School leaver and apprenticeship CV template

Use this example to turn school, short placements, volunteering and activities into clear evidence for a first job or an apprenticeship application. Lewis, the fictional applicant, is applying for a customer service apprenticeship.

Modern design1 page

School-leaver CV template: fictional example in the Modern design, page 1. Full text is available below.

Read the example as text

Lewis Morgan

Retail Assistant / Customer Service Apprentice

Profile

Reliable school leaver who enjoys helping customers and keeping shared spaces organised. Built confidence handling stock, simple payments and questions during a retail placement and school events. Looking for a customer service apprenticeship or retail assistant role with structured training and responsibility.

Education

GCSEs Taffside Community School · 2024–2026

English Language B, Mathematics B, Double Award Science BC, Business B, Geography C, Welsh Second Language C

Completed a Business enterprise project: worked in a team of five to price, promote and sell reusable drinks bottles, recording a £146 surplus for the school charity fund.

Experience

Retail Work Experience Willow Street Books, Cardiff · February 2026

Welcomed customers, found titles using the shop catalogue and referred complex requests to a colleague.

Priced and shelved deliveries accurately and kept displays tidy.

Observed cash and card transactions, then completed supervised low-value sales.

Volunteer Refreshment Assistant Taffside Community School · September 2024–present

Set up stalls for concerts and sports evenings and served visitors politely during busy periods.

Counted stock before and after events and reported totals to the supervising teacher.

Neighbourhood car washing Summers 2024 and 2025

Arranged bookings, brought supplies and completed agreed work on time for regular local customers.

Fictional example for a retail assistant / customer service apprentice. Every person and employer in it is invented; replace every detail with your own. Select the page to zoom in.

Before you use it

Keep it to one page by choosing the strongest examples instead of padding every subject or hobby.

See the Modern design on its own page or compare one CV in all eight designs.

Inside this example

Profile: 42 words here
Education: 50 words here
Experience: 100 words here
Skills: 21 words here
Interests and achievements: 25 words here

How to use this template

Use what you have done

School projects, caring responsibilities, clubs, informal paid work and volunteering can all show useful skills when described truthfully.

Say what each activity shows

After each activity, say what it shows an employer: turning up on time, counting money accurately, working in a team or helping a customer.

Give grades clearly

Include achieved grades and label predicted grades honestly if you have not received results.

Referees: ask first, give details when asked

Leave referees off the CV; employers ask for them when they need them. When one does, a teacher, placement supervisor or club leader can be your referee: ask them before you give their name and contact details.

If the employer asks for a particular file type, a page limit or an application form, do what they ask, even where this page suggests otherwise. CV format and file types explains the choices.

Guides for this CV

A CV with no experience Personal statement examples CV layout and file type