Free school leaver CV template

For your first job, a Saturday job or a place on a course after GCSEs or A levels. No work history needed.

  • Free, no watermark
  • PDF, plus a Word copy
  • UK format
See the best designs What to put on a school leaver CV

The best designs for school leaver CVs

Picked for how school leaver CVs are read in the UK. Each one is free, and your CV works in every design, so you can switch at any time.

Bristol

A colour header and a ticked skills list, so your skills stand out even without a job history.

Two columns · 8 colours

Use this design: Bristol

Want more choice? See every design, or browse by style: Simple Modern Professional Creative Graduate and student One page IT and technical

Previews show made-up sample CVs. Yours will show your own details, in the colour and font you choose.

What to put on a school leaver CV

Leaving school at 16 or 18 and applying for your first job? Nobody expects a long work history. Employers want to see that you are reliable, friendly and willing to learn, and that you have taken part in things: school, clubs, sport, volunteering or helping out at home.

One page is plenty. Put your education near the top, then everything you have done that shows the right attitude.

Whatever the job, the UK CV format applies: your name and contact details, a short profile, experience with the most recent first, then education and skills. No photo, age or date of birth.

  1. Contact details

    Your name, your own phone number, a sensible email address and your town. No date of birth, photo or full address.

  2. A short profile

    Two or three lines: what you are looking for and what you are like, with something to back it up.

  3. Education

    Your school or college, your GCSEs with grades (or predicted grades), and any A levels, T levels or BTECs.

  4. Experience of any kind

    Work experience, babysitting, a paper round, helping in a family business, volunteering, sports teams, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and school roles such as prefect or peer mentor.

  5. Skills, with proof

    Teamwork from a sports team, handling money from a school fair, computer skills from coursework.

  6. When you can work

    After school, weekends and holidays.

Skills and keywords for a school leaver CV

From our skills guides and CV examples for this job. Use the ones that are true for you, in the words of the job advert, so recruiters and applicant tracking systems find them.

  • Numeracy
  • Microsoft Word and Excel
  • Teamwork
  • Reliability and punctuality
  • Customer service
  • Cash handling
  • Communication
  • Problem solving
  • Time management
  • Willingness to learn
  • Presenting to a group
  • Organisation
  • Leadership
  • Following health and safety rules

See it filled in

The example CVs are illustrations written with AI. The people in them are fictional.

School leaver CVs: your questions

How do I write a CV with no work experience?

Use school, clubs, sport, volunteering, work experience and anything you do to help at home or in your community. Say what you did and what it shows, for example being trusted to run the cash box at a school fair. Our first CV tool asks a few easy questions and turns your answers into a CV.

Should I put predicted grades on my CV?

Yes, if you have not had your results yet. Write them as predicted, for example "GCSE Maths: 6 (predicted)", and update your CV on results day.

What email address should I use on my CV?

One with your name in it, from a common provider. Avoid nicknames, and make sure you can get into the account.

Do I need references on my first CV?

No. If an employer asks for one, a teacher, tutor, coach or someone you have volunteered for can be a referee. Ask them first.

Keep going

Read next: Make your first CV First CV with no experience Part-time job CV for students Hobbies and interests on a CV

CV templates for other jobs: Apprenticeship Part-time job Career change Nurse Healthcare assistant Care worker Teacher Teaching assistant Retail Customer service Hospitality Administrator Receptionist Accountant Project manager Sales Marketing Software developer Electrician and trades Warehouse

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