Finance graduate CV examples

Starting out in finance means proving you’ve got the knowledge, analytical thinking, and drive to succeed. Your CV needs to show off your education and transferable skills while keeping things professional and easy to follow.

This guide will help with writing a CV one section at a time, from highlighting your degree and coursework to demonstrating relevant projects, internships, and the essential skills that make you a strong candidate.

As a graduate entering the finance industry, your CV should focus on the qualifications, projects, and internships that show your potential. You know financial reports are only valuable if they’re easy to follow – your CV works the same way: a logical and clear structure ensures hiring managers can quickly find what they need.

Here’s the layout your CV should follow:

• Name and contact details – Display your personal details clearly at the top so employers can get in touch easily. Including a photo is entirely optional.
• Profile – Begin with a concise summary that highlights your expertise and what you bring to the role.
• Core skills – Highlight your most relevant abilities, such as financial analysis, reporting, and data interpretation.
• Work experience – Include internships, placements, or part-time jobs, focusing on relevant finance-related tasks.
• Education – As a recent graduate, this section will be a key focus, listing your degree, coursework, and academic achievements.
• Additional info – Add any additional details, like awards, professional memberships, or hobbies that highlight your skills or personality.

A clean and professional layout helps your CV make a strong first impression. Finance is all about attention to detail, so your CV should reflect that with clear formatting and consistent styling. If your format is confusing or inconsistent, recruiters will assume your analysis might be too, so keep visual mistakes to a minimum.

Keep these formatting tips in mind:

• Bullet points – Use short, sharp bullet points to present your responsibilities and achievements clearly.
• Divide sections – Make use of distinct headings and logical spacing to guide recruiters through your CV.
• Use a clear and readable font – A simple, professional font ensures readability while keeping the layout polished and tidy.
• No more than 2 pages – This gives you the length to detail your experience while keeping it concise enough to respect the recruiter’s time.

Your professional profile is a chance to introduce yourself to employers and explain why you’re a strong candidate, even with limited professional experience. This isn’t the place for vague waffle – get straight to your strengths like a headline financial summary. Show recruiters how and why hiring you would make a positive impact on their firm.

As a junior candidate, you should consider a longer, more comprehensive personal statement, and attach a cover letter to your CV which goes into greater depth.

Here’s what to include:

• Academic background – Mention your finance-related degree and any standout coursework.
• Key finance skills – Highlight analytical thinking, data interpretation, and financial reporting.
• Relevant experience – Refer briefly to internships, university projects, or research that developed your skills.
• Career goals – Explain your ambition to build a career in finance and contribute to a company’s success.
• Technical knowledge – If you have proficiency in software like Excel, QuickBooks, or financial modelling tools, mention it here.

As a finance graduate, skills for your CV should highlight the technical and analytical abilities developed during your studies, alongside any professional competencies gained through internships or part-time roles. Tailor this list to match the specific role you’re applying for, using the job description as a guide.

Since this section is a quick overview, focus on the abilities most valued in entry-level finance roles – such as financial analysis, data interpretation, and proficiency in financial software. You can also emphasise transferable skills like problem-solving and attention to detail.

For a graduate CV, this section is a major focus. Employers will want to see not only your degree but also any standout coursework, research projects, or academic achievements that prove your knowledge and work ethic.

Include your degree title, university name, and dates, along with a few bullet points highlighting relevant modules, high grades, or dissertation topics if they’re relevant to the role.

If you’ve taken part in finance competitions, case studies, or extra training, mention these as well in your education section.

Example education sections

What to include in your education section

For each qualification, add the following info:

• Qualification & organisation – Give the name of the certification and the institution where you earned it.
• Dates studied – Just state the start and finish month and year, or the expected finish if you’re still studying.
• Extra details – If you worked on a module which was particularly relevant to the role you’re applying for, add a little more detail on specific projects to showcase your specialised knowledge.

As a graduate, your work experience might be limited, but that doesn’t mean you have nothing to show. Every bit of real-world experience counts – even part-time jobs and internships can show relevant skills.

If you have no work experience in finance, focus on transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and time management. The key is to demonstrate how your previous roles have helped prepare you for a finance career.

List these in reverse chronological order and provide enough context to show how each experience contributes to your employability.

• Outline – Give a brief overview of the organisation you worked for and the type of work you were involved in.
• Responsibilities – Describe the tasks you handled, especially those involving analysis, data management, or reporting. Use action words like “assisted,” “analysed,” and “prepared.”
• Achievements – Highlight how you added value, such as improving processes, delivering reports, or developing key skills during your time there.

As a junior candidate, you’d benefit from taking the time to outline some extra details that could enhance your application.

Anything from hobbies and programming language skills might come in handy for a finance graduate, so make a note of anything that could emphasise your fit for the role.

Good additional info for Finance Graduates

Additional info example