Lead with a focused summary
Open with a short professional summary that states your qualification, your field of interest, and what you bring. For example: "Recent BCom Accounting graduate seeking a graduate trainee role, with strong analytical skills and completed SAICA-accredited modules."
Put education near the top
As a graduate, your qualification is a major selling point, so place it prominently:
- Your degree or diploma, institution and year completed.
- Relevant modules, your major, and academic results if they are strong.
- Any distinctions, deans’ list or awards.
- Your matric and top subjects, especially if recent.
Make the most of limited experience
- Internships and vac work — describe what you did and learned.
- Academic projects — final-year projects show applied skills.
- Part-time and holiday jobs — prove reliability and work ethic.
- Leadership and volunteering — societies, tutoring, community work.
Highlight the right skills
Employers hiring graduates look for potential and attitude. List both technical skills (software, methods, tools from your studies) and soft skills (communication, teamwork, problem-solving), and back them with quick examples.
Tailor for graduate programmes
Big graduate programmes at banks, auditing firms, SOEs and mining houses are competitive. Read each advert carefully, mirror its key requirements, and apply the moment applications open, because places fill fast.
Keep it clean and error-free
Keep your graduate CV to two pages, use a simple layout, and proofread carefully. A single spelling error can cost you an interview when competition is high.
Next step
With your graduate CV ready, browse current graduate programmes, internships and entry-level roles and apply directly to employers.