School Leaver CV examples + guide

Writing a School Leaver CV might seem tricky if you’re just starting out, but it’s all about showing off what you can bring to the table. Your CV should highlight your skills, academic accomplishments, and all the experience you’ve gained along the way.

This guide will help you emphasise your potential and write your application to land the role or apprenticeship you’re after.

Your CV layout should be as straightforward as a school timetable (minus the algebra and geography you’re never going to use). Keep things clear and logical so recruiters can easily see your strengths.

Here’s how to structure your School Leaver CV:

• Name and contact details – Place personal details at the top so employers can get in touch easily. Including a photo isn’t required.
• Profile – Also known as your personal statement, summarise your education, key skills, and enthusiasm for starting your career.
• Core skills – Briefly list those transferable abilities like teamwork, communication, and time management, which make you a suitable candidate for the role.
• Work experience – Provide a detailed breakdown of any part-time jobs, volunteering, or school projects, in reverse chronological order.
• Education – Focus on your GCSEs, A-levels, or equivalent qualifications.
• Additional info – It’s highly recommended you mention hobbies and interests, awards, or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your initiative or teamwork.

Your CV should reflect your potential and be easy to read. Even if your experience is a little light, avoiding formatting mistakes can make it shine brighter than a student’s perfect attendance certificate.

Here’s how to format your School Leaver CV:

• Bullet points – Break down information for quick reading and clarity.
• Divide sections – Use clear headings to make navigation simple for busy recruiters.
• Use a clean font – Keep in mind to prioritise readability with a simple, professional font.
• Keep it the right length – Keep it no more than 2 pages, but make sure to include everything important.

Your profile, also known as your personal statement, is your opportunity to show recruiters what you’re all about. Highlight your education, key skills, and your enthusiasm for learning and contributing to a team.

Here are some tips on what to include in your School Leaver CV profile:

• Where you’ve studied – Mention your school and the qualifications you’ve earned.
• Your top qualifications – Highlight GCSEs, A-levels, or equivalent achievements.
• Work experience – Mention as much work as you have, even if they were unpaid or small roles.
• Key skills – Include strengths like communication, teamwork, or problem-solving.
• Career goals – Briefly outline what you’re looking for in your first role, apprenticeship, or university course.
• Extracurricular involvement – Reference activities that demonstrate initiative or leadership, like sports or school councils.

Your core skills section is like your CV’s highlight reel, showing off your best abilities in a quick and easy-to-read format.

For School Leavers, this might include transferable skills like time management, communication, or problem-solving. Tailor these to the role you’re applying for to make the strongest impression.

The education section is the centrepiece of your CV, as it showcases your hard-earned academic achievements. Focus on your GCSEs, A-levels, or whatever else you’ve graduated with, and include any standout results or relevant coursework.

Provide more detail to your most recent and most relevant qualifications: mention the modules, essays, or course projects that matter the most to the role you’re applying for. List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent..

Example education sections

What to include in your education section

For each qualification, add the following info:

• Qualification & organisation – The name of your school and each of the most important and recent courses.
• Dates studied – The date you began the course, and the date you earned the qualification.
• Extra details – If it’s a recent and relevant course, detail some of the most important skills and experience you gained from it. That could include modules, essays, or things you learned: ideally, tailor it for the job you’re going for.

Your work experience section is where you show recruiters how you’ve applied your skills in real-life situations. Even if you have no work experience beyond babysitting or helping out at the school fair, don’t underestimate its value. Recruiters love initiative!

List your experiences in reverse chronological order, unless there are especially relevant things that need emphasising.

Focusing on transferable skills and contributions. And yes, teamwork on the football pitch absolutely translates to collaboration in the workplace.

• Outline – Briefly describe the role, the organisation, and your main focus in the position.
• Responsibilities – Highlight tasks like assisting customers, managing schedules, or collaborating with teams. Use action verbs like “helped,” “organised,” or “coordinated.”
• Achievements – Mention outcomes, such as positive feedback or successfully completing a project. Numbers or measurable results can make your impact even clearer.

At the bottom of your CV is an optional section for any additional information that might be useful in the role you’re applying for.

As a school leaver, this should be a fairly comprehensive section to help make up for your relatively little experience: list anything you think will show that you’re a good fit for the role.

Good additional info for School Leavers