How to Write a CV With No Work Experience: A Guide for College Students

“I can’t write a CV — I haven’t done anything yet.” Every college student thinks this, and it’s almost never true. Here’s how to build a CV that gets interviews when you don’t have formal work history.

What employers actually look for at your age

Nobody expects a 16 to 19 year old to have a career behind them. Employers hiring for work experience, apprenticeships and part-time roles are looking for three things: reliability, willingness to learn, and evidence you can function in the real world. Your CV’s only job is to show those three things.

The structure that works

Keep it to one page. Name and contact details at the top (a sensible email address — make one if needed). Then a two or three line personal statement saying what you’re studying, what you’re looking for, and one thing you’re proud of. Then education, then experience of any kind, then skills and interests.

You have more experience than you think

Experience doesn’t mean employment. All of these count, and employers know it: helping in a family business or with family responsibilities; volunteering at a club, charity shop or community event; school or college roles — sports teams, student council, mentoring younger students, helping at open evenings; Duke of Edinburgh, NCS, cadets, Scouts or Guides; a YouTube channel, Etsy shop, or fixing computers for neighbours. Each one is evidence of showing up, being trusted, and getting something done. Write what you actually did: “handled cash and served customers at a school fair stall” beats “good communication skills” every time.

Make the skills section specific

Skip empty phrases like “hardworking team player”. Instead: name the software you can use, the qualifications you’re working towards, languages you speak, your predicted grades if they’re good. Specific and checkable always beats generic.

The mistakes that get CVs binned

Spelling errors — get a tutor or parent to proofread. Tiny fonts to cram in filler. Lying, which unravels in the first five minutes of an interview. And sending the identical CV everywhere: thirty seconds spent mentioning why you want to work at that specific place lifts you above most other applicants immediately.

No experience? Go and get some

If your CV genuinely feels empty, the fix is a week of volunteering or work experience — it’s the fastest CV upgrade there is, and it gives you a referee. Browse free local opportunities for Berkshire students on Valueplacement; no account needed.