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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!

An example of a CV for a 16 year old with no work experience that has a large volunteer experience section showcasing professional skills.

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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.

A CV for a 16 year old example that includes a skills section, education section, and some relevant work experience.

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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:

A sample CV for a 16 year old with examples of skills and experience an application could include if they didn

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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:

A burgundy CV example for a 16 year old that features a striking 3-Dimensional effect due to the use of a coloured border.

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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.

A CV example for a 16 year old in Ireland that features a blue colour scheme and a one-page format.

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More CV ideas

Check out some of these CV examples for even more ideas for writing your CV as a 16 year old:

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.

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Samuel Johns
Written by

Samuel Johns

Samuel Johns is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Senior Editor on the CV Genius team, with 6+ years of experience in the careers space. He has helped countless job hunters craft high-quality CVs and cover letters, exceed expectations at interviews, and obtain their dream jobs. Born and raised in County Durham in the beautiful North East of England, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in French Language and Literature from the University of Bristol in 2013 and has worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London, Paris, and Taipei as a French–English translator. He’s determined to use his native English and fluent French skills to help UK and French candidates get the jobs they deserve. In addition to the British and French versions of CV Genius, Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published on numerous websites, including Careers.org, the University of Warwick, the Enterprisers Project, and HR.com. If you’d like to collaborate, please reach out to Samuel through LinkedIn. Please note, we don’t accept guest posts and won’t reply to such requests.