WorkCV

School leaver CV example

Build a first CV from school, volunteering and what you have actually done.

Start with an honest education-first CV for a first job or apprenticeship. Bring forward GCSEs, school projects, volunteering, clubs and DofE evidence without inventing an employer or job title.

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School Leaver CV

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Aisha Khan

Business Administration Apprentice

aisha.khan@email.co.uk07123 456 789Manchester, UK

Profile

Reliable school leaver applying for a business administration apprenticeship, with evidence from GCSE coursework, a school enterprise project, volunteering and Duke of Edinburgh activities. Confident using Word, PowerPoint and spreadsheets, communicating with different people and completing agreed tasks on time.

Experience

School Enterprise Project Member

East Manchester Academy | Manchester

Sep 2025 - Dec 2025

  • Worked in a six-person team to plan and run a fundraising stall, agreeing roles, tracking costs in a spreadsheet and preparing signs and price lists.
  • Spoke with pupils, staff and visitors during the event and helped reconcile cash against the sales record with a teacher.

Volunteer

Local Food Bank Collection | Manchester

Nov 2024 - Mar 2025

  • Sorted donated items by category and use-by date, followed hygiene instructions and kept the work area organised.
  • Welcomed donors, explained which items were needed and worked reliably during scheduled weekend collection sessions.

Education

GCSEs including English Language, Mathematics and Combined Science

East Manchester Academy | Manchester

2021 - 2026

  • List confirmed subjects and grades accurately. Add relevant coursework, school awards or practical projects only when they support the application.

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award

East Manchester Academy | Manchester

2024 - 2025

  • Completed volunteering, physical and skills sections and a supervised expedition, building planning, teamwork and resilience.

Skills

  • Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
  • Basic spreadsheet use
  • Clear written communication
  • Teamwork
  • Organisation
  • Following instructions
  • Customer service
  • Punctuality and reliability

Recruiter scan

Employers need signs of readiness, not a fictional work history.

Specific examples of turning up, following instructions, helping people and finishing tasks can demonstrate entry-level potential.

English and maths

Show confirmed GCSE subjects or results clearly when the apprenticeship or job asks for them.

Reliability

Use attendance, regular volunteering, clubs or caring responsibilities only where you can explain the commitment honestly.

Basic tools

Name Word, PowerPoint, email or spreadsheets when you have used them in school or a project.

Target role

Match the profile and evidence to the actual first job or apprenticeship instead of saying you will do anything.

Template structure

Put the strongest available evidence first.

Early-career CVs do not need filler. Change the order to match the vacancy, keep dates clear and make every section earn its space.

Header

Name, town or city, phone and a sensible email address. Leave out a photo, date of birth and full street address.

Profile

Three or four lines naming the target, strongest school or community evidence and practical availability.

Education

List school, GCSE subjects and confirmed grades accurately, followed by relevant projects or awards.

Experience

Use volunteering, work experience, enterprise projects, clubs and responsibilities with honest section labels.

Skills

Choose specific tools and behaviours from the advert and connect them to real examples.

Evidence examples

Turn real responsibilities into useful CV bullets.

School enterprise project

  • Tracked costs and sales in a shared spreadsheet for a six-person fundraising project, checking entries against receipts.
  • Helped prepare signs, price lists and a rota, then spoke with pupils, staff and visitors during the event.

Volunteering or DofE

  • Sorted food-bank donations by category and use-by date while following hygiene and storage instructions.
  • Planned equipment and timings with a supervised expedition team, adapting the route when conditions changed.

Research checked

Current UK early-career guidance, linked directly.

National Careers Service CV guidance

Official structure and tailoring guidance, including what personal information to leave out.

UCAS CV guidance

Advice on using education, achievements, volunteering and extracurricular activities when experience is limited.

Barclays LifeSkills CV tips

Entry-level exercises for identifying skills and presenting school or community evidence.

Related guidance

Student CV templateCV with no experienceWarehouse CV templateHow to write a CV

FAQ

School leaver CV example questions.

What should a school leaver put on a CV?+

Include contact details, a focused profile, education and GCSEs, school projects, work experience, volunteering, clubs, awards and genuine skills relevant to the role.

Can I make a CV with no paid work experience?+

Yes. Use accurately labelled school, volunteering, community and personal-responsibility evidence. Do not invent employers or paid duties.

Should I include GCSE grades?+

Include confirmed grades when the employer asks for them or they strengthen the application. Label predicted or expected results accurately and never present them as confirmed.

How long should a school leaver CV be?+

A clear one-page CV is often enough. Use a second page only when you have relevant work experience, qualifications, projects or responsibilities that genuinely help the application.

Start with a truthful first CV, then tailor it to the vacancy.

Replace the example with your real subjects, projects and responsibilities, then pay £7.99 only when you download the final PDF.

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