First Job CV Guide: How to Write Your First CV

Keep contact details practical. Include your full name, town or city, phone number, and a professional email address. You do not need to include your full home address, date of birth, nationality, marital status, National Insurance number, or a photo.

If you have a relevant portfolio, LinkedIn profile, GitHub, design page, writing samples, or project page, include it only if it helps the employer. A retail or café CV usually does not need a portfolio link. A first digital, creative, IT, media, or technical application might.

The profile is a short paragraph under your contact details. Keep it to four or five lines. It should say what you are applying for, what useful strengths you can already show, and one or two pieces of evidence.

A weak profile says:

Hard-working and motivated person looking for an opportunity. I am a good team player and willing to learn.

A stronger profile says:

Reliable college student applying for a first part-time retail role, with experience helping at school events, handling group coursework deadlines, and supporting customers during a charity fundraiser. Confident speaking to different people, quick to learn new routines, and available for weekend and evening shifts.

The second version works because it gives proof. It names the role type, uses realistic evidence, and avoids trying to sound senior.

A skills section helps when you do not have much paid experience, but only if the skills are believable. Choose six to ten skills that match the advert and support them elsewhere in the CV.

Useful first-job skills include customer communication, teamwork, punctuality, organisation, numeracy, basic IT, problem-solving, safe working habits, stock awareness, cash-handling potential, care and patience, food hygiene awareness, or willingness to learn.

Do not list skills that sound impressive but have no proof. “Leadership” is fine if you captained a team, helped run a club, mentored new pupils, or organised an event. It is weaker if it appears once with no context.

For many first-job applicants, education is the strongest section. Include your school, college, or university, the dates, qualification type, subjects, and grades or predicted grades where useful.

If you are still studying, be clear. You can write:

GCSEs, St Mark’s School, 2024-2026. Predicted grades include English Language 5, Maths 5, Business 6, and Food Preparation and Nutrition 6.

For college:

Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Business, Greenfield College, 2025-present. Modules include marketing, customer service, personal finance, and event planning.

You do not need to list every subject if the CV becomes crowded. Prioritise English, maths, relevant subjects, and anything requested in the job advert.

Do not leave the experience section blank just because you have not had a formal job. Rename it if needed. Good headings include “Experience and responsibilities”, “Projects and volunteering”, “Work experience”, or “Relevant experience”.

The National Careers Service says first-job applicants can focus on skills learned through projects, work experience, volunteering, and hobbies that show useful skills. It also recommends a clear, easy-to-read CV with consistent style, headings, and bullet points: National Careers Service CV advice.

Use short bullet points that show what you did and what it proved. Start with action verbs such as supported, organised, helped, completed, prepared, presented, researched, maintained, served, checked, planned, or volunteered.

For a first job, a teacher, tutor, coach, volunteering organiser, community leader, or previous work experience supervisor can be a suitable referee if they have agreed. Do not put someone else’s phone number or email address on your CV without permission.

A simple line is usually enough:

References available on request.

School and college can prove more than grades. Coursework shows planning and deadlines. Group work shows communication. Practical subjects show method and safety. Presentations show confidence. Clubs show commitment. Attendance and punctuality can matter for entry-level roles where reliability is vital.

Example bullet points:

• Completed a group business project, helping research local customer needs and present findings to the class.
• Met weekly coursework deadlines while balancing study, sport, and family responsibilities.
• Supported new pupils during open evening activities, answering questions and helping visitors find classrooms.
• Produced a food preparation portfolio, following hygiene routines and checking ingredient measurements accurately.

Volunteering can be excellent first-job evidence because it shows you chose to contribute. It can also prove customer contact, teamwork, patience, organisation, and confidence.

Example bullet points:

• Volunteered at a community fundraising event, greeting visitors, answering basic questions, and helping reset tables between activities.
• Helped sort donated stock for a local charity, checking item condition and keeping shelves tidy.
• Supported a youth sports session by setting up equipment, encouraging players, and following instructions from coaches.

Some applicants have responsibilities that are real, regular, and demanding but do not look like a conventional job. You may have helped support a household, supported a family business, tutored another learner, walked dogs, helped neighbours, helped with admin, or managed tasks at home.

Use these carefully. Keep the tone professional and focus on transferable evidence.

Example bullet points:

• Provided regular pet care or neighbour support, arriving on time, following agreed routines, and communicating clearly.
• Helped with basic tasks in a family business, including tidying stock, preparing simple records, and greeting customers politely.
• Supported another learner with homework, breaking tasks into manageable steps and encouraging consistent progress.

Interests are useful only when they show something relevant. “Listening to music” usually adds little. Playing in a band can show commitment and teamwork. Gaming is usually too broad, but building a PC, moderating an online community, creating game assets, or learning basic coding may be relevant.

Use one or two carefully chosen interests if they strengthen the CV.

Good examples:

• Football team member for three seasons, attending weekly training and supporting team communication during matches.
• Completed beginner HTML and CSS projects to build simple web pages, using online tutorials and feedback to improve layout.
• Member of school drama group, preparing for performances and learning to speak confidently in front of audiences.

Friendly sixth-form student applying for a first part-time retail role, with experience helping at school events, organising team activities, and speaking confidently with visitors. Reliable, quick to learn new routines, and comfortable working in busy environments where clear communication and tidy presentation matter.

Practical and reliable college student applying for a first café or hospitality role, with food preparation coursework, school event volunteering, and experience working to deadlines. Confident following instructions, keeping areas tidy, and helping people feel welcome.

Organised school leaver applying for an entry-level admin role, with strong written communication, confident Microsoft Office use, and experience completing coursework to fixed deadlines. Careful with details, polite when dealing with people, and keen to learn office routines.

Dependable first-job applicant with experience helping at community events, lifting and setting up equipment safely, and completing practical tasks without losing focus. Interested in warehouse or stock work where punctuality, teamwork, and accurate checking are important.

You can adapt these examples, but do not copy them word for word. The strongest profile sounds like your situation. If the advert mentions customers, shifts, stock, food safety, calls, admin, or teamwork, adjust the profile to match.

For more help with this section, use the CV personal statement examples guide.

Retail employers usually want polite communication, reliability, confidence with customers, tidy presentation, and willingness to learn stock or till routines. Put customer-facing volunteering, school events, team activities, and availability near the top.

Good bullet points:

• Helped greet visitors at a school open evening, answering simple questions and directing people to departments.
• Organised charity-sale stock by size and type, keeping displays tidy during busy periods.
• Worked with classmates to complete a business project on local customer needs.

Hospitality employers look for pace, cleanliness, teamwork, and calm communication. Food-related coursework, volunteering at events, clubs, and practical responsibilities can be useful.

Good bullet points:

• Prepared ingredients during food technology coursework while following hygiene and safety routines.
• Helped set up and clear tables at a community event, keeping the space tidy for visitors.
• Balanced several tasks during school productions, including set-up, timing, and communication with others.

Admin roles need accuracy, organisation, written communication, and comfort with digital tools. Place coursework, office work experience, club admin, spreadsheets, presentations, and written tasks high on the page.

Good bullet points:

• Created a simple spreadsheet to track group project tasks and deadlines.
• Prepared written notes for a club meeting and shared actions with other members.
• Completed coursework to fixed deadlines while checking spelling, layout, and references.

Warehouse and stock roles often value punctuality, practical work, accuracy, safe behaviour, and physical readiness. Use events, stock sorting, sports equipment, volunteering, or practical projects.

Good bullet points:

• Helped move and organise event equipment, following instructions and keeping walkways clear.
• Checked donated items by type and condition before placing them in the correct area.
• Arrived on time for regular training sessions and supported set-up before activities.

If your first paid role is an apprenticeship, show why the route fits your interests and current study. Mention relevant subjects, projects, practical tasks, and your ability to learn from feedback. The Apprenticeship CV UK guide covers this in more depth.

Good bullet points:

• Completed a practical project linked to the apprenticeship area, using feedback to improve the final result.
• Researched the sector and identified the skills needed for the role.
• Balanced study deadlines with volunteering and independent learning.

If you are applying in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, include GCSEs when they are recent or relevant. English and maths are especially important for many first jobs and apprenticeships.

Example:

GCSEs, Hillcrest School, 2022-2024: English Language 5, Maths 5, Combined Science 5-5, Business 6, History 6.

If you are in Scotland, use Scottish qualification names accurately, such as National 5s, Highers, or Advanced Highers.

Example:

National 5s, Northbank High School, 2023-2025: English B, Maths B, Administration and IT A, Business Management B.

Predicted grades can be useful when you have not received results yet. Make the status clear.

GCSEs, predicted summer 2026: English Language 5, Maths 5, Art 6, Business 6.

Do not inflate grades or imply a qualification is complete if it is not.

If you are resitting English or maths, be honest and practical. Employers would rather see clarity than confusion.

Functional Skills Maths Level 2, currently studying, expected 2026.

Or:

GCSE Maths resit planned for November 2026.

Short courses can help if they are relevant and real. Examples might include food hygiene awareness, basic first aid, coding courses, online digital skills, safeguarding awareness, health and safety, or customer service training.

Do not overstate a short online course as a formal qualification. Place it under “Additional training” or “Courses” if it supports the target role.

For more detail on section order, use the Education on CV guide and the CV structure guide.

Numbers can make evidence clearer, but only use them when they are true and useful.

Good examples:

• Volunteered for three Saturday sessions at a charity shop, sorting donations and keeping shelves tidy.
• Completed a six-week school project on local business ideas, producing a short presentation and written summary.
• Attended football training twice a week for two seasons, showing commitment and punctuality.

Avoid fake precision. “Improved customer satisfaction by 40%” will look suspicious if you have never worked in a formal customer service role.

A first CV does not need to include every school activity or hobby. Choose examples that match the job.

For retail, show customers, stock, teamwork, and availability. For hospitality, show pace, cleanliness, food awareness, and communication. For admin, show accuracy, IT, writing, and organisation. For care or support, show patience, responsibility, and trust.

The Work Experience on CV guide gives more examples for shaping responsibilities into stronger evidence.

Do not copy senior phrases from experienced CVs. A first-job employer does not expect “stakeholder management”, “commercial strategy”, or “cross-functional leadership” unless the evidence genuinely fits.

Use clear early-career wording instead:

Supported a team project, helped organise tasks, and presented findings to classmates.

Many first-job applicants miss useful evidence because it does not feel like “proper work”. Volunteering, family responsibilities, school duties, club leadership, tutoring, family business help, and practical projects can all be relevant.

The question is not “Was this paid?” The question is “Does this prove something the employer needs?”

A skills list that says reliable, motivated, organised, team player, and good communicator is not enough. Pick fewer skills and prove them through bullets.

For example, instead of writing “organised”, show that you balanced coursework deadlines, helped run an event, tracked club tasks, or maintained a regular commitment.

A first CV should be easy to scan. Avoid tiny text, complicated columns, heavy graphics, unusual fonts, and long blocks of text. Many employers print CVs, skim them on mobile, or copy details into applicant tracking systems.

The ATS-friendly CV guide explains why simple formatting matters.

A base CV is useful, but each application needs small changes. Adjust the profile, skills, and top examples to match the advert. A café, warehouse, office, and support-role CV should not use exactly the same top section.

For part-time first jobs, availability can matter. You can mention it briefly if the advert asks or if it strengthens your application.

Example:

Available for weekend shifts and two weekday evenings during term time, with additional availability during school holidays.

Keep it factual. Do not promise availability you cannot maintain.

If you are still in education, check that the roles and shifts you apply for fit your study commitments and the rules that apply in your part of the UK. GOV.UK explains school leaving age and post-16 options: GOV.UK school leaving age.

Acas also explains young worker rules, including working time limits, rest breaks, night work restrictions, and pay rights: Acas young workers advice.

You do not need to put legal details in your CV. You do need to apply for roles and shifts that fit your age, study, and availability.

Use official or authoritative sources when you need to check CV basics, employment rules, or education routes.

The National Careers Service is useful for CV structure, sections, tailoring, and what to do when you have a short work history. It recommends including contact details, an introduction, education, work history, and references, and it specifically notes that first-job applicants can use projects, work experience, volunteering, and hobbies that show useful skills.

GOV.UK is useful for checking school leaving age and post-16 participation rules. This is especially important if you are applying while still in education or choosing between work, an apprenticeship, and further study.

Acas is useful for understanding young worker rules, including hours, rest breaks, night work, and pay rights. This does not replace legal advice, but it helps you avoid applying for work patterns that may not fit your age or circumstances.

You can also use Modern CV’s own guides to improve specific sections: How to Write a CV, CV Structure, Skills on CV, and CV Tailoring Guide.