Writing a CV When You Have Little Work Experience
School leavers, graduates and career changers can still write a strong CV. How to show skills from study, volunteering and everyday responsibilities.
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See programmesA blank CV can be hard to face when you have not had many jobs. The good news is that employers hiring for entry-level roles do not expect long employment histories. They want to see that you are reliable, willing to learn, and have the basic skills the role needs. You have more evidence of those things than you might think.
Keep it short and clear
For most early-career roles, one to two pages is plenty. Use clear headings, a simple font and plenty of white space. Recruiters often scan a CV quickly, so make the important information easy to find.
A typical structure:
- Name and contact details
- Personal profile
- Education
- Experience (paid and unpaid)
- Skills
- Interests and achievements, if relevant
Write a focused personal profile
Your profile is three or four sentences at the top that sum up who you are and what you are looking for. Make it specific to the type of role.
“Recent psychology graduate with experience supporting children in after-school clubs and a mentoring programme. Patient, organised and confident working with young people from different backgrounds. Looking for a teaching assistant role where I can develop my skills in supporting pupils with additional needs.”
Count all of your experience
Experience does not have to be paid. Consider:
- Volunteering, such as charity shops, community events or mentoring schemes
- Part-time or seasonal jobs
- Work experience placements
- Responsibilities at school or university, such as prefect, society treasurer or sports captain
- Caring for a family member
- Organising events, fundraising or running a small online project
Describe each one with action words and results: “Organised a charity bake sale that raised £240 for a local food bank.”
Show skills with evidence
A list of words like “hard-working, good communicator, team player” adds little on its own. Back each skill with a short example.
- Communication: “Presented a group project to an audience of 60 students.”
- Organisation: “Balanced 16 hours a week of part-time work alongside full-time study.”
- Teamwork: “Worked with three classmates to design and run a survey of 120 people.”
Match the job description
Read the advert carefully and note the skills and qualities it mentions. Use the same language where it honestly applies to you, and make sure your best matching examples appear near the top. Many employers use software to screen CVs, and matching key terms can help.
Education can lead
If you are a recent school leaver or graduate, your education section may come before experience. Include relevant modules, projects or a dissertation topic if they relate to the job. Mention any certificates or short courses too.
Check everything twice
Spelling and grammar mistakes can cost an interview. Read your CV aloud, use a spellchecker, and ask someone else to read it. Make sure your email address looks professional.
Add a short cover letter
Where possible, include a short cover letter or email explaining why you want this particular role and what you would bring. It gives you a chance to show enthusiasm and fill gaps your CV cannot.
Keep improving it
Your CV grows with you. Each new volunteering role, course or project can be added. Save a master version with everything, and tailor a shorter version for each application.
Worth remembering
Words like 'hard-working' or 'team player' add little on their own; a short example makes each skill believable.
Try this
Save a master CV with everything on it, then tailor a shorter version for the next job you apply for.
Check what stuck
Tap a card to turn it over.
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