You have more experience than you think
You have more experience than you think
Employers don’t just want to see work experience — they want to see skills. And skills can come from anywhere. Volunteering, part-time jobs, school projects, hobbies, and even caring duties like babysitting or helping family members all count. These experiences show you can take responsibility, work with others, and learn new things.
When you’re writing your CV, think about what skills the job you’re applying for needs. Then, find examples from your life that show you have those skills. For instance, if you’re applying for a customer service role, mention a time you helped a friend with a problem or organized a school event. These are real-life examples of communication and problem-solving.
Don’t ignore the small things. Even if you haven’t had a proper job, you’ve probably done things that show you’re capable. Use your CV to highlight these experiences and show how they make you a good fit for the role. Employers care about skills, not just work history. So, focus on what you’ve done and how it relates to the job you want.
Find your skills first
Find your skills first
Start by listing skills from projects, presentations, volunteering, hobbies and responsibilities. These are all valid sources of experience. For example, if you led a school project, you might have skills in organisation, leadership or problem-solving. If you volunteered at a local event, you might have skills in communication, teamwork or time management. Think about what you did, not just what you studied.
Write down all the skills you can think of, then group them into categories. This will help you create a clear structure for your CV. For instance, you might have a section on leadership, another on technical skills, and another on soft skills. Make sure to include examples that show how you used these skills in real situations.
Choose skills that match the job you’re applying for. Look at the job description and pick relevant keywords. Use these to guide your examples and structure. This makes your CV more targeted and shows you understand what employers are looking for.
Two ways to lay it out
Chronological CV groups activities by theme under your own headings, such as media experience or leadership roles. This format helps you show how your experiences connect to the job you’re applying for. For example, you might create a section called ‘Leadership and Teamwork’ and list activities like organizing a school event or leading a group project.
Skills-based CV focuses on the skills you’ve developed, such as communication, problem-solving, or time management. Each section is dedicated to a skill, with examples from your experiences. This format is useful if you have a variety of skills that don’t fit neatly into a chronological order.
Choose the format that best highlights your strengths for the job. Both styles can work well if you structure them clearly and use real examples from your life. Make sure your CV is easy to read and includes relevant details that show you’re a good fit for the role.
The basics to get right
Contact details should be at the top of your CV, including your full name, phone number, and email address. Make sure your email is professional, like [name]@[domain].com. Education should come next, with the dates, subjects, and grades. If you’re still studying, write ‘Currently studying’ and include your expected graduation date. Personal statement is optional but can be useful if you don’t have a covering letter. Keep it short and focus on your skills and what you can bring to the role. Tailor your CV to the job by using keywords from the job description in your examples. This shows you’ve done your research and understand what the employer is looking for. Get feedback from someone you trust, like a teacher, mentor, or career adviser, before sending your CV. They can help spot mistakes and suggest improvements. Always check for spelling and formatting errors to make a good first impression.