How to Write a CV for 16-Year-Olds (Teenager CV Sample)

You're probably reading this because you're looking for your first job and wondering how to write a CV for a 16-year-old like you.

I've been there, and I remember it well. I didn't know how to write a CV for a teenager and how to get hired without experience. I needed a clear guide with clear examples. You're in luck—that's exactly what I've created for you here!

This guide will show you: 

• A CV template for a 16-year-old better than 9 out of 10 other CVs.
• How to write a CV for 16-year-olds that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a teenager CV.
• How to present yourself on a CV for a teenager to get any job you want.

Want to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.

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Sample CV made with our builder—See more templates and create your CV here.

Looking for more detailed advice and good CV examples for your first job? Read more:

• How to Write a CV [Professional UK Examples]
• Shop Assistant CV Example
• Hospitality CV Example
• Barista CV Example
• Retail CV Example
• Internship CV Example
• Waiter / Waitress CV Example
• Receptionist CV Example
• CV for a Part-Time Job Example

CV template for 16-year-olds

Here’s how to write a CV for a 16-year-old:

1. Format your CV for a 16-year-old properly

Interestingly, the number of 16-year-olds in employment today is around half of what it was 20 years ago. And it’s not all down to more people continuing full-time education. Most of that fall comes from lower employment levels for 16-year-olds who are at school or college.

That Saturday job is much harder to get than it used to be, so you need to know what a CV is and how to make yours catch the recruiters’ attention. Here’s how to make a first impression that’ll get you off on the right foot:

• Choose the best CV format. For a CV for a 16-year-old’s first job, use chronological format. It’s the most common format that every employer is familiar with, and it’ll have no problems with the ATS software that scans your application.
• Get your word processor settings right for your CV layout. Page margins should be one inch on each side, text should be left-aligned with no justification and there should be a double space between each CV section. This creates plenty of white space and makes your CV structure easy to read, helping employers find everything they need.
• Choose a professional CV font. Calibri, Helvetica, and Arial all look great. 
• Keep your CV short. The best CV length is no more than two pages, and for a 16-year-old you’re best keeping it to one page.
• Unless the job advert says otherwise, save your CV as a PDF to keep your formatting intact.
• Don’t include your photo on a CV, and skip any personal info like your date of birth.
• Check your CV for mistakes after you write it. Many people actually search ‘how to right a cv for a 16 year old’, and I’m sure you can see the problem there! Use a built-in spell checker, try a writing app like Grammarly, and have someone else check your work. You’ll have the bonus of instantly proving your writing proficiency, one of the top soft skills employers want.

You may also save time by skipping formatting your teenager CV by yourself and picking pre-made templates. The best CV templates for 16-year-olds are simple, clear, and easy to use.

Read more: What Makes a Good CV?

2. Put your contact details in a teenager's CV header

A CV header is the very first line of your CV that contains your contact info. Here’s what to include:

• Your full name
• Phone number
• Email address–and make sure it's a professional-looking one based on your name.

There’s no need to include your home address. It’s irrelevant and uses up page space you could use for more important information. 

Read more: What to Include in a CV: Essential CV Sections

3. Write a personal statement for a CV for teenagers

A personal statement for a 16-year-old’s CV acts as the attention-grabbing intro to the rest of your CV. 3–4 sentences are all you’ve got to make the employer take notice. But don’t let that scare you! Just use these three simple questions as your formula, and you’ll make them hungry for more:

1. Who are you? 
2. What can you offer to the employer? 
3. What are your career goals? 

Answer these questions differently depending on whether you have any experience or not. If you’re like most 16-year-olds, and you’re writing a CV with no work experience, then do this:

• Write a list of your skills, strengths, and experience. Focus on your education and any extracurricular activities, such as sports. Highlight anything that would help you do well on the job you’re applying for.
• Now choose 3–4 items from your list that match what’s listed in the job advert. Then, combine them with passion for the role and knowledge about the employer to prove that you’ll be a good fit. This is called ‘tailoring’ your CV to the job, and it’s the best way of creating a CV that will get you interviewed.

Take a look at the example below:

Teenager CV example: CV objective

If you’ve had some work experience already, then do this:

• Write a list of all your selling points as an employee. This includes all your experience, skills, and abilities that make you a ‘must hire’ candidate.
• Re-read the job description in the advert. List the skills and experience it demands and match these up with 3–4 points from your list.
• Use these points to write a personal profile tailored to the job you’re targeting.

You can use the sample below for inspiration:

CV summary for a 16-year-old example

Creating a personal statement like that is a great way to start your CV for a teenager.

Pro Tip: Whether you’ve got experience or not, this section is easier to write if you leave it until last. It’s much faster when you’ve got everything else written and ready to refer to.

When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.

4. Include an education section in your CV for a teenager

Usually a CV education section would come after your work experience. But on a CV template for a 16-year-old, it’s best to put your education first. At this stage of your life, it carries more weight than your work history, which is probably pretty thin. Here’s how to present an educational background on a CV for a teenager:

• Include the name of the school you attend, its location, and the dates you attended, as in the first CV example at the start of this guide. Also, include the date you expect to complete your education.
• If you’re currently pursuing your A-levels, list individual subjects. 
• For your GCSEs, you only need to list Maths and English, many employers look for passes in these subjects as a minimum requirement. But—
• If you completed a GCSE subject that’s directly related to the job you’re applying for, then do mention it.

Read more: How to Format Your CV Education Section

5. Include a work experience section in your CV for a 16-year-old

If you have no experience whatsoever, then you can just skip this section. However, you must include any experience you have. Any sort of work experience at all is a huge plus for a CV for a 16-year-old. Here’s how to do it:

• List your most recent job first and work back in time from there, listing any previous jobs if you have any. That’s why this type of CV format is also called reverse chronological.
• For each job, write your job title, the employer's name, and your employment dates (use “present” as the end date if you’re still working there), then include up to six bullet points describing the job.
• Start each bullet point with a CV action word like assisted, contributed, or cooperated to give them added impact.
• Try to include measurable achievements, not just your duties. Don’t just say what you did, prove how well you did it.
• Always tailor your CV work experience section to the description in the job advert. Highlight what the employer is looking for and match your experience to what’s needed.
• Use the CAR (Challenge Action Result) formula to structure your bullet points. 

Let me explain that last point in more detail. If you write your bullet points like this, it gives them more impact. Take a look at this example:

Trained and guided new staff members to ensure excellent customer service was delivered.

• There’s a challenge: new staff members don’t know what they’re doing without guidance.
• There’s an action: training and guiding them.
• Then there’s a result: the new staff members gave excellent customer service.

If you want to get some experience, then be proactive. It doesn’t have to be paid work. There are plenty of ways to. Try volunteering for a local charity. Check if your school or college organises work experience placements or try the Prince’s Trust. Any experience you can get as a 16-year-old will look good on your CV.

Want even more good CV advice? Check out our guide: 20+ CV Tips and Advice for Job Application Success

6. Show off relevant skills in your CV for a 16-year-old 

When writing a CV for a 16-year-old, you need to highlight your skills. And not just any skills. This is all about the qualities you have that employers will want to see on your CV for a teenager.

Here’s what to do:

• Refer to the job advert again, read the job description, and list the skills that were mentioned.
• Now write a list of your own skills, refer to your education and work experience sections for inspiration. But also include skills gained from other parts of your life experience.
• When you’re done, you’ll need to list 5–10 skills on your CV. Include your skills that match those in the job description but don’t be afraid to also include skills that are important for every job, like communication skills.
• Provide brief descriptions to each of your soft and hard skills. Mention how you’ve acquired them or provide other relevant details.
• Aim for a mix of soft skills and hard skills. 

To better understand how to present your skills on a CV, look at the example below:

CV for a 16-year-old example: skills section

These skills would look great on a CV for a 16-year-old:

Skills for a CV for a 16-year-old

• Teamwork
• Time management
• Interpersonal skills
• Written communication
• Confidence
• Leadership skills
• Decision-making skills
• Adaptability
• IT skills (name the programs you’re familiar with)
• Creativity
• Analytical skills
• Active listening skills
• Customer service skills
• Problem-solving
• Technical skills

Read More: Best List of Skills to Put on a CV [Top Skills & Examples]

7. Add extra sections to your CV for a 16-year-old

A CV for a 16-year-old can look pretty flimsy if you’re not careful, and you risk looking the same as every other jobseeker your age. With no career history, it can be tough to stand out. But there’s an easy way of adding some weight to your first CV and giving more insight into your unique abilities.

Include some additional sections in your CV for a teenager. Here’s how:

• Mention language skills. Foreign language skills are needed across the workforce and are a great choice for your CV.
• Include hobbies and interests on your CV. They’re a great way of making you more relatable to the recruiter, we like people who are like us. It can also demonstrate your abilities. E.g. playing a musical instrument shows you’re focused and dedicated.
• You could also include projects, achievements, awards, and volunteering. Anything that’s relevant to the job and makes you stand out as a good candidate.

Read more: Best Hobbies and Interests to Put on a CV

8. Consider a cover letter

You’re right. Almost nobody writes letters these days. However, writing a cover letter is still important when it comes to applying for a job. More than half of employers say they’re a must-have. Writing a professional cover letter to accompany your CV will make your job application stand out even more.

This is how to write a cover letter:

• Use the right cover letter format.

• Put a ‘hook’ in your cover letter opening. Show energy and passion, and include an impressive achievement that’ll make you stand out as a candidate.

• Show how your skills and personal attributes will help you excel in the job you’re applying for. Like your CV, tailor your cover letter to each new job you apply for.
• Put a call to action in your cover letter ending asking to meet or schedule a phone call to discuss the job further.
• Stick to the right cover letter length.

Want a more detailed guide? Check what to include in a cover letter for a job.

And one last tip. Follow up on your job application. If you don’t get a reply within a week, contact the employer by email or phone about the status of your application. It’s an easy way of improving your chances of getting an interview. In fact, hiring managers are less likely to hire a candidate who doesn’t follow up.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key takeaway

And that’s it. Let’s sum up how to write a CV for a 16-year-old:

• Format your CV for a 16-year-old properly.
• Add your contact details.
• Write a CV objective or summary.
• Mention your educational background.
• Present your work experience, if you have it.
• Highlight your relevant skills.
• Include some additional CV sections.
• Attach a cover letter

Thanks for reading. What else would you like to know about writing a first CV for a 16-year-old? Are you writing a CV for a 16-year-old still at school or have you left school already? Ask me anything at all about what to include in a CV for a 16-year-old in the comments section, and I’ll be happy to help.

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Sources

• https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/never-ever/
• https://www.careerplug.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ultimate-Guide-to-Applicant-Tracking-Systems.pdf
• https://u.osu.edu/ehedesigntips/2015/04/06/design-101-white-space/
• https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/2018/04/what-are-soft-skills
• https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/challenge_action_result_statements_car_statements_part_3
• https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/about-the-trust
• https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/jobsearchandnetworking/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills/1/
• https://news.ku.edu/2016/02/19/new-study-finds-our-desire-minded-others-hard-wired-controls-friend-and-partner
• https://www.slideshare.net/EricHildenMPA/your-resume-is-your-1st-interview