School Leaver CV: Template, Examples & Writing Guide

Writing your first school-leaver CV can feel challenging, but with the right approach, it’s simple to stand out. A clear, well-structured CV for a school leaver highlights your education, skills, and any experience or volunteering you’ve done. I'll show you how to write a CV for a school leaver, share practical tips, and include a school leaver CV example and template to help you create a strong first impression with employers. Let's begin!

In this guide:

• A school leaver CV example better than 9 out of 10 other CVs.
• A free school leaver CV template you can use.
• How to highlight your skills and achievements on a school leaver CV.
• How to describe your education and experience on a CV for school leavers to land your first job.

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[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My CV is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

School leaver CV example

School leaver CV template

Looking for more detailed advice or guides for specific careers? Read more here:

• How to Write a CV
• Teenager CV Example
• CV With No Experience Example
• CV for a Part-Time Job Example
• Internship CV Example
• Shop Assistant CV Example
• Hospitality CV Example
• Barista CV Example
• Free CV Examples for All Jobs

Here’s how to write a CV for a school leaver:

1. Format your school leaver CV template correctly

A school leaver is someone who has recently finished or is about to finish their secondary education. Your school-leaver CV needs to prove you’re a strong candidate, even without much job experience. With youth unemployment in the UK at nearly 14%, standing out is more important than ever.

The good news? You can boost your chances by making a great first impression. A well-structured, professional CV layout is the first step in getting noticed and demonstrating to employers that you’re ready for the world of work.

📝 Here’s how to format your school leaver CV:

• Choose the right CV format. The best choice for a school leaver's CV is the chronological format that recruiters are most familiar with. It’s fully compatible with the ATS software that scans your application.
• Use the best settings for your CV layout. Page margins should be set at one inch on each side, text should be left-aligned with no justification, and you should double-space between each CV section. This creates plenty of white space, making your CV easier to read and helping the recruiter find the information they need.
• Choose a professional CV font. Cambria, Arial, and Helvetica all look great. 
• Less is more; don’t overdo it. The best CV length for a school-leaver is one page
• Unless the job advertisement specifies otherwise, save your CV as a PDF to maintain its original formatting.
• Don’t attach your photo or include any personal info like your date of birth. 

💡 Pro Tip: Check, check, and check again. Spelling and grammatical mistakes can ruin your chances. Use the word processor’s built-in spell checker, run your CV through a writing app like Grammarly and have a friend check your work. 

2. Put your contact details in the CV header

The CV header is the very first lines of text that contain your name and contact information. 

☑️ Here’s what to include:

• Your full name
• Phone number
• Professional e-mail address based on your name

You don’t have to include your residential address. It’s not relevant and just takes up space that could be used for more important information.

💡 Read more: What to Include in a CV: Essential CV Sections

3. Write a school leaver CV personal statement

Think of a personal statement as the opening paragraph of your CV. It’s a chance to grab the employer’s attention and make them want to learn more.

In just 3–4 sentences, you need to highlight:

☑️ who you are

☑️ what you bring to the role

☑️ what your career goals are

• If you have no work experience: focus on your educational background, strengths, and relevant extracurricular activities. Pick 3–4 points that match the job ad and show enthusiasm for the role and the company.
• If you’ve had related experience: list key skills and achievements, then tailor them to the role by matching them with the employer’s requirements.

Write this section last. Once your skills, experience, and education are clearly laid out, it’ll be much easier to craft a strong, tailored introduction that focuses on what you can offer the employer. Don’t make it about you; make it about the employer. Applying for a retail job? Mention how you can offer excellent customer service and improve sales.

When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.

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4. Turn your education into an advantage

On a CV template for a school leaver, it’s best to put your education right after the introduction. At this stage of your career, it carries more weight than work history.

📝 Here’s how to make a perfect education section:

• List the name of your school, its location, and dates of attendance.
• Include the subjects and grades for your A-levels.
• For GCSEs, it’s usually enough to list Maths and English, as these are often essential for most roles.
• However, if you’ve taken a GCSE that directly relates to the job you're applying for, be sure to include it to show added relevance.

💡 Read more: How to Include Educational Background on a CV

5. Complete a school leaver work experience section

If you have no experience whatsoever, feel free to omit this section. However, it’s vital to include any relevant experience you do have, as it’s a significant advantage when you’re writing a school leaver's CV.

📝 Here’s how to create a work experience section:

• List the most recent job first, then move backwards chronologically.
• For each role, include a job title, employer’s name, employment dates (write “present” if you still work there), and up to six bullet points describing your role.
• Use strong action verbs, such as assisted, managed, or created, to begin each point.
• Focus on achievements where possible; show not just what you did, but how well you did it.
• Tailor this section to the job advert by highlighting relevant experience that matches the employer’s requirements.
• Use the CAR (Challenge-Action-Result) formula to structure your bullet points.

Let me explain that last point in more detail. It’s a simple way of adding more impact to your bullet points. A way of showing the hiring manager you’ve got the ability to make a positive contribution. Look at this example:

There’s a challenge: too much money is being spent on office supplies. An action: negotiating a discount. As a result, an impressive monthly saving. 

💡 Pro Tip: If you have no experience at all, then be proactive. There are plenty of ways to gain that all-important experience. Try volunteering for a local charity. Check if your school or college organises work experience placements, or contact the King’s Trust. Any experience you can get will be a boost to your CV.

6. Show off relevant school-leaver CV skills

When writing a CV for a school leaver, showcasing key skills is essential – but focus on the kind that employers want to see, not your personal challenges or party tricks.

📝 Here’s how to include skills on a school leaver CV:

• Start by reviewing the job advert and noting the specific skills it mentions.
• Next, create your own skills list. Look at what you've gained through education, work experience, extracurricular activities, or other areas of your life.
• Aim to include 5–10 skills on a CV. Combine job-specific skills with widely valued traits like teamwork, effective communication, or time management to create a well-rounded profile.
• Aim for a mix of soft skills and hard skills.

These skills would look great on a school leaver's CV:

Examples of skills for a school leaver CV

• IT skills (name the programs you’re familiar with)
• Interpersonal skills
• Time management
• Customer service skills
• Creativity
• Persuasion
• Team work
• Negotiation
• Decision making
• Adaptability

💡 Read More: Best List of Skills to Put on a CV [Top Skills & Examples]

7. Add additional sections to a school leaver CV

Most school leaver CVs tend to blend together – mainly because they often lack extensive work history. That makes it harder to stand out. The solution? Personalise your CV with extra sections that showcase your individuality and potential.

📝 Here's how to add extra sections to a school leaver CV:

• Can you speak another language? Foreign language skills are needed at all levels of the workforce and are a great choice for a school leaver's CV.
• Include hobbies and interests on your CV. They’re a great way of making you more relatable to the recruiter; it’s proven that we like people who are like us. It can also demonstrate your abilities. E.g. painting and drawing show you have a creative mind.
• You could also include projects, achievements, awards, and volunteering. Anything that’s relevant to the job and makes you stand out as a good candidate.

💡 Read more: Best Hobbies and Interests to Put on a CV

8. Pair your school leaver CV with a cover letter

I know what you’re thinking: who actually writes a letter these days? But in the world of recruitment, cover letters are still a pretty big thing. 83% of recruiters say they read cover letters. Writing a cover letter to accompany your school-leaver CV is another great way of making your job application stand out.

📝 Here’s how to write a cover letter in no time:

• Use the correct cover letter format.
• Put a ‘hook’ in your cover letter opening. Show energy and passion.
• Describe an impressive achievement. Including accomplishments in a cover letter can make you stand out as a candidate.
• Demonstrate how key skills and experience will help you to excel in the job you’re applying for. Like your CV, tailor your cover letter to each new job you target.
• Put a call to action in your cover letter ending by asking to meet or schedule a phone call to discuss the job further.
• Stick to the right cover letter length.

One last tip: follow up on your job application. If you haven’t heard back within a week, contact the employer by email or phone about the status of the application. It’s a great way of improving the chances of landing an interview.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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And that’s it. You’re all set to write a school leaver CV that’ll get your working life off to a great start. Thanks for reading my article about writing a CV for a school-leaver. If you’re interested in more tips on writing a strong CV, head over to our blog for more expert-written advice!

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Sources

• House of Commons Library, "Youth unemployment statistics” 
• Robert Half, "5 ATS-Friendly Resume Tips to Outsmart the Screening System"
• The Ohio State University, "Design 101: White Space”
• Michigan State University, "Challenge Action Result Statements: CAR Statements Part 3"
• The King's Trust, "About us"
• The University of Kansas, "Study finds our desire for 'like-minded others' is hard-wired"
• Harvard Business Review, "Cover Letters Still Matter—Even If They’re Not Required"