How to write a CV for an apprenticeship?
If you’re looking for a construction apprenticeship, having a stand-out CV which accurately reflects your skills and qualifications should be your top priority.
Why do I need an apprenticeship CV?
A CV is important because it will give potential future employers a first impression of you based on your education, work experience, skills, hobbies and achievements. A CV, or curriculum vitae, is effectively your shop window.
Things to include on your apprenticeship CV
There isn’t a one size fits all approach to structuring a good apprenticeship CV, but there is certain information that all CVs should include.
There is some basic information that all employers want to see on a CV, such as contact details and referees, and while most CVs contain the same sort of information, the way it is presented and ordered can make all the difference.
Structure and formatting your CV
Here is an example structure which captures all the information employers want, and is suitable for all experience and education levels.
Contact details
Your name should be at the top of the document – there’s no need to write ‘CV’ or ‘curriculum vitae’. Below that, you should include:
- Your full address and postcode
- Landline or mobile number – whichever you’re most likely to be reachable on during a working day
- Email address – make sure to keep it professional
You don’t need to include other details such as your age, marital status, date of birth, nationality etc. If you have one, you can include a link to your profile on a professional social media site like LinkedIn.
Personal statement
A personal statement isn’t essential, but it’s a good way to introduce who you are, your career aims and key attributes. It is a short statement which aims to prove why you’re suitable for the role, helping you to stand out from the crowd.
This is to briefly tell the employer what experience you have or what your current role is, what interests you about the apprenticeship and what your professional goals are. Keep it short with two to three sentences.
Here’s some tips on how to write a personal statement for a CV.
Education
Depending on your personal circumstances you may want to put work history next – if you have limited or no work experience, put education here.
In this section you will need to include in most recent order:
- The names and grades of your qualifications
- The school, college or university where you studied
- The dates you attended
Most apprenticeships have specific educational requirements, such as a certain number of attained qualifications or ones in a specific subject. If the apprenticeship requires a qualification in a certain subject and you have an higher level qualification in it, be sure to mention it. This could give you an edge over other candidates.
If you completed a work placement, a traineeship, work experience, etc. this will be better placed under work history.
Work history
Even if you don't yet have any experience directly related to your chosen field, still mention any experience you do have. This could include part-time work, school work experience programmes, voluntary work and any apprenticeships you've already done.
Outline your responsibilities and the duration of your experiences. You’ll need to give details of:
- The employer, with the most recent first
- The title of the job
- The dates you worked
- A brief outline of what you did
When discussing your strengths and skills, use active words such as ‘organised’, ‘built’, ‘created’, ‘managed’, or ‘planned’.
Rather than just listing your duties and responsibilities, giving positive examples of your achievements is a great way to bring your qualities the employer is looking for. The STAR method is a good way to do this:
- Situation– Your role in a previous work setting
- Task– A time you had you had to use your qualities to complete a specific task or solve a problem. Consider how this relates to a specific quality on the job you’re going for
- Action– How did you complete this task? Use specific examples
- Result– What was the outcome of your action, and how did it contribute to a success story?
Hobbies, interests or achievements
This isn’t an essential section, so if you’re going to include it keep it short. It’s a good place to include achievements which aren’t related to work or education, such as running a marathon, winning an award, climbing a mountain, etc.
What skills should you include on an apprenticeship CV?
Some CVs include a separate section which lists applicants’ skills. In most situations, it isn’t necessary to include this as you will have mentioned all of your skills in the other sections. However, it can be a useful way to highlight skills if you are particularly experienced in a certain field.
It is better to use specific skills, such as software packages you’re proficient in, rather than generic terms like communication skills, teamworking and multitasking.
References
Employers will take up references in the event of offering the job to you. They will usually ask for two referees, one of whom should be your last employer. If you haven’t had a job before, you can ask an employer you have done work experience for, a teacher or anyone who knows you who isn’t a member of your family. It helps if they are employed or work in a profession or industry.
More information
You’ve written a great CV – what next?
Many apprenticeship applications require a cover letter alongside your CV – and even if they don’t, it is good practice to include one.
If you’ve managed to land an apprenticeship interview – well done! Read our hints and tips guide to interviews.