Making a convincing first CV as a 16 year old isn’t as hard as you might think. Here are some professional resources to help you through the process.
CV template for a 16 year old
This blank CV template uses a neat, logical format to present your skills and qualifications. Simply follow the instructions to personalise the document to your next job application:
CV examples for different situations
If filling in your template is easier said than done, get an idea of what a good CV looks like for your situation first.
Check out these CV examples to do that:
CV example with no work experience
This applicant expertly demonstrates one great approach to writing a CV without previous work experience.
They open with a strong personal statement outlining their strengths. Then they list informal volunteer work experience that demonstrates their skills in action. You can write a CV like this even if you’ve never had a formal job before!
CV example with previous work experience
This teen CV does have formal work experience to showcase, so it uses a CV format that emphasises the applicant’s work history.
CV example with no school qualifications
If you don’t have any qualifications like GCSEs or N5s yet, focus instead on hobbies and interests as well as extracurricular activities like Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or footie achievements to show you’re a capable achiever in whatever you set your mind to:
CV example for a part-time job
To get a part-time job, you’ll need to convince employers that you can balance your studies with the responsibilities of the role. This one-page CV makes that case effectively:
CV example for Irish 16-year-olds
If you’re writing a CV as a 16 year old in Ireland, your CV will need to reflect Irish educational qualifications. Compare yours with the one below to check whether you’ve tailored yours correctly for Ireland.
More CV ideas
Check out some of these CV examples for even more ideas for writing your CV as a 16 year old:
- Internship CV example
- Part-time job CV example
- Tutor CV example
- Retail CV example
- Hairdressing CV example
How to write a CV for a 16 year old with no experience
Here’s your full guide to writing a CV as a 16 year old (plus a cover letter).
1. Start by formatting your CV properly
Using the right CV format is what separates a bad CV from a professional one.
The key is keeping your CV simple and polished, so follow these steps to format your CV properly:
- Choose a professional font – classic fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Georgia are good choices. Also, use a CV font size of between 10.5 and 12 points to ensure employers can easily read everything.
- Use standard margins – 2.5 cm margins provide just the right amount of white space on your CV, keeping it looking clean and professional.
- Use single or 1.5 line spacing – excessive spacing can make your CV look childish, while anything under 1 point line spacing will make the text cramped and hard to read.
- Start each section with a clear header – for example, your education section should clearly say ‘EDUCATION’ at the top.
2. Open with a strong personal statement
A personal statement is your summary of why you’re the right person for the job.
If you have no work experience, this section lets you describe your key strengths, motivations, and career goals.
Here’s an example of a strong personal statement for a 16 year old with no work experience:
Hardworking, enthusiastic student, currently studying towards 10 GCSEs including Maths, English and Sciences. A motivated team player with strong communication skills developed through roles in the school council, drama club, and volunteer experience. Seeking a part-time retail position to complement my studies while gaining valuable work experience.
3. List your education details
As a 16-year-old student with no experience, your education section should be the main focus of your CV.
List the secondary school or college you currently attend, as well as the subjects and qualifications you’re studying.
If you haven’t got your final results yet, include your predicted grades instead.
Mention any impressive achievements too — for example, awards, certificates, or extracurricular activities that have skills in common with the top skills employers seek.
4. Use a ‘relevant experience’ section
Using a relevant experience section allows you to highlight any informal experience that qualifies you for the job. It could include:
- Part-time/weekend work
- Voluntary work for a charity, hospital, or community organisation
- Babysitting or pet sitting duties
- Role in a school club like events coordination, fundraising, or leadership
- Position of responsibility at home, like caring for a family member
- Extracurriculars at school
Write about any of these experiences as if they were part of a work history entry for regular jobs: use bullet points to describe your duties and key achievements.
5. Highlight your transferable skills
Even if you have minimal work experience, you probably have valuable transferable skills.
For example, you could write a skills section that includes your:
- Communication skills (through extracurricular activities, part-time jobs dealing with the public etc.)
- Organisational abilities (juggling schoolwork, hobbies, or household duties)
- Teamwork skills (from sports teams, group projects, or volunteering)
- Tech skills (e.g., proficient in Microsoft Office)
- Problem-solving abilities (instances where you overcame challenges)
- Time management and ability to work to a deadline
The key to convincing employers is to be specific. Just listing ‘communication skills’ on your CV doesn’t say much.
Instead, back up your claim in your relevant experience section by saying something like ‘Delivered 5 presentations per term to a class of 20+, honing my communication skills’.
6. Write a cover letter
Half of recruiting managers expect to see a cover letter, so don’t risk rejection by failing to write one.
Even a short cover letter strengthens your case by linking the achievements in your CV to the job you’re applying for.
A great cover letter achieves the following goals:
- Highlights your enthusiasm and work ethic
- Explains why you want this specific job
- Gives context to the qualifications on your CV
If you take the time to learn how to write a cover letter, it’ll pay off when you apply for jobs by making it more likely that you’ll land interviews.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about CVs for 16 year olds:
1. Should you put your age on your CV?
No, you should not put your age on your CV because it can lead to age discrimination. For the same reason, leave the following personal details off of your CV:
- nationality
- sex/gender identity
- marital/relationship status
- political preferences
2. Is it okay to write a CV that is two pages or longer?
Yes, it is okay to write a two-page CV (or longer).
However, it’s likely you don’t have a lot of relevant experience to include at this point in your career. Still, if you’ve gained a lot of experience from volunteering, extracurriculars, placements, and other sources, feel free to use a multipage CV.
3. Why do you need a CV for a 16-year-old?
As a 16 year old, you need a CV to show employers you’d be a good fit for their job opportunity.
Because employers are busy, they prefer to read a quick intro to your strengths, career goals, and experience (in other words, a CV).
Fortunately, when you have the right tools, making your CV will be quick and easy.
It’s easy to make a CV in minutes with an online CV builder. You can sign up for most of these builders for around £3 — so less than a quarter of a monthly Spotify Premium subscription — and you can tailor your CV to your heart’s content for different roles.
