See how CV Optimiser reviews a graduate CV for role clarity, projects, placements and transferable evidence.
This page uses fictional sample data, but the report layout, section names and upgrade workflow mirror the full CV Optimiser report.
For a Graduate Analyst, this CV is possible but not yet as strong as it could be. Fix first: Move the strongest project, Excel and research evidence into the profile, education and project sections.. The main shortlisting risk is: A recruiter may miss the relevant project and analysis evidence because the CV reads like a general graduate profile.
Work in 6 missing role terms where they are true.
Address the top 3 shortlist risks before styling edits.
Adapt the rewrite examples into measurable, specific bullets.
Re-run after editing to confirm role fit and keyword coverage moved.
CV Optimiser compares the CV against the target role rather than scoring it in isolation. The useful output is the gap between the advert, the evidence already in the CV and the changes most likely to make the application clearer.
Checks whether the first page makes the target role, seniority and relevant experience obvious.
Looks for measurable outcomes, scope, tools, customers, markets and responsibilities that support the keywords.
Separates urgent content gaps from cosmetic wording changes so the next edit is clear.
Graduate Analyst with a business degree, university projects, part-time retail work and strong interest in data-led decision making.
This is a short fictional snippet used to show the type of analysis a paid report can include.
We are looking for a graduate analyst with Excel, research, communication, teamwork, problem solving and clear evidence of initiative.
Good potential, but evidence is buried
The CV has useful graduate evidence, but the projects, transferable skills and target role need to be clearer on page one.
Relevant experience is present but needs tighter framing.
Important job-description terms are missing or buried.
Bullets need clearer outcomes, scope or proof.
The structure is readable but keyword placement can improve.
The first-page story should be faster to understand.
Shortlist likelihood: Possible
Main concern: A recruiter may miss the relevant project and analysis evidence because the CV reads like a general graduate profile.
Fix first: Move the strongest project, Excel and research evidence into the profile, education and project sections.
The full report checks whether the profile, recent role and evidence are strong enough to earn a closer read.
The full report separates urgent gaps from useful supporting terms and terms your CV already covers.
Add these only where your real experience supports them.
Use these to strengthen the skills section and recent-role bullets.
Keep these signals visible while improving the weaker gaps.
Say what graduate role this CV is aiming at and why the evidence fits.
Where to put it: Professional profile.
Show the most relevant university project with tools, task and outcome.
Where to put it: Education or projects section.
Connect customer service, teamwork and problem solving to workplace evidence.
Where to put it: Experience bullets.
Graduate Analyst with relevant experience, but the CV needs a sharper opening profile, clearer evidence and more job-description language before it is ready for a competitive UK shortlist.
A Pro report points to the exact CV sections to improve, with safe example wording based on the evidence available.
Problem: The role target and strongest evidence are not visible quickly enough.
Rewrite direction: Move the strongest project, Excel and research evidence into the profile, education and project sections.
Example line: The CV has useful graduate evidence, but the projects, transferable skills and target role need to be clearer on page one.
Why it helps: It lets a UK recruiter understand the application story before scanning the detail.
Problem: Important job-description terms are missing or buried.
Rewrite direction: Group the most relevant truthful keywords into a concise skills section.
Example line: Excel, research, analysis, teamwork, communication
Why it helps: It improves scanability without keyword stuffing.
Problem: Lead with target-role clarity
Rewrite direction: Say what graduate role this CV is aiming at and why the evidence fits.
Example line: Analysed survey data in Excel for a university project, summarising findings and presenting recommendations to a group of 30 students.
Why it helps: The recent role usually carries the most weight in shortlisting.
Problem: The target role is not clear enough in the profile.
Rewrite direction: Add specific context, tools, standards or outcomes where the CV supports them.
Example line: Balanced part-time retail work with full-time study, developing customer communication, prioritisation and problem-solving skills in a busy store environment.
Why it helps: Specific evidence makes the CV easier to compare against the role requirements.
A Pro report highlights weak lines, gives stronger alternatives and explains the recruiter signal each rewrite improves.
Current line: Worked on a university project and presented findings to the class.
Issue: It names the tool, task, audience and output, which makes graduate evidence easier to assess.
Stronger line: Analysed survey data in Excel for a university project, summarising findings and presenting recommendations to a group of 30 students.
Why better: It names the tool, task, audience and output, which makes graduate evidence easier to assess.
Recruiter signal: Excel, analysis, communication and initiative.
Current line: Worked part time in retail while studying.
Issue: It turns part-time work into transferable evidence without pretending it is senior experience.
Stronger line: Balanced part-time retail work with full-time study, developing customer communication, prioritisation and problem-solving skills in a busy store environment.
Why better: It turns part-time work into transferable evidence without pretending it is senior experience.
Recruiter signal: Communication, teamwork and reliability.
Current line: General wording that does not clearly point to the target role.
Issue: The line needs more role-specific UK CV language and clearer evidence.
Stronger line: The CV has useful graduate evidence, but the projects, transferable skills and target role need to be clearer on page one.
Why better: It makes the application story easier to understand before a recruiter reads the detail.
Recruiter signal: Shortlisting clarity and sector relevance.
Current line: General wording that does not clearly point to the target role.
Issue: The line needs more role-specific UK CV language and clearer evidence.
Stronger line: The CV has useful graduate evidence, but the projects, transferable skills and target role need to be clearer on page one.
Why better: It makes the application story easier to understand before a recruiter reads the detail.
Recruiter signal: Shortlisting clarity and sector relevance.
The full report can show multiple rewrites, why each one is stronger, where it belongs, and which role signal it improves.
Before: Worked on a university project and presented findings to the class.
After: Analysed survey data in Excel for a university project, summarising findings and presenting recommendations to a group of 30 students.
Why better: It names the tool, task, audience and output, which makes graduate evidence easier to assess.
Where to use it: Education or projects section.
Strengthens: Excel, analysis, communication and initiative.
Before: Worked part time in retail while studying.
After: Balanced part-time retail work with full-time study, developing customer communication, prioritisation and problem-solving skills in a busy store environment.
Why better: It turns part-time work into transferable evidence without pretending it is senior experience.
Where to use it: Experience section.
Strengthens: Communication, teamwork and reliability.
Action: A recruiter may miss the relevant project and analysis evidence because the CV reads like a general graduate profile.
Where: Whole CV
Done when: You know the single biggest risk before editing.
Action: Move the strongest project, Excel and research evidence into the profile, education and project sections.
Where: Professional profile
Done when: The opening lines show the target role and strongest matching proof.
Action: Say what graduate role this CV is aiming at and why the evidence fits.
Where: Recent experience
Done when: The most relevant bullets prove the role requirements.
Action: Work in Excel, research, analysis, teamwork only where the evidence supports them.
Where: Key skills and recent experience
Done when: Important terms are visible and backed by examples.
Action: Run the CV again after editing, then save the checklist for the final application pass.
Where: Final review
Done when: The score and first-page clarity improve without unsupported claims.
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