A first CV doesn't need to be long. It needs to be readable in 20 seconds and specific. Here's the structure that works in 2026.
The one-page rule
If you don't have paid work history, one page is plenty. Anything longer signals padding.
What to put at the top
- Name, town, email, phone
- One sentence: who you are and what you're looking for (e.g. "Year 12 student in Manchester looking for an IT apprenticeship to use my coding hobby in a real team.")
Sections that actually matter
- Skills — 4 specific ones, each backed by a short example.
- Experience — paid work, volunteering, Saturday jobs, babysitting, school enterprise projects all count.
- Education — GCSEs (or predicted), any certifications.
- Interests — pick interests that show effort (sports team, coding, music grade).
What to leave off
- Date of birth
- A photo
- "References available on request" (assumed)
Want a head start?
Use our free CV-relevant courses list to add at least one certificate to your CV this month — it shows employers you can finish things.