A CV is not a list of traits. It's a short argument that you're worth meeting. Most teenage CVs fail because they're built around self-description rather than evidence.
"Good communicator." "Works well independently and in a team." "Motivated and enthusiastic." These phrases appear on roughly 90% of all CVs sent in for entry-level roles. They convey nothing. Any hiring manager who reads them skips straight past.
The fix is simpler than most CV guides make it sound. For every bullet point, ask yourself: can I show this rather than say it? Instead of "responsible," write that you've been a prefect, a team captain, or that you regularly look after younger siblings. Instead of "good with people," mention that you volunteered at a community event and handled enquiries from members of the public.
Even small things count when you frame them properly. Helping run a school stall is customer service experience. Organising a revision group is coordination experience. Completing your Duke of Edinburgh award shows follow-through on a long commitment.
You've done more than you think. The problem is most teens either omit these things or bury them under vague descriptions.
Keep the CV to one page. Hiring managers for part-time roles spend about 20 seconds on each application. A two-page CV from someone with no work history reads as poor judgement.
Your email address is either professional or it isn't. "pizzalover2008@gmail.com" ends applications before they start. Set up a plain firstname.lastname address and use it for job hunting only.
One last thing: don't lie. Not even small lies about grades or responsibilities. Managers ask follow-up questions in interviews. If what you say doesn't match what you wrote, you won't get the job, and word travels fast in local hiring networks.