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Your first CV template, free to download

"I've never had a job. What do I even put on this?" That's normal, and it doesn't mean you have nothing to say. This one-page Word template shows you what to write in every section, using what you've already done at school, at home and in your spare time.

Download the Word template.docx, one page. No sign-up, no email.

Is there a free CV template for someone with no work experience?

Yes. Shine's free one-page Word CV template is built for school, college and university leavers with no work experience. Each section has an example and guidance, covering your profile, education, school projects, volunteering, informal work, skills with proof, achievements and interests. It downloads instantly with no sign-up.

Last reviewed by the Shine careers team.

What's in the template?

Every section has a worked example plus grey guidance text telling you what to swap in and what to delete.

Personal profile
An example paragraph about who you are, what you want and when you can work. No job history needed.
Education
Room for your school, college or uni, subjects and grades, with predicted grades if you're still studying.
Experience that actually counts
Example lines for school projects, babysitting, a family business, volunteering and clubs, phrased the way employers expect.
Skills with proof
Prompts like 'a time you worked in a team' or 'a time you solved a problem', so you're never staring at a blank list.
Achievements
Attendance awards, Duke of Edinburgh, sport and music grades. People forget these, but they count.
Interests
One or two lines that show something about you, kept professional.

How do I fill in the CV template?

  1. Open the file in Word, Google Docs or Pages.
  2. Replace every example with your own details. Keep the headings.
  3. Delete all the grey guidance text.
  4. Check it still fits on one page, then save it as a PDF to send.

It's built to be read by employers' application systems: one column, a standard font and no tables or text boxes. Want to see finished versions? Look at our student CV examples or read how to write a CV with no experience.

Want one built around you instead?

The free Shine CV builder turns your skills and interests into a CV for you. Totally optional; the template works fine on its own.

Try the free CV builder

First CV template FAQs

What do I put on a CV if I've never had a job?
Put your education and predicted grades, a short personal profile, and experience from school projects, volunteering, clubs, sport and informal work like babysitting or helping in a family business. Add skills with a real example of each, and achievements such as attendance awards or Duke of Edinburgh.
Is this CV template really free?
Yes. It downloads straight away as a Word file. There's no sign-up and no email address needed.
Will the template work with employers' application systems?
It's built to be read by applicant tracking systems: one column, a standard font, clear headings, and no tables or text boxes. Your details sit in the main page, not in headers or footers.
How long should a first CV be?
One page. The template is laid out to fit on one page once you swap in your own details and delete the grey guidance.
Can I open it without Microsoft Word?
Yes. It opens in Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice. Save it as a PDF before you send it so the layout stays the same.

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Part of Shine's apprenticeship guide series, plain-English answers, updated regularly.