You may be young, but writing a 16-year-old’s CV doesn’t need to be tough. Youth unemployment is currently at a historically low level. That means things could be looking promising for you on your job search!
However, to bag a coveted first step on your work experience ladder, you’ll need a strong CV to get you there. As a 16-year-old, you’re unlikely to have a lot of professional experience under your belt. But with some help, you’ll be able to write a CV that gets you noticed in no time.
Luckily, we know a thing or two about writing a CV that stands out from the crowd. Resume.io has helped millions of job seekers to write top CVs, and our library of CV examples covers over 100 job titles.This CV guide, along with the corresponding CV example, will show you the way. We will cover the following topics:
- What jobs can a 16-year-old do?
- How to write a 16-year-old’s CV (tips and tricks)
- The best format for a 16-year-old’s CV
- Advice on each section of your CV (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional CV layout and design hints.
What jobs can a 16-year-old do?
While there are restrictions about when and where 16-year-olds can work, there are plenty of job opportunities for you to make some money. If you’re looking for a part-time job, you could try your hand at some informal work gigs such as babysitting or dog walking. If it feels like the right time for you to step into a more professional work environment, working as a retail sales assistant or even as a waiter could be great options.
Apprenticeships can also be an excellent chance to learn a craft while getting paid. Plus, it’s an opportunity that’s open to 16-year-olds. However, regardless of the job you take on, there are specific laws in place that must be respected whether you’re 16 years old or even 17.
If you’re still in full time education, then during term time you can only work a maximum of 12 hours a week. Those working hours must fall between 7am and 7pm and you cannot work for more than two hours on school days and Sundays. Saturdays are capped at eight hours.
If you’re a16-year-old in full time education, then summer holidays are generally the best time to work your socks off. Outside of term time you’ll be allowed to work a maximum of 35 hours a week.
The minimum wage set by the UK government currently sits at £5.28 per hour for 16-year-olds.
How to write a 16 year old’s CV
The very first step in writing a strong CV example is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:
- The CV header
- The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The CV skills section
- The education section
Choosing the best CV format for a 16 year old
If you are brand new to the working world — which is to be expected for most 16 year olds — then you may want to consider a functional CV format. Should you already have some work experience, you could choose the reverse chronological format for your CV. This prioritises your previous work experience.
Take a moment to consider what is the best CV format for you before you commit pen to paper.
CV summary example
Even without a huge amount of professional experience, the CV summary is your first opportunity to write something about why the employer should take a chance on hiring you. You may be 16 years old, but you have something unique to offer an employer.
To make a compelling CV summary, write three to four sentences that highlight your most desirable characteristics in line with the job you’re applying to. Look at the CV sample content below to see how you could approach this.
You might also want to look for some more inspiration by checking out our:
Resourceful and dedicated High School student with excellent analytical skills and a demonstrated commitment to providing great customer service.
Employment history sample
As a 16-year-old who is new to the job market, consider any informal volunteering or extracurricular leadership positions you’ve held. Have you done some babysitting? These are all examples of how you can handle responsibility. You can use them to build your employment history section.
If your work experience is unpaid, consider renaming this section the “previous experience” section. List your experience with the most recent at the top and work backwards. Include the name of the position, your employer, the dates the position was held, and its location.
The CV sample content below will show you how to do this in practice.
Retail Assistant at Next Retail Ltd, Birmingham
July 2021 - Present
- Assisted customers in locating products and provided information on product features.
- Maintained store appearance by organising shelves and displays.
- Collaborated to support inventory management and ensure smooth store operations.
- Acquired knowledge of Point of Sale (POS) systems.
In summer 2022 the youth unemployment rates fell to a historic low. Office of National Statistics data reported by the House of Commons Library showed 372,000 unemployed young people across the UK. This was the lowest recorded level since 1992 when records began.
CV skills example
Your skills section will be one of the most important parts of your CV. Remember to include transferable skills that you’ve picked up during your studies or from other experiences you’ve accumulated during your 16 years of life!
Our CV sample content shows you how to build a strong bullet point list of your most sellable skills.
Soft skills vs hard skills
At 16 years old you may not yet have many technical skills — also known as hard skills — to help you on the job. However, you can lean into your soft skills such as organisation, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Digital Art
- Football
- Coding
- Customer Service
- Retail Operations
- Inventory Management
- Point of Sale (POS)
- Product Knowledge
- Team Collaboration
16 year old’s CV education example
Here’s a CV section where most 16 year olds will have something to offer. In your education section, you can list your secondary school education. Write down the name of your school, its location, and the dates attended like in the CV sample content below.
If you are still in full time education, you can simply write “[year you started the school] - Present”. Some 16 year olds have already completed some qualifications such as their GCSEs. If that’s you, don’t forget to highlight this alongside your grades!
North Birmingham Academy, Birmingham, UK
September 2021 - Present
- Head Boy
- Ambassador for Social Events
CV layout and design
As a 16-year-old, you’re probably still learning about all the ways you can grow into a great communicator. As well as how you write and speak, the way you present yourself is equally as important when communicating your professional worth. That is just as true for your CV’s presentation.
So, don’t forget to share your CV document as a PDF with a clear layout, legible font choice, and a simple colour scheme. Your CV should not be longer than a single page since as a 16 year old you’re just starting out in the working world.
Key takeaways for a 16-year-old’s CV
- At just 16 years old you’re unlikely to have much professional experience. So, lean into volunteer or extracurricular experience to build a “previous experience” section.
- Consider using a functional CV format which leans into your skills.
- Highlight those soft skills to build a desirable profile as the most hirable 16-year-old your potential employer will hear from!
If you don’t feel confident designing your CV yourself, you can consider using one of our professionally designed CV templates.
