To demonstrate your credentials and experience to potential employers, create a curriculum vitae (CV). A CV can be used by school graduates who have just finished or who are about to finish school to apply for their first job or apprenticeship program. Writing a good school leaver CV could help you get an interview if you just graduated from high school. This page defines a school leaver CV, lists the data that can be included in one, and offers instructions, a template, and an example to assist you in creating your school leaver CV.
What exactly is a school leaver CV?
Students who have just finished their 12th grade without continuing their studies are known as school leavers. When looking for a new job as a school leaver, you can utilize a school leaver CV to showcase your most important credentials. You might not have much work experience because you just graduated. When applying for your first employment or apprenticeship, you can highlight your skills using your schooling and volunteer experience.
A school leaver CV, also known as a school leaver resume, is a document that individuals create when they have recently completed their secondary education, such as high school, and are entering the workforce or seeking further education. It is specifically designed for individuals who are leaving school and may not have significant work experience, making it suitable for their first job applications.
Here are the key characteristics of a school leaver CV:
- Education: The school leaver CV begins with a focus on the individual’s educational background, including the school they attended, the qualifications obtained (e.g., high school diploma, GCSEs, A-levels), and the dates of completion. This section provides a foundation for the school leaver CV.
- Skills: It emphasizes the skills and abilities acquired during school that are transferable to the workplace. These skills can include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and adaptability.
- Work Experience: While school leavers may not have extensive work experience, they can include details of any part-time jobs, internships, summer employment, or volunteer work they have undertaken during their school years. This demonstrates their work ethic and commitment.
- Extracurricular Activities: The school leaver CV may include any extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, or societies the individual participated in during school. This demonstrates interests and activities beyond academics.
- Objective or Personal Statement: A brief objective or personal statement can be included to express the individual’s career goals, ambitions, and what they hope to contribute to their future employer or educational institution.
- References: While not always necessary, school leavers can include references from teachers, mentors, or employers (if applicable) who can vouch for their character and abilities.
- Structured Format: The school leaver CV follows a clear and structured format, with headings for sections like Contact Information, Education, Skills, Work Experience, Extracurricular Activities, and References.
A school leaver CV is a valuable tool for recent graduates to introduce themselves to potential employers or educational institutions. It allows them to highlight their educational achievements, skills, and any experiences that are relevant to their goals. This type of school leaver CV is particularly important for those who are transitioning from school to their first job or further studies and may not have an extensive work history to showcase.
What should go on your school leaver CV?
A well-structured school leaver CV (Curriculum Vitae) should include the following key sections and information:
- Contact Information: At the top of your school leaver CV, include your full name, phone number, email address, and, if you prefer, your home address. Ensure that your contact details are up-to-date and professional.
- Professional Summary or Objective: This is an optional section where you briefly describe your career goals and what you hope to achieve in the role you’re applying for. Keep it concise and tailored to the specific job you’re seeking.
- Education: Detail your educational background in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Include the name of the institution, degree(s) earned, major or field of study, graduation date, and any relevant academic honors.
- Work Experience: List your work history in reverse chronological order. Include the name of the company or organization, your job title, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role.
- Skills: Highlight both hard skills (technical or job-specific skills) and soft skills (interpersonal, communication, leadership, etc.) that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Be specific and provide examples of how you’ve used these skills.
- Achievements or Accomplishments: This is an optional section to showcase your significant achievements, awards, or recognition you’ve received throughout your career or education.
- Certifications and Training: List any relevant certifications, training programs, workshops, or courses you’ve completed, including the institution, date of completion, and any relevant certifications or qualifications.
- Publications (if applicable): If you have authored or co-authored publications, research papers, articles, or books, provide details about them in this section.
- Languages (if applicable): Mention any languages you’re proficient in, specifying your level of fluency (e.g., fluent, intermediate, basic).
- Professional Memberships: If you’re a member of any professional associations or organizations related to your field, include the names of these organizations in this section.
- Volunteer Work or Extracurricular Activities: Highlight any volunteer experiences, community involvement, or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your character, leadership, or commitment.
- References: While you don’t need to include references on your CV, you can indicate that they are available upon request. Be prepared to provide references when requested by a potential employer.
Tips for a Strong CV:
- Tailor your CV to the specific job you’re applying for.
- Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments (e.g., “achieved,” “managed,” “implemented”).
- Keep your CV concise and well-organized, ideally limiting it to two pages.
- Use a clean and professional format with consistent fonts and bullet points for readability.
- Proofread carefully to eliminate typos or errors.
- Quantify your achievements with specific numbers or percentages whenever possible.
Remember that your school leaver CV serves as your professional introduction to potential employers, so it should effectively communicate your qualifications and suitability for the job you’re seeking.
How to compose a school leaver CV
If you’ve just graduated from high school, you might want to think about using these stages to build your school leaver CV:
1. Select a template and format
When constructing a school leaver CV, you may select from several formats and templates. You might choose to adopt a hybrid or functional format if you’re a recent graduate. These formats emphasize pertinent abilities and educational background, which is beneficial for students who are just graduating from high school. As a new graduate, you could have little work experience because the standard CV style is chronological and emphasizes your job experience. You may convince a potential employer that you are a fantastic fit for the position by concentrating on your education and experience.
2. Include your contact details
You can put your pertinent contact details at the start of your school leaver CV. This can make it simpler for a potential employer to get in touch with you and set up an interview or ask more questions. You can add the following contact details:
- Your name
- Your mobile number
- Your email address
A link to your website or online professional portfolio may also be present at the top. You might provide a link, for instance, if you’re applying for an apprenticeship as a cosmetologist and have a portfolio with images of current projects.
3. Compose a short qualification statement.
You can provide a short qualification summary—also known as a professional summary or objective statement—below the contact heading. Describe your most pertinent credentials or experience in two to three lines. You can claim to have recently finished school or to be close to finishing as a school graduate.
4. Describe key skills
You can list your pertinent technical and people abilities in the section named “Skills.” This crucial detail frequently comes at the top of your school leaver CV, right after the professional summary segment, for school graduates. Think about modifying this segment for each job. Review the job description to see the qualifications and qualities the employer is looking for. To help your resume stand out, you might emphasize any of the skills you possess in this area.
5. List your qualifications.
Your most recent educational experience is significant as a recent graduate and should be listed at the beginning of your resume. Your educational background can be listed in bullet points, going from your newest institution to your oldest, in reverse chronological order. The following details can be included for each educational level:
- College Name
- Academic level
- Start and finish dates
- Subjects
- CGPA
If you’re still enrolled in school, you can indicate when you anticipate graduating. You can either list any pertinent academic achievements in this segment or a different achievement section.
6. List any relevant employment history
If you are a recent graduate with no past employment experience, you can skip this part. You can include a work experience section if you worked part-time when you were a student or on break from school. You can list your employment in reverse chronological order if you have more than one. The following information can be included for each position:
- Business name
- Work title
- Dates of employment
- Key obligations
Examine the position description for the position you’re looking for before listing your duties, and then highlight the critical talents on your school leaver CV. If you have experience working in a store and are looking for a job as a customer care representative, for instance, you can highlight your duties that require dealing with consumers. This can demonstrate to the potential manager that you have interpersonal and communication skills that are appropriate to a job in customer service.
7. Mention any voluntary work you’ve done
If you have experience volunteering, think about including a volunteer component on your resume. This can demonstrate your abilities, hobbies, and work ethic to potential employers. You can enter your volunteer experiences with the job, the name of the organization, and the dates that you took part in the activity in reverse chronological order. If applicable, you can additionally list a few pertinent duties or projects you helped with while performing the job.
8. List significant hobbies and pastimes
Although a CV’s interest and pastimes section are optional, it can be a terrific way to express your interests and personality to a potential employer. This may be another chance for you, as a recent graduate, to list your pertinent credentials. Try to mention passions and pastimes that are relevant to the position, if at all possible. If the position description specifies that the company is looking for teamwork skills, for instance, you may list your prior participation in team sports as an interest or hobby.
9. List your greatest achievements.
Think about adding a section for significant achievements and honors. These could stem from your academic career, prior employment, volunteer work, or extracurricular interests like sports. Include accomplishments that are relevant to the role, if you can. You might also include accomplishments that demonstrate your abilities or work ethic.
10. Review and edit
Making a good first impression is crucial because a CV frequently represents your first opportunity to speak with a potential employer. To ensure correctness, give your document a thorough examination. You may demonstrate your competence and dedication to detail by doing this. To help you find and fix any errors, you can read the document out loud or ask a friend or trustworthy colleague to evaluate it alongside you.
Template school leaver CV
You can use the following template as a guide while creating your school leaver CV:
[Your name in full]
[Your email address]
[Your mobile number]
[Optional: include a link to your site or professional portfolio]
Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences highlighting your most valuable education, training, and experience].
Education
[Name of the institution]
[Title of degree or level]
[Year of graduation]
Essential skills
[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]
Professional work history (optional)
[Title of position]
[Name of business]
[Employment dates]
- [Major duty]
- [Major duty]
- [Major duty]
[Title of position]
[Name of business]
[Employment dates]
- [Major duty]
- [Major duty]
- [Major duty]
Experience with volunteering (optional)
[Title of position]
[Name of the business or program]
[Dates of activity]
- [Major duty]
- [Major duty]
- [Major duty]
Hobbies and passions
- [Related pastime or interest]
- [Related pastime or interest]
Awards and Honors
- [Award or honor, date of achievement]
- [Award or honor, date of achievement]
CV sample for a school leaver
Think about utilizing the CV as a model while writing your document:
Angela Adams
angela.adams@email.com
111-222-3344
Professional Summary
I recently finished my GCSE coursework, and I’m now seeking a full-time, entry-level position in accounting. An A in math and prior professional experience at a nearby diner are relevant assets. My ideal job would give me the chance to pursue my interests in finance and mathematics.
Education
Erstwhile College
9 GCSEs, with English and mathematics
April 2017 – July 2022
Essential skills
- Detail-oriented
- Organization
- Data entry
- Spreadsheet software
- Math
Professional work history
Waitress
Erstwhile Restaurant
April 2019— August 2022
- Daily provided consumers with the correct change
- Daily interactions with a restaurant’s staff and clients
- Using software to manage orders
Experience with volunteering
Front desk support
Erstwhile Animal Sanctuary
April 2020—June 2022
- Welcomed guests and showed them where the kennels were
- Supported with administrative work, such as data input and filing
- Create records and enter them into the computer
Hobbies and passions
- Running and jumping
- Keeping up with the stock exchange to learn about the most recent financial developments
Awards and Honors
- 2022 Erstwhile Academy track & field team captain
- May 2020 Employee of the Month at Erstwhile Restaurant
Conclusion
With the help of the above tips, you should be able to write a strong school leaver CV that will amaze hiring managers and guarantee you a ton of interview invitations.
Always try to adjust the content to the requirements of the companies you are submitting to and make the format simple enough to read.
Frequently Asked Questions about a school leaver CV
- How should I format my CV while applying to schools?
A header containing your name and contact information sections with headers that are clearly outlined to highlight technical content, such as relevant job experience, scientific interests, and laboratory abilities and methodologies. Descriptions (typically as bullet points) in reverse-chronological entries.
- What five items must your CV contain?
The following areas should be included on every CV: contact details, CV profile, professional experience, education, and skills. Certifications, affiliations, languages, further education and classes, conferences, articles, or awards are all worthwhile additions to a CV.
- What enhances the appeal of a CV?
You should highlight your progress in your resume. Describe how your duties have evolved and grown as well as your accomplishments. This will demonstrate to the employer that you have gained a lot of knowledge from your previous employment and that you’re dedicated to developing new skills.
- Should I include references on my school leaver CV?
It’s not necessary to include references on your school leaver CV. You can simply state that references are available upon request. This allows you to provide references when an employer or educational institution specifically requests them. Ensure that you have obtained permission from your references to share their contact information.
- What if I don’t have any work experience to include in my school leaver CV?
If you have limited or no formal work experience, focus on other relevant experiences. Include details about internships, summer jobs, part-time work, volunteer activities, or school projects that have provided you with skills or insights applicable to the job or program you’re applying for. Emphasize your transferable skills and any achievements or responsibilities in these roles. Additionally, consider showcasing extracurricular activities or achievements that demonstrate your character and abilities.