How to Write a CV for 16-Year-Olds (+ Templates)

Whether you’re a school-leaver looking for their first job, or continuing study and looking for a part-time job, one thing is true. You need money. Your age and lack of experience limit you to a few particular choices, but also, limit your competition. 

With this guide, you will be the most popular 16-year-old in town. This article will show you how to write a CV for a 16-year-old that will stand out based on numerous CV examples and tips. Plus, you’ll see a CV template for 16-year-olds you can use for your first CV with ease.

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Need a different CV example? Check these samples:

• Apprenticeship CV
• Cleaner CV
• Customer Service CV
• CV for a Part-Time Job
• Delivery Driver CV
• First CV
• Internship CV
• School Leaver CV
• Student CV
• Shop Assistant CV
• Waiter / Waitress CV

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our CV samples.

CV template for a 16-year-old

That’s the best format of CV for 16-year-olds.

Here's how to write a CV for a 16-year-old, including CV examples and 6 key tips:

1. Make an outstanding personal statement for a CV for a 16-year-old

Here’s something you may not know: The person reading your CV for 16-year-olds could spend less on reading it than you do viewing an Insta story. One study found that the average recruiter looks at a CV for 7.4 seconds. How to make sure you don’t get swiped left? Start with a captivating personal statement (CV summary).

A solid CV personal statement is full of facts and ambition, not empty statements like ‘detail-oriented, punctual and reliable’. Put it at the top of your CV to capture the reader’s interest.

When writing a CV for a 16-year-old, one should focus on the biggest achievements that are relevant to the role, or achievements that show maturity and work ethic, like sporting or hobby success.

You can also write a CV objective presenting what you believe you can bring to the company. This is particularly helpful when writing a CV for a 16-year-old with no experience. See the example below:

CV for a 16-year-old personal statement example

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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2. Include an education section in your CV for a 16-year-old

Your education is about all you’ve got at this point, so make the most of it.

In the CV education section of your CV for a 16-year-old, list your grades above A, and in the case of you having a lot of lower grades, for example 4 passing grades, simply record it as ‘4 GCSEs’. If they include Maths and English, specify that, those are more important.

List the education you are continuing with an expected graduation date.

CV for 16-year-old education section example

3. List transferable skills on your CV for a 16-year-old

You are scarce on work experience, but you have been around. You have done things. Think about things you did as part of your school, extracurricular activities, volunteering or hobbies, that showcase the skills as you will be using in your new job.

Applying for a data entry job? Something as simple as playing many computer games can be an advantage if you take a typing speed test to prove it. If you have sporting achievements, they can show leadership and teamwork like no other.

Try to list a mix of hard and soft skills in your CV for a 16-year-old. Hard skills are teachable abilities such as IT skills. Soft skills are people skills such as teamwork or effective communication.

If you are really struggling to fill the page, consider adding a sentence of explanation of your achievements in those skills to each bullet point.

CV for a 16-year-old: skills example

4. Add additional sections to your CV for a 16-year-old

Here is where you get to stand out a little bit. Most 16-year-olds will have no idea how to do this correctly. They will list a few words about their normal, kid hobbies & interests. You must think about what shows the employer transferable skills and a strong work ethic.

Volunteering is something that 82% of managers consider in their choice. Awards show achievement. Sporting successes show teamwork. Languages are always good. All those things together show you can multitask. 

Don't list references on your CV, though. Recruiters know they can ask for them.

CV for 16-year-old additional sections

5. Write a convincing cover letter for a CV for 16-year-olds

A 16-year-old’s cover letter is never easy to read. It is either a copied short cover letter template with the name scribbled on it or a very worrying image of the chaos and inexperience of a 16-year-old. But it doesn’t mean you can’t do this right.

The first paragraph of your cover letter should hook them with your most important selling point. The middle paragraph should explain two or three additional arguments for why they should hire you, and the last paragraph should explain what you can do for them.

Remember: If you are sending a CV with no experience, this is your chance to highlight your transferable skills.

6. Use the proper format for your CV template for a 16-year-old

One more thing: most 16-year-olds CVs will be like their chat-up lines. Sloppy at best. Disgusting at worst. To at least appear organised, mature and reliable, follow these simple CV layout rules strictly:

• Use a professional CV font. Arial and Calibri are classic. Didot is wild.
• Use 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Put bold, simple headings for each CV section. 
• Space sections out with lines to create a CV structure you can skim-read.
• Unless told not to, save your CV in a PDF format.

Leave your contact details near the top of your CV. Don't list such details as your date of birth or gender. Also, don't include your home address. Your phone number and email address are enough.

Thinking of using free CV templates you found online? Or those best CV templates recommended by a friend? Make sure they are ATS-friendly. ATSs are those robots that scan your CV. And they usually don't like visual CVs like Canva CV. They prefer basic CV layouts.

Seeking more CV and career advice? When sending in your job application, don't use 'Please find attached my CV for your consideration / review / reference'. It's too vintage. Instead, try something that sounds more natural: 'I’ve included my CV below' or 'Please consider the attached CV'.

Remember that at this point of your professional life, your CV should be one page long. Don't worry if you feel it's too empty. It's better to leave some white space than to lie on your CV. Recruiters don't expect long CVs from 16-year-olds.

These are the most essential CV writing tips. With them, you definitely know what a good CV should look like. Go get them!

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Did we answer all your questions on how to write a CV for a 16-year-old? Got any job hunting tips and tricks you’d like to share? Did you find our CV template for a 16-year-old useful? Use the comments section below. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Frequently asked questions about a CV for 16-year-olds

Does a 16-year-old need a CV?

If you’re 16 and you’re seeking employment, it’s definitely worth making a CV. A well-written CV summarizes your previous professional experiences, education and qualifications, as well as abilities, and it helps employers decide whether you’re right for a particular job. It is your chance to gain a recruiter’s interest and qualify for further recruitment steps.

How to write a CV for a 16-year-old?

When writing a CV for a 16-year-old, which can be your first CV, adjust it to a specific role. Study the job ad carefully and pull out the most important job requirements. Refer to them in your application, including the key terms from the job description. If you don’t have significant experience, highlight your education, relevant skills, and extracurricular activities. Once your CV is ready, contact a qualified professional or a friend for constructive feedback and helpful CV tips.

What to include in a CV for a 16-year-old?

A CV for a 16-year-old resembles a typical reverse-chronological CV structure. It consists of the following sections:

• Contact details
• Personal profile
• Work history
• Education
• Skills
• Additional sections

If you don’t have professional experience, include volunteer work or projects you participated in, gaining the required knowledge and expertise. You can also use a skills-based CV format that emphasizes your abilities and talents instead of work experience.

How do I write a CV without GCSE results?

Employers highly value GCSEs, but you can still write a CV without them if you haven’t received them yet. There are a number of things you can include in your CV instead, such as:

• Predicted grades
• Work experience
• Volunteering
• Skills
• Languages
• Hobbies and interests
• Achievements
• Awards and certificates
• Extracurricular activities

Likewise, if you have bad GCSE grades, you shouldn’t include them in your CV unless an employer asks for particular GCSEs to consider you for the role. In such a case, provide the expected grades, but obviously, be sincere and avoid lying on a CV.