CV - for 16 year old with no qualifications

Jo4

I was asked by a 16 year old for help to write a CV. They are currently studying full time but they want to apply for a part time job so they can earn their own money. The problem is they have failed all their GCSEs but are now on a course which will allow them to sit GCSE Maths & English while completing another course.

What is the format or layout for a CV in this situation? The person is also dyslexic.

Houseplant26

Is there any volunteering they are able to do?

I'd also concentrate on interpersonal skills and any skills learnt through hobbies.

List currently working towards maths and English GCSEs.

Are they creative at all?

SailorSam

One example;

http://www.greatcvs.co.uk/cv-for-teenager.html

Google something like 'my first cv' or 'cv for a student'
and there are lots of samples

YouAsked

Duke of Edinburgh?
Any hobbies which show responsibility/hardwork/trustworthiness etc? I'm thinking things like Cadets etc but I'm sure other hobbies would have transferrable skills (sports teams - show commitment, team working etc while stamp collecting may show attention to detail, organisational skills - you get the picture!)

In the absence of any of that, or qualifcations, there's not much you can do other than pad with what they are currently doing, and to be honest that's a perfectly reasonable position for a 16 year old to be in. I'm assuming that the course they are doing alongside maths and English is vocational? If so, never underestimate how strong that is - the 16 year old has had the strength of character to decide that going down an academic route wasn't for them and has taken control of their future rather than aimlessly plodding on.

thunderella

Houseplant26 wrote: »

Is there any volunteering they are able to do?

I'd also concentrate on interpersonal skills and any skills learnt through hobbies.

List currently working towards maths and English GCSEs.

Are they creative at all?

Agree with this.

Plus, of course, provide details of the course they are studying now fuill time, and details of that educational establishment.

More often than not, what any employer is looking for is something to talk to the applicant about at interview, so include anything that could be of interest to an employer. As suggested, any hobbies or perhaps clubs they belong to such as at the educational establishment.

If this can be tailored to suit the position being offered, so much the better
Essentially, why they should be offered the position.

Also, don't be afraid to mention any possible shortcomings (e.g. the dyslexia you mention) and use this as an opportunity to explain how it won't affect the position applied for.
e.g. if it's manual work where the intructions are given verbally, then the dyslexia may not be an issue.
Even if it's for a more high flyer position, the dyslexia may not be an issue if he has learned to live with it. It doesn't appear to have caused too much trouble for the likes of Bill Gates or Richard Branson.
If it's an artistic type of position, some suggest those with dyslexia are often more gifted/suited to those roles because of their alternative way of having to think/process information

But what any employer doesn't like to discover is potentially troublesome surprises, so be honest

Jo4

Houseplant26 wrote: »

Is there any volunteering they are able to do?

I'd also concentrate on interpersonal skills and any skills learnt through hobbies.

List currently working towards maths and English GCSEs.

Are they creative at all?

They currently do not volunteer and they do not have any hobbies.

They are creative - they love painting and sketching.

Jo4

SailorSam wrote: »

One example;

http://www.greatcvs.co.uk/cv-for-teenager.html

Google something like 'my first cv' or 'cv for a student'
and there are lots of samples

Thank you for the link.

[Deleted User]

Jo4 wrote: »

They currently do not volunteer and they do not have any hobbies.

They are creative - they love painting and sketching.

Painting is a hobby!

Jo4

YouAsked wrote: »

Duke of Edinburgh?
Any hobbies which show responsibility/hardwork/trustworthiness etc? I'm thinking things like Cadets etc but I'm sure other hobbies would have transferrable skills (sports teams - show commitment, team working etc while stamp collecting may show attention to detail, organisational skills - you get the picture!)

In the absence of any of that, or qualifcations, there's not much you can do other than pad with what they are currently doing, and to be honest that's a perfectly reasonable position for a 16 year old to be in. I'm assuming that the course they are doing alongside maths and English is vocational? If so, never underestimate how strong that is - the 16 year old has had the strength of character to decide that going down an academic route wasn't for them and has taken control of their future rather than aimlessly plodding on.

They have no hobbies.

It is a beauty course they are doing.

Jo4

thunderella wrote: »

Agree with this.

Plus, of course, provide details of the course they are studying now fuill time, and details of that educational establishment.

More often than not, what any employer is looking for is something to talk to the applicant about at interview, so include anything that could be of interest to an employer. As suggested, any hobbies or perhaps clubs they belong to such as at the educational establishment.

If this can be tailored to suit the position being offered, so much the better
Essentially, why they should be offered the position.

Also, don't be afraid to mention any possible shortcomings (e.g. the dyslexia you mention) and use this as an opportunity to explain how it won't affect the position applied for.
e.g. if it's manual work where the intructions are given verbally, then the dyslexia may not be an issue.
Even if it's for a more high flyer position, the dyslexia may not be an issue if he has learned to live with it. It doesn't appear to have caused too much trouble for the likes of Bill Gates or Richard Branson.
If it's an artistic type of position, some suggest those with dyslexia are often more gifted/suited to those roles because of their alternative way of having to think/process information

But what any employer doesn't like to discover is potentially troublesome surprises, so be honest

Thank you for your help!

Jo4

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Painting is a hobby!

They did it at GCSE but got a D. They don't usually show their work but when they do people cannot believe how good it is.