; Spanish: intermediate.
What each section demonstrates
A profile with a direction
It identifies a target role and supported skills rather than simply claiming to be hardworking.
Relevant education
The final project explains what you have practised, beyond the name of a qualification.
Actions in projects
Building a spreadsheet, checking duplicates and coordinating tasks are specific activities you can discuss in an interview.
Clearly labelled volunteering
It demonstrates real responsibilities without presenting unpaid activity as a previous paid job.
Turn a vague project description into evidence
| Too vague | With evidence |
|---|---|
| Completed group assignments. | Prepared a presentation with three classmates, organised tasks and checked each contribution before presenting. |
| Good at Excel. | Created a registration table, filtered duplicate entries and kept the list updated during a class event. |
What to highlight for different entry-level roles
Customer service
Choose activities where you answered questions, explained instructions or followed up on requests.
Administration
Highlight document organisation, spreadsheets, email and task coordination you have actually practised.
Technology
Explain a project, your individual contribution, the tools used and what you learnt. Distinguish guided tutorials from your own work.
Tailor your first CV to the job
Read the vacancy
Identify three important tasks or skills and find real activities that demonstrate them.
Lead with relevant evidence
Choose the project or coursework that best matches the role instead of listing everything.
Check before submitting
Review dates, contact details, spelling and every claim. Keep a base CV and make a version for the role.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in experience if I have never had a job?
Relevant projects, volunteering, placements and academic activities can demonstrate skills. Label each activity accurately and explain your contribution.
How long should a first CV be?
One page is usually enough to start. Prioritise relevant evidence rather than padding the document.
Can I use the same CV for every application?
Keep a base CV and adapt your profile, project order and skills to each type of role without changing the facts.
Can AI help me write it?
Use AI to organise and express true information. Remove any achievements or skills you cannot explain yourself.