Crafting a winning CV is literally the exact same thing as creating the perfect first impressionβyour aim is to make as strong an impact in only a few seconds as a mic drop moment at a concert. But when you’re aiming for a foot-in-the-door opportunityβsay, an entry-level position, a role in a new industry, or even an internshipβthe stakes are higher. You need a CV that dazzles recruiters, sifting through a mountain of generic, boring applications, like treasure in a rusty dusty chest, bursting open.
In this article, weβll guide you step-by-step through creating a “foot-in-the-door” CV that will boost your chances of landing your first interview. Plus, weβve included a sample CV that you can easily copy and paste to kick-start your own.
1. Understand the Purpose of a Foot-in-the-Door CV
A foot-in-the-door CV isnβt just a rundown of your experiences and skillsβitβs your chance to show off your potential. Itβs less about what youβve already done and more about proving how eager, adaptable, and ready to grow you are. Employers hiring for entry-level roles or welcoming newcomers often want someone who can pick things up quickly, work well with others, and bring real passion to the job.
Key Elements:
- Tailored Objective or Summary: A brief, targeted statement that highlights your goals and what you can bring to the role.
- Skills over Experience: Focus on transferable skills, soft skills, and any relevant experiences, even if they’re from different industries.
- Education and Relevant Courses: If your experience is limited, showcase relevant coursework, certifications, or educational achievements.
- Volunteer Work or Internships: These experiences can often be as valuable as paid work in demonstrating your capabilities.
2. Structure Your CV for Maximum Impact
If you want to get your foot in the door, the structure of your CV should be clear, organized, and easy to read.
Remember, Recruiters give your “foot-in-the-door CV” the blink testβliterally 6-7 secondsβbefore deciding whether to dig deeper. So, make those seconds work in your favor.
1. Prioritize What Matters Most
Put the most important stuff up top, like your education, key skills, and any relevant experience. You want to catch their eye right away with the best youβve got.
2. Use Bullet Points and Headings
Break things down with bullet points and clear headings. This makes your CV skimmable, so recruiters can quickly find what theyβre looking for. Plus, it just looks cleaner and more professional.
3. Keep It Brief
Donβt cram in every single detail of your lifeβstick to the highlights. A one-page CV is usually enough for recent grads, but if youβve got more relevant experience, two pages are okay. Just be sure everything you include adds value.
4. Tailor It for Each Job
This might sound like extra work, but customizing your CV for each job you apply to is key. Use the job description as a guide to decide what to emphasize. Show them youβre exactly what theyβre looking for.
5. Include a Personal Touch
Donβt be afraid to let a bit of your personality shine through, whether thatβs in your summary or how you describe your experience. Employers want to know what makes you unique, so give them a glimpse of who you are, not just what youβve done.
6. Triple-Check for Errors
Typos and mistakes can cost you an interview, so take the time to proofread carefully. Ask a friend or mentor to give it a look tooβitβs easy to miss something in your own work.
7. Consider Including a Link to Your LinkedIn or Portfolio
If you have a LinkedIn profile or an online portfolio that showcases your work, include a link at the top of your CV. This gives recruiters an easy way to learn more about you and see your skills in action.
8. Get Feedback
Before you start sending your CV out, get feedback from someone you trustβlike a career counselor, a mentor, or a friend in your field. They might spot something you missed or have ideas to make it even stronger.
9. Donβt Forget the Basics
Make sure your contact information is up-to-date, and donβt get too fancy with fonts or colors. Stick to something simple and professional. Your CV is about showing off your skills, not your graphic design abilitiesβunless youβre actually applying for a design job, of course!
3 structure suggestions for a foot-in-the-door CV that a recent grad could use
1. Lead with Education
- Why? For recent grads, education is often the most substantial section of the CV, especially if work experience is limited. Highlight your degree, relevant coursework, projects, honors, and any academic achievements right at the top. If youβve got a solid GPA or specialized training, this is the place to show it off.
2. Skills Section Front and Center
- Why? If your experience is light, put your skills section right below your education. This allows you to immediately showcase the abilities that make you a good fit for the job. Customize this section to mirror the job description, emphasizing both hard and soft skills that match the role.
3. Include a Relevant Experience Section
- Why? Even if you donβt have much traditional work experience, create a section for βRelevant Experienceβ where you can include internships, volunteer work, freelance gigs, school projects, or anything else that relates to the job. Focus on what you did, what you learned, and how it applies to the role youβre targeting.
These structure suggestions help highlight what a recent grad does have, rather than what they might be lacking in formal work experience.
3. Crafting the Objective or Summary
Your objective or summary should be all about the specific job youβre going for. Think of it as your elevator pitchβa quick, punchy statement that tells the recruiter who you are and why youβre the right person for the job.
Example:
πΌππππππππ ππππππ ππππππππ π πππ π ππππππ ππ πΌππππππππ πππ πππππ-ππ ππ‘ππππππππ ππ πππππππ ππππππππ ππππππππππ. π΄ππππ ππ ππππππππ ππππππ πππππ’πππππ ππππππ πππ ππππππππ πππππππ-πππππππ πππππππππ ππ ππππππππππ ππ π°π±π² π²ππππππ’βπ ππππππππππ πππππππππ ππππ.Does the objective really matter that much?
It can, especially when youβre just starting out and your experience is limited. A well-crafted objective can grab the recruiterβs attention right away and set the tone for the rest of your CV. Itβs your first impression on paper, so itβs worth the effort to get it right.
How do I make my objective stand out?
Be specific and show enthusiasm. Instead of saying something generic like, βLooking for a challenging role in marketing,β try something like, βRecent marketing graduate passionate about digital strategies, eager to apply creative problem-solving skills to drive brand growth at [Company Name].β Tailor it to the job and the company, and let your personality shine through.
Is it appropriate to include personality in my objective or summary?
Absolutely! A little personality can make your objective stand out. Just keep it professional. For example, βCreative problem-solver with a knack for finding efficient solutions,β shows both your skills and a bit of who you are.
Should I even bother with an objective if the company didnβt ask for one?
Itβs a personal choice, but a well-written objective or summary can add value by quickly summarizing why youβre a great fit for the role. If you feel confident that it strengthens your application, go for it. If not, you can skip it and focus on making the rest of your CV shine.
Whatβs the difference between an objective and a summary?
An objective is about what youβre looking for in a job, while a summary is more about what you bring to the table. A summary is often better for grads with some experience or specific skills to highlight, while an objective can work well if youβre still carving out your career path.
How long should my objective or summary be?
Keep it short, and sweetβtwo to three sentences is good. You want to quickly convey who you are, what you can do, and why youβre a good fit.
What should I include in my objective or summary?
Focus on three main things: who you are (your professional identity), what youβre looking for (the role), and why youβre the perfect fit (your unique skills or experiences). For example, βRecent marketing graduate with a passion for digital strategy, seeking a role where I can leverage my content creation skills to drive engagement.
What if I donβt have much experience?
Thatβs okay! Emphasize your education, skills, and any relevant projects or internships. For example, βMotivated business graduate with hands-on experience in data analysis, eager to apply my skills in a dynamic team environment.
Okay, but why havenβt I ever gotten an interview when Iβve tailored every objective to each job?
Try revisiting your CV as a whole to make sure everything aligns and tells a strong story. Maybe your objective isnβt matching up with the rest of your CV, or itβs not quite hitting what the employer is looking for. Sometimes itβs about the overall CV, not just the objective. Make sure the rest of your CV is as strong as your objective. Also, consider whether the jobs youβre applying to are a good match for your skills and experience. Finally, it could be about how youβre applyingβare you following up, networking, or making sure your CV is getting to the right people?
How can I avoid sounding too generic?
Don’t be vague, using phrases like βhard-workingβ or βdedicated.β Hit specifics that relate to the job. Skills, experiences, or goals that make you unique. For example, instead of βseeking a role in finance,β you could say, βseeking to leverage my analytical skills and finance internship experience to contribute to [Company Name]βs growth.β
What if Iβm not 100% sure what job I want yet?
If youβre still exploring options, lead with a summary that highlights your strengths and what youβre passionate about. You can tweak it for each job to emphasize the parts that match the role. Itβs okay not to have everything figured outβjust show that youβre motivated and eager to learn.
Can I use the same objective for multiple job applications?
You can, but itβs always better to tailor it to each job. Recruiters can tell when somethingβs generic, and a personalized objective makes it clear that youβre serious about the specific role. It might take a little extra time, but it can make a big difference in getting noticed.
4. Highlighting Your Skills
When youβre putting together a CV to get your foot in the door, the skills section is where you can really shine. Even if your experience isnβt extensive, this is your chance to show what youβre capable of.
Example of a Skills Section:
ππππππ
- π³ππππππ πΌππππππππ: ππ΄πΎ, ππ΄πΌ, ππππππ πΌππππ ππππππππ’
- π°ππππ’ππππ: πΆπππππ π°ππππ’ππππ, π³πππ πΈπππππππππππππ, π°/π± πππππππ
- π²ππππππππππππ: π²πππ’π ππππππ, πΏπππππ ππππππππ, πΏπππππππππππ π³πππππ
- πΏππππππ πΌπππππππππ: π°ππππ πΌππππππππππππ, ππππ πΌπππππππππ, π²ππππππππππππ πππππ (ππππππ, π°ππππ)
- πππππππππ ππππππ: π·ππΌπ»/π²ππ, πΌππππππππ πΎπππππ πππππ, π°ππππ πΏππππππππCustomize this section to match the job description and highlight the skills that fit best with what the employer is after.
What if I donβt have the exact skills listed in the job description?
No sweat! Focus on the skills you do have that are similar or related. For instance, if the job calls for project management but youβve only coordinated group projects at school, that still counts. Itβs all about showing that you have the foundational skills and are eager to build on them.
How do I know which skills to highlight?
Start by studying the job description carefully. The key skills they mention should be front and center on your CV. Also, think about what youβre really good atβwhat do people always ask you for help with? Those are the skills to emphasize, as long as theyβre relevant to the job.
Should I list soft skills like communication or problem-solving, or stick to technical skills?
Both! Employers want to see a mix of soft skills and technical know-how. Communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are just as important as things like coding or data analysis. Just make sure you back up your skills with examples or results wherever you can.
Can I include skills Iβm still learning or not fully confident in yet?
Yes, but be honest about your proficiency. If youβre still learning something, you can mention it as a βdeveloping skillβ or say you have a basic understanding. This shows that youβre proactive about learning and growth, which is a plus in any job.
What if I feel like I donβt have enough skills to fill this section?
You probably have more skills than you think! Consider everythingβschool projects, part-time jobs, hobbies, volunteer work. Even things like organizing events or tutoring can demonstrate valuable skills. If youβre still coming up short, consider picking up some new skills through online courses or workshops. Employers appreciate candidates who are committed to self-improvement.
5. Showcasing Your Experience
Even if you donβt have tons of formal work experience, you can still make this part of your CV stand out. The secret? Focus on what youβve learned and how it connects to the job youβre going for.
Example of an Experience Section:
π΄π‘ππππππππ
πΌππππππππ πΈπππππ
πππ πΌππππππππ π°πππππ’, ππππππ πΈπΆπΈπΉ
- π°πππππππ ππ ππππππππ πππ ππ‘πππππππ πππππππ πππππππππ πππππππππ ππππππ πππππππ πππππππππ, πππππππ ππ π π·π»% ππππππππ ππ ππππππ ππππππππππ.
- π²ππππππππ ππππππ ππππππππ πππ ππππππππππ πππππ’πππ ππ ππππππ ππππππππ ππππππππππ.
- πΌππππππ ππππππ πππππ ππππππππ, ππππππππππ ππππππ πππ ππ’ πΈπΆ% ππππ πππππ ππππππ.
- π³ππππππππ πππππππ πππππππππ πππ πππππππππππ ππ ππππ πππππ πππ πππππ πππ ππππππππ.
πππππ π°ππππππππ
ππππππ πππππ, πΏπππ-ππππ (πΈπΆπΈπ·-πΈπΆπΈπΈ)
- πΏπππππππ ππ‘πππππππ ππππππππ πππππππ, πππππππππ ππ π π·πΆ% ππππππππ ππ ππππππ πππππππππ.
- π°πππππππ ππ ππππππ πππππππππππππ, πππππππ ππ π ππππ ππππππππ ππ-πππππ ππ‘ππππππππ.
- πΌππππππ ππππ ππππππππ ππππππππππ, ππππππππ ππππππππ’ ππ πππππ’ ππππππππππππ.
In this section, focus on results and the impact of your contributions. Even small wins can demonstrate your potential to future employers.
What counts as βexperienceβ if I havenβt had a traditional job?
Experience isnβt just about traditional jobs. Internships, part-time gigs, volunteer work, freelance projects, and even school activities all count. Anything where youβve gained skills or knowledge relevant to the job can go here.
How do I make unrelated jobs seem relevant?
The trick is to highlight the transferable skills. Did you work in retail? Talk about customer service, communication, or teamwork. Did you do a summer camp job? Focus on leadership, problem-solving, and responsibility. Most jobs teach you something thatβs useful in other fields, so find that link.
What if I only have unpaid or volunteer experience?
Thatβs completely fine. Unpaid work is still work. Emphasize the skills you gained and the responsibilities you had, just like you would with a paid job. Employers care more about what you can do than whether you got paid to do it.
Should I list every job Iβve ever had?
Quality over quantity. Focus on the roles that are most relevant to the job youβre applying for. If you have space, you can include other jobs, but donβt feel like you need to list every single one. The goal is to show your strengths and how they align with the role.
How do I describe my role in a way that impresses employers?
Be specific about your tasks and achievements. Instead of saying, βHandled customer inquiries,β you could say, βResolved customer issues in a fast-paced environment, improving satisfaction ratings by 15%.β Numbers and results make a bigger impact and show that you got things done.
Should I mention jobs that arenβt related to my career goals?
It depends. If the job taught you valuable skills that are relevant to the role you want, include it. If itβs completely unrelated and doesnβt add much to your CV, it might be better to leave it out or give it less focus. Tailor your CV to match the job as closely as possible.
How do I show that Iβve learned something valuable from each experience?
Think about what each role taught youβwhether itβs time management, teamwork, or problem-solvingβand how that relates to the job you want. Frame your experience in a way that highlights growth and learning. For example, βManaged a team of five during a group project, developing leadership and coordination skills.β Show that youβre always learning and improving.
6. Emphasizing Your Education
For a CV that gets your foot in the door, your education section is what HR gravitates toward firstβespecially if you donβt have much work experience yet. Be sure to spotlight any coursework, projects, or honors that tie into the job youβre after.
Example of an Education Section:
π΄ππππππππ :
π±πππππππ ππ π°πππ ππ πΌππππππππ
ππππππππππ’ ππ π°π±π², πΆππππππππ πΌππ’ πΈπΆπΈπΉ
- ππππππππ π²ππππππ πππ: π³ππππππ πΌππππππππ, π²πππππππ π±πππππππ, πΌπππππ ππππππππ, π±ππππ πΌπππππππππ
- π·πππππ: π³πππβπ π»πππ, πΌππππππππ π²πππ πΏππππππππ
π²πππππππππππππ:
- πΆπππππ π°ππππ’ππππ π²ππππππππ
- π·ππππππ πΈππππππ πΌππππππππ π²ππππππππππππ
If youβve taken any additional courses or earned certifications outside of your degree, be sure to include those as well.
What if I didnβt get any honors or awards?
No worries! You donβt need a list of awards to impress. Focus on coursework or projects that are relevant to the role. Talk about the skills you picked up or the challenges you overcame in those classes. Employers care more about what youβve learned and how you can apply it than a fancy title.
Should I include my GPA?
This depends. If your GPA is impressive (think 3.5 or higher), itβs worth including, especially if youβre applying to companies that value academic achievement. If itβs lower, you might want to leave it out and instead focus on highlighting specific coursework or projects that demonstrate your strengths.
How do I make coursework sound relevant to a job?
The trick is to translate what you did in class into skills or knowledge the job requires. For example, if you took a marketing course, mention any campaigns you designed, even if they were just for class. Or, if you did a research project, highlight the analytical skills you developed. Frame everything in a way that shows how it prepped you for the real world.
What if my degree isnβt directly related to the job Iβm applying for?
Thatβs okay! Focus on the transferable skills. Almost every degree teaches you something valuable, whether itβs critical thinking, communication, or problem-solving. Also, emphasize any elective courses or projects that align more closely with the job. You can show that youβve got a well-rounded background thatβs still relevant.
Should I list high school details if Iβm a recent grad?
Once youβre in college or beyond, itβs usually better to focus on your higher education. However, if something from high school is really impressiveβlike a major award, leadership position, or a relevant internshipβyou can include it. Just be sure it adds value and doesnβt clutter up the more important info from your college years.
7. Adding Extra Value with Additional Sections
Depending on what youβve been up to, you might have some extra experiences or skills that can really make your CV pop. If youβve got space, think about adding sections for volunteer work, projects, languages, or any cool extracurricular activities.
Example of Additional Sections:
π
ππππππππ π΄π‘ππππππππ
ππππππ πΌππππ π
ππππππππ
π»ππππ π°πππππ πππππππ, πΈπΆπΈπΈ
- πΌππππππ ππππππ πππππ ππππππππ, ππππππππππ πππππππππ’ ππππππππππ ππ’ πΈπ»%.
- π²ππππππ πππ πππππππππ πππππ πππππππππ ππππππππ ππππππ πππ πππππππππππ πππππππππ.
π»ππππππππ
- π΄ππππππ: π½πππππ
- πππππππ: πΈπππππππππππ (π²πππππππππππππ)
What if my volunteer work isnβt related to the job Iβm applying for?
Thatβs totally fine! Volunteer work shows youβre proactive and committed. Even if itβs not directly related, it can still highlight transferable skills like leadership, teamwork, or time management.
Should I include every project Iβve worked on, or just the most impressive ones?
Focus on the projects that best showcase skills that are relevant to the job. Quality over quantity hereβpick the ones that really make you look good and align with the role.
What if I donβt speak another language fluently?
Even if youβre not fluent, basic language skills can be a plus, especially if the company operates in different countries or deals with international clients. Just be honest about your proficiency, and it could still give you an edge!
8. The Finishing Touches
Before you send off your CV, double-check for any errors or formatting issues. A polished, error-free CV shows attention to detail and professionalism. Consider using tools like Grammarly or asking a friend to review your CV for any mistakes you might have missed.
Finally, always save your CV as a PDF before sending it out to ensure that your formatting remains consistent regardless of the device or software the recruiter is using.
Sample CV to Copy
Use this sample foot-in-the-door CV as a template. Simply copy, paste, and customize it to fit your own experiences and the job youβre applying for:
π½πππ π·πππ
[ππππ π°ππππππ] | [π²πππ’, πππππ, πππ] | [πΏππππ π½πππππ] | [π΄ππππ π°ππππππ] | [π»ππππππΈπ πΏππππππ]
πΎππππππππ
πΌππππππππ ππππππ ππππππππ π πππ π ππππππ ππ πΌππππππππ πππ πππππ-ππ ππ‘ππππππππ ππ πππππππ ππππππππ ππππππππππ. π΄ππππ ππ ππππππππ ππππππ πππππ’πππππ ππππππ πππ ππππππππ πππππππ-πππππππ πππππππππ ππ ππππππππππ ππ π°π±π² π²ππππππ’βπ ππππππππππ πππππππππ ππππ.
ππππππ
- π³ππππππ πΌππππππππ: ππ΄πΎ, ππ΄πΌ, ππππππ πΌππππ ππππππππ’
- π°ππππ’ππππ: πΆπππππ π°ππππ’ππππ, π³πππ πΈπππππππππππππ, π°/π± πππππππ
- π²ππππππππππππ: π²πππ’π ππππππ, πΏπππππ ππππππππ, πΏπππππππππππ π³πππππ
- πΏππππππ πΌπππππππππ: π°ππππ πΌππππππππππππ, ππππ πΌπππππππππ, π²ππππππππππππ πππππ (ππππππ, π°ππππ)
- πππππππππ ππππππ: π·ππΌπ»/π²ππ, πΌππππππππ πΎπππππ πππππ, π°ππππ πΏππππππππ
π΄π‘ππππππππ
πΌππππππππ πΈπππππ
πππ πΌππππππππ π°πππππ’, ππππππ πΈπΆπΈπΉ
- π°πππππππ ππ ππππππππ πππ ππ‘πππππππ πππππππ πππππππππ πππππππππ ππππππ πππππππ πππππππππ, πππππππ ππ π π·π»% ππππππππ ππ ππππππ ππππππππππ.
- π²ππππππππ ππππππ ππππππππ πππ ππππππππππ πππππ’πππ ππ ππππππ ππππππππ ππππππππππ.
- πΌππππππ ππππππ πππππ ππππππππ, ππππππππππ ππππππ πππ ππ’ 112% ππππ πππππ ππππππ.
- π³ππππππππ πππππππ πππππππππ πππ πππππππππππ ππ ππππ πππππ πππ πππππ πππ ππππππππ.
πππππ π°ππππππππ
ππππππ πππππ, πΏπππ-ππππ (πΈπΆπΈπ·-πΈπΆπΈπΈ)
- πΏπππππππ ππ‘πππππππ ππππππππ πππππππ, πππππππππ ππ π π·πΆ% ππππππππ ππ ππππππ πππππππππ.
- π°πππππππ ππ ππππππ πππππππππππππ, πππππππ ππ π ππππ ππππππππ ππ-πππππ ππ‘ππππππππ.
- πΌππππππ ππππ ππππππππ ππππππππππ, ππππππππ ππππππππ’ ππ πππππ’ ππππππππππππ.
π΄ππππππππ
π±πππππππ ππ π°πππ ππ πΌππππππππ**
ππππππππππ’ ππ π°π±π², πΆππππππππ πΌππ’ πΈπΆπΈπΉ
- ππππππππ π²ππππππ πππ: π³ππππππ πΌππππππππ, π²πππππππ π±πππππππ, πΌπππππ ππππππππ, π±ππππ πΌπππππππππ
- π·πππππ: π³πππβπ π»πππ, πΌππππππππ π²πππ πΏππππππππ
π²πππππππππππππ
- πΆπππππ π°ππππ’ππππ π²ππππππππ
- π·ππππππ πΈππππππ πΌππππππππ π²ππππππππππππ
π
ππππππππ π΄π‘ππππππππ
ππππππ πΌππππ π
ππππππππ
π»ππππ π°πππππ πππππππ, πΈπΆπΈπΈ
- πΌππππππ ππππππ πππππ ππππππππ, ππππππππππ πππππππππ’ ππππππππππ ππ’ πΈπ»%.
- π²ππππππ πππ πππππππππ πππππ πππππππππ ππππππππ ππππππ πππ πππππππππππ πππππππππ.
π»ππππππππ
- π΄ππππππ: π½πππππ
- πππππππ: πΈπππππππππππ (π²πππππππππππππ)
Conclusion
A foot-in-the-door CV is your first big chance to score an interview. Even if you donβt have tons of experience, you can still make a strong case for yourself by tweaking your CV to show off your skills, potential, and anything relevant youβve done. After all, every pro started somewhere, and with the right CV, youβre one step closer to landing that dream job.
