Tips for writing a great apprenticeship CV

Updated 16 May 2023

A man holds a piece of paper, with graphics floating next to him of a school, a certificate and a basketball.

An apprenticeship is a great way to start your career by learning valuable skills from experienced professionals while getting paid for your work. Apprentices learn through a combination of classroom teaching and on-the-job training, finishing with a professional qualification that allows them to find work in their field. If you're interested in applying for an apprenticeship, you need to write an apprenticeship CV. In this article, we discuss what to include in an apprentice CV, share our tips for writing a CV that gets noticed, and provide a template to help you get started.

Why do I need an apprenticeship CV?

Apprentices are usually at the beginning of their careers, so if you're thinking about doing an apprenticeship, you may be wondering why you need an apprenticeship CV at all. Although you may not have much relevant professional experience to highlight, your apprenticeship CV is still important. Your CV tells the employer about:

Your education
Transferrable skills picked up from other work or school
Your interest in your chosen field and why you want to do an apprenticeship

5 things to include on your apprenticeship CV

To write a great apprenticeship CV, be sure to include these elements:

1. Your name and contact details

Put these at the top of the page so that the potential employer is immediately introduced to you and knows how to contact you. Employers may have many CVs to look through, so make it easy to find your phone number if they want to get in touch. Use your mobile number to make sure they can reach you any time of the day.

2. A personal summary or objective

Include a short professional summary towards the top of the page. 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.

3. Information about your education

Most apprenticeships have specific educational requirements, such as a certain number of GCSEs or GCSEs in a specific subject. Include your education level and any grades so that the employer can easily see whether you meet their requirements. If the apprenticeship requires a GCSE in a subject and you have an A-Level in it, be sure to mention it. This could give you an edge over other candidates.

3. Your previous professional experiences

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.

4. Any relevant training

If you've completed any training relevant to the role you're applying for, be sure to mention this on your apprenticeship CV. This training could be part of another apprenticeship or work experience. Include any specific accomplishments or achievements.

5. Extracurricular activities and hobbies

If you've done extracurricular activities that are relevant to the apprenticeship, mention them on your CV. You can also include a brief note on your hobbies, even if they're not directly relevant. This tells the potential employer a little about your personality and makes your application more human, instead of just a piece of paper. Ensure it's brief and professional.

Tips for crafting a great CV for your next apprenticeship

There is some key information that needs to be included on every apprentice's CV, such as your contact details, work history and education. However, there are also some other things you can do to give your CV that extra something that makes it stand out:

Take it seriously

Treat any CVs you write for apprenticeships as seriously as you would a normal job CV. Take your time writing your CV and make sure there are no style, formatting or proofreading errors. A potential employer can tell you've put the work in, which shows you're serious about the apprenticeship and future career.

Be realistic

Your CV is your chance to brag about your skills and achievements to a potential employer before you've even met them. Use it to show them how you'd bring value to their company even while you're learning. Even if you don't have relevant experience, you likely have transferrable skills that you can apply to your role. For example, if you have a Saturday job that involves interacting with customers, you could mention that you're a strong communicator, which is valued in any industry.

Be careful not to exaggerate your skills on your CV, as these things are usually easy to spot, and getting caught out won't make you look good to a future supervisor.

Have evidence

Instead of just giving your potential employer a list of reasons why you're great, try to show them instead. For example, instead of just saying that you're good with numbers, you could mention that you got a good grade in your maths GCSE or that you're responsible for counting the cash at your part-time job. Try to provide evidence for every claim you make.

Tailor your CV for each apprenticeship

If you're applying to more than one apprenticeship at a time, you don't need to rewrite your CV every time. However, it's still important to take some time to tailor it to each position so that the person reading it can clearly see that you're interested in working for their company. Look carefully through the job advert they posted so you can be sure to include some keywords and highlight the skills they're most interested in.

Study appropriately

Although apprenticeships are mainly focused on hands-on learning, about 20% of an apprentice's time is spent on the study portion. This means that it's a good idea to dedicate about the same percentage of your CV to show you can meet the requirements. Include any grades and try to show that you're capable of completing tasks and meeting deadlines.

Proofread your CV thoroughly

Typos or other errors in your CV can be very off-putting to a potential employer, as it may look like you haven't put much effort in or aren't serious about the job. Make sure you carefully proofread your apprentice's CV before sending it. If possible, have someone you trust read it through to spot any mistakes you might have missed.

Apprenticeship CV FAQs

Here are the answers to some common questions about writing and sending apprenticeship CVs:

Do I need to include a cover letter?

Writing a cover letter to accompany your CV is important to show the employer that you're the right person for the role. While the CV's job is simply to demonstrate that you have the right skills and qualifications, you can use a cover letter to persuade an employer to hire you. It can expand on the details you've included in your CV and highlight your strengths more clearly.

When do I send my apprenticeship CV?

You need to have finished secondary school before you can start an apprenticeship. However, you can apply for an apprenticeship while you're still at school. As a general rule, start applying for apprenticeships about six months before you want to start. Just be sure to mark the date you'd be able to start clearly on your application. If you're writing your CV while you're still at school and don't know your grades yet, you can just mention your predicted grades in the education section of your CV.

Will I have to interview to get an apprenticeship?

If your application is successful, your potential employer may invite you for an interview. The interview process could be different depending on the company. For example, smaller companies may decide whether to hire you after just one interview, while you might do two or three at larger companies. Your interview could be in person, over the phone, or virtual (using video conferencing software). You can prepare for your interview by researching the company and familiarising yourself with common interview questions.

Apprenticeship CV template

Here is a template you can use as a base for your apprenticeship CV:

[Your name]
[Your email address]
[Your phone number]
[Your current role]

Overview
[2-3 sentences describing your current role, why you're interested in the apprenticeship and your future goals]

Experience
[Current or most recent job title]
[Company, dates of employment and location]

[relevant job duty]
[relevant job duty]
[relevant job duty]

[Second most recent job title]
[Company, dates of employment and location]

[relevant job duty]
[relevant job duty]
[relevant job duty]

Skills

[skill]
[skill]
[skill]
[skill]
[skill]

Education
[Most recent school and years attended]
[Subjects and grades received]

[Second most recent school and years attended]
[Subjects and grades received]

Hobbies and interests
[hobby]
[hobby]
[hobby]

The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.