School Leaver CV Examples

Step 1: Add your contact details

Start your CV with your contact details at the very top so employers can easily get in touch. Keep this section short, tidy, and professional.

Here’s what to include:

• Full name – write your first and last name.
• Location – include your town or city (no need for a full address).
• Phone number – use a personal mobile number
• Email address – choose a simple, professional one (for example, firstname.lastname@email.com).
• Optional links – if you have one, you can add your LinkedIn profile or an online portfolio.

Example contact section

Step 2: Write your school leaver CV summary

Your CV summary (also called a personal statement) appears just below your contact details. It’s a short paragraph that introduces who you are, what you’re good at, and what you’re aiming for.

For school leavers, this section should focus on your strengths, interests, and enthusiasm rather than work history. Think about what makes you a good fit for the job or apprenticeship — your attitude, skills, and what you’ve achieved at school or in part-time roles.

Here’s what to include:

• Who you are – e.g. “Friendly and reliable individual with strong communication and teamwork skills.”
• Key strengths – e.g. “Confident using Microsoft Office and handling customer service tasks.”
• Goal or focus – e.g. “Looking for an apprenticeship in business administration to build professional experience.”

Tip: Tailor your personal statement to each role. Read the job advert and use similar keywords to show you’re a good match.

CV personal statement example for school leavers

Step 3: Add your work experience

Your experience section is where you show how you’ve developed useful skills through real-life activities. This could include part-time jobs, volunteering, work experience placements, or school projects. Recruiters understand that most school leavers won’t have a long work history — they’re looking for signs of responsibility, teamwork, and a positive attitude.

If you haven’t had a job yet, don’t worry. You can include volunteering, community work, or school responsibilities such as helping at events, mentoring younger students, or organising fundraisers. These experiences all show valuable qualities employers appreciate.

For each entry, include:

• Role or activity name
• Organisation or place
• Dates (month and year)
• A few bullet points describing what you did and what you learned

When writing your bullet points, start with action words like helped, organised, supported, or assisted. Keep them short and focused on your contribution.

Example of experience section

Step 4: Highlight your key skills

Your skills section is one of the most important parts of your CV — especially if you don’t have much work experience yet. It shows employers what you’re good at and what you can bring to their team.

Include a mix of soft skills (how you work with others) and practical skills (what you can do). Keep the list short and relevant to the job or apprenticeship you’re applying for.

Here are some examples you could include:

Tip: Check the job advert — if certain skills are mentioned (like teamwork or communication), try to include them in your list so your CV feels tailored to that role.

Step 5: List your education and certificates

Your education CV section shows employers what you’ve studied, what qualifications you’ve earned, and any subjects that relate to the job or apprenticeship you’re applying for.

List your qualifications in reverse order, starting with your most recent studies. You can also include predicted grades if you haven’t received your results yet.

If you’ve completed any extra courses or certificates — such as First Aid, Food Hygiene, or online training — include them too. They show that you’re proactive and eager to learn new things.

Here’s what to include:

• School or college name
• Qualification type (GCSEs, A-Levels, or equivalent)
• Subjects and grades (or predicted grades)
• Dates attended or year completed
• Any short courses or certificates

Example of an education section

Step 6: Add optional CV sections

If your CV feels a bit short, you can add one or two optional sections to help fill the page and show more of your personality. These sections can also highlight useful skills or qualities that don’t appear elsewhere on your CV.

Here are some examples you could include:

• Hobbies and interests – Choose ones that show teamwork, creativity, or commitment (e.g. playing football, volunteering, gaming, or music).
• Projects – Include any school, personal, or online projects that helped you build skills relevant to the role.
• Positions of responsibility – Mention things like being a prefect, class representative, or team captain.
• Volunteering – Add any unpaid roles that show initiative and community involvement.

Tip: Keep these sections short; two or three bullet points are enough. Avoid listing anything too personal or unrelated to the job.