Student and School Leaver CV Example UK | CVwerk UK
In short: what matters most in a resume as a School Leaver / Student
A first CV for UK students that makes GCSEs, A levels and work experience do the work of the career history you do not have yet.
A ready-made sample for this profession opens straight in the editor – you just adapt it.
Student or apprentice and under 21? It's free for you!
Create your CV for school & training – PDF without watermark, no subscription. Unlock it right now.
Applying as a School Leaver / Student: what matters
With no employment record to lean on, a UK student CV is built from school. Give your GCSEs with grades on the 9 to 1 scale, say which A levels, BTECs or T levels you are studying and where, and name the sixth form or college. Predicted grades matter at this stage, so a line such as predicted AAB earns its space.
Then show that you can turn up and behave like an employee. Weekend retail work, a paper round, sports coaching, volunteering at a charity shop or a Duke of Edinburgh's Award all count, especially when you say what you actually did: opened up for the 7 a.m. shift, ran the till, took the warm-up for the under-tens. Two referees are normal, and a teacher or coach is fine.
Sample CV for School Leaver / Student
Pre-filled sample data you can load into the editor in one click.
Professional summary / About me
„Year 13 student taking Biology, Chemistry and Psychology, predicted BBB. Weekend sales assistant in a city centre branch and a volunteer coach at the local athletics club since Year 10.“
Sales Assistant (weekends)
10/2024 – PresentBramble and Co · Nottingham
- Opening the shop for the 8 a.m. shift and setting up the front display
- Working the till, refunds and click-and-collect orders
- Restocking rails and helping customers find sizes
School Leaver / Student on your CV: the key tips
Practical advice for an application that gets read.
- List GCSEs with grades on the 9 to 1 scale, then the subjects you are studying at A level, BTEC or T level.
- Name your school, sixth form or college with the dates you were there.
- Turn part-time work into evidence: the shift you opened, the till you ran, the team you covered for.
- Include volunteering, a Duke of Edinburgh's Award, NCS or sports coaching.
- Give two referees, with a teacher or coach as one of them, and ask them first.
Skills worth showing on a first CV
The technical and method skills recruiters look for most.
Checklist for a Winning Resume & Application
Align your core competencies and career experience directly with the target job specifications. Highlight relevant professional certifications, technical tools, and specialized expertise prominently near the top of your resume.
Quantify your career achievements with concrete metrics, percentages, and project outcomes rather than generic task lists. This provides hiring managers with immediate evidence of your practical contributions and work ethic.
Utilize a clean, standard chronological structure with standard section headers. This ensures modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can parse your background and match your resume to employer requirements.
Carefully verify all contact information, dates, and spelling before submitting. Always export your resume as a pristine, high-resolution PDF document to ensure formatting remains flawless on every device.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions applicants ask most about resumes and applications.
What should a UK school leaver CV include?
GCSE subjects and grades on the 9 to 1 scale, the subjects you are studying at A level, BTEC or T level, your school or college, any paid work or volunteering, and two referees.
Do I need work experience to apply?
No. Unpaid work experience week, a weekend job, volunteering or coaching all count, as long as you say what you handled and how often you did it.
How long should a student CV be in the UK?
One page is plenty. Employers read for school, reliability and the skills the job needs, so cut anything that does not support one of those three.
CV samples for other professions
Browse samples for more than 20 industries and specialisations.
Create your School Leaver / Student resume now
Choose a design, load the prepared sample and download your finished application as an A4 PDF straight away.
60 templates free forever · No hidden membership