The question we hear most from graduates: “What do I put on my CV when I have no experience?” The truth is you have more than you think: studies, projects, training, part-time work, volunteering and skills. What matters is presenting them the way recruiters and ATS systems look for them.
The right order for a graduate CV
- Contact details: name, phone, email, city, LinkedIn.
- Professional summary: 3 lines stating the target role and your key skills.
- Education: major, university and graduation year, plus your GPA if it's high.
- Training and courses: any practical course related to the job.
- Projects and activities: graduation project, volunteering, student activities.
- Part-time experience, if any: summer jobs, sales, events, freelance work.
- Skills and languages.
What to put instead of experience
- Graduation project: what problem did you solve, and what was your role in the team?
- Volunteering and events: organising, welcoming guests, coordination, dealing with the public.
- Part-time work: even in a shop or restaurant, it proves you can deal with customers and be reliable.
- Practical courses: a customer service, sales or office software course shows you are ready.
Example professional summary for a graduate
Mistakes graduates make
- A generic summary such as “looking for an opportunity to develop my skills” with no target role.
- Listing every course module instead of the skills the job needs.
- A colourful multi-column template that ATS systems can't read.
- A CV of two pages or more; one page is enough for a graduate.
- A single version in one language, when many UAE companies ask for English. See CV in Arabic or English?
Take the shortcut
If you're unsure about wording or formatting, the zTraining Club team builds you an ATS-friendly CV in Arabic, English or both, ready in under 10 minutes, and you review your details before delivery. See also 10 CV mistakes that make companies ignore you.
FAQ
How do I write a CV with no experience?
Present your education, training, projects, volunteering and part-time work, and write a professional summary that names the target role and your key skills.
Should I include my GPA on my CV?
Include it if it's high or if the ad asks for it; you can leave it out if it doesn't work in your favour.
How long should a graduate CV be?
One page is usually enough for graduates and people with short experience.