Use a template to create a resume
If you need help creating a resume or cover letter, start with one of the dozens of professionally-designed resume and cover letter templates that are available in Word.
Go to File > New .
In the search box, type Resume or Cover Letter.
Double-click the template you want to use.
Replace the placeholder text with your own information.
On the File menu, select New from Template .
Create and use your own template in Office for Mac
Making a resume like this while you're online is quick and easy.
Note: This template comes with a cover letter, so you'll have everything in one document.
Choose one of our resume templates , and open it in Word for the web to make it yours.
As you work on the resume, you'll probably want to rename it.
The template uses a table to line everything up. If you need to add more lines for job experience or education, add rows to the table by going up to Layout under Table Tools and clicking Insert Below (or Insert Above) .
For tips on writing your resume, check out Six steps to developing a great resume .
When you're finished, print it out or share it online. You can do this with the resume still open in Word for the web. No need to save it first (that's already done for you).
To print it, press Ctrl+P, and wait for the Print dialog box.
Note: If you don't see a Print dialog box, click the link for opening a PDF version of your resume. From there, use the PDF program's Print command.
To share it online, send a link:
Near the top of the screen, click Share .
Under Share , click Get a Link .
Under Choose an option , click View only .
Click Create Link .
Click on the web address to select it, and then copy and paste it into an email, message, or post.
Tip: If you have a blog or website, you can embed a view of your resume there.
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How to Write Your First Job Resume [For 2024]
So there you are, sitting in front of a screen, staring at a blank Word page for hours, with one task at hand: writing your first job resume.
Where do you even start?
And most importantly: How do you fill those 1-2 pages when you have no work experience?
We feel your struggle and we’re here to help!
In this article, we’re going to guide you through the entire process of creating a first job resume from start to finish.
Let’s dive right in, shall we?
How to Write Your First Job Resume
- Pick the right resume template
- Write down your contact information (correctly)
- Include a resume objective
- List your education (in detail)
- Instead of work experience, focus on…
- Highlight your skills
- Mention optional sections
- Stick to the one-page limit
- Get inspired by a first-job resume example
Don’t worry, we’re going to cover all of the above in detail!
Starting with the first step:
#1. Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template
There are 3 main resume formats you can pick from. Each of them highlights a different part of your resume.
- Reverse-Chronological Resume - In this format, your work experiences and education are listed in reverse-chronological order.
- Functional Resume - Instead of work experience, this format focuses on your skills and achievements.
- Combination (or Hybrid) Resume - This format focuses on both your skills and work experience.
For 99% of job-seekers, we recommend sticking with the reverse-chronological format.
While a functional resume can sometimes help for career changers or recent graduates, it’s still nowhere near as common as the reverse chronological one.
Plus, recruiters world-wide are familiar with the reverse-chronological format, making it a safer bet.
A reverse-chronological resume looks as follows:
Once you’ve picked the format, the next step is to perfect your layout, font, and the like. Here’s what we recommend for that:
- Use a Two-Column Layout. A two-column resume layout allows you to fit a lot more content into your resume.
- Pick a Common Font. We recommend Ubuntu, Overpass, or Roboto.
- Use Bullets to Describe Your Experiences.
- Don’t Go Over One Page. Unless you’re a professional with a decade of work experience, we recommend sticking to the one-page resume limit.
Want to avoid all the hassle of formatting your resume layout? We don’t blame you - if you wanted to build a good-looking resume from scratch, it would take you hours before you could even start filling it in.
Thankfully, there’s an easier way out: using a resume builder.
With Novoresume, all you have to do is pick a template, and fill in the contents. It’s that simple.
And on top of that, Novorésumé resumes are ATS-friendly . Meaning, your resume won’t be swallowed up by an applicant tracking system just because it can’t read it.
Want to get started with Novorésumé? Browse our resume templates .
#2. Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly)
It’s important for the recruiter to have at least two ways of reaching back to you.
Meaning, you should always provide your contact information in your resume . That includes:
- First and last name
- Phone number
Apart from these must-haves, you can also provide:
- LinkedIn URL - This is a good way to complement your resume. It also makes the recruiter’s life easier since they usually check your LinkedIn profile anyway. Make sure all information is updated and consistent with your resume, though.
- Relevant social media (like Quora or StackOverflow) - Any social media that is related to the job position and puts you in good light should be included in your resume. In most cases. If you’re a developer, it could be projects on GitHub. Writer? Personal blog.
- Website or blog - Again, this should be something related to the job. It shows your interest and dedication to the industry and how you spend some of your free time.
When it comes to your contact information, the key is to write everything correctly . Double-check you’ve spelled your name and email right, make sure the phone number you’ve listed can be reached, and that the accounts you have linked to are up to date .
Something else you should know regarding location is how much detail you should be providing.
The reason recruiters want to know your location is so that they have an idea of whether you’re in the vicinity of the company or not (and if you’ll need to relocate for work).
That means, providing the city and country where you live will be enough. No need for your full home address.
#3. Include a Resume Objective
Recruiters spend on average 7 seconds scanning each resume before deciding if it’s worth more consideration or not.
That means your resume has about 7 seconds to leave a great first impression and convince the recruiter you’re the person they’re looking for.
A good resume objective does that for you.
A resume objective is a 2-3 sentence snapshot of your skills, achievements, and career goals . Its purpose is to communicate your motivation for getting into the field and your interest in this particular position.
This makes it ideal for the first job resume of a recent graduate or somebody who’s changing careers. Basically, any resume with no work experience .
Your resume objective should be tailored to the position you are applying for and highlight skills that will help the company achieve its goal. Use as many facts and numbers as you can to back up any statements or achievements.
- Creative and motivated recent graduate with a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Michigan. Seeking permanent employment in the field of marketing after completing successful internships in 2 major media companies. Looking to further develop my market analysis skills and contribute to future marketing strategy developments at XY Company.
- I am looking to put my marketing skills into action by initially working for the marketing department of a well-known company until I can finally get to an executive position.
#4. List Your Education (In Detail)
For starters, you should know how to list your education entries correctly in the following format:
- Program Name e.g.: B.A. in Information Systems
- University Name e.g.: University of Chicago
- Years Attended e.g.: 07/2013 - 05/2017
- GPA (only if really high)
- Honors (If applicable) e.g. Cum Laude
Exchange Program (If applicable) e.g. Exchange program in Berlin, Germany
Apart from your skills, your education is the biggest selling point in your first job resume. This is not the place to be humble and play down your achievements!
Write down your GPA (if it’s something impressive), emphasize your honors, and most importantly, highlight your academic achievements by describing them in detail.
What you can also do is list specific courses that you have taken that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
Here’s an example of what an entry on the education section should look like:
B.A. in English Literature (Cum Laude)
Boston University
07/2014 - 05/2018
- Courses: Advanced Topics in Literature: Shakespeare’s Work
- Clubs: Boston University Drama Club
- Exchange program in London, UK
#5. Instead of Work Experience, Focus On This
As a recent graduate, the recruiter knows you don’t have any work experience - and that’s OK. As long as you’re applying for a junior or entry-level position, the experience isn’t something expected from you.
Instead, the recruiter will be looking for other experiences that enrich your profile, like:
- Internships
- Extracurricular Activities
When talking about these experiences, format them just like you’d format your work experience.
Business Analyst Internship
AAA Company
Milan, Italy
05/2019 - 12/2019
- Ran weekly and monthly analysis on diverse areas of the business
- Created insightful reports of the analysis to present to managers and teams
- Defined strategic KPIs, in order to monitor the efficiency of commercial operations
When possible, try to focus on listing your achievements and not your responsibilities. This will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.
Haven’t done any internships? Include extracurricular activities.
More often than not, an applicant with extracurricular activities and an average GPA will impress the recruiter much more than a 4.0 GPA student with nothing else to show. When listing your extracurricular activities, each entry should have the following format:
Moot Court Club Member
2017 - 2019
- Participated for two years in a row at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, making it to the finals in 2019
- Researched and prepared written pleadings, called memorials addressing timely issues of public international law
- Helped train the new club members in topics of international law
Finally, you can also list independent projects, if you have any. Think, something you did on the side just for yourself. This can be a personal project, small business or startup, side-gig, blog, etc.
Amy’s Book Club Blog
2018 - Present
- Created my own book club website for reviewing and discussing the latest books.
- Curated a monthly book calendar for my followers to follow, combining trending, relevant, and classic books.
- Created over 40 book review articles.
- On average, received 2000 visitors per month to the blog.
#6. Highlight Your Skills
The two types of skills you can mention on your resume are soft skills and hard skills.
Soft skills are attributes that help you adapt to work environments, work in a team, and apply your hard skills effectively. They are related to your personality, social skills, communication, attitude, etc.
Hard skills refer to technical knowledge and specific tools. They are skills that one learns and applies directly to the job. Some examples of hard skills include:
- Financial accounting
- Adobe Illustrator
Although soft skills are becoming more and more in demand by employers , for your first job resume, we recommend sticking to hard skills.
Sure, attributes like “teamwork” or “critical thinking” are much appreciated by just about any employer.
The thing is, though, the recruiter can’t really tell if you actually have critical thinking skills, or just listed it on your resume to fill space.
Hard skills, on the other hand, are very easy to test.
Tailor Skills to the Job Ad
Not sure which skills to mention in your first job resume?
The simplest way to find the essential ones is to check the job ad.
The recruiter themselves mentioned the skills they’re looking for - the only thing you need to do is mention them in your resume (as long as you have them, anyway).
Let’s say you’re applying for a graphic designer position that wants the following qualifications and skills:
- Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat; XD, Animate and/or After Effects are a plus
- Working knowledge of presentation software (Canva, PowerPoint and/or Keynote)
- Ability to work under pressure, manage work on multiple projects daily, manage a large workload and meet deadlines.
- Detail-oriented, highly organized
Based on that, your skills section should include the following:
- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat
- After Effects and Cinema4D
- Canva and Keynote
- Time management
- Detail-oriented
If the job ad isn’t too descriptive, you can also check out these 101+ most in-demand skills for 2024 .
#7. Mention Optional Sections
Still have some space on your resume?
That’s not a bad thing! You can use this space to your advantage and add some other useful sections.
Here are some ideas:
- Volunteering - If you have some volunteering experience, make sure to include it in your first job resume. Such a section shows commitment, dedication, and a sense of purpose, something most recruiters will appreciate.
- Languages - With companies becoming more and more international, additional languages are always appreciated.
- Hobbies - You can show your genuine interest in the industry or field by listing some relevant hobbies/interests.
- Awards & Certifications - Whether it’s an award from an essay competition in college or a certificate from an online course, anything that flatters your profile should be added.
#8. Stick to the One-Page Limit
“ How long should a resume be? ” seems like an eternal dilemma at this point.
Generally, the answer is: it depends.
Since you’re making a first job resume, the answer is: definitely one page .
Unless you have an extensive employment history that can’t fit into one page, there’s no need to go over that limit.
It’s unlikely that the recruiter will want to look at two pages of extracurriculars and hobbies.
#9. Get Inspired by This First-Job Resume
Need some inspiration for your resume? Check out the resume examples below.
First Job Resume FAQ
Still have some questions on how to write a convincing first job resume?
We’ll answer them here.
1. What do I put on my no-experience resume?
There’s plenty of other things you can include in your resume instead of work experience. For starters, you should:
- Focus on your education, making sure the entries are formatted correctly.
- Pick the right skills that match what the employer is looking for.
- Talk about internships, personal projects, or extracurricular activities. Describe your achievements in detail.
If you still have some space left, you could use it to your advantage and add extra sections like volunteer work, languages, awards & certificates, or hobbies.
2. Is a resume necessary for a first job?
Depending on the region, a resume or CV is always necessary for a job application, be it the first or the 20th.
Before deciding if they should call you for an interview, the recruiters need to have some insight into you and your skills.
3. Do I need work experience to land my first job?
Short answer: You don’t!
If you’re a recent graduate, it’s a given that you won’t have any work experience. Most employers don’t actually expect years of work experience for an entry-level or junior position.
Instead, they’ll be looking at your other types of experiences (internships, extracurricular activities, etc.) to decide on whether you’re a good fit for the job or not.
4. How do you write a resume for your first job?
The process is quite similar to the one for writing a regular resume, but with a few tweaks.
The exact steps for creating a first job resume are:
- Instead of work experience, focus on extracurricular activities, internships, projects, etc.
Key Takeaways
Writing your first job resume doesn’t have to be stressful!
Remember the following tips and you’ll do just fine:
- Pick the right format and template to avoid the hassle of formatting your resume. Make sure to pick an ATS-friendly resume template.
- Write a concise and attention-grabbing resume objective. Show the recruiter that you’re relevant for the role and that they should read the rest of your resume.
- Instead of work experience, include information on your internships, projects, and extracurricular activities.
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Harvard College Resumes & Cover Letter Guide
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A resume is a concise, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions.
COMMENTS
Create Resume. Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format. Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title, a professional email address, and any relevant links.
3. List your name and contact information. To start writing your resume, create an eye-catching resume header that quickly highlights your contact information and job title. Your name should always be the largest element on your resume to make it stand out, so use a font size larger than 20 points.
Example: "Achieved goal of reaching 250% annual sales quota, winning sales MVP two quarters in a row.". Be brief. Employers have mere seconds to review your resume, so you should keep your descriptions as concise and relevant as possible. Try removing filler words like "and," and "the.".
Make it distinctive to highlight your name and contact information. Organize your resume sections in the following order: summary/objective, work experience, education, skills, and extras. Use bullet points for your entries under each section. Find resume icons for each section or skip them altogether. File format.
Here's a sample of how to write a resume in a few simple steps: Prepare by gathering your information. Choose a format and a resume template. Add your contact information to the resume header. Write a resume summary or objective statement. Make a resume work experience section. Create a resume skills section. Add your education credentials.
First things first: let's define a resume.A resume is a summary of your work history, skills, and education. In this respect, a resume is different than a curriculum vitae — more commonly called a CV. A CV is a complete look at your career, covering every aspect of your education, work and experience without the restriction of length.
5. Don't Forget Your Education. If you're still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year (for folks less up to about a decade out of school), major, and degree.
To make a resume that fully demonstrates your experiences and goals, it's important to be strategic with the language, format, and sections you include. In general, there are three broad steps to making your resume: Identifying keywords and important skills. Choosing a format. Writing each section. In this resume guide, we'll offer tips and ...
The perfect resume is simple, efficient and professional. Here are eight steps you can follow to write the perfect resume: 1. Choose a format. The first step in writing the perfect resume is choosing the best format for you. Templates and online resume-building tools can be helpful at this stage.
Resume Templates Find the perfect resume template.; Resume Examples See perfect resume samples that get jobs.; Resume Format Pick the right resume format for your situation.; How to Write a Resume Learn how to make a resume that gets interviews.; Resume Checker Get your resume checked and scored with one click.; Resume Help Improve your resume with help from expert guides.
Select a modern resume-friendly font that will make the entire resume elegant and professional. Apply the right margins for your resume. That's a great way to boost its readability. Go for single or 1.15 line spacing and double line spacing after subheadings. Divide your resume into sections and categories.
Business. Your business resume should be structured cleanly, use formal colors, and be loaded with professional achievements. The following business resume examples show you how it's done. Human Resources (HR) 6. Entry Level HR Resume. HR Business Partner Resume. HR Coordinator Resume. HR Generalist Resume.
Jump start your resume with resume templates. Don't create your resume from scratch. Use one of our proven resume templates and kick start your search from the beginning. Create your resume in minutes with Indeed's free resume builder. Download it to your computer or use it to apply for any job on Indeed.
Choose a free resume template from our library or start from scratch. Edit the text to insert your skills, background, and qualifications. Add your professional photo or logo. Include graphic elements to make your CV visually engaging. Save and download in your preferred PDF or Word format, embed online, or transform into a responsive Canva Site.
550+ free resume templates to download in Word & Google Docs. Each professional resume template is HR-approved + easy to fill & print. ... Copy, paste, and fill in our blank resume template below to learn the fundamentals of writing your own resume so you'll never be far from your next job offer. FIRST AND LAST NAME. Email: youremail@gmail ...
Windows macOS Web. Go to File > New. In the search box, type Resume or Cover Letter. Double-click the template you want to use. Replace the placeholder text with your own information. Start your resume with a professionally designed template and cover letter. You can use Microsoft Word resume templates to create a polished resume.
Resume Templates Find the perfect resume template.; Resume Examples See perfect resume samples that get jobs.; Resume Format Pick the right resume format for your situation.; How to Write a Resume Learn how to make a resume that gets interviews.; Resume Checker Get your resume checked and scored with one click.; Resume Help Improve your resume with help from expert guides.
Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template #2. Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly) #3. Include a Resume Objective #4. List Your Education (In Detail) #5. Instead of Work Experience, Focus On This #6. Highlight Your Skills Tailor Skills to the Job Ad #7. Mention Optional Sections #8.
Harvard College Resumes & Cover Letter Guide. A resume is a concise, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions. View Resource.
Download simple template. Checking your spelling and grammar is a must and it's a good idea to get a friend to read over your resume, too. When you're done, upload your new resume to your SEEK Profile. Need to submit a cover letter with your resume? We've got a template for that, too. Download a cover letter template.
2. 2023. Download This Free Template. This single page resume template is packed with content and still manages to look spacious. The sidebar allows you to easily organize your information, while a vertical line splits up the page and makes your resume easy to read. 3. Clean. Download This Free Template.
Build Your Resume. Resume Builder offers free, HR-approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. 1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications. In a brief paragraph, your profile summary should describe your top three to five qualifications for your target high school job.
Use the Evergreen Formula for a Good Resume Summary. Let me show you a simple formula. Once you it, you'll be able to write a better resume summary than a professional summary generator. Here it goes: [adjective (s)/strong character trait (s)] [your job title] [your experience].
Here's a sample resume of a human resources business partner who has more than three years of experience: Contact Chuck Ferris. Chicago, Illinois | 304-555-0192 | [email protected] Summary A dedicated and results-driven HR business partner with a track record of improving efficiency, reducing turnover and increasing employee satisfaction ...
For seasoned professionals with more than three years of experience, a well detailed and structured resume is important to showcase your skills and achievements. Given below is a sample materials manager resume for your reference: Contact Monika Paul. Pune, Maharashtra | (91) 92544 59888 | [email protected] Summary Knowledgeable materials ...