The Calibre Blog

Know exactly
what they
want.

Specific guides on writing CVs for the most competitive firms and universities in the world. No fluff, just what works.

Written and kept current by the Calibre team as firms, universities and what they look for change.

Assessments
Watson Glaser Test: Free Practice and How to Pass
The critical thinking test most City law firms screen with. All five sections explained with worked examples, the pass mark to aim for, and free practice in the real format.
8 min read · July 2026
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 Assessments
Situational Judgement Tests: How to Rank the Answers
SJTs look like common sense and quietly filter people out. How they are scored, the competencies they measure, and free ranking practice with the reasoning behind every answer.
7 min read · July 2026
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 Law
Vacation Scheme CV Guide: What Law Firms Actually Screen For
Vacation schemes are the single biggest route into a training contract. What recruiters actually look for, the legal experience hierarchy, and the deadlines you can't miss.
10 min read · July 2026
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 Finance
Spring Week CV Guide (2026): What Banks Actually Want From First-Years
Spring week applications open weeks into first year, and most CVs are rejected on sight. What banks expect from a first-year CV, how to write bullets with "no experience", and what to do the summer before uni.
9 min read · June 2026
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 Consulting
How to Write a McKinsey CV: The Exact Standard They Screen For
McKinsey's recruiters spend 30 seconds on a CV. Here's the precise structure, language, and quantification level that gets you past the first filter.
8 min read · May 2026
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 Law
Magic Circle CV: What Clifford Chance, Freshfields and Linklaters Actually Want
The five Magic Circle firms each have distinct cultures and criteria. This guide breaks down what matters at each, and the common mistakes that get CVs rejected.
9 min read · May 2026
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 Academia
CV for Oxford and Cambridge Applications: What Admissions Tutors Actually Look For
An Oxbridge CV is nothing like a corporate one. Academic record, super-curriculum, and intellectual breadth, this guide explains how to present each.
7 min read · May 2026
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 Finance
Goldman Sachs CV: What Their Recruiters Actually Screen For
Goldman rejects most CVs in under 30 seconds. This guide covers the exact signals their recruiters look for, internship hierarchy, quantification, market interest, and the mistakes that get applications binned.
8 min read · May 2026
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 Consulting
BCG and Bain CV: How to Write a Consulting Application That Gets Interviews
BCG, Bain, and McKinsey are not the same firm. This guide covers the real differences between them and how to tailor your CV for each, including the mistakes that get consulting CVs rejected across all three.
9 min read · May 2026
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 Graduate Careers
Graduate Scheme CV: What Actually Gets You Shortlisted
Graduate scheme CVs are screened by professional recruiters who've seen thousands just like yours. This guide covers what they're actually assessing, and the mistakes that filter out otherwise strong candidates.
8 min read · May 2026
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 Student Guide
How to Write a CV With No Experience
No internships, no relevant work, no idea what to put. This guide explains how to build a strong CV from what you actually have, without padding or claiming things that aren't true.
7 min read · May 2026
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 Law
Law Conversion CV: Applying to Firms Without a Law Degree
Around half of all training contract offers go to non-law graduates. This guide explains how to frame your background, evidence legal motivation, and turn your degree into an asset rather than a gap to explain.
8 min read · May 2026
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 Finance
JP Morgan CV: What Their Recruiters Actually Screen For
JP Morgan receives around 300,000 applications per year. This guide covers the exact signals their recruiters look for, division-specific motivation, quantified impact, and the mistakes that get CVs rejected before anyone qualified sees them.
9 min read · May 2026
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 Consulting
Deloitte CV: What Gets Graduate Applications Shortlisted
Deloitte welcomes diverse backgrounds but rejects generic applications ruthlessly. This guide covers service line selection, what their competency framework actually means, and the mistakes that filter out otherwise strong candidates.
8 min read · May 2026
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 Technology
Google & Big Tech CV: How to Write One That Gets Interviews
Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft recruit differently from finance and law. This guide covers the XYZ bullet framework, Amazon's Leadership Principles, ATS optimisation, and what tech companies actually look for in a CV.
8 min read · May 2026
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 Graduate Careers
Civil Service Fast Stream: What the Application Actually Requires
The Fast Stream receives 25,000 applications for 1,000 places. This guide explains the Success Profiles framework, strengths-based assessments, and how to present your experience for a public sector application.
8 min read · May 2026
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 Law
Paralegal CV: How to Get Your First Legal Role
Paralegal roles are the most direct route into legal practice for graduates. This guide covers what firms actually look for, how to frame limited experience, and how to use the role strategically as a training contract pathway.
8 min read · May 2026
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 Consulting
KPMG, EY & PwC CV: How to Write a Big Four Application That Works
KPMG, EY, and PwC are not the same firm. This guide breaks down the real differences between them, what each one actually values in candidates, and why sending the same application to all three is a mistake.
9 min read · May 2026
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