How to Write a College Leaver CV That Gets Interviews (UK)

For 18-19, finishing A-Levels, BTEC or an Access course, applying for your first full-time role or an apprenticeship. Most first-CV mistakes come from underselling the part-time / placement work because it 'wasn't a real job'. Hours show employability above almost anything else at this stage.. Here's how to write a College Leaver CV that gets read, plus a free tool that builds one for you in a few minutes.

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What counts as experience on a College Leaver CV

The first CV question is always “what do I have to put on it?” The honest answer is: more than you think. For a college leaver, everything on this list earns its place on the CV when described properly.

Part-time and Saturday jobs (retail, hospitality, tutoring, delivery)
College placements and work-experience blocks
Society or council positions (sixth-form council, drama society treasurer, society marketing lead)
Strong academic projects (BTEC distinction modules, EPQ, A-Level coursework that earned recognition)
Voluntary commitments held over months, not weeks

What recruiters look for in the top third

A recruiter spends seven seconds with the top third of your CV before deciding whether to read on. For a college leaver, the top third has to answer these questions instantly:

Your college / sixth-form, your A-Level or BTEC subjects and grades (or predicted)
Any part-time work, placement or sustained extracurricular commitment
One named project or responsibility that shows depth: EPQ topic, BTEC distinction module, society or council role

Words and phrases a College Leaver CV should include

Applicant Tracking Systems and recruiters scan first CVs on exact-match terms. Hand-curated for this audience:

A-Levels
BTEC
EPQ
part-time work
customer service
transferable skills
UCAS
work experience
society leadership
team player

Before and after: one college leaver claim

Weak

Studied A-Levels and worked part-time.

Strong

Completed A-Levels in Biology (B), Chemistry (B) and Psychology (A) at Manchester College, alongside a 16-month part-time role at a busy 80-cover restaurant working Friday-Sunday shifts as front-of-house, then promoted to shift trainer for 4 new starters in 2024.

The weak version could be any college leaver in the country. The strong version names the subjects with grades, the college, the role's hours and intensity, the venue's scale and an explicit progression (promoted to trainer). Each fact tells an employer something different about how you operate under demand.

Build your College Leaver CV in a few minutes

TAILOR’s CV Builder asks 13 simple questions about your school, experience, strengths and what you’re looking for, then builds a UK-format CV in a Word document for you to download and edit.

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College Leaver CV FAQ

Do I list my A-Levels even if I didn't get the grades I wanted?

Yes, with the actual grades. Recruiters spot omissions immediately and read them as deception. Better: list the grades honestly and use the cover letter or interview to explain context (a difficult year, late diagnosis of dyslexia, family circumstance). Honest framing always beats fabrication.

I'm going to uni in September. Should I bother with a CV now?

Yes, for two reasons. First, summer jobs and part-time roles during uni need one. Second, having a CV that you keep current over the next three years is itself a habit that pays dividends. Build one now while the college details are fresh, then update it after every meaningful new role or project.

What's the difference between a college leaver CV and a graduate CV?

Different evidence; same structure. A college leaver leads with A-Levels and any sustained part-time work. A graduate leads with their degree, dissertation and any internships. The skeleton (contact, summary, education, experience, skills, hobbies) is identical; what you put in each section is what shifts.