CVBUFFED Academy · Free
Your future looks good on you.
From your first CV to your first day. Everything you need to get there.
Free forever. No account needed.

Where are you right now?
Start wherever you are. Nothing here has to be done in order.
- 01I don’t know where to startFind what you’re good at, and where it could lead.
- 02I need a CVWrite one that shows what you’ve really done.
- 03I’m applying for jobsRead adverts properly, tailor what you send and keep track.
- 04I’ve got an interviewPrepare, practise and walk in with real examples.
- 05I’ve got the jobCheck the offer and get ready for your first day.
- 06I didn’t get the jobAsk for feedback, take stock and go again.
Good places to begin
- Build your CV · 7 minWrite your first CV when you’ve never had a jobYou have more to put on a CV than you think. By the end of this lesson you'll have a page plan and your first three pieces of evidence written down.
- Interviews · 6 minHow to answer “Tell me about yourself”Four words that make most people forget everything about themselves. Here's a short, honest way to answer that works whatever your situation.
- Interviews · 6 minThe STAR method: tell a real story so it makes senseEver answered a question and lost the point halfway through? STAR is a simple way to organise a real story so someone else can follow it.
The Practice Room
The first time you answer an interview question shouldn’t have to be in the interview.
Practise here first. One question at a time, no timer, no score, and nothing you write leaves your device.
Open the Practice RoomCV examples, taken apart
Four fictional applicants, four different jobs. Every line explained, so you can do the same with your own.
- RetailRead a full first-job retail CV, see why each part is there, then write your own version of the two lines that matter most.
- HospitalitySee how a student turns a summer job outside hospitality and a bit of volunteering into a CV a café manager can say yes to.
- ApprenticeshipFollow a school leaver's CV for an electrical apprenticeship, see why grades and projects lead, and write your own project entry.
- Office and adminSee how someone with takeaway work and a volunteer role writes a CV that proves they can be accurate, organised and good on email.
Free resources
- The CV ChecklistReadable, complete, relevant and ready to send? Check in ten minutes.
- The Strengths FinderSpot the skills in things you’ve already done.
- The STAR WorksheetBuild one real interview answer in four parts, then print it.
- The Interview Preparation PackEverything to sort before the day, as a checklist.
- The Application TrackerA spreadsheet or a printable sheet. No sign-up.
- Email templatesFollow-ups, confirmations and asking for adjustments.
Ready to turn what you’ve learned into your own CV?
CVBUFFED is a CV template and editor that asks for things you’ve really done. £12.50 once, no subscription. The Academy stays free either way.
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