Leaving school is a big milestone.
Whether the next step is college, university, an apprenticeship, or entering the world of work, there are lots of decisions to make. This may be the first time you have created a CV, and knowing where to start can feel overwhelming.
Whether you’re a school leaver preparing your first CV, or a parent looking to support your child’s next step, we’re here to help.
In this blog, we share our top advice on how to write a standout early careers CV, to make that first professional step as easy as possible.
Stick to one page
A common mistake that school leavers make when creating their first CV is thinking that the longer their document is, the more seriously their application will be taken.
Employers won’t expect you to have a lot of experience. A one-page CV is acceptable at this stage of your professional life.
It’s better to keep your application documents sharp and focused on your key achievements, instead of padding it out with unnecessary filler to make it look longer.
Use a clear structure
Every CV should follow a standard layout to ensure all the key information is included.
Here is a brief summary of what your CV should look like.
- Contact Details: Your name, phone number, and email address. Don’t include a photo of yourself, as this won’t be scannable if an employer uses Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) to screen CVs.
- Personal Profile: A summary of your experience, interests, and why you are the right fit for a position.
- Education: Include the school you went to, the years you attended, the subjects you studied, and the grades you achieved.
- Employment History: Any part-time or seasonal jobs you have held, alongside your key responsibilities there.
- Key Skills: The key attributes you will bring to the role.
- Additional Skills: Any other skills that could be relevant to the role you are applying for, such as:
- Your driving license
- Courses such as First Aid, Health & Safety, or Food Hygiene
- Grades you have achieved in musical instruments
- Qualifications like Lifeguarding
- Languages you speak and your level of proficiency
Reflect on your experience
One of the key worries school leavers have when preparing a CV is that they don’t have experience that will make an impact on prospective employers.
Employers are looking for well-rounded candidates who will fit into their team. The skills they will be looking for go beyond the grades you have attained in school.
The key to making a great first impression is to present your experiences – both inside and outside of the classroom – clearly and professionally on your CV.
Here are a few examples to give you some inspiration:
School Projects
Example skills: Leadership, research, public speaking
How to show this on your CV: “Through leading school projects, I have learned how to meet deadlines and developed exceptional organisation, time-management, and communication skills.”
Part-time Jobs
Example skills: Teamwork, problem solving, punctuality
How to show this on your CV: “Through my job, I have developed a strong work ethic and learned about the importance of punctuality. I am confident in communicating with a wide range of customers and can remain calm and efficient in a busy environment.”
Volunteering
Example skills: Empathy, communication, reliability
How to show this on your CV: “Through volunteering, I have developed strong interpersonal skills, and can effectively support and communicate with others in my team.”
Hobbies
Example skills: Creativity, self-motivation, discipline
How to show this on your CV: “I have been playing piano for seven years, and regularly play with a band. I am dedicated to learning independently, experimenting creatively, and working hard to improve my skills.”
Sports
Example skills: Teamwork, leadership, resilience
How to show this on your CV: “I have been captain of my football team for the past two years. I understand the importance of working as a team, performing under pressure, and remaining resilient after setbacks.”
Create a confident Personal Profile
Once you are happy with how your CV reflects your experience, we recommend going back to the start to write your Personal Profile.
Recruiters will spend, on average, just 8 seconds looking at your CV. To keep them reading, you need to attract attention!
Your Personal Profile should only be around four lines long, and the points you include will largely depend on the specific role you are applying for.
For example, if you are applying for an administrator job in an office, your Professional Profile could say something like:
“A trustworthy, adaptable individual who is looking forward to starting a career in Business Administration. Comfortable working both as part of a team and independently. Excellent time-keeping and project management skills, with clear knowledge of Microsoft programmes.”
Proofread before sending
Finally, make sure you proofread your CV for any spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and formatting issues. You’ve put so much work into creating it – make sure it does you justice!
We hope this blog has provided some clarity on how to create a standout school leaver CV.
Taking your first steps into the world of work is an exciting milestone. If you’re struggling to articulate your skills on paper, our team would be happy to help.
From structure and wording to presentation, our team of professional writers create CVs that highlight each school leaver’s strengths, skills, and potential – even when their experience is limited – so they can approach future opportunities with confidence.
Browse our CV bundles here to find out more.