Graduate CV: example and template for South Africa (even with no experience)
A complete graduate CV example you can copy, plus a simple South African template structure that highlights your qualification, projects, and internships—especially if you have little or no work experience.
A graduate CV works best when it leads with your qualification and the proof that you can do the work: projects, practicals, WIL (work-integrated learning) or internships, campus leadership, and job-related skills. Below you'll find a reusable template, a complete South African example you can copy, and a plan for graduates with no work experience.
Quick answer:
- Put your qualification near the top, under a short 2–4 line profile.
- Use projects, practicals and WIL as your evidence if you have little or no work experience.
- Write bullets as what you did + tools used + result.
- Keep it to 1 page if you can (2 is fine for technical degrees), save it as a PDF, and tailor it for every job.
What to prioritise on a graduate CV (South Africa)
When you apply as a new graduate, most recruiters are asking one question: Can this person do the work, learn fast, and communicate professionally?
Your CV should make the answer obvious in under 30 seconds. Here is what to focus on:
- Put your qualification near the top. Add the institution and dates. Add key modules only if they match the job.
- Use a short profile (2–4 lines) that matches the role you're applying for.
- Show proof: your final-year project, portfolio pieces, practical assignments, case studies, labs or fieldwork.
- Include WIL, internship or part-time work, even if it was short. Describe your tasks and the tools you used.
- List tools and skills clearly: software, equipment, methods and communication skills.
- Keep it clean and ATS-friendly. An ATS (applicant tracking system) is software some employers use to scan CVs. Use simple headings, consistent dates, and avoid tables if possible. Read more in our ATS-friendly CV guide.
What the recruiter is really checking: Does your qualification match the advert? Can they see at least one real thing you've done? Are your contact details correct? If any of these are hard to find, your CV may be skipped.
If you're still unsure which sections to include, see our guide on what to put on a CV.
Graduate CV template (copy-and-paste structure)
Use this structure as your base. Keep it to 1 page if you can. 2 pages is fine for technical degrees with strong projects and practical experience. (Not sure? See our guide to a one-page CV.)
Replace everything in square brackets with your own details. Delete optional sections you don't need.
[Name Surname]
[City, Province]
[Cell number] · [email@example.com]
[LinkedIn – optional] · [Portfolio/GitHub – if relevant]
Career profile
[2–4 lines: your qualification + the role you want + your strongest proof (project, practical or internship) + key tools or skills.]
Key skills
- [Skill from the job ad]
- [Software or tool]
- [Workplace skill, e.g. report writing]
- [Add 8–12 in total, mixing technical and workplace skills]
Education
[Qualification] – [Institution], [Year or Start–End]
- Relevant modules: [3–6 modules, only if they help]
- [Academic highlight, only if it helps]
Projects (selected)
[Project name] – [Year]
- [What you built or did]
- [Tools you used]
- [Outcome or result]
Work-integrated learning / Internship / Experience
[Role] – [Organisation]
[Month Year] – [Month Year]
- [Task + tool + result]
- [3–6 bullets in total]
Additional experience (optional)
[Part-time work, volunteering or campus roles that show transferable skills]
Certificates and short courses (optional)
- [Course name] – [Year]
References
Available on request.
For references, write "Available on request" unless the advert asks you to list referees. If it does, list 2. See how to list references on a CV.
Complete graduate CV example (South Africa) — copy and adapt
This example is written for an entry-level graduate role and can be adapted for most fields. Replace the details with your own.
If you need a place to build and format it fast, you can create a free CV and update it any time from your profile.
Lerato Mokoena
Mbombela, Mpumalanga
07X XXX XXXX · lerato.mokoena@email.com
linkedin.com/in/leratomokoena (optional)
Career profile
Recent Bachelor of Commerce (Information Systems) graduate seeking a Junior Business Analyst / Graduate Programme role. Strong practical experience from a final-year systems project and internship exposure, with skills in requirements gathering, Excel, SQL basics, and clear stakeholder communication. Known for reliable delivery, organised documentation, and learning new tools quickly.
Key skills
- Requirements gathering and user stories (basic)
- Process mapping and documentation
- Microsoft Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic dashboards)
- SQL (SELECT, JOIN basics) and data quality checks
- Presentation writing and meeting minutes
- Teamwork and cross-functional communication
- Time management and task tracking
- Customer service and conflict handling (from part-time work)
Education
Bachelor of Commerce (Information Systems) – University of Mpumalanga, 2024
- Relevant modules: Systems Analysis and Design, Database Fundamentals, Project Management, Business Communication
- Final-year average: [Add if strong and accurate; otherwise delete]
Projects (selected)
Final-year project: Clinic Appointment Booking Prototype – 2024
- Gathered requirements through short interviews and a simple questionnaire with 10+ participants (students and community members) and documented user needs.
- Created process flow diagrams and a basic requirements document (scope, assumptions, user roles and key screens).
- Built a working prototype and tested it with users; captured feedback and updated the feature list for a second iteration.
- Tools used: Excel (tracking and analysis), documentation templates, basic SQL queries for sample data.
Mini project: Excel Reporting Dashboard – 2023
- Cleaned a raw dataset (duplicates, missing values) and created a summary dashboard for monthly trends.
- Built PivotTables and charts, and wrote a one-page explanation of insights and recommended actions.
Work-integrated learning / Internship exposure
Administrative Intern (Work Exposure) – Local Training Centre
Jan 2024 – Mar 2024
- Supported registration admin, filing, and document control for learner records and attendance registers.
- Captured data into spreadsheets and did basic checks to reduce errors (missing ID numbers, incorrect dates).
- Assisted with scheduling and communication to learners (reminders, confirmations) and kept a simple call log.
- Learned professional email writing, document naming conventions, and handling confidential information.
Additional experience
Part-time Sales Assistant – Retail Store
Jun 2022 – Dec 2023
- Helped customers with product queries, returns and basic troubleshooting.
- Handled cash-ups and reconciled simple daily figures with the supervisor.
- Worked shifts during peak periods while managing university deadlines.
Certificates and short courses
- Introduction to Data Analysis (short course) – 2024
- Microsoft Excel Intermediate (short course) – 2023
References
Available on request.
Why this example works:
- The qualification and target role are clear in the first two lines.
- Projects come before work experience, because they are Lerato's strongest proof.
- Every bullet names a task or a tool, not just a quality like "hardworking".
- The part-time retail job still counts. It shows reliability, cash handling and customer service.
How to write a graduate CV with no experience (practical steps)
If you need a CV for graduates with no experience, the key is to treat your studies like experience and describe them professionally.
- Replace "Work experience" with "Projects" near the top. Your projects become your evidence.
- Add a "Practical exposure" section. Include labs, workshops, simulations, workplace shadowing, tutoring or committee work.
- Write achievement-style bullets: what you did + tools + outcome. The outcome can be simple, like "delivered on time" or "improved accuracy".
- Tailor your skills list to the job ad. Use the same wording as the advert, but only where it's true.
- Include volunteering if it proves reliability and people skills (events, campus activities, community projects).
Weak vs strong bullet:
- Weak: "Did a group project on databases."
- Strong: "Designed a student records database in a team of four; wrote SQL queries for attendance reports and presented the results to the class."
The strong version tells the recruiter what you did, which tool you used, and that you can work in a team and present. Only write what you actually did.
Here is how a practical exposure section can look if you have no internship or job yet:
Practical exposure
Peer Tutor (volunteer) – [Faculty or department], [Institution]
[Month Year] – [Month Year]
- Tutored [number] first-year students weekly in [module].
- Prepared practice questions and explained difficult topics in simple language.
Class Representative – [Qualification], [Institution]
[Year]
- Collected student feedback and reported it to lecturers in monthly meetings.
- Shared notices and deadlines with the class by email and WhatsApp group.
Tip: If you're unsure how to lay out a first-time CV, our school-leaver example still helps with structure and clarity: CV for first job: a complete school-leaver example (South Africa). For more ideas, see how to write a CV with no experience.
Graduate CV profile examples (choose one and tailor)
Your profile is the short paragraph at the top of your CV. Pick the example closest to your field, then change the qualification, role and proof to match you.
General business or office graduate
Career profile
Recent [qualification] graduate seeking an entry-level [role]. Strong admin and communication skills proven through [project/internship/volunteering], with confident MS Office use and a track record of meeting deadlines.
Technical or IT graduate
Career profile
Recent [IT/engineering] graduate targeting a Junior [role]. Practical experience from [final-year project/internship] using [tools]. Comfortable troubleshooting, documenting work, and collaborating in small teams.
Healthcare or community-focused graduate
Career profile
Recent [qualification] graduate seeking an entry-level role in [field]. Experienced in working with diverse communities through [practical/volunteering], with strong attention to detail and respectful communication.
Want more options? See our guide to writing a personal profile.
Skills to include on a graduate CV (without sounding generic)
Don't list only broad words like "hardworking" and "team player". Every graduate writes those. Choose skills linked to real tasks you've done.
- Communication: report writing, presenting, customer support, stakeholder updates
- Organisation: scheduling, document control, task tracking, meeting minutes
- Data: Excel, basic analysis, data cleaning, capturing and checking accuracy
- Project exposure: planning, research, scoping, testing, feedback cycles
- Tools: the specific software or equipment relevant to the role
Weak vs strong skill:
- Weak: "Computer literate"
- Strong: "Microsoft Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP) – used to analyse survey data for my final-year project"
If you have SETA or short-course certificates, list them clearly with the course name and year. Only include what's relevant. See how to list SETA courses on a CV and our list of skills to put on a CV.
Formatting tips recruiters notice (and common mistakes to avoid)
- Use a professional email address (name + surname is best).
- Keep dates consistent, for example "Jan 2024 – Mar 2024" every time.
- Avoid long paragraphs. Use bullets for tasks and outcomes.
- Don't include your ID number, marital status or full home address unless the employer asks for it. Your suburb and city are enough.
- Only add a photo if the advert asks for one. Otherwise it's usually unnecessary.
- Proofread carefully: names, dates, modules and company spelling.
Avoid this: Never add marks, modules or a qualification you haven't completed. Employers may check with your institution. One typo in your qualification name can also cost you, so check it against your certificate or academic record.
How to tailor your graduate CV for each application (fast)
- Copy the job ad keywords into a checklist: tools, tasks, role name and requirements.
- Adjust your profile to match the job title and the top 2–3 requirements.
- Reorder your skills so the most relevant appear first.
- Swap in your most relevant projects. Keep 2–4 "selected projects" and rotate them.
- Rename sections if it helps, e.g. "Relevant Experience", "Practical Exposure" or "Academic Projects".
For more detail, read how to tailor your CV to a job description and how to match CV keywords to the job ad.
On CV Hub you can update your CV profile once, then quickly choose a CV design that suits your field.
Before you submit: a quick graduate CV checklist
- Your name, cell number and email are correct and professional.
- Your graduate status and qualification are visible in the top third of the page.
- You have 2–4 strong proof items (projects, practicals or internship tasks) with tools mentioned.
- Your CV is saved as a PDF unless the advert asks for Word.
- The file name is clear: Name_Surname_GraduateCV.pdf
Applying for a graduate programme or internship? Pair your CV with a short letter. Our internship application letter template and cover letter template can help. When you're ready to send it, see how to email a CV.
Graduate CV FAQ
Should I put my marks or average on my graduate CV?
Only if they are strong and accurate, or if the advert asks for them. If not, leave them out and let your projects and skills do the work.
Should education or experience come first on a graduate CV?
For most new graduates, education comes first because it's your strongest selling point. If you already have relevant work experience, you can put that first. Our guide to listing education on a CV explains more.
Can I still include part-time or non-related jobs?
Yes. Jobs like retail, waitering or call centre work show reliability, time management and people skills. Keep them short and focus on transferable skills.
Build, save, and improve your graduate CV on CV Hub
If you'd like to keep different versions for different roles, you can create a free CV and edit it any time.
If you've already started, log in to CV Hub to refine your sections. If you get stuck, check the CV Hub FAQ. Need help? Contact CV Hub.
To see how others structure their profiles, you can also browse the CV database for wording and layout ideas. Then tailor everything to your own experience.
