CV for a youngster - advice needed

wazza

Have a 16 year old daughter who wants me to write her a CV. She is still in full time education. She wishes to work over holidays etc.

Has anyone done one for a child?

I know the layout from my old CV. Have heard that you don't have to list your date of birth, sex, marital status etc anymore.

Can anyone advice?

Vejovis

i've never put DOB, marital status or gender on a CV.

i haven't done one for a child either, but i would put on any school achievements, clubs attended to show dedication, any voluntary work done even if it was just the year 10 work experience.

heretolearn_2

Why are you doing it for her? There's nothing wrong with giving advice and checking through her efforts - but you are doing her no favours if you just do it for her. Do you do her homework too? lol.

This is a skill she really has to learn.

flutterbyuk25

I use this website with the teens that I work with

HTH

LittleVoice

For someone in full-time education, their age is relevant for consideration by an employer and should be included on the CV. Otherwise they could think the lack of work experience was for some other reason than that they were still at school.

Her marital status is not relevant. Neither is her gender (unless there's a bra-fitting service job !) but is likely to be evident from her name.

Mupette

erm this is what phse lessons are for at school. their final year they are taught how to do a cv, its all linked up with them doing the work experience week/weeks.

Her teachers should be teaching this.. have they not bothered.

Notmyrealname

If she has had any summer jobs or a paper round put that down. If she has done voluntary work, put that down. I WOULD put her age otherwise people may assume she left school, popped a kid out and has never worked since.

scooby75

She's 16. An employer is wanting to see her value to them - that she is literate and numerate, can relate to people, follow procedures, be reliable and not make them think "Oh god, why did we take her on?". Let your daughter write it out. Be honest as well - for example that she is looking to gain experience rather than a full time career, but demonstrate that she can provide what the employer is looking for. If it's a public sector job, them it really is a tick box exercise in most cases.

orangeslimes

Notmyrealname wrote: »

If she has had any summer jobs or a paper round put that down. If she has done voluntary work, put that down. I WOULD put her age otherwise people may assume she left school, popped a kid out and has never worked since.

I think if you clearly put that dates for school/college it will be obvious.

slig

Agree that you shouldn't put age on - school dates tell the employer this. I also agree she should definitely be doing this herself. Perhaps teach her the basic layout and show her some examples online, get her to do it, and then once she's had a go you can go through it with her to make sure it's as good as she can get it.

My suggestions are:

- Definitely keep it to one page
- Make it clear and easy to read, with no typos or mistakes
- Pull out any relevant skills and experience she has, even if she hasn't had a proper job before. This may include work experience, membership of clubs, achievements eg awards at school or being a prefect, basically anything that has a transferable skills. So don't just say (for example) 'member of the Guides for 5 years', expand to include that she was responsible for money handling for whatever reason, that she won a national award for x, helped mentor younger guides, organised x event.

I guess the main thing is, even if she hasn't worked before, she needs to pull out the key qualities an employer wants to see: reliability, communication skills, honesty, maturity, etc.

feelingblue

My son finished school and college and had no idea how to write a CV - I think it is a problem with our particular school and I dare say with others. Don't feel bad about doing it - although for her sake it may be better to do it with her. At the very least go through it with her and make sure she understands what you/both have written.

Extra curriculum achievements should be written such as clubs she attends (shows commitment). I think its great that you are helping her in any way you can - I have certainly found that schools are more interested in academia and targets and not so much 'real world' stuff. Even though they had mock interviews my son was certainly not prepared and had to go through everything with him i.e firm handshake, eye contact, speaking clearly etc. Stuff we take for granted but they are only young and not so experienced. It's a tough job market - do anything you can to make her stand out from the crowd. Good luck x