How to Write a Successful School Leaver CV in 2025 (with Examples and Template)
One day, you’re signing a yearbook; the next, you're diving into the world of job hunting. If you're a school leaver in the UK struggling to land a job, don't worry, there are ways to boost your chances, starting with a professional CV. While you may not have an extensive work history, that doesn’t mean you should underestimate your potential. A good CV, even with limited experience or qualifications, can turn your application into an interview opportunity and set you on the path to success.
If you're applying for your first job, looking for apprenticeships, or still exploring school leaver opportunities after sixth form, this guide is for you. Choosing the right CV template as a 16, 17 or 18-year-old and optimising it for application tracking systems (ATS) might seem like an added challenge, but it can significantly increase your chances of catching employers' attention, and we’re here to walk you through the process.
What’s in this article?
Key sections of a simple CV for school leavers to include
Hacks for gaining skills to improve your CV
Advice on preparing for the workplace and developing professional skills
Tips for a school leaver CV template to boost your job search.
School Leaver CV example
Download this free school leaver CV example in PDF.
In this school leaver CV sample, Isabella highlights her previous work experience. She has showcased her customer service and language skills to gain a competitive edge. The Wheaton CV template is well-structured, concise, and well-formatted, which looks appealing and is easy for recruiters to read.
Kickstart your career with a winning CV! Use our easy-to-follow guide and templates to create a CV for your first job!
What to include in a school leaver CV?
School leavers today have many opportunities across various industries, including finance, healthcare, or travel and tourism. Even with little to no experience, the range of roles available to young jobseekers is expanding as more sectors create entry-level positions. Remarkably, even the NHS now offers apprenticeships that enable school leavers to train as doctors.
No matter the job you’re applying for, be sure to tailor your school or college leaver CV by including these key modern CV sections:
Personal contact details: Stay reachable with up-to-date information, such as your address, email and phone number.
Personal profile: Write a compelling summary highlighting soft skills and achievements alongside your career goals.
Education: List your high school or college background and qualifications.
Work experience: Include any work or volunteering experience.
Skills: Show what you bring to the table with hard, transferable and soft skills.
Achievements: Highlight your accomplishments from school projects or related courses.
Additional sections: Include interests, school projects, awards, such as DofE, or language skills.
We recommend creating a master CV that details your professional and academic background. Then, use this to send a job-specific CV and letter of interest to employers.
How to write a CV for a school leaver
1. Choose an ATS-friendly template and format
There are plenty of CV templates available for school leavers, but some are much better suited if you don’t yet have direct work experience. For example, skills-based or functional CVs are excellent options because they shift the focus away from your job history and instead highlight your skills, achievements, and education.
Why choose a functional CV:
It is an ideal choice for those entering the job market for the first time.
It allows you to showcase transferable skills gained from school projects, volunteering, extracurricular activities, or hobbies.
It emphasises what you can do, rather than where you’ve worked.
Due to its format and layout, it can help you stand out to potential employers.
Pro tip
Keep the layout clean and simple and avoid distracting details, bright colours, or creative fonts, as these can do more harm than good.
2. Add only relevant details about your contact information
Place your personal contact information clearly at the top of your CV, ensuring it is concise, professional, and easy to find. Avoid unnecessary details like multiple phone numbers or non-professional email addresses. This ensures potential employers can quickly reach you without confusion, keeping the focus on your qualifications and experience.
3. Create a compelling personal profile on your school leaver CV
When crafting your CV, begin with a positive and energetic personal profile summary. Introduce yourself and highlight practical qualities relevant to the job you are applying for, like motivation, communication, organisation, and time management. Focus on academic , keeping this section to 3-5 lines. Use it not only to reflect your qualifications but also to express your longer-term career goals.
Personal profile example for an A-Level CV
Customer-focused school leaver with a passion for delivering exceptional service. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills demonstrated through previous volunteering and a work placement in the retail industry. Demonstrates strong problem-solving abilities alongside effective multitasking and time management. Quick learner, adaptable, and eager to contribute to a customer-centric team. Dedicated to providing positive experiences and building lasting relationships with customers.
Explore more personal profile CV examples similar to customer service:
Personal profile example for a sixth form CV with no experience
Proactive school leaver with a strong desire to become a Teaching Assistant. Demonstrated leadership through community service and volunteering. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills from public speaking and debate clubs. Proven dedication and strong work ethic with consistent academic achievements. Additional experience includes tutoring, assisting teachers, and participating in mentoring programs. Eager to develop professional skills in education and contribute to a learning environment.
Refer to the tutor, teaching assistant or teacher CV example for more inspiration.
Personal profile example for a school leaver apprenticeship in healthcare
Passionate school leaver eager to enter the healthcare sector through an Intermediate Apprenticeship (Level 2) after GCSEs. Aspire to train as a healthcare support worker assistant and aim to advance to an Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3). Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with experience engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Previous volunteer work at local nursing homes and involvement in community outreach programs have fostered a genuine desire to support and improve the lives of others. Committed to positively impacting individuals’ well-being and pursuing a rewarding healthcare career.
Explore the following CV examples for more insights related to starting your career in healthcare:
Dive deeper into how to get a job in healthcare with little to no experience.
Personal profile example for a sports college leaver CV
Dynamic and ambitious college leaver with a passion for continuous learning and growth. Eager to embark on a rewarding career journey after completing the BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Sport with distinction. Possessing a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and a proactive approach to challenges. Adaptable and quick to learn, with a keen interest in the sports industry. Committed to contributing positively to a team environment while honing my skills and gaining valuable experience.
Explore our range of CV examples tailored to different careers in the sports industry to kickstart your journey:
4. Highlight your hard, soft and transferable skills
The skills you put on a CV should align with the job you're applying for, but certain key skills are universally valued by employers. As a rule of thumb, aim to feature a balance of hard and soft skills that directly address the requirements listed in the job description. These abilities can stem from your education, volunteer work, or even personal hobbies like photography or music.
If you're a recent A-Level student or hold a college diploma, a skills-based CV is an excellent choice. This format highlights your relevant abilities and competencies, allowing you to showcase your potential to employers, even if you have limited work experience. Here are some essential skills to keep on your radar if you want to leave a lasting impression:
Customer service skills
Roles such as waiter/waitress or bartender require cash handling, product knowledge, and time-management skills. Soft skills such as problem-solving, communication and active listening are important to interact with customers, resolve conflicts, and manage transactions.
Administration skills
An administrative, virtual assistant, data entry or office manager role requires proficiency in tasks like data entry, file management, and appointment scheduling. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritise are crucial. Effective communication, problem-solving, and adaptability are also essential for smooth office operations.
Beauty and wellness skills
If you are writing a CV for a job within the beauty industry such as hairdresser, beauty therapist or make-up artist, showcase your expertise in hair styling, skincare treatments, or makeup application. Excellent customer service abilities, creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication skills are just as important for this type of role.
Computer technology skills
If you're applying for tech-related jobs, such as a developer or prompt engineer, key skills include knowing programming languages like Python or HTML, understanding IT basics, being eager to learn, solving problems, paying attention to details, and communicating well.
5. Showcase any relevant experience on your school leaver CV
Even if your experience isn’t directly relevant to the job you’re applying for, it can still showcase your dedication, eagerness to learn, and motivation. Here are some tips:
Include any after-school or weekend jobs, as well as work placements during school or college.
Focus on academic achievements, relevant coursework, projects, and extracurricular activities.
Tailor your CV by incorporating keywords from the job description to align with employer expectations.
Use strong action verbs to demonstrate your accomplishments and make your profile stand out.
Work experience CV examples for school leavers
Apprentice, Ground Construction, Manchester, UK, 2024-2025
Gained hands-on experience in construction, assisting with various building projects under the guidance of skilled professionals. Developed technical skills in tool handling and materials management while learning safety protocols and industry standards. Demonstrated strong work ethic and eagerness to learn, contributing effectively to team goals.
Enhanced practical construction skills through active participation in projects.
Received positive feedback for punctuality and dedication to learning industry practices.
Refer to the following related job types for more work experience examples:
Barista, Bean Scene Café, Brighton, UK, 2023-2024
Prepared and served a variety of coffee and tea beverages, maintaining high standards of customer service and product quality. Managed cash transactions, handled payments and maintained the cleanliness of the café. Developed excellent interpersonal skills interacting with diverse customers and contributed to a friendly atmosphere.
Learned coffee-making techniques, contributing to increased customer satisfaction.
Demonstrated strong time-management skills in a fast-paced environment.
Explore similar roles within hospitality for more work experience examples:
Retail Customer Service Representative, Book Haven, Liverpool, UK, 2024-2025
Supported the retail operations at a busy bookstore, assisting customers in locating books and handling transactions. Provided information on promotions and store events. Contributed to inventory management and organised displays, ensuring the store was organised and welcoming for customers.
Used effective sales techniques to engage customers on the shop floor.
Recognised for teamwork and ability to handle peak hours efficiently.
If you are looking for more specific work experience examples, explore these CVs:
Shop and Fundraising Volunteer, Mind Charity, London, UK, 2023-2024
Collaborate effectively with a diverse team to organise and execute fundraising events. Engage and interact with team members, beneficiaries, and visitors, demonstrating strong communication skills. Assist with event preparation, participate in training sessions, and contribute to a positive work environment. Motivate fellow volunteers, maintain morale, and provide customer support.
Successfully raised £800k through collaborative fundraising efforts, contributing to the charity's financial goals.
Assisted with implementing an efficient event planning system, resulting in a 10% increase in event productivity.
Pro tip
If you have no work experience, use this gap as an opportunity to be proactive. Try volunteering with a local charity or business to gain some experience.
For more tips on this section, refer to our article on how to write work experience on a CV.
6. Add a dedicated education CV section
When listing your education on your CV, include the name of your school or college, years of attendance, any special awards or, if applicable, other activities you participated in, such as sports teams or clubs.
Focus on the most recent and relevant qualifications, keeping the section concise. If your grades are particularly relevant to the job, such as a Maths GCSE for a bookkeeper role, consider highlighting them. If you’re still a student, include your predicted grades. Combine entries where possible, like GCSEs and A-Levels from the same school, to keep the information clear and organised.
Examples of the education CV section for school leavers
A-levels, BTEC, and NVQ:
St. Andrews, Manchester, UK, 2023-2025
Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science
UK GCSEs:
Solihull High, Birmingham, UK, 2023-2025
10 GCSEs (including Mathematics and English)
Scottish Highers:
Crest Peak School, Edinburgh, 2020-2025
Highers: Maths (A), Physics (B), Chemistry (A), Computing Science (A)
N5s: English (C), Maths (A), Geography (B), (A), Chemistry (A), Computing Science (B)
Pro tip
We recommend gathering references from your school teachers, tutors, or career counsellors. Add these details to your master CV and use your references if requested during an interview.
7. Consider including additional sections in your school leaver CV
Enhancing your CV with extra sections can significantly improve your chances of standing out to potential employers and getting your desired job. We recommend including the following sections in your CV if they are relevant to your experience.
Courses and certificates on a school leaver CV
Courses and certificates can show your potential, especially if you have yet to gain experience. If you’re targeting a specific industry or role, take a specialised course to develop your knowledge and skills. For more inspiration, find a course with the National Careers Service that is relevant to your career goals.
Courses and certificates CV examples for a 16-year-old:
First Aid Certification, St. John Ambulance, 2021
Health and Safety in the Workplace, Online Training Institute, 2020
Digital Marketing Fundamentals, Google Digital, 2019
Introduction to Coding, Codecademy, 2018.
Pro tip
Research the job requirements and determine if a course could leverage your application. Consider taking an online course if you would prefer to gain a certificate at home.
Hobbies and interests on a school leaver CV
Choose activities that align with your skills, interests, and professional ambitions. Ensure you keep your hobbies and interests relevant, and highlight transferable skills employers list in job descriptions, such as teamwork, organisation, creativity and attention to detail.
School leaver CV examples for hobbies and interests include:
Music
Gaming
Volunteering
Writing and blogging
Chess and strategy games
Travel
Cooking
Singing and dancing.
If you have interests such as Duke of Edinburgh or volunteering, you can include them in a separate section under the heading 'Additional experience' to allow for further elaboration.
References for a school leaver CV
At the end of your CV, consider adding a references section. You can list teachers, sports coaches, or leaders of any groups you’ve been involved in who can speak positively about your character and work ethic.
Key takeaways
Focus on skills gained from school, volunteering, or extracurricular activities that apply to the workplace.
Include accomplishments, like awards or leadership roles, to stand out from other applicants.
Even without formal work experience, mention internships, part-time jobs, or projects that demonstrate your abilities.
Use a clean, well-organised layout to ensure your school leaver CV is easy to read.
Customise your application for each job to align with the role’s requirements.
Next steps?
If you need some additional help, explore our CV Writing Service to save time. Our team of experts specialises in creating professionally polished CVs and cover letters for school leavers, teenagers, 16-year-olds, or graduates with little to no experience. Each CV is carefully tailored to highlight your strengths and align with your career aspirations. Need some more help with your job application? Learn the best tips for writing a cover letter without experience. Explore our blog for more ideas on how to track your job applications and best practices for sending your CV via email.
To discover more career opportunities, check out these additional resources:
FAQs
Do school leavers need a CV?
Yes, you need a CV if you want to apply for a job. The application requirements can vary depending on the type of job you are applying for, but it's always beneficial to provide potential employers with a snapshot of your skills, education, and work experience. Based on your CV, they will be able to determine if you are a good fit for the role.
How long should your school leaver CV be?
In general, your CV should be no longer than two pages. For a school leaver CV, one page is enough. Avoid unnecessary details and only include relevant information, such as your education, transferable skills, and any relevant experience or achievements. Remember to use clear, concise language and highlight key points effectively. Learn more about the ideal CV length for your career stage.
How much do school leavers earn?
The earnings of school leavers in the UK can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of job, industry, location, and level of education or qualifications obtained. The national minimum wage depends on when you leave school. If you’re under 18, you can earn up to £7.55 per hour, while those aged 18 and over start at a minimum of £10 per hour. If you are looking for a part-time student job or considering your next steps, explore the best jobs for students to help guide you in your career choices.
What not to include on a school leaver CV?
You might find yourself adding irrelevant information to your CV to make up for a lack of experience or skills. In those cases, we recommend following these tips:
Avoid including personal details, such as your date of birth, marital status, or nationality, as these are not relevant to your qualifications or suitability for the job.
You don't need to include references directly on your CV. Instead, you can provide them separately if the employer requests them.
While it's fine to include hobbies or interests that demonstrate relevant skills or qualities, avoid listing unrelated or generic hobbies that do not add value to your application.
What is the best CV template for a school leaver CV?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the best school leaver CV template for the UK. It ultimately depends on your personal style and the job you're applying for. We recommend a clean and professional format with a clear structure. Remember: sometimes, less is more.
How to add work projects to a school leaver CV?
Adding work projects to your CV is a great way to showcase relevant skills in context. The best approach is to include these projects in a portfolio to highlight your work visually and in detail. Alternatively, you can add them to the education section or additional experience section of your CV, especially if they were completed during secondary school for GCSEs, A Levels, or Highers and are relevant to your job application.
How to write a CV for a 16-year-old school leaver with no experience?
Focus on highlighting your key skills, core competencies, and transferable or soft skills, prioritising them over employment history. Include skills like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving throughout your CV, and tailor the content to the role you’re applying for. Keep it clear, concise, and relevant, ensuring employers can quickly see your proactive attitude.
