A first job or internship is a milestone in one’s professional career. The resume is an integral part of this process, and if you have no formal experience you may be unsure of what to include on your resume. Even if you lack professional experience, employers can look to other relevant skills and qualifications you have to determine if you’re a good fit. Find out how to write a resume with no experience to land a new job.
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What to put on a resume with no experience
When you have a resume with no job experience, you can add other valuable details to help you stand out from other applicants.
Highlight your education
Use this section to list your highest education level and primary area of study. If the recruiter is from your alma mater or the job you are applying for is relevant to your area of expertise, it can improve your chances. Make sure to include the following:
- GPA: Share your GPA when it’s 3.5 or higher. If your GPA is average, leave it off so you can focus on other aspects of your education.
- Relevant coursework: Share classes you’ve taken that are appropriate to the job you are applying for. Coding or programming courses may be helpful for a software development position.
- Relevant class projects: Hone on skills acquired from class projects, like presentation or teamwork.
- Certifications, honors, or online courses: Honors and certifications demonstrate personal achievements to prospective employers.
Discuss any extracurricular activities
List any extracurricular activities that you participated in. These activities can demonstrate additional commitment and skill sets that may improve your hiring odds. For example, you can highlight leadership and organizational skills as a student government member and a few extracurricular activities such as being a member of clubs, tutoring, sports, and volunteer work.
Pinpoint your experience
Even if you’ve never held a formal job, our no-experience resume can highlight the skills gained in other ways.
- Part-time jobs: You may have acquired customer service or organizational skills with a part-time job.
- Volunteer work: If your volunteer work is relevant to the job you are applying for, put it on your resume.
- Unpaid internships: You can acquire valuable experience working as an intern. Highlight the skills you learned which might be helpful for an employer, such as communication or organization.
- Hobbies: Share the skills and experience gained from relevant hobbies like painting or coding.
Emphasize your skills
Listing skills on your resume is one way to tell recruiters how you can contribute to the company and fulfill your role as an employee. You can gain valuable skills from your hobbies, volunteer work or life experiences. Since the skills section requires minimal effort, adjusting your resume to match each job opportunity is easier. You should list skills related to the job opportunity you are applying for.
Skills to put on a resume with no work experience may include:
- Effective listening
- Organizational skills
- Leadership
- Critical thinking skills
- Communication
- Creative writing
- IT skills
- Time management
- Microsoft Office and Excel
- Presentation skills
- Self-motivation
- Attention to detail
Talk about your interests and insights
Personal interests can show you are enthusiastic about your career path. An interest in painting or drawing may fit a graphic design position well. Recruiters won’t always have the patience to read lengthy paragraphs. Keep this section under five sentences and ensure you only include the most valuable details.
Emphasize what makes you unique
Recruiters look through numerous applications daily. They will first see your name, contact information and a wall of text. Stand out from the crowd by highlighting the skills and qualities that make you unique.
Select a suitable resume format
You don’t need work experience to craft a great resume, but you do need to use an appealing formatting style. A poorly formatted resume can work against you as recruiters may not be patient enough to read a long and confusing resume. Instead, divide information into sections and use bullet points on your resume with no work experience to make it more visually appealing.
Include contact details
Include your name, title, email address and phone number. Some applicants also provide their physical addresses, which is not usually necessary.
Resume template
Here’s a more catchy version of the section:
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Remember, this template is your blank canvas to paint a masterpiece that screams, “Hire me!” Customize it with your unique features, highlighting those transferable skills you’ve collected. And don’t forget to have friends and family read over it for tips and feedback!
Craft a resume to land your first job
A lack of professional experience doesn’t have to hold you back from getting your first job. You have likely gained valuable skills and knowledge in other areas. You can craft a resume that grabs the attention of prospective employers when you focus on the skills and qualities you’ve gained from school, extracurricular activities, volunteer work or hobbies.
FAQ
What to put on a resume with no experience?
When you have no formal work experience, your resume should focus on relevant skills and qualifications you acquired in other ways. If you are a student or have recently completed school, include details about your GPA, awards and relevant coursework. You may also share skills acquired from part-time jobs, volunteer work and extracurricular activities.
How can I create a strong resume as a teenager with no work experience?
Teenagers can display skills and experiences gained from side jobs, classwork and outside activities. Highlight attributes like responsibility and reliability with babysitting or yard work. You may have developed effective communication or teamwork skills if you play team sports or belong to an after-school club.
What skills should I put on my resume if I have no skills?
As you read the job description, consider how your current skillset could make you a good fit. You may have developed strong customer service skills working a part-time retail job or gained leadership skills as the president of a school club.
What should I put on my resume for my first job?
The resume you craft for your first job should show a potential employer why they should hire you. If you have a resume without work experience, share other valuable skills and attributes you possess. Perhaps you graduated with honors or sharpened your leadership skills in a student government role.
How do you write a resume summary with no experience?
Your resume summary tells employers why you would be a good fit for a job. Share your career goals and the skills you’ve acquired that fit the bill. When you don’t have formal work experience, you can highlight other qualities like your GPA or communication skills.
