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A CV for a Teenager

By: Garry Pierrepont - Updated: 18 Jan 2020 | comments*Discuss
 
Cv Teenager Job Employers Skills 17

The summer is approaching and you have just finished your GCSEs. You hope you will be successful, and will attend sixth form college next year, take ‘A’ levels, and eventually pass them and go to university. Getting a job might not be easy, but, armed with a degree, you should have a better chance.

Your wistful thoughts fade away, and you realise summer is approaching and you’ve got virtually no money. Pocket money isn’t enough; you want to enjoy your summer! You need a job. Smartly dressed, hair neatly combed, you walk, head held high, into your local supermarket and ask a supervisor if there are any jobs. She tells you that, yes, there might be – just leave your CV with her and she’ll be in touch. CV?

Yes, even teenagers of 16 and 17 need a Curriculum Vitae these days. The literal meaning of curriculum vitae is ‘course of life’. At 17, you really haven’t had much course of life at all, have you? CVs tend to be filled with two pages of skills, achievements, previous jobs and the like. At 17, yours could be fairly empty.

What Should Teenagers Put on Their CV?

Let’s be clear, employers are not going to expect a long history of jobs from a 17-year-old. What they will be looking for is some indication that they are going to get someone who is keen, sensible, likely to carry out the tasks they're set, and not cause more trouble than they’re worth!

A CV is a chance to promote yourself as a person someone else would like to employ. Many teenagers are a little reluctant when it comes to promoting themselves, but that’s what you have to do.

Questions like: “What can you do?”, “What do you like to do?”, “Where do you like to go?” are likely to feel like prying to them and be met with answers like: “Nothing”, “Dunno” or “Nowhere”. So what can a teenager say in a CV?

Have a think about these points:

  • What do you enjoy doing at school? No, not nothing! If you don’t have a favourite subject, then it’s usually easiest to enjoy what you are good at. So what’s your best subject? Art, PE? No problem. “I’m interested in art”; “I enjoy taking part in sport”. If you like geography, say so.
  • What clubs are you a member of at school? The answer to this may indeed be none. However, have you ever been in a club at school? Have you ever been on a committee (e.g. the Prom committee)? Have you been a prefect, or a monitor of some sort?
  • What trips have you been on? Calais, Isle of Wight, London, the local museum, the nearest Roman villa? Most school children go on a trip or two while at school. Get them written down.
  • What do you enjoy doing outside of school? Not nothing! How about: playing football, playing computer games, watching Eastenders, socialising with your mates. Some of these are a good start point. Translate into: member of the school/local football team; interested in computers; enjoy TV drama; member of local youth club. Only ever tell the truth however; if you’re not a member of a club, don’t say you are.
  • Where have you been with your family? Have you been on holiday abroad? If so, what did you find interesting (apart from the sun and the pool!)? You’ve probably been on days out with your family. Where did you go? What did you enjoy?

The point is to try and draw out things from your experiences that may be of interest to a potential employer. No, it’s true: they’re not particularly interested that you’ve been to the Isle of Wight. However, they are keen to see that it was of some interest to you, and what you enjoyed and what you learnt. That may be a person they could use in their business.

Transferable Skills to Add on Your CV

Think of the general skills you have. Everyone has got them. What do people compliment you on? What do they say you’re good at? Are you good with numbers? Can you draw? Are you a good listener? Are you a quick learner? Can you solve problems well? Can you communicate well – either written or verbally? Do you work better on your own or in a team?

Ambitions, Goals and Future Dreams

As a youngster, you may not have a great deal of history to talk about… but you have a long future to think about. What are your ambitions, your aspirations? What do you dream of doing or becoming? What do you hope to achieve? Will the job you’re going for help you reach your goals?

CV Layout and Sections

The layout and accuracy of your CV is important. Get an adult – your parents, your teacher – to read it, and make sure it’s error-free. There’s nothing more off-putting than a CV filled with incorrect spellings and bad English.

Try these sections headers:

  • Personal Details
  • Education (to date, and your next step)
  • Skills and Achievements
  • Hobbies and Interests
  • Objectives and Ambitions
  • References (adults who know you and can vouch for you)

Graduate CVs

If you have just graduated from university and are looking for a job, read our feature How to Write a Graduate CV for help and guidance on creating a winning CV.

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[Add a Comment]
I'm a student studying GCSE levels and looking fot work experience. Also looking to make money.
Lewis - 18-Jan-20 @ 5:10 PM
this website is being shut down because nobody uses it and we have seen alot of minorites coming to the site we dont like minorites
GreatCVs - 12-Nov-19 @ 1:46 PM
Good evening ladies and gentleman, I am Professor Hugh Janus PHD in Microscopy. My students very much enjoy this website while making their CV's. Although most of them are drunken baffoons they have managed to make themselves a CV using this exemplary website. Thankyou from me and my students at Mile Cross Sixth Form. Sincerely Prof. Hugh Janus
Prof. Hugh Janus - 5-Nov-19 @ 2:54 PM
Good evening ladies and gentleman, I am Professor Hugh Janus PHD in Microscopy. My students very much enjoy this website while making their CV's. Although most of them are drunken baffoons they have managed to make themselves a CV using this exemplary website. Thankyou from me and my students at Mile Cross Sixth Form. Sincerely Prof. Hugh Janus
Prof. Big D - 5-Nov-19 @ 2:51 PM
Yeah sure charles lets teach him a lesson ;)
pete - 21-Jun-19 @ 2:45 PM
Hey Pete can i join you in that basement
charles - 20-Jun-19 @ 9:55 PM
Dont listen to alex it was all me my name is linards prodnieks
linards - 19-Jun-19 @ 12:27 PM
Our company has banned your IPs and you won't be able to use them next week but you have until Monday. The police are investigating this "Crime Scene"
GreatCVs - 18-Jun-19 @ 11:53 PM
Okay Okay Alex Boor I Get Your frustrated how pete did such a thing to you but we are still I'm a investigation of who cumed on my wife and commented such a thing on this CV ONLY comment section. I'm very sorry about Pete Alex Boor.
POLICE - 18-Jun-19 @ 11:50 PM
He did officer I swear he stuck his 12inches up my area and it really hurt and then he shipped me round the face with it I'm still in pain right now ARREST HIM OFFICER!!!!
Alko - 18-Jun-19 @ 11:48 PM
No I didn't I swear I wouldn't do such a thing Alex is lying I'm just a fragile old man who plays Minecraft
Pete - 18-Jun-19 @ 11:43 PM
I'm the person who wrote all of the below I will take my punishment because I'm gay and also pete touched me and raped me
The 1 N word - 18-Jun-19 @ 11:41 PM
i cannot believe my son is on here making these nasty posts. he will be grounded for a month and he will not get any money to buy yeezys. i think me and pete will have to give him a heart felt punishment
Robert - 18-Jun-19 @ 1:27 PM
Crime is reported to police, there is a police investigation. If you are the victim or witness of a crime, the police will ask you to make a detailed statement about what happened. The police will collect all the evidence they will need to take to court.
POLICE - 18-Jun-19 @ 1:08 PM
Please dont! i dont want to get raped!!! =(
pete - 18-Jun-19 @ 1:05 PM
Ban my IP please i will get alot more subs and more people will watch my minecraft lets plays :)
Alko - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:17 PM
That person was not part of the Great CVs team. Please do not listen to them. However, we will be doing what they said and have already contacted the Burton Police Chiefs and Detectives.
GreatCVs - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:17 PM
These are not nice comments. I'm going to get you all IP banned and reported to your local authorities!
Great CVs Administra - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:14 PM
My Name is alex emmerson and these comments are not very nice even though i touch kids
pete - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:12 PM
We are looking further into this. Please be patient! Thank You for your co-operation Charles!
Police ?? - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:11 PM
It was not me, I swear to god! Please.. I don't want to be arrested, I'm too young to get raped :=(
Alex Boor - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:11 PM
I found out who was doing it, it is a school student who goes by the name of Alex Boor. Police please have him arrested!
Charles - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:07 PM
Hey boys, message me any time;) the wife and kids won’t be back any time soon ;) ?
Peter pete - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:04 PM
Who is putting all these nasty comments! They should be ashamed and arrested!
Charles - 18-Jun-19 @ 12:03 PM
Just adopted a black 6 year old and kicked it down the stairs.
I hate N words - 18-Jun-19 @ 11:57 AM
I am divorced with 7 kids and they are all failing their GCSEs. However, with these CVs they all have jobs, the girls have cooking and cleaning jobs and the boys have handy labour. I am very thankful of this site as it has helped me and my kids get through life, especially the hard times like my divorce.
JoeeePlayz - 18-Jun-19 @ 11:54 AM
im gonna stick a 10 inch blade in your liver and watch you bleed fbi watching me keep watching n move on you baghead
N WORD - 17-Jun-19 @ 1:38 PM
I am father of 3 beautiful kids. Jackey, Natasha and Rzal. Jackey has turned up 9 yesterday but I always treat him like an 18 year old girl. We always play piano and he doesn't mind my 12 incher in his arse.
Uncle Tracye - 17-Jun-19 @ 1:33 PM
I love asking little kids for their CV because they give me their addresses.
PeteyEmmerson - 17-Jun-19 @ 1:25 PM
emilie - Your Question:
I am 16 and have just started a college course but need some money to support myself. I am unsure what to put on my CV as I am currently studying and have no previous work experience. Would anyone be able to help me please?

Our Response:
The article does its best to help answer this question for you, there is little more we can add to help. As stated in the article, employers are not going to expect a long history of jobs from a 17-year-old. What they will be looking for is some indication that they are going to get someone who is keen, sensible and likely to carry out the tasks they're set. Best of luck.
GreatCVs - 10-Sep-18 @ 12:31 PM
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