Graduate HR Trainee CV Template Example
As someone who has spent over 25 years coaching ambitious graduates and professionals across the UK, I can assure you that starting your career in Human Resources can be one of the most rewarding professional journeys you’ll ever embark upon. The Graduate HR Trainee role is a cornerstone position for anyone wanting to break into the world of HR, talent management, and organisational development.
A Graduate HR Trainee is typically responsible for supporting HR managers with recruitment campaigns, onboarding new hires, assisting with employee relations, maintaining personnel records, and helping deliver training and development initiatives. Salaries in the UK for Graduate HR Trainees can range between £22,000 and £28,000 depending on the organisation, sector, and location, with progression opportunities leading to HR Officer, HR Business Partner, or Talent Acquisition Specialist roles within just a few years.
Crafting a powerful CV is the very first step to opening doors to these exciting opportunities. And that’s where I come in – to walk you through exactly how to create a CV that not only gets noticed but gets you hired.
Why your Graduate HR Trainee CV matters more than you think
Your CV is your marketing document. Think of it as your personal brand’s showcase. Recruiters often spend less than 10 seconds scanning a CV before deciding whether to keep reading or discard it. This means your Graduate HR Trainee CV must be concise, impactful, and tailored to the specific role.
Employers in HR want to see not only your academic background but also your interpersonal skills, organisational ability, and drive to support people and processes. This is why a one-size-fits-all CV won’t cut it. You need a CV that demonstrates both potential and personality while remaining professional.
How to structure your Graduate HR Trainee CV
There’s a tried-and-tested structure that works well across industries, and particularly so for HR-related roles. Here’s the layout I recommend for a Graduate HR Trainee CV:
Contact details – full name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn link.
Professional profile/personal statement – a compelling 4–6 line summary that highlights your strengths, passion for HR, and career ambitions.
Key skills – bullet point your most relevant HR-related skills such as communication, administration, recruitment support, HR systems, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Education – degree (BA/BSc), modules relevant to HR, dissertation topic if related, plus A-levels or equivalent.
Work experience – internships, placements, part-time jobs, voluntary roles. Emphasise transferrable skills such as customer service, teamwork, or data handling.
Achievements – scholarships, awards, societies, or projects that demonstrate leadership and initiative.
Additional training/certifications – CIPD student membership, HR-related online courses, or any extra training that reinforces your HR knowledge.
Hobbies/interests – optional, but useful if relevant to HR, such as coaching, volunteering, or mentoring.
Crafting a powerful professional profile
Your professional profile should sit at the top of your CV and act as your “elevator pitch.” Here’s an example tailored for a Graduate HR Trainee:
“A highly motivated and people-focused graduate with a BA in Business and Human Resource Management, seeking to begin a career as a Graduate HR Trainee. Experienced in supporting recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement through internships and volunteering. Passionate about building inclusive workplace cultures and eager to contribute to a forward-thinking HR team.”
This instantly tells employers who you are, what you’ve studied, and what value you bring to their organisation.
Key skills to highlight in a Graduate HR Trainee CV
Employers are looking for skills that demonstrate you can thrive in an HR environment. The most sought-after include:
Recruitment and onboarding support
Communication and relationship building
Attention to detail and accuracy
Confidentiality and professionalism
Time management and multitasking
Knowledge of HR systems (e.g., HRIS, ATS software)
Employee relations support
Data handling and reporting
Cultural awareness and inclusion
By aligning your skills with what the job description asks for, you significantly increase your chances of being shortlisted.
Writing your work experience effectively
Even if you don’t yet have direct HR work experience, you can frame part-time roles, internships, and voluntary work in ways that showcase transferrable skills.
For example:
Customer Service Assistant – XYZ Retail Ltd
Assisted with recruitment and training of seasonal staff, helping to onboard 12 new employees.
Delivered excellent customer support, developing strong communication and conflict resolution skills.
Managed cash handling and administrative tasks with accuracy and attention to detail.
Here, although it’s a retail role, you are highlighting HR-relevant tasks such as onboarding, training, and communication.
The importance of tailoring your CV
A generic CV won’t win interviews. You must adapt your CV to every role you apply for. This means carefully reading the job description, highlighting the keywords they use (e.g., “employee engagement” or “HR administration”), and weaving them into your own CV naturally.
Recruiters use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which scan for keywords. If your CV doesn’t reflect the language of the job ad, you may not even make it past the first stage.
Graduate HR Trainee CV template example
Here’s an outline to follow:
[Your Name]
[Phone number] | [Email] | [LinkedIn]
Professional Profile
[4–6 line summary of skills, education, and career ambitions tailored to HR trainee role]
Key Skills
Recruitment support
HR administration
Communication
Employee onboarding
Data entry and reporting
Confidentiality
Education
BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management – University of London (2022)
Relevant modules: Employment Law, Organisational Behaviour, Recruitment & Selection
Work Experience
HR Intern – ABC Ltd (June–Aug 2022)
Supported HR team with onboarding of 15 new hires, preparing documentation and induction packs.
Assisted with updating personnel records and ensuring compliance with GDPR.
Participated in employee engagement survey analysis.
Customer Service Assistant – XYZ Retail Ltd (2019–2021)
Trained and supported new team members.
Delivered excellent service, resolving complaints effectively.
Handled administrative and financial tasks with accuracy.
Achievements
Awarded University Student Leadership Award (2021).
Member of CIPD student community.
Additional Training
CIPD Level 3 Certificate in People Practice (in progress).
General CV tips for graduates
Keep your CV to a maximum of 2 pages.
Always start with a strong profile.
Use action verbs such as “delivered,” “supported,” “developed.”
Focus on transferrable skills if direct HR experience is limited.
Include measurable results wherever possible.
Advice for middle and senior management professionals
If you are already in your HR career and looking to step up, your CV must shift from task-based to achievement-focused. Instead of listing duties, highlight strategic impact. For example:
“Led a recruitment campaign that reduced time-to-hire by 25%.”
“Implemented an employee engagement programme that improved retention rates by 18%.”
For senior managers, your CV must showcase leadership, strategy, and measurable business outcomes. Don’t just say you “managed a team” – say you “led and developed a team of 12 HR professionals, achieving consistent compliance and supporting company growth.”
Do’s and Don’ts of a Graduate HR Trainee CV
Do’s
Do tailor your CV for every application.
Do use clear, professional formatting.
Do include keywords from the job advert.
Do keep sentences concise and impactful.
Do proofread thoroughly – attention to detail matters in HR.
Don’ts
Don’t include unnecessary personal details (age, marital status, photo).
Don’t use overly casual language.
Don’t exaggerate or lie – honesty is crucial in HR roles.
Don’t send a generic CV to multiple employers.
Don’t forget to include your LinkedIn profile.
Final words from Jerry Frempong
Your Graduate HR Trainee CV is more than a piece of paper – it’s your passport to a fulfilling career. By following the guidance above, structuring your CV professionally, and tailoring your applications, you’ll be placing yourself in the best possible position to stand out in a competitive job market.
I’ve helped thousands of graduates and professionals over the past 25 years land their dream roles in HR, Finance, Technology, and beyond. If you want to ensure your CV and LinkedIn profile are optimised to win interviews and impress employers, I invite you to book a one-to-one appointment with me.
👉 Book your CV & LinkedIn appointment here
Take this step today, and let’s create a CV that gets you noticed and hired.
