CVs, Applications and Interviews

The lessons at a glance

1. Exploring careers and knowing your strengths

You do not need to know your whole future at 16. What helps is a simple habit of noticing what you enjoy and are good at, testing ideas against real jobs and talking to people who actually do them.

• Look for overlaps between your skills, interests and values.
• Career quizzes give ideas to research, not answers.
• Informational interviews are about advice, not asking for a job.
• Test ideas with small experiences, then reflect in writing.
• Your interests will change, and that is normal.

2. Writing your first CV with no experience

A CV is a short document that shows an employer, internship provider or volunteer organisation what you can offer. Even with no paid jobs, you have school, projects, clubs and responsibilities that prove real skills.

• Everyone has experience: school roles, projects, volunteering and clubs all count.
• Start bullets with action verbs and back them up with results.
• Tailor your CV to every application.
• Keep it to one clear page at 17.
• Photo and personal details norms vary by country, so check before you send.

3. Cover letters and emails to employers

A cover letter or a short email is often the first thing an employer reads. It shows why you want this role at this organisation and gives a quick taste of how you communicate.

• Tailor every letter: generic ones rarely work.
• Use three to five concise paragraphs on one page.
• Find a named person to address it to.
• Short, polite, specific emails open doors.
• Follow up once after about two weeks.

4. LinkedIn and your professional online presence

Universities, internship providers and employers may look you up online. A tidy professional profile and a sensible digital footprint make a good first impression before you have even met.

• LinkedIn's terms set a minimum age of 16.
• A clear photo, specific headline and real examples make a strong profile.
• Connect with people you have actually met, with a personal note.
• Check your digital footprint regularly.
• Be cautious with unexpected job offers online.

5. Finding work experience, internships and volunteering

Experience is how you test a career, build skills and fill your CV. Most of it is found by asking, applying early and using the networks you already have.

• Shadowing, virtual programmes and volunteering all count as experience.
• In the UAE, students from 15 can be trained with a permit and guardian consent.
• Your school, family network and government programmes are good starting points.
• Never accept a placement that skips the paperwork or asks you to pay.
• Keep a log so every placement strengthens your CV.

6. Interviews: preparing, the STAR method and common questions

Interviews feel less frightening when you know what is coming. Most questions fall into a few familiar types, and a clear structure lets you answer with real examples instead of panicking.

• Prepare several real examples before any interview.
• Use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Spend most of your answer on what you did and what happened.
• Answer the weakness question honestly with steps you are taking.
• Always have questions ready to ask at the end.

7. Interview day, online interviews and follow-up

First impressions are built from small, controllable things: arriving on time, being ready, looking prepared and following up politely. Get these right and you can focus on your answers.

• Confirm the time, time zone and location the day before.
• Be ready 5 to 10 minutes early with your phone off.
• Online: camera at eye level, good light, quiet room, dress smartly.
• Write down the questions afterwards while they are fresh.
• Send a short, specific thank-you email within 24 hours.

8. Handling rejection and keeping going

Almost everyone hears 'no' many times on the way to 'yes'. Rejection is information, not a judgement of your worth, and how you respond to it is one of the most useful career skills you can build.

• Rejection is common and usually about fit or competition.
• Be kind to yourself and talk to someone you trust.
• Ask politely for feedback, and do not chase repeatedly.
• Use each rejection to improve one specific thing.
• Keep several applications going so you always have momentum.

Talk about it, then try it

The real-life practice tasks from each lesson. Pick one or two a week and agree when you will check in.

1. Exploring careers and knowing your strengths
   • Complete one free careers quiz (the National Careers Service assessment or the O*NET Interest Profiler) and write down three suggested careers you had not considered.
   • Choose one career idea and research it using the questions in section 3, recording your findings in a career notebook.
   • Identify one adult who works in a field that interests you and, with a parent's knowledge, send them a polite request for a 20-minute informational interview.
2. Writing your first CV with no experience
   • Draft a one-page CV using the five sections above, with at least three activities and one result for each.
   • Rewrite three of your bullet points so each starts with an action verb and includes a number or concrete outcome.
   • Ask a teacher, school counsellor or parent to proofread your CV and give you one suggestion.
3. Cover letters and emails to employers
   • Find a real advert or organisation that interests you and write a one-page, four-paragraph cover letter for it.
   • Write a three-paragraph enquiry email for work shadowing or volunteering, and ask an adult to check the tone before sending.
   • Set up a professional email address based on your name if you do not already have one.
4. LinkedIn and your professional online presence
   • If you are 16 or over and your parent or guardian agrees, draft a LinkedIn headline and About section using the examples above (you can write them in a document first).
   • Search your name online and list anything you would want to change or tidy up.
   • Review the privacy settings on two of your social media accounts.
5. Finding work experience, internships and volunteering
   • Make a list of five organisations or people you could approach for work shadowing, volunteering or an internship, and note how you would contact each one.
   • Book a meeting with your school careers counsellor to ask about placements the school has arranged before.
   • Check the eligibility rules for one volunteering platform or internship programme in your emirate or country.
6. Interviews: preparing, the STAR method and common questions
   • Write four STAR examples from school, volunteering or home that show teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and handling pressure.
   • Record yourself answering 'Tell me about yourself' in under two minutes, then watch it back and improve one thing.
   • Do a 15-minute mock interview with a parent, teacher or friend using the common questions above.
7. Interview day, online interviews and follow-up
   • Set up a mock video interview with a friend: test your camera height, lighting and sound, then ask each other two questions.
   • Lay out and check a smart outfit that would suit an office interview, and plan a journey to a real address with timings.
   • Write a template thank-you email that you can personalise after your next interview.
8. Handling rejection and keeping going
   • Write a polite reply template you could send after a rejection, including a request for feedback.
   • Set up an application tracker with columns for organisation, date applied, follow-up date, outcome and lesson learned.
   • Pick your hardest interview question so far and rewrite your answer using STAR.

Quiz

Name: ______________________ Date: ____________ Circle one answer for each question.

Answer key

1. A: O*NET Resource Center: the six areas are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional.
2. A: University of Kansas Career Center: ask for about 20 minutes, which most people can spare.
3. B: National Careers Service: for your first job, focus on skills from projects, volunteering or work experience; hobbies help too, for example captaining a sports team shows leadership.
4. B: University of Nottingham: use active verbs and avoid weak phrases such as 'tried to'; Prospects advises backing up skills with specific evidence.
5. B: Prospects: aim for three to five concise paragraphs and keep the letter to one A4 page at most.
6. C: Prospects: use 'Yours sincerely' for a named contact and 'Yours faithfully' for a general greeting.
7. D: ConductAtlas record of LinkedIn's User Agreement: the services are not for use by anyone under the age of 16.
8. A: University of Cincinnati: use a specific headline that mentions your field and goals with keywords recruiters might search for.
9. D: MOHRE: students aged 15 or older can be trained or employed; those aged 15 to 18 need written guardian consent.
10. A: MOHRE: the training and work permit for students is valid for three months.
11. D: National Careers Service: STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result.
12. D: National Careers Service: you can use STAR in a CV, a cover letter, an application form and interviews.
13. B: National Careers Service: be ready to start 5 to 10 minutes early.
14. D: Bucknell University: sit upright with the camera at eye level, and put a laptop on a desk, not your lap.
15. A: Imperial College London: a rejection is usually about fit or competition, not your personal worth.
16. B: University of Bath Careers Service: thank the employer and ask what you did well and where you could improve.

General information only, written from the sources listed in each online lesson. Laws, numbers and services change, so check official sources. Life-Ready Society, https://lifereadysociety.com/careers-cv/