Your CV should be one page maximum (for now)
As a school leaver, one clean, well-formatted page beats a sprawling two-pager every time. Include: personal statement (3–4 lines), education, any work experience, skills, and hobbies that are actually interesting. Use a free template from Canva.com.
Tailor every application
Read the job description carefully and use some of the same words in your application. Copy-paste applications are obvious. Employers scan for relevance in seconds.
The STAR Interview Technique
Situation → Task → Action → Result. When asked 'Tell me about a time you...' — describe the situation, your specific task, the actions you took, and the result. Prepare 5–6 STAR stories from school, clubs, or family life. They work for almost any question.
LinkedIn Matters, Even Now
Set up a LinkedIn profile with your photo, education, and a short bio. Connect with teachers, coaches, and anyone you've worked with. Recruiters actively search for young candidates.
Free Careers Support in Scotland
Skills Development Scotland's My World of Work platform has career quizzes, CV builders, and free one-to-one sessions with a careers adviser. Use it — it's excellent and completely free.