resume template for person with no experience

How to Write a Resume with No Experience [21+ Examples]

It’s time for your first job hunt !

You need to write a resume , which can be nerve-wracking if you don’t have any real-life work experience.  

You don’t know where to start, what to include, or which resume format to choose.

On top of that, most advice you find online isn’t relevant because it focuses on emphasizing professional background.

Chances are, you’re straight out of college with no experience to speak of. 

Or maybe you're a high-school student applying for a part-time job.

Whichever the case may be, you’re probably having trouble filling in the blank space on your resume that’s supposed to be the work experience section.

Worry not, though. In this guide, we’re going to help you create an AMAZING resume, no work experience is needed.

• How to format your resume with no work experience
• 4 sections to replace work experience (that help you stand out)
• 2 no-work experience resume samples (guaranteed to land you the job)

How to Format Your Resume [with No Work Experience + Examples] 

A resume format is the layout of your resume .

The ideal resume format usually depends on how much work experience you have. 

But what happens when you have none?

For a no-experience resume, we recommend that you use the reverse-chronological format . 

It’s the most popular format amongst applicants and a recruiter favorite.  

The sections in your reverse-chronological resume will be: 

• Header : Contact Information and Resume Statement
• Internships, extracurricular activities, projects, volunteer work  (These sections will replace your work experience)

In this article, we’ll walk you through each of these sections, and explain how to write them in a way that you stand out from the crowd.

Let’s dive in.

Start With Your Resume Header

Your resume header includes your contact information and your resume statement.  

Below, we’ll show you how to write both of these elements and how to include them in your header section.

Put Down Your Contact Information

Just like the name suggests, the first thing you add to your header is your personal and contact information.

It’s the easiest part to get right, just keep it short and to the point.

In your contact information section, mention the following:

• First and Last Name
• Phone Number
• E-mail Address
• A link to a professional profile (e.g. LinkedIn ) or personal webpage (if you have one)

Make sure to use a professional-sounding E-mail.

I.e. something along the lines of “[email protected].” 

You’re sure to leave a wrong impression if you use an email you created back in preschool ( “[email protected]” ).

Make sure to double-check, triple-check your contact information. After all, the recruiter can’t contact you if you have a typo in your phone number.

(Optional) Write Your Resume Objective

A resume objective is a short heading statement in your resume, where you describe your professional goals and aspirations.

Fun fact - hiring managers look at your resume for 5-6 seconds max .

Yep, that’s right. In most cases, the hiring manager is literally drowning in resumes. So, they have a couple of seconds to skim each one.

Well, this section is your chance to catch their attention (and let them know you’ve got what it takes).

A resume objective is usually 3-4 sentences max and includes information on:

• What your field of study is;
• What your skills and experiences are (ones that are relevant to the job );
• Why you’re applying for this position and/or this company.

As with contact information, you don’t need to label your resume objective with a title. Just write it underneath your contact information section.

Here’s an example of what a resume objective looks like:

“ Recent Communications graduate looking to apply for the role of Secretary at XYZ inc. Extremely organized with good writing and multitasking skills. Practical experience in management gained through several university projects, which involved coordinating tasks between different team members and ensuring that everyone was in sync with the latest information. ”

Emphasize Your Education

In your average resume, the first section would be work experience.

Since you don’t have any, though, you’ll want to omit that and replace it with the education section.

This way, you bring a lot more attention to your education, which is one of your main selling points. 

What should you include in the Education section? 

List the following features in this order:

• Name of the degree
• Name of the institution
• Years attended
• Location of the institution (optional)
• GPA (optional)
• Honors (optional)
• Relevant coursework (optional)
• Exchange programs (optional) 

As a general rule, if you studied in a prestigious university, you can add the name of the institution before the degree . This way, you will catch the recruiter’s attention faster.

Now, let’s go through some real-life examples:

BA in Computer Science

Tufts University

Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts

10/2015 - 06/2018

Magna Cum Laude

• Exchange Program in Greenville, NY

University of the Arts London

BA in Interior Design 

10/2017 - Ongoing

Westwood High

Boston, Massachusetts

Class of 2018 

Education Section Q&A

Still have some questions about the education section? Worry not, we’re about to give you all the answers!

Do I include my GPA?

• The answer here is a “maybe.” We’d recommend including a GPA if it’s higher than 3.5. Anything lower than that, and you might be underselling yourself. Keep in mind, though, that most employers don’t care about your grades.

Should I include my coursework?

• Yep, but just as long as it’s relevant. If you have no work experience, including courses can help establish your expertise in a field. Feel free to skip out on any basic courses, though. No one cares about your Maths 101 course.

Do I mention my degree if I dropped out?

• If you studied for more than 2-3 years, yes. A half-finished degree is still better than no degree. If you dropped out after a semester, though, that doesn’t really mean much.

Do I mention my high school degree?

• Only if it’s your only degree. If you have any higher education, your high school degree will only take up space.

4 Sections to Replace Work Experience [With Examples]

Now that you’ve listed your education, it’s time to fill that work experience gap in your resume.

You aren’t still worried about your lack of experience, right?

Because here are four sections you can use instead:

1) Internships

Have you done an internship that is relevant to the position you are applying for?

Now’s the time to mention it. 

Here is how you add an internship to your resume:

First , place the Internship section right after the education section. 

Title it: Internships

Second , write your internship title and role . Be specific.

If your internship was in the marketing department, instead of just “Intern”, say “Marketing Intern”. 

Third , put down the company name , location , and duration of the internship - in that order.

Marketing Intern

Full Picture

New York, NY

09/2019 - 12/2019

Easy and straightforward, right?

One more step:

Last , add a list of responsibilities you had as an intern in bullet point form. 

If you have any tangible achievements , even better! Write those in as well.

Finally, tailor both the responsibilities and achievements to the role you’re applying for.

Here’s how that looks in practice:

You used to be an Advertising Intern .

You’re applying for the position of Social Media Assistant . 

Here’s how you would put down your internship entry:

Internships

Full Picture Company

• Analyzed various social media platforms for trending content
• Managed company social media accounts
• Posted interested content on company Facebook page, increasing engagement by 25%

The listed responsibilities and achievements are directly connected to the Social Media Assistant job requirements.

You’re applying for a Content Writer position. Take a look at the same entry now:

• Assisted the Marketing Manager in writing press releases and new blog posts , which increased web traffic by 25%.

Notice how the internship title remains the same. 

But in this case you’re applying for a Content Writer position, so you are highlighting your writing experience instead.

For more examples, check out our full guides to an internship resume and how to write a cover letter for an internship .

2) Extracurricular activities

Still have a ton of empty space in your resume?

Extracurricular activities are always a great addition!

Whether they’re related to the job you’re applying for or not, they still show one thing:

You’re hard-working and motivated.

Imagine you’re the HR manager, and you can pick between these 2 candidates:

• Josh Johnson. Studied at Massachusetts State. 4.0 GPA, but that’s all he did in college - no extracurricular activities, internships, or anything else.
• Suzie Activeson. Also studied at Massachusetts state. 3.2 GPA. Vice-president of the business club. Served as a student government senator for 2 semesters. Organized several events as part of the marketing club.

Sure, Josh is probably qualified, but we don't know anything about him, other than that he studied a lot.

Suzie, on the other hand, can manage a team (business club VP), organize events (marketing club), and is passionate about making a change (student government).

So, which one would you pick?

Now, let’s explain how to list extracurricular activities on your resume:

• Title of the section: Extracurricular Activities
• Name of the organization and/or team 
• Your role in the organization
• Time period
• Noteworthy awards or achievements

Extracurricular Activities

Public Speaking Club

Vice-President

09/2018 - 09/2019

• Organized 10+ public speaking lectures
• Brought in speakers from all over the state
• Conducted public speaking workshops

3) Volunteering Experience

Volunteering shows dedication and passion to apply yourself. 

And there’s nothing recruiters love more than a committed employee.  

Whether you spend your free time in a soup kitchen, or you helped collect trash in the countryside, you can mention it in your resume!

But how do you list volunteering experience?

Well, it follows the same logic as your internship and extracurriculars:

• Title of the section: Volunteering Experience
• Name of the organization
• Relevant tasks and achievements (bullet points)

Volunteering Experience

Grand Archive Library Volunteer

Washington, D.C

08/2017 - 02/2019

• Performed secretarial activities, such as sorting mail, filing documents, answering phone calls, and taking messages. 
• Led a poetry reading event twice a month. 

4) Projects

In this section, you can add any relevant projects you were part of during your time in school or at an internship.

Your capstone project, graduation thesis, or research project go here. 

No need for work experience!

You can also mention any other type of project you’ve worked on in school, including:

• Business project for a real-life client
• Mock website you created in Web Design 101
• Fake magazine you created as a capstone project
• Market research you did as part of your graduation thesis
• Software you developed in Software Engineering class

...And so on!

Here’s how you put them down:

• Title of the section: Projects
• Project name
• Project type
• Related organization 
• Relevant responsibilities and achievements (optional)

And now, for some practical examples. Here’s what a journalism student project could look like:

Online Privacy and Social Media: a Journalistic Study of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica

Journalism Capstone Project

Harvard University

09/2018 - 11/2018

And here’s a law school example:

In-House Pro Bono Project

Columbia Law School

11/2018 - 03/2019

• Completed a full petition for U nonimmigrant status, interviewed legal persons and drafted affidavits.

If you have anything physical to back up your project with, feel free to include a link.

For example, if you’re a developer, you could include a link to your GitHub profile.

Stand out with your Skills 

There are two types of skills you can include on your no-experience resume: 

Soft skills and hard skills. 

What’s the difference? 

Soft skills are attributes or habits that describe how you work. They are not specific to a job, but indirectly help you adapt to the work environment. 

Here are some of the most popular ones: teamwork, responsibility, leadership, creativity, etc.  

Hard skills , on the other hand, refer to specific tools, technical knowledge and training and other work-specific skills. They apply directly to the job. 

Technical writing, C++, financial accounting, etc. are all examples of hard skills.

So, which of these skills should you include? 

That depends on a lot of factors, but as someone with no work experience, you should opt more for hard skills .

See, you could write all the cool buzzwords like “Critical Thinking” and “Leadership,” but the recruiter won’t believe you.

Fun fact - that’s what 90% of students do.

Instead, you should focus on skills that make you stand out , and in most cases, those are hard skills.

So, how do you decide which hard skills to mention? Easy! Just check the job ad you’re applying for.

Let’s say you’re applying for an entry-level creative internship, and you find these requirements in the job description: 

• Video editing experience (Premiere, After Effects)
• UI design experience
• Photo editing experience (Photoshop)
• Photography experience
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator

You’d transfer this into your skills section:

• Premiere & After Effects - Expert
• Photoshop - Expert
• UI Design - Intermediate
• Adobe Illustrator - Intermediate
• Photography - Intermediate

Not sure which skills to mention? Check out our article on 150+ must-have skills for all sorts of professions !

Other Sections You Could Include in a No-Experience Resume

A resume without experience does have one advantage: extra space . 

You can use this space to create other sections that highlight how awesome you are!

Here are some sections you could include:

• Hobbies and Interests . Add flair to your resume by showing your genuine passion and interest in the industry.
• Languages. Do you know a second language? Or even a third? Awesome! Most companies these days are pretty international and appreciate an extra language skill or two. Be mindful not to over-exaggerate your proficiency, though. Only knowing how to ask “¿Donde está la biblioteca?” doesn’t warrant a Spanish entry on your resume.
• Awards & Certifications . Do you have any fancy pieces of paper that show you’re smart? Maybe it’s an award for a terrific essay in a competition, or a certificate from an online course . Whichever the case may be, awards and certifications show that you’re a winner, so definitely include them in their own respective section.

Need Inspiration? 2 No Work Experience Resume Samples

Do you still have questions or don’t know where to begin?

That’s when a resume sample comes in handy. 

It provides you with a predetermined format.

It also helps you picture how your no-experience resume is supposed to look like. 

As Picasso put it: Good artists copy; great artists steal! 

Here are 2 no work experience resume samples you can borrow ideas from:

Business Student Resume Sample

High-school Student Resume Sample

Create a Matching Cover Letter

All done with your resume?

It’s not over yet. You need to write a cover letter to go with it.

A cover letter is a single-page letter that accompanies your resume and is part of your job application.

Look at it this way: your resume describes your experiences, and your cover letter explains (in simple words) how they’re relevant to the job.

Now, here’s a quick infographic on what to include in a cover letter:

Finally, as with everything else in your resume, make sure to keep your cover letter relevant, short, and concise.

The hiring manager doesn’t have time to read an autobiography, they’ll only review your cover letter for a few minutes. 

There’s a lot more to creating a good cover letter than what we just explained.

For a complete, all-you-need-to-know walk-through, check out our Complete Guide on How to Write a Cover Letter !

Key Takeaways

...and that’s a wrap!

At this point, you should know everything there is to know about writing a killer no-experience resume.

Just to keep things fresh, though, let’s quickly go through everything we’ve learned so far:

• When creating your no-experience resume, use the reverse-chronological format.
• You can create a killer no-experience resume by emphasizing your education instead. Include relevant internships, soft & hard skills, and projects.
• Other sections you can include on your resume are hobbies & interests, languages, certifications, or achievements.
• Keep all the content on your resume clear, precise, and relevant. Use bullet points for all your descriptions.
• After you’re done with your resume, you want to write an awesome cover letter that goes with it. The cover letter is a one-page letter that tells the story behind your resume content and reemphasizes why you’re a great fit for the job.

Related Resume Examples

• Internship Resume
• High School Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• College Resume
• Students and Graduates Resume
• Teacher Resume

Recommended Readings:

• 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job in 2024
• 20+ One-Page Resume Templates [Free Download]
• 35+ Common Interview Questions and Answers [Complete List]

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How to Write a Resume with No Work Experience in 2021 (With Examples)

Don't worry, we've all been there. Thrown into the job world with little to none work experience and no idea how to start a resume. We're here to help.

With more and more people on the job hunt each year, entering the work force with minimal to no experience on your resume can be a daunting and frustrating task.

However, no need to worry, all is not lost for applicants lacking in relevant work experience.

We've all been there.

This guide is here to help you learn how to shift the focus of your resume onto your skills, unpaid experiences, and education in order to frame your lack of experience in a more appealing manner.

• What Resume Format is Best for Someone with No Experience?

Adding Transferable Skills to Resume

Including unpaid experience on resume, listing education on a resume as a student.

• Finally, Getting Jobs with a No-Experience Resume

What Resume Format is Best for Someone with No Experience

The first and arguably most important decision when it comes to crafting a resume is deciding which format is best for you.

When you are lacking in relevant work experience, using the standard resume format – also known as the reverse-chronological resume – may not be the best idea.

Reverse-chronological resumes are centered around the work experience section, which is precisely the section you want to shift the attention away from when your experience is limited.

Instead, you should consider using either a functional or a hybrid resume .

If you are unsure which resume format best fits your needs, check out our guide on choosing the correct resume format.  

1) What are Functional Resumes?

Unlike reverse-chronological resumes, functional resumes are not designed or formatted to be primarily focused on relevant work experience.

Because of this, the functional resume has become the favored format for applicants who do not have work experience to showcase.

There are a number of reasons why a person may not have work experience to feature on a resume. Common circumstances include an individual being a student or recent grad.

Veterans who lack non-military experience and people looking to re-enter the workforce after a gap in their employment history also may favor a functional format. 

The benefits of using a functional resume include:

• Well-suited for applicants who have gaps in their employment history or lack relevant work experience.
• Greater flexibility in how sections of the resume can be structured, allowing for a skills section to be the main centerpiece of the resume.
• Provides better opportunity to highlight any unpaid experiences or academic credentials an applicant may have. 

2) What are Hybrid Resumes?

A hybrid resume mixes the formatting of functional and reverse-chronological resumes in order to make a resume that includes elements from both.

These kinds of resumes are highly customizable and can be restructured according to the applicant’s needs.

Using a hybrid resume may be wise for someone who has some work experience that may or may not be wholly relevant

For people with no work experience whatsoever, however, sticking to a functional format may be best.

Benefits of using a hybrid resume include: 

• Opportunity to show work experience, even if it is not relevant to the job being applied for
• Good for applicants who have limited paid working experience but have extensive history working in unpaid opportunities, such as volunteering. 
• Hybrid resumes may more closely resemble a reverse-chronological, which is the standard resume format that employers typically expect. 

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

Making a resume as a job applicant with little to no experience requires you to take an in-depth personal inventory of your personal skills and talents.

Everything from your communication skills to your time management and teamwork skills matter here and creating a definitive list of your greatest strengths is key.

There are two categories of skills to consider: hard skills and soft skills .

1) Hard Skills 

Hard skills are more quantifiable and are typically gained through some form of education, training, or certification program.

This can include skills such as computer programming, speaking foreign languages, or being a mathematician.

While you may not have gained hard skills through prior work experience, there are still potentially hard skills you obtained through other channels, such as through school or from the military.

Writing down your hard skills is important, as this is where you will find your most relevant skills for a job application. 

2) Soft Skills

Soft skills are less quantifiable and have more to do with your personality, work ethic, and how you interact with other people.

Communication, problem-solving, and cooperative skills all come into play here. 

Though soft skills may not be as easy to directly relate to a job application, they are still necessary and helpful to include in a resume with a limited work experience section.

Additionally, job descriptions often lend hints to the kinds of soft skills an employer is looking for, and including those skills can show you pay close attention to information given to you. 

Examples of Transferable Skills

Below we have provided a list of common transferable skills to help get you started on identifying which skills you possess and how you can frame them on your resume to improve your chances of landing a job interview. 

Of course, there are hundreds of skills that are good to include on a resume.

It is important to choose skills that both accurately represent your talents as well as provide relevance to the job description provided.

For more ideas on good skills to include, check out our guide on 100+ key skills for a resume in 2021.

Here are a few examples of transferable skills and how to list them:

1) Collaboration

Collaboration skills generally indicate your ability to work well with departments, professionals, or teams outside of your own.

This can show employers your ability to form connections with others within an industry

Incorrect: Collaborated with volunteer teams from other counties.

Correct: Learned strong collaboration strategies through participating in volunteer service activities involving multiple groups of volunteers.

2) Teamwork 

While collaboration shows your ability to work with external connections, teamwork emphasizes your ability to work well within your own team.

Teamwork requires you to pay close attention to your teammates and be willing to compromise in order to make things happen.

Incorrect: Gained teamwork skills through community service.

Correct: Achieved effective teamwork through helping to organize meetings for a community service group.

3) Communication

Communication skills largely involve your public speaking abilities and your capability for expressing yourself in a clear and concise manner.

Including examples of how you have honed your communicative abilities is key. 

Incorrect: Strong communication skills

Correct: Developed communication skills through working as a peer mentor at the university. 

See how this Art Director resume example listed Communication as a skill on her resume:

4) Computer Skills

Nowadays, digital and computer skills are a must and the more you know, the more opportunity you may have for employment.

Detailing your computer skills and programs you can properly operate is essential. 

Incorrect: Strong computer skills and knowledge of software.

Correct: Experienced in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud. Certified in the use of Microsoft Excel. 

5) Dependability

When an employer is considering a job applicant with little to no experience, that applicant’s dependability will be one of their major questions.

As such, including dependability in your skillset is generally a smart idea. 

Incorrect: Provided dependable service as an intern.

Correct: Proved dependability through being on time or early every day on an internship. 

6) Critical Thinking

An employer will want you to be fast on your feet while also being able to think things through thoroughly.

Emphasizing your critical thinking skills helps to show a potential employer your attention to detail and ability to problem solve. 

Incorrect: Gained critical thinking skills through membership in a chess club. 

Correct: Employed critical thinking skills during a chess club competition, placing in second. 

7) Leadership

Taking on leadership roles oftentimes comes with hefty responsibilities.

Showing employers your ability to handle and succeed as a leader can greatly impact their impression of your work ethic and ability to work well with others. 

Incorrect: Grew leadership skills in military training.

Correct: Developed leadership skills in the role of a platoon leader during military training. 

For example, take a look at how Elysse added Leadership skills on her chef resume :

For many job applicants with little to no work experience, there are oftentimes other experiences they have that can be used to emphasize and showcase work done to better hone one’s skills and expertise.

Two common examples include experience gained through volunteering or internships .

When you have no experience or gaps in your employment history, having experiences like these to fill the gaps and give context to your skills is key. 

1) Volunteering

Taking advantage of volunteering opportunities is a great way to both begin to build out your resume while also giving back to your community.

There are all sorts of volunteering positions to consider, from working in a local animal shelter to helping with inventory at a food bank. 

Volunteer service shows not only that you have experience to back up you the skills you claim to have, but it also shows your commitment to your work even if there is no compensation involved.

This can reflect very positively on your work ethic to future employers. 

Incorrect: Volunteered at a local shelter.

Correct: Spent six months volunteering at a local homeless shelter, helping to take daily and weekly food and supply inventories.

2) Internships

Internships are especially common for current students or recent grads to take on, as many jobs require some amount of relevant experience to be considered for open positions.

Internships provide the opportunity to gain relevant working experience for those with little to no prior experience.

Inclusion of internships is important, as though it is unpaid work it still can hold a similar weight to paid work experience, especially when applying to entry or low level positions. 

Incorrect: Interned at a local newspaper for one semester. ‍

Correct: Earned a semester-long internship working as an assistant to an investigative reporter at a locally-run newspaper. 

Aside from internships and volunteer experiences, things such as community leadership or fundraising can be useful to include as well.

Basically any experience that helped you to gain and hone your skills is good to consider adding to a resume. 

See how Marianne added her internship in this graphic design resume example :

When figuring out how to list education on a resume it is important to be mindful of what the job description listed as the educational requirements for the position.

Generally speaking, unless a resume is meant to be more academically focused, it is recommended to keep education sections rather short.

For those with no experience, however, the education section may be a good opportunity to showcase activities, clubs, leadership roles, and other similar experiences.

Showing your involvement on campus can help to fill the time gaps in employment history if you are a student or recent grad. 

Incorrect: Played on an intramural soccer team. ‍

Correct: Participated on an intramural soccer team and earned the role of team co-captain. 

Finally, How to Get Jobs with a No-Experience Resume

When it comes to writing the perfect resume in 2021 , there are lots of considerations to keep in mind.

With so much competition, it can sometimes feel disheartening for those of you with no experience.

However, there is a lot of power in the format and wording of your resume and learning how to optimize your resume is key to overcoming a lack of experience.

Here are three key takeaways for writing resumes with no experience:

1) Be Extra Attentive to Formatting

When you are using a functional or hybrid resume format, it may be immediately noticeable to employers that you have chosen against using the standard reverse-chronological format.

As such, you need to be extra careful with your formatting and design in order to ensure your resume looks clean and is easy to follow. 

2) Contextualize Your Information for Specific Jobs

Since your resume will likely be centered around you skills rather than your experience, it is very important to relate your skills back to the job you are applying for and contextualize for the employer how you will apply you skills if given the position. 

3) The More Detail the Better

You don’t want to leave employers feeling like they’ve been left hanging.

While you should still strive to maintain clarity and conciseness in your descriptions, do not be shy in adding heftier amounts of detail than you might in a more standard resume.

You want to stand out to employers and showcase exactly how you are perfect for the role being offered.

Our Last Thoughts

Landing a job with no experience can be tricky, but it’s nowhere near impossible.

The key to crafting a resume when you lack relevant experience is to identify and showcase your relevant and transferrable skills. 

If you are unsure how to get started formatting your resume, check out our resume templates and examples !

Browse more resume templates that fit your role

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• Guide to Writing a Great...

Guide to Writing a Great Resume with No Work Experience

16 min read · Updated on February 13, 2024

No work experience? No problem.

The ol' catch-22: you need a job to get experience, but you need experience to get a job. Either way, you need a resume, and what you don't need is to panic. 

Just because you don't have skills that are relevant to the job, or experience in a traditional work setting, doesn't mean you can't craft a convincing first job resume. Whether you're a high school or college student, you may be wondering: how do you write a resume with no work experience? Well, we'll tell you with these expert tips.

1. Choose the best format for a resume with no experience

There are a few dominant resume templates in use today:

Chronological

Hybrid - a blend of the chronological and functional formats

A  chronological resume format  lists a candidate's work experience in reverse-chronological order and a functional resume format focuses on highlighting the candidate's hard and soft skills and achievements, rather than work experience. While the functional and hybrid resume formats can be attractive options for job seekers with little relevant experience, most employers and hiring managers prefer a chronological format.

Aside from hiring managers preferring it, it's best to use a reverse chronological resume for two additional reasons:

It's the most used format in the US, making it easy for hiring managers to review and find the information they're seeking

It's the most liked by employers' applicant tracking systems, or ATS. If an ATS can't read your resume properly, it might not get into the hands of a human reader - even if you're the perfect candidate for the job

The primary sections of a reverse chronological resume are:

The heading (with your contact information)

Resume summary

Work experience (which will be substituted with other sections when you have no work experience)

Education 

2. Incorporate your contact information 

Now that you've chosen the best format for a resume with no experience, it's time to complete each section. The first section of your resume is the header section. This is the section that includes your name and contact information. In this section, you'll provide:

Phone number

Email address

Location and zip code

LinkedIn  or professional website URL (optional)

Your name should sit above your contact information in a larger font size than the rest of the information included in the header. You also want to ensure you use a professional sounding email address. Using something like “[email protected]” or “[email protected]” will likely come across as unprofessional and won't gain you any points for the “yes” pile. A good choice is to use your name (or a combination of your initials and surname), instead. 

Here's an example of how to list your contact information at the top of your resume:

Joseph Smith

555.555.5555 | [email protected] | WV 26250 | linkedin.com/in/jsmith28

3. Include a strong summary statement

The next section of your resume, your Resume Summary, will fall just below your contact information. Your resume summary is not to be mistaken for a resume objective. 

Resume objective statements , where you state exactly what career goals you wish to achieve, have mostly fallen out of fashion. This is largely because you want to focus on what you can do for the employer, not what the employer can do for you. A resume summary statement, on the other hand, sums up who you are professionally at the top of the page in two to five sentences and serves as the first impression you give a hiring manager to entice them to keep reading. 

For a resume with no experience, your resume summary can still pack a punch. Include some of the key skills you have relevant to the job, while emphasizing your major and any type of experience that speaks to your ability to succeed.

Here's an example of a resume summary for a recent grad with a human resources degree:

Human resources graduate with diverse knowledge base in employee relations, benefits design, employment law, and policy design. Avid learner with solid written and verbal communication skills and a strong desire to support all levels within an organization for improved employee morale and productive collaboration. 

4. Substitute the Work Experience section with other types of experience

Writing a resume with no experience can feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, recruiters and hiring managers are seeking candidates that have a robust background, regardless of experience level. Here are some sections you can substitute in lieu of a Work Experience section:

Internships

Graduate assistantships, extracurricular activities.

Volunteer Work

Hobbies and Interests

When you include these additional types of experiences on a resume, you can include them as a standalone section or create a “Relevant Experience” section. Depending on the type of experience you're including, you might find it's best to use a section heading that aligns with the type of experience (“Internships” for internships, “Volunteer Work,” for volunteer work, and so on). 

Landing paid or unpaid college internships  are one of the best weapons you have against "experience required." Not only do they give you some real-world work experience, they also allow you to network and make connections that can put you in a job later. When applying for a job without experience, be sure to list any internships you've completed. 

If you haven't had an internship, consider applying for one as a step before an entry-level job.

Here's an example of how to include an internship on your resume:

Finance Intern

New York Secretary of State Office, New York, NY

Jan 2021 - May 2021

Reconciled budget sheets for quarterly processing

Supported accounting team in year end tax return audits 

Analyzed 15 budget reports over a two-month period to ensure accurate data reporting 

Similar to internships, a graduate assistantship secured during school is also a great way to gain valuable experience to include on a resume. Graduate assistantships are paid opportunities provided to graduate students. They typically involve part-time teaching or research within their field of study. 

Here's an example of how to include an assistantship on your resume:

HR Graduate Assistant

West Virginia University School of Business and Economics, Morgantown, WV

August 2020 - May 2021

Reviewed 100 collective bargaining agreements to identify and document similarities and inconsistencies throughout

Worked with academic Professors to develop research guidelines for future assistants

Volunteer work

When surveyed, the majority of employers say that they take  volunteer experience listed on your resume , such as being a soup kitchen volunteer, into consideration alongside paid work experience. So any volunteer work that highlights your talents or a new skill should be put on your well-prepared resume. 

You'll list volunteer work in a similar way to how you would list internships and actual work experience:

Animal Transport Volunteer

Friends for Life Animal Shelter, Philippi, VA

April 2022 - Present 

Working with local shelters to transport animals to and from shelters and foster homes

Assisting in cleaning kennels and common areas to support sanitation efforts

Spearheading animal supply drive, collecting $10K worth of supplies

Though it might not seem like it at first, extracurricular activities can add a lot of value to your resume in lieu of work experience, if you can relate them to the job you're applying to. For example, if you were an officer for a club during college or a captain of a sports team, these roles speak to leadership ability. 

In general, these types of activities show you have the ability to collaborate with others. It also shows you have the ability to keep up with school work while being involved in other areas outside of school, which speaks to time management and organizational skills. 

Here are some of the top extracurricular activities to include on a resume with no experience, as well of some of the skills they help to highlight:

Artistic endeavors: speaks to creativity, problem solving, perseverance, ability to learn 

Sports: speaks to teamwork, collaboration, hard work, problem solving, conflict resolution

Club leadership roles: speaks to leadership, organization, perseverance, time management

General club membership: speaks to time management, community involvement, prioritizing

Student government: speaks to leadership, public speaking, time management, problem solving, organization

Here's an example of how to list extracurricular activities on a resume with no experience:

Student Council Vice PresidentBelington High SchoolAugust 2020 - May 2021

Spearheaded clothing drive to support the homeless in the state of Virginia

Wrote and delivered 3 speeches to the student body focused on student wellbeing, fundraising events, and life beyond high school

Special Projects

If you completed job-related projects during high school or college, they can be a valuable addition to your resume. Personal projects are also game for a resume with no experience, if they're relevant to the job. 

Here's how you might list a personal project on your resume:

Social Media Campaign

Sparkle and Shine Fundraising Event

February 2022 - Mar 2024

Created social media campaign to support fundraising efforts for local children's shelter, supporting education in underprivileged youth

Increased followers by 25% in two months

Generated leads that converted to $3,000 in donations

Here's how you might list school projects on your resume:

Beaumont University

Masters in Counseling and Development

Career counseling planning design for women with chronic fatigue syndrome

Group counseling proposal for friends and family members of those who have mental health challenges

Behavioral health program design to work with males ages 18 to 30 with adverse childhood experiences

Hobbies and interests

It's more common today than ever before to include hobbies and interests on a resume - they help to provide insights into who you are as a person, to enhance your resume story. Hobbies and interests require soft and hard skills, many of which are required to succeed on the job, and they can especially be useful to fill in gaps when you lack work experience.  

For additional information on how to list hobbies and interests on your resume with no experience, refer to “ How to List Hobbies and Interests on a Resume (With Examples) .”

An award can signal to an employer to take note, since they're a distinction that speaks to your skills, abilities, and accomplishments. Adding an Awards section is an excellent way to showcase your ability to succeed in lieu of work experience. 

When you list an award, include the award and issuing institution. For example:

2023 Science Olympiad Award recipient, Science Olympiad Foundation

Certifications

Acquiring certifications provides an excellent opportunity to add value and fill in gaps in terms of skills and work experience. There are a lot of opportunities to secure certifications for free through sites like LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and  Grow with Google . Certifications not only highlight your skills but also show that you're focused on personal and professional development, which employers appreciate in candidates.  

You can list certifications in a standalone Certifications list or with your Education section. For more information on how to best include certifications on a resume with no experience, refer to “ How to List Certifications on a Resume (with examples) .” 

5. Include your education 

When you have work experience, it's common to include your Education section after your Work Experience section. However, on a resume with no experience, many opt to list and emphasize their education after the resume summary. This is largely due to the fact that your education is what's most relevant to employers when you're straight out of school. 

Also, in lieu of a Work Experience section, especially if you're running thin on any of the relevant experience options listed above, you can expand and focus on the  education section on your resume  to highlight the marketable skills you've developed. What can you do well that this job requires? What will be useful to the hiring company? What have you done in school and what have you studied that has prepared you for assuming this job?

This is generally a little easier if you're a college graduate with specialized education, but even a high school graduate can talk about their electives and relevant coursework, why they wanted to take them, and what they learned from the class. It's also acceptable to include any awards, scholarships, honors, or any student clubs and committees you participated in. For example, if you were on the Dean's list, include it. 

Many also wonder if they should include their GPA on their resume. The short answer is yes, if it's 3.5 or higher. This level of achievement highlights your potential and the hard work you're willing to put in for success. 

Here's the order to list items in your Education section, with items 5 to 8 being optional:

Degree issued

Issuing institution

City and state of institution 

Graduation date (or expected graduation date, if in progress)

Relevant coursework

Student committees

Here's how your education might look laid out on your resume:

Bachelors of Science - Psychology (3.5 GPA, magna cum laude)Maryland State University

Relevant coursework: human growth and development, assessment, treatment planning, abnormal behavior

6. Emphasize your skills

Even when you don't have actual work experience, you have definitely acquired skills to support you on the job, which can set you apart from the competition. Be sure to highlight both hard and soft skills on your resume. You can do this by including a Skills section near the end, or by adding a Core Competencies section just below your Resume Summary. 

You also might be wondering what the difference is between hard and soft skills. Hard skills are technical skills that are measurable and learned. Softs skills are tangible skills that are difficult to measure. 

Examples of valuable hard skills on a resume include:

Mathematics

Computer skills

Data analysis

Project management

Social media

Language skills

Here are some common soft skills employers seek in their employees:

Communication

Problem solving

Organization

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Working well under stress

7. Add a cover letter

Even if one isn't required, it's generally a good idea to send a short cover letter along with your resume. Cover letters are where your personality comes out and you can use them to make the case for why you're the perfect candidate for this job. 

A standout cover letter can convince an employer to bring you in for an interview, even if your resume itself doesn't have all the things they'd like to see. Your cover letter provides you with the opportunity to show a bit of personality and express why you're interested in the job, as well. Be sure your cover letter uses the same font and style as your resume, for consistency. 

Elements you should never include on a resume

While there are many elements you should consider adding to your resume, career experts say there are a few things you should never include because they waste space, don't tell the employer anything relevant, or could damage your personal brand. This list includes, but is not limited to: 

Employment references

Writing samples

Photos  of yourself

Do not add this information to your resume unless an employer or recruiter asks you to provide it. 

Additional tips for a resume with no work experience 

As you develop your resume with no experience, here are a few more tips to consider. 

Take stock of your achievements and activities

Make a list of absolutely everything you've done that might be useful on a resume. From this list, you'll then need to narrow down what to actually include on your resume. Different things might be relevant to different jobs you apply for, so keep a full list and pick the most relevant things from it to include on your resume when you send it out. This will help you to identify which sections to include in lieu of work experience.

Pay attention to technical details

When editing your resume, make sure there are no punctuation, grammatical, spelling, or other errors that will make your resume look unprofessional. Then, have a friend or family member read it again to catch any mistakes you might have missed — you can't afford a typo or missing word as a candidate with no prior work experience. Also, be sure to vary your language and use action verbs throughout your resume to keep your reader engaged.

Keywords, keywords, keywords!

Most employers use some form of  applicant tracking system (ATS) to scan and sort resumes . This may seem unfair, but it's the reality of modern-day hiring. To combat this, you'll want to come up with, and include, a list of keywords in your resume when applying for any job. The best place to  find these keywords  is in the job post itself, or in ads for similar jobs. One caveat: don't use meaningless "buzzwords," such as "go-getter," "team player," and “detail-oriented." Unfortunately, sometimes these buzzwords are the only keywords listed in the ad. If that's the case, you'll need to sneak them in alongside your detailed accomplishments and academic achievements.

Customize your resume for each job you apply to

The last and most important thing to remember when creating a good resume is to  customize it for every job to which you apply . Different job postings are going to have different keywords, different job duties listed, and so on. Appealing to each individual employer's needs and job requirements is the best strategy for getting your application noticed and hopefully landing your first job.

Relevant experience goes beyond work experience

At the end of the day, the only perfect resume is the one that gets you the interview. Regardless of whether you have work experience or not, it's still possible to stand out by highlighting other types of experience that relate to the role. 

Even once you're comfortably employed, be prepared to tweak and update your resume to get noticed with each job application you submit. In the meantime, use any type of relevant experience to help you shine and land an interview. Sooner or later, you'll land that job - and gain that much-coveted relevant work experience.

Tackling this kind of resume isn't easy. If you've recently graduated or are in an entry-level job search, a  professional resume writer  can prepare you for success.

This blog was originally written by Riya Sand and has been updated by Ronda Suder. 

Recommended reading:

5 Things You Should Always Include on Your Resume

Should You Include Social Media on Your Resume?

How to Be a Great Candidate Even If You're Under-Qualified for the Job

Related Articles:

How to Maximize Your Resume Action Words to Wow the Employer

Is Your Resume Inspirational? If Not, Here's How to Fix It

7 Ways You Try Too Hard in Job Applications

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Write a resume with no experience

When you’re looking to land your first job, your resume needs to impress employers.

If you have little or no work experience, this can be tough.

But, with the right structure and approach, anyone can write an interview-winning resume.

This detailed guide, which includes a resume example, will show you how to write a resume with no experience, that will still impress recruiters, and take you one step closer to landing that first job.

• Resume examples
• Structuring and formatting your resume
• Writing your resume summary
• Your education
• Vital skills for your resume

Resume templates 

Resume with no experience example

This resume example shows you the basic format of a resume, and the type of content you can include when you have no experience.

I will now walk you through how to produce your own effective resume.

You can watch the video below or read through the rest of the guide on this page.

Top tips for writing a resume with no experience

• Although you may have no formal work experience, be creative and fill your resume with anything that can demonstrate your workplace skills
• Use hobbies, interests, after-school clubs, sports teams and volunteering to highlight transferable skills
• Head your resume with a punchy summary or personal statement to sell yourself to employers and explain why they should hire you
• Make your hard skill such as languages, IT software and written communication highly visible
• Provide lots of detail on what you have learnt in school to make up for your lack of experience

Resume structure & format

The key to getting recruiters to notice your resume, is having a structure that enables ease of reading and allows them to quickly navigate your educational background and relevant skills.

Using sections to clearly identify your transferable skills, assisting you in securing an interview.

This infographic will support you in creating a simple-but-effective format and show you what sections to include in your resume

Formatting Tips

• Use bold headers, bullet points and sections to break up information and support recruiters in easily navigating your resume
• Don’t over-design your resume with imagery such as company logos or headshots and instead keep to a subdued color pallet and a clear font
• Maintain a resume length of 2 sides of A4, don’t look to add irrelevant information to fill space and be comfortable with submitting a resume that is 1 to 2 sides

Structuring your resume

Highlight essential information within your resume by breaking up large blocks of text and working to a format that focuses on your relevancy for the sector you’re looking to apply to.

Stick to the below format when putting together your resume:

• Contact details – Make your contact details easily accessible at the top of the page
• Summary – Start your resume will a short paragraph summarizing your skills and qualifications, engaging recruiters to read further
• Education – Display your qualifications, especially those most applicable to the industry you’re looking to apply to
• Work experience – If you have any, detail voluntary experience or any part time employment
• Interests and hobbies – Look to add hobbies that document your transferable skills, providing added value to your resume

You can always use a resume template , if you want to make the structuring process easier and quicker.

Resume contact details

Keep your contact information to the top of your resume, allowing recruiters to easily reach you.

Stick to the essential information as seen below:

• Phone number
• Email address

Remove supplementary information such as marital status, profile pictures or date of birth that aren’t required in your application.

Quick tip: You can save space and add some design flair to your resume by adding some icons to symbolize the contact details in your header.

Resume summary

Start your resume with an attention-grabbing introduction, summarizing why you’re the ideal candidate for the positions you are applying to – in a punchy summary .

Give recruiters an insight into your background and core skills, making your educational history a focal point, displaying your interest into your preferred field – give them some good reasons to consider you.

These tips will support you in producing your resume summary :

• Research your chosen industry prior to creating your summary, making yourself custom-fit to the sector, adopting sector specific keywords
• Your summary should be between 5-10 lines; you’ll be able to elaborate elsewhere in your resume
• Avoid cliché and overused statements such as “I am punctual” or “I am hardworking” and instead, try to include key requirements from the job adverts you are applying to

What to include in your resume summary?

• Qualifications – Make your education a focal point, considering qualifications most imperative to the industry you’re pursuing
• Core skills – Document any transferable or marketable skills you’ve acquired in school or university, reflecting on strengths such as interpersonal skills , problem solving, or any skills that can translate into the workplace
• Passions – Why are you interested in pursuing your chosen career? What makes you a good fit?

Core skills & achievement section

Underneath your resume summary, add a skills section that consists of your core skills, using two to three columns of bullet points to list these strengths.

Allowing recruiters at first glance to establish your most applicable soft and hard skills, which relate to the industry you’re pursuing.

Before putting together this section, look to research the industry you’re applying to, adding keywords that make you custom fit to that sector.

When you’ve limited or no work experience, use your educational history as a focal point of the resume.

Represent the qualifications you have achieved as well as describing examples of coursework completed and including any specific accomplishments from your educational history.

Break up this information by clearly heading the type of qualification achieved, the dates obtained and the school or college you attended.

Use bullet points to list the qualifications you secured.

Clubs and Memberships

Within your education section look to incorporate the clubs you were part of and your role within that group.

For example, whether you were the captain of a football team or a prefect at school, even considering adding any charity work you may have done.

When writing about these; try to draw out relevant skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication etc.

See also: Graduate resume – Student resume

Work experience

Although you may have no formal work experience – be creative and add anything that could be demonstrate workplace skills, such as:

• Big projects
• Work experience placements
• A weekend job
• Volunteering
• Club or sports team membership

Quick tip: If you have no work experience, pick up a volunteer role so that you have something impressive to add to the resume.

Structuring your roles

If you have anything you could add as work experience – add to your resume like the below example.

Structure the information within your roles, by breaking up large blocks of text and using bullet points, and defined sections.

Give an overview of your voluntary position, what were your duties or what skills you obtained from this experience.

“Working in a busy café supporting the kitchen and front of house staff to ensure customers have a clean and safe environment .”

Key responsibilities

Use bullet points to document any duties you had within a position.

• Interacting with the waiting and kitchen staff to collect dishes and cutlery
• Supporting kitchen preparations during opening and closing of the café

Key achievements

Document any key achievements whilst in these positions, add relevant examples integrating any facts and figures to verify these where applicable.

• Achieved employee of the month, 2 months in a row

Interests and hobbies

When you have no experience, your hobbies could help boost your application , documenting your transferable skills gained within them.

Emphasize involvement in any clubs or teams, describing the contribution you had and providing any result driven examples.

Impressive hobbies for your resume could include:

• Being in a sports team
• Being a member of a club (book club, chess club)
• Writing a blog
• Building models or machines
• Running a marathon
• Taking part in school schemes

Look to display your personal pursuits, even if these interests don’t directly correlate to the industry you’re applying to, reveal how you can use the experience or skills gained within the industry you’re pursuing.

For example, if you’re looking to gain employment in technology then exhibit your passion for working with computers and the skills you’ve gained such as the ability to solve problems and work methodically.

Essential skills for your resume

Portray the skills you have obtained throughout your experience in education, placements or extra curriculum activities, explaining how these can transition into a work environment.

Look to include these fundamental skills:

Communication – the ability to speak with people of a variety of levels, whether teachers, professors, customers or colleagues

Organizational Skills – the ability to juggle studies whilst taking on voluntary work.

Teamwork – the capacity to work within a team to overcome obstacles and achieve common goals, whether in a school project or extra-circular team

Commitment and Drive – showcase your passion and commitment towards your chosen career path.

Customer Service – a talent for putting customers first and going the extra mile.

Writing your resume with no experience

When you have no work experience, your resume is your first impression in the recruitment process and your opportunity to display what makes you an ideal candidate.

Highlighting all aspects of your educational background as well as the skills that make you applicable for the industry you’re looking to transition into.

By using this guide, you’ll be able to produce a well-structured resume that will assist you in obtaining your dream career.

Good luck in your next application!

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How to Write An Effective Resume With No Work Experience (with Templates and Examples)

A recruiter-backed guide to writing an effective resume if you don't have enough (or any) work experience - with downloadable templates and examples.

3 years ago   •   13 min read

Navigating the job market without professional experience can seem daunting, but you can still write a competitive resume with no work experience. The key is to present the experience you do have, and show a recruiter why it’s relevant to them.

Remember, a lack of work experience doesn't mean a lack of skills or potential. Unpaid roles, student activities, internships, personal projects, and volunteer work can all provide substance for your resume, showing your potential to employers and highlighting your transferable skills.

In this guide, we'll take you through crafting a compelling resume without formal work experience, covering how to quantify your skills, focus on education, and fill your resume with competitive keywords.

How to write a resume with no work experience

If you're writing your resume but lack enough (or any) professional work experience, here's a quick step-by-step guide to help you get started:

• Include any internships, extracurricular activities , freelance, and volunteer work to supplement your experience.
• List your education section at the top of your resume.
• Use numbers and metrics to quantify your skills and explain how your experience is relevant, even if it's in a different field.
• Include a skills list of relevant keywords and competitive skills.
• Include in-progress education, training and qualifications relevant to your desired field, and consider enrolling in online courses that match the job description.
• Write a resume summary to highlight transferable skills and career goals.
• Stick with a standard reverse chronological resume format. (Not sure what that means? Don’t worry; we'll explain below.)
• Run your resume through a free online resume checker for personalized advice on targeting your resume to your application.

Remember, just because you lack paid work experience doesn’t mean you lack skills! All you need to do is learn how to highlight those skills in a way that will grab a recruiter's attention. Here is an example of how you can create a well-rounded resume with limited paid experience:

Top tips for creating a resume if you have no work experience

Here are 8 top tips for creating a professional-quality resume, despite having little to no work experience.

Highlight transferable experience

The experiences you highlight on your resume should be relevant and tailored to the job you are applying for, but that doesn’t mean they need to be in the same industry. Many skills are transferable between jobs and industries; these are the ones you want to highlight.

Look carefully at the job description and consider what you’ve done previously that demonstrates those skills. Recruiters look for transferrable technical skills, as well as soft skills, so demonstrate these through any experience on your resume, paid or non-paid.

Focus on accomplishments

Once you have decided what experience to include on your resume (more on that in our sections below), remember to talk about your accomplishments , not your job duties. “Responsible for closing the store every night” is a duty — it tells recruiters what you were asked to do, but not what you actually did or how you’re likely to perform in the job you’re applying for. Narrow down the accomplishments most relevant to the skills listed in the job description and focus on those.

Include a resume summary

Adding this optional section at the top of your resume can benefit those with limited or no work experience. A resume summary outlines your essential skills, experience, and noteworthy accomplishments to highlight why you're a good fit for the job.

Use the job title of the job you're applying for, regardless of your past experience, and list 2-3 key skills that match the job description. Mention if you have relevant background experience in that field, paid or not, and highlight any standout accomplishments.

For example:

Quantify your accomplishments and skills

Including numbers and metrics can help any experience look more impressive. This is known as quantifying your resume ; start with an action verb and include a metric or result that demonstrates your achievement.

If you’re having trouble coming up with metrics, here are some questions to consider:

• How many people have you worked with? Instead of saying that you worked in a team, specify the size of the team.
• How many people attended an event you organized? If it was for charity, how much money did you raise?
• How many customers did you serve on an average day? How many sales did you make?

Here is an example of how to quantify a previous job on your resume:

Use the right keywords

Most resumes nowadays go through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) , automated programs that scan your resume for certain keywords. This means you have to include the right words on your resume to make it past the filter.

Search our list of top resume skills and keywords to get an idea of the specific skills hiring managers are looking for. Being a match for the essential skills the job requires is much more important than having the perfect background or experience!

Keep your formatting simple

You don’t need a fancy-looking resume to impress. In fact, going overboard with creative elements like downloaded fonts, colors, and images can actually do more harm than good. Stick with an easy-to-read font, clear section titles, and standard one or two-column format, or download a free resume template that does the work for you.

Use reverse chronological format

Reverse chronological format simply means that your most recent experience and qualifications are listed first. This is the most common format for modern resumes and is what most hiring managers are expecting. That applies to work experience, but also to your education, projects, and extracurricular activities.

Use a cover letter

You can get ahead of most other applicants simply by writing a cover letter . A cover letter is a great opportunity to talk about why you’re interested in the job and what you would bring to the table, which, when you lack traditional work experience, may not always be obvious from your resume alone.

Pro-tip: Choosing the right examples

If you’re not sure if you have chosen the right examples of your skills for your resume, upload it to the tool below to get a detailed review of your resume and personalized suggestions on how you can improve your word choice, brevity, impact and style, and if there are any critical keywords missing from your resume.

Professional resume template with no work experience

If you have little to no work experience, you can still write an effective resume with only unpaid experience (internships, online training, volunteer work, etc.) by highlighting your most impressive and quantifiable accomplishments, and accomplishments that showcase transferable skills.Here is a professional resume template you can use to improve your existing resume or build one from scratch. You can download this template and more from our resume templates page.

Pro tip: For students writing their first resume

As a student or recent graduate, you will likely have limited or no experience to fill your resume. But don’t worry. This template is also for you!

Notice how this template lists extracurricular, volunteering and personal experiences as 'Leadership and Work Experience', and the resume starts with an Education section. This is a good approach to take if you're a student just getting started in your career.

You can download this template for free here .

Writing a resume for a career change with no previous experience

Making a career shift without prior experience in your proposed field can seem daunting, but it's not impossible. Just like the template above, your resume should focus on transferable skills and competencies that could apply to your desired role and highlight relevant training and certificates. The goal is to convince potential employers that while you may lack direct experience, you have the aptitude and enthusiasm to excel in this new career path.

For more information, read this article on updating your resume for a career change in 2024 .

Pro tip: Gaining industry-specific knowledge

Although you may not have direct experience in your new field, showing that you have done your homework about the industry can go a long way. This could include enrolling in online training, such as Google Career Certificates or Coursera online courses, attending seminars or workshops, or self-study. Make sure to mention these in your education or training section to show your initiative and commitment to learning about the new field.

How to write each section of your resume when you have no previous experience

There are important key sections that should be part of every resume, such as education and qualifications, work experience, hard skills and a resume summary. But don’t worry if you don’t think you have anything to write.

Below, we will explain how to tackle each section of your resume if you have little to no work experience, including formatting options, what to include and the best way to showcase your skills.

Education and qualifications

If you’re new to the workforce or are changing careers, your education and training are likely the most recent and most relevant experience you have. That means you can list your education section at the top of your resume, which takes some of the focus away from a limited work history.

Capitalize on this by elaborating on your academic achievements. Anything from relevant coursework to study abroad can be listed in your education section.

If you're a current student or recent graduate

If you’re a current student or recent graduate, you can also list your education section at the top of your resume above your work experience. The more recently you graduated, the more detailed you can make this section.

Include the name and location of your school, university or college, your field of study and your graduation date (or expected date if you’re yet to graduate). You can also include relevant honors or awards, and significant coursework.

Here is an example of how this would look on your resume, using the template above:

If you didn’t complete your degree

If you didn’t complete your degree , that’s not a problem. You should still list an unfinished degree on your resume a) if it's relevant, or b) until you have more work experience.

Include the name and location of your university, the field of your degree and the dates you attended school. You can also include the number of course hours completed.

Work experience

This is the dreaded section for most people. How are you supposed to write a work experience section when you don’t have any previous paid experience? You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience!

The most important thing to remember is that experience doesn’t need to be formal or paid to be considered experience. Work experience can include volunteering, freelance work, internships, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, or personal projects. These all demonstrate transferable skills that hiring managers are looking for.

Internships

Internships and student placements are ideal experiences for your resume since they’re still professional settings. You can list internships under your experience section, especially if you don’t have other paid experience.

Include the name of the company, the dates of employment and your specific job title, and list your experience in 3-6 bullet points describing your duties or accomplishments.

Volunteer work

Volunteer work is another excellent substitute for paid experience. Just like an internship, volunteering can be listed in your experience section or a separate volunteer work section .

Include the organization's name, the dates you volunteered and your role within the company. List 1-2 accomplishments in bullet point format, and include accomplishments to demonstrate your skills.

Extracurricular activities and projects

Extracurricular activities or personal projects are great ways to demonstrate relevant skills, especially when you don't have traditional paid experience. Both can showcase leadership , teamwork , or other valuable attributes, even if they are not specifically relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Think about the skills you demonstrated in your activities and frame those skills as accomplishments. List the name of the activity or project, your role, and then 1-2 bullet points detailing your accomplishments. Remember to start each point with a strong action verb and highlight your essential skills and achievements.

For an extracurricular activity, your entry might look something like this:

For personal or community projects, ensure to include the focus of the project and your specific role. Here's an example:

Freelance work

If you’re still struggling to think of things to include on your resume, consider gaining additional experience by starting up a side project , like running a blog or picking up freelance work .

Include the name of the company you worked for, your role, your date of employment and the projects you completed.

Work experience or no, you should still include a skills section on your resume . This doesn’t mean you need to list every skill you possess, just those most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Look for the skills listed in the job description and list those if you have them. If you’re not sure what skills hiring managers are looking for, you can use Targeted Resume Tool and our skills and keyword finder to look for relevant skills to include.

How to list hard skills

Your skills section should only include hard skills . In other words, things you can prove and quantify, like proficiency with a software program or technical process. Good skills to list could include:

• Software programs
• Programming languages
• Foreign languages
• Certifications
• Design skills
• Data analysis
• Specific types of writing, like proposal writing or SEO

If you have some experience with a skill but are not yet proficient, you can still include it on your resume. Consider arranging your skills by proficiency to show the skills you are currently improving.

How to show soft skills

Soft skills , like communication , leadership , and initiative , are great skills to have, but simply listing them isn’t going to impress a recruiter. Instead, consider a time you demonstrated those skills and include them in your bullet point accomplishments.

If you’re unsure which skills to include in your skills section, use the tool below to get a list of skills and keywords relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Additional sections

When you’re just starting out, anything that gives hiring managers a better sense of who you are and what you’re capable of could be worth including.

Here are some examples of additional sections you could include on your resume:

• Certifications and Courses : If you've taken additional courses or certificates that are relevant to the job you're applying for, this is the place to include them. For instance, if you're applying for a digital marketing role, you might list a Google Career Certificate or a course in SEO.
• Languages : Proficiency in foreign languages can be a significant asset in many roles. Whether you're applying for a job at a multinational company or a position that involves communication with diverse populations, list your language skills here. Ensure to mention your level of proficiency (beginner, intermediate, advanced, or fluent).
• Professional Associations or Memberships : If you belong to any professional groups or organizations related to your field, mentioning them can demonstrate your commitment to your industry.

Remember, when including additional sections, the qualities or skills you’re trying to highlight should be directly relevant to the job, even if the experience itself isn’t.

Common mistakes to avoid when writing a resume with no experience

When creating a resume with no work experience, it's easy to fall into certain pitfalls. Avoid these common mistakes to write a strong and impactful resume:

Over-inflating your experience

While it's important to highlight your skills and activities, remember to remain honest and genuine. Overinflating your experience can lead to awkward situations during interviews and may raise doubts about your credibility. If you've been involved in student activities or volunteer work, these are great to include, but don't make them sound like full-time professional roles unless they were.

Not tailoring your resume

Many job seekers make the mistake of sending the same generic resume to every job they apply for. Tailor your resume for each specific job posting by highlighting the skills and experiences most relevant to that position. This shows employers you've put thought into how you would fit in the role and makes your application stand out.

Overusing buzzwords or vague language

One of the common pitfalls in resume writing is the use of overused or vague language. Phrases like "hard-working," "team player," and "detail-oriented" are often overused and do not provide concrete evidence of these traits. Instead, demonstrate these skills through specific accomplishments or responsibilities from your past experiences.

Including too much irrelevant information

When writing a resume with limited experience, it can be tempting to include everything you have ever done. While it might be tempting to include all your experiences and accomplishments, it's important to remember that recruiters often have a large number of resumes to go through, so your resume should be as concise as possible.

Only include the experiences and skills that can be related to the job you are applying for, and leave out information that does not directly support your candidacy for the specific role.

Forgetting to proofread

This may seem minor, but a resume riddled with spelling and grammatical errors can create a negative impression. Always proofread your resume multiple times, and consider having someone else look it over too.

Is it worth applying for jobs that require experience even if I don't have any?

Yes, it's always worth applying for jobs that require experience, even if you don't have any. Job requirements are often a ‘wishlist’ from employers, and not having every requirement doesn't disqualify you. It's more about how you can convey your transferable skills, whether it's from your education, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities.

Are there any potential red flags to employers if a resume has no paid work experience?

While a resume with no paid work experience may initially raise questions for employers, it's not an insurmountable hurdle. The key is in how you present your other experiences and skills. Employers understand that everyone starts somewhere, and they are more interested in your potential, adaptability, and willingness to learn.

How should I handle gaps in my resume due to a lack of work experience?

When you have little to no work experience, it's normal to have gaps in your resume . Instead of worrying about these gaps, focus on activities you undertook during these periods. You can include volunteer work, courses, personal projects, or relevant hobbies.

If the gap is due to education or training, that information should be clearly stated in your education section. Remember, employers are more interested in seeing a continuous journey of learning and development rather than a timeline filled solely with traditional employment.

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How to Write a Resume With No Work Experience in 2024 (+Examples)

• December 5, 2023
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

Writing your resume with no work experience can be tricky. You need to impress the hiring manager even if you have no relevant experience. When creating your first resume, focus on skills that are unique and valuable. Appropriate experience may include causal jobs, volunteering, or school activities.

Creating your first resume or applying to jobs without experience can be scary. How do you write a resume with no work experience? It may even be your first time having to write a resume, put eye-catching resume objectives, list your job skills , or choose a resume format. But at the end of the day, there is a first for everything, and hiring managers know it.

Do you want to save time and create your resume in just a few minutes? Try our premade Microsoft Word resume templates that will help you save time on designing and formatting so you can focus on highlighting your skills and expertise.

How to write a resume with no experience (with examples)

1. identify your goals for writing a resume with no experience, 2. choose a suitable resume format for a no-experience resume, 3. write a strong resume objective.

• > The objective for the resume with no experience examples:
• > Resume Objective for Students with No Experience

4. Create your education section 

5. list your relevant experience , 6. highlight your skills on a resume with no work experience, 7. include your volunteer work .

• > Volunteer work on resume with no experience examples:

8. Tailor your resume for each position even with no experience 

9. write and attach a strong cover letter , sample resume with no work experience.

There are several steps you should take before starting to write your resume . One of the most important ones is identifying your career objectives and finding the positions and industries you want to apply for. This is crucial to success because it will help you determine what aspects of your skillset and experience to focus on and what to highlight.

No matter how good of a fit you might be, you won’t see much success if your resume doesn’t stand out. So, remember that your resume should show that you can bring value to the company and are knowledgeable about the position. To achieve this, it’s vital to find out what your potential employer is seeking in an employee in two easy steps:

• Begin researching the job listings that align with your career goals and interests.
• Take note of and write down the keywords that appear repeatedly. These may be requirements, certifications, or skills that most of the job descriptions mention. You will want to include these throughout your resume to truly stand out.

Writing a resume with no work experience can be nerve-wracking, especially if it’s the first time writing a resume altogether. To get started, remember that a resume should always include the following five sections:

• A header with your name, job title, and contact details
• A resume summary/objective that presents your skills and achievements in a short paragraph
• An education section with the degree(s) or diploma(s) you have earned
• Your work experience, which can include even volunteering or similar experiences
• A skills section that summarizes all of your best abilities and talents that are relevant to the job

For a resume with no experience, you can also include extra sections for your hobbies, language skills, or academic projects.

But what’s the best way to organize these sections? That depends on the resume format you choose. There are three popular resume formats: functional, chronological, and hybrid. The functional format highlights skills and achievements and focuses less on work experience. On the other hand, a chronological resume format lists the work experience in reverse chronological order.

Finally, a hybrid format combines the other two, illustrating work experience and skills. While many employers prefer a chronological format, the other two are often better for resumes with no work experience. This way, hiring managers will see your achievements and skills immediately. Whichever format you decide to use, make sure to stick with it throughout your resume.

Read more:  “What’s the Best Resume Format for 2024? [Pros vs Cons]

A resume objective is a brief introductory statement that describes your professional goals. Unlike a resume summary , a resume objective is suitable for a resume with no experience because it focuses on the value you could bring in the future. On the other hand, a resume summary presents existing achievements and expertise.

Most of the time, the recruiting manager is flooded with resumes. Thus, they only have a few seconds to scan each one. This paragraph is your opportunity to grab their attention and convey your abilities.

A resume objective should be no longer than three to four sentences and include the following information:

• Your field of study and highest education
• The skills and experiences that are relevant to the position
• Your motivation for applying to this particular position

Just like with contact information, you don’t need to give your resume objective a separate heading. Instead, you can place it under your header.

Example #1: Resume objective for freshers:

Example #2: resume objective for students with no experience.

Read more:  “Resume Objective Examples for 2024 [+How-to Guide]

In your education section, show the degrees, training, and certifications that align with your professional goals without appearing over-or under-educated.

To do this, begin by documenting your educational and training background. This should be just an outline of what you’ve collected, so don’t stress about it not being amazing yet.

What should your education section include?

• Degrees and certifications earned
• Name of the degree
• Name of the college, university, or training school
• Years attended
• Optionally, you may also include:
• GPA if it is 3.40 or above
• Specific relevant coursework
• Exchange studies
• Extracurricular interests and online education/training

Creating your experience section may seem daunting since you most likely lack formal work experience. However, you still have much to include in this resume section, even with no work experience. Depending on your background, you can include:

• Academic projects –  The easiest experience to include is academic projects. Whether it’s software you made in a programming class, a marketing campaign, or a website you created, they’re all experiences that show you have the skills to succeed. Overall, this is an excellent opportunity to add value to your resume without experience if you are a high school or college student. You can also include interests and hobbies if they relate to the work and have provided you with transferable skills. Extracurricular activities prove you’re dedicated and driven, so don’t be afraid to include them!
• Internships –  Next, paid and unpaid college internships are one of the best weapons you have against the phrase “experience necessary.” They provide real-world work experience and help you network and develop contacts that may lead to a career later. So if you’re a college student writing a resume with no experience, include any internships you have undertaken.

To include an internship on your resume, first, write the title and function of your internship. Instead of simply “Intern,” use “Sales Intern” if your internship was in the sales department. Then, write down the name of the firm, the location, and the length of the internship – in that order. After that, provide a bulleted outline of your intern tasks and achievements. Finally, tailor your duties and accomplishments to the position you’re applying for.

Work experience example:

Marketing Internship YXPic, LLC. Miami, FL 2017 – 2019

• Managed firm social media accounts.
• Analyzing different social media outlets for viral content. 
• Posted engaging content on the company’s Facebook page, which resulted in a 25% increase in customer interaction. 

Lawn mowing and trimming Miami, FL 2015 – 2017

• From early spring until mid-fall, mow, edge, and trim lawns. 
• Maintained seven lawns weekly throughout the season. 
• Developed customer service skills to earn referrals and get more clients.
• In six months, I went from having 2 to having 10 clients. 
• On lawn service, I earned and kept a five-star-rated page on Facebook  

When creating your skills section, it’s crucial to focus on relevant, transferrable skills. The first step is to go through the job description and list the key required skills and qualifications you can meet. Employers value both soft and hard skills, so keep that in mind.

Team leadership, verbal communication, and self-management are soft skills that apply to every role. Hard skills , such as industry-related software or a foreign language, are gained through specialized education or training.

Because soft skills are harder to teach, most businesses focus on them when recruiting for entry-level employment. It’s okay if you haven’t yet developed all the hard skills required for a job. Nowadays, most companies will recognize your worth as a possible new employee if you prove to be a fast learner.

Still, make sure that you only include skills that are relevant to the position. For example, if you’re applying for an administrative assistant position, coding or trade skills won’t be very helpful.

Hard skills, soft skills examples:

Hard skills: Microsoft Excel ,  Cloud Computing ,  CRM Systems ,  Email management ,  POS Software ,  Programming Languages ,  Customer service ,  SEO

Soft skills:  Interpersonal Skills ,  Collaboration ,  Problem-solving ,  Communication ,  Time management ,  Adaptability ,  Organizational skills ,  Active listening

Read more:  30 Top Skills for a Resume (With Examples)

Volunteering demonstrates your commitment and desire to put your skills to use. And nothing makes a recruiter happier than a dedicated employee. You may include it on your resume whether you volunteered at a soup kitchen or helped gather rubbish in the countryside. Most employers consider volunteer experience alongside paid professional experience. Thus, you should always aim to include volunteer work that displays your abilities or where you learned a new relevant skill on your resume.

Volunteer work should be stated in the same way as your employment experience section on your resume. So mention the organization’s name, location, the time you worked there, and a bulleted description of your responsibilities.

Volunteer work on resume  with no experience examples:

Freelancing & Volunteering Phoenix, AZ 2017 – 2019

• Designed posters and created a Facebook page to assist a local community in promoting a series of garage sales events. 
• Wrote promotional pieces and 20+ professional product evaluations for a small technology website.
• Converted a family member into an Apple customer by convincing him of the benefits of iOS over Android-based on his needs. 
• Supervised a team of two regular news and content writers for a musical band’s fan site mentioned in a local newspaper. 
• Planned and led games and activities for groups of elementary school students. 
• Completed a course on the basics of efficient marketing on Udemy.

Nursing Volunteering Experience American Pulmonary Disease Association 2018 – 2018

• Provided patient education to 8 patients weekly.
• Performed an average of 13 health checks per week.
• Received praise from facility management for outstanding patient contact.
• Oversaw physical therapy sessions for 5 patients bi-weekly.

Customizing your resume for each position you apply for is the last and most essential aspect of developing a strong resume. If you lack experience, your greatest chance of landing an interview is to tailor your resume to the position you seek. Examine their job description to determine the skills they require. Then, take the skills you possess from the list and add them to your skills area. Different job advertisements will include different keywords, work responsibilities, etc. Adapting your application to each employer’s demands and job requirements is the best way to get your application noticed.

Most businesses utilize an applicant tracking system (ATS) to screen and organize resumes. So, when applying for any job, you must include a list of keywords on your resume to combat this. The best place to find these is in the job listing itself or in advertisements for related positions.

About half of applicants include a cover letter with their job application. So even with the lack of professional experience on your resume, you can increase your chances of success by preparing a strong cover letter.

A cover letter is a one-page letter sent with your resume as part of your application. Essentially, your resume describes your experiences, while your cover letter explains how they relate to the position. Here are the steps you need to take to compose an outstanding cover letter:

• Ensure that the format of your cover letter adheres to all professional correspondence formatting requirements.
• Create an engaging introduction to your cover letter that presents you to the readers and motivates them to continue reading.
• Describe your skills and how they may assist the organization.
• Explain why your cultural fit is exceptional.
• Always include a call to action at the end of your cover letter.

Also, ensure that your cover letter is the appropriate length. As with the rest of your resume, your cover letter should be relevant, simple, and brief.

Read more:  How to Write a Great Cover Letter in 6 Steps

Example of a resume with no work experience 

Sarah Brown 58 South St, Phoenix, AR [email protected] (123) 456-7890

An independent and driven business administration student with demonstrable proficiency in business, procurement, sales, and marketing. I am eager to use my theoretical knowledge and introduce the most current industry standards to the company.

EDUCATION Phoenix High School Phoenix, AR Class of 2020 (3.9 GPA)

EXPERIENCE Sales Intern ABC Company 2021-Present

• Assisted the sales regional sales manager in ad hoc tasks.
• Took notes and shared them with attendees at weekly team meetings.
• Prepared monthly reports for 7 international clients.
• Uncovered a bookkeeping error, saving the department 5% of yearly expenses.

Soup Kitchen Volunteer Phoenix, AR 2020 – 2021

• Acted as weekend/holiday volunteer manager at a local soup kitchen.
• Organized volunteer shifts and monitored the input of donated food.
• Aided with preparing and delivering meals on Sundays and major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Pet Sitter Phoenix, AR 2018-2020

• Established and operated a profitable pet sitting service.
• Offered services including dog walking, feeding, and yard maintenance to locals in a 5-mile radius.
• Acquired and maintained 13 clients, arranged and attended visits, coordinated appointments, and managed client relationships.
• Collaboration
• Bookkeeping
• Attention to detail
• Microsoft Office

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

• National BA Honor Society
• Volunteer Club President and Treasurer of the Phoenix High Cheerleading team

Writing your first resume can be daunting, especially if you have no work experience. So, get ready to edit and tweak your resume until you get the desired results. Using these simple tips, you will create a resume demonstrating your strengths and getting you noticed. This is your chance to show prospective employers how you’ve prepared for the job and why employing you would benefit their company.

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How to Make a Resume With No Experience

Making a resume early in your career feels like a classic catch-22: A good resume highlights relevant work experience, which you don’t get until you land a job.

The truth is you don’t always need professional experience for entry-level jobs. By highlighting your existing skills, coursework and extracurricular activities, you can craft a resume that will impress employers — even without work experience.

Writing a resume with no experience

• Start with a professional summary 
• Emphasize your education 
• Include relevant experience like internships and extracurriculars
• Highlight your accomplishments
• Showcase your skills 
• Don’t include a headshot, hobbies and other unnecessary details

Even if you don’t meet all the requirements described in a job description , there are still ways to write a resume that catches a company’s eye. First, you may want to get your hands on a resume template (word processors like Google Docs and Microsoft Word have resume templates to guide you with a general structure). From there, you can fill in the details by following the tips below.  

1. Start With a Professional Summary

Career coaches have mixed opinions on including a short professional summary at the top of your resume. Lesa Edwards, founder of  Exclusive Career Coaching and the former director of the career center at  Truman State University , is in favor of a professional summary because it can set the stage and contextualize the experiences that follow. It also allows you to set yourself apart in a large stack of resumes. 

If you decide to include a professional summary, ask yourself: What do I bring to the table? What soft skills could I transfer over to this role? What do I have that other candidates don’t have? If written well, this two-to-three-sentence summary could encourage recruiters and hiring managers to take a closer look at your resume and cover letter.

2. Emphasize Your Education

If you recently graduated from college, put your education experience as one of the first headers on your resume. You should list your major, any academic honors and your GPA (if it is 3.5 or higher). The education section of your resume can also include a subsection for industry-relevant certifications . As your career progresses, you can bump your education section further down the resume to make room for more relevant professional experiences.

3. Include Relevant Experience and Activities 

Instead of focusing on the requirements you don’t meet, think about any transferable skills or experiences you might have gained from internships , extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, volunteering or school projects.

Jill Silman Chapman, director of early talent programs at Insperity , said she favors candidates who have a well-rounded set of experiences. It shows they are able to multitask, work in different types of environments and adapt to changing circumstances.

“In today’s workplace, we’re changing all the time,” she said. “That ability to adapt is critical.”

Internships

Internships are the best way to gain relevant work experience before entering the professional world. They offer an opportunity to apply the lessons you’ve learned in the classroom in real-world situations.

Part-Time Jobs

If you worked in a service industry job and you are seeking your first professional job after college, you could highlight soft skills , like time management skills needed to juggle school and work responsibilities. Customer service is an especially underrated skill, Silman Chapman said, because it translates to customer-facing roles and  interpersonal skills within the workplace.

Extracurricular Activities

This could include student government, fraternities and sororities or any number of campus organizations or community activities. Athletics is also a resume-booster in some industries, especially sales and other professions that tap into a competitive spirit. You might also note if you were an Eagle Scout, helped out at a peer tutoring program or volunteered your time in other ways that show you are engaged in your community.

Class Projects

Projects you worked on as part of a class or online certification program can also be incorporated into your resume. This could include your marketing class working on a semester-long campaign that culminated in a big presentation. If your class partnered with a company on a large project, that could be a relevant real-world experience for your resume.

Online certification programs are also a good way to gain professional experience, and often provide a chance to apply your learnings to a project, which can then be highlighted on your resume, said Karen Scully-Clemmons, assistant director of career services and employer relations at the  University of Texas at Austin . You’ll want to detail what you accomplished, what technologies you used and what you learned . If possible, you should also link to your project on your resume.

Related Reading How to Use the STAR Interview Method to Land a Job

4. Highlight Your Accomplishments

For each experience you list, showcase the results in bullet point format, and look for ways to quantify your results. For example, don’t just rattle off what you did as president of a school organization, highlight how many new members joined during your tenure or how much money you raised while leading fundraising efforts.  

These accomplishments don’t need to be groundbreaking, but you might have to reflect deeply and think creatively to recognize and articulate the value you provided in each role. Just be sure to align these accomplishments with the responsibilities in the job description. 

“Sometimes I think the hardest thing for students is to think of an achievement, because they think it has to be a super big deal,” Edwards said. “So much of it is a shift in mindset of what constitutes an achievement.”

5. Showcase Your Skills

For a skills section, you can include your software proficiencies, as well as soft skills like organization, time management, communication, adaptability to change and the ability to work as part of a team . If you are going to highlight soft skills, though, you should also include evidence of a role or situation in which you demonstrated those skills.

“It may not be numbers, dollars or percentages,” Edwards said, “but maybe you could talk about how you took a leadership role in a class project that was presented to a community organization.”

Related Reading 5 Things New Grads Need to Know About the Job Market

6. Don’t Include These Elements

You only have so much space on your resume, so be sure to leave off these unnecessary details. 

Objective Statement 

Don’t include an “objective” statement that lays out what you are looking for in a job. Instead of talking about what you want, use that space to describe what value you can offer the employer. 

Hobbies and Interests

While you might think a job is related to your hobbies and interests, Edwards said these are of little practical interest to recruiters and hiring managers. Leave them out of your resume.  

A GPA below 3.5 is not likely to win over a company, and a GPA below 3.0 could only hurt your chances. Only include your GPA if it’s above 3.5.   

Headshot or Photo

Recruiters and hiring managers don’t need or want to see what you look like. Unless you are applying for an acting job, don’t attach a picture to your resume because it could be potentially used to discriminate against you. 

Your Full Address

In the electronic age, there is no need to put your address on your resume. Providing your city and state is typically enough, unless an online application requires your full address.  

Don’t employ resume templates with fancy graphics: most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) , which can’t read resumes that are decorated with graphics, special fonts, columns and other formatting tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can i put on my resume if i have no experience.

In lieu of professional experience, you could highlight your education, skills, internships, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, volunteering experiences and school projects.

How to write a professional summary for a resume with no experience?

A well-written professional summary will draw upon the experience you’ve gained from school, internships and other extracurricular activities to demonstrate the impact you have made and the value you would bring to your desired role.

How do you say you have no experience but are willing to learn?

Employers are often willing to train entry-level candidates who have shown initiative and a hard work ethic in school, internships and extracurricular activities. You can emphasize your willingness to learn through your professional summary statement on the top of your resume or through the cover letter that accompanies the resume.

Do I need a resume if I don't have experience?

Yes, you need a resume when applying for a job, regardless of your experience. Most word processors, like Google Docs and Microsoft Word, offer free resume templates to get you started.

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5 College Student No Experience Resume Examples & Templates [Edit Free]

College Student No Experience Resume

• College Student No Experience 2
• College Student No Experience 3
• College Student No Experience 4
• College Student No Experience 5
• Resume Writing 101

Sometimes, ambitious college students can’t wait to start working. Janee considered how to show value on her resume as a grad: Dreaming of working as a business analyst at Resource Data fueled her to research the company and think of relevant college achievements.

Janee recalled real projects from her degree in math and economics that saved a local manufacturer thousands. Even her stint as basketball captain highlighted her ability to organize, boost morale, and drive positive results.

Referencing her class movie recommendation project and the time her random forest model outperformed projections by 19 percent, Janee topped off her college student no experience resume with a career objective . Bam—hired. Try our resume templates for yourself; we can’t wait to applaud your success, too!

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College Student No Experience 2 Resume

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College Student No Experience 5 Resume

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What Matters Most: Your Skills & Background Experience

When you lack experience, your skills become more important than ever! As a college student, you now have a nice, clear understanding of what you can do, and recruiters want to know all about it.

Make sure you list skills that are relevant to your field. For example: If you’re eager to step into the world of business analysis, then prioritize technical skills and highly relevant abilities.

And make sure those skills are worded in a deliberate and specific way, too! The last thing you want is to sound too apathetic about your future role to dig deeper than the usual generic terms on your resume.

Here are some examples of more specific skills you can use to show off your potential:

9 Best College Student No Experience Skills

• scikit-learn
• Linear Regressions
• Logistic Regressions
• Data Reporting
• Google Sheets

Sample College Student No Experience Work Experience Bullet Points

Now we’re on to the fun part! No really: It’s time to get creative and look for some nifty spins to put on your past projects and internships. Class groups, teams, clubs, and volunteer initiatives can all be used to demonstrate your ability to make the most of your skills, too.

Just make sure that anything you include is highly relevant to the field you want to work in! Use those sharp, specific skills you honed earlier to recall examples of experiences when you used them.

And always measure the impact you had when you reached those milestones! Use quantifiable data to back up your achievements and make them look way more credible:

• Reported to executives during business analytics class and initiated re-evaluation of resource allocation, saving $47K in vendor costs
• Aggregated data from Rotten Tomatoes and used k-nearest-neighbors in scikit-learn to improve recommendation system for personal tastes, boosting positive feedback by 12%
• Organized a community outreach for the university basketball team to train at-risk high school students and boost morale, leading high school teams to win 92% of total games
• Compiled and prepped 4 years of fantasy football projection data from 8 independent sources into a MySQL database, boosting positive ratings by 14%

Top 5 Tips for Your College Student No Experience Resume

• I know, I know, we just talked about it, but this really is a crucial aspect of your resume! When you don’t have any job experience yet, you’ll really need to hand-pick the most relevant bits and pieces of as many projects and college teams as you can.
• Many people hear “one page” and assume that filling their resume page is as important as limiting themselves to one page only. But this isn’t the case: Just focus on your best relevant achievements and allow some white space for things to breathe.
• Get strategic about your skill placement. Group similar types of skills together, such as everything related to Python, followed by everything related to data analytics, and so on.
• By all means, try out as many of our resume templates as you can! But while you compare them, keep a deliberate eye out for which one makes your college and project history look the fullest and most impressive.
• Keeping your experience examples sleek and to-the-point demonstrates your ability to get things done and convey info efficiently. You don’t have time to ramble since recruiters have to read things quickly!

Honestly, this isn’t something to worry much about: As long as it’s all together in one place and easy for recruiters to spot at a glance, you’re fine.

Customize it for each job description . It’s easy: All you need to do is reference the job description again and grab some key phrases and buzzwords to switch out in your resume, and boom: You’re now delivering a hand-tailored resume that’s designed to impress!

In our honest opinion, writing a cover letter is better. You get the best of both worlds: Your project and educational history will be able to take center stage while you use your cover letter to detail your qualifications in greater depth than you’d be able to with an objective statement.

• We’ll show you how, step-by-step • Real, practical tips and tools • 100% free

Writing a resumé with no experience

Getting your first full-time job is an exciting milestone. It’s the start of your independence and a big part of establishing life as an adult. But before you can take that first step there’s something you need to do: write your resumé.   

Writing an eye-catching resumé is one of the biggest challenges for first-time job seekers. It’s an essential part of applying for jobs , but if you don’t have any work history to share, your resumé can feel a little bare. This is especially the case when it comes to resumés for students with no experience.

In this article, we show you how to make a standout resumé with no experience, with resumé examples and a first-job beginner resumé sample that you can use as a guide when crafting your own.

Downloadable resumé template

If you’re not sure how to write a resumé with no job experience, you can start by downloading one of our free resumé templates . With no job history, you will have to tailor the template to only showcase skills, qualifications and extra-curricular experiences. You can refer to the template as you review the rest of this article, where we cover the content to include in each section. 

Resumé template sections

Even a resumé with no experience can include quite a bit of information, even if you’re removing the job history section. Here are the sections you should include:

• Contact information: your phone number, email address and any social media links.
• Resumé summary (optional): a sentence or two about who you are and what you can offer.
• Objective statement (optional): a sentence or two about your goals and aspirations .
• Education: a summary of your academic achievements and qualifications.
• Skills: a list of relevant skills you can bring to the role.
• Projects or special coursework: if you have any school or tertiary projects that are relevant to the role.
• Volunteer experience: a summary of any charitable, non-paid work you’ve done.
• Extracurricular activities: any sports clubs or hobby groups you’re in.
• Awards: a list of any relevant awards you’ve received.
• References available on request: a note to say that references can be provided – or if the rest of your resumé is light, you might want to include your references on it.

As you can see, there’s plenty of information you can include on your resumé, even when you’ve never had a job before. You don’t have to include all of the above, though. Only include details on your resumé that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Let’s take a closer look at what you can put in each section.  

Contact information

The contact information section of your resumé with no experience is where you list the ways that any prospective employer can get in touch with you. This does not have to include your address, but should have your phone number and your email address. Here’s a simple beginner resumé example for contact info:

• Name: your first and last name – include your pronouns in parentheses after your name, if desired
• Email: triple-check for accuracy and make sure it’s a professional-sounding address
• Phone: phone number with area code
• Social Media: links to any social profiles you want to include

Resumé summary

A resumé summary can be a good way to start your resumé, because it gives the hiring manager a quick idea of who you are and the skill set you offer. This is a chance to make a good first impression, so keep it concise, highlighting your main goals, skills, aspirations and unique selling points.

For example:

“Bi-lingual media graduate with proficiency in video-editing apps and social media content creation. Excellent communication skills, with majors in scriptwriting, speech writing and journalism.” 

Objective statement  

The next (optional) part of your resumé for students with no experience is an objective statement . This is similar to a summary, and can be used instead of a summary, if you have some professional experience. The difference between a resumé summary and an objective statement is that the latter should demonstrate your key skills and sum up your main goals in applying for this particular role or job. It should show your ambitions and career aspirations.

“Finance honours graduate with a background in accounting, looking to launch a career in forecasting and budget planning as a financial analyst. Strong communication and problem-solving abilities, coupled with proficiency in Oracle, Axiom and IMB financial planning software.”

The education section is one of the most important parts of a resumé with no experience. Here’s where you list the schools, colleges, universities and other establishments you’ve attended, alongside the qualifications you have. There’s no need to include any grades, unless they are particularly impressive or it’s required by your field. List the subjects you took and the projects you completed, if they’re relevant to the job.

Example: 

2020–2023 Bachelor of Engineering Science, University of Technology Sydney Courses: Civil Engineering, Data Science Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering 

2018-2019 Higher School Certificate, Sydney Science College Courses: Mathematics Extension 2, Science Extension 1 (Major Project: The Most Efficient Power Transmission Methods)

You may not have any experience, but you likely still have some of the skills employers look for . Here’s your chance to list them, tailoring them to the requirements of the job you’re applying for. On a resumé with no experience template, skills are listed in bullet-point form and in two columns. Include any languages you know, other than English. If you have mastered a few different software packages you can also list these out in a separate section called Software Proficiency.

• Excellent written communication 
• Typing (60 wpm)
• Basic bookkeeping
• Project management

Software Proficiency

• Microsoft Word (advanced)
• Microsoft Excel (advanced)
• Microsoft PowerPoint (advanced)
• Illustrator (intermediate) 

Projects or coursework 

Many resumé or CV examples for students with no experience list projects or coursework relevant to the job. This can showcase knowledge or abilities in a field, without having any professional history.

For example: 

2019 HSC Major Work

MYTHOLOGY (paper, clay, metal): A series of sculptures influenced by indigenous culture. Using traditional hand-building techniques, referencing dot paintings and incorporating mineral pigments. Work featured in ArtExpress 2022.

Volunteer experience 

Volunteer work always looks good on a resumé. It shows that you have empathy and the motivation to work outside of receiving a salary. Volunteer work is as valuable on a resumé as paid work and often teaches transferable skills that any employer would find valuable. List out any volunteer experiences you have had, highlighting skills you learned that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. 

2017–2018

Animal attendant, Adelaide Dogs’ Home Duties: cleaning dog crates and kennels, walking and socialising dogs, liaising with customers, administering medications, processing sales Skills: Customer service, data entry, POS inventory management, maintenance and cleaning, dog-walking, data entry

Extracurricular activities

Your graduate resumé should include any extracurricular activities relevant to your field. In this section, list hobbies, sports or other interests, with particular focus on those that are relevant to the role. This section can be called Extracurricular or Hobbies and Interests and can include things like sports memberships, any instruments you play (and your level), any special-interest groups you belong to, like bird-watching, chess or salsa dancing. Even if your hobbies aren’t relevant to the job, it can be useful to list them, as they help make you more memorable to the hiring manager and paint a picture of a well-rounded person .  

Hobbies & Interests

• Tennis – member of Carlton Gardens Tennis Club since 2020
• Piano (grade 8)
• Member of the Carlton Community Choir
• Recording music 

Awards or honours 

In a resumé with no experience you should list any special awards or honours you’ve attained. This might include sports awards or academic prizes you won at school or university. It’s a chance to highlight unique achievements that are relevant to the role. If it’s not relevant, you don’t need to include it – just leave this section off your resumé. 

Awards & Accolades

• Alfred Deakin Medal 2019, Deakin University
• Nominated for 2017 AIS Emerging Athlete 

References available on request

At the bottom of your resumé, include a note that references are available on request. Most of the time, employers check references in the final stages of an interview, so they’re not required up front. However, if you have high-profile or well-respected referees you think will help you make a strong first impression, feel free to include them. For someone with no work experience, it’s okay to provide character references from former teachers, club leaders and even family friends. 

There are many ways you can make a resumé with no experience stand out from the rest. Even without official employment, there are skills, qualifications and experiences you can highlight to demonstrate that you’d be a great person for the job. Remember to tailor your resumé to the role and let your positive attitude shine through in your resumé summary. 

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How to Write a Resume with No Experience in 2024

When it comes to applying for jobs, resumes are critical documents that can make all the difference in securing an interview. Unfortunately, for job seekers with no experience, crafting a compelling resume can be a daunting task. Without relevant work history to draw from, it can be challenging to know where to start in highlighting one’s skills and abilities.

This article aims to address the challenges faced by job seekers who are starting their careers and have little to no work experience. Through this guide, we hope to provide readers with actionable steps to overcome the hurdles of the job application process and increase their chances of landing their first job.

Stay tuned for tips on how to highlight transferable skills, emphasize education and certifications, and showcase any relevant volunteer or extracurricular experiences. We will also touch on the importance of tailoring each resume to the job descriptions and companies that you are applying to.

By the end of this article, we hope that job seekers with no experience will feel empowered to create a strong resume that accurately reflects their potential as employees. Let’s dive in!

Understanding the Basics of a Resume

A resume is a summary of a person’s work experience, education, skills, and achievements. It serves as a marketing tool for job seekers to showcase their qualifications and stand out from other applicants.

Definition of a Resume

A resume is a professional document that provides a brief overview of a person’s background and achievements. It outlines the candidate’s qualifications and experience to potential employers, highlighting their strengths and abilities.

Key Components of a Resume

The essential components of a resume include:

• Contact Information: Name, Address, Phone number, and Email address
• Summary Statement: A brief overview of your qualifications, experience, and relevant achievements
• Work Experience: A list of previous job positions held, including the company name, job title, dates of employment, and job duties
• Education: List of degrees, certifications, and coursework.
• Skills: A list of relevant skills, including technical, soft, and language skills.
• Achievements: Any notable achievements or awards that demonstrate your professional success

Different Types of Resumes

There are three main types of resumes: Chronological, Functional, and Combination.

Chronological Resume:  This format is the most common and straightforward. It lists your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position. This type of resume is ideal if you have consistent work experience in the same field.

Functional Resume:  This format highlights your skills and achievements as opposed to job titles and dates. This type of resume is ideal for career changers, those with little work experience, or people with gaps in their employment history.

Combination Resume:  This format combines the best aspects of Chronological and Functional resumes. It highlights your most relevant skills and accomplishments while also providing a chronological work history.

How to choose the right format for your resume

Choosing the right format for your resume is crucial to making a positive first impression on potential employers.

Consider the job you are applying for and tailor your resume accordingly. If you have a stable work history in the same field, a chronological resume is the best format. If you’re a recent graduate or changing careers, consider a functional or combination resume format to best showcase your skills, achievements, and potential.

Ultimately, the goal of your resume is to get you an interview, so make sure your resume highlights your qualifications and sets you apart from the competition.

Conducting a Self-Assessment

One of the essential steps in writing a resume with no experience is to conduct a thorough self-assessment. This involves identifying your skills, strengths, and weaknesses as well as determining your career objectives.

Identifying Your Skills, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Begin by listing down all the skills you possess, such as communication, problem-solving, time management, etc. Next, identify your strengths, or the areas where you excel the most. This could be a particular skill, knowledge, or attribute that sets you apart from others. Finally, recognize your weaknesses, which are the areas that need improvement. This could be a lack of experience or knowledge, or a particular skill that needs strengthening.

Determining Your Career Objectives

Once you have identified your skills, strengths, and weaknesses, it’s time to determine your career objectives. This involves setting clear goals and determining the type of job you want to pursue. Ask yourself what kind of work you enjoy doing, what skills and knowledge you want to develop, and what type of work environment you prefer. This will help you determine the right path to take and the type of job to apply for.

The Importance of Matching Your Skillset with the Job Description

When writing your resume with no experience, it’s important to keep in mind that employers are looking for candidates with the skills and expertise that match the job requirements. Review the job description carefully and look for keywords and skills that the employer is seeking. Then, tailor your resume to highlight your relevant skills and experience that match the job description. This way, you increase your chances of being shortlisted for an interview and ultimately getting hired.

Conducting a self-assessment is a crucial step in the resume writing process. It helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses, determine your career objectives, and match your skillset with the job description. By doing so, you increase your chances of standing out and getting hired, even with no prior work experience.

Creating a Compelling Resume Headline

One of the most crucial aspects of writing a compelling resume is crafting an attention-grabbing headline. This section will cover the following:

Understanding the purpose of a headline

The headline is the first thing potential employers will see when glancing at your resume, and it serves as the hook to entice them to keep reading. The primary function of a resume headline is to communicate your unique value proposition, which will ultimately land you the job you’re applying for.

Tips for crafting an attention-grabbing headline

To create an effective headline, here are some tips you should keep in mind:

• Research the job position.  Review the job description to determine the most critical qualifications and characteristics the employer is seeking. Incorporate keywords from the job posting into your headline.
• Identify your strongest qualities.  Think about what sets you apart from other applicants and what you can bring to the table. Highlight your most relevant skills and experiences.
• Be clear and concise.  Use simple language that’s easy to read and understand. Don’t use unnecessary jargon or buzzwords.
• Keep it short.  Your headline should be brief and to-the-point. Stick to 10-12 words max.
• Make it memorable.  Use action words and vibrant language to capture the employer’s attention. Be creative and show personality.

Examples of effective resume headlines

Here are some examples of strong resume headlines:

• Customer Service Specialist with a Passion for Solving Problems
• Digital Marketing Coordinator with Proven Results in Social Media Management
• Award-Winning Journalist with Expertise in Investigative Reporting
• Sales Representative with a Track Record of Exceeding Quotas
• Operations Manager with Experience in Streamlining Processes and Reducing Costs

By following these guidelines, you’ll be on your way to crafting a powerful headline that makes a lasting impression on potential employers.

Writing a Powerful Resume Summary

Your resume summary is the first thing that a recruiter will see, so it’s essential to make it count. It’s the perfect opportunity to showcase your skills, achievements, and projects concisely and convincingly. A compelling summary will grab the recruiter’s attention, making them want to read on and learn more about you. Here are some tips to help you write a powerful resume summary:

Importance of summary in grabbing the recruiter’s attention

Recruiters often receive hundreds of resumes for each job posting, so they usually have limited time to review each one. This is where your summary comes in – it’s your chance to quickly and effectively capture the recruiter’s attention and persuade them that you’re the best candidate for the job. A well-crafted summary will entice the recruiter to keep reading and learn more about you.

How to showcase your skills, achievements and projects in the summary

Your summary should be a brief, three to five sentence paragraph that highlights your most impressive accomplishments, skills, and relevant experiences. It should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for and should give the recruiter a clear picture of what you can bring to the role.

To showcase your skills, start by identifying the most important ones that match the job requirements. Then, choose the accomplishments and projects that demonstrate those skills. Use concrete numbers and statistics to quantify your achievements wherever possible. For example, instead of saying “I increased sales”, say “I increased sales by 15% in six months”.

Examples of effective resume summaries

Here are some examples of effective resume summaries:

Highly motivated and detail-oriented recent graduate with strong organizational skills and excellent communication abilities. Completed an internship in the marketing department of a Fortune 500 company, where I developed and executed social media campaigns that generated a 20% increase in engagement. Seeking an entry-level marketing role where I can utilize my skills and continue to grow.

Talented graphic designer with five years of experience creating visually stunning designs for a variety of print and digital media. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and experienced in all aspects of the design process from concept to final product. Looking for a challenging role in a creative agency where I can continue to develop my skills and create exceptional designs for clients.

Passionate educator with a master’s degree in education and two years of experience teaching high school students. Skilled in creating engaging lesson plans, facilitating class discussions, and managing classroom behavior. Seeking a role in a progressive high school where I can make a difference in students’ lives and contribute to the school’s success.

A well-crafted resume summary is an essential component of a resume, particularly if you’re a recent graduate or changing careers, and don’t have much experience. It’s your chance to showcase your skills, achievements, and projects and make a strong first impression on the recruiter.

Highlighting Your Education and Certifications

When you have no experience, highlighting your education and certifications can help you stand out to potential employers. Here are some tips for crafting an effective education section:

How to showcase your academic and professional accomplishments

When listing your education, include the following information:

• Name of degree or certification
• Name of school or institution
• Date of graduation or expected graduation
• GPA (if above 3.0)

Make sure to highlight any relevant coursework, projects, or activities you participated in during your studies. If you have any academic awards or honors, be sure to include those as well.

For certifications, include the following information:

• Name of certification
• Certifying organization
• Date of certification

Tips for crafting an education section when you have no experience

If you’re a recent graduate or have no work experience in your field, your education section can be the highlight of your resume. Here are a few tips:

• Focus on coursework or projects that are directly relevant to the position you’re applying for.
• If you have a high GPA, include it in your education section to show your dedication to academic success.
• If you participated in any extracurricular activities, clubs or organizations that are related to the job, include those as well.

Examples of effective education sections

Here are some examples of effective education sections:

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

XYZ University, Graduated May 2019

• Relevant coursework: Marketing Research, Financial Accounting, Organizational Behavior
• Dean’s List for all semesters
• President of the Business Club

Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)

Project Management Institute, Certification obtained September 2020

Associate’s Degree in Nursing

ABC College, Graduated May 2020

• Relevant coursework: Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, Patient Care Management
• Clinical experience: 200+ hours in various healthcare settings

Remember, your education section can be an important tool for showcasing your qualifications and achievements, even if you don’t have much work experience yet. Use these tips and examples to craft a strong education section that catches employers’ attention.

Showcasing Relevant Experience & Projects

When writing a resume with no professional experience, it’s important to identify and showcase any relevant experiences and projects. This can include:

How to identify and showcase relevant experiences and projects

Look for transferable skills: Think about any previous jobs, internships, or volunteer work that you’ve done and identify transferable skills. For example, if you worked in retail, you have customer service skills that can be useful in many different industries.

Emphasize accomplishments: Focus on what you’ve accomplished rather than just your responsibilities. If you organized a successful event or managed a team, highlight those achievements.

Tailor your resume to the job: Customize your resume to fit the job you’re applying for. Highlight experiences that are relevant to the job description.

What to do when you have no professional experience

Don’t worry if you have no professional experience! There are still ways to showcase your skills and experience:

Include any relevant coursework: If you’re a recent graduate or currently in school, highlight any relevant coursework you’ve completed.

Use personal projects: If you’ve completed any personal projects that showcase your skills, include them in your resume.

Focus on transferable skills: Like mentioned before, look for any transferable skills you have and emphasize them in your resume.

Using volunteer work and extracurricular activities to boost your profile

Volunteer work and extracurricular activities can show that you’re proactive and have valuable skills. Here are some ways to showcase them:

List volunteer experiences: List any volunteer work you’ve done, highlighting any leadership roles you’ve taken on.

Highlight extracurricular activities: Include any relevant extracurricular activities, such as clubs or organizations you’ve been a part of.

Emphasize key skills: In both cases, make sure to emphasize any key skills you gained from these experiences.

There are many ways to showcase relevant experiences and projects in a resume, even without professional experience. Identifying transferable skills, emphasizing accomplishments, and tailoring your resume to the job you’re applying for can help you stand out to potential employers. Additionally, don’t hesitate to include any volunteer work or extracurricular activities that can highlight your skills and show that you’re proactive.

Writing Professional Skills and Languages Section

One of the most crucial sections of a resume is the professional skills and languages section. This section is essential because it gives recruiters an idea of the skills and abilities the candidate can bring to the table.

Importance of Professional Skills and Languages Section

The skills section can be the determining factor in the selection process. Employers want to know whether you possess the skills necessary to excel in the role for which you are applying. Listing your professional skills and languages will give you an edge over other candidates.

Also, having a language section is like a bonus section in your resume. If you are fluent in a language other than English, it improves your prospects and shows that you have a unique skill.

Therefore, it is essential to create an effective skills section in your resume:

Tips to Create a Skills Section in Your Resume

Be Relevant: List skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Read the job description and highlight the necessary skills they are seeking.

Prioritize: List your top skills first. If you have a limited amount of space, make sure to put the most important skills first.

Use Keywords: Use keywords related to your industry or profession. Many companies use software to screen through resumes based on keywords.

Be Specific: Instead of vaguely stating “communication skills” or “problem-solving skills”, try to be specific by stating “public speaking” or “conflict resolution.”

Quantify your skills: Quantify your skills by providing examples of how you utilized them in your previous roles.

Examples of Professional Skills and Languages Sections

Professional Skills:

• Social Media Marketing
• Content Writing
• SEO Optimization
• Data Analysis
• Project Management
• English (Fluent)
• Spanish (Conversational)
• Graphic Design
• Web Development
• Video Editing
• Software Development
• Mobile App Development
• French (Native)
• Arabic (Conversational)

These examples demonstrate how a skills section should look like. By having a clean, organized, and relevant skills section, you can make your resume stand out regardless of whether you have experience.

Incorporating Power Words and Action Verbs

One crucial aspect in creating an impressive resume is the use of power words and action verbs. These words can grab the attention of the hiring manager, communicate your skills and achievements effectively, and set you apart from other candidates. In this section, we will discuss the importance of power words and action verbs, how to identify and use effective ones, and provide examples for different industries.

Importance of Power Words and Action Verbs in Your Resume

Power words and action verbs are essential in any resume, whether you have work experience or not. They can make your resume stand out and showcase your qualities and accomplishments. When used correctly, these words can communicate your value proposition in a concise, clear, and persuasive manner. By incorporating these types of words, your resume can convey your motivation, passion, and drive.

In particular, action verbs are crucial as they convey action and drive. They illustrate your abilities to take initiative, solve problems, and manage tasks, all essential qualities in any professional setting. Likewise, power words provide an added boost, providing impact and increasing the effectiveness of your statements.

How to Identify and Use Effective Power Words

The key to effective use of power words and action verbs is understanding how to use them and when. To identify and use effective power words, consider using job descriptions and requirements as your guide. Look for keywords from the job ad, such as “collaborate,” “innovate,” “manage,” “create,” or “streamline.” Additionally, review the company’s website or LinkedIn profiles of current employees to find relevant industry terms.

Once you’ve identified relevant words, make use of them in your resume. Consider starting each bullet point with a power word or action verb. By doing so, you not only showcase your skills and strengths but create a sense of action and excitement. Some examples of effective action verbs are “led,” “managed,” “created,” “generated,” “implemented,” “coordinated,” “resolved,” and “improved.” There are also many power words that you can use to enhance the effectiveness of your statements. Some examples are “achieved,” “exceeded,” “streamlined,” “maximized,” “innovated,” “transformed,” “solved,” and “delivered.”

Examples of Power Words and Action Verbs for Different Industries

The power words and action verbs you use will vary depending on your industry and your specific role. For instance, if you’re applying for a marketing position, some powerful words may include “promoted,” “launched,” “positioned,” and “targeted.” If you’re applying for a teaching position, you might use words such as “instructed,” “facilitated,” “motivated,” and “assessed.

Formatting Tips for Resumes

As a job seeker with no experience, you need to make your resume stand out to prospective employers. This is where formatting comes in. Your resume’s formatting is the first thing recruiters and hiring managers notice when sifting through piles of job applications. A well-formatted resume makes a great first impression and can land you an interview even if you don’t have any work experience.

Importance of formatting in a resume

Employers receive a large number of resumes for any given position, which means they don’t have much time to spend on each individual application. They need to be able to quickly scan and evaluate your resume to determine if you’re worth considering for the position. A poorly formatted resume can be a turnoff and lead to your application being tossed aside. On the other hand, a well-formatted resume that is easy to read and aesthetically pleasing can make all the difference. Employers are more likely to read through your resume and take you seriously if it is well-formatted.

Tips to create a sleek and professional looking resume

Use a clean and simple design: Avoid using funky fonts or crazy colors on your resume. Keep it simple and use a clean, easy-to-read font like Arial or Times New Roman.

Emphasize important information: Use bold, italic or underline to highlight important information like your name, contact information, and job titles.

Use bullet points: Bullet points make your resume easy to read and help organize information in a clear and concise manner.

Keep it brief: Your resume should ideally be one page in length. Only include relevant information and avoid including unnecessary details.

Be consistent: Keep the formatting consistent throughout your entire resume. This makes it easier to read and gives your resume a professional look.

Examples of different formatting styles

There are different formatting styles you can use when creating your resume, depending on your personal preference and the industry you’re applying to.

Chronological Resume

This is the most common resume format, which is organized in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recent work experience is listed first.

Functional Resume

This format focuses on your skills and achievements rather than your work experience. In this format, you would list your skills and abilities at the top of your resume, followed by your work history.

Combination Resume

This format combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes. It highlights your skillset while still emphasizing your work history.

Creative Resume

This format is best used for creative professions like graphic design. It includes elements like graphics, charts, and color schemes to showcase your creativity to prospective employers.

Formatting your resume is a crucial step in the job application process. A well-formatted resume can make all the difference when it comes to getting your foot in the door.

Making Your Resume ATS-Friendly

When applying for a job, it’s important to understand how Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) work. ATS is software used by companies to streamline the recruitment process by screening resumes for specific keywords and qualifications. Your resume must be ATS-friendly to be considered for the job. Here are some tips on how to optimize your resume for ATS:

Understanding the Purpose of ATS

Companies use ATS to save time and resources during recruitment. Instead of manually reviewing resumes, ATS scans resumes for keywords and phrases that match the job description. Recruiters often receive hundreds of resumes for a single job posting, so if your resume doesn’t contain the relevant keywords, it may not even make it to the recruiter’s desk. Therefore, understanding how ATS works and optimizing your resume for ATS can improve your chances of getting hired.

Tips for Making Your Resume ATS-Friendly

Use the job description to your advantage – carefully read the job description and identify the job-specific skills and qualifications required. Use those same words and phrases in your resume and cover letter.

Use simple formatting – avoid graphics, tables or unique formatting that ATS scanners may not recognize. Stick to a simple, organized structure that is easy to scan and understand.

Keep it concise – try to keep your resume within two pages and bullet point your experience in a clear and concise manner.

Use appropriate keywords – identify the right keywords by looking at the job description and making sure they appear throughout your resume.

Relevant experience – only include experience that is relevant to the job and use strong action words and metrics to quantify your achievements.

Examples of How to Optimize Your Resume for ATS

Job Description: “Looking for a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills”

• ATS-friendly resume: “Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills”

Job Description: “Proficient in Microsoft Excel and data analysis”

• ATS-friendly resume: “Experienced in data analysis and proficient in MS Excel”

Job Description: “Experience in managing social media accounts”

• ATS-friendly resume: “Managed social media accounts for a company of XYZ size with proven success in improving engagement”

By following these tips, you can ensure that your resume is ATS-friendly and optimized for the job you’re applying for. Remember, it’s not just about being qualified for the job, but also being qualified to make it through the screening process. Good luck!

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More from ResumeHead

How to Write a Resume with No Experience

Resumes are there to let recruiters and hiring managers see if you have the necessary experience and skills to do a specific job, but what if you’re a career newbie and have never worked before?

Not to worry, there are very effective ways to impress potential employers, even if you’re just a beginner. In this article, you’ll learn how to create a resume with no experience , including less-known tips and advice that could give you that extra edge you need to get your first career chance :

• Tips on how to write a resume if you’ve never worked before
• How to craft a resume summary that let’s you shine 
• Specific advice to guide you through writing the different sections of your resume
• Plus, lots of examples to get inspired

Our free online resume builder is for everyone: seasoned pros, career changers, and even people like you who may have no prior work history. Give it a try and find out how easy it can be to create a resume with no experience.

This article includes:

Now, let’s begin by taking a look at an example.

Example of a Resume with No Experience

One of the best ways to learn how to make a resume with no experience is by looking at an example :

[Robert Richards]

[Dog Sitter]

[NC 27284   |   222-555-8222   |   [email protected]]

Resourceful and motivated recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Completed a successful internship at a leading advertising agency, where I increased social media engagement by 20%. Proficient in using digital marketing tools such as Google Analytics, Hootsuite, and Mailchimp. Seeking an entry-level position to utilize my skills and grow in the field of marketing.

Marketing Intern

Furry Friends, Inc.| Raleigh, NC

2020 – 2021

• Assisted in creating and implementing digital marketing campaigns that led to a 20% increase in social media engagement.
• Conducted market research using Google Analytics, helping the team understand consumer behavior and trends.
• Scheduled and managed social media posts using Hootsuite, maintaining consistent brand presence across multiple platforms.
• Aided in the creation of email marketing campaigns using Mailchimp, contributing to a 10% increase in newsletter subscriptions.

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing

Winston Salem State University | Winston Salem, NC

2018 – 2021

Honors: summa cum laude, GPA 3.9/4.0

• Proficient in Google Analytics, Hootsuite, Mailchimp
• Understanding of SEO and SEM strategies
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team

Certifications

• Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification, 2020

>> Achievements <<

Implemented social media strategies for Furry Friends, Inc. that increased overall engagement by 20%.

Organizations

• American Marketing Association

In addition to our free online resume builder, you can select the High School Student resume template to get a clearer picture of how your no-experience resume can be formatted. 

You’ll see how to include education details , what information you can include in an Experience section, and resume examples skills.

Choosing the Best Resume Format When Starting Out

Before we jump into the specifics of writing a resume with no experience, it’s time for some insider info: There is not a particular resume format that suits all situations 

If you have some relevant internship and volunteering experience , the ideal format is the reverse-chronological type, as recruiters are interested in seeing your work history first.

However, if you don’t have any experience, the functional format is the way to go, as it focuses on your skills and abilities . As a matter of fact, many companies are beginning to care more about applicant abilities than degrees .

What if you’re somewhere in-between and, for example, completed one internship, but it’s your skills what truly stands out? Then the hybrid resume format is right for you. With this format, you can equally highlight your experience and skills.

What to Include in a Resume if You Have No Work Experience

Even though your work history might be thin, you probably have some experience worth including in your resume.

You’ll need to focus on these experiences and the skills you’ve developed from any internships or class projects. Being employable isn’t just about formal job experience. It’s also about your skills, enthusiasm, and dedication . 

Review the following list to know what to include in your resume as a career beginner:

• Internships, class projects, extracurricular activities, volunteer work : They all count as experience and valuable ones at that. For instance, you might have spearheaded a class project that required leadership, planning, and teamwork. 
• Skills : It’s your chance to spotlight your superpowers. Maybe you’ve picked up Photoshop or Excel during a class project or developed stellar communication skills while interning. 
• Action verbs : Also called power words , these are verbs and adjectives that are used to describe experiences and accomplishments.
• Education: Listing your education on your resume is a must, especially when starting out, as it’s through it that you typically acquire professional skills.

Listing Volunteering on Your Entry-Level Resume

Volunteering is an effective way to build skills that are relevant to a work environment. Adding your experience as a volunteer on your resume might look something like this:

Community Food Drive Coordinator, Neighborhood Food Bank City, State | June 2020 – August 2020

• Organized and managed a community food drive that collected over 2,000 lbs of food for local families in need.
• Recruited and coordinated a team of 20+ volunteers, assigning tasks and schedules for the event.
• Promoted the event using social media and local press, resulting in increased community awareness and participation.
• Implemented a new sorting system to manage food donations more efficiently, reducing setup and distribution time by 25%.

The use of quantifiable results gives a clear picture of the responsibilities by illustrating competence and effectiveness.

Additionally, the use of dynamic action verbs , such as “organized” or “recruited”, along with relevant skills like team coordination and efficiency improvements, make the candidate attractive to employers across industries.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer, City Food Bank City, State | Jan 2020 – Dec 2020

• Volunteered at the local food bank.
• Assisted with general tasks and activities.

The role “Volunteer” is too generic and doesn’t provide a clear picture of the responsibilities held during this volunteering stint. 

The descriptions are too vague, making it difficult for employers to ascertain what was done or what skills were used.

Also, the lack of measurable results and action words is a missed opportunity to demonstrate the tangible impact made during this volunteer experience. By not providing concrete figures or outcomes, the candidate is failing to feature their effectiveness in real-world situations. 

Don’t worry if describing some of your experiences is a little long, just keep in mind that the average number of words in a resume lies around 489.

Using Internships to Enhance Your Resume

When you have no formal work experience to list on a resume, an internship is the next best thing . Most internships are completed under the direction or supervision of a professional , so it’s basically work without the monetary compensation.

The skills you developed and the exposure to a professional atmosphere will often be enough to satisfy a recruiting manager.

An internship added to the experience section of a resume might look like this:

Social Media Intern

John’s Major Corporation

September 2019 – December 2019

• Developed and managed content across social platforms, boosting Instagram followers by 850+ within a week and doubling the Twitter follower base during the internship.
• Contributed to the Pinterest account management for three key clients.
• Enhanced product visibility through digital photography and concise summaries.
• Leveraged Google Analytics for comprehensive social media performance reports.

With this listing, you can showcase your managerial, communication, and technical skills. This also shows your ability to work in a team setting and to handle various tasks across multiple social media platforms.

Featuring Academic Projects  on Your Beginner Resume

There is good a reason to add academic projects to your resume with no experience. An extensive project could have helped you develop a skill set that many managers covet.

An academic project could emphasize leadership, creative, critical thinking, decision-making, and analytical skills . If you worked in a team, then add collaborative skills to the list.

Following is an example of how you might add an academic project on your resume:

Robotics Project

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA

January 2020 – May 2020

• Spearheaded a 3-member team to design and program a robotic wheelchair prototype, meeting all academic criteria and showcasing application of core robotics and systems engineering principles.
• Created thorough documentation of the project’s progress from planning stage to prototype completion

A recruiting manager can assess that you have strong leadership, communication, problem- solving, and organizational skills based on this information.

Listing Student Organizations

List any positions you might have held within an organization. Vice president of a student council, treasurer for an arts society, president of a sorority, or project lead for an academic project are all worth noting. An example would be:

Alpha Kappa Psi | New York, NY

September 2019 – May 2022

Member & Project Lead

• Oversaw a 12-member team to develop marketing materials for AKP
• Designed a social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram in 2021 for product promotions
• During my time as marketing project lead (2020), generated more than $5,000 in sales of promotional materials during the academic year

How to Display Your Educational Background

Often, recruiters will check your education section when evaluating your fit for a position. With limited work experience, featuring your education at the top of your resume right after the resume summary can be beneficial.

Add a “ Relevant Coursework ” heading, list pertinent courses like “Introduction to Marketing” or “Global Marketing”, summarizing key learnings.

Review the following example to get a clear idea of how to do it:

Bachelor of Science in Marketing

XYZ University | City, State

Aug 2019 – May 2023

• GPA: 3.7/4.0
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude

Relevant Coursework:

• Introduction to Marketing: Explored foundational marketing principles, including market segmentation, targeting, positioning, and the marketing mix.
• Global Marketing: Studied the impact of global trends on marketing strategies, including the role of culture, politics, and regulations.

These details can provide valuable insight into your potential as a candidate by demonstrating your academic performance and achievements .

Now, let’s move on to another important aspect – the resume summary.

The Importance of Resume Summaries and Objectives

Think of your resume’s summary/objective statement as your opportunity to make a first impression . It’s your introduction to a recruiting manager. 

While a summary emphasizes your career achievements and is ideal to highlight your accomplishments during an internship or project, an objective is ideal for career beginners with no relevant experience. So if you’re writing your resume for the first time , keep this in mind.

In both cases, the statement should reflect your abilities, attitude, and professional goal . Use specific achievements and successes when possible.

Instead of stating “skilled at organizing events”, state “oversaw a fundraising event for my community center that drew 5,000 attendees and raised $10,000 for recreational programs.”

Look at this example of a resume summary :

Dedicated professional seeking opportunities in child care. Boasts three years of experience caring for children under 10. Utilized inventive skills to develop an array of educational games that boosted children’s language and motor skills by 25%. Seeking an entry-level position in early childhood education. Committed to providing safe and educational environments for children in daycare centers or preschools.

Now, review this example of a resume objective to see the difference:

Enthusiastic and dedicated educator with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, seeking a teaching position at the elementary level. Committed to creating an engaging and inclusive learning environment to stimulate students’ interest. With a deep understanding of child psychology and development, looking to inspire and make a positive impact on students’ lives.

Other Sections You Could Include in Your Resume with No Experience

Does there appear to be too much “white space” on your resume despite filling in the experience, skills, and education sections? There’s only so much spacing you can do between sections before your resume looks sort of bare.

Here are some sections you could include in your no-experience resume.

Hobbies & Interests

Including your hobbies and interest can reflect your personality and additional potential skills not detailed in the preceding sections. It could even support your experience.

For instance, if you add painting to your hobbies and are applying for a position in graphic design, this could reflect artistic skills that could stand out to an employer.

Leave out any hobbies or interests that might be seen as violent or affiliated with any specific political party or religion. Hunting, for example, might be better left off your resume, or your attendance at a particular church.

Awards & Certifications

Were you named Employee of the Month at your part-time job? Have you received any professional certifications?

This type of information can and should be revealed on a resume with no experience. An Awards & Certifications section will display your abilities and traits such as dedication, work ethic, perseverance, and teamwork.

Examples of awards you could highlight here include:

• Fellowships
• Sports awards
• Military honors
• Performance awards
• Published writings
• Community service awards

Certifications from professional agencies or associations are added here as well. These might be in the areas of IT, marketing, project management, software, or even first aid.

To list certifications , you would add the certification title, name of organization granting the certification, and the date earned.

No-Experience Resume Keypoints

As you’ve noticed, you probably have more chances as a career beginner than you initially thought. It’s all a matter of perspective!

Remember the following points when crafting you no-experience resume:

• Choose your resume format depending on your particular situation .
• Leverage any internships, school projects, and volunteering positions you might have held.

Add any additional sections like Hobbies or Awards that might help hiring managers to get to know you better.

Head over and look at our resume builder and modern templates for more inspiration, and good luck!

Related Posts

Listing Relevant Coursework on a Resume: Get it Right! Thinking about listing coursework on a resume? Read on to learn the tips and tricks for a job-winning resume that stands out from the crowd. Updated on June 19, 2023 Listing Relevant Coursework on a Resume: Get it Right!

Relevant Experience on a Resume: What Does it Mean? ANY previous work experience you have might be used in your job pursuit. Find here real examples of how to write relevant experience on your resume. Reviewed Updated on March 11, 2024 Relevant Experience on a Resume: What Does it Mean?

Student Resume Templates Prepare a student resume template to target jobs after graduating from college. Learn how to expertly prepare yours now with our expert resume builder. Updated on May 30, 2023 Student Resume Templates

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No Work Experience Resume Templates Free to Download

Our no work experience resumes provide a variety of options for people with “no experience”.

Regardless of where you’re at in your job journey, one of the resume templates on this page should be a great fit for you.

No Work Experience Resume Templates Menu

How to make a no experience resume, format for a no experience resume, no experience resume samples, student resume, recent graduate resume, how to write a cover letter with no experience, no experience resume templates free to download, no experience resume faq, what “no experience” means.

No experience can mean no professional, paid experience. Or it might mean you have absolutely no experience of any kind, not even volunteer or education based experience.

The point of the templates on this page is to give some structure to the skills and abilities you do have, no matter where you picked them up.

The following guide takes you through the process of filling out any of the resumes available for download on this page, section by section.

Not having any work experience should not get in the way of writing a successful, job-winning resume.

To land your first job, you will need to draw upon your experience as a student, volunteer, self-taught hobbyist, community helper, or some other role in which you learned and demonstrated skills that a company is looking for.

So as we go forward, it will be important to think of experience not as “work experience” but instead as a way to describe the time we’ve put into learning a skill – regardless of where or how we’ve learned it.

The way in which you order things may change depending on what position you’re applying to, but you will generally want to start the resume with your strongest qualifications and work down from there.

For example, if you know a job values a specific degree that you happen to have, then you would lead the resume with your education.

If you’re applying for an apprenticeship that doesn’t value college and you happen to have one or two needed skills that you learned during a summer in high school, you would want to start your resume by listing those skills in a skills section.

Let’s get started by writing your heading:

Key Parts Of Your Heading

The heading of your resume should include at least four pieces of crucial information:

• Phone Number
• City, State
• E-Mail Address

The phone number you list on your resume should be able to be answered in a moment’s notice. Plenty of jobs will not make multiple calls and will instead just go to the next name on the list. So bottom line, list a phone number you know is reliable.

Your e-mail address should be something professional and as close to your name as possible. If you need to, make a new email address just for applying to jobs.

Overall, the heading is pretty straightforward. But treat it with care and take it seriously as your own personal brand.

How To Write A Good Professional Objective

After your name and contact information, you will want to create a sentence or two that summarizes the best of what you have to offer. Since you won’t have a professional career to summarize, we can use an objective for this purpose.

Objectives have gotten a bad name over the years but that’s generally because people used the same one for every job they applied for.

Whether you want to label it as an objective or a summary is up to you, but what you write should include a combination of the following: summarizing your best skills & how you used them, and why you want to work for the particular company/in the particular industry.

Combine Your Ambitions With Your Best Skills

The most desirable skills will change depending on what company and what type of job you’re applying to. That is why it is important to thoroughly examine each job listing to find commonalities between it and your education or other non-work experience.

Once you have found a skill or two that you have that is a strong connection to what they are looking for, you can then tie in any other education based connections that may be applicable.

How much of each section you use will depend a lot on the job you are applying for.

Resume Objective Examples

For example, if you are applying to McDonald’s then talking about your experience in class projects that were fast-paced or volunteering at the cash register at a school fair are more important than talking about why you want to work for McDonald’s in the fast food industry.

On the other hand, if you’re applying for jobs that are in your long-term career goals and related to a degree you have then in addition to talking about your skills, you may want to also discuss what you value in the company and/or industry.

For a more thorough example, if you were a computer programmer looking for a job while in school and came across a job valuing specific coding knowledge, your objective may look something like this:

Third year computer programming student with classroom project experience in C++ and Java seeking Computer Programmer 1 position.

Your objective can be longer than just one sentence, but it’s certainly not necessary.

Remember that you are only summarizing your resume, and that the rest of your resume will be able to go into more detail about just how great & qualified you are. A good objective will entice the employer enough to keep reading and to find out more.

In any event, whatever you talk about should be directly related to the companies wants and needs. That is why it is important to customize your summary for each company you apply to.

Listing The “Experience” You Do Have

Even without job history, there may be many different types of experience that you have that are worthy of being listed on your resume.

Volunteering, internships, externships, and neighborly acts are just some examples of the types of experience that you may have that can actually be difficult to know how to put on a resume.

Four Key Pieces of Information

When you list any type of experience, there are generally four pieces of information you’ll always want to include:

• Name of the Person or Organization
• Location (City,State)
• Date(s) (Was it for a weekend? One month? Be specific and don’t lie)
• Your “Title” During the Experience (Two to three word phrase describing your general duties)

Beyond those four things, you may also include descriptive statements about the things you do and the skills you practiced & acquired. Remember to use the job listing as a guide for the skillsets they are looking for.

Talking About Different Skills

Some of the skills you may have picked up along the way are what we would call “transferable” skills – non-technical skills that can be used in different jobs. Abilities such as customer service, organization, and general computer skills are all types of transferable skills.

These skills “transfer” from job to job, regardless of the industry, and can be incredibly important to have in your job search. But it won’t be enough to just list those skills as bullet points.

Instead, try and think of what you accomplished and achieved using those specific skills. Write about how you used your knowledge & education to solve problems and get tasks done. You will quickly come to find out that you probably have more experience than you thought.

Education On A Resume

Before we get into describing your skills and background, your education section will also need four pieces of crucial information per school:

• Name of the School
• Location of the School (City,State)
• Date of Graduation (or Credits Earned)
• Degree Major or Main Focus of Studies

As mentioned above, you should only put the date of your graduation if it’s already happened or is about to happen in the next few months. Otherwise you can use the amount of credits you’ve earned alongside the total number of credits required.

Your degree may also be listed as the actual job title you are applying for, in the case of many different trade schools. For example, if you’re going to school to become an HVAC Technician, in the degree & major spot you would put “HVAC Technician”.

Describing Your Education

As with the other sections of your resume, the goal of your education section is to show how you’re schooling has prepared you for the responsibilities of the upcoming job.

The easiest way to accomplish this is to describe your technical job skills in terms of what you accomplished. For example, if you went to school for graphic design then you may talk about particular design layout skills you used on school projects, and computer applications you utilized.

Now don’t just list the programs or skills one by one. Again, describe them in the context of an accomplishment. An accomplishment may be a grade, an award, a scholarship, or it may just be that you gained new knowledge in a particular software program.

It will be important to first describe skills and knowledge found directly in the job listing itself, especially for people with less amounts of experience. Find out how the company describes the job and try to pick up the language they use when talking about daily job duties. While you won’t want to ever copy their information verbatim, you should develop a style to describe your past experience in their “voice”.

Have A No Experience Attitude

Three main keys to having success in your job search is your attitude, how you view experience, and how you go about the process of the job search itself.

Maintaining a Positive Attitude

Have a positive approach to the job search. There will be lots of disappointment and rejection, but it just means you’re that much closer to finding the right job. Even if you have to be cynical about the job search, at least understand that your outlook or view does not change the process itself.

Think About Experience Differently

Take time to think about what you’re good at and how you learned to be good at it. What skills that you picked up in school and with hobbies can be applied to every-day jobs? Getting experience in something doesn’t require a job with a steady paycheck.

Look for opportunities to help in your community and to volunteer. The skills you pick up as a teen or student, can often be transferred to your new job.

Be Smart About Your Job Search

Target jobs with 2 years of experience or less, which won’t be much of a stretch. New-comers will have more success applying for jobs in-person and re-kindling school friendships, finding people already employed to recommend you.

Track your job search and follow up with employers on a weekly and monthly basis.

Ultimately, the key to your success as a new job seeker will be a positive attitude and a willingness to make yourself stand out. In the digital age, try to drop off resumes in person.

If nothing else, work on your people skills and make people say no to you face-to-face instead of never responding to an e-mail.

Take time on your resumes as well. Don’t just send off a million resumes a week and think you’re doing a great job search.

Pay attention to what the company is actually looking for and study job duties and descriptions that they list. If you do even some of these things, your no experience resume can still be unique and intriguing for many employers.

A resume’s “format” is just another way to describe how you organize the information & various sections of the resume.

With a no experience resume, you will want to use a format that emphasizes your education and the other strong points that make up for your lack of work experience.

The overall focus of most no experience resumes will be your education and the skills that have developed because of that education.

But the education section itself may not always be the largest section of your resume.

Your education may actually trickle out into many sections of your resume: the skills section, the objective, and maybe even some internships or volunteer work.

And whether you are a graduate or a current student, your resume should still be focused on talking about your skills and abilities in terms of achievements.

Achievements can be things such as group projects completed, credits earned, or specific courses passed.

Volunteer & Other “Experience”

As soon as you are able to, you should start to look for opportunities to volunteer through your education or through community events. Churches and local non-profit organizations are also great ways to volunteer in the community.

Volunteer opportunities don’t necessarily need to be in the industry that you’re looking to eventually apply for.

Any type of experience is helpful and using everyday “transferable” job skills like communicating with others or providing customer service will help show you are ready to take on the responsibilities of a full-time job.

Ultimately, however you fill the gap of work experience on your resume will depend on the skills and abilities that you have.

When you think about your next resume format, ask yourself the following questions: What is the best way to showcase my best skills? How can I incorporate what I’ve learned through schooling in more sections of my resume? What is filling my “work experience gaps”?

The answers to those questions will help you know how best to organize your resume’s information.

Read on to find out about the various sections of a no experience resume.

Sample No Experience Resumes

Not having any work experience can be an issue for all types of job seekers – whether you’re still in school, already graduated, or just looking for an internship.

Check out some of the samples below to find out how to make better use of a no experience resume.

Student No Experience Resume Sample

Students without any work experience will want to describe their education differently than those who have already graduated.

For starters, only list your graduation date if it is coming up within 4-6 months. If your graduation is further out than that, you may want to list the amount of credits you’ve earned instead.

Great Resume For Students

This resume is a blend of formal education & other outside “experience”.

It takes into account that while you may be in school now, not all of your skills and abilities may have come from college.

This is a powerful resume for job-seekers with specific skill-sets where you will need to show your knowledge of individual skills.

Jobs in many technology and industrial lines of work are a good fit to use this resume.

Click For Download Page

And while you may not be able to draw upon as many skills as a graduate, the knowledge and skills you do have will be important to showcase on your resume.

Regardless of how you explain your experience so far as a student, you should always attempt to find a common theme between your education and the job you are applying for.

Look carefully through job listings to find out how they describe the day to day aspects of the job. You can then review your own experiences a student to find similar situations that you faced, whether they be from group projects or individual classwork.

Recent Graduate No Experience Resume Sample

As a recent graduate, your resume should be built around your education.

Be sure to use the entire breadth of your experience at school to fill out your resume. This includes summer projects, fraternity or sorority volunteering opportunities, job specific classes, and anything else that helped you develop the skills you will use in your career.

This resume wastes no time with an objective or summary and dives right into your education and what you learned.

This is also a great resume for people who are looking to attend graduate school and will need lots of space for education.

Remember to put your education and degree into a context that the employer can understand.

Use industry standard or commonly agreed upon terms of your field when describing your knowledge and skills.

As a recent graduate, you’re most likely going to want to lead off with your education. Even so, your situation may be different so feel free to move sections around to suit your specific needs.

Also, remember to tailor your resume to each company you apply to.

Don’t treat your applications like a dating app – take the time to get to know the company and apply with a purpose. You may end up applying to fewer places but you’ll end up wasting less time.

Write A Cover Letter With No Experience

Cover letters can be a great way to provide more information to an employer if you have little or no experience.

A resume’s cover letter will help you introduce yourself and can help you elaborate about how your abilities fit their needs.

Make A Personal Connection

You can do this by properly researching the companies you are applying to and finding how your background and theirs intersects.

For example, maybe there are charities that the company works with that you have volunteered with. Maybe you are being referred to the company by a family member or friend who is already working there.

Or maybe the company has been a special part of the community and your life in some way that has stood out.

Whatever that connection may be, emphasize it and write a few sentences about it to supplement your education and skills.

It can provide the extra personal touch to wake up a hiring manager slogging through applications.

For a full run down on how to write a cover letter with no experience Click Here.

You can also view all of our cover letter examples by Clicking Here.

The free resume templates available on this page are made specifically for job-seekers who have little to no experience.

Objective Skills Volunteer No Experience Resume

It also contains a lot of area for skills you have learned through your education.

On the bottom of the resume is a section for listing any volunteer experience.

File name: objective skills education no experience resume template.docx

File size: 6.1 KB

Total downloads: 533

Graduate School Education No Experience Resume

You can use the bullet points under the school listings to emphasize specific skills you learned and tasks you completed.

Volunteer work can also be used to supplement your education & to show application of skills.

File name: no experience education grad school resume template.docx

File size: 16.8 KB

Total downloads: 231

3 Column Skills College Education No Experience Resume

There’s also lots of space for your education if you have multiple degrees.

The bottom “experience” section can be used to add any internships or even projects from school.

File name: 3_column_skills_education_first_resume_template.docx

File size: 19.3 KB

Total downloads: 118

High School Student No Experience Resume

While objectives can be hard to write, they can be powerful for those without experience. Use them to talk about your education & how it applies to what you want to do in life.

If you have specialized high school skills that are job specific then you may want to list your education section higher on this resume.

File size: 7.9 KB

Total downloads: 512

College Student No Experience Resume

An objective can be a powerful way to summarize your job specific skills from college. Make sure you change the objective for each employer.

The resume comes with an expanded education section for people with graduate school experience.

File name: college-student-no-experience-resume-template.docx

File size: 7.6 KB

College Education Functional No Experience Resume

Use the dedicated skills sections to talk about how you’ve applied your knowledge to complete tasks & goals.

You can also cut down on a skill section and expand the education section to fit even more school specific accomplishments.

File name:  College-Education-Functional-No-Experience-Resume-Template.docx

File size: 7.5 KB

Total downloads: 92

Answers to frequently asked questions about little to no experience resumes:

What do I put on my resume if I have no experience?

If you don’t have any work experience then you will need to rely on your education and any skills you may have learned through a hobby or some other extracurricular activity.

When talking about your education on your resume, try and think of the similarities beteween your schooling and the job you’re applying to. Because you’re just starting out, it may be hard at first to make those connections. But you should always be looking to

How do I make my resume look good with no experience?

The key is to have a resume that looks complete and is filled out. Having a short or small resume is, of course, not a good look.

To avoid this, you will need to think of experience and your profile as a worker in a new light.

The things that make you valuable to an employer will not always come from a previous job. They can often come from things like volunteering, your education, and hobbies that you have a special interest in.

To have a complete resume at this early stage in your career, you will need to think deeply about those types of situations and the abilities you’ve gained from being in them.

How do you write a resume for a high school job with no experience?

coming soon

Do you need a resume for your first job?

Different jobs require different things. But for the most part, employers usually require an applicant to turn in a resume.

However, for some entry level jobs, you may just need to fill out an application online or in-person.

Regardless of what the process is, it is important to ask about an employer’s hiring process up front so that you can be successful in landing the job.

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First Resume With No Work Experience Example

What to include on a resume when you don't have work experience

Writing Your First Resume

What to include in your resume.

• Tips Preparing Your First Resume

Resume Template and Example

More resume examples and templates.

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Writing your first-ever resume can be a challenge. How do you sell yourself to an employer when you’re a student who doesn’t have any experience in your targeted field?

When writing your first resume with no formal work experience, it's appropriate to include casual jobs like babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, and shoveling snow. You can also include volunteering, internships, and school and community activities.

All experience counts, and the best way you present yourself, your skills, and your assets to a hiring manager is to provide them with a strong resume that showcases your own unique talents.

Here's how to write your first resume, what to include, how to show employers the skills you have, a sample resume to review, and a template you can use to get started writing your resume.

To get started, review information on the  different parts of a resume  and what is included in each element. It's a good idea to review high school resume examples to get an idea of what is appropriate. Even if you've never held a formal job, you still have important life experience that's applicable to the job search.

Don't forget to look at volunteer work, civic groups, and youth organizations (for example, the Scouts or 4-H). The skills you have developed doing these things have given you valuable experience that will impress employers.

The bottom line is that you actually have a lot more experience than you think you have.

Writing your first resume  can seem intimidating, but if you take it step-by-step, you will be able to put together a document that will highlight your abilities and show the hiring manager that you’re worth calling for an interview.

Start by mining your life experience and academic achievements to show that you'll be an asset to the company, despite the fact that you don't have any related job titles to show off at this stage in your career.

For your first resume, take the soft skills (also known as “people skills”) you have and show how they translate into success where you choose to apply them. Include volunteer experience, school achievements, sports, clubs, and organizations you belong to.

Scan the job descriptions for the positions to which you're applying. Look for keywords that indicate what the hiring manager values in a candidate.

For example, the job listing might say, "Successful candidate will be a self-starter who delivers on time and on budget." In that case, despite the fact that you don't have relevant work experience in the same field, you can get the hiring manager's attention by being sure to include (and emphasize) projects that you've successfully led, such as high school clubs in which you held a leadership role that required you to manage both your time and the team's money.

Other “ people skills ” that employers often seek in entry-level job applicants include traits like dependability, good communication and organizational skills, a solid work ethic, and teamwork.

If you start with the job listings instead of with the blank page, the hiring manager's keywords will guide you, and help you focus on which of your academic or after-school experiences have prepared you for this first step in your career.

Once you've compiled a list of what you need in your resume, it should include:

• Contact information
• Experience (casual work, volunteering, clubs, youth organizations, teams)
• Skills (related to the job)
• Awards and Achievements (academic and extracurricular)

Tips Preparing Your​​ First Resume

• Don't lie.  No matter how tempting it might be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a bad idea. You might make it through this round of interviews and even get the job, but you won't be able to deliver on the promises your resume offered. Plus, you'll probably be caught—and fired.
• Don't pad.  You don't need to include the line "references upon request," or personal information beyond your contact information, or a bunch of unrelated hobbies. In fact, there's a lot of  stuff you don't need to put on your resume , even when it's your first one.
• Proofread.  Nothing is less persuasive than a resume full of typos and inconsistencies. Have a trusted friend or family member  proofread your resume  before you submit it.

Download the resume template  (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) to use as a starting point for your own resume.  

Resume Example (Text Version)

Michelle Washington 18 Sunnyside Boulevard Arlington, NY 16543 mwashington@email.com 111.123.1234

EDUCATION Arlington High School, Arlington, NY CLASS OF 2022 (3.9 GPA)

Pet Sitter — Arlington, NY JUNE 2020 - PRESENT

Established and run successful pet sitting business including dog walking, feeding, and yard care. Responsible for obtaining clients, scheduling and attending visits, organizing visits, and maintaining client relationships.

Soup Kitchen Volunteer — Arlington, NY SEPTEMBER 2020 - PRESENT

Act as weekend/holiday volunteer manager at local soup kitchen, scheduling volunteer time slots, managing intake of donated food, and assisting with preparation and distribution of meals on Sundays and holidays including, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Child Care Provider — Arlington, NY JUNE 2018 – JUNE 2020

Provided child care for several families after school, on weekends, and during school vacations.

SKILLS                                                  

Customer service Hospitality Microsoft Office Google Drive

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

National Honor Society Honor Roll President of high school Volunteer Club MVP, Arlington Varsity softball team

Here are more examples that you can use to get ideas for your own resume:

• Entry-Level Resume Example
• High School Student Resume Example
• High School Student Resume Template

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20 ways to showcase your skills to employers when you have little to no work experience was originally published on College Recruiter .

For as long as people have been searching for jobs, some of those people have understandably complained about employers refusing to hire them because they have no experience yet the only way to get experience is to get hired.

What we’ve learned over the years is that everyone has experience and that it is the job seeker who needs to find a way to showcase those experiences to prospective employers. You may not have experience as a customer service representative when applying to work as a customer service representative, but chances are that you can point to experiences you’ve had that will satisfy at least one employer’s need to verify that you have enough experience that the risk of hiring you is low and the upside high.

We recently asked 20 thought leaders to each share one or two key elements individuals with limited work experience should prioritize on their resumes to effectively showcase their skills and potential to prospective employers.

Highlight Skills and Tangible Achievements

Avoid ai-generated resume style, relevant experience over work history, emphasize skills and relevant engagements, prioritize transferable skills and personal projects, demonstrate long-standing industry interest, quantify non-work achievements, emphasize niche projects and transferable skills, highlight interpersonal skills from service roles, showcase fast-learning and adaptability, customize cv for each job application, detail leadership in academic settings, feature relevant educational background, incorporate industry-specific keywords, showcase skills, education, and training, highlight communication and flexibility, leverage cover letter to share your story, start with a compelling summary statement, use a skills-based resume format, showcase potential through diverse experiences.

Individuals with limited work experience should prioritize showcasing their relevant skills and achievements, such as academic projects, internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities. Highlighting tangible results or accomplishments from these experiences can demonstrate their capabilities and potential to prospective employers. Additionally, emphasizing soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities gained from various activities can further enhance their appeal to employers, showcasing their readiness to contribute positively to the workplace despite limited professional experience.

GARRISON LEYKAM , Certified Professional Career Coach, Garrison Leykam, LLC

Without significant work experience, ensuring your resume doesn’t appear AI-generated is crucial. Hiring managers and HR professionals are overwhelmed by clearly AI-generated resumes, which often feel robotic and impersonal. Although this might be overlooked for applicants with plenty of relevant experience, for those without, expect your resume to be scrutinized closely. Therefore, I strongly recommend taking some time to understand what AI-generated resumes look like and actively avoid mimicking their writing style. Not only does this convey to the employer that you won’t cut corners, but it also demonstrates that you take this application seriously, making a great first impression with the employer.

Chloe Yarwood , HR Manager, Test Partnership

Candidates with limited work experience can still write effective resumes that impress hiring managers. 

If you’re a recent graduate, try changing your ‘Work Experience’ section to a ‘Relevant Experience’ section. That way, you can detail any experiences that have equipped you with the necessary skills for the position you want, including internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities. It’s also a good idea to make your education section longer than it would be on a standard resume. Include your GPA if it’s over 3.5, and list any relevant honors, awards, or certifications. If your degree is related to your target job, you can also add information about your coursework to show that you have the skills the employer is looking for. 

If you’re transitioning careers and lack experience in your new field, consider using a functional resume format. Unlike chronological resumes, which focus primarily on work history, functional resumes highlight the transferable skills and accomplishments most relevant to your target role. This approach allows you to showcase how the qualifications and expertise you’ve gained through previous jobs, volunteer work, or your education align with the requirements of the job you’re applying for.

Eva Chan , Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Senior Content Specialist, Resume Genius

For individuals with limited work experience, emphasizing key elements on their resumes is crucial to making a strong impression in a competitive job market. Firstly, prioritize a well-crafted “Skills” section highlighting both technical and soft skills relevant to the desired position. This provides a quick snapshot of your capabilities and allows prospective employers to gauge your potential impact.

Secondly, focus on showcasing any relevant internships, volunteer work, or academic projects. While traditional work experience may be limited, these experiences demonstrate your practical application of skills, initiative, and commitment. Clearly articulate the specific responsibilities, achievements, and skills developed during these engagements.

Moreover, include any coursework or certifications relevant to the job, underscoring your commitment to continuous learning. Highlight academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles to showcase a well-rounded skill set and a proactive approach.

Crafting a compelling resume narrative that emphasizes potential, adaptability, and a strong work ethic is vital. Tailor each application to align with the specific job requirements, and use your resume as a platform to convey not just your skills but also your enthusiasm and dedication to contributing meaningfully to the prospective employer’s objectives.

Steven Mostyn , Chief Human Resources Officer, Management.org

For job seekers with limited work experience, the most effective resumes prioritize two key elements: transferable skills and personal projects.

Highlight transferable skills like communication and problem-solving through examples from academics, volunteering, or extracurricular activities. This demonstrates your potential to thrive professionally.

Showcase personal projects to provide tangible evidence of your initiative and abilities. Whether it’s a coding side-hustle or a leadership role in a student organization, this shows your passion and drive.

Package these elements to tell a compelling story about who you are and what you bring to the table. Use clear language and quantify achievements. Let your personality shine through.

By prioritizing transferable skills and personal projects, you can level the playing field and position yourself as a strong contender. Remember, potential is just as valuable as proven expertise—it’s all about framing it effectively.

Lou Reverchuk , Co-Founder and CEO, EchoGlobal

Try to show an interest in the position, industry, or company. One of the big fears of hiring someone without prior experience is that they might try the role, decide it is not for them, and leave—which is a huge waste of time and money. If you can convince an employer that you have a long-standing interest in this job and it is really what you want to do, they are much more likely to take a chance on you.

Rhys Morgan , Director, Kepler Search

Wherever possible, candidates should quantify their achievements, even in non-work-related experiences. This could include metrics such as the percentage increase in social media engagement from a university club’s campaign they led, or the amount of funds raised during a volunteer project. In my opinion, quantifying accomplishments makes them more tangible and relatable to potential employers, illustrating the candidate’s impact in various roles.

Phil Strazzulla , Founder, SelectSoftware Reviews

First off, bringing emphasis to any relevant projects or personal initiatives you have taken part in that demonstrate your skills in your niche can gain their favor. These could include notable class assignments that required you to develop a marketing plan, manage a digital campaign, or maybe even create content for a specific audience. These experiences are there to illustrate your hands-on knowledge and proactive approach to learning. Additionally, spotlight transferable skills that are indispensable in our industry, such as creativity, strategic thinking, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate. Crafting your resume with these strategies not only highlights your existing competencies but also your eagerness to grow and adapt—qualities that are highly sought after in the dynamic field of digital marketing and content creation.

Shawn Manaher , Founder, The Content Authority

For candidates with experience in customer service roles, highlighting developed interpersonal skills can be particularly effective. These positions often require problem-solving, communication, and conflict-resolution abilities. In my view, describing situations where these skills were applied and led to positive outcomes can provide insights into a candidate’s ability to handle customer relations, a valuable asset in many industries.

Chad Sultana , Founder, Chad Sultana

Their skill and experience as fast learners are significant assets. It is a popular saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. In an increasingly competitive yet ever-demanding innovative job market, the truth is that individuals with limited or no work experience have an advantage that others do not. Not only does their limited work experience serve as motivation for their readiness to learn quickly, but the fact that their skills can be shaped and molded to perfectly fit the business and the vacant role also makes them attractive, as they are ready and better at learning and adopting new methods. Approaching the job market with limited work experience really shouldn’t be a cause for worry, provided the individual is able to sufficiently prove through their skills and experience, either in extracurricular activities or volunteer work, that they have a history of being a willing learner.

The truth is, today’s mode of business operations is fast-evolving (though in some industries more than others), and recruiters are mostly interested in finding applicants who can quickly adjust to their changing business operations. Being a fast learner is one advantage that individuals with limited work experience can leverage to improve their competitive chances, especially in today’s job market. The experience and skills section of their resume presents a great opportunity to showcase and draw attention to their potential and their ability to pay careful attention to details and carry out innovative thinking, which strongly emphasizes their fast-learning potential.

Andrew Johnson, General Manager, Drughelpline

Customizing your CV for each job you apply for allows you to emphasize your qualifications. This means that you should research the company, the industry, and the position to identify the relevant keywords, competencies, and qualifications. Next, you should use the same language and vocabulary from the job description in your CV, aligning it with those requirements. 

This will help you demonstrate that you have the skills the employer is looking for and that you are aware of their needs and expectations. For example, if the job description states that they are seeking someone with experience in social media marketing, you could highlight any projects or activities where you used social media platforms, tools, or techniques.

Creating a unique resume for every job application is essential. A resume that is generic or cookie-cutter should not exist. Carefully analyze the job description and requirements to tailor your resume. This will help you recognize your credentials and give you the chance to showcase your transferable skills as well. While hiring managers can quickly spot a generic resume, they also appreciate and recognize the time and effort that goes into customizing a resume for a specific role.

Tristan Harris , Demand Generation Senior Marketing Manager, Thrive Digital Marketing Agency

The key element I recommend is detailing leadership roles and collaborative projects in academic settings; it can be a powerful way to demonstrate soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication. Whether it was leading a group project, serving as a class representative, or organizing a student event, these experiences reflect abilities to lead, negotiate, and work as part of a team—all highly valued in professional settings.

Hardy Desai , Founder, Supple Digital

I highly recommend that candidates with limited work experience prominently feature their educational background, especially coursework directly relevant to the target job. Projects, presentations, and research highlighting applicable skills and knowledge are crucial. Including academic awards or distinctions can further emphasize a commitment to excellence. This detailed educational focus enables employers to gauge a candidate’s potential and readiness for the role, clarifying how academic achievements have laid a foundation for professional success.

Grant Aldrich , Founder, Preppy

Candidates with limited work experience should strategically incorporate industry-specific keywords and terminology into their resumes. I recommend aligning their language with the job description and sector expectations, as they signal a strong understanding of the field’s demands and nuances. This approach not only helps in passing through applicant tracking systems but also demonstrates to hiring managers that the candidate is well-versed in industry language and concepts, making them a potentially seamless addition to the team.

Bert Hofhuis , Founder, Every Investor

For individuals with limited work experience, emphasizing skills and competencies, education, and training on their resumes is crucial. Focus on showcasing relevant hard and soft skills tailored to the job you’re applying for, and highlight any projects, volunteer work, or internships that demonstrate these abilities. Additionally, detail your educational background, including degrees, certifications, and any relevant courses or workshops. This approach, combined with mentioning continuous learning efforts, can effectively illustrate your potential and commitment to professional development, making a strong impression on prospective employers even with minimal work experience.

Rachel Weiner , Senior Technology Consultant, EC1 Partners

In my experience of coaching and hiring team members for entry-level roles, I’ve always observed that individuals with great communication skills and those flexible in their choice of projects are better equipped to make a strong impression. In the ever-evolving VUCA world, individuals who are adaptive, hands-on, and resilient are the ones who strive to make the most of their circumstances. In my opinion, it is always best for those with limited experience to be more open to trying out different avenues than being rigid about their choices.

In their resumes, they can highlight these skills by writing about the diverse projects or initiatives they’ve been a part of, to emphasize their ability to be flexible and open to change.

In the last eight years, I’ve observed that candidates who join the workforce with a more generalist approach tend to have better clarity to specialize later when their career paths become more defined.

Tanisha Guin , Education and Career Development Specialist

We all have to start somewhere, but that start can feel almost impossible when every job opportunity you read says ‘such-and-such experience’ even for entry-level positions. So how do you really stand out? You focus in on you. 

Your resume may not stack up against other more experienced candidates, so you want the potential hirers to fall in love with you before they even get there. This is where your cover letter can take center stage, and you can tell your story of what you have done, but also who you are and why this opportunity would mean a lot to you. 

Hirers are humans at the end of the day, and while I’m not suggesting you make up a sob story to pull at their heartstrings, sharing more of you as a person can give you a far stronger chance of getting further in the process and being seen as somebody who they would like to be part of their team, even if it might mean some extra training.

Brett Downes , Founder, Haro Helpers

To attract an employer’s attention and communicate your career goals, start your resume with a compelling summary or objective statement. You can express your objectives and your excitement for the position in this part.

Paul Phelps , Managing Director, Solent Power

A skills-based resume, also known as a functional resume, prioritizes skills over chronological work history. This type of resume highlights bold headings for skills and accomplishments, along with explanations of how those skills were acquired and utilized in previous roles. 

It is particularly beneficial for recent graduates with limited job history or individuals transitioning careers. In a skills-based resume, the focus is on the resume summary or introduction and the skills section, emphasizing relevant qualifications for the desired position.

Travis Willis , Director of Customer Success, Aspire

Individuals with limited work experience can craft a compelling resume by highlighting transferable skills gained from diverse experiences beyond traditional employment. This strategy showcases their potential and adaptability, qualities highly valued by employers. Instead of focusing solely on a limited work history, prioritize showcasing relevant skills and achievements gained through internships, volunteer work, freelance projects, and even significant extracurricular activities. By strategically listing these experiences, individuals demonstrate initiative, adaptability, and a commitment to learning—all indicators of future success in the workplace. Additionally, considering the lack of extensive work experience, prioritize the education section by placing it strategically at the top of your resume. This draws immediate attention to your academic qualifications and any relevant coursework or projects that align with the desired position.

Kimberley Tyler-Smith , VP of Strategy and Growth, Resume Worded

The Best Résumé Templates For Your 2024 Job Search

N o matter what the news says about low unemployment rates, if you don’t yet have your dream job , you’re going to need every tool at your disposal to attract an employer’s eye . Literally.

That’s why it’s increasingly popular for people to incorporate flashy designs in their résumé. For those of us who aren’t graphic designers, that often means using a résumé template. We’ll point you in the direction of some résumé templates out there in a minute, but first, you might be wondering how necessary these are for a job search . Do hiring managers even look at résumés when they can find out everything about us on social media or in those lengthy online applications we’re always filling out?

“Employers are always going to look you up on LinkedIn , but you also need to have some kind of tangible document that you can send along to demonstrate your professional identity,” career coach Elana Konstant tells Refinery29.

Amanda Augustine, careers expert for  TopCV , says having a strong résumé template is vital. “If a résumé’s content is king, then consider its design is queen,” she says. “How your information is presented on a résumé is just as important as the information itself. Recruiters want to see a visually appealing, yet uncomplicated, résumé that strikes the right balance between content and white space. If your résumé is not easy to read, employers will simply move on to the next application.”

When you’re going up against potentially hundreds of people for a job, the layout of your résumé could be the difference between being skipped over and getting an interview, Augustine warns. After all, studies have proved recruiters typically make a decision about a résumé within 10 seconds.

“A good résumé template is designed with both the hiring professional and its recruitment tools in mind,” she adds. “The document is first and foremost easily skimmable; it utilizes a consistent layout with clearly marked headings and an uncomplicated design that allow the reader to quickly understand why you’re a good fit for a particular job. It also avoids certain design elements that might throw off an  applicant tracking system  (ATS), such as custom fonts or bullet points, graphics, and right-hand columns or rails, among others.”

As you browse through some of the templates, you might be tempted to choose the designs that are the most artistic or fit the most words on the page. Konstant warns that those aren’t necessarily the ones that will land you a job. Some managers in creative fields might welcome an unconventional design, while many others will prefer a more conservative approach.

“I’ve noticed on Etsy, and some other sites, they sell formats that are pretty to look at, but I sometimes find that it can be hard to extract the right information from them,” she says. “It’s a delicate balance between finding something that you think looks good, but that represents the right information. … I definitely err on the side of fewer bells and whistles and really having the experience stand out.”

While many of these template sites include guidance on the content, not just the design, Konstant suggests seeking guidance offline. “Ask people who actually do the kind of work that you want to do to take a look at [your résumé] and see what’s missing,” she says. “[That way] you can make sure that your résumé really speaks to the kind of jobs that you’re looking for.”

Before you run off and find your mentor, you can at least start by using the following template sites. One note: Beware of many sites offering free or low-cost templates. Some of them will automatically subscribe you to their services after 14 days, and charge you fees. If there’s no pricing info available on a site, that should be a red flag.

There are plenty of options here, and Augustine recommends using the London, Santiago, Singapore and Athens templates if you’re applying for a job in a country that discourages using a résumé photo.

In both the UK and US this should be avoided as many recruiters won’t consider applications with a photo.

Google Docs

The easiest place to start is right here, and it’s free. There are five templates to choose from that include tiny bits of personality in the form of font changes, colour, and lines.

This can give you a clean, need and easy to read format to follow, that you can also adapt and develop further if you need.

Microsoft Office

If you have Office, there are pages and pages of free résumé and cover letter templates available to download and use in Word. They range from the simplest to wildly colorful with photos. Choose wisely — you don’t want to use the same template as everyone else, nor do you want to present something wild to a very traditional employer.

At the very least, use this as a source of inspiration, then create your own format selecting the best of what you’ve browsed through.

There’s a variety of free Word doc templates to choose from here, but it comes with a catch: You have to share a link to the site on Facebook or Twitter in order to unlock the free download link. We know that can feel a bit cringy to do.

As an alternative, you can buy a premium pack, which includes a cover letter format and free email support.

Another site with plenty of Word templates for free, but this one comes with a land mines of ads for other résumé sites scattered throughout the page — and they all look like the buttons you should click for your download until they take you to a different page.

The trick is to hunt for the blue “Download” buttons on the template of your choice, and then click on the hyperlinked word “free.”

Graphic designers use this site to showcase their work, and some up-and-comers are so eager to showcase their wares that they offer résumé templates to download for free. This is a gold mine if employers in your field value creativity.

Canva is another option if you’re keen to be a bit more creative; both paid and free versions are available. Someone working in graphics or a creative role might enjoy the range of design options here more, as there’s plenty of space to put your own mark on your résumé. Remember, it still needs to be clear and easy to read, so don’t go overboard.

Seb Morgan, an expert at CV Genius, says most of the templates here are free to download, and you don’t need to sign up to access them.

“Two of my personal favourites are Severn and Tyneside, two versatile templates that are both easy to personalise and appropriate for most industries,” he says.

This site offers two templates you can download for free in a ZIP file and then edit in Microsoft Word or Apple Pages.

You can also buy fancier templates for around $12-13 (each, with some packages for $19). For another $29, you can get an editor to look at your résumé, too.

Support the entrepreneurial designers out there by buying a template directly from them.

There are plenty listed for around $10, give or take a few dollars. Most offer simple designs, so you might find it worth the investment.

This site offers free one-page résumé templates, in styles ranging from “functional” to “creative,” that are perfect for people in the early stages of their career.

Premium subscribers can get longer résumé templates, custom layouts, cover letter templates, extra fonts and colors, and options to add icons.

The best thing about this site is the way you can import info from your LinkedIn profile to begin building your résumé. Of course, you should probably do a bit of editing after that: Konstant recommends you tailor descriptions of your experience and skills for each position to which you’re applying, making sure you include some keywords that are in the specific job listing.

There’s a free option for some of the templates, but they will include a Resumonk footer, which doesn’t look particularly professional. An annual fee will get you 17 templates in both PDF and doc formats, accompanying cover letter templates, plus a URL for your résumé that allows you to track who’s looked at it.

Though it’s based in Poland and caters to people all over the world, this résumé-building site specifies which formats are recommended for American jobs. An online tool clearly guides users through each step of filling out the template, with tips from recruiters included in each section.

The starter pack includes four templates that you can save in PDF format and download unlimited times. The premium plan includes 18 templates, cover letters, and a URL that tracks views and downloads.