resume writing for first time job seekers

How to Write Your First Job Resume [For 2024]

So there you are, sitting in front of a screen, staring at a blank Word page for hours, with one task at hand: writing your first job resume.

Where do you even start?

And most importantly: How do you fill those 1-2 pages when you have no work experience?

We feel your struggle and we’re here to help!

In this article, we’re going to guide you through the entire process of creating a first job resume from start to finish.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

How to Write Your First Job Resume

• Pick the right resume template
• Write down your contact information (correctly)
• Include a resume objective
• List your education (in detail)
• Instead of work experience, focus on…
• Highlight your skills
• Mention optional sections
• Stick to the one-page limit
• Get inspired by a first-job resume example

Don’t worry, we’re going to cover all of the above in detail!

Starting with the first step:

#1. Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template

There are 3 main resume formats you can pick from. Each of them highlights a different part of your resume.

• Reverse-Chronological Resume - In this format, your work experiences and education are listed in reverse-chronological order. 
• Functional Resume - Instead of work experience, this format focuses on your skills and achievements.
• Combination (or Hybrid) Resume - This format focuses on both your skills and work experience.

For 99% of job-seekers, we recommend sticking with the reverse-chronological format.

While a functional resume can sometimes help for career changers or recent graduates, it’s still nowhere near as common as the reverse chronological one.

Plus, recruiters world-wide are familiar with the reverse-chronological format, making it a safer bet.

A reverse-chronological resume looks as follows:

Once you’ve picked the format, the next step is to perfect your layout, font, and the like. Here’s what we recommend for that:

• Use a Two-Column Layout. A two-column resume layout allows you to fit a lot more content into your resume.
• Pick a Common Font. We recommend Ubuntu, Overpass, or Roboto.
• Use Bullets to Describe Your Experiences.
• Don’t Go Over One Page. Unless you’re a professional with a decade of work experience, we recommend sticking to the one-page resume limit.

Want to avoid all the hassle of formatting your resume layout? We don’t blame you - if you wanted to build a good-looking resume from scratch, it would take you hours before you could even start filling it in.

Thankfully, there’s an easier way out: using a resume builder.

With Novoresume, all you have to do is pick a template, and fill in the contents. It’s that simple.

And on top of that, Novorésumé resumes are ATS-friendly . Meaning, your resume won’t be swallowed up by an applicant tracking system just because it can’t read it.

Want to get started with Novorésumé? Browse our resume templates .

#2. Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly)

It’s important for the recruiter to have at least two ways of reaching back to you.

Meaning, you should always provide your contact information in your resume . That includes: 

• First and last name
• Phone number

Apart from these must-haves, you can also provide:

• LinkedIn URL - This is a good way to complement your resume. It also makes the recruiter’s life easier since they usually check your LinkedIn profile anyway. Make sure all information is updated and consistent with your resume, though.
• Relevant social media (like Quora or StackOverflow) - Any social media that is related to the job position and puts you in good light should be included in your resume. In most cases. If you’re a developer, it could be projects on GitHub. Writer? Personal blog.
• Website or blog - Again, this should be something related to the job. It shows your interest and dedication to the industry and how you spend some of your free time.

When it comes to your contact information, the key is to write everything correctly . Double-check you’ve spelled your name and email right, make sure the phone number you’ve listed can be reached, and that the accounts you have linked to are up to date . 

Something else you should know regarding location is how much detail you should be providing. 

The reason recruiters want to know your location is so that they have an idea of whether you’re in the vicinity of the company or not (and if you’ll need to relocate for work). 

That means, providing the city and country where you live will be enough. No need for your full home address. 

#3. Include a Resume Objective

Recruiters spend on average 7 seconds scanning each resume before deciding if it’s worth more consideration or not. 

That means your resume has about 7 seconds to leave a great first impression and convince the recruiter you’re the person they’re looking for.

A good resume objective does that for you. 

A resume objective is a 2-3 sentence snapshot of your skills, achievements, and career goals . Its purpose is to communicate your motivation for getting into the field and your interest in this particular position. 

This makes it ideal for the first job resume of a recent graduate or somebody who’s changing careers. Basically, any resume with no work experience . 

Your resume objective should be tailored to the position you are applying for and highlight skills that will help the company achieve its goal. Use as many facts and numbers as you can to back up any statements or achievements. 

• Creative and motivated recent graduate with a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Michigan. Seeking permanent employment in the field of marketing after completing successful internships in 2 major media companies. Looking to further develop my market analysis skills and contribute to future marketing strategy developments at XY Company.
• I am looking to put my marketing skills into action by initially working for the marketing department of a well-known company until I can finally get to an executive position.

#4. List Your Education (In Detail)

For starters, you should know how to list your education entries correctly in the following format:

• Program Name e.g.: B.A. in Information Systems
• University Name e.g.: University of Chicago
• Years Attended e.g.: 07/2013 - 05/2017
• GPA (only if really high)
• Honors (If applicable) e.g. Cum Laude

Exchange Program (If applicable) e.g. Exchange program in Berlin, Germany

Apart from your skills, your education is the biggest selling point in your first job resume. This is not the place to be humble and play down your achievements!

Write down your GPA (if it’s something impressive), emphasize your honors, and most importantly, highlight your academic achievements by describing them in detail.  

What you can also do is list specific courses that you have taken that are relevant to the position you are applying for. 

Here’s an example of what an entry on the education section should look like:

B.A. in English Literature (Cum Laude)

Boston University

07/2014 - 05/2018

• Courses: Advanced Topics in Literature: Shakespeare’s Work 
• Clubs: Boston University Drama Club
• Exchange program in London, UK

#5. Instead of Work Experience, Focus On This

As a recent graduate, the recruiter knows you don’t have any work experience - and that’s OK. As long as you’re applying for a junior or entry-level position, the experience isn’t something expected from you.

Instead, the recruiter will be looking for other experiences that enrich your profile, like:

• Internships
• Extracurricular Activities

When talking about these experiences, format them just like you’d format your work experience. 

Business Analyst Internship

AAA Company

Milan, Italy

05/2019 - 12/2019

• Ran weekly and monthly analysis on diverse areas of the business
• Created insightful reports of the analysis to present to managers and teams
• Defined strategic KPIs, in order to monitor the efficiency of commercial operations

When possible, try to focus on listing your achievements and not your responsibilities. This will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Haven’t done any internships? Include extracurricular activities.

More often than not, an applicant with extracurricular activities and an average GPA will impress the recruiter much more than a 4.0 GPA student with nothing else to show. When listing your extracurricular activities, each entry should have the following format:

Moot Court Club Member

2017 - 2019

• Participated for two years in a row at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, making it to the finals in 2019
• Researched and prepared written pleadings, called memorials addressing timely issues of public international law
• Helped train the new club members in topics of international law

Finally, you can also list independent projects, if you have any. Think, something you did on the side just for yourself. This can be a personal project, small business or startup, side-gig, blog, etc.

Amy’s Book Club Blog

2018 - Present

• Created my own book club website for reviewing and discussing the latest books.
• Curated a monthly book calendar for my followers to follow, combining trending, relevant, and classic books.
• Created over 40 book review articles.
• On average, received 2000 visitors per month to the blog.

#6. Highlight Your Skills

The two types of skills you can mention on your resume are soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills are attributes that help you adapt to work environments, work in a team, and apply your hard skills effectively. They are related to your personality, social skills, communication, attitude, etc.

Hard skills refer to technical knowledge and specific tools. They are skills that one learns and applies directly to the job. Some examples of hard skills include:

• Financial accounting
• Adobe Illustrator

Although soft skills are becoming more and more in demand by employers , for your first job resume, we recommend sticking to hard skills. 

Sure, attributes like “teamwork” or “critical thinking” are much appreciated by just about any employer. 

The thing is, though, the recruiter can’t really tell if you actually have critical thinking skills, or just listed it on your resume to fill space.

Hard skills, on the other hand, are very easy to test.

Tailor Skills to the Job Ad

Not sure which skills to mention in your first job resume?

The simplest way to find the essential ones is to check the job ad.

The recruiter themselves mentioned the skills they’re looking for - the only thing you need to do is mention them in your resume (as long as you have them, anyway).

Let’s say you’re applying for a graphic designer position that wants the following qualifications and skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat; XD, Animate and/or After Effects are a plus
• Working knowledge of presentation software (Canva, PowerPoint and/or Keynote)
• Ability to work under pressure, manage work on multiple projects daily, manage a large workload and meet deadlines.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized

Based on that, your skills section should include the following:

• Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat
• After Effects and Cinema4D
• Canva and Keynote
• Time management
• Detail-oriented

If the job ad isn’t too descriptive, you can also check out these 101+ most in-demand skills for 2024 . 

#7. Mention Optional Sections

Still have some space on your resume?

That’s not a bad thing! You can use this space to your advantage and add some other useful sections.

Here are some ideas:

• Volunteering - If you have some volunteering experience, make sure to include it in your first job resume. Such a section shows commitment, dedication, and a sense of purpose, something most recruiters will appreciate.
• Languages - With companies becoming more and more international, additional languages are always appreciated.
• Hobbies - You can show your genuine interest in the industry or field by listing some relevant hobbies/interests.
• Awards & Certifications - Whether it’s an award from an essay competition in college or a certificate from an online course, anything that flatters your profile should be added.

#8. Stick to the One-Page Limit

“ How long should a resume be? ” seems like an eternal dilemma at this point. 

Generally, the answer is: it depends. 

Since you’re making a first job resume, the answer is: definitely one page . 

Unless you have an extensive employment history that can’t fit into one page, there’s no need to go over that limit. 

It’s unlikely that the recruiter will want to look at two pages of extracurriculars and hobbies. 

#9. Get Inspired by This First-Job Resume

Need some inspiration for your resume? Check out the resume examples below.

First Job Resume FAQ 

Still have some questions on how to write a convincing first job resume?

We’ll answer them here.

1. What do I put on my no-experience resume?

There’s plenty of other things you can include in your resume instead of work experience. For starters, you should:

• Focus on your education, making sure the entries are formatted correctly.
• Pick the right skills that match what the employer is looking for.
• Talk about internships, personal projects, or extracurricular activities. Describe your achievements in detail.

If you still have some space left, you could use it to your advantage and add extra sections like volunteer work, languages, awards & certificates, or hobbies.

2. Is a resume necessary for a first job?

Depending on the region, a resume or CV is always necessary for a job application, be it the first or the 20th. 

Before deciding if they should call you for an interview, the recruiters need to have some insight into you and your skills.

3. Do I need work experience to land my first job?

Short answer: You don’t! 

If you’re a recent graduate, it’s a given that you won’t have any work experience. Most employers don’t actually expect years of work experience for an entry-level or junior position. 

Instead, they’ll be looking at your other types of experiences (internships, extracurricular activities, etc.) to decide on whether you’re a good fit for the job or not.

4. How do you write a resume for your first job?

The process is quite similar to the one for writing a regular resume, but with a few tweaks.

The exact steps for creating a first job resume are:

• Instead of work experience, focus on extracurricular activities, internships, projects, etc.

Key Takeaways

Writing your first job resume doesn’t have to be stressful!

Remember the following tips and you’ll do just fine:

• Pick the right format and template to avoid the hassle of formatting your resume. Make sure to pick an ATS-friendly resume template.
• Write a concise and attention-grabbing resume objective. Show the recruiter that you’re relevant for the role and that they should read the rest of your resume.
• Instead of work experience, include information on your internships, projects, and extracurricular activities.

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How to Make a Resume for First Job In 6 Steps (+ Examples)

• Júlia Mlčúchova , 
• Updated July 25, 2024 16 min read

“How to make a resume for first job,” you ask?

In this highly competitive job market, even the most experienced professionals can struggle for success. So how can you, a fresh graduate with no experience , stand out from the rest? Believe us, you can. 

We'll show you how to highlight your skills and academic achievements , and other relevant experiences you might have, in a way that makes up for the lack of experience and catches an employer's eye.

In this article you'll find how to make an effective resume with no experience and land your first job. You'll also find out:

• If you need a resume for your first job;
• How to make a resume for first job in 6 steps;
• How to know what is relevant;
• First job resume examples.

But let's start with the basics...

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What even is a resume?

Do you need a resume for your first job, how to make a resume for your first job in 6 steps, how to know what is relevant, resume example for first job.

• Key takeaways: How to make a resume for first job?

In short, resume is a document which presents your career history in a succinct way. It provides an overview of your most relevant achievements (professional and educational):

• the skills you've acquired; 
• any qualifications, awards, or certificates you've gained; 
• your education;
• and work experience. 

Stylistically speaking, resumes are formal, brief, and packed with information . 

The aim of a resume is to present a summary of everything you need to convince the hiring managers that you are the right person to fill the open position in their company.

Who is the resume meant for? 

The target audience of your resume are the recruiters or the hiring manager . 

Resume serves as the initial point of contact between you and the people who decide whether you get invited to a job interview . With a good resume, you can make a strong first impression which will get you on the list of promising candidates.

Recruiters like brevity and efficiency, so make sure you communicate with them in clear and concise language .

What does a resume consist of? 

Given the volume of information included in a resume, you must organize it into appropriate and clearly distinguished resume sections . This will prevent your resume from looking cluttered and chaotic.

Generally speaking, there are two types of resume sections: necessary and optional .

The necessary resume sections include:

• Personal/contact information
• Resume summary or resume objective
• Work experience

From the optional sections , the most frequent include:

• Hobbies and interests
• Awards and achievements
• Certificates
• Volunteering
• References (though this one is mainly used in CVs, rather than resumes.)

How long should a resume be?

Choosing the right resume length can be tricky, believe it or not. Luckily for you, there is only one correct answer. 

Our recommendation to keep your resume to only one page probably won't surprise you. 

Absolutely. 

Whether it's your first or fiftieth time, you always need to attach a resume to your job application . 

Your resume is something like an ID card in the workforce – it tells people who you are, what you can do , and how they can reach you . Without a resume you won't get invited to a job interview; and without a job interview, well, you won't get a job. 

Maybe you feel that since you have no practical experience, writing a resume is pointless - this statement couldn't be further from true. 

After all, you would have to create a resume at one point in your life, so it may as well be now.

The simple fact of having a well-done resume already displays a certain level of professionalism and readiness for the workplace. 

Knowing how to best present yourself and your abilities – especially when you have no previous experience to vouch for them – is a skill in itself. And every skill needs practice. 

So let's practise!

Writing a good resume for your first job can be intimidating; but following these 6 steps will make the process much easier.

Instead of a resume summary, opt for a resume objective. In 3-5 sentences, focus on your career goals and academic achievements. Express your enthusiasm for the job, your goals, and your desire to grow professionally. 

This might be the most important section of your resume. Write your education entries in detail. You can mention relevant coursework, projects, or awards.

If you lack professional experience, you can build on your relevant internships, volunteering, independent projects, your teen jobs , summer jobs, or part-time jobs. Especially highlight those that are at least somewhat relevant for the job.

Highlight hard skills, like languages, computer skills , or other tools. Also, don't forget to include soft skills , which are personality traits and are transferrable from your old jobs or school. You can also organize your skills section into smaller categories and use infographics.

Include your contact information in your resume header. Make sure they are clearly visible and easy to find with the first glance. Don't forget to include your LinkedIn profile.

If you feel that there's still relevant information to be mentioned, but you lack separate resume sections – create them. For instance, create a separate 'Independent Projects' section and boast about your endeavours.

Now, let's go through these steps in detail.

Step 1: Create a compelling resume summary/objective 

What is the purpose.

What separates a good resume from a great one is its ability to immediately capture the attention of whoever is reading it. A nifty piece of text called a resume summary does the trick. 

This brief text placed near the top of your resume, close to your contact information, condenses your resume highlights into 3-5 sentences . 

It provides an overview of your most impressive professional qualities:

• Most significant achievements
• Most relevant skills
• Experiences that cater to specific needs of the job you want

What can you do?  

Obviously, you can't really do all that. But you can still create a persuasive short text that will make the recruiters keep on reading the rest of your resume. 

Instead of writing a resume summary, try to compose a resume objective . 

Instead of past experience and achievements, you can highlight your:

• Career goals 
• Enthusiasm to learn and grow professionally
• Educational achievements

Look at this example:

What makes this resume objective good?

• Anita shows the recruiters her qualifications by informing them of her bachelor's degree.
• She states exactly what she can offer to her future employer: proactive approach, problem-solving, critical thinking. 
• She expresses her desire to “ grow professionally ”

Step 2: Flash out your education

The education section is where you list your degrees and your academic accomplishments. To be honest, candidates with years of professional experience need this section only as a way to show that they hold an academic degree. Simply because such is the convention. 

In their case, an education entry contains the following:

• The name of the institution
• Location of the school
• Years of study
• Level of study 
• Name of their degree

What can you do?

For fresh graduates, the education section of a resume is often the most significant part . Make sure to put some meat on the bones … a lot of it actually.

At this point in your professional life, your academic achievements are probably the only way to showcase your most relevant abilities and substantial qualifications . Throughout your academic journey, you've likely gained and achieved a multitude of things, use this section to show your range. 

Apart from the information shown above, you should elaborate on your education entries by detailing your:

• Relevant coursework. Being fresh out of school does have a certain advantage – all the theoretical knowledge is still in your head. 
• Final thesis. Your final thesis is the climax of your studies. It's by far your most elaborate project. It requires a lot of effort, good time management, dedication and long-term commitment – all the qualities highly desired by employers. Not to mention if the subject of your thesis directly links to the job you're applying for!
• Extracurricular activities. It's good to demonstrate your interest in things outside of the prescribed curriculum – this might suggest similar tendencies in work environment. 
• Projects you've worked on. Apart from the knowledge, you've gained valuable teamwork experience.
• Scholarships.  
• Academic awards. Make the recruiters recognize your hard work. 
• GPA . Include it only if it's higher than 3.5.

In short, make note of every relevant information that will make your future employers see your potential.

Keep in mind that your education entries should be listed in reverse-chronological order .

Consider this example:

What makes this education section good?

• By mentioning the acknowledgements for her academic performance, Hannah shows the recruiters that she is focused, hard-working and consistent. 
• Her membership in various societies and clubs suggest that she's developed strong communication and networking skills.

Step 3: Camouflage your work experience.

Normally, the work experience section takes up the most space on a resume. It is here where candidates demonstrate their acquired skills and know-how with practical examples from real-life professional situations.

One of the defining characteristics of those just entering the workforce, such as yourself, is the lack of practical work experience. 

This doesn't have to mean that you have no experience whatsoever. 

Instead of dealing with this section in the traditional way, you can make for your lack of experience by focusing on:

• Internships. You can treat your internships as if they were regular jobs. In a few bullet points, note your responsibilities and accomplishments. Include any projects or studies you've participated in. What problems did you solve? What outcomes did you contribute to?
• Independent projects . Feel free to add any kind of projects you've worked on. These can be academic, personal, work-related, freelance projects, etc. For instance, if you created a website for your college society, include this along with the transferrable skills you gained and a URL link.
• Volunteering. Volunteering is as valid as any other work experience. Just because something wasn't paid, doesn't mean that it didn't bring you anything valuable. Plus, if the company you're interested in shares your passion for volunteering, this can be your greatest weapon. 
• Part-time jobs. What relevant tasks did you undertake? What were your responsibilities? 

If you pick one, two, or combination of all – keep in mind that all the information on your resume should be relevant! This means that everything you decide to put on this document has to connect to the job you're applying for in some way.

If none of your experience aligns with the demands of your target job, you can still include it. Just make sure to focus on all the transferable skills you’ve gained because of it. 

Here is one example of how to deal with the feared “work experience” section:

What makes this work experience section good?

• Despite not having any full-time experience, Nathan utilized his internship to the maximum. 
• He clearly states the competences and tasks he undertook.
• He details the accomplishments and skills he employed with specific examples . 
• To make the text more readable and organized, he used bullet points and bold fonts . As a consequence, the whole entry feels less dense.

Step 4: Show relevant skills

It's quite straightforward, really – the skills section on your resume is there to highlight any skills that can help you get the job. 

Your abilities fall under one of two categories: hard or soft skills. 

Hard skills are those you can obtain through education or training – they can be easily measured and quantified. The most prominent hard skills are:

• Foreign language proficiency
• Computer skills (coding languages, spreadsheets, etc.)
• Completed training (forklift operation, driving licence, etc.)

Soft skills , on the other hand, aren't so easily defined. We can say that these are the interpersonal and social nuances one cultivates throughout years and years of experience. You can also know them under the term transferable . Some of the most sought-after soft skills include:

• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Leadership 
• Reliability
• Time management 

Since soft skills aren't strictly tied to a particular job position, you can apply them across all industries. Yes, even you .

Although both hard and soft skills can be included in the skills section , we recommend you to do this:

• Use the skills section to mark your hard skills . Since these can be objectively measured, you can mark down the level of your proficiency by using infographics. Your resume will be sleeker and visually more interesting. Add tools and software that you already have experience using and are relevant to the position you’re applying for. For example, a VoIP phone system, CRM platform, or  call center software  will be a huge plus for customer support roles, and keyword research and SEO tools will bring benefits if you’re applying for an SEO-related role.
• Sprinkle your soft skills throughout other parts of your resume . Don't just write communication skills and blackout three out of five circles – that doesn't say much. We aren't saying that this is necessarily wrong; but you can do better!
• Instead of just writing teamwork , mention your participation in various projects when you talk about your education. 
• Don't just write reliable, show how many responsibilities and competences you were able to handle during your internship.
• Instead of just writing leadership skills , mention the fact you led multiple group projects in your resume objective. 

Let's look at Anita's resume again. Focus on her skills section:

What makes this skills section good?

• She included hard skills only, which allowed her to include more of them. (all relevant to the job position though!)
• Anita organized her skills section into two categories . This made it more readable. 
• By including infographics, she elevated the overall look of her resume.

Step 5: Provide up-to date contact information

A good resume is incomplete without your personal contact information. The recruiters need to know how to get in touch with you as soon as they look at your resume. Don't forget to clearly state your:

• Full name; 
• email address;
• phone number;
• and links to your LinkedIn, online portfolio of social media account (only if relevant!)

Make your contact info stand apart from the rest of the text. Place it in the topmost part of your resume (also called the resume header ). 

You can use a bigger font size to draw immediate attention to your name. 

And for the love of God, don't use unprofessional-sounding emails such as [email protected] . 

Step 6: Enhance your resume with optional sections

Optional sections in a resume are those that are not essential but can be included to provide additional context about your skills, experiences, or personal interests. 

These sections can be particularly useful for highlighting aspects of your profile that might not be evident from the standard sections.

When it comes to organizing your resume sections, there really is only one rule. The more important the information, the sooner it should be accessible . 

If you want to draw the recruiters' attention to all the certificates you've gained – create yourself a stand-alone certificate section . 

Maybe you have both internship and volunteering experience, but you only went into detail on your internship – create a volunteering section . 

Or, you may want to create a separate Projects section where you provide links and descriptions of your independent endeavours you did as a freelancer or just for fun.

Your additional section can look like this:

What makes this example good?

• By organizing all certificates under one section, you draw attention to your qualifications head on. 
• Each certificate is explained in detail with 1-2 short sentences.

If you'd like some more inspiration, breeze through our resume samples and have a look at resumes that have actually helped our customers to land the job they'd wanted. 

Congratulations. Now you know how to make resume for first job. 

Just one more thing.

If you've read carefully you might've noticed how often the word relevant pops up in this post. (Could be a good drinking game actually.)

By relevant we mean pertaining to the job you're applying for . 

Knowing what your job demands allows you to tailor your resume to each job posting you wish to reply to. The closer your resume aligns with these requirements, the better chance to land a job interview you'll have.  

Go to the job posting and read it again. Which key words and phrases catch your eye? 

In this example, we've highlighted them for you: 

Job posting example:

 Entry-Level Customer Service Representative

XYZ Tech Solutions is looking for a motivated Entry-Level Customer Service Representative to join our team in Miami, FL. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills , basic computer proficiency, and a strong command of both English and Spanish . This role involves addressing customer queries, solving problems with a proactive approach, and contributing to team efforts in a fast-paced environment. No previous experience required, making it perfect for those starting their professional journey. If you’re passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and ready to grow your skills, apply now and kickstart your career with us!

When constructing your resume, make sure that you've managed to tick as many boxes as possible . Just don't lie!

Have a look at the following resume example.

Now, let's have a look at a great example resume for first job belonging to a student intern.

She highlights her skills and education, effectively camouflaging the lack of work experience.

She makes use of the skills-based resume format , which focuses on your skills rather than professional experience – also a great way to make up for the lack of experience.

The best thing is you can use this resume as your first draft.

Student Intern Resume Sample

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

K ey takeaways: How to make a resume for first job?

Even without formal work experience, a resume is crucial. It serves as the initial point of contact between you and potential employers .

To make your first resume land with a bang, follow these simple steps:

• Create a compelling resume objective. Focus on career goals and academic achievements.
• Flash out your education. Highlight relevant coursework, projects, or awards.
• Camouflage your work experience. Utilize internships, volunteering, and part-time jobs to adequatly compensate for your lack of experience.
• Show relevant skills. Include both hard and transferabe skills. For better readability use infographics if possible. 
• Provide up-to date contact information. Ensure it's up-to-date and prominently displayed.
• Enhance your resume with optional sections. Add any other relevant sections as needed.

Don't forget the golden rule – always customize your resume to align with the specific job requirements, focusing on relevant skills and qualities .

Finally, a good resume should always be accompanied by a good cover letter. It can lend you more space to show the recruiters your passion and personal motivation to work for their company. As a fresh graduate, this is how you write a cover letter with no experience .

Is your first resume any good?

Scan your resume for issues and see how it compares against other resumes in our database.

Julia is an experienced career writer at Kickresume, who brings you expert tips on how to score big in the job market. From helping people improve their English to gain admission to their dream university, to guiding them on how to advance professionally, it would seem that her own career is also on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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Resume Examples For First Job: Learn How To Craft An Entry-Level Application That Gets You Hired

So how do you land your first job? That’s a multifaceted question. Previously, we shared some tips on getting an entry-level job . But what about your first job ever? This might be your first job as a high school graduate , or a job you pursue as an adult after staying home to raise a family. In any case, the following advice assumes that you are entirely new to the workforce and that you are starting from scratch.

Where exactly do you begin? Take a look at our roaster of entry-level resume examples. The, check out the resume tips we have below. These are tailored to completely inexperienced job seekers, strong attestations to how someone with a lack of experience can still show how they can be valuable to an organization.

Three Compelling Entry-Level Resume Examples 

The best way to learn anything new is to follow an example. Thus our team prepared several different variations of an entry-level resume you can use as a reference for writing.

Resume Template For Entry-Level (Word version)

Download resume example (.docx)

Resume Example For a First Job (text version)

Seeking a job opportunity that will allow me to use my computer skills, personality, and organizational skills in an entry-level position as an assistant, clerk, or receptionist in an office or retail environment.

Relevant Skills

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Typing And Data Entry
• Fluent in Both English And Spanish
• Direct Sales Experience
• Team Building

Professional Experience

Pampered Chef Intern: Direct Sales Representative June 2016 – April 2017

Sold kitchen related accessories and supplies direct to consumers. Organized and hosted sales parties both online and in customer’s homes. Recruited other sales representatives. Delivered items to customers, kept track of inventory and order sheets.

Volunteer Work Girl Scouts of America Troop Leader April 2017 – Present

Maintained membership roles, recruited parent volunteers, attended leadership training seminars, planned activities, and mentored troop members. Led activities, and conducted troop leadership training. Coordinated fundraising efforts. Partnered with other troop leaders to plan events and activities.

West Side University Business Management BA May, 2005

Example of High School Student Resume with No Work Experience

Resume objective.

I am a high school student with a strong work ethic and organizational skills, willing to take direction, punctual, and friendly. I’m interested in pursuing a part-time position that will allow me to learn on the job while gaining real-life work experience.

Washington Highschool 2018-Present  GPA:3.75 Activities: 

• Student Service Organization
• Science Fair
• Future Business Leaders Of America
• Junior Achievement

Work and Volunteer Experience

Babysitting 2018-2020

Established a trusting and nurturing relationship with my neighbor’s young children while they were at work during the summer. Tasks would include cleaning rooms, feeding, changing, and giving small children a safe environment until their mother returned. Volunteer Work: Humane Society 2020-Present

Took time to nurture animals in the shelter under supervision. Fed animals, cleaned kennels of any debris, ensured paperwork was properly processed during adoption. Answered questions about concerns on animal welfare, and care participation.

Volunteer Work: Counselor at Girlscouts camp 2019-2020

Lead groups of young girls on adventurous outings in a safe and nurturing environment. Ensured the safety and wellbeing of a group of children ranging in age from 10 years to 14 years of age. Prepared meals for the campers and myself. Took a leadership role in a wide range of activities such as swimming, hiking, and fishing. Relayed information to both campers and other counselors in a calm manner. Worked as an assistant to the camp’s art instructor.

Skills and Accomplishments

• Treasurer of the Honors society
• MVP: Varsity Field Hockey Team
• Proficient in Math
• Proficient in Microsoft applications.
• Proficient leadership skills

Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Example 

Objective statement .

I am an honors BS engineering student with high digital literacy skills, entry-level programming, and UI/UX design skills. Looking to gain entry-level experience at a software engineering firm where I can contribute my front-end software development skills and obtain mentorship.

• Object-Oriented Programming
• Software Testing
• Communications Skills
• Google And MS Suites
• Team Player

City College: Albany New York Bachelor of Science Degree: Software Engineering, 112/120 Credits completed.

• Academic Honors: Deans List (4 semesters)
• National Honor Society

Upstate Tech Institute- Albany, NY Associate of Computer Science, May 2017

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude, May 2017

Work Experience

Front-End Developer — Freelance  May 2019- Present

• Developed several UI components for an eLearning app 
• Coded landing page design for a WordPress resto website 
• Provided manual UX/UI testing services for an eLearning portal 
• Portfolio available at [insert your portfolio URL here]

City College College- Albany, NY Administrative Assistant (Work-Study), September 2017- Present

• Took Phone calls and messages
• Answered inquiries on behalf of students, faculty, and other staff members
• Kept an organized and well-functioning workspace. 
• Assisted other members of the office in a variety of tasks.

ABC Bakery Courtesy Clerk: April 2016- March 2017

• Provided excellent customer service while serving customers a wide range of baked goods and drinks. Performed bussing duties as needed. Drummed up excellent PR that ended up attracting returning customers.

Technology Summary

Adobe Studio, Photoshop, XML/HTML, Javascript, Windows, Linux, Apple, MS Office suite.

Don’t be shy to include any paid or unpaid, internship, or volunteer work as your experience, just like our candidate did here.  Even if it was a few years ago, go ahead and add it to your resume as this still can show the skills you have developed. Also, you can make your resume “pop” by using a creative resume template . We have a wide array of those listed on our website for free!

How to Make a Resume with No Experience

No experience — no good resume? Wrong! 

Even if you are fresh to the workforce, you still have some important qualities and even qualifications to offer a prospective employer. Be it traditional education, alternative online learning certifications, strong soft skills, or even informal work experience such as volunteering, freelance, or even home-based work. What you have to do though is communicate the above in a marketable way. 

Here are step-by-step instructions for writing a resume with no experience:

• Go for a functional resume format 
• Create a list of accomplishments
• Drop the cutesy add-ons 
• Write an objective statement 
• List all your education 
• Add a great cover letter 

You can complete all of the above steps in our free resume generator and instantly download your resume copy.

1. Choose A Functional Resume

A functional resume emphasizes your skills first, rather than starting with your work experience. This is the best choice for inexperienced workers. After all, you can pick up marketable skills through your schooling, hobbies, and just life experience in general. Create a list of hard and soft skills that you have that would be valuable in the entry-level position you’re after.

Hard skills might include:

• Internet Research
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Social Media Content Creation 
• Typing and Data Entry
• Cash Handling

Check this extra list of in-demand skills employers look for . 

Soft skills are:

• Written communication
• Listening 
• Negotiation
• Multi-Tasking

Need more ideas? Browse the following lists we’ve made:

• Universal soft skills examples for a resume 
• Core interpersonal skills for a resume  
• Best organizational skills for your resume 
• Transferable skills to put on your resume 

2. Make A List Of Your Accomplishments

Create a master list of the notable things that you’ve done over the years. You won’t include the entire list on your resume , but you can mine the list for items to add depending on the job for which you are applying. Think about organizations you’ve been part of, hobbies that you’ve pursued to the point of expertise, volunteer work, etc. List any awards and accolades as well. Most importantly, list the skills you’ve developed along the way.

Read more about how to list your accomplishments on a resume . 

3. Avoid Unprofessional Or ‘Cutesy’ Additions

Professionalism is going to be key. Anyone looking at your resume will need to believe that you can enter any work situation, and understand the basics of business ethics and conduct yourself appropriately in a work environment. Your resume shouldn’t contain any cringe-worthy elements, including:

• An unprofessional email address. The best choice is an email address using your college or university, Gmail, or some other widely accepted domain. Use a combination of your first name/first initial and last name.
• Rambling ‘explanations’ for your lack of work experience . It’s perfectly acceptable to have spent your time pursuing an education, or focusing on other things.
• Cutesy terms such as ‘momtrepreneur’ or ‘CEO of my home and family’.
• Hobbies or interests that don’t contribute to your fitness for the position you are after.
• Any type of buzzword you’ve heard others using, but do not fully understand yourself. 

4. Use An Objective Statement

Since you don’t have work experience, a personal statement or professional summary won’t work. Instead, write an objective statement , but focus on what you can do for your employer. Avoid language that focuses on what you want the employer to provide for you.

5. Add All Of Your Education

Take advantage of any educational experience that you have. This includes formal education, but also other forms of schooling. Have you taken online classes, finished self-study courses, or attended seminars or bootcamps? Add those to your resume!

6: Add A Great Cover Letter

A good cover letter can really fill in a lot of gaps. You can use it to show your passion for a particular job, to explain your lack of employment history, and go into detail about why you would be a great fit.

FAQs about Entry-Level Resumes

Below are answers to some common questions about entry-level resume writing and job search. 

What do you say when applying for a job with no experience?

Don’t draw attention to the fact that you have no experience at all. Instead, build your narrative around the soft and hard skills you possess, plus your personal quality. Instead of saying that “I am a high school student with no experience”, try this “I’m a motivated, organized, and digital savvy high school student, looking to gain further experience with X, Y, Z.” 

How do I pass a job interview with no experience?

Double-down on the preparation and company research. Try to learn as much as you can about the company and the role you are after. Specifically, try to find information on the main duties, company values, history, and overall culture. Then think which of your personal attributes and experiences would make you appear like a good add-on to the team. Then, during the interview, focus on describing the “matching points” between you and the company, instead of talking about your lack of experience. 

Can I get hired without a resume?

Yes, sometimes you can get hired without a resume. Mostly, this is the case for informal, part-time jobs such as babysitting, delivery work, or waitering jobs. Yet, the employer may ask for a personal reference letter instead. Also, most freelance jobs don’t require you to file a formal resume. And so do popular gig platforms. 

Should I put beginner skills on resume?

If that’s all you have as an enty-level worker, sure, put down your beginner-level skills on your resume. But don’t try to pass them off as full proficiency. Instead, add a quick note about your actual levels of expertise. Also, omit any beginner-level skills if these are irrelevant to the position you are after.

Updated on September 2021.

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 400 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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How to Make a Resume for Your First Job

Making a resume for your first job can be super tough. Chances are, you don’t have a lot of professional experience to help you jumpstart a career . (Unless all of the hours you’ve logged on Fortnite count as “experience.” In which case, you’re probably wayyyy overqualified.) So, how can you impress hiring managers with your resume and score your first job?

Fear not, young job-seeker. We’ve put together a helpful guide that explains how to make a resume for your first job. Follow these tips, start working on your interview skills, and you’ll be well on your way to scoring your first job. And if you’re still not sure what you want to do in life, feel free to check out our post – How to Choose a Career – or explore different types of careers on the Tallo blog.

1. Start by Researching Keywords and Phrases

Whether you’re making a resume for internships , an entry-level position, or a part-time job, one of the first things you should do is pull up the job listing and start identifying keywords and phrases related to the job. Why? Because these keywords could be the secret sauce to getting your resume past applicant tracking systems and into the hands of hiring managers.

Say you’re applying for a position as a front desk receptionist at a hotel. If the job listing calls for “strong verbal communication skills” and “proficiency in Word,” you’d definitely want to list those qualities in your resume. Including these relevant keywords and phrases will please the bot overlords and help your resume get seen by human eyes.

2. Put Your ‘Education’ Section at the Top 

When it comes to making a resume, you always want to lead with your strongest asset. Since you’re just starting your career, your strongest asset will likely be your education.

Listing your “Education” section at the top of your resume accomplishes two things. First, it lets hiring managers know that your education is your core competency. It also helps adjust the hiring manager’s expectations. Instead of looking for full-time job experience, they’ll expect your past experiences to consist of internships , externships, extracurricular activities , etc.

BTW, your “Education” section is also a great place to sneak in notable awards and achievements. Did you have a high GPA and graduate with honors? Go ahead and flex a little on your resume.

Here’s an example:

EDUCATION 

XYZ High School XYZ City, South Carolina

• National Merit Scholar Recipient 
• Honor Roll (2018 – Current)
• AP Coursework

3. Showcase Your Skills 

Next, you’re going to write your “Skills” section. This is where you list all of the skills and abilities that make you a qualified candidate for the job.

When listing your skills, be sure to include both hard and soft skills. Hard skills include technical and job-specific skills, like data analysis and computer skills, while soft skills are a combination of people skills (think: communication, teamwork, and being a good listener).

As a younger professional, you may not have many hard skills yet — and that’s OK. You’ll acquire more technical skills as you gain experience and move up in your career.  

4. Include Relevant Experience

Ah, the dreaded “Experience” section. It’s the ultimate catch-22: You need experience to get experience. But don’t panic! You probably have more experience than you think.

For example, were you part of your high school’s Yearbook Club? That totally counts as experience — and, yes, you can make it sound impressive. The trick is to begin each sentence using strong action verbs. 

For example:

Yearbook Club | Aug 2018 – Present 

Yearbook Club Leader

• Oversaw weekly Yearbook Club meetings and assigned specific duties to individual team members.
• Designed and assembled the sophomore class section of the yearbook while meeting deadlines.
• Took photos of students and faculty during school assemblies, club activities, and other various school functions.

Ready to fill out your own experience section? Here is a list of resume action verbs to help get you started.

5. Don’t Forget Your Cover Letter

In general, you should always submit a cover letter with your resume, even if the job application doesn’t require one. Although a strong cover letter won’t save a bad resume, it can help differentiate you from the competition. 

If you’ve ever written a cover letter for internships , you’ll find that many of the same tips apply for your first job: lead with your strongest asset, use keywords to your advantage, and reiterate how pumped you are to work for the company.

Figuring out how to write a resume for a first job can be daunting. The good news? Writing a resume only gets easier from here on out as you get more experience under your belt. 

Image Credits:

Source: Jirapong Manustrong/Shutterstock

Source: MYDAYcontent/Shutterstock

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