Every experience you’ve had—at school, in clubs, volunteering—is part of a bigger picture. Your high school student CV should tell that story in a way that’s focused, confident, and full of potential.

Whether you’re aiming for a weekend job or your first serious opportunity, this guide will show you our great student CV templates and teach you how to create a high school student CV that puts your best foot forward.

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    High school student CV sample

    cv example for students

    ZARA BOND 64 Dunstan Close, Bristol BS35 3QK 07912345678 zara.bond@example.co.uk Professional summary Hardworking student with good study skills, strong academic record and readiness to take on demanding assignments. Applies education and personal talents to learn new subjects in detail and delve into challenging topics. Learns quickly and brings advanced Microsoft Office abilities. Skills Digital skills

    • Fast learner with digital apps and software
    • Proficient in Microsoft Office

    Numeracy skills

    • Quick calculations
    • Great attention to detail

    Excellent communication

    • Well spoken
    • Great listener
    • Good English skills

    Training and development

    • Willing to learn on the job
    • Happy to take out-of-hours training

    Teamwork and collaboration

    • Team player
    • Capable of following instructions
    • Easygoing and approachable

    Self-motivated

    • Eager to please in a new role
    • Energetic and physically fit

    Education GCSEs: Projected 9-5 – Maths, English, Science, IT, PE, Geography, History, French, Expected in 2023 Clifton High School – Bristol Accomplishments

    • 100% Attendance, Clifton High School – 2022
    • School Netball Captain, Clifton High School – 2020-2022
    • Duke of Edinburgh Award, Silver – 2021

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    High school student CV template

    Looking for a ready-made high school student CV template to help you get started? You’re in the right place.

    We offer a collection of professional, easy-to-edit CV templates designed for school leavers, GCSE students, and first-time jobseekers. These templates take the stress out of formatting, so you can focus on writing a CV that highlights your strengths and potential.

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    High school student CV format

    Choosing the correct CV format is crucial when you’re writing a high school student CV, but it’s where many students go wrong.

    Most students default to the standard format used by experienced professionals: the chronological CV. 

    While this layout puts work experience front and centre, it can be limiting for students with little or no job history. But that doesn’t mean it’s off the table. Let’s explore both options and help you pick the one that works best for your situation.

    Skills-based CV format

    A skills-based CV (also called a functional CV) is often the best format for a high school student CV, especially if you’re just starting out and don’t yet have formal work experience.

    Instead of focusing on job titles, this CV format shines a spotlight on what employers really want to see: your skills and strengths.

    How to structure a skills-based CV:

    • Place your personal statement at the top.
    • Follow with a ‘Key Skills’ or “Core Competencies” section. Aim for 8–10 skills that are relevant to the job.
    • Back each skill with a short, clear example from school, clubs, volunteering, or personal projects.

    For example:

    • Digital skills – Confident using Microsoft Office for school assignments; familiar with Google Classroom and Canva.
    • Teamwork – Collaborated on group science projects and sports teams, showing strong cooperation and communication.
    • Problem-solving – Helped organise a school fundraiser, finding creative solutions to budget and scheduling challenges.
    • Adaptability – Successfully balanced school, part-time work, and volunteering, adjusting priorities to meet deadlines.

    This format helps employers quickly see what you bring to the table, even without paid experience. If you’ve done any volunteering, tutoring, internships, or part-time work, include those under a separate “Practical Experience” section later on.

    Chronological CV format for students with experience

    If you do have relevant job experience, such as a part-time retail role, babysitting, or a T-Level industry placement, you might benefit from a chronological CV format.

    This structure lists your experiences in reverse chronological order, highlighting roles, dates, and achievements. It’s a great option if your work history supports the job you’re applying for.

    How to structure a chronological high school student CV:

    • Start with your personal statement.
    • Add a Work Experience section first.
    • Follow with Education, then Skills, and finally a few bonus sections of your choice.

    High school student CV formatting tips

    Whether you choose a skills-based or chronological format, these tips apply to every high school student CV:

    • Keep the length of your CV to 1 A4 page.
    • Use a clean, readable CV font (e.g., Arial or Times New Roman).
    • Break text into bullet points and use clear headings.
    • Tailor your CV to match the job you’re applying for.
    • Save and send your CV as a PDF document unless instructed otherwise.

    Choose your format now

    How to write a CV as a high school student

    Now that we’ve found the perfect template for you, let’s have a look at how to present content. We’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to write a CV for a high school student. Here is what is coming up:

    Start with contact details on your high school student CV

    Your high school student CV won’t make an impact if employers don’t know how to reach you. To start your CV, make sure your contact details are clear, up to date, and professional.

    Follow the format used in our student CV examples by including the essentials:

    • Full name – Make this the first line, bold and easy to read.
    • Phone number – Use your personal phone number and make sure it’s active.
    • Email address – Keep it professional. Avoid nicknames or shared inboxes; use a format like firstname.lastname@email.com.
    • Address (Optional) – Include your city or town to show where you’re based
    • Professional links (Optional) – Links to your up-to-date portfolio, website, or LinkedIn can give the employer additional insights into your qualifications

    Avoid using a shared phone number or a casual email address. A professional and reliable contact section sets the right tone for the rest of your high school student CV.

    High school student CV contact details example

    Edward Wallace  
    Sheffield, S1  
    07912 345 678  
    e.wallace@example.co.uk  
    linkedin.com/in/edwardwallace  
    edwardwallaceportfolio.com

    Lead with a strong personal statement

    Every strong CV for a high school student begins with a compelling personal statement. This short, confident paragraph gives employers a quick introduction to who you are, what you offer, and why you’re a strong candidate, even if you’re applying for your first job.

    Also called a professional summary, it should:

    • Avoid first-person language like “I” or “my.”
    • Focus on your strengths, not just your ambitions.
    • Mention that you’re a current high school student or recent school leaver.
    • Include qualities or achievements that match the role you’re targeting.

    Tailor your personal statement based on the job or opportunity. Here are two examples for different roles:

    Personal statement for a high school student CV—examples

    Hardworking high school student with strong academic performance, and excellent organisation skills. Confident using Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and digital platforms to complete assignments and collaborate on projects. Quick learner, pays attention to detail, and has a positive attitude when working with others.

    OR

    Energetic high school student with strong problem-solving skills and a hands-on work ethic. Physically fit and dependable, with experience managing responsibilities from part-time jobs and sports teams. Successfully completed over 30 weekend shifts at a local warehouse, consistently meeting daily packing targets and receiving positive supervisor feedback.

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    Add great skills to your high schooler CV

    When writing a high school student CV, your CV skills are often your biggest advantage, especially if your work experience is limited. Employers hiring school leavers aren’t expecting a long job history. Instead, they’re looking for clear signs of potential, professionalism, and a willingness to learn. All that starts with the skills you highlight.

    Whether you’ve had a part-time job, completed a school project, or volunteered in your community, you already have valuable skills for a high school student CV.

    First, let’s briefly discuss what are the two main types of skills: 

    • Soft skills are personal attributes that show how you work and interact with others. These include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Employers highly value these because they’re essential in any role.
    • Hard skills are technical or academic abilities you’ve learned through school, training, or personal experience—such as maths, digital literacy, or using specific tools and platforms.

    A strong CV for a high school student includes a mix of both, ideally with short examples to support each one, especially when using a skills-based CV format.

    On a traditional CV, you might use a simple bullet-point list under a “Skills” section. But with a skills-based CV, you can group your skills into themes and support each one with specific examples:

    Communication Skills  

    • Delivered group presentations in English and History classes  
    • Volunteered at open evening, greeting parents and answering questions  

    Digital Literacy  

    • Confident with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Canva and basic HTML  
    • Edited short videos using CapCut for school media project

    When it comes to high school CV skills, here are some of the best:

    Soft skills for a high school student

    Hard skills for a high school student

    • Strong mathematical ability
    • Physically fit
    • Digital proficiency (Office, Google Docs, basic coding, email)
    • Analytical skills
    • Financial Literacy
    • Social media and content creation
    • Graphic Design
    • Customer Service

    Highlight your high school student CV education

    Unless you’ve just got your results, most high school students won’t have any formal educational qualifications per se. But that doesn’t mean you should omit the education section completely. Quite the opposite, in fact. Your qualifications give employers insight into your current learning, interests, and capabilities:

    When writing the education section for a high school student CV, you can (and should) include more than just subject names. Think of this as a spotlight on what makes you a thoughtful, capable student. Here’s what you can include:

    • School name – Include the full name and location of your current school.
    • Qualification type – Such as GCSEs, Scottish Nationals, BTECs, or T-Levels.
    • Expected completion date – If you haven’t finished your qualifications yet.
    • Subjects studied – Especially those relevant to the job or course you’re applying for.
    • Predicted or achieved grades – If available and impressive.
    • Key coursework or academic projects – Useful for showing skills like research, writing, or teamwork.
    • Academic awards or responsibilities – Such as Head of Year commendations or participation in gifted and talented programmes.

    Why does this section matter when you have no work experience? When you don’t yet have job roles to list, your education section can show off:

    • Transferable skills like communication, organisation, and critical thinking.
    • Areas of interest that align with the job you’re applying for.
    • Evidence of effort and commitment to your learning.
    • Early signs of leadership, creativity, or independence.

    High school student CV example—education section

    Somersby High School, Birmingham

    Expected Graduation—June 2025

    • Subjects: English Language, English Literature, Maths, Double Science, Geography, Computer Science, Business Studies, Art
    • Predicted Grades: English Language (8), Computer Science (8), Maths (7)
    • Notable Projects: Designed a business plan for a fictional café as part of Business Studies coursework, praised for creativity and presentation.
    • Achievements: Selected for Year 10 Peer Mentoring Programme

    Include work experience (Yes, you probably have it)

    Not every high school student CV is empty when it comes to work experience. If you’ve had any kind of job, project, or voluntary role, it can set you apart from other candidates. From a part-time weekend job to helping in a family business or volunteering at a community event, your experiences matter.

    Where should work experience go on a student CV? It depends on the CV format you chose for your CV:

    • Skills-based: List your key skills first, with a supporting “Work Experience” section below. This format works well for a CV for a high school student with limited experience.
    • Chronological: If you’ve had two or more jobs or placements, you can lead with a “Work Experience” section directly after your personal statement. This is ideal if your roles are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

    What counts as experience for a high school student CV? Many students assume they haven’t done anything worth including, but employers want to see initiative, not just official job titles. Relevant experience for your student CV could include:

    • Part-time jobs (retail, babysitting, delivery, tutoring).
    • Volunteering at school or in the community.
    • T-Level or BTEC industry placements.
    • Helping with family business tasks.

    But keep in mind, a CV for a high schooler should focus on quality over quantity. There’s no need to include irrelevant or outdated roles just to fill space. Instead:

    • Include your 2–3 most relevant jobs.
    • Focus on transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and reliability.
    • Remove anything that doesn’t add value or relate to the role.

    When it comes to formatting, stick to this simple rule. Include the following in your CV work experience section:

    • Job title.
    • Company or organisation name.
    • Location (Just the city name is enough).
    • Dates of when you worked there (month and year).
    • 3–6 bullet points showing achievements, not just duties. Use action verbs and where possible, quantify your contributions to make each point stronger.

    Work experience for a high school student CV—example

    Retail Assistant
    Tesco, Manchester
    June 2025 – September 2025

    • Replenished stock efficiently based on sales data, maintaining 95% shelf availability during peak trading hours.  
    • Delivered friendly, attentive customer service, assisting over 50 customers daily and earning consistent positive feedback.  
    • Processed returns accurately and maintained cleanliness of returned stock to company standards.  
    • Trained a new team member on checkout procedures and customer interaction best practices.

    Strengthen your high school CV with bonus sections

    If you want to make your high school student CV stand out, one of the smartest things you can do is add bonus sections. When you don’t yet have a long employment history, bonus sections give you the chance to demonstrate important qualities like initiative, creativity, leadership, and community involvement.

    Why add bonus sections?

    • They give employers a clearer picture of your personality and work ethic.
    • They let you highlight non-academic achievements that build valuable skills.
    • They can show evidence of your future skillset, such as leadership, responsibility, or tech skills.
    • They make your CV more engaging, especially if you have limited work experience.

    Here are some purposeful bonus sections you can include. For your CV, choose the ones that reflect your experience the best:

    • Volunteering: Use this to highlight unpaid roles that show commitment and real-life work skills.
    • Awards & accomplishments: Great for showing recognition and motivation. Include any school awards, sports trophies, or extracurricular recognition.
    • Projects: Highlight school or personal projects that involved planning, problem-solving,  creativity, or other skills.
    • Certifications: This is perfect for showing initiative, independent learning, and industry-specific knowledge.
    • Extracurricular activities: Use this to demonstrate soft skills gained outside of class, like teamwork, leadership, or time management.
    • Known languages: Speaking more than one language is a valuable skill, especially in customer-facing or international roles.

    High school CV example—bonus sections

    Projects

    • Developed a prototype mobile app design in ICT class project
    • Created a climate change awareness video for a school assembly

    Volunteering

    • Volunteered at a local animal shelter every Saturday for 4 months
    • Helped organise a school bake sale, raising £250 for cancer research

    Dos and don’ts for your high school student CV

    DO
    DO include a cover letter 

    Including a cover letter alongside your high school CV is a great way to stand out from other applicants.

    DO tailor it to the job

    To take your high school student CV to the next level, it’s best to tailor it to the job at hand. Read through the description and match up your selling points to the requirements of the job.

    DO use a simple CV format

    Keep it easy to read with standard sections, bullet points, and professional fonts. Avoid infographics and over-designed CV templates.

    DO back up your skills with examples

    Use school projects, volunteering, work experience, or coursework to demonstrate necessary job abilities.

    DON’T
    DON’T forget to proofread

    Even the smallest mistake could see your CV put in the ‘no’ pile, so make sure you check through for typos, errors, and missing information. Go the extra mile by getting a friend or relative to check through too.

    DON’T lie about your qualifications

    Always be honest about your achievements, grades, and experience.

    DON’T use casual contact details

    Avoid nicknames or shared emails; use a professional email and your own number. Avoid adding social media contacts unless they are professional, not personal.

    DON’T fill space with fluff

    Only include information that shows value, not unrelated hobbies or filler text. A short, one-page CV is the best choice for a high school CV.

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    Your high school student CV questions answered

    What should I include in my high school student CV?

    Your high school student CV should include:

    • Contact details (name, email, phone, town/city)
    • Personal statement (a brief summary of who you are and what you offer)
    • Educational background (GCSEs, academic awards)
    • Key skills (both soft and hard skills relevant to the role)
    • Work experience (part-time jobs, volunteering, school projects)
    • Bonus sections (languages, certifications, extracurriculars, awards)

    Can I include hobbies on my high school CV?

    Yes, including hobbies and interests on your high school CV is a great way to highlight transferable skills. Activities like team sports, volunteering, or creative pursuits can demonstrate qualities such as teamwork, leadership, and time management.

    How do I format my high school student CV?

    The best CV format for high school students is usually a skills-based CV, especially if you have little to no work experience. Keep formatting clean with bullet points, consistent headings, and a professional font like Arial or Calibri. Save your CV as a PDF for best readability.

    How can a high school student write a CV with no experience?

    To write a CV with no experience, shift the focus to your skills, education, and activities that show employability.

    • Use a skills-based CV format
    • Highlight soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and communication
    • Include school projects, group work, and volunteering as practical experience
    • Add bonus sections like achievements, extracurriculars, and online courses

    What is a good summary for a high school student CV?

    A good summary for a high school student CV should be 2–3 concise sentences that highlight who you are, your key strengths, and what you’re aiming for. Focus on skills required for the job you’re targeting. Avoid the first-person pronouns. Instead, write the personal profile in third person.

    How long should a high school student CV be?

    As a high school student, you should make a one-page CV. Keep your content focused and concise. Employers will scan your CV quickly, so clarity and structure matter way more than length.

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    Perfect CV for high school students

    At myPerfectCV, we want to make it easier to create a high school student CV that gets results. Along our polished high schooler CV example, tips, advice, and answers to all your questions, we provide an easy-to-use online CV builder where you can put together your own CV in minutes.

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