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School Leaver Job Application Covering Letter Example

By Guest Author

Writing a cover letter for the job role as a School Leaver.

If you’ve left school you’re probably wondering what to do next. If you have been put off university by the high tuition fees then there are lots of options open to you. These can include Apprenticeships, Office Junior roles and Retail. There may also Trainee roles available within specific organisations, depending on the career path you are looking to take and depending on the GCSE / A Level grades achieved.

Duties to Expect:

Depending on the sector, the role may also include many of the following…Observing members of staff to learn about the company Assisting with the maintenance of the office environment Dealing with incoming and outgoing post and filing paperwork Stock replenishment Making tea and coffee for staff members Cleaning duties Photocopying and printing various documents on behalf of other colleagues.

School Leaver Covering Letter Example

Dear Recruitment Manager,

I am writing to apply for the position of (Job Title) as advertised (where you saw job advertisement).

Having recently completed my secondary education, and achieving A-Levels in Business Studies, ICT and English, I am now keen to put my studies to practical use within an organisation that I admire.

My key skills include organisation, communication, working to deadlines and i have gained experience within the retail sector gained from two years part-time, where I eventually managed small teams over the busy summer and Christmas periods.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to consider my application. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further questions.

Applicant Name

School Leaver Job Application Covering Letter Example

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Example CV and cover letter: the school leaver

This example CV and cover letter shows how a school leaver might apply for an apprenticeship.

The candidate

Andrew Campbell is finishing his fifth year at school and is looking for his first job. He’s applying to do a Modern Apprenticeship in joinery. He does not have specific experience in the field but does have some technical qualifications from school and has work experience too.

Have a look at Andrew's CV and cover letter which he has written to fit the job description.

The job description

It's important to consider the description of the job that you're applying for when creating your CV. You want to show off the skills you have that are most suitable for the job. If you do not have a specific job in mind then you should think of the type of job that you want and the skills they would need. 

This is the description for the job that Andrew is going to apply for.

Role responsibilities

You’ll be working with the Company as part of a team building new homes. The Modern Apprenticeship will last 4 years. During that time you’ll be developing your skills on the job and working alongside qualified tradespeople. You’ll also attend college regularly and work towards a qualification in construction. 

Key responsibilities: 

  • helping to fit floor and roof joists, roof timbers, staircases, partition walls and door and window frames 
  • work as part of a team to ensure work is completed to a high standard and on time 
  • understand relevant legislation and health and safety procedures 

Role requirements

You should have: 

  • good practical skills and an interest in learning a craft 
  • a good eye for detail 
  • the ability to follow technical drawings and plans 
  • good maths skills for measuring and working out quantities and angles 
  • the ability to work both as part of a team and on your own 

The cover letter

A cover letter is a way for you to introduce yourself and highlight the skills and qualities you could bring to the role.  It's a short letter, an A4 page to complement your CV and explain a little bit about who you are and why you want the job. 

Introduction

First begin with an introduction. You'll want to give a short description of who you are and why you are applying for the position.

Here is an example from Andrew's cover letter:

'I am writing to apply for the Joinery Modern Apprenticeship that was advertised on The Company website. I have also included my CV for your consideration. 

I am interested in the position as I love to make things from wood and I want to learn more about the craft. I also think that working for The Company would be a great opportunity. It would be a chance to learn from more experienced tradespeople who have worked on a range of different projects including housing developments and the new shopping centre.'

Show your skills

Relate back to the skills they've mentioned in the job description. 

It shows you’ve been paying attention and helps you explain why you’d be a good fit for the role. Showing why you're interested in the job is useful too. 

In this example, they're looking for someone with good practical skills and a good eye for detail. This is how Andrew responded:

'I think that you should consider my application as I have a good eye for detail. I am able to follow technical drawings and plans which I have learned from studying design and manufacture at school. I have also achieved a Construction Conference Certificate and the school prize for Construction Crafts. I am expected to achieve a National 5 pass in maths which will be useful when measuring out quantities and angles.'

Relevant experience

Describe things that you've done already that prove you could do the job, talk about what you did and why you did it. For example:

'I love working as part of a team which I had to do as part of a computing project in school. We had to work together to produce a presentation and present this to the rest of the class. I was able to see what it is like to be part of a team in a working environment during work experience at BSB Architecture. Equally, I also like to work on my own and do so regularly as a paper deliverer with the Local Newsagent.'

When you're signing off a cover letter, you need to use the right tone. Leave them with a sense of who you are but try not to be too casual. It's important to be respectful - but you should not be too formal either. 

Here is an example:

'I think I would be the right person for this job, as I love measuring out and working to plans in a team and also on my own.

I look forward to hearing from you to discuss the role further. 

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Campbell'

Think about your own skills and experiences

It can be difficult to know where to begin with CVs. 

The best ones start with a short, honest description of who you are as a person and what you'd have to offer in a job. If you're struggling to come up with material then why not ask a friend or a teacher how they would describe you? 

A lot of people have never had a job before. If that's you, think about what you've done in your spare time, such as:

  • extracurricular activities
  • subjects you've studied at school
  • activities or clubs you've been a part of 
  • certificates or awards you've won

You can also use our 3 core tools ( About Me ,  Strengths  and  Skills ) to help you understand yourself, your strengths and skills. They'll give you detailed results, that you can use as a base to help write your CV. You'll find them in your My World of Work account. 

Find an example of how Andrew has laid out his CV. 

Personal statement

I am in my final year of school and I am keen to complete a construction apprenticeship in joinery. I am interested in joinery as I have always been good at making things. My favourite subject at school is design and manufacture where I made a table. I also won the school prize for this. I have a keen eye for detail and good maths skills for working out measurements. 

  • I can read technical drawings and interpret information from 2D to 3D. 
  • I’m good at working with my hands and making things. 
  • I can work well in a team and on my own. 
  • I have good communication skills developed from my work experience. 

The High School, The Village - August 2010 – present 

SCQF Level 5 

  • National 5 Design and Manufacture 
  • National 5 Maths 
  • National 5 Art and Design 
  • National 5 Spanish 
  • National 5 Computing Science 
  • Duke of Edinburgh Leadership Award 

SCQF Level 4 

  • National 4 English 
  • National 4 Geography 
  • National 4 Science 
  • National Progression Award Construction Craft and Technician 

Local Newsagent, The Village - June 2012 to present  - Paper deliverer 

  • I am responsible for the delivery of around 70 newspapers every day. 
  • I have to ensure that each customer receives the correct paper and it is delivered to their door on time. 

BSB Architecture and Design, The City - October 2014 - Work experience 

  • During a week’s work experience I was given the opportunity to deal with incoming calls, take messages and transfer calls to the appropriate person or department. 
  • I attended meetings where designs were discussed which gave me an interesting insight into the design process. 
  • I took part in a site visit and saw how the design process became a reality and how each craft and profession worked together on site. 
  • I enjoy music and play bass in a band with my school friends. 
  • I like to stay fit and enjoy riding my bike and spending time at the local skate park where I practise stunts. 

Achievements

Construction Conference Certificate

I was awarded a Construction Conference Certificate after I took part in a one-day event at school that was run by CITB ConstructionSkills. This gave me great insight into the industry. I also had the opportunity to use my team building skills as I participated in a Construction Simulation activity. 

Construction Crafts prize

I was awarded the school prize for Construction Crafts and the judges commented that I have excellent practical skills, an ability to solve problems and patience.  

Available upon request.

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  • CV and Cover Letter
  • How to write a CV for a...

How to write a CV for a school leaver (with template and example)

8 min read · Updated on October 25, 2022

Laura Slingo

Thinking about stepping into the world of work?

If you are a student approaching the end of your education or have recently left school, you're probably wondering how to write an impressive CV that will help you onto the career ladder. Even if you have no previous work experience, there's a way to write a CV that will highlight your abilities and elevate your skill set. Read on to find out how to write a school leaver CV, what to include, what not to include, plus a template and CV example for UK students to use as inspiration.

What is a school leaver CV?

A school leaver CV is a document that provides a brief account of your education, qualifications, and employment or volunteer experience. It's used when applying for a new job by students that have completed year 11 with GCSEs, or college with a BTEC, GNVQ, A Levels, or Highers and Advanced Highers.

As a current student or recent school leaver, you may have limited professional experience. But qualifications, skills, and voluntary work can be used on your CV to demonstrate your competencies when applying for your first job, apprenticeship, or internship.

Information to include in a school leaver CV

The format of a CV is flexible. After all, every person and their experiences are unique, so the document structure must be malleable. However, there are essential elements to include in your CV that prospective employers expect to see and that you can leverage as a school leaver. They include:

Contact information

Personal profile

Core competencies and skills

Work and voluntary experience

Hobbies and interests

How to write a CV as a school leaver or student

To help increase your chances of success in securing your first job, follow these steps to create your school leaver CV:

1. Contact information

Every CV starts with your contact information, not the title “CV” or “Curriculum Vitae”. The information to include is your full name, location, phone number, and email address. If you have a link to a website or a professional online portfolio, you can add that too.

2. Personal profile

Next on your CV is a personal profile, which is also known as a professional summary or personal statement. Note that it is not the same as a personal statement written as part of a university application. 

Your personal profile is a short paragraph consisting of two or three sentences summarising who you are, your relevant qualifications or experience, and your job goals. For example, as a school leaver, you may write that you have recently completed school and are looking to take your first steps in a particular industry.

3. Core competencies and skills

Following your personal profile is a section designed to highlight your most relevant competencies, skills, and achievements. Bullet point between six and nine of your most impressive abilities and achievements that are relevant to the role you are applying for. They could be hard skills from particular classes, such as IT, or soft skills you have cultivated throughout your education.

We would recommend tailoring this section to each position, as it's often the first thing a hiring manager reads. If your points align with the role requirements and the potential employer's needs, you'll create a powerful first impression.

4. Education

Since you're a school leaver, your education is very important and is likely to be a stronger representation of your skill set than your work experience. This is especially true if you're applying for your first job. As a result, it should be the next section on your CV.

Detail your educational history from GCSE level onwards, working in reverse chronological order. For each institution, include the school name and bullet point the name of the qualifications you gained there, along with the grade. If you're awaiting results, you can add predicted grades and the expected date of completion. 

If you're attending college, you can summarise your GCSEs in one line as your college-level qualification is more advanced and therefore a more accurate representation of your current competency level. However, we would recommend mentioning Maths and English GCSE grades. as they're often a prerequisite for many jobs. For example, “9 GCSEs including grade 6 in English and Maths.” 

If you've received any academic awards, were a member of any clubs, or took part in extracurricular activities, you may choose to list them in this section too. Alternatively, you can list them in a dedicated awards section or in your hobbies and interests section.

5. Work and volunteer experience

If you have some work or volunteer experience, no matter how brief, it could be a great addition to your CV. However, if you don't, you can skip this section.

Listing relevant work experience is very similar to your education section, whereby each experience is listed in reverse chronological order, detailing the company name, your job title, employment dates, a brief overview of your role to add context, and a bullet-point list of key achievements.

To ensure that your listed experience strikes a chord with the prospective employer, review the job description and identify key requirements and phrases that align with your own experience and be sure to reference them. Tailoring your school leaver CV in this way will show how you could be a great match for the vacancy.

6. Relevant hobbies and interests

A hobbies and interests section is optional for a CV, but it can be used to leverage your candidacy, especially if you don't have work experience. It can also show off your personality and passions. 

Hobbies and interests that relate to key requirements listed in the job description and showcase your work ethic would be a good addition to your school leaver CV. For example, playing football for a local team would suggest that you possess motivation and teamwork abilities and can work under pressure.

If you're not sure whether you should add a hobby or interest, always ask yourself, “will adding this help me to get the job?”. If this answer is no, it's okay to leave it out, but you may choose to draw upon it in an interview if relevant.

CV formatting guidelines for a school leaver CV

Here are a few formatting tips and tricks and general guidelines when writing a school leaver CV:

Headings: Use clear headings for each section of your CV to make the document easily digestible

Font type: Contemporary, simple font types are better as they create a modern and clean read

Font size: Keep body text between 10 and 12 point font and headings between 14 and 18

Length: Your CV should be two pages maximum. As a school leaver, it could easily be one page

Spacing: Standard 1.15 spacing is your best option on a CV

Margins: 2.5cm margins are standard, but you can decrease them to 1.5cm if you want to fit your CV nearly onto one or two pages

File type: The best CV file type is a Word document, as it will maintain formatting and an ATS will be able to read it accurately 

What not to include on a school leaver CV

There are a few details that you do not need to list on a school leaver CV. They include:

Referees: You do not need to add the line “references available upon request” at the end of your CV, as asking for references is standard recruitment practice and employers know you will have them available

Photo: You do not need to add a photo of yourself to your CV. While commonplace in other countries, it is not a requirement in the UK due to anti-discrimination legislation

Protected characteristics: You do not need to include sensitive information, such as age, race, religion or belief, marital status, sexual orientation, sex or gender reassignment, or disabilities as they are protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010

CV template for a school leaver or student

School leaver CV template

Example CV for a school leaver or student

School leaver CV example

Writing a CV for a school leaver can be daunting, especially if this is your first time producing a CV. Follow this step-by-step guide and use the examples to guide you along the way. And to save you any doubts, submit your CV for a free review and our experts will tell you if you're on the right track and on the way to job search success.

Recommended reading

How to write a CV for a 16 year old (with examples)

How to write a CV for a job with no experience

How to write a personal statement for a CV

Related Articles:

What are hard skills? List and examples to include in your CV

Breaking the taboo: discussing salary expectations with your employer

The value of critical thinking in the modern job market

See how your CV stacks up.

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StandOut CV

School leaver CV examples + guide

Andrew Fennell photo

You’re leaving school and you need to write a CV to land your first job… Exciting times!

But you probably have no idea how to write a CV, or perhaps you aren’t even sure what a CV is.

But don’t worry…

I’ve created this mega guide to writing a school leaver CV, which includes 4 school leaver CV examples and a step-by-step guide to writing your own.

So, you can create a winning CV that will attract employers and get you plenty of interviews, even if you have no work experience.

CV templates 

School leaver CV example

School Leaver CV example

School leaver CV (with no experience)

School leaver CV no experience

School leaver CV (with part time experience)

School leaver CV with experience 1

College leaver CV

College leaver CV

What is the purpose of your CV?

The ultimate purpose of your CV is to secure job interview s for you.

Think of it as a leaflet for your services; advertising your skills and knowledge to potential employers.

You create your CV and promote it out in the job market to get noticed by firms you want to work for.

If an employer likes your CV, they will call you and invite you in for an interview

So as you can imagine, it needs to look professional and read extremely well if it’s going to be effective.

Who will read your CV?

Your CV will mainly be read by hiring managers and recruiters .

Hiring Managers vs Recruiters

When you apply for a job online, recruiters will review your CV to find out if you have the requirements they are looking for to fill their vacancy

If your CV makes a good impression, then the recruiter will call you with a view to book you in for an interview, or pass your CV on to the hiring manager.

Recruiters and managers tend to be very busy and often have to review hundreds of CVs every week – so your CV needs to grab their attention and explain your value quickly.

What makes a good school leaver CV?

What makes a good CV?

A good CV is one that quickly shows recruiters and managers that you have all the necessary skills and knowledge required to perform their vacant role – it’s that simple, and it shouldn’t be over complicated.

If your CV can do this, you will generate lots of interest and interview requests from employers.

It needs to be clearly structured and formatted – and the content should explain to readers why you are a good candidate for the job being advertised.

What if you have no work experience?

Don’t worry too much about having little or no work experience.

We all have to start somewhere and plenty of  students are able to find jobs straight from school at 16 years old , without experience or contacts.

You just have to be a little more creative when writing your CV and draw transferable skills out from things like school/university projects, qualifications, hobbies, extracurricular activities , volunteer work and part-time work.

Using a blend of structure , formatting , language and content, anyone can write an attractive CV.

I will cover how to do this in more detail, in the “ How to write a school leaver CV ” section

What should you put in your CV?

When you are new to the world of work, it can be difficult to know what information you should include in your CV.

So before you start writing your CV, it’s wise to do some research and find out exactly what your target employers are looking for in a candidate.

So head over to a job website and run a search for the type of job you are looking for

You can use a site like CV Library  (it will open in a separate window)

Then look through 10 or more job adverts and make a list of the most important candidate requirements that keep appearing.

Requirements will include things like:

  • Qualifications – GCSE’s, A-levels, Degrees etc.
  • Soft skills – Communication, leadership, organisation etc.
  • Hard skills – Literacy, numeracy, languages etc.
  • IT capabilities – Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Photoshop etc.
  • Industry knowledge/experience – Accountancy, marketing, design etc.
  • Extra-curricular activities – Sports, hobbies, personal projects etc.

Junior job requirements list

Now that you have an extensive list of the things that your target employers are looking for, you know exactly what you should be highlighting in your CV.

You probably won’t possess all of the requirements, but you should always refer to this list when writing your CV, and try to demonstrate as many as you can.

Quick Tip: In some cases where you don’t have a particular requirement, it can be beneficial to show that you are working towards it. For example if a job advert is asking for basic HTML knowledge and you don’t have it – start taking an online course  on the subject and include it in your CV.

How to write a school leaver CV

Now that you have seen some example CVs, here’s how to write your own interview-winning school leaver CV.

CV structure and format

Start of by working to the following structure:

Student CV writing guide

CV formatting tips

  • Use a simple clear font – Ensure that employers can read your CV without any confusion
  • The colour scheme should be plain with black text on a white background creating the easiest reading experience.
  • Text should be broken up  as much as possible to ensure that busy recruiters and hiring managers can digest the information quickly
  • Use big bold headings  to clearly define sections and break the information up further

Name, title and contact details

Contact details

Head your CV up with you name in bold and a professional title that relates to your field.

Put your contact details just underneath your name so that it’s easy for recruiters to get in touch with you.

  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Location (no need to put your full address – general area where you live or are willing to work is fine)
  • Link to LinkedIn profile (optional if you have a one and it’s good enough to share)

Take up as little space as possible with your contact details to save room on your CV.

If you have no work experience; check out my video guide to writing a CV when you have no experience

CV Profile/Personal Statement

Your CV profile or personal statement is your opening pitch to recruiters and employers.

It will be the first thing they read upon opening your CV, so you need to give them some good reasons to be interested in you.

CV profile

Ideally, you want to summarise the skills you have to offer an employer, in a way which reflects the qualities that they are looking for in a candidate – so again you should be referring to the list you made earlier.

Good things to include are;

  • Your highest academic achievements –  A Level in maths,  10 GCSEs A-C
  • IT Package proficiency – Word, Excel, Photoshop
  • Any experience that could be relevant to your target roles – School projects, voluntary work, work placements, personal projects or pursuits
  • Relevant hard skills – Languages, literacy, numeracy
  • Relevant soft skills – Communication, motivation, teamwork, personal skills

Take a look at the example CV profile below

This person is a school leaver with A-levels who is applying for office based sales roles .

They have no office based sales work experience .

Student CV Profile

However, they do have some part time supermarket cashier experience which involves some of the same skills and experience. So they have really taken advantage of that.

The trick is to write for the job you want , not the job you have. Really sell yourself to the reader.

Many school leavers think that their part time jobs in bars and retail stores bear no relevance to the jobs they apply for when they start working full time.

However there a lot of transferable skills that you can include in your CV, and by using the right language, you can create a very professional image with them – like the above.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Core skills & achievements

In order to give recruiters a very quick glimpse of your skills, use a bullet pointed core skills and achievements section.

CV core skills

As I mentioned earlier, recruiters and managers tend to be very busy – so a bullet pointed list of valuable skills and achievements can give them a really quick snapshot of your talents, and encourage them to read the rest of your CV in full.

If you have carried out some notable projects that relate to your target roles, then it would be worth setting up a section underneath your core skills to list them like in the example school leaver CV above – but don’t worry too much if you haven’t.

If like most school leavers, you do not have any direct work experience in the field you are applying to, I would recommend listing your education next.

Start with your most recent qualification and work backwards to your earliest.

Include plenty of detail to compensate for your lack of work experience – especially if your education can be related to the jobs you are applying for.

However, if you do have some relevant work experience, then place your work history above your education.

Work experience

Work history is an area that many school leavers struggle with as they often work part-time jobs that they feel will not look impressive on their CV.

However, your work experience (no matter how unimportant you think it may be) gives you a great opportunity to demonstrate a lot of important skills that are required for nearly all jobs.

Things like:

  • Communication
  • Working with customers
  • Organisation

They also give you an opportunity to show off your written language skills.

The below is a role description for a part time job working at a cafe –

School leaver CV role

Basic CV template

Start with the dates, company and role title.

Quick Tip: you can tweak the role title to sound as professional as you like. E.g. don’t write “Shelf Stacker” – instead go with something like “Shop Floor Operative” or “Sales Assistant”  so that you appear as professional as possible.

Then provide an outline of the role that summarises the role and company as well as showing where you sit within the organisation’s hierarchy.

Then bullet-point your responsibilities in a way that demonstrates your valuable workplace skills.

Where possible try to show how your actions contribute to the success of the employer.

For example, instead of simply saying:

“Monitoring and replenishing stock levels”

Expand on that point and say:

“Monitoring and replenishing stock levels to ensure customers have access to all products and more stock is sold throughout the week”

This shows how important you are to the running of the business and how valuable you could be to an employer.

Hobbies and interests

When you lack work experience, your hobbies can be a great way to demonstrate some more of your talents.

Good hobbies to list are:

Work related interests – For example, if you are an aspiring web designer and have created a website in your spare time, then provide a link to the site – Or if you are applying for science related jobs and carry out your own research in your spare time, then tell readers about it.

Big achievements – Perhaps you’ve run a marathon, played for the school football team or competed in national chess competition – these types of activities show motivation and determination, so get them onto your CV.

Charitable work – Any kind of fund raising or volunteer work you undertake for charitable causes look great on your CV because they show you are willing to help others and often involve lots of organisation and planning.

Don’t list common hobbies like “ watching TV ” or “hanging out with friends” as they are unlikely to impress employers.

Writing a school leaver CV – Conclusion

Using the above advice you should be able to create an effective school leaver CV that will make a big impression on recruiters and ensure that you get invited to plenty of interviews.

Remember to keep the format easy-to-read and always tailor the content to match the demands of the employers you are applying to.

Also, check out our graduate CV and  example customer service CV and writing guide.

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cover letters for school leavers

Skill up: How to write a cover letter

Ok, you’ve got your first CV  up and running – it must be time to submit that job application. But wait! What about your cover letter? This is as important to your application as your CV, and can make all the difference when employers are deciding who to interview.

But what is a cover letter? And what should you put in it? On this page, we talk you through the basics so you know exactly how to write a cover letter.

First, check out this video we made specially for you:

What is a cover letter?

Most job applications are made up of two parts – a  CV  and a cover letter. The cover letter is usually the first thing the employer will see, so a  good cover letter is like the wrapping paper for your CV: it gets an employer excited about what’s inside. While your CV tells a potential employer about your skills and experience, a cover letter tells them exactly why you're applying.

cover letters for school leavers

Now writing an exciting letter for a job application might sound like a tall order, but the good news is there's a knack to it. In fact, it's a bit like a recipe – as long as you know the ingredients and how to put them together, the result should be perfect.

The infographic on the right lists the main purposes of a cover letter – you'll find it much easier if you bear these points in mind when writing yours. Right click and select "View image in new tab" to see a bigger version.

Why do I need a cover letter?

Most employers have to look through dozens or even hundreds applications  for every job they advertise. Writing a strong cover letter will make you stand out from the crowd.

This shows the employer that you are genuinely interested in the job and motivates them to interview you. And as it’s the first thing they’ll see, it’s your chance to make a good impression and explain to them why you’re a perfect fit for the job.

What to write in a cover letter

cover letters for school leavers

Cover letters are divided into three parts: the introduction, your "pitch", and the sign off. Here, we show you exactly what to write in a cover letter.

You might like to look at this alongside our  cover letter template .

Paragraph 1: The introduction

This is the easy part. Address whoever is receiving the letter, then introduce yourself and the role you’re applying for. They’ll want to know who you are and why you’re writing.

Top tip: Find out the name of the person who will be receiving the letter. This grabs their attention and shows that you’ve taken the time to tailor your letter specifically for them. You can start with “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern” but it's always best to use the person's name. We recommend making a phone call if you can't find it online. It's not as scary as it sounds, and gives you chance to introduce yourself verbally.

Paragraph 2: The "pitch"

This is where you get to really sell yourself. First of all, let them know why you want to work for them. Don’t just say "I need a job": show them you care about what they do. If you’re a fan of one their products, let them know. Or maybe you’re after a challenge? Write that down, too!

Next, show them why you're right for that specific role. Here's how to do it:

  • Look at the requirements listed in the job description.
  • Next to each, note down why you meet it and some specific examples which show this. These can be from school, your part-time job or any clubs or societies you're part of. For example, if the job requires you to handle money, let them know about your great maths grades.
  • Include as many of these as you can in the space you have available, which will be one or two paragraphs. As long as it's relevant, you can use one example to illustrate two or more skills from the job description.

The aim here is to show your interest in the job and summarise your relevant skills. Make sure you don’t just list  what’s on your CV . This part of your cover letter is important because it shows specifically how your skills and experience relate to the job, whereas your CV is a general summary of your school and work history.

Paragraph 3: The sign off

Alright, you're almost done. But like any polite conversation you can’t just up and leave without saying goodbye. Thank the reader for their time, let them know you’re looking forward to hearing from them, and sign off with a nice "Your sincerely". 

Check, check and check again

And you're done! Well, almost...

After all that hard work, you want your effort to pay off. Spelling errors, typos and other silly mistakes are the best way to get your application filed under B for Bin. So while knowing what to write in a cover letter is crucial, remembering to give it a thorough read-through at the end is really important too.

We also suggest asking a careers adviser, teacher or parent to give it a sanity check before you send it off.

Sending it off

Now you're ready to submit your application! Nowadays, you usually do this by attaching your cover letter and CV to an email. Don't forget, this email is the first thing the recruiter will see, so make sure it's polite, error free and to-the-point:

  • Start as you began your cover letter: "Dear so and so..."
  • Say what job you're applying for and how you found out about it.
  • List the documents you've included with the email, for example: "Please find attached my cover letter and CV".
  • Email etiquette is slightly different to letters, so sign off with "Kind regards" instead of "Yours sincerely".

Top tip: Make sure you use a sensible email address with a pattern like  [email protected],  not [email protected] .

And finally...

Remember, try not to use the same letter for different job applications. Take the time to write a cover letter that is unique to the job you're applying for and you'll be surprised by the results. We've got a special article listing  all the major dos and don'ts  which is also worth a look.

We hope this article has given you a good idea of how to write a cover letter. Here are some more resources to help get you that dream job!

More help on how to write cover letters, CVs and job applications...

Cover letter template

How long should a cover letter be?

How to write a CV

CV template

Filling out job applications

Image credits

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https://pixabay.com/en/isolated-thinking-freedom-ape-1052504

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School Leaver Cover Letter

  • Last updated 12 Aug 2016

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For some school leaver programmes, you might be required to send in a more traditional cover letter and CV, rather than tackle the slalom of online applications.

In any case, knowing how to put together an effective cover letter is a good skill to have.

So how can you write this tricky little critter of a school leaver cover letter? How can you avoid descending into cliché? What the heck do you put in it? Don’t fret! We’ve got the answers.

How do I write a school leaver cover letter?

The trick is to channel a bit of Beyoncé (no, that doesn’t mean you have to learn the Single Ladies dance) - tell them: "Baby it's you, you're the one I want". 

To do that, every school leaver cover letter you write should be tailored to the company and the school leaver programme you are applying for. Sending off the same old cover letter to everybody won’t impress.

To construct a beautifully tailored cover letter, you’ll need to do your research. Find out exactly what the company does, what it values and what makes it different.

You can look at its website, follow the company on Twitter or Facebook, and read any articles you can find about the firm. We also have employer profiles that you can check out! 

School leaver cover letter mistakes

How to sell yourself .

The second stage of your research will involve scrutinising the school leaver opportunity on offer. Find out what it’ll involve and what kind of candidate they are looking for.

Nowadays, most people send their cover letter via email . Paper cover letters usually include the company’s address, your address and the date at the top, but you can leave these out if you’re sending it via email.

However, your email should still feel like a formal letter and be written in a professional style. It needs to be relatively concise, about three to four short paragraphs long.

It should start “Dear…” and end “Yours sincerely” if it’s being sent to a named person; if you haven’t managed to find out a name then use: “Yours faithfully” followed by your name.

Try and find out who will be reading your school leaver cover letter, so you can address your school leaver cover letter to a named person. To find out, you could give the company a call and ask them who will be receiving your cover letter.  

Let’s get down to business…

The key to writing an effective school leaver letter is to think about the expectations of the reader. Most likely, they’ll be looking for answers to the following questions:

1) Who are you and why are you writing to me?

2) Why are you interested in my company and the school leaver programme?

3) Why should you be interviewed for the job? What skills do you have that will make you an asset to the company and the school leaver programme?

You could use your first paragraph to answer the first question, your second paragraph to answer the second question and your third paragraph to answer the last question. Got it? Good.

First Paragraph 

Right, let’s start with that all-important first paragraph. Recruiters read a lot of cover letters and, quite frankly, they’ll see the same stock phrases cropping up all the time. Try and think of different ways of formulating your sentences to pique their interest.

Just because you need to keep it formal, it doesn’t mean you can assail them with dull and lifeless prose.

You might want to use the first paragraph to introduce yourself, tell them what school leaver opportunity you are interested in and perhaps provide a unique reason why their company appeals to you.

...and the rest

Use the next paragraph to expand on why you’re interested in the company, the school leaver programme and the industry. Again, try to come up with some different and genuine reasons.

One of the trickiest parts of the letter to write will be the section where you detail the attributes and skills that you feel will make you a strong candidate for the school leaver programme.

In all likelihood, the employer will have a list of competencies that they are looking for. You need to tell them that you have these qualities, but you also need to provide evidence of them by providing brief examples.

If you don’t have much work experience (they won’t be expecting you to), you can draw examples from your studies and extra-curricular activities.

Finally…

Proofread it. Proofread it again. You don’t want all that hard work to be undone by a silly typo, a lazy spelling mistake or an unfortunate grammatical error. Make sure you've got the dos and don'ts of grammar down to a tee. 

More articles like this

  • Assessment Day Tips
  • School Leaver Application Tips
  • What is a school leaver Insight Day?
  • School Leaver Career Fairs
  • School Leaver Programmes vs. Apprenticeships
  • How to Sell Yourself
  • Top Things to Do to Boost Your School Leaver CV
  • What is an Assessment Day?
  • School Leaver Programmes vs. University
  • School Leaver Application Forms: What to Expect

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Apprenticeship cover letter

Apprenticeships provide a viable alternative to university. If you've chosen to earn while you learn our apprenticeship cover letter example shows you how to impress with your application

Start by proving your attention to detail in your introduction. What do they call their apprenticeship programme? (Do they even use the word apprentice? Sometimes they can be called school leaver schemes). Are they asking you to apply for the whole apprenticeship programme, or do they want you to specify which specialism or track you're interested in?

Just like in any other application you'll need to tailor your letter to the company, even if you are applying for more than one apprenticeship and using a similar letter for each application. Use anything you know about the company to make your letter specific - have you seen a local project they are undertaking? Do they advertise locally or nationally? do they do any community work?

When applying for this route into work it's important to let the recruiter know that you have positively chosen an apprenticeship instead of university. You need to make sure that your letter gets across that you really want to work for the organisation. Look carefully at the company's website and pick something about them that appeals to you. This could be that they are long-established, a large multinational or a local, family firm.

Also don't be embarrassed about saying good things about yourself. It's not boasting, it's just letting them know why you'll be an asset to their company. This is no time to be modest. There's no need to lay it on thick, an accurate mention of your skills will be enough. There will be lots of applications for recruiters to read so you want to make it easy for them to find out about you.

Please be aware that this is an example. Use this cover letter template to help generate ideas and structure your own document but avoid copying and pasting. Your cover letter needs to be original and tailored to the job you're applying for.

Jo Yotan 54 The Close Nearton Herechester HC5 1CH [email protected] 07788 999000

Ms Geraldine Cranefeld Student recruitment manager International Engineering Engineering House XYZ Business Park Herechester HC7 4JP

5th May 2023

Dear Ms Cranefeld

2023 Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Programme

I would like to apply for your 2023 Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Programme and am attaching my CV. I would like to get a degree through combining practical, on-the-job learning with classroom experience and I am particularly interested in the Electronics Engineering Programme on offer.

Since completing my A-levels in maths, IT and physics, I have worked at Foodhouse Superstore, covering shifts as rostered. I have mainly worked in stock replenishment, helping out on other teams if needed, including customer service on tills and the shop floor.

I also have a Saturday job at a local car repair workshop. In the two years I have worked there, I have been involved in all aspects of car repair. Recently, I have taken on more of the electronic and diagnostic work, enabling me to use and improve my problem-solving skills.

I did my Year 10 work experience at a HVAC company, where I spent time on site with one of the field engineers and worked in the office to see how jobs are booked and scheduled. I was particularly fascinated by how heating and ventilation systems are planned in the design department.

My time management and organisation skills have helped me to combine schoolwork with my weekend job while also keeping up my sports. I am pleased that I helped my netball team win the cup at the same time as achieving good grades.

I am keen to work for International Engineering, as a local company which works across the UK and internationally. I would like to use my engineering training to work on your alternative energy projects, such as the collaborations with African nations to reduce the dependency on oil.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

(Sign your name here)

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Templates and examples to help you create your own CV's (resumes) and cover letters.

What's on this page?

Cover letter template and example, skills-focused cv for changing career or gaps in your work history, work-focused cv for career progression, skills-focused cv for school leavers, specialist cv's, find out more, create a cv online with cv builder and it saves automatically.

You can use our CV Builder to create your CV.  It'll automatically save to your careers.govt.nz account.

  • CV Builder – create your own CV online  

Don't want to use CV Builder? Use our CV and cover letter templates by saving them to your computer

If you don't want to use CV Builder, you can use the templates on this page to create your CV and cover letter. 

Save and name your templated CV and cover letter

  • When you download the templates, remember to save them on your computer as a Word document and a PDF.  Employers may need either format.
  • Name your documents with your name, the application date, and the job you're applying for. For instance, "Mere Smith 1 Oct 2023 Water Engineer CV". This helps employers keep track of your documents.

Read our examples and use our templates to create your cover letter. Remember to save it on your computer.

Cover letter examples:

  • Cover letter example (Word - 16KB)
  • Cover letter example (PDF - 0.1MB)

Cover letter templates:

  • Cover letter template (Word - 20KB)
  • Cover letter template (PDF - 0.1MB)

Use a skills-focused CV template if you haven't had many jobs, have gaps between jobs or are changing career.

Skills-focused CV examples:

  • Skills CV example (Word - 27KB)
  • Skills CV example (PDF - 0.1MB)

Skills-focused CV templates:

  • Skills CV template (Word - 25KB)
  • Skills CV template (PDF - 0.4MB)

Read about describing skills in your CV:

Use a work-focused CV template if you're changing to a similar job or a higher-level role in the same area, or want to highlight your work experience and career progression.

Work-focused CV examples:

  • Work CV example (Word - 27KB)
  • Work CV example (PDF - 0.4MB)

Work-focused CV templates:

  • Work CV template (Word - 26KB)
  • Work VV template (PDF - 0.4MB)

Use a skills-focussed school leaver CV template if you're about to leave or have recently left school.

School-leaver CV examples:

  • School leaver CV example (Word - 26KB)
  • School leaver CV example (PDF - 0.3MB)

School-leaver CV templates:

  • School Leaver CV template (Word - 25KB)
  • School Leaver CV template (PDF - 0.4MB)

Some careers require a particular style of CV.

CV's for academic, creative, engineering, health, legal and teaching careers:

  • University of Otago website - CV and Cover Letter Guide (PDF - 0.3MB)
  • University of Oxford website - CVs for creative careers
  • Victoria University website - CV/Resume Preparation for Teaching (PDF - 0.7MB)
  • Free job hunters' workbook

Updated 22 Sep 2023

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Use this sample resume as a basis for your own resume if:

  • Your highest level of study is Year 10 or earlier
  • You don't have any formal (paid) work experience 

For sample resumes designed for other levels of education/work experience, check out  our Sample CVs page .

Download this sample resume

  • Sample CV: Yr 10/Earlier + No Work Experience - Word  (103.74 KB)
  • Sample CV: Yr 10/Earlier + No Work Experience - PDF  (99.57 KB)

If you have trouble with this sample resume, please contact us at  [email protected] .

Features of this resume

This sample resume has been designed to focus on: 

  • General skills that help you work as part of a team
  • Personal qualities that mean you're able to work in a professional environment
  • Work experience or volunteer work that shows your strengths and qualities
  • A written testimonial that shows you're capable of transitioning into the world of work

Other things you can put on your resume include: 

  • Sport or community club participation (if relevant)
  • Hobbies or interests that are relevant to the job or demonstrate your skills

How long should your resume be?

This sample resume is two pages long, but if you have no paid experience your resume might be only one page. Don't worry - a one-page resume is fine when you're just starting out in the world of work.

If your resume ends up three pages long, you're including too much information. Try shortening some sections or cutting some things out.

More information

For more about resumes and cover letters, check out these pages:

  • Sample resumes
  • Sample Cover Letters
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter

Sample Resume

Email:   [email protected] Mobile:  XXXX XXX XXX

Recent school leaver seeking to start a career in warehousing

Confident and articulate individual with commended ability to work with others to achieve set outcomes. Young yet mature school leaver with developed employability skills and personal attributes that support the transition from education to full-time employment. Leadership and communication skills developed and demonstrated through engagement in sports clubs and associations. Motivated individual keen to obtain employment in warehouse and operations environment. Key strengths include strong attention to detail and willingness to learn and develop professionally.

Key skills include: 

  • Customer service 
  • Problem solving 
  • Task allocation 
  • Supervision 
  • Records management 
  • Cash handling 
  • Transaction processing 
  • Stock control 

Technical Skills:  Microsoft Word ~ Microsoft Excel ~ Microsoft Outlook ~ General SAP use

Elwood Secondary College  Year 10 2013

Achievements:

  • 2012:  Principal’s award for dedication demonstrated by sporting contributions and achievements.
  • 2011:  Community recognition award for working as a buddy for newly enrolled Year 7 students.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

  • Verbal Communication:  Recognised ability to communicate with a range of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. Demonstrated by 3-year captaincy of Captain of Elwood AFL team.
  • Commitment & Dedication:  Willing to provide long-term ongoing contribution and commitment to an organisation. Demonstrated by membership of local AFL team for over 5 years.
  • Collaborative Team Member:  Ability to collaborate with team members. Demonstrated by group work assignments, professional work experience placements and captaincy of Elwood AFL team since 2010.
  • Reliable:  Commended reliability as team member and supporter. Demonstrated by attending all Elwood AFL games since 2007.
  • Honest:  Strong personal morals and ethics ensure complete honesty and transparency. Demonstrated by managing cash count at fundraisers and events in school community.

STUDENT WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENTS

Acme Transport and Warehouse Centre (2013) Warehouse Assistant (2-week Work Experience Placement)

Worked in fast-paced warehouse environment over a 2-week placement period. Worked full-time hours and assisted as a member of the receipt and despatch warehouse team.

Achievements and Contributions:

  • Stock Control:  Developed skills and understanding of processes to ensure ability to manage large variety of product lines while meeting production targets. 
  • Logistics Planning:  Calculated cubic metre requirements for despatch and assisted in identifying transport requirements to meet customer deliveries and urgent order requests. 
  • Records Processing:  Developed understanding of con note processing and pallet control procedures. Assisted with end-of-month reconciliation of pallet accounts. 
  • WH&S:  Developed understanding and appreciation for health, safety and environmental management policies in an organisation. 
  • Team Collaboration:  Attended daily toolbox meetings reviewing daily production targets. Contributed to discussions on efficiency and process improvements as well as problem resolution.

Testimonial

"Adam worked with us during his school placement period of 2 weeks. Over this time he was a very enthusiastic learner and wanted to help across all aspects of the warehouse. His interpersonal skills saw him adapt really well into the work environment and the guys were more than happy to help him when he needed to understand something or wanted to learn. I see a strong future for Adam and wish him luck."

- Warren Jackson, Warehouse Manager, ACME Transport and Warehouse Centre.

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENTS

  • 2013:  Elwood College Year 7 Buddy
  • 2011:  Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal Volunteer Collector
  • 2010 - 2013:  Elwood AFL Captain - Under 18s  

PROFESSIONAL REFEREES

Tom Noah Coach Elwood AFL Under 18s Phone XXXX XXX XXX 

Judy Little Year 10 Coordinator Elwood Secondary College Phone: XX XXXX XXXX  

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  3. How to Write a School Leaver CV [Template & Examples]

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  6. School Leaver Job Application Covering Letter Example

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VIDEO

  1. SCHOOLIES SAFETY 13/11/12

  2. Lyndon School Staff Video for Y11 Leavers 2009

  3. after the leave// after leave taking // leave letter for sick // sick leave application in English

  4. School Leave Application / School leave letter / Leave application /Application For Leave #shorts

  5. Tewkesbury School 6th Form Leavers 2015

  6. Primary School Leavers Assembly Songs 2050 be like…😱😍👌🏼 #shorts

COMMENTS

  1. School leaver cover letter template

    Closing the letter. Thank the employer for their time, and sign off your cover letter with 'Yours sincerely' (if you know the name of the hiring manager)/'Yours faithfully' (if you do not), and your name. Example:Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.

  2. School Leaver Job Application Covering Letter Example

    School Leaver Covering Letter Example. Dear Recruitment Manager, I am writing to apply for the position of (Job Title) as advertised (where you saw job advertisement). Having recently completed my secondary education, and achieving A-Levels in Business Studies, ICT and English, I am now keen to put my studies to practical use within an ...

  3. Example CV and cover letter: The school leaver

    The candidate. Andrew Campbell is finishing his fifth year at school and is looking for his first job. He's applying to do a Modern Apprenticeship in joinery. He does not have specific experience in the field but does have some technical qualifications from school and has work experience too. Have a look at Andrew's CV and cover letter which ...

  4. School Leaver Cover Letter & CV Templates

    Stand out to recruiters with our free school leaver CV template and school leaver cover letter template.Whether it's that you aren't sure of the layout, you don't know what to include, or you're just looking for the best way to make your skills stand out - our carefully tailored templates will point you in the right direction.

  5. How to Write a School Leaver CV [Template & Examples]

    Writing a cover letter to accompany your school leaver CV is another great way of making your job application stand out. Here's how to write a cover letter in no time. 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 ...

  6. How To Write a School Leaver CV (With Template and Example)

    How to write a CV as a school leaver. If you're a recent school leaver, consider following these steps to help you create a CV: 1. Choose a format and template. There are a variety of formats and templates you can choose from when creating a CV. As a school leaver, you may want to use a functional or hybrid format.

  7. Write a compelling school leaver CV in 2024 (with examples)

    Here are the top five things to avoid in a school leaver CV: Being vague: Avoid being vague about your skills and experiences. Be specific and give concrete examples of your achievements. Negativity: Never include negative information or criticize previous jobs, employers, or schools. Always maintain a positive tone.

  8. High School Student Cover Letter (Sample & Tips)

    Jamie Hart. 929 Commerce St. Stockton, CA 95202. (209) 984-3632. [email protected]. Dear Mr. Hart, My name is Daria, and I am a graduating senior at Heritage High School. I saw your posting for the position of Business Development Intern on Indeed, and was immediately compelled to apply. My academic and career goals align with the internship ...

  9. School Leaver Cover Letter Example Template Download

    Many school leavers will be a similar situation to you. If you'd like help crafting a winning cover letter to support your CV, download our free School Leaver Cover Letter Template. jobs @ randstad uk view all jobs like this. 3 of suggestions seen of suggestions seen. show more show less.

  10. How to write a CV for a school leaver (with templates and examples

    To help increase your chances of success in securing your first job, follow these steps to create your school leaver CV: 1. Contact information. Every CV starts with your contact information, not the title "CV" or "Curriculum Vitae". The information to include is your full name, location, phone number, and email address.

  11. 4 School leaver CV examples 2024 + guide [Land a top job]

    Any experience that could be relevant to your target roles - School projects, voluntary work, work placements, personal projects or pursuits. Relevant hard skills - Languages, literacy, numeracy. Relevant soft skills - Communication, motivation, teamwork, personal skills. Take a look at the example CV profile below.

  12. Resume for a School Leaver (With Template and Example)

    Here's an entry-level resume template for a school leaver that you can use to help write your own: [First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable] [Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State or Territory] Professional Summary. [Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or ...

  13. School leaver CV example

    Take a look at our example school leaver CV to find out how to present yourself in the best light. Ellie Johnson 15 That Street, Thistown, XY99 9XP [email protected] 07777 888999. I'm planning a business degree, either part-time through an apprenticeship or on a full-time course. My aim is to go into finance.

  14. School Leaver CV Examples & Template for 2024

    A good school leaver cover letter will be between half an A4 page and one A4 page long, about 250-400 words in total. Its overall structure will be set by the standard UK business letter format . All such letters have a certain kind of header, salutation and sign-off.

  15. How to write a cover letter

    Say what job you're applying for and how you found out about it. List the documents you've included with the email, for example: "Please find attached my cover letter and CV". Email etiquette is slightly different to letters, so sign off with "Kind regards" instead of "Yours sincerely". Top tip: Make sure you use a sensible email address with a ...

  16. School Leaver Cover Letter

    School Leaver Cover Letter. Last updated 12 Aug 2016; For some school leaver programmes, you might be required to send in a more traditional cover letter and CV, rather than tackle the slalom of online applications.. In any case, knowing how to put together an effective cover letter is a good skill to have.

  17. School Leaver CV

    This school leaver's CV uses a colourful but professional UK CV template. Download Free CV Example. Your application for a job as a school leaver won't be complete until you make a cover letter. But if you're not confident in your letter-writing ability, use a cover letter builder that creates the content for you.

  18. Tips for a First-Job Cover Letter for High School Students

    Cover letters are formal documents and have specific formatting. These format guidelines will help you be sure that your cover letter is easy to read, professional and compatible with any software: Use a simple, standard font like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman. Use a 10- or 12-point font size.

  19. Apprenticeship cover letter

    Your cover letter needs to be original and tailored to the job you're applying for. Jo Yotan 54 The Close Nearton Herechester HC5 1CH [email protected] 07788 999000. Ms Geraldine Cranefeld Student recruitment manager International Engineering Engineering House XYZ Business Park Herechester HC7 4JP. 5th May 2023. Dear Ms Cranefeld.

  20. Cover Letter for a High School Student (2024 Examples)

    This ensures the hiring manager has your contact information. For an emailed cover letter, include your email address, phone number and full name. For a paper cover letter, include your name, postal address, phone number and email address. 2. Greet the hiring manager. If you know the hiring manager's name, you can address them by name.

  21. Sample Resumes & Sample Cover Letters

    You can use our sample resumes and cover letters as a starting point for your own job application. These samples cover all kinds of situations, including: high school students. early school leavers. uni or TAFE students/graduates. people who have had paid jobs before.

  22. CV and cover letter templates

    Save and name your templated CV and cover letter. When you download the templates, remember to save them on your computer as a Word document and a PDF. Employers may need either format. Name your documents with your name, the application date, and the job you're applying for. For instance, "Mere Smith 1 Oct 2023 Water Engineer CV".

  23. School Leaver Sample Resumes

    Download this sample resume. Sample CV: Yr 10/Earlier + No Work Experience - Word (103.74 KB) Sample CV: Yr 10/Earlier + No Work Experience - PDF (99.57 KB) If you have trouble with this sample resume, please contact us at [email protected].