NEXTROLES · APPLICATION RESOURCES
How to write a CV for your first job
Your first CV can show useful evidence even when you have never had a paid job. Start with relevant responsibilities, school projects and activities, then explain what you did clearly.
Start with the job description
Read the advert and pick out the skills and responsibilities. If the role involves helping customers, handling tasks carefully or working with a team, think of real situations where you have practised those skills.
You do not need an example for every requirement. Be clear about what you have done and what you are ready to learn.
A first-job CV checklist
- Contact details: include your name and a suitable way to reach you. Check that your email address is correct.
- Short introduction: explain the type of opportunity you are seeking and one or two relevant strengths.
- Education: add your school or college, subjects and qualifications. Label predicted grades as predicted.
- Experience: include volunteering, placements, projects or other responsibilities with accurate dates.
- Skills: connect useful skills to examples instead of listing unsupported claims.
- Final check: proofread, check consistency and follow the employer’s requested file format.
Turn an activity into evidence
Instead of writing “I am organised and a good team player”, describe a contribution another person can understand.
Illustrative example: “For a school fundraising event, I helped a team of four organise the stall rota, checked supplies before opening and explained the activities to visitors.”
This example shows planning, teamwork and communication. Adapt the approach to something you actually did. Include a result if you know it; do not invent numbers.
Keep the document easy to read
Use clear section headings, consistent dates and short descriptions. Put the most relevant evidence where it is easy to find. Review your CV for each opportunity and ask a teacher, adviser or someone you trust to read it.
You can organise your sections in the NextRoles CV Builder, then compare your evidence with an advert using Job Check.