How to write a CV with no experience

Everyone starts somewhere. A first CV is about showing what you can do and how you work, using school, college, volunteering and everyday responsibilities as evidence.

What to put instead of work experience

• Education: your school, college or university, with grades or predicted grades
• Projects: coursework, a website, an app, a fundraiser, a club you ran
• Volunteering: charity shops, food banks, sports coaching, events
• Responsibilities: prefect, team captain, caring for a family member, babysitting
• Work experience placements and Saturday jobs, however short

Write a profile that looks forward

Say what you are studying or have finished, what you are good at, and what you want next.

Reliable and friendly school leaver with GCSEs in English and Maths, looking for a first role in retail. Volunteered every Saturday for a year at a charity shop, handling the till and sorting stock.

Put education first

Without much work history, your education is your strongest section, so it goes straight after your profile. Include the dates, the qualification and the grades.

Turn everyday things into skills

Employers hiring for entry-level jobs look for reliability, communication, teamwork and willingness to learn. Show them with examples:

• Captain of the netball team: organised training for 12 players
• Raised £450 for a local hospice with a sponsored walk
• Looked after two younger siblings after school every weekday

Show your availability

For part-time and hospitality jobs especially, say when you can work: evenings, weekends, school holidays.

Keep it to one page

One well-filled page looks better than two thin ones.

Get the layout right quickly

Write your details in a document or notes, then paste them into Your CV Studio. It sorts them into sections and sets them in a clean design. The hospitality and retail template suits most first jobs.