Graduates & National Service
Starting out? Start here.
The year after school is one of the most important of your career, and one of the most confusing. Our Graduates page brings together everything you need for this stage: a CV that presents limited experience well, a plan for making your service year count, an interview workbook for your first real interviews, and a simple budget for living on a modest allowance while still saving something.
Step 1
Your service year checklist
- Set two or three goals for the year: skills to build, people to meet, work to show.
- Keep an achievement log from your first week, with dates and results.
- Ask for feedback regularly and act on it.
- Build relationships with supervisors who could give you a reference.
- Before the year ends, ask about openings and request references in writing.
Step 2
Building a CV with limited experience
- Lead with a short profile that names the role you are aiming for.
- Use projects, service postings, internships, volunteering and leadership roles as evidence.
- Show results where you can: numbers, outcomes, what improved.
- Keep it to one or two pages with clean headings and consistent dates.
Step 3
Living on an allowance
- List fixed costs first: rent savings, transport, data and utilities.
- Pay a fixed amount into savings as soon as the allowance arrives, even a small one.
- Plan family support as its own category so it is planned rather than a monthly surprise.
- Record spending once a week and adjust next month's limits.
An example only. Adjust it to your own costs.
- Rent savings30%
- Transport20%
- Food20%
- Savings (paid first)10%
- Family support10%
- Data, airtime and other10%
Step 4
Your first interviews
- Prepare stories from school projects, service and part-time work using the STAR method.
- Practise out loud with a friend, including a virtual interview set-up.
- Plan your route or test your video call set-up the day before.
Step 5
When to start job hunting
- Start building your CV and LinkedIn during your final year or early in your service year.
- Begin applying a few months before your service ends, so offers line up with your finish date.
- Keep applying steadily rather than in bursts, and track every application.
Recommended
Tools for starting out
Career
Professional CV Template Pack
Eight ATS-friendly CVs with a writing guide.
GH₵75
Instant download