How to Write a Good Entry-Level CV

Writing a good entry-level CV can feel challenging, especially if it's your first time and/or if you have little or no work experience to show.  But even with these, it’s absolutely possible to write a good entry-level CV and make a strong impression.

What Makes an Entry-Level CV Different?

An entry-level CV is designed for people who are new to the job market, such as students, recent graduates, or those switching careers. Unlike more experienced professionals who have sufficient work experience to flaunt, beginners usually have to focus on other tasks that qualify as experience. More on this later.

Rather than a strict emphasis on full-time or part-time work experience, employers reading CV for beginners mainly want to understand their ability to work hard, follow instructions, learn, adapt, and contribute to their team.

Essential Sections of a Good Entry-Level CV

Below is a step-by-step guide to writing the essential sections of a good entry-level CV.

1.      Contact Information

A good entry-level CV should begin with accurate and clear contact details so recruiters can easily reach you.

What to include:

• Full name.
• Intended role, field, or major (e.g., “Mechanical Engineer”).
• Phone number.
• Email address.
• Location (city, state, country, postal code).
• Optional: nationality, date of birth, gender, or relevant social media links.

Tips

• Avoid adding personal details excessively, unless required.
• Ensure every added detail is current and correctly spelt.
• Include your phone country code if applying internationally.

2.      Personal Statement

The personal statement (also called a profile summary) is a brief introduction of you and your career history.

What to include:

• Your current academic or professional status.
• Strengths and core skills.
• A relevant achievement or experience.
• Your career goals and how they align with the position.

Tip
Keep it short (150–200 words), confident, and tailored to the specific role.

3.      Experience

Entry-level applicants often underestimate how much experience they actually have. Experience goes beyond paid regular jobs. It includes any tasks that helped you build skills or solve problems.

What to include:

• Title or role (e.g., “Team Member | Robotics Club Project”).
• Organisation or project name.
• Location.
• Start and end dates.
• Bullet points describing your responsibilities and contributions.

Acceptable forms of experience:

• Academic projects.
• Personal or portfolio projects.
• Online course assignments (Coursera, Google, edX, etc.).
• Internships or apprenticeships.
• Volunteer positions.
• Freelance work.
• Hackathons or competitions.
• Leadership roles in school clubs.
• Job shadowing.
• Contributions to open-source or online communities.

Tips

• Use reverse-chronological order here (and in every section with sequenced dates).
• Start descriptions with action verbs (e.g., “Developed,” “Coordinated,” “Designed”).
• Quantify results when possible.
• Use keywords from the job posting to help pass applicant tracking systems (ATS).

4.      Education

Your educational background is a key focus for entry-level roles.

What to include:

• Institution name.
• Degree or program.
• Field of study.
• Start and end dates or expected graduation date.
• School location.
• Optional extras: GPA, relevant coursework, honours, and any other significant academic activities or achievements.

Tip
Do not combine certifications with your education—they should appear in their own section.

5.      Certifications

Certifications add credibility by showing that you've taken extra steps to learn and develop professionally.

What to include:

• Certification name.
• Issuing authority.
• Completion date.
• Expiration date, if applicable.

Tips

• Choose certifications relevant to the entry-level role.
• List them by relevance or recency.
• Use the full names of the certifications, not initials.
• Add certification ID numbers only if verifiable online.

6.      Skills

The skills section summarises your strongest abilities—both technical and non-technical.

What to include:

• Hard skills: e.g., programming languages, design tools, software, data analysis tools, writing skills, specialised equipment, and platforms you use.
• Soft skills: e.g., communication, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, leadership, adaptability, and attention to detail.

Tip
Aim for 6–10 skills that match the description.

7.      References

References help employers verify your strengths, character, and work habits.

What to include:

• Reference’s full name.
• Position or title.
• Organisation.
• Email.
• Phone number.
• Relationship to you.

Tips

• Ask permission before listing someone.
• Choose professors, supervisors, or project leaders who can describe your abilities.
• Include 2–4 references for best results.

8.      Additional Sections (Optional)

Extra sections can help CV for beginners stand out if they genuinely add value.

Possible additions include (but should not be limited to):

• Languages.
• Awards.
• Portfolio.
• Community service.
• Publications.
• Hobbies and interests.

Tip
Only add information that strengthens your application and highlights your versatility.

Final Checks Before Submitting

Before sending out your CV, make sure to review it thoroughly, e.g.:

• Are your contact details accurate?
• Have you effectively highlighted your most relevant experience and skills?
• Is the editing for errors thorough enough and the formatting clean?
• Is the CV ATS-friendly?
• Is it customised for the specific role you are applying for?

Sample Entry-Level CV

Below is a simple structure you can follow.

Contact Information

Daniel M. Kariuki

Information Technology Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +254 722 334 890
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniel-m-kariuki

Personal Statement

 'Enthusiastic and detail-oriented Business Information Technology graduate with strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Seeking an entry-level role to grow professionally while contributing positively to organisational goals.'

Experience

Administrative Intern | Horizon Youth Foundation, Nairobi

December 2023 – May 2024

• Supported daily office operations, including filing, data entry, and document preparation.
• Coordinated logistics for youth training workshops attended by 80+ participants.
• Assisted project officers in compiling monthly activity reports.
• Helped organise community outreach events and maintained updated attendance records.

Volunteer Assistant | Umoja Community Centre

February 2022 – November 2022

• Helped facilitate weekend tutoring sessions for local students.
• Assisted visitors, answered questions, and offered general support at the reception desk.
• Improved teamwork and customer service skills through daily interactions.

Education

Diploma in Business Information Technology | Nairobi Institute of Commerce & Technology
November 2024 – December 2025
Relevant coursework: Database management, Digital communication, Business analytics, Web technologies

Certifications

• Google Digital Skills for Africa | Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (2023).
• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) – Beginner Level (2022).

Skills

Technical Skills

• MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Google Workspace.
• Basic HTML & CSS.
• Data entry and digital record management.

Soft Skills

• Strong communication.
• Team collaboration.
• Problem-solving.
• Organisation and time management.

References

1. Academic Reference
Mr. Samuel Otieng
Lecturer, Nairobi Institute of Commerce & Technology
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +254 722 880 314

2. Professional Reference
Mrs. Alice Kamau
Project Officer, Horizon Youth Foundation
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +254 711 334 902

Conclusion

A good entry-level CV can effectively project your strengths even without regular experience. But manually crafting compelling CV for beginners can take time and serious effort. If you prefer a faster and more guided process, a CV builder tool like CVHack can help you create a polished CV, resume, or cover letter in minutes, making your application stronger and more competitive.