Your First Professional CV: The Complete Guide for Sri Lankan Graduates

Your first professional CV should turn your education and practical activities into a focused case for an entry-level role. Begin with evidence rather than a blank template.

This process creates a document you can update as your career develops. It also gives you a useful record for cover letters, applications and interviews.

Build your source record

Gather qualification details, internship dates, project notes, relevant training and activities where you held responsibility. Record your contribution and output for each example.

Keep the source record private and complete. The application CV will be more selective. Resolve uncertain dates and result claims before copying them into several documents.

Choose your first role family

Read suitable vacancies and identify the skills they need. Select opportunities appropriate to your preparation rather than trying to target every profession in one CV.

For related roles, you can maintain a common base and change the emphasis. For substantially different directions, you may need different project selections and summaries.

Write the main sections

Include contact information, a concise introduction, education, relevant projects, internships or practical work, and skills. Add certifications or activities when they support the target.

Explain project work through the problem, your contribution, tools and output. Describe internships through tasks performed and evidence of learning or contribution. Do not substitute generic adjectives for those details.

Check the professional details

Use an email address you monitor, a correct phone number and working portfolio links. State whether your qualification is completed or ongoing. Ask referees before sharing their details and avoid unnecessary sensitive personal information.

Use readable formatting and consistent dates. Open the export and inspect every page, including the final page where awkward breaks are easy to miss.

Prepare the rest of the application

Tailor any requested cover letter and complete application fields accurately. Align dates and titles with LinkedIn. Save the vacancy and the submitted CV so interview preparation uses the same evidence.

After each useful project or placement, update the master record. Review feedback for patterns, but do not assume every rejection means the document is wrong.

Start with career resources, consider CV review support for an existing draft, or explore professional CV writing when you need help organising your first career story.