how to create resume with no job experience

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How to Write a Resume With No Experience (Plus Examples)

Writing a resume for your first job with no experience can be scary, but we’ll show you how to highlight your value as a candidate without a hefty work experience section.

As featured in *

1. Gather relevant information

2. List your contact details

3. write a strong summary.

4. Include relevant experience

5. Describe your education

6. Showcase transferable skills

7. Polish your resume

8. Customize your resume

No experience resume samples

No experience resume template

Creating a resume when you have little to no experience can be challenging, but with the right approach it’s doable.

In this article we’ll show you how to write a resume even if you have no work experience. Additionally, we’ll provide several examples and templates so you can make sure you’re on the right track.

Here’s how to write a resume when you have no formal work experience, step-by-step:

1. Gather all your relevant information

The first step of making a resume with no experience is to create a master resume with any information employers might be interested in knowing about you. This includes:

Volunteer work

• Relevant courses
• Student government positions

Internships

• Anything else you can think of that could help your application

Don’t worry about this list becoming too long. You can pick and choose what to put on your final resume later, this exercise is just meant to get you thinking about what you have to offer that employers might want. It will also make the resume writing process faster, because you’ll already have your resume bullet points ready.

Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

Next, it’s time to add your contact details to your resume. Pick a resume template with the contact information section placed at the top of the resume, just below the header with your full name, so it’s easy for employers to reach out to you.

Include the following information:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Address (just your city and state is fine)
• LinkedIn profile (optional)
• Website or portfolio (optional)

Make sure you choose a professional email address to put on your resume, like [email protected].

Your resume summary is your opportunity to make a strong first impression on employers.

Even if you don’t have work experience, you can still highlight some of your transferable skills and your enthusiasm for the position. Think of your summary as an elevator pitch for your resume – a quick introduction that advertises why you’re a valuable candidate.

Here are four examples of student resume summaries — note how they only include skills honed in school, and don’t mention work experience:

Motivated business student with a strong foundation in marketing principles, market research, and consumer behavior. Experienced in developing and executing social media campaigns through academic projects and volunteer work with local non-profits. Seeking an entry-level marketing position to leverage skills in digital marketing, content creation, and data analysis to drive brand awareness and customer engagement.

Recent computer science graduate with a passion for coding and problem-solving. Proficient in Java, Python, and C++, with hands-on experience developing web applications and software solutions through academic projects. Eager to apply technical skills and creativity in an entry-level software development role to contribute to innovative and impactful technology solutions.

Responsible high school student excited to start a job in retail. Excellent people skills developed through volunteer work. Quick to learn new things and always ready to help customers find what they need. Looking forward to being part of a team and gaining experience in customer service and sales.

Recent high school graduate with a passion for books and learning. Detail-oriented and organized, with experience in managing school projects and helping out in the school library. Comfortable using computers and eager to help others find the information they need. Excited to start a career as a library assistant and contribute to a welcoming library environment.

4. Substitute work experience with any relevant experience

Job hunting can feel impossible when you don’t have work experience. How are you supposed to write an entire one-page resume with no experience?

Fortunately, many recruiters are looking for more than just formal work experience. Here are six alternative resume sections you can put on your resume to impress employers:

Internships technically do count as work experience, even if they’re unpaid, so you can list them in a professional experience section as you would a paid job.

If you’re looking for internships to apply to, use our handy list of the best job boards for internships to find the perfect opportunity.

Here’s how to put an internship on your resume :

Research Intern Green Energy Tomorrow May 2021 – December 2021 Maintained excel data spreadsheets, updating all new outreach contacts, photo accreditation details, and updated website pages Grew knowledge of SEO through content writing for website blog Transcribed interviews to include as written online content

Adding volunteer work on your resume shows employers that you’re motivated and passionate, both qualities that make a great employee.

To list volunteer work, start by listing your position (volunteer), followed by the organization and dates you volunteered.

After this, you can detail your experience with a few bullet points.

Volunteer Denver Food Rescue July 2021 – Present Rescue and redistribute food from our community partners around Denver each week by bicycle, reducing food waste and minimizing C02 emissions Create and share content across organization’s Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts as a Social Media Ambassador

Extracurricular activities

If your extracurriculars are relevant to the industry you’re applying to, they can help to strengthen your resume and demonstrate your abilities.

Some particularly good types of extracurriculars for your resume are:

Student government : Being a member of the student government shows that you have leadership abilities as well as experience prioritizing, participating in meetings, and maybe even public speaking.

Club president : As club president, you’ve likely been in charge of planning and scheduling events, delegating, and communicating with club members.

Language club : Even better than listing a language in your skills section is relaying your experience participating in a club. Being able to speak a second (or third, or fourth) language is always a valuable asset.

Arts : Any artistic endeavors that you participate in, whether it’s theater or painting, demonstrates that you’re a creative individual with a unique perspective. Creativity is a valuable soft skill to include on your resume.

Sports : Participating in sports is a great indicator of drive, motivation, and physical endurance. Being a member of a sports team also requires several soft skills such as teamwork and communication.

You can list extracurriculars in a relevant experience section, or as part of an education or achievements section.

Here’s an example of how to put an extracurricular activity on your resume:

Debate Team Washington High School Wrote and delivered 50+ compelling speeches to audiences ranging in size from 100–1000 people Winner of the National Debate Tournament in 2021

Receiving an award is a sign of distinction and shows that you’ve been recognized for your standout achievement or performance. If you’ve received any awards, feature these on your resume to impress employers.

If you’re writing a student resume with no work experience, you might have some academic achievement awards to include. You can put them in your education section, or make a special section for awards on your resume , even if it’s just to display one.

Here’s an example:

Awards Recipient of the 2022 Award for Excellence in Volunteerism Colorado Association for Engaged Volunteerism

Listing projects on your resume is a very versatile way to showcase some relevant experience that will make you stand out to employers. Projects to include could be school projects or personal projects.

For example, if you’ve been working on a website, building a niche social media following, or teaching yourself how to code, these are great skills to share with hiring managers.

Here’s an example of how you can list an academic project on your resume:

Education University of Maryland Bachelor of Science in Psychology May 2021 Capstone project Psychological Impacts of the Adoption Process on Pre-Adolescent Youth Studied a group of 100 adoptees over the course of 9 months, during the adoption process and transition period Analyzed data from monthly surveys to evaluate participants’ mental states

If you want to showcase a personal project, you can do it like this:

Projects bakingwitherica.com April 2020 – Present Prepare hundreds of pastries, finding the perfect ingredients and recipes to share with my readers Use strategic SEO to increase organic traffic and boost CTR Build, design, and maintain the website for optimal user experience

Hobbies and interests

Including hobbies and interests on your resume can give employers some extra insight into your personality, what motivates you, and what skills you possess.

It’s best to include interests that are relevant to the job you want. For example, if you’re applying to an internship at a tech startup, include your tech-related hobbies and interests. These could be coding, website development, Figma, Adobe Photoshop, or other similar technical skills.

Include your hobbies and interests in a dedicated section, like this:

Hobbies and Interests HTML Figma Adobe Photoshop Photo editing

5. Describe your educational background

As a job seeker without professional experience, your educational background is likely your strongest job qualification. This is especially true if you’re writing a recent college graduate resume .

One approach to highlight this background is to describe your relevant coursework first, like this:

ENV 302: Environmental Impact Assessment Spring 20XX

• Gained hands-on experience conducting environmental impact assessments for real-world projects, including a local urban development plan.
• Learned to analyze the potential environmental effects of proposed actions, assess risks, and recommend mitigation strategies.

You also need a resume education section , regardless of whether you want to mention your relevant classwork. And because you’re applying for your first-time job, it’s okay to make this section longer to fit your academic experiences.

Expand your education section by mentioning any student committees you were part of, and any scholarships, awards, or honors you were awarded, like being on the dean’s list .

Additionally, include your GPA on your resume (if it’s over 3.5) to further emphasize your work ethic and potential, like this:

UCLA – Los Angeles, California B.S. in Electrical Engineering (Graduated 20XX) GPA: 3.8/4.0

6. Showcase your transferable skills

Writing a strong resume skills section will set you apart in your job search and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Even if you don’t have work experience, you’ve likely already developed some valuable transferable skills throughout your life. Soft skills such as interpersonal skills or communication skills and hard skills like basic computer skills, for example, are applicable for nearly any industry, and are universally valued by employers.

Here are some other examples of transferable soft skills :

• Critical thinking
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Teamwork skills
• Organizational skills
• Positive attitude
• Public speaking
• Assertiveness
• Time management skills
• Problem-solving skills

You might also possess some relevant hard skills to showcase. These are technical skills gained through hands-on experience or training. Showing employers you possess relevant hard skills will strengthen your resume and set you apart from other entry-level candidates. List these in your skills section along with some of your soft skills.

Here are some examples to include on your resume:

• Customer service skills
• Mathematics
• Language skills
• Computer skills
• Sales skills
• Social Media
• Video editing
• Collaboration tools (Slack, Zoom, Trello, etc)
• Photo editing

The right resume formatting makes your resume easier to read and highlights your most marketable skills and experiences.

Before submitting, take the time to ensure your resume is application-ready by focusing on clarity, consistency, and relevance.

Here’s a quick checklist to help you make sure your resume is polished:

• Proofread carefully to check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Also, consider asking a teacher, friend, or mentor to review your resume.
• Make sure your formatting is consistent throughout your resume, including font style, size, bullet points, and spacing.
• Start each bullet point with a strong action verb to convey your responsibilities and achievements effectively.
• Include numbers or specific examples to illustrate your accomplishments, even in volunteer roles or school projects.
• Make sure your email address is professional , using your name or initials rather than nicknames.
• Avoid unnecessary graphics or overly complex layouts – a clean, easy-to-read resume is more appealing to recruiters.

8. Customize your resume for each position

With no experience, your best chance of getting an interview is to target your resume to the specific job you want. Check out their listing for the position, and see what skills they’re looking for. From those skills, take the ones you have and place them in your skills section.

You can also reuse some of these skills elsewhere in your resume, like in your resume summary or experience section.

@resumegenius A quick guide on how to make a resume with no experience. Watch the full video and read the article here: 🔸 resumegeniusDOTme/no-experience-resume 🔸 #noexperienceneeded #howtowritearesume #howtomakearesume #resumeguide ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Advice

Sample resumes with no experience

When you need to know what to put on a resume with no experience, it helps to look at some examples to see what others have done.

Here are three resume examples for students with no experience to help give you some ideas:

Teenager resume with no work experience

If you haven’t started university, it can be extra hard to figure out what you should put on your resume. Here’s an example of a teen resume that does a good job of highlighting relevant experience:

High school student resume with no work experience

If you’re a student with no work experience, here’s an example that shows how you can use your education section to demonstrate your hirable skills:

College student resume with no experience

Are you about to graduate college, or looking for a part-time job? Here’s an example of what a college student resume with no work experience should look like:

Internship resume with no experience

If you’re applying for an internship, this example can help give you some ideas for ways to show your relevant skills:

To help you get started on your resume with no experience, here’s a resume template that you can use to help you write your own:

123 Street Name, City, State, 01234 [email protected] (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Use 3-5 sentences to highlight your relevant experience, skills, and qualifications. In the last sentence, describe how you plan to use your skills in the role you’re applying for.

University, City, State Degree

Graduation Month and Year GPA: 0.0/4.0 (only include this if it’s above a 3.5) Honors: summa cum laude

Relevant Coursework:

• List any courses you took that are relevant to the position you’re applying for
• Optionally, use 2-3 bullet points to describe what you did in the course

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Relevant Experience #1 City, State Start Month and Year – End Month and Year

• Use 3-5 bullet points to describe your experience
• Start each bullet point with an action verb (like “assisted, collaborated, or organized)
• Include numbers to quantify your experience where possible

Relevant Experience #2 City, State Start Month and Year – End Month and Year

• List 5-8 of your hard and soft skills that are most relevant to the job

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS 

• Include additional sections like awards, hobbies, or extracurricular activities

Don’t forget to pair your resume with a well-written cover letter with no experience .

Frequently asked questions about writing a resume without experience

Still unsure about making a resume without experience? Check out our answers to some of the most commonly asked questions:

Is it okay to have no work experience on my resume?

Yes, it’s perfectly okay to have no formal work experience on your resume, especially if you’re a student or recent graduate.

Instead, focus on highlighting your skills, volunteer work, academic projects, extracurricular activities, and any relevant coursework that shows your potential and what you can bring to a role.

How long should a resume be with no work experience?

A resume without work experience should fit on one page. This is plenty of space to showcase your education, skills, and any relevant activities or volunteer work.

What is a good objective for a resume with no experience?

A good objective for a resume with no experience should emphasize your enthusiasm for learning, your willingness to contribute, and your relevant skills. For example:

Motivated high school student seeking a part-time position where I can apply my strong communication and organizational skills while gaining valuable work experience.

​​How do I make my resume stand out with little experience?

To make your resume stand out with little experience, focus on transferable skills, academic achievements, and involvement in extracurricular activities.

Use strong action verbs, quantify your achievements when possible, and tailor your resume to the specific job by highlighting relevant skills and experiences, including school projects or volunteer work.

Ida Pettersson

Career Coach and Resume Expert

Committed to empowering job seekers of all experience levels to take the next step in their careers, Ida helps professionals navigate the job hunt from start to finish. After graduating from New College of Florida with a B.A. in Philosophy and Chinese Language and Culture, Ida moved to Hong Kong to begin her own career journey and finally settled in Taiwan. Her insights on resume writing, interview strategies, and career development have been featured on websites such as LawCareers.net, Digital Marketer, and SheCanCode.

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How to Write a Resume With No Experience + Examples

Is it possible to write a great resume with no experience? Absolutely! And this guide will use no-experience resume examples for first jobs to show you how.

So, you’re browsing job postings on the Internet, and all you see are entry-level jobs that require candidates to have 2 years of experience. And to get experience, you need a job. It’s a never-ending cycle.

Not necessarily. I’ll show you how to escape this cycle and get your first job with a head-turning resume with no experience.

In this article, you’ll find:

• Two examples: one for a resume with no experience, and the other with some volunteering experience.
• How to make a resume with no experience for your first job.
• What to put in a no-experience resume for first jobs, so it’s full of relevant info instead of blank spaces.

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder with 20+ resume templates and create your resume now.

Create your resume now

What users say about ResumeLab:

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.” Patrick I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan  My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George

Want some other first-time resume without experience? See our guides:

• College Student Resume
• Graduate School Resume
• High School Graduate Resume
• High School Resume
• Recent College Graduate Resume
• Resume for College Application
• Resume for Grad School Application
• Student Resume
• Teen Resume
• Undergraduate College Resume

Our review of over 500,000 resumes built with our tool revealed that*:

- 2.65% of our users report having no previous work experience, and 18.06% of users show below 3 years of experience.  - Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Multitasking are the most popular skills overall.  - Median creation time for a resume on ResumeLab is just 21.3 minutes.  - 29.73% of our users include certifications on their resumes.  * The data comes from the last 12 months (August 2023-August 2024).

Sample Resume With No Experience

Alexandra B. Thompson

Graphic Designer

Personal Info

Phone: (555) 123-4567

Email: [email protected]

Portfolio: www.thompsondesign.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandrathompson_design

Creative, recent Graphic Design graduate with a passion for visual storytelling and a strong foundation in design principles. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and experienced in creating compelling graphics, logos, and layouts. Participated in a project, creating a logo, website, and promotional materials, improving engagement by 30%. Eager to contribute innovative design solutions to Turnover Marketing.

Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design

University of Art and Design, Artville, CA

2019–2023

GPA: 3.8/4.0

• Honors and Awards: Dean’s List (all semesters)

Typography and Branding

• Created comprehensive branding projects, including logo design, business cards, and style guides.
• Developed a brand identity for a fictional company as part of a semester-long project.

Web and Interactive Design

• Designed and developed 5 interactive websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Created responsive layouts, ensuring accessibility on various devices.

Print and Digital Media

• Produced high-quality print materials such as brochures, posters, and magazine layouts for a marketing campaign.
• Utilized Adobe InDesign for layout design and Adobe Photoshop for photo editing.

UX/UI Design

• Conducted user research and developed wireframes and prototypes for mobile and web applications.
• Collaborated on a team project to design a user-friendly mobile app interface.

Senior Capstone Project: Brand Redesign for Local Non-Profit

• Led a team of four students to redesign the visual identity of a local non-profit organization.
• Created a new logo, website layout, and promotional materials, resulting in a 30% increase in community engagement.
• Presented the project to a panel of industry professionals and received the Outstanding Senior Project Award.

Interactive Website Design for University Event

• Designed and developed an interactive website for the university’s annual art and design event.
• Incorporated responsive design principles to ensure accessibility on all devices.
• Increased event registration by 20% through effective use of visual elements and user-friendly navigation.
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Logo Design
• Attention to Detail
• Time Management

Additional Activities

• Vice President, University Art Club with 25 members
• Participant, Global Design Conference 2022
• Avid Photographer, with a focus on urban and landscape photography
• 2023—Outstanding Senior Project Award, University of Art and Design
• 2022—Best Design Concept, State Design Competition

Sample Resume With Personal & Volunteer Experience

Avery Waters

High-School Graduate

Phone: (123) 456-7890

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/avery.waters

Instagram: instagram.com/avery.loves.beauty

Personable high-school graduate with a passion for the beauty industry seeking a retail assistant position. Knowledgeable about leading makeup brands and a keen tester of new cosmetic products. Eager to educate customers at Lovely Organic about the product selection, plant-based ingredients, and benefits of organic skincare. Gained cashier experience while volunteering at a bake sale in 2021. Runs an Instagram account dedicated to cosmetology since 2019.

High School Diploma

Salem High School, Salem, MA

September 2018–June 2022

Academic Accomplishments:

• Participated in the Massachusetts State Science Exhibition in 2021 with a demonstration focused on harmful substances in everyday cosmetics.
• Selected as the sole participant in the 2022 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad.
• President of the Applied Chemistry Club in 2021–2022.

Personal Projects

Makeup Artist

June 2019–Present

• Applied makeup for 20+ customers for a variety of events, including birthdays, prom, and weddings.
• Designed wedding makeup for the bride, bridesmaids, and mothers of the bride and groom that matched the color palette of wedding decorations.
• Educated clients about proper makeup application, skincare, and makeup brush selection.

Volunteer Experience

Salvation Army, Salem, MA

August 2020–Present

• Performed cashier duties at a holiday bake sale in December 2021.
• Helped sort donated items to select goods for the thrift store displays.
• Positive attitude
• Verbal communication
• Time management
• Interpersonal skills
• English—Native
• Spanish—Full Professional Proficiency
• French—Minimum Professional Proficiency
• Testing new cosmetic products and recording product reviews as stories for Instagram and TikTok accounts.
• Learning about cosmetology and plant-based cosmetic ingredients from books and independent blogs.

Ready to write a resume that’s as compelling as the above examples? Read on, I’ll walk you through each step of writing a resume with no experience.

To help you write your resume for your first job, you can click these links to read about certain steps of the process, with examples:

• Apply the Best Format for a Resume With No Experience
• Start With a Resume Header
• Write a Compelling Resume Profile
• Supercharge Your Education
• Mention Relevant Experience
• Highlight In-Demand Skills
• Add More Value to Your No Experience Resume

Let’s start:

1. Apply the Best Format for a Resume With No Experience

You might’ve heard about various resume formats . Which one should you choose for your resume with no experience? 

Go with the reverse-chronological resume . It’s preferred by recruiters and easily adjustable for any candidate, no matter their level of experience. It's also what career experts like me suggest most of the time.

Then, keep in mind these rules:

• Make a professional resume layout that’s scannable. I recommend you see this list of simple resume templates or browse through free resume templates to find the one you like most.
• Select a good resume font , such as Times New Roman, Calibri, or Georgia, and set the font size to 10–12 pts for the contents and 13–14 pts for the headings.
• Set resume margins to 1 inch on all sides to maintain the balance between the text and white space. Also, ensure you have enough spacing between lines of text.
• Create a resume outline with the sections you’ll use. These are the resume profile, education, experience, skills, and a few extra sections like languages or volunteer work.
• Limit the length of your resume to just one page—there’s no need to go beyond that in a resume with no experience.
• Save your resume in DOC and PDF files : first, check if the job ad mentions the preferred format. If not, go with a PDF, as this format best preserves the formatting the way you want.

If formatting documents in Word or Google Docs is not your strong suit, go with pre-made resume templates instead. You can easily find them online, or you can save some time and try our collection of Word resume templates or Google Docs resume templates to see if they match your taste.

2. Start With a Resume Header

The hiring manager’s gaze will first land at the top of your resume, where your resume header must appear. It’s not only a space to put your name in—it’s also the best section to display your contact information on a resume with no job experience.

Here’s what you should put in a resume header:

• Your full name 
• Job title of the job you’re applying for or your university major
• Phone number
• Email address
• Professional social media links

What does the term professional social media mean, exactly? From my experience, LinkedIn is your best choice, as it’s a network designed specifically for business purposes. But if you run an Instagram or Facebook account related to your profession, that’s a good option, too. For example, if you’re an aspiring graphic designer, an Instagram page showcasing your work is perfect.

But the header isn’t just the first section that gets noticed, it’s also the last. When the recruiter decides to contact you, they will need to use one of the contact options you provided. That’s why you need to quadruple-check that the contact information on your resume with no experience is correct and up to date.

Expert Hint: Make sure your email address sounds serious. An unprofessional email address is one of the most popular mistakes made on resumes when applying for jobs. Consider creating a new account for work and keep it separate from your personal email.

3. Write a Compelling Resume Profile

One of the things preventing your resume with no experience from securing you an interview might be the lack of a strong resume profile .

For a resume with no experience, the best type of profile you can use is a resume objective , which highlights skills and knowledge and specifies what you can do for the employer and the company. 

Use it to mention relevant skills and knowledge to help you succeed professionally. You might also say a few words about your relevant experience from part-time jobs, volunteer work, or university if you have it.

Here’s how to write the perfect introduction for a resume with no experience:

• Start with a personality trait that says you’re a great employee, such as “dedicated,” “goal-oriented,” “efficient,” etc.
• Follow with the desired job title, field of study, or education level, e.g., “third-year BBA student,” “recent university graduate with a Bachelor’s degree,” or “personal assistant.”
• Mention some skills you have and the company wants. You can do it this way: “...specializing in microbiology”, “proficient in Java and Python,” or “...with strong interpersonal and communication skills”.
• If you have any form of experience, be it internships, personal projects, academic awards, or others, mention one that’s the most relevant and impressive. Like that: “Developed interpersonal and organizational skills while volunteering at the student community center in 2022–2023.”
• Say how you can help. For example: “Eager to contribute innovative design solutions to [ Company Name ].”

The other profile type is a resume summary and is typically reserved for experienced professionals. However, if you have a lot of experience gained through personal projects, freelancing, academia, and volunteering, you can still go for it. If you do, focus purely on your achievements, proving your fit for the role.

Now, enough theory. I'll show you some examples:

Resume Example With No Work Experience—Objective

Hard-working student looking for a cashier job. I hope to gain customer service experience while working at Blue Fan Groceries. I’m a friendly person, and I easily get along with everyone.

The first example includes all the elements I’ve mentioned: the candidate’s knowledge, the goal they want to achieve for the business, useful skills, and relevant experience. It also expresses their keen interest in the job.

The second candidate could be a good fit for the job, but they don’t know how to express it. Statements like “I’m friendly” don’t sound professional. Also, the employer doesn’t care much about what the applicants want to gain from the job—they want to know what the business will gain.

And this is what a resume summary could look like on a resume with no experience:

Summary for a Resume With No Experience—Example

Detail-oriented software engineering student specializing in machine learning. Eager to join CodApply as a junior data analyst and use my knowledge of Python to assist with developing computer vision models. Completed a 3-month data engineering internship in 2022. Created a fake news detection application in Python as part of my bachelor’s thesis project.

This fresher resume summary includes all the important elements: applicable education and skills, a specific goal, and a relevant achievement. Even though this person has no work experience, their academic background, internship, and gained knowledge make them a valuable candidate.

Remember that you don’t have to write your resume profile immediately. In fact, it’s better to complete the other sections of your resume and then combine the best bits into your resume objective or summary!

Expert hint: Since you’re writing a resume with no experience, every bit of help is worth its weight in gold. See how ChatGPT can help you write a resume .

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now .

4. Supercharge Your Education

Even though not all well-paid jobs require a college degree , having one can significantly improve your career prospects . And since you don’t have work experience yet, your education section needs to do a lot of the heavy lifting to impress recruiters.

Here’s how to make a strong education section in your first-job resume:

• List your highest degree first. If you’re still in college or university, mention your current credits and include your high school education.
• Include the school name and years of study.
• Add your GPA if it’s above 3.5 . A good GPA can set you apart, so include it if it’s impressive.
• Mention relevant courses that fit the job you’re applying for. This shows you have the necessary background knowledge.
• Show off academic achievements. Include scholarships, awards, and honors to demonstrate your dedication and success.
• Throw in extracurricular activities. Participation in student organizations, conferences, charity events, sports, and other activities can highlight your leadership, teamwork, and time-management skills.

Doing more than just studying while at school can be really beneficial. Your time at college can not only get you a degree but also provide a chance to start networking as a student .

Here are examples of how your education section on a resume with no experience might look:

Resume Example for the First Job: Education

Brooklyn High School, New York City, NY

Graduated in 2021

• Joined the track and field team

In order to make the education section of your resume worth reading, add details showing achievements and actions on your part. A good way to do that is to use active verbs in your resume , such as “organized,” “demonstrated,” “completed,” etc. Give it a try—you’ll see an immediate difference in how your resume presents itself.

You can also see it in the examples above, especially the first one. You can tell that this candidate is very confident in his knowledge and can back it up as proof.

5. Mention Relevant Experience

Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten that this is a guide for a resume with no work experience . But work experience commonly refers to paid employment or contract work. But that’s not the only kind of work in the world.

Here are the types of experiences you can talk about in your no experience resume:

• Internships: Even unpaid internships provide valuable work experience. Mention the skills you learned and the tasks you excelled at.
• Volunteering experience : It not only shows that you care about others but also allows you to prove your professionalism. Helping in a pet shelter, supporting a community organization, participating in fundraisers, and doing other volunteer activities can teach you skills to transfer between careers.
• Freelancing and odd jobs: Doing tasks like babysitting, lawn mowing, or grocery delivery teaches responsibility, time management, and customer service. For instance, "Provided babysitting services for multiple families, managing schedules, and ensuring a safe environment for children."
• Personal projects: They can demonstrate your passion and skills. If you’re applying for a job in a restaurant, mention your food blog where you share recipes and restaurant reviews. For example, "Maintained a food blog with over 100 posts, showcasing my culinary skills and ability to engage with an audience."

Check the no-experience resume sample below to put the theory into practice:

Resume Example for the First Job: Relevant Experience

Freelance Work

• Designing business cards
• Creating website graphics
• Retouching photos for the school basketball team

The first candidate knows how to show they’re not green behind the ears. They started each statement with power words to make a good impression. They also provided specific information about their skill set.

The second candidate may be promising, but they fail to show it. Generic statements like the ones you see in the second sample won’t inspire recruiters to choose their resumes above others.

When describing your experience, use resume keywords that match the job advertisement. They are individual words and phrases that signal that your qualifications match the job requirements. For example, if the job ad says: “Looking for a people person with strong interpersonal skills,” your resume needs to include the phrase interpersonal skills.

Expert Hint: Using keywords in a resume with no experience will help you create an ATS-friendly resume that will pass through ATS screening systems and has a better chance of getting noticed.

6. Highlight In-Demand Skills

The job of your resume with no experience is to convince the hiring manager of your potential. Even without previous jobs, you’ve gained valuable skills throughout your life, especially if you’re a student or recent graduate. Here’s how to showcase them effectively on your resume.

First, make a list of your skills in two columns: soft skills and hard skills:

• Soft Skills : These are interpersonal traits that help you interact with others and handle various situations. Common soft skills include teamwork, communication, time management, and problem-solving.
• Hard Skills : These are job-specific abilities you’ve gained through education, courses, or training. For example, if you studied software engineering, your hard skills might include programming and software testing.

Next, compare your skill list with the job ad. Highlight the skills the employer is looking for and ensure they appear in different sections of your resume. For instance, if the job requires excellent time management, mention how you met all the team project deadlines in college.

But don’t cram every single skill you can think of into the skills section. Select 6–10 skills that match the job requirements and include them in a dedicated skills section on your resume.

Check the list below to see the most popular skills for a resume with no experience:

Skills for a First-Job Resume—Examples

• Time management skills
• Organizational skills
• Creative thinking
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving skills
• Effective communication
• Presentation skills
• Teamwork skills
• Leadership skills
• Computer skills
• Research skills
• Analytical skills
• Adaptability
• Attention to detail
• Customer service skills
• Communication skills
• Public speaking
• Conflict resolution
• Collaboration
• Project management
• Multitasking abilities
• Data analysis
• Social media skills

The list above can inspire you for the skill section of your first-job resume. But don’t copy-paste it onto your application! The point of the skill list in a resume is to show the most relevant skills for the job, so you have to be selective.

7. Add More Value to Your No Experience Resume

You’ve done a lot of work, but it’s not the end yet. There’s still more information you can add to a resume with no experience to make it more attractive and effective. Additional sections are great for highlighting achievements, qualifications, and skills that couldn’t be mentioned in any of the previous sections. 

Choose from the following resume sections :

• Certifications and licenses : Doing certification courses is a great way to gain new skills and later prove your knowledge to recruiters. You can find lots of online courses, and many are free of charge!
• Language skills : Learning a language not only improves your brainpower and makes international travel easier, but it can also bring more work opportunities. Many overseas companies prefer hiring candidates who can communicate in several languages.
• Hobbies and interests : This section can give employers insight into your personality and help you connect on a personal level. Relevant hobbies can also demonstrate applicable skills or passions related to the job. For example, if you want to apply for an entry-level graphic designer job, mention your interest in visual arts.
• Memberships and associations: Want a job at your local library? Why not say being a member of a book club? Membership in professional organizations shows you are engaged in your field and committed to professional development.

Other less popular sections may include publications, conference speeches, or awards. If you have these wins, you can absolutely show them as well.

For now, see these examples for a resume with no experience:

Additional Sections Examples on a No-Experience Resume

• Languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese
• Certification: Project Management certificate
• Interests: Basketball, coding, travel

The second example shows how not to write a resume with no experience. To be effective, you must provide specific information, just like the first candidate.

For example, when you mention your language skills on a no-experience resume, add information about your proficiency level. And when listing certifications, mention the organization that awarded them and when you received them.

Expert Hint: After completing your resume, take a well-deserved break and start writing a cover letter. Yes—you can write a professional cover letter with no experience , and it can really boost your chances of landing a job.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

Here’s how to make a resume with no experience: 

• Use the no-experience resume templates that you saw up top. They can help stop the “can’t get a job without experience” cycle.
• Focus on relevant life experiences and accomplishments. Put them in your objective, education, and additional resume sections.
• Add the skills they need, not the ones you have. They’re your best keywords, and you can easily find them in the online job ad.
• Include a cover letter. Give evidence you’re a good fit despite a lack of work experience. You’d be surprised how big of a role “culture fit” plays in hiring.

Got questions on how to write a resume with no work experience? Maybe you don’t know where to start writing your resume for the first job? Leave a comment. I’ll be happy to reply!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Roma Konczak is a career expert and a Certified Professional Resume Writer with a background in education and humanities. She’s passionate about personal development and helping others advance in their careers. She writes guides that simplify complex HR terminology based on thorough research and factual information.

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Creating a Resume with No Experience: 25 Examples and Tips

As a job seeker with no prior work experience, creating a compelling resume can be challenging. It’s tough to craft a document that captures the attention of potential employers, especially when you don’t have a proven track record to showcase.

However, a well-crafted resume is critical in getting your foot in the door and securing those crucial first interviews. It’s your chance to make a great first impression and demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and potential as a valuable employee.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a standout resume with no experience. We’ll provide you with 25 examples and tips to help you develop a resume that speaks to your strengths and positions you as a strong candidate.

Whether you’re fresh out of school, changing career paths, or have been out of work for some time, we’ll help you create a resume that gets you noticed. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how to showcase your skills, highlight your accomplishments, and get your resume to the top of the pile.

So, let’s dive in and explore the challenge of creating a resume with no experience, the importance of a well-crafted resume, and the objective of this article.

Resume Basics

Defining a resume and its purpose.

A resume is a document that summarizes your work experience, education, skills, and accomplishments. It is often the first point of contact with potential employers and serves as a critical tool in your job search. The primary purpose of a resume is to get you an interview.

Different Resume Formats

There are several different resume formats, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common formats include:

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume is the most traditional format and is what most people think of when they hear the word “resume.” It lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. This format is best for people with a consistent work history.

Functional Resume

A functional resume focuses on your skills and accomplishments rather than your work history. It includes sections for your skills, education, and work experience, but places more emphasis on your skills and accomplishments. This format is best for people who are changing careers, have gaps in their work history, or are just starting their careers.

Combination Resume

A combination resume combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats. It includes sections for your skills, accomplishments, and work experience, but lists your work history in reverse chronological order. This format is best for people with a strong work history who also want to highlight their skills and accomplishments.

How to Choose the Right Resume Format

Choosing the right resume format can be a daunting task, but it is an important one. The format you choose can make a significant difference in how your resume is perceived by potential employers. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right resume format for you:

Your Work History

If you have a consistent work history with no gaps, a chronological resume may be the best choice for you. It allows you to showcase your work experience in a clear and concise manner.

If you have gaps in your work history, a functional or combination resume may be a better choice. These formats allow you to highlight your skills and accomplishments instead of focusing solely on your work history.

Your Career Goals

Your career goals can also play a role in determining the right resume format for you. If you are changing careers or just starting out, a functional or combination resume can help you highlight your skills and accomplishments in a way that is relevant to your new career path.

If you are applying for a job in a field where your work history is especially important, such as academia or law, a chronological resume may be the best choice.

The Job Posting

Finally, it is important to consider the specific job posting when choosing your resume format. Look at the job description and requirements and tailor your resume accordingly. If the job posting emphasizes specific skills or accomplishments, make sure to highlight them in your resume.

Choosing the right resume format is an important step in creating a resume that will get you noticed by potential employers.

Elements of a Resume

When creating a resume, there are several key elements that every job seeker should include. These elements will help you stand out from the crowd, show off your qualifications, and give potential employers an idea of what you have to offer. Below are five key elements that should be included in any resume, even if you have no prior work experience.

Contact Details

The first and most important element of any resume is your contact information. This includes your full name, email address, phone number, and mailing address. Make sure that your email address is professional and easy to identify, and that your phone number is clearly listed and up-to-date. In addition, consider including links to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or any other relevant social media accounts.

Objective or Summary Statement

Another important element to include in your resume is an objective or summary statement. This statement should be a brief summary of your skills and qualifications, and should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a job in marketing, your objective statement might highlight your experience with social media and content creation.

Regardless of your work experience, your education is an important factor to include on your resume. This can include any degrees, certifications, or relevant coursework you have completed, as well as any significant academic achievements such as being on the Dean’s List.

When writing your resume, be sure to include a section highlighting your skills. This should include any technical skills or language proficiencies that are relevant to the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a job as a software developer, you might include skills such as fluency in Java or experience working with databases.

Relevant Coursework and Projects

Finally, if you have little to no work experience, it can be helpful to include relevant coursework or projects that demonstrate your skills and experience. For example, if you have completed a class in web development, you might list a project you completed that showcases your web development skills.

By including all of these elements in your resume, you can make a strong impression even if you have no prior work experience. Remember to be concise, clear, and tailored to the specific job you are applying for, and you will be well on your way to landing your dream job.

Write an Eye-catching Headers

As crucial as the content of a resume is, the header, or the first thing a prospective employer or hiring manager sees, could make or break the candidate’s chances of landing the job. For job seekers with no experience, it’s even more essential to craft a catchy header that grabs attention and leaves a positive first impression.

Here are some tips on how to craft a header that will stand out:

How to craft a catchy header

• Keep it simple: Avoid complicated fonts or formats that could distract from the message. Stick to a basic font, such as Arial or Times New Roman, and make sure the header is easy to read and understand.
• Use keywords: Use keywords directly related to the job posting or industry to increase the chances of being selected in the initial screening.
• Highlight relevant skills or achievements: If you have any relevant skills or achievements, make sure to include them in the header. For example, if you have experience in customer service, put that in the header to show you have the necessary skills for the job.
• Personalize it: Tailor your header to the company and what you can offer. Research the company and find out what they are looking for in a candidate, and use that information to personalize your header.

Examples of headers that grab attention

• Nurse with Strong Patient Care Skills
• Recent Graduate with Excellent Communication and Problem-Solving Skills
• Dependable Customer Service Representative with Proven Track Record
• Hardworking Entry-Level Employee with Strong Work Ethic
• Enthusiastic and Detail-Oriented Graphic Designer
• Reliable Administrative Assistant with Strong Organizational Skills
• Driven Sales Associate with Outstanding Customer Relations Skills

By following the above tips and crafting a header that stands out, job seekers with no experience can significantly increase their chances of getting noticed by potential employers.

Highlighting Skills and Experience

If you have no work experience, highlighting your skills is a great way to make your resume stand out. Here are some tips on how to do that:

1. How to include relevant skills even if you have no experience

First, identify the skills that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. These skills can be hard skills (quantifiable skills like proficiency in a particular software or language) or soft skills (interpersonal skills like communication and teamwork).

Next, search for opportunities to develop and showcase those skills. You may have gained these skills through volunteer work, academic projects, or even hobbies. Be sure to highlight these experiences in your resume and emphasize how they have prepared you for the role you are applying for.

2. Showcasing skills acquired in non-work situations

Even if you haven’t held a traditional job, you may have still gained valuable skills through non-work situations. For instance, if you have been a dedicated volunteer for a charity, you may have developed skills like planning and organizing events, fundraising, or working with others to achieve a common goal.

Similarly, if you have been pursuing a hobby like photography or graphic design, you may have gained skills in editing, creative problem solving or time management that could be relevant to certain roles. These experiences can be highlighted in your resume as well.

3. Listing extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities can also be a great way to showcase your skills and demonstrate your interests to potential employers. For instance, if you volunteered at a food bank, you may have developed teamwork and communication skills while working with other volunteers to pack and distribute food. Or, if you served as the captain of your school sports team, you may have developed leadership and problem-solving skills during games and practices.

Highlighting your skills can show employers that you have the potential to succeed in their organization, even if you do not have traditional work experience. Use these tips to effectively showcase your skills and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Mention Projects and Coursework

As a candidate with little to no work experience, highlighting relevant projects and coursework can showcase your skills and knowledge.

Relevant Coursework

When choosing which coursework to include on your resume, consider courses that align with the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing position, you might include coursework on brand strategy, digital marketing, and consumer behavior.

Courses can also demonstrate your work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and ability to learn new skills. If you received high grades in challenging courses, make sure to highlight this achievement on your resume.

Projects and Achievements

Projects and achievements can provide concrete examples of your skills, creativity, and resourcefulness.

When listing projects on your resume, choose ones that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a graphic design position, you might include projects where you created logos, graphics, or website design.

Achievements can include awards, scholarships, or recognitions you’ve received for your work. If you’ve completed a particularly challenging project, or if you’ve received recognition for academic or extracurricular achievements, make sure to include these on your resume.

Highlighting relevant coursework and projects can demonstrate that, despite your lack of work experience, you have the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the job you’re applying for.

Mastering the Resume Objective

One of the most crucial components of your resume is your objective statement. It is the first thing that recruiters and hiring managers see, and it provides a glimpse into your goals and aspirations. Hence, it should be concise, clear, and powerful, giving an indication of what you want to achieve in your career.

Writing an effective objective statement

To write an effective objective statement, you need to keep it brief and focused. You should highlight the job you are seeking, your relevant skills, and what you can bring to the position. Moreover, it should be tailored for each role, ensuring that the objective reflects the requirements listed in the job description.

Here are some tips for writing a resume objective statement:

• Keep it concise and to the point.
• Emphasize your career goals and objectives.
• Show what you can bring to the company.
• Tailor it to the job description.
• Avoid generic statements.

Examples of great objective statements

To give you an idea of what a great objective statement looks like, here are some examples:

• Seeking an entry-level position in the marketing field, where I can utilize my excellent analytical and communication skills to contribute to the company’s growth.
• To obtain a position as a software developer, where I can use my programming skills and passion for creating user-friendly software to develop innovative applications.
• Looking for a challenging role as a financial analyst, where I can leverage my financial modeling and data analysis skills to provide valuable insights for the organization.
• An ambitious recent graduate seeking a position as a management trainee in a dynamic organization where I can learn and grow while making a positive impact.
• Seeking a customer service position where I can leverage my excellent communication skills to provide impeccable service and contribute to the company’s success.

Your resume objective statement should be tailored to each job and show what you bring to the role. A well-written objective statement can grab the attention of recruiters and take you one step closer to landing your dream job.

Resume Layout and Design

When it comes to creating a resume, the layout and design are just as important as the content itself. A well-designed resume can make a big difference in catching a potential employer’s eye and setting yourself apart from other candidates. Here are some tips for choosing the best resume layout:

• Keep it simple and easy to read: Avoid cluttering your resume with too many fonts, colors, or graphics. Stick to a clean design that is easy on the eyes and makes your information easy to digest.
• Focus on hierarchy: Use different fonts and font sizes to create a clear hierarchy of information. For example, your name and job title should be larger than your contact information.
• Use bullet points: Bullet points make your resume easier to skim and highlight your achievements and qualifications.
• Use white space: Don’t be afraid of leaving some empty space on your resume. This can help create a clean, organized look.

Now that you know the basics of resume layout, let’s talk about some creative resume layout examples that can help you stand out from the competition. Here are some ideas:

The infographic resume: This type of resume uses graphics and charts to convey your skills and experience. It’s a great option if you work in a visually-oriented field like design or marketing.

The timeline resume: A timeline resume showcases your career trajectory in a visual way. You can use a line graph or a horizontal timeline to show your employment history and key achievements.

The minimalist resume: Sometimes less is more. A minimalist resume uses simple, clean design elements to create a sleek, professional look. This can be a good choice if you work in a conservative field like finance or law.

The personal branding resume: This type of resume focuses on showcasing your personal brand. You can use color, fonts, and graphics to create a unique look that reflects your personality and values.

The video resume: A video resume is a great way to showcase your personality and communication skills. You can create a short video introducing yourself, highlighting your skills and accomplishments, and explaining why you’re the best candidate for the job.

These are just a few examples of the many creative resume layouts out there. When choosing a layout, think about your industry, your personality, and your target audience. With a little bit of creativity and design know-how, you can create a resume that will help you land your dream job, even without experience.

Tailoring Your Resume

When it comes to job hunting, sending out a generic resume for each job application is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. It’s important to customize your resume to suit each job application in order to increase your chances of getting noticed by employers.

Here are some tips to help you tailor your resume for specific job applications:

Customizing your resume for specific job applications

Customizing your resume for each job application shows employers that you have taken the time and effort to research the company and the role you are applying for. This can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of landing an interview.

One way to customize your resume is by highlighting your relevant skills and experience for the specific job you are applying for. You can also showcase your achievements and accomplishments that directly align with the job requirements.

How to match keywords with job descriptions

To further customize your resume, it’s important to match your keywords with the job description. Keywords are important because many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort through resumes.

Here’s how you can match keywords with job descriptions:

• Read the job description carefully and identify the keywords and skills that the employer is looking for.
• Use those keywords throughout your resume, especially in the skills and experience sections.
• Don’t just copy and paste the job description into your resume. Use the keywords in a natural and genuine way that showcases your skills and experience.
• Use industry-specific jargon and terminology that aligns with the job description.

Customizing your resume for specific job applications and matching your keywords with job descriptions can greatly increase your chances of getting noticed by employers. Take the time to research the company and the job requirements, and tailor your resume accordingly. Good luck!

Creating an Online Presence

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any job seeker. With no prior work experience, creating an online presence is even more important as it can help showcase skills, talents, and achievements.

One of the best ways to create a professional online presence is by building an impressive LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform that allows job seekers to connect with employers, industry thought leaders, and colleagues in their respective fields. To build an impressive LinkedIn profile, one should have a professional profile picture, a catchy headline that summarizes their professional identity, a well-written summary, and a list of relevant skills. In addition, job-seekers should also try to get endorsements and recommendations from colleagues, managers, and mentors.

Apart from LinkedIn, there are other online platforms that one can use to showcase their professional skills. For instance, if the job-seeker is interested in pursuing a career in design, they can create an online portfolio on platforms like Behance, Dribbble, or Coroflot, showcasing their design projects. If the job seeker is interested in writing, they can showcase their writing samples on platforms like Medium or Contently. They can also start a blog to showcase their writing skills and their interests in the particular field.

In addition to creating an online portfolio or a blog, job seekers can also leverage social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook to showcase their professional interests, industry knowledge, and achievements. However, it’s important to note that one should always maintain a professional tone on social media and not post anything that may harm their career prospects.

Creating an online presence is a vital part of any job search process for a candidate with no prior work experience. It helps to establish a professional identity, showcase skills and achievements, and connect with professionals in their respective fields. By building an impressive online presence, job-seekers can increase their chances of landing their dream job.

Tips for Cover Letter

A well-crafted cover letter can be the key to landing your dream job, even if you have no prior experience in the field. The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself to the employer and showcase your skills and qualifications.

Here are some things you should include in your cover letter:

Purpose of a Cover Letter

Introduction: Begin by introducing yourself and explaining why you are interested in the position.

Highlight your skills: Provide examples of your skills and achievements that make you a good fit for the position.

Show your enthusiasm: Express enthusiasm for the position and the company.

Explain why you are a good fit: Demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the job.

Call to action: End your letter by asking for an interview and providing your contact information.

What to include in a Cover Letter

Your contact information: Include your full name, address, email, and phone number.

Employer’s information: Include the employer’s name, title, company, and address.

Salutation: Address the letter to the hiring manager by name.

Opening paragraph: Introduce yourself and state the position you are applying for.

Body paragraphs: Use one or two paragraphs to highlight your skills, experience, and qualifications.

Closing paragraph: Thank the employer for considering your application and request an interview.

Closing salutation: Use a professional closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”

Signature: Sign your name and include a digital copy of your signature if submitting online.

Examples of Great Cover Letters

Here are some examples of great cover letters:

A recent college graduate applying for an entry-level marketing position could highlight their experience with social media and their passion for the industry.

A career change candidate could explain how their transferable skills and experience make them a strong fit for the new field.

An applicant with volunteer or internship experience could highlight their work ethic and willingness to learn.

When crafting your cover letter, make sure to highlight your strengths and show your enthusiasm for the position. With these tips, you’ll be on your way to creating an effective cover letter that sets you apart from the competition.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you’re creating a resume with no experience, it’s important to be aware of the common mistakes that many job seekers make. Here are some of the most prevalent mistakes to avoid:

1. Overemphasizing education:

If you have little or no experience, you might be tempted to overemphasize your education on your resume. While it’s important to include your educational background, remember that employers are often more interested in your skills and experience. Make sure to highlight any internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities that showcase your skills, even if they weren’t related to your academic studies.

2. Lack of customization:

Sending out the same generic resume for every job application is a common mistake that can significantly decrease your chances of getting hired. Employers can tell when a resume has been copy-pasted, and it shows a lack of effort on your part. Instead, make sure to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for by highlighting the skills and experiences that match the job requirements.

3. Including irrelevant information:

When you have no experience, it can be tempting to include everything on your resume, whether it’s relevant or not. However, including irrelevant information can dilute the impact of your resume and make it harder for employers to see why you’re a good fit for the job. Stick to including only the most relevant information and experiences, and leave off anything that doesn’t add value to your job application.

4. Neglecting to proofread:

Spelling and grammar mistakes can quickly sink your chances of getting hired. Employers are looking for candidates who pay attention to detail, so make sure to thoroughly proofread your resume for any errors. You may also want to ask a friend or mentor to review your resume to help catch any mistakes that you may have missed.

To avoid these common mistakes, keep these tips in mind:

• Focus on showcasing your skills and experiences, even if they’re not directly related to your education.
• Customize your resume for each job application to highlight your most relevant experiences and skills.
• Stick to including only the most relevant information, and leave out anything that doesn’t add value to your job application.
• Proofread your resume thoroughly for spelling and grammar mistakes to demonstrate your attention to detail.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a strong, targeted resume that showcases your strengths and positions you as a strong candidate for even the most competitive job opportunities. Good luck with your job search!

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• Guide to Writing a Great...

Guide to Writing a Great Resume with No Work Experience

16 min read · Updated on August 01, 2024

No work experience? No problem.

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

See how your resume stacks up.

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How to Write a Resume With No Experience (First Job)

Marketing yourself and your skills can feel intimidating when you don’t have experience. Whether you’re applying for your first job or you’re fresh out of college, keep reading to learn how to create a job-winning resume — even without experience.

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Want a strong resume fast? Try our Resume Builder . It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click.

Or view our sample resumes made with our beautiful resume templates .

Sample Resume With No Work Experience

Choosing the Best Resume Format With No Experience

Before you can write your resume, you need to determine the best resume format to showcase your informal experience and skills. Most hiring managers are familiar with three resume formats: chronological, hybrid and functional. But, only the functional format downplays your lack of experience and prioritizes the skills you developed in school, volunteering and day-to-day activities.

Functional:

Although we consider the functional the riskiest format thanks to custom headers that don’t align with most online application tracking systems (ATS), this skills-based resume is the friendliest resume for you because it deprioritizes your non-existent work history. Instead of describing your previous jobs, it uses examples of your technical knowledge to demonstrate how you can adapt your skills to complete job-relevant tasks. We strongly recommend submitting this type of resume at in-person job fairs or recruitment events.

A functional resume is always going to follow this order:

• Contact information
• An objective statement
• Summary of qualifications
• Professional skills
• Work history

Combination/hybrid:

We typically recommend the hybrid format if you have three or more years of relevant experience, but this ATS-friendly layout showcases your skills and work history equally. This strategic balance of skills and working knowledge makes it the second best option for a resume with no experience.

Chronological:

The chronological format is for senior-level professionals with 10 years or more of work experience. The chronological format lays out a steady work history by organizing experience and credentials in a neat timeline. Since this format favors job seekers with a decade of experience or multiple promotions, it’s the worst option for a no-experience resume.

Wondering how to make a resume for your first job with no experience? Check out how other fresh grads market their best abilities with our sample resume for students .

Writing Your Resume Objective With No Experience

If you’re looking for your first job, start your resume with a killer resume objective . A resume objective focuses on which transferable skills and work ethic you can provide an employer, making this a great strategy for teens, students or job seekers without experience. It allows you to focus on what you can do for the company, not what the employer can do for you.

Think of your objective section as the introduction to your resume. Your resume objective will be the first thing recruiters will read about you. Follow these four simple steps to writing an attention-grabbing objective.

• Be straightforward. Employers are reading piles of resumes at a time to determine whose qualified. Make your resume objective concise and keep it to only two or three sentences long.
• Make the objective statement a perfect match. Use the job post to find the specific skills and requirements they’re looking for in a candidate. Use those keywords in your objective to let the employer know you have what they’re looking for.
• Use power words. Peak the interest of recruiters with strong, powerful keywords and actionable descriptions. For example, “Attentive to detail” and “driven,” “Team player” and “reliable” or “Problem-solver” and “leader.”
• Describe what you bring to the table. Clearly state how you bring value to the company’s success. Add skills such as work ethics and communication.

By integrating these tips into your objective, you shift from lack of experience to how your goals can help the company!

Here’s an example of an objective statement for a no experience resume.

Highly motivated law school graduate seeking a full-time position in the Office of Inspector General where I can lend my investigative abilities to help improve profitability.

Adding Your Education Section

If you don’t have any work experience, your academic achievements add to build a picture of your credentials for the job. The education section helps you outline your academic training as qualifications in place of your zero experience.

In this section, name the college you attended, the degrees you completed and the honors you received. If your highest level of education is a high school diploma, include it in the education information. Otherwise, leave it out and start with your highest degree earned.

Here’s a quick checklist of what to include in your education section:

• Your degree or education in progress
• The name of your school
• The school’s location
• Dates attended and graduation date or expected graduation date
• Your field of study and degree major
• Your GPA — only if it’s above 3.5
• Any academic honors and relevant courses
• Relevant extracurricular activities or programs

For example:

Include Relevant Experience (Volunteer, Internships and more)

Impress recruiters even without paid experience. Not sure what experiences you can list that would benefit your application? Here are the top ten experiences you may consider for your first resume:

• Jobs like babysitting or mowing lawns.
• Extracurricular activities, such as clubs and sports.
• Internships or apprenticeships.
• Translating or interpreting projects.
• Volunteer work.
• Service-learning experiences.
• Military experience.
• Student organizations.
• Leadership experiences.

Once you’ve narrowed down your most relevant experiences, use bullets to list the skills you’ve developed in each role and the tasks you performed. Not sure how to start? Use the job description as your guide to match your skills, activities and abilities with the keywords mentioned in the post. Once you have identified these, use bullet points with action verbs to list your qualifications.

For instance, if you were applying for a teaching assistant role, you might compose your experience like this:

Design lesson plans for the students.

Assess a student’s level of progress.

Create a schedule for further education and development in subject areas.

Assess student’s knowledge of a subject and identify areas for improvement.

Opened and prepared the club for daily activities.

Ensured the safety and security of 20+ kids a day.

Planned games and outdoor activities

However, if you don’t have relevant experience and will be writing a functional resume, select your top skill categories and list how you’ve used each skill set. In other words, when listing your duties, instead of listing tasks you’ve completed by job, list the activities you’ve done by skill category or by theme. And, remember to include the results you delivered by applying your skills by adding concrete numbers wherever possible.

For example, a Professional Skills section for someone interested in a social media specialist role in the academic field would look like this:

Achieved over 1,000+ followers in the first 30 days of launching the profile with successful conversion rates.

Wrote copy for social posts and ran advertising campaigns to drive engagement with original content.

Applied attention to detail to monitor the brand on all social media platforms, quickly replying to any mentions.

Top influencer impacting 100+ followers daily with valuable academic advice.

Avid planner for marketing campaigns to create brand awareness and market the company’s services.

Analytical and mathematical skills to identify trends.

Prepared lessons for 20 students a day about upcoming assignments specific to math and science.

Maintained communication with parents regarding student’s progress.

Researched learning materials and resources to use during lessons.

What about if you have internship experience? The following entry-level job and internship resumes can help you see how other job seekers write a resume with little to no experience. Check out these internship resume examples to inspire you:

• Research Intern
• Engineering Intern
• Design Intern
• Marketing Intern
• Sales Intern
• Data Analyst
• Software Intern
• Paralegal Intern
• Medical Intern
• Real Estate Intern
• Architect Intern
• Public Relations Intern
• Financial Intern
• Medical Assistant Intern
• Culinary Intern
• Congressional Intern
• Graphic Design Intern
• Legal Intern
• Audit Intern
• Intern Pharmacist
• Event Planning Intern
• Software Engineer Intern

As you complete internships, add them to your experience section as part of your work history.

Listing Your Skills for the First Job

For candidates new to the workforce, spotlighting a variety of critical skills can ultimately impact a hiring decision. There are two main types of skills that let recruiters determine whether you are fit for the job: hard and soft skills.

Hard skills are technical abilities that require specific knowledge to accomplish your job assignments, such as accounting or graphic design.

Soft skills , on the other hand, are not tangible. They define your traits, such as friendliness and a strong work ethic.

Employers look for candidates with a mix of soft and hard skills that relate directly to the job. These skills become part of the keywords used in the job description and by recruiting software like the applicant tracking system (ATS).

Let’s break down the most in-demand soft and hard skills to optimize your resume:

Soft skills

• Self-starter
• Time management
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving
• Active listening
• Communication skills
• Logic-based reasoning
• Trustworthiness
• Reliability
• Flexibility
• Decision-making

Hard skills

• Customer service
• Computer proficiency
• Design skills
• Book keeping
• Graphic design

Make Sure Your Resume Is Easy to Read

Even if you’re qualified for the job, having a resume that is hard to read will immediately get you overlooked! In fact, Harvard shares eye-tracking research that shows recruiters spend about six seconds on their initial decision to determine whether a candidate is qualified. If your resume is cluttered and unorganized, you will most likely get passed over.

As someone who’s making a resume for the first job, you might not have thought that taking the time to format your resume well is a crucial step in getting your resume noticed. Here are expert tips to ensure your resume is easily readable and gets attention.

Division of sections

Differentiate your sections by labeling each in bold or italics such as your Header, Education and Work Experience. By doing so, your resume looks organized and easy to read.

Keep the spacing consistent and align your text to the left. Since the eye naturally returns to the left, this is the most natural and readable format. However, align dates and locations to the right, which helps to separate that information and makes it easy to scan.

Use clean, minimalistic fonts, such as Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma or Cambria. Keep your font size between 10-12 points for the content and 12-14 points for headers.

Use bullets to break up long text. Using bullet points also draws attention to your accomplishments, which is the information you want to highlight.

Use white space

Using plenty of white space is much easier on the eyes than large, dense chunks of text. It creates a clean, well-designed look that’s appealing to the reader.

We Can Help With Your First Resume

Having writer’s block? JobHero features an online Resume Builder as the ultimate hack for creating your first resume.

It’s a convenient and easy-to-use interactive tool, loaded with resume templates that help you create a professional resume with the latest design styles.

Our online builder takes you through each part of your resume, generating industry-specific phrases and keywords to help you create a powerful resume.

Remember, you have to customize your resume for each job. All jobs have their unique postings with different keywords and requirements.

Appealing to each job post can be a hassle, luckily the Resume Builder lets you generate powerful resumes in just minutes! We also feature sample resumes for a first job .

Remember to match your resume with your own cover letter , even if it’s not required. Cover letters are where your personality shines through! It also creates the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that you’re a qualified candidate for the job.

First Job Resume FAQ

Is it hard to get a job without any experience on a resume.

You can impress recruiters even without any experience on your resume. Writing a resume with no formal work experience means showcasing your skills and putting a spotlight on your education, extracurriculars and volunteering activities.

When you start putting together a resume, you might feel like you don’t have any relevant experience. However, you can demonstrate community involvement, abilities and willingness to work.

Perhaps you worked part-time in school, tutored or babysat kids — be sure to include these experiences. You can also include extracurricular activities that help polish and develop new skills.

Can you skip the experience section on a resume?

Instead of skipping the experience section, use the opportunity to create a skill-based resume. Also known as a functional resume, this type of format shifts the focus onto your skills and abilities instead of professional experience.

It lets you connect with the employer and show them what you can contribute to the company despite having no formal experience yet. The biggest flex of a functional resume format is that it focuses on your relevant skills so you can market your best abilities.

How do I pass ATS without any experience on a resume?

Employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to track qualified candidates. However, an ATS does more than just track applications — it selects qualified candidates for a hiring manager or recruiter to assess.

Luckily, getting past the ATS is easier than you might think. To get past the ATS even if you don’t have experience, follow these tips:

• Use the job description to identify the keywords that match what the employer is looking for in their next hire.
• Place these relevant keywords throughout each section of your resume — as long as you actually have the skill they listed, that is. By doing so, you are ensuring your resume has what the ATS is scanning for.
• Use an ATS-friendly resume template like the ones JobHero offers. Simply customize them with your information.

Should my resume focus on skills if I have no work experience?

Yes. The key to a job-winning resume with no experience is to focus on the professional skills that you have learned at school or in extracurricular activities.

If you have no experience, skills will represent your qualifications to perform a duty or job. For this reason, having the right balance of skills is critical.

There are two main types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills refer to skills that can be developed and improved through experience and certifications, such as learning to code or to create marketing campaigns. Meanwhile, soft skills are personality traits that give you the ability to be a team player or stay organized while multitasking.

Demonstrating that you have a mix of both types of skills will help you in your job search.

What is the best resume format if you don’t have work experience?

The best resume format, if you lack experience, is the functional resume format. Functional resumes are excellent for students, recent graduates or candidates changing careers.

A functional resume highlights your skills and matches them to the job posting, allowing you to increase the chances of getting an interview, even without experience.

For a no-experience resume , instead of starting off with a work experience section, a functional resume format allows you to demonstrate your relevant skills in three distinct sections.

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How to Write a Resume with No Experience: 5 Tips

Writing a resume with no formal work experience means emphasizing other aspects of your life that’ll showcase your skills and passions—like your education, and involvement in activities like extracurriculars or volunteering.

Writing a resume with no formal work experience means emphasizing other aspects of your life that’ll showcase your skills and passions—like your education, and involvement in activities like extracurriculars or volunteering. Having dedicated sections for a summary and a list of skills can round out your resume.

Resume with no experience: Template

Templates can help you organize your thoughts, inspire you with ideas, and take the guesswork out of how to format your resume. And regardless of how much experience you have, starting a resume from scratch can be daunting. 

Here’s a resume template you can use if you have no work experience .

Here’s the resume filled out below.

Read more: How to Get a Job with No Experience: A Job Seeker’s Guide

How to write a resume with no experience: 5 tips

If you have no experience you can point to in your resume, highlight your education, include relevant non-work experience, list your skills, and include a summary. Get started by using a template.

1. Highlight your education.

If you have little work experience, emphasizing your education is a great way to showcase your strengths, interests, and background.

Some items you’ll want to consider including in the education section of your resume are:

Relevant coursework: Be sure to list any courses that will emphasize skills that can be helpful for the job. These might include courses that focus on technical skills—like economics, math, or computer science. But don’t forget the importance of courses like English or writing that can show your competence in communication or other human skills. Look through job descriptions to see what kinds of skills are desirable for the field you’re interested in.

GPA and honors: A strong grade point average (GPA) can indicate a willingness to work hard and an aptitude for your field. Experts recommend listing your GPA if it’s at 3.5 or above [ 1 ]. If you’ve received any academic honors, it’s a good idea to list them, too.

Relevant projects: If you’ve completed projects in classes that are particularly relevant to the job you’re applying to, list and briefly describe them. If you have more than one, this can be its own section.

Certifications and online courses: If you’ve completed any coursework outside of school or received a professional credential, list these under the education section as well.

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2. Include relevant experience.

When you first start putting together a resume, you might feel like you don’t have any relevant experience to refer to. But a little digging into your life could unearth several experiences that show your professionalism, interests, and character—all things a potential employer can consider important.

You can include the following in a section titled “Relevant Experience”:

Volunteer experience: Volunteering demonstrates your community involvement, ability and willingness to work with others, and your interests. It might even have gained you some hands-on experience in a related field. 

Part-time jobs: Maybe you worked part-time while you were in school, tutored or babysat kids, or helped your parents out at their small business. If you’re applying for your first full-time job, don’t shy away from including these. Part-time jobs can demonstrate your employability and experience with key skills like customer service.

Extracurricular activities: Whether you played sports, were part of a cultural club, or participated in student council, extracurricular activities can help show a willingness to explore your interests, develop new skills, and work on a team. Don’t forget to include any leadership positions you might have held in these activities.

3. List your skills.

Chances are even if you don’t have any formal work experience, you probably have skills that will be useful in the field. Look through several job descriptions of positions you’re interested in to see what skills are commonly requested. 

The relevant skills you’ll choose to list will likely depend on the job, but might  include: 

Microsoft Office products like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint

Communication

Computer programming

Social media

Foreign languages

Public speaking

Customer service

Not sure if you have the skills you need to land the job you want?

Try emphasizing your transferable skills , like critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. Or try taking some coursework in essential skills in your field— data analysis , IT , UX design , and digital marketing skills are all in demand across many industries.

You can also look out for entry-level jobs , which typically have fewer skill requirements than other jobs.

4. Include a summary.

A resume summary is a brief description of your experience and qualifications. Usually one to three sentences long, a summary gives recruiters a way of quickly understanding your background and assets as a worker. 

Don’t forget to emphasize traits and skills that fit the job you’re applying to. You can also include a sentence about your objective —what type of job you’re looking for. Here are two examples:

Recent college graduate with background in computer science and communications. Seeking to leverage strong skills in Python, C++, and public speaking for full-time engineering opportunity.

Curious and hard-working high school honors student with passion for working with children and one year experience baby-sitting. 

5. Use a template.

Eliminate the stress of coming up with your own layout by using one of the many resume templates you can find online—like this one . 

Customize any template you find to fit your needs and tastes. A word processing program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs can be helpful here. Need access to one? Try approaching your local public library. If you’re a student, your school library will likely have resources you can use. You can also create a Google account for free.

Start building skills for an in-demand career in project management, data analytics, UX design, IT support, sales, or social media marketing with a Professional Certificate from industry-leading companies like Google, Meta, and Hubspot. Gain hands-on experience through job-relevant projects you can add to your resume or portfolio.

Article sources

CNBC.  “ This is the only time you should include a GPA on your resume,  https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/31/when-to-include-your-gpa-on-your-resume.html.”  Accessed May 19, 2023.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

How to Make a Resume With No Experience

You can lean on internships, class projects and extracurricular activities.

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.  

Graphics  

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.

Recent Career Development Articles

How to Write a Resume with No Work Experience in 2024 (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 2024.

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 2024 , 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

Get inspired with more resume examples

Read our how-to guides on making your resume perfect, how to list contact information on your resume in 2024.

Learn how to format contact information on your resume and what information to share with the hiring manager.

How to Write The Perfect Resume in 2024 (With Examples)

The ultimate guide to learn how to quickly create a resume utilizing best practices to help you land your next job.

How to List Education on a Resume in 2024 (With Examples & Tips)

Not sure what degree to list? If you should include a GPA? It just so happens that there's a variety of ways to effectively list your eduction.

How to Write a Resume Summary: 10+ Examples

Get your resume to stand out to hiring managers for longer than the average of 6 seconds with these secrets.

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20+ key customer service skills to list on your resume in 2024 (with examples).

To land a job in customer service, you need to showcase your best skills to employers. Customer service involves both technical and interpersonal skills. This makes a diverse skillset all the more important! In this guide, we will uncover the best customer service skills to include on a resume. Plus, we will provide you with tips and tricks for formatting.

Colors on a Resume: What Do Employers Really Think in 2024?

Colors on a resume could be a major advantage if used correctly. Learn everything you need to know about color on your resume to win the interview.

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15+ IT Skills to List on Your Resume in 2024 (With Examples)

IT is a massively growing industry with tons of potential for professional growth. It’s no wonder why so many applicants are flocking to these jobs! In this guide, we will cover what IT skills are and offer you examples of some of the top skills to include on your resume.

Professional resume templates to help land your next dream job.

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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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Building a Standout Resume with No Experience: A Step-by-step Guide w/ Tips

You need to write a resume , but you have no “real” work experience. However, without any work experience, your resume can’t stand out. For someone like you who has no idea where to start, what to list, how to structure, and doesn’t have any references, writing your first-ever job resume can be frustrating, and I feel you. 

Worry no more! In this article, we will walk you through the steps of writing a resume with no experience, and the strategies of where to focus if you have nearly nothing to list. With resume tips and examples included in this article, you will learn the techniques and apply them to your first job resume.

Note: This is a resume writing guide for high-school teenagers , internship seekers , college students , and graduate freshers .

Table of Contents:

What to Put on a Resume with No Experience

• How to Make a Resume for the First Job 

Tips on How to Write a Resume with No Job Experience

• Resume Tips for 5 Types of First Job Seekers 

Sample Resume for First Job

Sections to put on a resume with no experience:

• Resume Header (Personal & Contact Information)
• Resume Objective or Summary
• Relevant Experience
• Other Sections

When writing a resume with no experience, the most important thing is to de-emphasize your inexperienced situation and shift focus to your strengths and motivation. Any first job seekers -- fresh graduates, students, internship applicants, high school teenagers, or those applying for colleges -- should keep this strategy in mind. The hiring manager knows you are inexperienced, but the lack of experience can be complemented by your skills. As a result, you need to show your competence by connecting your extracurricular activities and skills with the job role. 

1. Resume Header (Personal & Contact Information)

A resume header is one sentence that briefly introduces your professional identity. It concisely announces your personality and specialization. As a first job seeker, make sure your resume header is confidently connected to the role you are applying for!

2. Resume Objective or Summary

The objective and summary section recapitulates your experience, strengths, and qualifications for the position. It gives you an opportunity to write a short narrative and allows the hiring manager to understand you better, to decide if you are right for the role. Your first job resume objective should not only describe what you want and need, but also why you fit the job. Therefore, your resume objective should connect to the job role. Be specific and use examples of previous events to catch recruiters' attention. 

💡Pro tip: A resume objective explains a candidate’s prospects, while a summary is a short version consisting of the candidate’s best achievements and skills. Both should be no more than 4 sentences! For most applicants with no job experience, resume objective is a good place to start with. 

3. Education

When writing a resume with no work experience, education is a key section. For freshers or students looking for an internship, this resume section requires more of your attention. This part is the main selling point that gives you the chance to promote yourself. 

Here’s what to include:

• Name of the degree and major
• Name of the institution
• Years attended or expected graduation year
• GPA (List if above 3.5)
• Honors or Dean's List (optional)
• Relevant coursework (optional)
• Exchange programs (optional)

Taking the opportunity to list relevant coursework shows your understanding of the techniques and processes, even if you have no job experience. Nevertheless, you should skip the basics in the resume and only include the essential course related to the job position. 

The skills section is another highlight that can show your prominence, only if you list it right. For applicants with no job experience, your skills in the resume have to transfer into relatable qualifications. 

• Hard skills are the proficiency of tools, technical knowledge of the work details, and training that is specific for a job.
• Soft skills refer to the habits, traits, and personality that assists your work environment. 

For your first job resume, hard skills are crucial to justify your competence for the job role. List your hard skills by referring to the job requirements, incorporating the exact skills keywords used in the job requirement. This way, even if you are writing a resume with no experience, it can still speak for your qualification. On the other hand, if you list several soft skills, make sure you have examples or experience to elaborate on further. 

5. Relevant Experience

Your relevant experience fills the gap of no job experience in the resume. There are three things to mention:

5.1 Internship

If you have completed an internship or apprenticeship, include it in your first job resume. Internships are the very beginning of your professional career, so list your internships like how you do it with job experience in the resume. List your position title, and under it list the company name, location, and duration. 

Additionally, use several bullet points to describe your achievements and abilities. Numbers and quantified results are ideal tools to measure your accomplishments, so apply them if you can.

5.2 Volunteering

Here’s how to write your volunteer experience : connect it with the job description. For instance, if the position requires communication across departments or establishing relationships with customers, try blending it with your volunteer experience. This is how you can make your resume with no experience look attractive instead of looking like a novice.

5.3 Extracurricular activities

Likewise, extracurricular activities such as holding events or being a club leader are more valuable if you can tie them with the essential skills for the job in your resume. 

6. Other Sections

Finally, you have finished the main sections of your first job resume. Before submitting your application, here are other materials that you can add to the resume.

6.1 Project/ Portfolio

For computer science students with no experience, adding side-projects in the resume can help demonstrate your passion and effort.

6.2 Certifications 

Certifications are hard proof of your technical knowledge. Taking an extra time to earn a certificate license can be beneficial for a resume with no work experience.

6.3 Honor & Awards

For students or graduate freshers, listing honors and awards in your first job resume is undoubtedly helpful. These awards add value to your ability and can make you stand out immediately.

6.4 Language skills

Language skills can also be a personal advantage. If you speak fluently in Spanish, Chinese, Indian, or any other language, make sure you indicate your proficiency level at the end of your first job resume.

6.5 Hobbies & Interests

Listing hobbies and interests is not a must, but if you are applying for an energetic and young company, adding interests to your resume without experience can create a connection and spice up a bit.

How to Make a Resume for the First Job

Step 1: choose the right format and a suitable template.

Using the right format has several benefits. Firstly, it makes your first job resume look neat and organized. Secondly, it shows forth your strengths and makes your weaknesses low-key. A nice formatted template can be a valuable time saver for your resume with no experience, so you can fill in the information without having to worry about the sequential order.

📚 Further reading:   Mastering Google Docs Resume Templates [w/ 10+ Essential Tips]

Step 2: Create an insightful education section

When writing a resume without work experience, the education section becomes a highlight. As a result, your education section needs to be insightful. In addition to listing the institution name, attended year, and your major, you can also use honors to show your hard work or add relevant courses from your studies.

Step 3: Put experiences relevant to the purpose of your resume

You want your first job resume to be as meaningful and attractive for the hiring manager as possible, so including relevant experiences are important. Be strong but concise when describing these experiences, such as any extracurricular activities or a developed side-project.

Step 4: Include projects or portfolios to demonstrate your abilities

Another major section to compensate for having no job experience is projects or portfolios. Listing projects and portfolios in your resume with no experience allows the employer to take a look at your actual work. Moreover, by demonstrating your project’s process, the outcome, and what you’ve learned in your resume, the hiring manager can also understand how you think and work.

Step 5: Write a sincere and interesting cover letter

Why write a cover letter if you have no experience? In addition to a resume, a cover letter provides an explanation of these dimensions:

• How your relevant experience proves your capability for doing the job right
• How your skills can translate into your competence for the job role
• Your understanding and passion for the company

In short, you can use the cover letter as a vehicle to impart your enthusiasm and answer why you are a great fit other than your resume (even with no job experience). 

With Cake’s online resume builder , professional resume templates and job resume examples , you could showcase your best qualifications to land your dream job. Try making a resume online (free download) now!

Create Resume

Still nervous? Here are some resume tips for first job beginners like you. Keep them in mind to help you write your first job resume! 

Tip 1: Tailor the first job resume to a specific position

The most important thing is to make sure everything you write is related and connects to the job description. If you are applying for several job roles, be sure to tailor each resume for each job position. Tailoring your resume for each company, although more time-consuming when you have no experience, increases your chances of being noticed by targeting the specific company.

Tip 2: Choose the right resume format

Selecting the right format for your first job resume makes a huge difference. Use format to draw the hiring manager’s attention to the most remarkable and relevant achievement. It could be a project you’ve accomplished or an event you’ve organized. Place them at the forefront to capture the hiring manager's attention and enhance your resume, especially if you lack experience.

Tip 3: Make sure there are no careless mistakes

Before you upload or send your first job resume, you should proofread it and get rid of any mistakes -- that includes grammar mistakes, typos, or name spellings. As an applicant with no experience, you definitely don’t want your resume to look floppy. Find a friend or someone you trust to read it through.

Tip 4: Show your confidence

The hiring managers are also unsure about your competence. Therefore, showing your confidence in your first job resume conveys the message that you are capable of managing the job. When describing your achievements, your confidence can add a little boost and help your resume stand out.

Tip 5: Don’t stuff your resume with irrelevant information

As a first job seeker, it’s understandable to freak out a little bit. You might want to list every single experience you have just to see a silver lining. Nevertheless, filtering out the unrelated experience can make your resume with no experience looks more qualified. For instance, there’s no need to list a babysitting experience on a marketing job role, since babysitting can hardly connect to marketing. 

Your resume should be hitting the bull’s eye, so leave out the confounding distractions and make your resume as pertinent as possible.

Resume Tips for 5 Types of First Job Seekers

Here are some extra resume tips for students, freshers, or three other common job roles:

• Call Center Agents
• Data Entry Clerks

1. Students (High School Students, College Students)

For students, focusing on your education in the resume without experience can be a great idea. Including achievements such as a high GPA or outstanding works in class to show your prominence. Also, since students have limited work experience, when listing extracurricular activities, try to translate the experience into soft skills instead of plainly describing your duties in the resume. 

Moreover, leadership experience can be a plus to demonstrate your ability to lead a team. Be sure to include them and relate back to the job qualifications.

2. Fresh graduate/Fresher

For freshers, having a little experience is a boost. To show you’re not just a random rookie, getting a related certificate or authorized license may be useful for your resume with no job experience. Another thing to do is to add your LinkedIn profile , but only if it’s well managed and updated. Adding a LinkedIn profile shows that you have a passion for the industry and are eager to learn and connect.

3. Call Center Agents

To get a good call center agent job, you need more than experience talking on the phone. To write a good call center agent resume , even with no experience, you have to deliver your customer service skills. 

Read the job description carefully, select the keywords such as “listening”, “positive attitude”, or “stress management” and incorporate these into your call center agent resume. With no experience, consider doing a temp job in a call center for one day or two. You’ll get the idea of how to write the skills for a call center agent in your resume without job experience.

For new teachers without experience, pay extra attention when you list your tutoring experience, technical skills , and any instructional material you have prepared. The tutoring experience you have in high school or college shows that you are patient and comfortable around students. 

Skills, on the other hand, is a great chance to showcase your adaptiveness to technology and how you can blend instructional materials with technology. Let the hiring manager know you are tech-savvy.

An instructional material to demonstrate to the hiring manager can bring valuable insight and advantages for new teachers who are writing a resume without experience. 

5. Data Entry Clerk 

Anyone can get a data entry job, right? Well, only if you have a good data entry resume.

A data entry clerk’s resume has to focus on accuracy, especially if you have no experience. To prove your detail-oriented attribute, get a screenshot of your type speed result on your LinkedIn . Enter type contests to prove your data entry precision. In addition, list only the computer skills that are related to data entry in your data entry resume. For junior applicants with no experience, focus on how your qualifications match the position. 

Ryan S. Matthews

Marketing Graduate

4463 Thompson Drive, San Francisco, CA (123)-000-456  [email protected] linkedin.com/RyanMatthews

Independent and creative Marketing graduate at University of Pennsylvania Wharton School (GPA 3.9). Eager to join Hooli as Marketing Consultant to assist with marketing strategies and optimize current online campaigns. Strong theoretical background in marketing strategies, consumer behaviors, and A/B testing.

Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2018 - 2020 B.S. in Marketing  GPA: 3.9

2020 Dean’s List achiever

Relevant coursework: Consumer Behavior, Social Media Marketing, Creative Marketing, Integrated Marketing Communications

Technical Skills:

• Google Analytics, Google Adwords
• SEO/CRO/SEM
• Python Data Visualization
• A/B Testing
• Social Media Marketing (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, LinkedIn)
• Email marketing
• Brand management
• Problem-solving
• Video-filming and editing

Soft Skills:

• Oral and written communication
• Rapport building
• Design sense and aesthetics
• Analytical skills
• Public Speaking

Other Experiences

Extracurricular Activities

• Conducted international student research to plan out 10+ cultural events for diverse student segments.
• Built and wrote marketing campaign to build engagement reaching 20K views.

Volunteer Experience

• Organized and developed marketing strategies and interactive web page that increased ticket sales by 50% compared to 2018.
• Copy wrote for pre-event introduction and collaborate with graphic designers on videos and visual identity, resulting in a 200K reaching rate. 

1) KOL and Influencer in Fitness Industry: A case study on Kylie Jenner

• Conducted surveys with 3k respondents and thorough interviews on 20 young adults.
• Utilized data analytic skills to categorize 5.7K Instagram pic that appeals to 5 main marketing personas.
• Analyzed KOL endorsed company’s strategies to develop marketing strategies for the cosmetic brand in simulation.

2) Marketing strategy report for Markstraat: Marketing Simulation Game

• 1st place winner in Marketing Simulation game among 6 teams.
• Generate insightful reports and presentations on the decision-making process for different stages of the product cycle.
• Utilize marketing strategy theory to allocate budget for product lines, retail tunnels, and awareness increase, and settle decisions for product development.

Certifications

• Customer Analytics (Coursera x University of Pennsylvania)
• Integrated Marketing Communications (Coursera)
• Learn Data Visualization with Python (Codecademy)

Hobbies & Interests

• Video making (Youtube 3K subscribers)
• Marathon Runner
• Reading Marketing, classic literature, and 
• Coding for data visualization

Well done! Here are recaps of the main points:

• Choose the best format for your resume with no experience.
• Read through the job description and determine the keywords you need to use.
• Let your education shine. The hiring manager will look into your first job resume education section.
• Make sure everything you write is relevant. Read through the sentences and make sure it links to the job position.
• Pay attention to your skills. Only the related skills on JD will be noticed.
• Spice up your resume with extra sections. List your certifications, projects, and volunteer experience to amaze your audience.
• Stay confident. There’s no need to be overly anxious. Everybody has their first time. 
• Proofread before you send it out, and stick with the application procedure.

--- Originally written by WuChaoMin ---

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How to Write a Résumé With No Work Experience, With Tips and Examples

You’re ready to apply for your first job . . . but you don’t know how to write your résumé because you don’t have any experience yet.

In a job market that often emphasizes previous work, how you present yourself becomes crucial. When you don’t have experience, a standout résumé makes the most of your education, showcases relevant skills, and plays up your unpaid experiences.

Your writing, at its best. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

Writing a résumé with no experience doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are five steps for filling out your résumé:

• Use an objective, not a summary, to convey your value and show your career goals.
• Play up your education by making it the first section.
• Instead of work experience, share internships, volunteer roles, projects, and extracurriculars in your relevant experience section.
• Make your skills stand out by including both soft and technical skills.
• Tailor your résumé to each specific job with keywords.

That’s just the overview. Let’s go through it step by step to create a winning résumé that’ll get noticed. We’ll start with the top of the résumé, your objective.

Write a résumé summary or objective

As someone with no experience, you’ll want to write a résumé objective rather than a summary . This is a concise five to seven sentences at the beginning of your résumé. It highlights qualifications, skills, goals, and experience that grab the attention of hiring managers. Quickly convey your value as a candidate and showcase why you’re the best fit for the job by focusing on your qualifications and career goals and aligning them with job requirements.

Your résumé objective should include the following:

• Areas of expertise
• Quantifiable accomplishments
• Relevant skill set
• Résumé keywords

Résumé objective example:

I’m a results-driven communications graduate seeking a social media manager position to leverage my academic background and project experience in creating impactful online campaigns. With a degree from Keene State College and a proven track record in executing four successful social media projects during my academic journey, I’m eager to apply my content creation, audience engagement, and analytics skills to contribute to your team. Committed to staying on top of the latest social media trends and platforms, I’m poised to bring fresh and innovative strategies to elevate your brand’s digital presence.

Include your education

Normally, your experience section would come first on your résumé, but because you don’t have a professional background yet, the next section moves up to fill the space: education. It’s one of your strong attributes, so let’s play it up!

Here’s what to add to your education section, in this order:

• Institution
• Years attended

If you attended a prestigious university, your institution should go before your degree on this list. It’s a trick résumé writers have been using for decades to catch recruiters’ attention.

Now, if you want to make it a highlight of your résumé, you can include the following optional points:

• Relevant course or courses
• International programs

Résumé education example:

Bachelor of Arts in Communications Antioch University

2019–2023 Keene, New Hampshire

High School Diploma Moultonborough Academy 2014–2018 Moultonborough, New Hampshire

4 types of nonprofessional experience

For your first résumé, you don’t need a job to have experience. You can replace it with one or more of these options instead. Rather than putting a header that says “Work Experience” like a traditional résumé, we’ve included header recommendations for each of these options.

1 Internships

The most common replacement for job experience is internships. Use the header “Internship Experience” for this section. You can list your internships in this section the same way you would a traditional job.

For each internship you held, list the following:

• Internship title and role
• Company name, location, and duration of internship
• Responsibilities and accomplishments in bullet points

2 Volunteer work

While volunteering isn’t always as formal as an internship, it proves your work ethic to your future employer. Anyone who volunteers their time for something bigger than themselves will make a good employee. For volunteer positions, you can use that same header format, “Volunteer Experience.”

For each relevant volunteer role, list the following:

• Name of the organization
• Location, duration of commitment
• Relevant accomplishments or activities as a bulleted list

Projects can help round out your résumé, especially if your skills include coding, community-oriented work, or social media marketing. If you went to college, you probably have a project you can include on your résumé. This section should be titled “Projects.”

Here’s what to list for each project:

• The name of your project
• A few words describing the type of project
• The association, if you did the project for something specific
• When you did the project
• Achievements, results, and responsibilities

3 Extracurriculars

If those three categories aren’t enough to fill your résumé, extracurriculars can pitch in. They show that you’re self-motivated. For this section, you can use the header “Extracurricular Activities.”

For each extracurricular, write the following:

• Team or organization name
• When you were involved
• Accomplishments, awards, or skills

Résumé nonwork experience example:

Extracurricular Activities

Antioch Bird Club (ABC)

Keen, NH | 2021–2023

• Created a social media presence on TikTok and grew from zero to 600 followers in the first year.
• Grew TikTok to over 10K followers in years two and three, expanding beyond the university.
• Raised $20,000 for our Big Year, allowing student members to travel around North America.
• Raised attendance for public events from 30 students to over 75 general public attendees.

Include your skills

Skills should simply be brief bullet points of 2–3 résumé keywords that showcase a technical skill, ability, special knowledge, or strength. Only include skills directly relevant to the position you’re applying for. The résumé skills section is a fantastic place to include keywords.

Résumé skills example:

• TikTok marketing and strategy
• Content management and creation
• CapCut, Adobe Premiere Pro
• Video script writing
• Analytics and metrics
• Community engagement
• Public speaking
• Collaboration

On any résumé, you can include hard skills and soft skills. It’s especially important to include both if you have no experience. There are two ways you can format this section. Let’s take a look at each.

Core competencies

You may want to use this header at the top of your résumé directly under your objective, above education, to show the things you’re best at. Make a strong first impression quickly with this trick. Hiring managers will only look at your résumé briefly unless something catches their eye. This section can do just that.

Whether you use the core competency method or not, you should have a section beneath your experience that showcases your technical skills. This section can be titled “Skills.” Here’s where you should include all of your technical skills. If you didn’t use the “Core Competency” section, have your soft skills here, too.

No experience résumé FAQs

What is a no-experience résumé.

A no-experience résumé is a professional document that highlights other skills, background, and experiences outside of professional work.

What can I put in a no-experience résumé?

• Start with a résumé objective to convey your value.
• Prioritize your education by making it the first section.
• Share internships, volunteer roles, projects, and extracurriculars in your relevant experience section.
• Include both soft and technical skills.

What else can I do to stand out to hiring managers?

Make sure your cover letter is well written and professional. Your cover letter can convey your experience outside of work and highlight projects you’ve overseen and other skills and history you think are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Additionally, make sure your LinkedIn summary and profile shine: they should be mistake-free (so proofread everything) and reaffirm your education, skill set, and background.

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.

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. 

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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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!

How to Write a Resume with No Experience: Tips & Examples

Our professional tips and examples will show you how to make a resume with no work experience.

Our customers have been hired by: * Foot Note

First-time resume with no experience: samples

The resume with no experience examples below is a great foundation for you to write your resume. You can easily edit them using our Resume Builder , which will help you create a professional resume in just a few minutes!

Resume With No Work Experience

Whether you’re fresh out of high school, a newly-graduated college student or just someone seeking their first job, you will need a resume to showcase your skills. Writing a resume with no experience is possible and easier than you think but it will require a different approach from the standard resume.

To teach you how to write a resume with no experience, we’ve put together an expert guide with:

• Examples that will show you how to make a good resume with no experience
• Step-by-step resume advice for formatting and writing your resume
• Tips on formatting and writing a cover letter to accompany your resume

Is it possible to write a resume with no work experience?

Yes, you can write a resume with no work experience. It’s important to know that hiring managers are looking for relevant experience, not necessarily professional experience. The most crucial tips for knowing how to make a good resume with no experience are:

• Think outside the box regarding experience. There are plenty of activities, like volunteer work , extracurricular activities and achievements you can include in your resume that you may not consider job experience but a hiring manager will see as evidence of your work ethic and skills.
• Consider the qualifications and skills you already have. Focus on soft skills such as communication , interpersonal skills and time management, and mention any hard skills you have that are related to the job.

How to pick the right format for your resume with no experience

There are three standard resume formats . They’re not interchangeable, so it’s important to understand each of them individually before deciding which one will benefit you the most.

• Chronological format: The most popular format. The chronological resume is ideal for job seekers with extensive work experience because it focuses on career progression and professional growth. It might not be ideal for someone writing a resume with no experience.
• Functional format : Also known as the skills-based resume, this format focuses on resume skills instead of work experience. It’s better for candidates who have little to no work experience because the work history section has less importance. The functional resume also has an additional skills section that the standard resume doesn’t have, so it may suit a candidate with no experience more than the other formats.
• Combination format : This is a hybrid of the chronological and functional formats. It gives equal emphasis to work experience and relevant skills, so it’s ideal for job seekers with some years of experience in their field.

In addition to choosing the right resume format for you, it’s also important to follow the correct resume formatting guidelines:

• Choose a professional resume font . You might be tempted to use a font like Comic Sans to stand out but it’s better to stick to readable fonts like Times New Roman, Helvetica and Arial.
• Stick to the same margins. Your resume should have 1-inch margins all around but if you need extra space, you can take them down to half an inch.
• Keep the font readable. Besides choosing the right font type, your text should be a readable size. The body text should be 11-12 points, the subheadings 14-15 and your name 16 or 18.
• Maintain consistent spacing. The spacing between the lines should be single or 1.5 and the same throughout your resume.
• Save and download in the right file format. Most job openings require you to submit your resume in a PDF or MS Word format but read the job description carefully in case the potential employer requests it in another file format.

You can also take away the guesswork using one of our beautiful resume templates . They’re pre-formatted to pass the applicant tracking system (ATS) that most employers use to filter resumes, so you can focus on all the other good stuff.

How to write a resume with no experience

Now that we’ve discussed resume formats and given you all the formatting tips, here’s how to make a resume with no job experience:

Header and contact information

First comes the header with your contact information. Make sure that the phone number and professional email address you provide are the correct ones. You can also include the social media handle to your LinkedIn profile but only if it will add value to your job application.

Resume objective

We highly recommend writing an objective for a resume instead of a summary for a resume . A resume objective is a two- to three-sentence introduction that summarizes your top skills and informs the potential employer of your goals in relation to their company or internship program. For example: High school student looking for graphic design internship to hone designing skills. Ready to apply collaborative skills and creative abilities to an advertising agency. Possesses basic Photoshop, Illustrator and Lightroom skills.

Skills section

• Communication skills
• Flexibility
• Time management
• Organizational skills
• Graphic design
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Project management
• Google Analytics
• Cloud computing
• “Professional Skills” or “Relevant Skills” section: You select your top three core skills and expand on how you’ve used those skills by using three to five bullet points, similar to the work experience section.
• “Summary of Qualifications” section: Where you briefly summarize the skills that qualify you for the job in three bullet points and a single sentence.
• Consider listing relevant coursework that’s pertinent to the job or internship.
• Likewise, if you’re applying for a job or internship that directly relates to your educational background, you may want to include your GPA but only if it’s between 3.50 and 4.0.
• If you still haven’t graduated college or high school, include the expected graduation date .

Work experience

• Use only three to five bullet points per job title
• Start your statements with action verbs
• Avoid talking about mundane tasks. Instead, focus on achievements and major responsibilities
• Use numbers to portray your accomplishments better
• Draft weekly emails about school activities and student suggestions for school administration.
• Write detailed meeting minutes and hand in weekly reports.
• Organize over 15 files and keep track of important documents.

Additional sections

• Basic Life Support (BLS)

More resume examples and tips

ResumeHelp has tons of expert resources to help you write the best resume and jump-start your career.

• Student Resume Examples : Check out our resume writing tips specifically for students.
• Internship Resume Examples : Interested in an internship? Impress with the help of our internship resume samples.
• How to Start a Job Search : Searching for your first job doesn’t have to be scary. Follow our expert advice to get started.
• Resume Examples : Find more inspiration in our extensive resume samples library.
• Resume Design : Make sure your resume looks as good as it reads with our design tips.
• How to Write a Resume : Get extra resume writing advice from our detailed guide.

Write a cover letter for your resume

A cover letter is an incredibly useful tool to land the job of your dreams. It’s especially crucial if you don’t have enough work experience, so use our cover letter resources to create a professional letter for your job application.

• Entry-level Cover Letter Examples : See professionally written examples of cover letters for first-time job seekers.
• How to Write a Cover Letter : Learn all the tips and tricks to writing a great cover letter.
• Cover Letter Builder : Create a cover letter in just a few minutes with our step-by-step guidance.
• Scholarship Cover Letter : Explore our collection of cover letter examples specifically tailored for scholarship applications.
• Cover Letter Templates : Find the perfect template to pair with your resume.
• Cover Letter Examples : Use our cover letter samples as a base to write yours.

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The big takeaways.

Let’s do a quick recap of what we discussed to wrap up:

• Writing a resume with no experience is possible!
• Relevant work experience can come from volunteering, extracurricular activities and personal projects.
• It’s important to feature a mixture of soft skills and hard skills.
• Resume formats are not interchangeable, so choose the one that works best for you.
• Summarize your top skills with a resume objective.
• Create additional sections for your certifications and awards.
• It’s OK to include your GPA, as long as it’s between 3.50 and 4.0.
• Use action verbs across your resume to give it more power.
• Focus on major accomplishments in your work experience section.
• Introduce yourself with a cover letter.

FAQ: Resumes With No Work Experience

Have questions? We’re here to help.

Should I write a resume when I don’t have experience?

Yes. Even if you don’t have work experience, a resume will be expected for most jobs. After all, a resume is an important part of communicating your credentials. The key to writing a resume with no experience is to focus on your skills and mention any relevant experience, even if it doesn’t come from a traditional job.

Work experience can come from volunteer work, extracurricular activities (such as clubs) and personal projects. Just make sure that it’s related to the job or internship.

Can I list hobbies on my resume if I have no experience?

Hobbies can be a good additional section if those hobbies are related to the job you’re trying to get. If you’re trying to become a character designer, listing that you’ve been playing D&D for 10 years can be helpful because you have to design characters for every D&D session. However, it’s not super helpful if you’re trying to get work as a certified nurse assistant.

Connect your hobbies to your job and you can add them to your resume.

Should I list my GPA on my resume if I’ve just graduated?

It’s typically not required to list your GPA on your resume because most hiring managers don’t find it important. However, if you’re searching for a job or an internship in an academic setting, it might be important to list your GPA or the honors you graduated with.

It all depends on the industry and job. Some hiring managers might not bat an eye at the fact that you graduated cum laude (no matter how impressive it is), while others might deem it a great deciding factor.

What to put on your resume if you have no experience?

If you’re writing a resume with no experience, focus on your key skills and any relevant experience you have. You might not have worked at a traditional 9-5 or even a part-time job but maybe you tutored students at your school, volunteered at the local animal shelter or participated in an afterschool program, such as the school newspaper. All of these experiences gave you important skills that you can apply to the job and highlight in your resume.

How do I list jobs on my resume if I have no experience?

Writing a resume work history section with no experience can seem daunting but it’s possible and easier than you think. The key is to redefine what “work experience” means to you.

Maybe you haven’t worked at a traditional job but have experience in customer service from volunteering at a local shelter. In which case, you might write:

• Guided an average of 10 patrons around the animal shelter, introducing them to different animals.
• Organized files under the supervision of the shift supervisor.
• Helped clean and disinfect common areas to maintain high sanitation standards.

You should list these experiences in reverse-chronological order. This means that your latest or current job is at the top. Per job, include three to five bullet points.

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Ho Lin is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and editor with two decades of experience in content strategy, creation, and development. He holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins University and his background includes experience aiding military veterans as they transition to civilian careers.

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Do You Need a Resume for Your First Job?

How to write a resume with no experience: 5 steps, writing a resume with no work experience tips, writing a resume with no work experience: the bottom line, how to write a resume with no work experience.

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Table of Contents

Knowing how to write a resume when you don’t have any work experience can be confusing and even frustrating. How are you supposed to fill a whole page if you’ve never had a job to begin with? Why do you need work experience to get work experience? Luckily, not all hope is lost — even if you’ve never stepped foot in an office or had an official manager.

So, how do you write a resume with no work experience? Here’s a step-by-step guide that will showcase your skills and wow employers with your potential, without any work experience needed.

Resume Writing Class

Learn how to write a resume hiring managers are looking for — even if you don't have any experience.

Avg. Time: 5-6 hours

Skills you’ll build: Industry keywords, transferable skills, identifying strengths

Yes, generally you need a resume to apply for and get any job, including your first one. Your resume for your first job will look different from your resume once you’ve had multiple years of work experience, and that’s OK.

Your resume for your first job will include non-work experiences, such as internships, volunteering, and extracurriculars. It will likely also focus on your education and any courses you took or projects you worked on. This is because your education is a key indicator of your skills at this point in time.

Once you’ve worked for a few years, you’ll naturally start focusing your resume more on your work experiences and less on non-work experiences and your education. 

You know you need a resume for your first job — so how do you write one? You’ll need to write to the job description and highlight experiences that have bolstered your skills.

1. Pull From the Job Description

Every resume you submit should be tailored for the job description you’re applying to. This is especially important when you’re first starting out and may be applying to different types of roles. For example, you don’t want to have one resume that simply pulls every single experience, from your tech programming skills to your creative writing. Instead, you may have different versions of your resume depending on the type of role you’re applying for.

Before you even pull up your Google doc, resume template, or whatever program you’re using to write your resume , look at the job description. You’ll want to focus on three things:

• Relevant experience the employer’s looking for
• Hard and soft skills the employer’s looking for
• Any education or certification the employer’s looking for

These three elements will likely be sprinkled throughout the job description, both in the main description of the role and responsibilities, and in the “qualifications” section where the employer outlines what kind of experience they’re looking for.

Once you’ve identified these three things, you’ll better understand what types of experiences and skills you should prioritize on your resume. For example, suppose you’re applying for a software engineering position at a gaming company. The company might say it’s looking for someone with programming skills . In that case, you might want to prioritize adding the gaming project you worked on in class to your resume instead of the writing skills you picked up working for the school newspaper. 

The job description is a preliminary set of guidelines for how you should approach your resume. However, this doesn’t mean you need to have every single experience, skill, and education requirement they’re looking for. You can still apply for — and land — the job even if you only have most (not all) of the requirements. 

Use each job description as a starting point. Then, you can draft your resume by finding the overlaps between what the hiring manager is looking for and what experiences you have.

2. Include Your Education

When you don’t have any work experience, your education can be a helpful indicator of what skills you’ve built and where your knowledge lies. For example, if you want to be a software engineer , showing that you majored in computer science and sharing relevant coursework can help a hiring manager understand the technical skills you have.

In your education section, you should include:

• School details: Include the name of your school, your major, and your expected graduation date (or your graduation date if you’ve already graduated).
• GPA: You should include your GPA on your resume if the employer asks for it. If they don’t, you should still include it if you’re been out of school for fewer than three years and if your GPA is higher than a 3.5.
• Honors and awards: If you’re received any specific honors or awards, list them under this section. 
• Relevant coursework: Share the names of classes you’ve taken that relate to the job description, especially if they indicate that you’ve learned specific skills the hiring manager is looking for. For example, if the company is looking for someone with proficiency in another language and you took Spanish classes in college, add the name of the highest level course on your resume.
• School projects: School projects that relate to the job description can be a great way to show you’ve had hands-on experience. You can list this in your education section. If you have multiple projects you want to highlight, you can make a separate “projects” section.

3. Include Any Experience You Already Have

I know, but you’re reading this article because you don’t have any experience! Yet just because you don’t have professional work experience doesn’t mean you don’t have relevant experience. Other types of experience you can include on your resume include:

• Internships (both virtual and in-person): Internships are any short-term experiences where you’ve done entry-level work for a specific company. You should name the company you worked for, achievements you had in that role, and any skills you learned — especially workplace soft skills like teamwork , communication , and collaboration . 
• Externships : Externships are short programs where you shadow a professional in the workplace. While you may not have as direct an impact as you might in an internship, try to quantify what you learned and include any hard or soft skills you learned along the way.
• Job shadowing : Like an externship, job shadowing typically involves more following and observing a professional than completing work-based tasks. However, job shadowing still shows initiative, curiosity, and willingness to learn — which is crucial to show on an entry-level resume!
• Extracurriculars, like school clubs and sports teams: Even though extracurricular activities are often fun things you participate in during your free time, they demonstrate a commitment to your interests and skills. They’re also a great way to show off your soft skills; for example, if you were the captain of your club basketball team, that shows leadership . 
• Volunteer positions: Volunteering not only shows potential hands-on experience you’ve had, but also your ability to engage with other people, help your community, and work for causes you care about.
• Part-time jobs: Jobs like babysitting, lifeguarding, and being a hostess are all incredibly valuable work experiences that can show your dedication and responsibility. Pull out transferable skills that relate to the job you’re applying for now. For example, you may have picked up great customer service skills while you were a hostess, which can translate well to client work in client-facing roles.
• Independent projects: If you’ve sought out projects on your own, whether that’s designing posters for a friend’s event or doing some independent coding work, you can add this to your resume, too. This shows dedication, drive, and commitment.

If the experience is relevant to what the employer’s looking for, it’s OK to include it, even if it’s not a traditional work experience.

How to Include Non-Professional Experience on Your Resume

Now you know that you can include non-professional experience on your resume — how do you actually write a resume with no work experience? For each experience, you’ll want to include your position, where you worked, and when you did it. 

Then, you’ll write a few clear bullet points that explain what you did in that position. For each section, aim to:

• Use strong action verbs that communicate how you contributed
• Show your quantifiable impact by using numbers
• Include any hard or soft skills you used (more on skills in the next section!)

For example, maybe you worked at a local ice cream shop over the summer and decided to revamp the business’ Instagram. Now, you’re applying for a marketing position that’s looking for candidates with a design background. You can include your social media experience and focus on the images you posted to market the business. 

• Increased brand awareness by 300% by refreshing and redesigning the business’ Instagram 
• Boosted likes and comment engagement by 200% by creating five unique graphics weekly 

In this example, we used strong action verbs like “increased” and “boosted,” showed quantifiable impact by including how much reach the Instagram posts got compared to before, and demonstrated social media and graphic design skills.

4. Show Off Your Skills

Hard skills you’ve learned from college courses, certifications, and Forage job simulations are not only relevant but critical to a resume without work experience. You can list these skills in a separate “skills” section. You could also describe how you’ve used them in your “experience” section if you’ve done a project or worked in a position where you applied them.

Hard skills examples include:

• Data analytics
• Programming languages
• Copywriting
• Foreign languages
• Graphic design
• Social media marketing
• Project management

Rather than including them in a separate skills section, the best way to show off your soft skills is in the descriptions of your work experiences. For example, if you want to mention you have good collaboration skills, you might write:

Collaborated with team members to brainstorm, test, and implement new marketing strategies to drive 40% more students to the club’s homepage

Soft skills include:

• Time management
• Creative thinking
• Adaptability
• Public speaking
• Interpersonal skills
• Negotiation
• Conflict resolution

5. Include Any Certifications

If you’ve taken any courses outside of school or gotten specific certifications, you should include these in a certifications section of your resume.

If you’ve done a Forage job simulation, this is the best place to detail your work. You can include Forage on your resume in this format:

[Insert Company Name] Job Simulation on Forage – [Month and Year of Completion] [Insert detail on what you did and the skills you learned]

Adding Forage to your resume shows recruiters you have experience with real-world work scenarios in the industry and that you’ve built key skills for that role. 

For example, if you completed the BCG Strategy Consulting Program , you could write:

BCG Strategy Consulting Job Simulation on Forage – March 2024 Conducted market research, consumer needs analysis, and data analysis to create a client recommendation. 

Haven’t taken a Forage job simulation yet but want to get experience to add to your resume? Try out top Forage programs across different industries:

Resume With No Work Experience: Sample and Template

Resume sample.

Here’s a sample resume for someone who is applying for a UX designer role. While this person doesn’t have any professional design experience, they’ve done some independent design projects and have learned about UX design at school. 

Log in or sign up to view this sample resume.

Resume Template

So, how can you write a resume with no experience that looks like this? We talked to hiring employers to learn what they’re looking for from student resumes — and made a template that you can use to help you stand out.

View and download a free resume template that will help you stand out to the hiring manager.

Now that you know what to include on your first resume, what else should you remember as you start to work on your applications?

Show Your Initiative

When you don’t have any professional work experience, it’s crucial to show how you’ve demonstrated drive and passion without working in the industry. Have you done a project related to something in the field? Started a club that gave you transferable skills? The best resumes for people without professional experience show how you’ve built skills and cultivated interest even despite not having that experience.

“Showcase what you can do now and how you see it growing into something else with the help of the job or company you are looking to work for,” Elisa Pineda, recruiting and human resources professional, says. “I know a developer that created a mini-maze game for fun while learning and teaching himself to code. He had no actual work experience outside of his projects and self-initiative to see what he could do. He presented that maze to the interviewing team as a small two-minute tidbit and asked if they could solve it and how long it took them. It was a creative way to showcase what you can do.”

If you’ve done any side projects or have an online portfolio , your resume is a great place to showcase this self-initiative. You can include a separate “special projects” section of your resume to describe what you’ve worked on — and even include links if you’re sending the resume virtually.

Stay Relevant to the Role You’re Applying For

When you’re trying to write a resume with no experience, it can be tempting to try and fill up the page with everything you’ve ever done. Instead, it’s crucial to stay relevant only to the role you’re applying for. 

To help you tailor your resume for each role, you can come up with one giant “braindump” resume that includes every experience you’ve had, no matter how relevant it may be to one position or another. Include every project, extracurricular, or internship you might want to put on a resume.

Then, as you apply to roles, create a fresh resume doc and copy and paste the experiences that match that role from your “braindump” resume. This way, you’re only selecting experiences that matter to the role you’re applying for — and you don’t have to worry about forgetting your overall experience.

Focus on What You Do Have

It can be easy to stress about the work experience you don’t have when applying for your first job. However, it’s important to remember that employers aren’t looking for someone with years of experience to fill entry-level positions! 

Instead, focus on the experiences you do have, whether you participated in school projects, volunteering, or extracurricular activities, and how to best articulate your impact. 

Employers look for motivated, dedicated students who can learn quickly and have a growth mindset . They’re not looking for resumes with tons of expertise, but rather people who have  potential. 

Overall, the worst thing you can do when writing a job resume with no experience is show that you have no experience. 

“This is a huge red flag and does not demonstrate any effort that you at least tried to do something,” Pineda says. “You have little to showcase, do not make it seem so little. Get creative with your resume to showcase what you can already do.”

Just because you don’t have work experience doesn’t mean you don’t have valuable knowledge, experience, and skills to bring to the table. Consider how what you’ve already done fits into what the employer is looking for.

Looking to build more experience — without needing to get professional experience? Try a free Forage job simulation to build your skills and get job-ready.

If you don’t have any experience, you can include non-professional work like internships, extracurriculars, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and even school and personal projects on your resume.

To write your first resume with no experience, focus on experience and skills you’ve built from activities, school work, and even independent projects. Make sure you can demonstrate how your experience and skills are transferable or applicable to the job you’re applying for.

When writing a resume for your first job, be sure to look closely at the skills and experience the employer is looking for. Then, include skills and experience you’ve built that match that — whether they’re from internships, volunteer work, school projects, or other non-professional activities.

Yes, you should have a resume if you have no experience — because you do have skills and experience, even if it’s not professional! There are still ways to be creative and show off what you can do, whether you’ve built skills from a class, Forage job simulation, volunteer position, or a sports team.

Image credit: Pexels / Artem Podrez

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Stand out to employers when you add Forage to your resume.

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5 AI skills to add to your resume this year

Did you know resumes with AI skills are likely to have a higher success rate? 71% of surveyed employers were more comfortable hiring candidates that had AI skills over candidates with the same job experience but no AI skills. How do you navigate the temporary trends and make sure your AI skills are relevant to your job search? Let’s talk about hiring trends, AI, and how you could use these AI skills for a resume boost!

Why add AI skills to your resume?

If you had to guess, what would you say is the key deciding factor that recruiters base their decisions on? Maybe you think it’s your education, or number of years of relevant work experience that will make the cut. It’s true that used to be the case…but the recruiting world has changed. The recruiting world has found a better currency to score talent: skills.

Companies (in general) are no longer looking for the fanciest alumni credentials, or even the most experienced; they look for smart and skilled recruits that get the job done efficiently, regardless of where they come from. The more skilled you are, the better your chances are of landing a job. The question remains: is this true for all skills? Surely, there have to be some skills that are valued more than others?

The business world shifts to a skill-based economy at the same time that the world is adapting to AI. Artificial intelligence has stirred up the status quo, leaving a lot of questions and uncertainty in its wake.

AI is still fairly young in terms of technology growth. So, while AI may not replace you, it can very quickly leave you replaceable by those who know AI. Knowing how to use AI efficiently is a skill in its own right today, so, if you are looking to make a resume in 2024, you’ll want to make sure there are some AI skills in there.

In fact, 14% of all tech job postings in 2024 specifically mention they are looking for AI skills in your resume, up from 9% last year. It’s safe to say that adding AI skills to your resume will only make your chances better.

Don’t stress – we’ve compiled five of the most highly sought-after (and easy-to-learn) AI skills to add to your resume:

1. Prompt engineering

It’s true – AI still needs that human touch! For AI to generate an output, you have to first feed in an input, aka a prompt. Whether we look at ChatGPT or Midjourney, or even apps developed in AI development environments, AI tools require you to write descriptive and precise commands so they can deliver an outcome. The better your prompt, the better your results! This is what prompt engineers do. Being able to write clear and concise directions that AI can execute will also help you utilize the tool better than your peers.

2. Data modeling and analytics

Essentially, become a data scientist!

Data science has already been around for a decade (or longer), but it’s arguably relevant now more than ever in the wake of AI’s mass adoption.

Why? Data is the crux of AI. Not only does AI thrive on all the data we feed it, data is also what dictates AI’s ability to help us connect the dots. The ability to structure and regroup data into refined structures and to make sense of the insights that AI extracts for us will help us make more informed decisions and steer strategy and market forces.

3. Programming

To understand and improve your experience with AI, basic knowledge of programming will come in handy. After all, AI’s foundation is programming. The very algorithms and models that make AI work relies on programming. We are primarily looking at JavaScript, Python, HTML — although any programming language knowledge you can start with is still valuable. (Editor’s note: Python is fairly intuitive, even if you’ve never programmed before!) As the world continues to adapt to AI, hard tech skills like programming will start to become more common on resumes.

Here are a few more such transferable skills examples that you may have discounted as not-for-you because they feel ‘too technical’. We promise, you can do it!

4. Machine learning

By this part of our list, you hopefully want to put AI skills in your resume.

Want to put really, really tech-proficient “knows what they are doing” types of AI skills in your resume? Get into machine learning.

Machine learning is literally the way we teach machines to think like humans. We use data, algorithms, neural networks, deep learning, and more come up every day! It’s an exciting hotbed for tech innovation with lots of room for new discoveries, strategies and development.

Needless to say, this is going to be a pretty sought-after skill even in the coming future. Studies show that by 2030 machine learning alone will be a $2 trillion industry.

5. Critical thinking & problem solving

We know, we know – all the skills up on the list have been very "tech". While it’s true most folk associate AI as a very tech field, so are there no soft skills that will help your resume?

Ultimately, working with artificial intelligence boils down to thinking and solving. That’s where we can re-introduce two core (human) skills: critical thinking and problem solving. These two traditionally soft skills are attributes that machines haven’t mastered…yet. Don’t be alarmed! We want them to learn how to be creative in their approach, that’s how AI will get closer to delivering the output we need. Right now, AI looks to you to help it improve. We need human supervisors who are able to think critically, swiftly, and efficiently. When a bug arises and the AI stutters or hallucinates, the industry needs practical minds that are solution-oriented.

Always remember, tech skills could land you a tech job, but soft skills are what divide an employee and a star performer. Regardless of the niche or sector you want to work in, you can safely place your bet on AI and soft skills remaining relevant in the future too. These are the types of skills that will remain useful across jobs, even if you switch.

Staying skills-current

It’s a good exercise to update your resume for 2024 trends. An even better exercise to invest in upskilling! Head on to our list of 45 transferable skills to add to your resume and start learning!

As for AI, perhaps the quickest and coolest skills one could learn in just a few hours would be prompt engineering, which you can get great at in a few hours. Want a foolproof start with no trial and error? We’ve got your back with this handy AI Prompting Cheat Sheet!