Guidance on getting your first job

Writing a CV after a gap year

Considering taking a gap year and scared it might hinder your future employment prospects? No need to worry – we have some great advice on how to write a CV after a gap year. There are many reasons why a gap year can not only develop your skills, but also add value to your CV.

Lots of people decide to take a break from employment, and not only can your adventure add value to your CV, it can ultimately help you develop lots of soft skills – from communication to team working.

Including soft skills on your CV

Soft skills are often missed from the CV, and are just as important to an employer as the standard hard skills which are a necessity to perform in the role.

We have some great articles showing you what soft skills you can learn and how you can implement them into your CV to fully utilise your gap year and make it work in your favour.

Writing your first CV

Your first job after leaving education can feel very daunting, and when it comes to writing your first CV you may feel like you don’t have a lot to add – but this just isn’t true. There are lots of skills you can include on your CV to show an employer that you are ready for work – from essay or dissertation writing, the research you’ve conducted, and communication skills you’ve gained from class presentations.

This section also looks to help you understand what an employer would expect to read on a school leavers CV, and which soft skills are required to perform well in a working environment. There are also lots of ways to gain work experience whilst at school or looking for a job.

Gaining work experience

Part time work and voluntary work are both great ways to learn new skills, develop existing ones, and to create valuable work experience for your CV.

Voluntary work can be one of the best ways to gain experience for a school leavers CV. An employer will look very favourably at a school leavers CV if there is a good amount of voluntary work experience. It shows the job seeker is a hard worker, and already has a good foundation of skills with which to build upon.

Developing soft skills

There are certain soft skills which an employer would want to see from a school leaver, ranging from communication and organisation; to time management and problem solving – all of which need to be present on your CV if you want to demonstrate to an employer that you are ready to take on your first job.

Identifying a skills gap

During your education you may begin to build up an interest in a particular career. A fantastic way to find a niche in the job market is to look at the skills gap. When there is a shortage in a certain industry of trained individuals, opportunities are available to forge a great career with an above average salary.

Our team of experts have created information on the UK skills gap; what it is and how you can take advantage of it. You will also find links to helpful websites explaining more about the skills gap and what opportunities are available.

Choosing the right career path

As a recent or soon to be school leaver you should be made aware of all the career choices available to you. Something which you may have not heard about is a scheme called Traineeship. With little to no work experience it can be hard to get into work or even an apprenticeship. You will often find that certain grades are needed to get on an apprenticeship scheme, and this is why the Traineeship option may just be for you.

We have some top advice on Traineeship schemes and why they may be the right choice for you. Getting that all important foot in the door of a working environment can be tough after leaving education, and that’s why our in house team of professionals have further information on overcoming this first hurdle.

Writing a school leaver’s CV

One of the hardest tasks a school leaver will face when looking for their first ever job is writing a CV. Armed with an education and with little or no work experience makes for a daunting task. But that’s why you’ve come to the right place, as we have some helpful information on how to write a school leavers CV.

We have got every section of a CV covered with tips and guidance on writing that very first CV. Tailoring your application, writing a positive personal statement, and making the most of your education is just the tip of the iceberg. After reading our articles you will instantly gain a much better understanding of how to write an effective school leavers CV.

Using your education

Don’t underestimate the value of your education, and how much you can expand upon in your CV. Simply listing your grades is not going to fill out a two page CV, and an employer will also expect much more anyway. We will help you to demonstrate to an employer which skills you’ve gained from your education, and how they can be transferred to their business and put to good use.

Your main goal when writing a school leavers CV is to prove to an employer that you are ready for your first job, and are willing and able to train and work hard. An employer is well aware that when they advertise for an entry level position they will receive mainly school leaver applications. Writing a positive CV demonstrating what you can do rather than what you can’t is the key to success.