It’s always a burning topic how to make a resume with no experience that would catch the attention of recruiters. Writing a resume for the first job has its own specific plan and tricks.
Actually, it’s not a problem at all if you don’t have any work experience. What is more important is how you present yourself and your background. Learning how to make a good resume is an investment in your future career. How to build a resume can be broken down into several easy steps. So let’s dive into the process of creating your very first resume with Cheqmark resume guide.
Choose a type for your resume
Firstly, you have to prepare the basis of your CV. That means you have to choose a type of resume. Now, a question: how do you choose a resume template? Well, there are three most common types of resumes:
Chronological: the main idea is to list your education and experience from the most recent to the oldest. Pay more attention to activities you’ve done recently rather than years ago.
Functional: in this format, you should focus on your skills and achievements. It has to be the biggest part of this type of resume.
Combination(Hybrid): This format combines these two types and uses both of their advantages. It is focused on your skills and experience.
We recommend choosing a chronological type for most jobseekers, as it allows you to concentrate more on your educational achievements. Decide which way you can present yourself the most advantageously.
Write down your contact information
How to start a resume? Begin with the contact information. The most important elements of the contact block are:
- full name
- phone number
- location
The same rule applies to all these points—write everything correctly. Check that your name is written properly and that your phone and email are valid and accessible.
But don’t exaggerate with information; write only one phone number and one email.
If you want to be in the office, you must mention your location to understand your accessibility. Note only your city and county, without your home address or any particular details.
Example:
John Doe
[email protected]
(555) 555-5555
Seattle, WA
This example clearly and professionally provides all the necessary contact information. Following these guidelines ensures that your resume’s contact section effectively facilitates communication with potential employers.
Define your objection
A short statement at the top of your resume or in cover letter explains why you perfectly match this position.
Less than 5% of recruiters will spend more than 1 minute reviewing a resume on the first viewing.
And the objective of the resume for the job is the first thing they pay attention to. So include information about who you are, your field of work, and your accomplishments. Don’t forget that it has to be laconic and made out of 2–3 sentences.
If you decide to use an objective statement, here’s an example for an entry-level position:
Example:
Position: Customer Service Representative
Objective Statement:
Recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a proven ability to build rapport through exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. I am eager to leverage these strengths in an entry-level Customer Service Representative role, providing exceptional customer service and contributing to a positive company image.
When submitting a resume for a job application, ensure it is tailored to the specific requirements and preferences of the position and company. Making a resume for a job requires transforming it for a specific position. Screen the desired position, find the main keywords, and incorporate them into your resume to make it stand out.
Show how smart you are
Now, it’s one of the most crucial parts of your work resume – the education part. As you don’t have much experience or any at all, it’s your chance to shine as a candidate.
Write necessary information about your education entries, such as program and university names, years of attendance, and your honors (if you have any).
Example:
Position: Data Scientist
Master of Science in Data Science (Expected May 2025)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Relevant Coursework:
- Machine Learning
- Data Visualization
- Natural Language Processing
Independent Research Project: Sentiment Analysis of Social Media Data
Member, Data Science Club (2023-Present)
If you participated in extracurricular activities, like training, courses, or exchange programs, you must mention them in this part. By including relevant details and showcasing valuable skills gained through coursework and activities, you can shine your education section and convince employers you’re a strong candidate despite limited work experience.
Remember that all these commitments must be relevant to the job you’re applying for, and you must adhere to your responsibilities.
Instead of experience, try this
No worries about lack of experience. As a recent graduate or still a student, recruiters know that you don’t have much experience, and that’s absolutely fine. As long as you’re applying for junior, trainee, or entry-level positions, you need no experience but strong motivation.
Still, you can highlight other strengths instead of your work experience. An entry-level resume should highlight your educational background and potential to learn. Crafting a compelling resume with no work experience involves emphasizing relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and skills acquired through various experiences.
You can write about your internships, training, or projects that resonate with your job.
For example, if you’re applying for a junior marketer position and you have a remarkable project about branding in university, it’s a perfect match. If you’re applying for a position as a journalist trainee, it would be nice to mention that you were a part of the book club.
Bonus tip: try to focus on your achievements rather than talking about your responsibilities.
Example:
School Newspaper (2021-Present)
Managed social media accounts and increased follower engagement by 20%: This achievement showcases my ability to analyze audience trends, create engaging content, and effectively utilize social media platforms to grow a community.
List your skills
Basically, there are two types of skills: soft and strong.
Soft skills are mostly about your personal characteristics as a worker, your ability to cope with stress, socializing with others, time management, etc.
While strong skills are about your technical knowledge. What programs and tools can you work with? For example, R (including libraries like ggplot2 and tidyverse), Linear Algebra, copywriting, etc.
Source: RiseUp
You have to mention some of your soft skills, but don’t rely on them too much. Recruiters can’t test them and understand if it’s true, but they can test your hard skills by giving you a test task.
Stick to your hard skills according to responsibility. Analyze the description of the position you’re applying for, highlight the most significant skills that are required, and write them (of course, if you have one) on your resume for the first job. Highlight your beginner skills for your resume to demonstrate your potential, even if you’re just starting out. Create a resume that effectively showcases your skills and experience.
Optional section
The last section is absolutely optional. It’s not necessary, but it’s another chance to show your advantage. Here, you can mention your language skills and your hobbies (only relevant ones!).
It’s also nice to mention your awards here.
Example:
Dean’s List Award (2020-2022) – [University Name]
Best Volunteer of the Year Award (2023) – [Organization Name]
It’s all about formatting
Maybe it’s the last part of this article, but it’s definitely the most important one. If your resume is completely unreadable, you lose a game. Remember, you have less than 10 seconds for the first impression. Make it tidy and clear, divide all sections, and keep the logic straight. Craft a clear and informative basic resume that communicates your skills and experience.
For these purposes, it would be nice to use a template, as it has all the necessary sections prepared; you only need to customize it according to your own needs. Choose a simple resume format, and don’t exaggerate with designs. Explore the best resume examples for job applications across various industries.
Student resume examples can help highlight your academic achievements. Check out some of our resume examples for first job templates:
Resume For High School Student First Job Template
FAQ
What is a resume for a job?
This one- to two-page document highlights your skills, experience, and education, making it your key marketing tool in the job search.
Do you need a resume for your first job?
In most cases, you’ll need a resume for your first job. Sometimes, even a cover letter is a must. Even though there are many easy jobs to get with no experience, each requires a basic resume with your contact, skills, and experience information.
How to make a resume for a high school student resume with no work experience?
To create a resume for a teenager with no work experience, focus on highlighting academic achievements, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and relevant skills such as communication and teamwork. We have prepared a template to ease this process and a first-job high school resume sample to get you inspired.
How to make a resume for your first job?
Step one – choose one of Cheqmark’s templates.
Step two – follow our plan for the creation of your first resume and customize it on your own. If you need more inspiration to fill out your resume, you can search for information about first-time resumes with no experience samples.
How long does my resume have to be?
The answer usually depends. But for a beginner, the answer is one page. There is no need to write an essay. Remember that it’s about quality, not quantity.
In conclusion, remember that a lack of experience doesn’t make you a weak candidate. Creating a resume allows you to showcase your value to potential employers and grab their attention. So follow these steps and learn how to write a resume with no experience effectively to land your dream job.
