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Posted Jan. 14, 2026

Postgraduate careers advice – how to build a standout CV

Postgraduate employability is particularly high, especially when compared with the statistics for undergraduates and non-graduates. But, this doesn’t mean applying for and securing a postgraduate job is going to be easy.

Just like any job applicant, you’re going to need to showcase your academic and professional journey so far, as well as demonstrate why you’re the perfect fit for the job and the wider company. One way to do just that is with a standout CV.

Your curriculum vitae or resume is a written overview of your skills, education and experience, not to mention your ticket to that dream job. Read on to discover our top tips for building a CV that’ll get you noticed – for all the right reasons!

Lead with YOU

Your CV should always begin with a short and succinct summary. This professional profile should clearly highlight your specialism, career goals and unique strengths, and should ideally be personalised to the job role you are applying for.

State your achievements

It’s time to move on to those achievements and skills. Don’t be tempted to just list the modules of your masters degree program – recruiters don’t want to see that. Instead, demonstrate how the academic experience you’ve gained when writing your dissertation or completing your research project translates into industry value.

By showing how your technical and analytical skills apply in the real world, you can strategically share your achievements with measurable outcomes. You should also list any relevant tools, software and methods that you have experience using.

When highlighting skills, categorise them into hard and soft skills, being sure to keep them industry relevant every step of the way. Action-orientated, achievement-led bullet points also pack a punch when describing the accomplishments you’ve made during your masters program.

Finish with your portfolio

For applications or industries that require more detail, finishing your CV with a project or portfolio section is advisable. Again relevance is key here, with the right project or portfolio piece giving your application credibility that goes beyond bullet points. Demonstrable works include research summaries, coursework, data visualisation and published articles.

Consider the length of your CV when polishing off your final version before submission. A one-page CV may be more fitting for a job in a fast moving industry, while a two-page resume works for most postgraduate applications.

Balance clarity and creativity

Every CV should be easy to skim and digest, which means its design must be logical with each section clearly identifiable. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box however to ensure your CV stands out. Infographics and other visual elements have their place in CV design. Here CVwizard explains when to use them:

“...infographic CVs can also be effective in any industry or role that welcomes and encourages innovation and new ideas. Think about the type of role you’re applying for, and the reputation of the company. If it feels modern and innovative, an infographic CV might go down well. You can also use varying amounts and types of visual elements in your CV, depending on how much you think the employer will be open to.”

For further advice on designing your own infographic CV, please click here.

Related articles

Postgrad Careers: Make your CV a piece of art!

How you can use the summer to build on your CV

Infographic CVs and Top Tips for Making Your Own

 

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