Apprenticeship CV Examples
Updated 15 July 2026
An apprenticeship CV is your first chance to prove you are ready to learn, work hard and turn up reliably. Employers do not expect years of experience from a school leaver, they want proof of motivation, basic skills and a genuine interest in the trade. This guide shows you how to structure your CV, write a personal statement that stands out, and present your GCSE grades, part-time jobs and hobbies as evidence you will succeed.
Apprenticeship CV examples
School Leaver – Engineering Apprenticeship
entryLeads with strong GCSE grades in Maths and Physics, shows hands-on hobbies (fixing bikes, Duke of Edinburgh) and frames part-time work as proof of reliability and teamwork.
School Leaver – Business Administration Apprenticeship
entryPersonal statement tailored to business admin, highlights organisational skills from school prefect role and retail work, and uses hobbies (typing course, volunteering) to show initiative and office-ready skills.
School Leaver – IT Apprenticeship
entryDemonstrates sector-specific initiative with a free coding course and home PC-building hobby, strong Computer Science GCSE, and uses work experience to show transferable skills like troubleshooting and customer communication.
How to write an apprenticeship CV
An apprenticeship CV follows a different structure to a standard job CV because you are selling potential, not a track record. Here is the right order and what to include in each section.
Section order
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Name and contact | Full name, mobile, email, location (city), LinkedIn (optional) |
| Personal statement | 4-5 sentences: who you are, why this apprenticeship, what you offer |
| Key skills | 8-10 skills relevant to the role (mix of technical and soft skills) |
| Education | GCSEs with grades (Maths and English first), A-Levels if applicable |
| Work experience | Part-time jobs, Saturday work, volunteering, school placements |
| Hobbies and interests | Interests that show aptitude or commitment (skip generic ones) |
| Additional | Certifications, awards, references line |
Length and format
Keep it to one page. A school leaver rarely has enough content to justify two, and a tight, well-organised page signals you can prioritise. Use a plain layout with clear section headings, 12pt font, and bullet points. Skip photos, fancy fonts, columns, text boxes and headers or footers, they hurt readability and confuse applicant-tracking systems.
Tailoring
Mirror keywords from the job advert. If the employer asks for reliability, teamwork and attention to detail, use those exact phrases in your skills and personal statement. If the role mentions specific tools or software, include them if you have any exposure (even basic). Generic CVs get filtered out fast, tailoring takes ten minutes and doubles your chances.
Personal statement examples
Motivated school leaver with strong GCSE grades in Maths (7) and English (6), seeking a carpentry apprenticeship to develop practical skills and contribute to a professional team. Hands-on experience through a school work placement at a local joinery workshop and completing Duke of Edinburgh Silver demonstrates commitment and problem-solving. Eager to learn traditional and modern techniques, reliable, and ready to work hard from day one.
Hard-working and reliable school leaver looking for an apprenticeship to gain experience and develop my skills. I am a good team player with a positive attitude and I am passionate about learning. I believe I would be a great fit for your company.
Writing your experience
Employers know you do not have years of professional experience, so they look for transferable skills from part-time work, volunteering, school roles and work-experience placements. Every bullet should show what you did and what it proves about you.
The result-plus-skill pattern
Each bullet follows this shape: action verb + what you did + the skill or outcome it demonstrates. Even a Saturday job stacking shelves can show reliability, teamwork and attention to detail if you frame it right.
Before (duties, no proof)
- Responsible for serving customers
- Helped with stock
- Worked as part of a team
After (action, outcome, skill)
- Served an average of 60 customers per shift during busy weekend periods, maintaining a friendly and professional manner under pressure
- Restocked shelves and managed stock rotation using FIFO procedures, reducing waste and ensuring full availability
- Worked collaboratively with a team of five to complete daily tasks, consistently meeting shift targets and receiving positive manager feedback
Action verbs for apprenticeships
Use these to start your bullets: assisted, supported, organised, maintained, completed, processed, delivered, contributed, achieved, learned, followed, managed, coordinated, helped.
Volunteering and school roles count
Do not leave out unpaid work. A week shadowing a plumber, helping at a charity shop, or being a school prefect all demonstrate skills. Frame them exactly like paid roles: company name (or organisation), your title, dates, and 2-3 bullets showing what you did and what it proves.
Key skills & ATS keywords
Hard skills
Soft skills
ATS keywords
Education & certifications
Education is the most important section on an apprenticeship CV because it proves you meet the entry requirements. Most apprenticeships require at least a grade 4 (C) in GCSE Maths and English, so list these first and make the grades obvious.
How to present GCSEs
List your school name, qualification type (GCSEs), and the years you studied. Then list individual subjects and grades as bullet points, with Maths and English at the top. If you have not received results yet, label predicted grades clearly.
Example:
Riverside Academy, GCSEs (2021–2026)
- Maths: Grade 7
- English Language: Grade 6
- Physics: Grade 6
- Design & Technology: Grade 5
- Computer Science: Grade 5
If you are still in sixth form or college, list A-Levels (or BTECs) above GCSEs, with predicted grades if results are not out yet.
Certifications and short courses
Even small certificates help you stand out. Include:
- First Aid (St John Ambulance, Red Cross)
- Health and Safety or CSCS basics
- Typing certificates (e.g. TypingClub Level 2)
- Free online courses (Codecademy Python, Google Digital Garage, FutureLearn)
- Duke of Edinburgh (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
- Sports coaching badges or lifeguard qualifications
List these in an Achievements or Certifications section with the issuing body. They signal initiative and a head start on the trade.
Common mistakes to avoid
Writing a generic personal statement that could apply to any apprenticeship
Tailor it to the specific role and employer. Mention the trade by name, reference a skill or interest that connects to it, and show you have researched what the apprenticeship involves.
Burying GCSE Maths and English grades or leaving them out
List Maths and English first in your education section with the grades clearly visible. Employers filter on these immediately, so make them easy to find.
Listing duties instead of skills in the work-experience section
Rewrite every bullet to show what you did and what it proves. 'Served customers' becomes 'Served 60+ customers per shift, maintaining professionalism under pressure and receiving positive feedback.'
Including hobbies like 'socialising', 'watching films' or 'spending time with friends'
Choose interests that demonstrate relevant skills or commitment: fixing bikes for an engineering role, coding projects for IT, Duke of Edinburgh for resilience, sports-team captain for leadership.
Submitting a CV with spelling mistakes, inconsistent formatting or missing contact details
Proofread twice. Ask a teacher, careers adviser or parent to check it. One typo can get you rejected because it signals carelessness.
Using family members as references
List two professional or academic referees: a teacher, a work-experience supervisor, a part-time manager, or a coach. If you prefer, write 'References available on request' and provide them when asked.
Junior vs senior: what changes
| Aspect | Junior | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Personal statement | Focuses on GCSE grades, motivation to learn, and relevant hobbies or school roles | Not applicable, apprenticeships are entry-level roles for school leavers or career changers with limited experience |
| Education section | GCSEs with individual grades listed (Maths and English first), possibly predicted grades if still in school | Not applicable, apprenticeships target those without degrees or extensive qualifications |
| Work experience | Part-time jobs, Saturday work, volunteering, school placements, framed to show transferable skills like reliability and teamwork | Not applicable, senior candidates would apply for standard roles, not apprenticeships |
| Skills | Mix of basic technical skills (Microsoft Office, hand tools) and soft skills (willingness to learn, punctuality, teamwork) | Not applicable |
| Hobbies and interests | Used as evidence of aptitude or commitment (fixing bikes, coding projects, Duke of Edinburgh, sports-team roles) | Not applicable |
| Length | One page, occasionally stretching to two if the candidate has substantial part-time work or volunteering | Not applicable |