Student CV template

What's included

• A matching cover letter in the same design
• A4, laid out for UK applications
• Real, selectable text that online application systems can read
• Switch template any time without losing a word
• AI writing help for your profile, achievements and letter (up to 60 AI actions)
• PDF and Word downloads of your CV and letter
• Edit and download again any time, no subscription

What to put on a student CV

Writing your first CV can feel odd when you have not had a proper job yet. This student CV template is built for that moment. Your availability sits under your name, so a shop or cafe manager can see straight away when you can work, and your GCSEs and A levels are easy to find. It is a friendly one-page layout with no photo.

Fill it in and preview every page for free, with no account needed. When you are happy, pay £4.99 once to download it as PDF and Word, with a matching cover letter included. The text is real and selectable, so it copies cleanly into online application forms. If you want a different look later, switch to any other template without losing a word.

Lead with your availability

Part-time employers hire around shifts. Say which days and hours you can work in term time and in the holidays, and whether you can do weekends. A manager filling a Saturday rota will look for this first.

Put your grades where they help

List your GCSEs with grades, or predicted grades if you are still studying, and give A levels, BTECs or T levels with the subject. Name English and Maths with their grades, as many employers check those first.

Use school and life experience

Volunteering, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, sports teams, babysitting, helping in a family business and school roles like prefect all count. Write one line on what you did and one on what it shows, such as turning up on time or handling money.

Write a short profile

Two or three sentences at the top saying what you are studying, what kind of work you want and one strength. Change it for each job so it matches the advert.

Keep it to one page

One side of A4 is plenty for a first CV. Leave out a photo, your date of birth and a list of hobbies with no detail. Your town is enough for an address.

See a full student CV example

Questions

What should a student CV include if I have no work experience?

Your contact details, a short profile, your education with grades or predicted grades, any volunteering or school responsibilities, skills such as using a till or speaking another language, and your availability. Employers hiring students expect little work history, so show that you are reliable and keen to learn.

Should I put my GCSE grades on my CV?

Yes, if they are your highest qualifications. List how many GCSEs you have and the grades, and name English and Maths with their grades. Once you have A levels or a degree, you can shorten your GCSEs to a single line.

Do I need a photo or date of birth on a student CV?

No. UK employers do not expect a photo or your date of birth, and leaving them out keeps the focus on what you can do. Your name, phone number, email address and town are enough for contact details.

How long should a student CV be?

One side of A4 is right for most students looking for part-time or weekend work. If you have plenty of relevant experience or are applying for a graduate role, two sides is fine. Cut anything that does not help with the job you want.

More templates like this

• Launch CV template - Education, projects and practical ability lead for first roles.
• Tangerine CV template - A compact one-page layout with your skills as a row of tags under your name. No photo.
• Orange CV template - Your GCSE Maths and English grades up front, practical skills next, then school and part-time work. No photo.
• Oxford CV template - Quiet serif typography and generous margins. A strong everyday CV.

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