Apprenticeship CV Example
Tailored for school leavers and young professionals applying for apprenticeship programmes. Focuses on your willingness to learn, relevant academic achievements, and any work experience that demonstrates your work ethic.
Recommended template: Sleek
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Focus on your enthusiasm for the industry and specific reasons for choosing an apprenticeship pathway.
- Include relevant GCSE and A-Level results, particularly in subjects related to the apprenticeship.
- Highlight any work experience, part-time jobs, or volunteering that shows responsibility and commitment.
- Mention any extracurricular activities that demonstrate teamwork, leadership, or relevant interests.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Sleek template and customise it for your junior role.
How to Write Your Apprenticeship CV
An apprenticeship CV should demonstrate your enthusiasm for learning, your work ethic, and the transferable skills you have already developed through school, part-time work, or extracurricular activities. Apprenticeship employers understand that you are at the start of your career, so they are looking for potential, attitude, and commitment rather than extensive experience. Your CV should show that you are reliable, motivated, and ready to make the most of the training and development opportunity an apprenticeship provides.
CV Structure
Start with a brief personal statement explaining what type of apprenticeship you are seeking and why. Follow with your education section, listing GCSEs and any A-Levels or BTECs with grades. Include any work experience, volunteering, or extracurricular activities. End with a skills section highlighting the key attributes you bring. Keep your CV to one page.
CV Format
Choose a fresh, clean template that is modern but professional. Avoid overly busy designs and focus on readability. Use clear headings, bullet points, and consistent formatting. Your CV should be easy for busy apprenticeship recruiters to scan quickly. Save as a PDF.
CV Profile Examples
School Leaver Apprentice
Hardworking and enthusiastic school leaver with eight GCSEs including grade 6 in English and Mathematics, seeking an apprenticeship that combines practical workplace learning with professional qualification study. Reliable and punctual, with two years of Saturday work experience in retail demonstrating customer service skills and a strong work ethic. Passionate about beginning a career through hands-on training and dedicated study.
A-Level Graduate Apprentice
A-Level graduate with results in Business Studies (B), Mathematics (B), and English Literature (C), seeking a business administration or finance apprenticeship. Organised and self-motivated with experience managing a school fundraising project that raised over £2,000 for a local charity. Excited about the apprenticeship pathway as a route to gaining professional qualifications while contributing to a real workplace.
Career-Change Apprentice
Motivated twenty-one-year-old with two years of full-time work experience in hospitality, seeking an IT or digital marketing apprenticeship to pursue a long-standing interest in technology. Self-taught in HTML, CSS, and basic Python through online courses. Brings strong customer service, teamwork, and problem-solving skills from a fast-paced restaurant environment to a structured apprenticeship setting.
State the type of apprenticeship you are applying for, your key academic results, and one or two personal qualities that make you a strong candidate. Mention any relevant experience or interests that connect to the industry. Keep your personal statement to three or four sentences.
Key Skills for Your Apprenticeship CV
Willingness to Learn
Demonstrating enthusiasm for developing new skills, accepting feedback positively, and seeking opportunities to grow professionally.
Teamwork
Working collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals, contributing ideas, and supporting team members in completing tasks.
Communication
Communicating clearly and confidently with customers, colleagues, and supervisors in both written and verbal formats.
IT Literacy
Using Microsoft Office applications, email, and internet-based tools competently for work and academic purposes.
Problem Solving
Identifying issues and finding practical solutions, whether dealing with customer complaints, stock discrepancies, or scheduling challenges.
Time Management
Organising time effectively to balance multiple commitments such as school, work, and extracurricular activities.
Reliability
Consistently turning up on time, completing tasks as requested, and maintaining a dependable presence in the workplace.
Customer Service
Providing helpful, friendly service to customers and representing the business positively in all interactions.
Work Experience Examples
Describe any work experience, including part-time jobs, Saturday work, work experience placements, and volunteering. Focus on the transferable skills you developed, such as customer service, teamwork, and time management. Quantify where possible with attendance records, sales figures, or event outcomes. Even brief work experience shows employers that you understand workplace expectations.
Sales Assistant (Part-Time)
Next — Bullring Shopping Centre, Birmingham
Worked every Saturday and during school holidays for two years, providing customer service and supporting the sales team in a busy city-centre fashion retail store.
Responsibilities
- Served customers on the shop floor and at the till, processing transactions and handling returns accurately.
- Maintained stock levels on the sales floor, received deliveries, and organised the stock room following store layout plans.
- Assisted with visual merchandising and seasonal display changes under the guidance of the department manager.
- Answered customer enquiries about product availability, sizing, and store promotions.
Achievements
- Maintained 100% attendance during school holidays and Saturday shifts over a two-year period.
- Received a team recognition certificate for exceeding the daily till transaction target during the January sale period.
Charity Fundraising Volunteer
St Mary's Hospice — School Partnership Programme
Organised and participated in school-based fundraising activities as part of a team of six students supporting a local hospice charity.
Responsibilities
- Planned and promoted fundraising events including a sponsored walk, bake sale, and non-uniform day across the school.
- Managed event logistics including venue booking, supply purchasing, and cash handling on the day.
- Created promotional posters and social media content to increase student participation in fundraising activities.
- Presented the total funds raised to the hospice representative at a school assembly.
Achievements
- Raised over £2,000 for St Mary's Hospice across four events during the academic year, exceeding the initial target of £1,500.
- Developed teamwork, organisational, and communication skills that were recognised in a school achievement award.
Education & Qualifications
List your GCSEs with grades, highlighting English and Mathematics. Include any A-Levels, BTECs, or vocational qualifications. If your grades are strong, place your education section before your work experience. Mention any subjects that relate to the apprenticeship you are targeting.
GCSEs
General Certificate of Secondary Education qualifications, with employers typically looking for at least grade 4 or above in English and Mathematics.
A-Levels / BTECs
Post-16 qualifications that demonstrate subject-specific knowledge and the ability to study at an advanced level.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
A nationally recognised award demonstrating commitment, resilience, and personal development through volunteering, skills, fitness, and expedition.
IT / Digital Skills Certification
Certifications in IT skills such as ECDL, Google Digital Garage, or Microsoft Office Specialist qualifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
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