CV for school leavers: what to include and how to start

A school leaver CV should be one page, led by your matric or Grade 12 results, followed by school roles, volunteering, part-time or family work, skills and languages. You do not need a long job history. You need clear, honest evidence that you are reliable and ready to learn.

Key points

• Lead with education, because it is your strongest section.
• Use school, home and community activities as real experience.
• Keep to one page and use a plain, readable layout.
• Pick two or three subjects and activities that match the job, not all of them.
• Ask teachers or community leaders for references before you list them.

What goes on a school leaver's CV?

A good school leaver CV has seven parts: your name and contact details, a short profile, education, experience and activities, skills, languages and references. You can add a short line on interests if it helps.

The order matters. Put education directly under your profile. Employers know that you have not had many jobs. They are looking for signs of effort, reliability and willingness to learn, and your school record gives them a starting point.

How do I write the education section?

Give the school name, town, the qualification and the year you finished or will finish. If you are still in Grade 12, write "Grade 12, expected completion in November" (use the month, not a year). For matric, "National Senior Certificate" is the full name.

Then choose subjects. Add three to six that relate to the job, with results if they are strong. Here is how a reader scans it:

Job you want	Subjects worth showing
Shop or till work	Mathematical Literacy or Mathematics, Business Studies, English
Office or admin	Computer Applications Technology, Business Studies, Accounting, English
Technical or workshop	Technical subjects, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Engineering Graphics and Design
Hospitality	Consumer Studies, Hospitality Studies, Tourism, English

Do not list all your subjects if some are not useful. Keep to those that match the work.

What counts as experience for a school leaver?

Experience is anything that shows responsibility. Look for:

• School roles such as prefect, class monitor, sports captain, choir or debating society member.
• Helping at home or in a family business, such as watching a shop, looking after younger children or cooking meals.
• Part-time work such as packing, car washing, babysitting, tutoring or holiday jobs.
• Volunteering at a church, clinic, community garden or school event.
• Projects such as organising a fundraiser or a sports day.

Write each as a short bullet with an action and a detail. Here are samples, written as examples for you to adapt:

• "Prefect for two years: supervised younger learners at break and reported problems to the head of discipline."
• "Helped in a family car wash on weekends: greeted customers, collected payment and kept the bay tidy."
• "Took part in a school fundraiser: sold tickets, kept a record of money received and handed it to the teacher."

How should I write the profile?

Keep it to two or three lines. Say who you are, what you have to offer and what you are looking for. For example:

"Grade 12 learner with experience helping in a family shop and as a school prefect. Comfortable with customers, cash and following instructions. Looking for a part-time or entry-level job where I can learn."

Leave out phrases like "hard-working team player" unless you add evidence. The shop and prefect details do the work.

How do I show skills without work history?

List skills you can actually use, and be ready to show them in an interview. Group them in short lines:

• Computer: Word, Excel basics, email, using a phone to search and apply.
• People: Greeting customers, working in a team, helping younger learners.
• Practical: Counting cash, cooking, sewing, simple repairs, packing.
• Languages: English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, Setswana, or whichever you speak.

Do not use skill bars or star ratings. A simple list is clearer, and software reads it better.

What should I do about references?

Ask a teacher, a school principal, a coach, a church or community leader, or someone whose business you have helped. Do not list a family member unless the job is in the family business. Tell the person which job you applied for and that they may be called. Write their name, role and contact number. If you are not ready, write "References available on request" and prepare them in advance.

What does a one-page layout look like?

Use this order and adjust it as needed:

1. Name and contact details (mobile number and a sensible email address).
2. Profile (two or three lines).
3. Education (school, matric subjects, results if good).
4. Experience and activities (three to five items).
5. Skills.
6. Languages.
7. References.

Use one font, simple headings and bullets. Avoid columns, icons, text boxes and pictures. Save as a PDF and check it on a phone before you send it. The article on your first CV checklist is helpful for the last check.

What if my marks are not strong?

Your marks are only one part of your CV. If they are not as good as you hoped, move the focus to what you have done: roles, helping at home, volunteering, a short course or a skill you learned on your own. List only subjects that are relevant to the job and leave out the rest. Never change or exaggerate your results. Employers can ask for a certificate or confirmation.

If you are rewriting or improving your matric, write "Rewriting matric subjects" with the honest status.

Should I include a photo or personal details?

Not usually. A photo, ID number, date of birth and religion are rarely needed on a school leaver CV. Many employers will ask for ID details later on an application form. Your focus should be on contact details, education and experience. If the advert asks for a photo or specific details, follow it.

How do I apply for jobs after school?

Look for entry-level shops, learnerships, internships, apprenticeships and temporary or seasonal work. Ask people you know whether they hear of openings. Use job boards and company career pages, and visit shops or businesses in person if that is how they hire locally, taking a printed copy of your CV with you. Keep a list of where you applied and when, so you can follow up politely.

Common mistakes

• Using an email address that is a nickname or joke.
• Listing hobbies such as "listening to music" with no link to the job.
• Writing in long paragraphs.
• Forgetting a phone number, or writing it wrongly.
• Sending a CV with text that is hard to read on a phone.
• Leaving out your town, so the employer cannot tell if you live nearby.

Frequently asked questions

What should a school leaver put on a CV?

Put your contact details, a short profile, your school and matric subjects, any school roles, volunteering or part-time work, skills, languages and references. Keep it to one page and write each item with a clear action, so the reader can see what you did.

Can I write a CV without any work experience?

Yes. Use school roles, helping at home, volunteering, projects and skills to show what you can do. Describe what you did in short bullets. Many entry-level employers expect school leavers to have little paid experience and look for reliability and willingness to learn.

Should I include my matric results on my CV?

Include them if they are strong or relevant to the job. Write the subjects you want to highlight and the results. If your results are weak, list the qualification and relevant subjects only, and focus on other evidence. Always be truthful, because certificates can be checked.

How do I find someone to be my reference?

Ask a teacher, principal, coach, or a community or church leader who knows your character and work. Choose someone who will say positive things and respond when contacted. Ask first, tell them about the job, and give them your CV so they can talk about the same things.

Next steps

Write down your school roles, helping jobs and skills in one list, then choose the four that best fit the work you want. If you want a guided way to put this together, you can build your CV step by step with CV Sorted: it is free to build and preview.