how to write an entry level resume with no experience

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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10 Tips for Writing an Entry-Level Resume That’ll Get Your Career Started Right (Plus an Example)

Getting an “entry-level job” sounds like it should be easy, but when you pull up job descriptions and see the lists of skills and experiences companies are looking for, the prospect can be overwhelming. You know you’re ready to start a great career, but how do you convince someone to give you an entry-level job? That’s where an entry-level resume comes in. You may already have a resume you created to get a job while in high school or college , or to land an internship , but making a resume for an entry-level job can be a little different.

A resume is a document that showcases to potential employers why they should hire you. Generally, past work experience makes up the bulk of it. So what do you do when you’re just getting started and don’t have much (or any) past work experience to put on a resume? Or what if you do have past jobs, but you’re not sure if they apply to the entry-level job you’re looking at?

Read on to find out what recruiters are looking for in an entry-level resume and get tips for making your own—and skip to the end to get an example.

What Are Recruiters Looking for in an Entry-Level Resume?

Despite any horror stories you may have heard about entry-level jobs that require five or more years experience, most companies consider people with zero to three years of work experience to be candidates for entry-level jobs. And recruiters looking at these resumes adjust their expectations accordingly.

With “entry-level resumes, you go in with the assumption that someone isn’t going to have a lot of experience,” says Muse career coach Yolanda Owens , founder of Career Sensei and college corporate recruiter for over twenty years. So what are they looking for in an entry-level resume? How are they making judgements about entry-level candidates? 

When recruiters look at an entry-level (or any) resume, they want to know why you’re applying for the job. If you majored in accounting and everything on your resume focuses on that, but you applied for a job in marketing, recruiters aren’t going to understand why and they’ll probably move you to the rejection pile. But if you show that you had a marketing internship you excelled in or took a lot of communications and marketing classes, that makes your motivations a whole lot clearer.

Your resume is a single page that is supposed to convince the person who reads it to call you for an interview. So it has to be relevant to the job they’re hiring for. That’s why you shouldn’t send out the exact same resume to every company with an entry-level opening. You’re unlikely to ever get a response that way. Instead, make sure you know why you’re applying for each role and tailor every section on your resume accordingly.

Personality

There are two major components to every single hiring decision: qualifications and personality. When you join a company, you’re joining a team, and hiring managers want to know that you’ll be a great addition. So where you can, you want to make sure your resume shows who you are as a person and how you’re unique among all the other applicants in the pile.

As a recruiter, Owens would often reject resumes where she could tell that the candidate “sprinkled in a bunch of buzzwords” and didn’t attempt to show the individual beyond the piece of paper. That’s because she couldn’t picture who they’d be as an employee and as a colleague. And don’t think that there’s a “correct” personality for every workplace. Every company (or even team within a company) has its own environment and group dynamics, and there’s definitely somewhere where you’ll be at home, just as you are.

Your resume summary (more on that below) is a great place to show your personality, as are your accomplishments and choices of activities.

Transferable Skills

When you’re first joining the workforce, you’re going to be lighter on skills that come directly from a past job in your field. That’s inevitable, and recruiters know it. Instead, they’re looking for your transferable skills . These are skills that you’ve used and developed through past experiences—including part-time jobs, internships, classes, and extracurricular activities—that can be applied to a number of different career paths. These might be things like communication, organization, time management, customer service, teamwork, and general office skills. For example, if you’ve worked in a fast food position, you likely have customer service experience that will translate to a sales position.

As you look back on all of your experiences, think about what you learned that could serve you well in the workplace. Did you have to figure out how to communicate with a group that disagreed? Did you have to plan a lot of small pieces of a large project in order to get everything done by a deadline? Did you have to work within a budget or convince local businesses to donate something or a charity event? These types of things are transferable skills. Just make sure they’re related to the description of the job you’re applying for before you put them on your resume, says Muse career coach Jennifer Smith , founder of Flourish Careers and former college recruiter.

Leadership Experience

Recruiters love to see leadership experience on a resume. Not because they expect you to fill a management role (obviously!), but because it signals to recruiters that you have some teamwork skills, know how to make decisions, and may have experience working with budget among other things—all in a somewhat professional capacity, Owens says.

“College provides a lot of opportunities for folks to be leaders,” Smith says, whether that’s through clubs and professional groups, fraternities and sororities, volunteer organizations, or sports teams, and leaders of these groups are often required to do things that often come up in a professional work environment. So look for opportunities to call attention to leadership experience on your resume. Even if you didn’t hold an official position, if you took the lead on organizing something that still counts.

If you held a leadership role in a past job, whether that’s as a store manager, assistant manager, shift lead, new employee trainer, or even a senior team member with additional responsibilities, definitely highlight that as well. Even if it’s not exactly on your current career path, it’s very valuable experience that proves you have a number of transferable skills.

So now that you know what recruiters are looking for on an entry-level resume, how do you go about putting one together?

1. Put Your Contact Information Front and Center

Your name and contact information should always be at the top of your resume. This includes your phone number, your email address (make sure it’s a professional-sounding one), and your LinkedIn URL (you do have a LinkedIn profile , right?). If it’s applicable to the field you’re trying to enter, you might also consider a link to your personal website or online portfolio .

As an entry-level candidate, you might be wondering whether or not to include a location—especially if you just finished school and intend to move somewhere new. The answer depends. If you’re applying to jobs where you currently live, go ahead and include your city and state—full mailing address not needed. If you’re applying to jobs in an area where you’re definitely planning to move, you can leave off your current location and write “Relocating to [City, State]” at the top of your resume or mention your plans to move in your cover letter.

If you’re not sure where you’re headed, Smith recommends leaving your location off your resume. If you list an out-of-area location, you risk getting disqualified by a recruiter who has no relocation budget. But if you leave it off entirely, you could land an interview and allow the company to learn more about you before discussing location. This isn’t likely to create a relocation budget where none exists, but it will get you considered for a role if you’re able to move without financial support from the company.

2. Use a Resume Summary to Help You Stand Out (Optional)

Below your name and contact info, consider adding a resume summary (not an outdated resume objective ). A resume summary consists of a few short sentences describing who you are as a candidate and as a person. For later-career candidates, a summary often talks about past full-time roles and key career achievements, but as an entry-level candidate you can use this space to get a bit more in-depth about who you are. Resume summaries are completely optional, but this is a place where you can really make a connection with a recruiter and have them think of you as a person, and not just words on a page.

In a resume summary you can (briefly) describe your key skills, what you’re passionate about, and what you have to offer this organization that’s going to set you apart. Candidates just entering a field often have fresh ideas and a lot of energy and enthusiasm, Smith says. And a resume summary is a great place to show that off.

Perhaps most importantly, your summary should also look to the future. After you describe who you are, spend a sentence or two talking about where you want to go and what you hope to bring to this specific job.

Here’s one example of what a resume summary might look like for an entry-level candidate:

Enthusiastic and creative recent grad with passion for communications, design, and the environment. Created graphics and written copy as part of social media strategies to grow personal, business, student group, and cute dog social media accounts by a combined 2 million followers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Active in Rutgers’ chapter of the Sierra Club for 4 years and dedicated to helping educate people about climate change.

3. Emphasize Your Education

If you’ve ever looked at the resume of someone several years into their career, you may have noticed that their “Education” section was at the bottom of the page. But this isn’t the case for entry-level resumes. Putting your education right below your contact information or summary (along with your graduation date or expected graduation date) immediately lets the reader know that you’re in the very early stages of your career, Owens says. This adjusts their expectations of what sort of experience you’re likely to have, so they won’t go in looking for several past jobs in your field when you’re about to showcase mostly internships, coursework, extracurricular activities, part-time or temporary jobs, and unrelated jobs.

Beyond your graduation date, you should list the name of each school you’ve attended after high school, its location, your degree (bachelor’s, associates, master’s, etc.), your major, and any minors or concentrations. If you don’t have a college degree, you should list the name of your high school, its location, and your graduation date. If you did any study abroad programs, list those as their own schools, but make it explicit that they were study abroad programs. This is also the section to list any relevant certificate, training programs, or online classes that you’ve completed along with the school or organization you completed them through and the date (or anticipated date) of completion.

Under the applicable school, you should also list any honors, scholarships, and awards you received along with a short description of what each accolade is or why you were given it. You should list your GPA if the job description asks for it. Otherwise it’s optional, but only list it if it’s above a 3.5.

From there, you want to consider the job you’re applying to when deciding what else to share. If you completed a capstone project, thesis, or another major project, you should list that, but tailor your description to the specific job. For example, let’s say you did a capstone project that involved coming up with a business plan. If you’re applying for software development positions, emphasize the part of the project where you coded a website from scratch. But if you’re pursuing a marketing role, you might want to call attention to the way you planned to advertise your business to potential customers.

You can also list relevant coursework, but make sure it’s obvious  why it’s relevant. For example, say you have a business degree and took five finance classes without a formal concentration. When you apply to finance roles, listing those courses will show that you have background knowledge. If you have a general biology degree and are applying to work in a neuroscience lab, you can list the neuroscience and anatomy courses you took. A “relevant coursework” bullet point can also show how you obtained a key skill for the job you want. But don’t just list classes you think sound impressive unless they’re directly relevant to the job you’re applying to.

4. Show That You Have the Right Experience for the Job

On a resume for somebody further along in their career, “experience” almost always focuses primarily on current and past paid jobs. For an entry-level candidate, experience can come from many places:

• Relevant internships, apprenticeships, or co-ops are the first thing that many recruiters will look for on an entry-level resume. But they’re far from the only thing that counts as experience. Most recruiters and hiring managers recognize that not everyone can afford to do an internship—particularly in fields where they often pay little or nothing.
• Part-time or full-time jobs are still professional experience even when they’re not directly related to your future career path. They’re a great place to look for those transferable skills, and they show hiring managers that as a baseline, you have experience showing up, completing tasks, and getting along in a workplace environment. Further, “if someone worked and went to college they’re obviously juggling a lot,” Smith says, and that speaks to a candidate’s work ethic and time management skills.
• Volunteer work also counts as experience especially if you led the effort or played a big part in it, Smith says. Volunteer work can show a wealth of transferable skills whether or not it’s directly relevant to your field—but definitely emphasize it if it is.
• Activities, organizations, and affiliations show your interests and personality, but they can also show transferable skills and leadership experience. If you were in a leadership or officer position, you likely had to organize well, communicate effectively, manage your time, and motivate other members of your group. You may have also had to deal with money or show good customer service. Even if you didn’t lead the group but consistently participated, you likely showed these skills and can list what you did as part of the organization.
• Relevant projects can be things that you did on your own or as part of your coursework. If you took classes in school that were not part of your major, but are relevant to the jobs you want to pursue, highlighting a project is a great way to showcase your interests and skills outside of your major. The same goes for if you pursued something non-academic like starting an online business. Even if the project doesn’t directly map onto the job you want, you can still demonstrate transferable skills.

Once you know what experience you want to talk about, you should decide how you’ll split it up into sections. You can use the bullets above that apply to you and make each its own section—labeled “Internship Experience,” “Volunteer Work,” “Activities,” and more—or you might want to have “Related Experience” and “Other Experience” sections if the experiences that are most directly relevant to your job search span across several of the above categories. You can also do things like combine internships and paid jobs into a single section called “Professional Experience” or list relevant projects in the education section. What’s most important is presenting your story in a way that’s easy to read and makes it clear why you’re the right person for the job.

5. Craft Strong Bullet Points

When it comes to listing your experience, just stating your past positions or the activities you were part of isn’t enough. Under every entry, you need to include bullet points describing what you did and what you achieved. These bullet points might be the most important part of your resume with the most real estate devoted to them, so they deserve time and attention.

“Don’t focus on the mundane daily duties, talk about your accomplishments,” Owens says. If you were a salesperson in a retail store, recruiters know the basic job duties that entails. But they won’t know that you made more sales than anyone else in the month of December—unless you tell them. If you had an internship with a major company in your field, it’s likely that you assisted the staff with daily tasks, but it’s unique to you that you were part of a team that conceived of a new marketing campaign that boosted sales by 50% in a month and wrote the copy for the campaign’s social media posts. In your bullet points, write about “what you did that made the project, company, or job better and what you did that moved the needle,” Owens says.

Whenever possible, you want to quantify your bullet points in order to be more specific and memorable and to call attention to the results you got. Which sounds better? “Led tutoring sessions,” or, “Led tutoring sessions for up to 30 students twice a week, leading to an average 10% test score increase”?

These bullet points are also where you can work in your transferable skills. If these skills are things like software or techniques, be sure to name them. If they’re softer skills like organization, communication, or collaboration, you can use action verbs to insert them into your bullet points seamlessly. Anyone can list out skills in a skills section (and you should), but putting them into context shows the person reading your resume how you’ve actually used your skills in real-life situations and how you’ll use them to help their company.

6. Show Off Your Skills (Again)

Your resume should also have a skills section where you list out all of the skills you have that match what a job description asks for. Don’t list skills you don’t have just because you think they sound good. If someone asks (and they will), you should be able to explain how you obtained this skill or how you’ve used it.

This section is often the place to focus on software and technical skills, Smith says. Technology changes so rapidly that new grads and other entry-level folks are often more up to date in this area than later-career professionals, so you definitely want to use that to your advantage.

Make sure to be specific, Owens says. Don’t list “coding” in your skills section, list out the programming languages you know. Don’t say “project management software,” say “Asana” or “Trello.” You also want to keep it modern. Unless the job description specifies it, “typing” doesn’t need to go in your skills section. The same goes for general “Microsoft Office,” though listing specific programs or skills like “Excel” or “pivot tables” is still fair game.

7. Include Relevant Keywords

As you’re preparing your resume for a specific job, take a close look at the job description and note the language they use. You want to match this language as closely as possible when it comes to the specific keywords. For example, if they’re looking for someone who has experience with Final Cut Pro, don’t just put “video editing” on your resume—make sure to include “Final Cut Pro” in your skills section (assuming you actually know how to use it!).

Why? Many companies use applicant tracking systems (or ATSs) —programs that scan your resume looking for keywords found in the job description and forward the resumes with the most matches to a hiring manager or recruiter. While this software is getting more advanced and adept at recognizing synonyms and different phrasing, it’s always best to be cautious and list keywords exactly as they appear in the job description.

8. Format Your Resume So It’s Easy to Read (by Computers and Humans!)

You may have seen those fancy, flashy resumes with graphics and tables to show your skills. You may even be tempted to shell out some money for a heavily designed template. Don’t.

If you’re applying online, you should assume your resume will have to pass through an ATS. The software parses text only, so not only will much of your formatting be lost, your text could even get left out or jumbled if the ATS can’t “read” it.

ATS aside, actual human recruiters often only have a few seconds to take a first look at a resume, and you want to make sure they can find what they’re looking for quickly. This means your resume should be highly skimmable with easy-to-read formatting, clear section headings, and lots of white space. Smith looks for resumes that are “smart, succinct, and professional looking” and, to be clear, “professional looking” doesn’t mean highly stylized.

So keep your formatting consistent and use bold, italics, and underlining when you want text to stand out. You can also make headings and your name a larger font size and use color in a way that emphasizes but doesn't distract. Stick to the classic fonts as well—no Comic Sans, handwriting fonts, or anything that doesn’t come preinstalled on most word processors.

As an entry-level candidate, your resume should never be more than one page, but don’t feel the need to add fluff to stretch it. Recruiters understand that you’re just starting out and they’d rather see strong, relevant experience than filler.

9. Tailor Your Resume for Every Job Posting

Throughout this article, you’ve seen that the content of a section or bullet point depends on what the job description says. That means that you should be changing your resume for every job posting. Yes, it’s more work than just submitting the same doc every time. But recruiters want to look at your resume and quickly see why you’re the right person for this job, and if you don’t take the time to make your case for this job, you’re likely to be overlooked.

If you want to make a base resume to pass to people in your network who aren’t hiring for specific jobs or for you to start with to get your formatting right, you should do this by pulling up several job descriptions in your field to get a feel for what companies are generally looking for. You can also create a resume outline that lists all of your experiences and skills in one place so you have a document to draw from to make tailoring easier.

10. Proofread!

Proofread your resume to check for any typos or grammar mistakes—then step away for a few hours or days and come back to proofread it again. You can even start reading from the bottom section to help you see the text a bit differently and make it less likely you’ll skim absentmindedly.

Once you’re sure your resume is completely error-free, ask someone else to read it, too. A new set of eyes will often catch things you overlooked.

An Example Entry-Level Resume

So what does all this advice look like in action? Take a look at this example entry-level resume for a recent college grad applying to a social media job with an environmental nonprofit. You’ll see the emphasis on experience that directly relates to a role like this.

Download sample entry-level resume here

As you begin your first big job search, you might feel overwhelmed or like you’ll never get a job. And yes, some companies do post listings with unrealistic standards for entry-level hires, but that doesn’t mean there are no companies out there looking for true entry-level candidates .

Believing in yourself is a big part of job hunting when you first start out, Smith says. Know that you do have something to offer companies and be confident in your capabilities. And if trying to fit a job description has you feeling like you can't be yourself on your resume or in your interview, it might be a sign that this role or company isn’t right for you, Owens says. But don’t worry, there’s another position out there that is.

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How to Write an Entry-Level Resume (With Examples)

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

July 25, 2024

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Congratulations on taking the first step toward your dream career! As a first-time job seeker, crafting your initial resume can be daunting. With little formal experience, how do you effectively showcase your potential? 

The key is to transform your resume into a compelling story highlighting your transferable skills, academic achievements, and enthusiasm for learning.

Remember, your entry-level resume isn’t merely a list of past jobs; it’s a powerful tool to demonstrate your value as a candidate. By focusing on your strengths and crafting a well-structured document, you can differentiate yourself from the competition.

In this blog post, we will provide the essential tools and guidance to create a standout entry-level resume through practical examples and templates!

What is an Entry-Level Resume?

Key components of an entry-level resume, how to write an entry-level resume with no experience, how clickup can be used to write entry-level resumes, tips for enhancing your resume’s impact, entry-level resume examples, resume mistakes to avoid for entry-level applicants, land your first job with a well-crafted resume.

An entry-level resume is a document that highlights your skills, education, and experiences to secure your first professional position.  

It’s designed to showcase potential and adaptability, as candidates often have limited or no formal work experience in their desired field.

While a strong resume format is essential, the content is what truly matters. Here’s a breakdown of the key sections to include in your entry-level resume:

• Contact information: This is your professional first impression, so keep it clean and accurate. Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and optionally, a link to your LinkedIn profile (if it’s up-to-date and relevant)
• Resume summary or objective: This is a 3-4 sentence overview positioned at the top of your resume. An objective statement works well for recent graduates, highlighting your career goals and how they align with the company. A summary statement is ideal for those with some experience, showcasing your key skills and value proposition
• Skills: List relevant hard skills (technical proficiencies like software or machinery) and soft skills (communication, teamwork, problem-solving). Prioritize skills based on the specific job description and tailor them accordingly
• Education: Detail your educational background, including your degree(s), the institution’s name and location, and graduation year. If your GPA is impressive (3.5+), you can mention it. Highlight relevant coursework, projects, or academic achievements
• Work experience: This might seem tricky for entry-level applicants. However, don’t underestimate the value of past experiences! Include any part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work, or freelance projects. Focus on achievements and responsibilities that demonstrate transferable skills relevant to your target job

Bonus sections

• Projects: Did you complete a personal project that showcases relevant skills? Include it here!
• Languages: Do you speak multiple languages? Employers value multilingualism—list your proficiency level for each language
• Volunteer experience: Volunteer work demonstrates initiative and social responsibility. Highlight relevant skills gained through volunteering

Pro tip: Keep your resume concise and easy to read, ideally one page for entry-level applicants.

Define your career objectives

According to ResumeGenius’s survey , career objectives and skills are the most popular sections to include in a resume for 76% of job seekers. 

These sections are popular due to their ability to offer recruiters and hiring managers a quick overview of a candidate’s qualifications and potential.  

For your entry-level resume, you can choose between an objective statement or a resume summary . Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

• Objective statement: Ideal for recent graduates or those with limited professional experience. Focuses on your career goals and how they align with the company or industry. Highlights your enthusiasm and desire to learn

‘Highly motivated recent graduate with a degree in Marketing seeking an entry-level position at a dynamic marketing agency to leverage strong communication and analytical skills while contributing to successful marketing campaigns.’

• Resume Summary: Works well for those with some experience (internships, volunteer work) or transferable skills. Briefly summarize your key strengths and accomplishments relevant to the job. Showcases your value proposition and how you can contribute to the company

‘Enthusiastic and results-oriented individual with excellent communication and customer service skills gained through volunteer work. Eager to leverage problem-solving abilities and a passion for [Industry] in an entry-level [Job Title] role at [Company Name].’

Leverage the education section

For entry-level job seekers, a strong educational background can be just as valuable as experience, especially if the position requires a recent degree in your field. 

According to NACE’s Job Outlook 2024 report , 87.4% of employers hired new college graduates with online degrees.

Here’s how you can make your education section stand out:

• Start with the most recent achievement: List your diplomas, certificates, and degrees in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent achievement (or the one you’re currently working toward)
• Include all the details: For each credential, mention the type (degree, diploma, certificate), your major or field of study, and the name of the institution you attended
• Highlight recent education: If you’ve earned a credential within the past three years, consider including your graduation year to showcase its relevance

Here are some examples to write your education section in different scenarios:

1. Recent graduate:

Bachelor of Science in Marketing (2024), State University

Relevant Coursework: Marketing Analytics, Consumer Behavior, Social Media Marketing

Dean’s List (2022 & 2023)

2. Candidate with internship experience:

Master of Arts in Graphic Design (2023), School of Design

Thesis: “The Impact of User Interface Design on Brand Perception”

Graphic Design Internship (2022), Design Agency XYZ —Assisted with creating social media graphics and website layouts

3. Candidate with relevant certifications:

Associate’s Degree in Computer Science (2022), Community College

Google IT Professional Certificate (2024)

Relevant Coursework: Programming Fundamentals, Database Management, Cybersecurity Essentials

Include a value proposition

A hiring manager sifts through hundreds of resumes, spending mere seconds on each. How do you stand out as a recent graduate or someone with limited experience? The answer lies in your value proposition.

Unlike seasoned professionals with years of experience, your value proposition focuses on your potential and unique skills . It’s a concise statement that grabs the recruiter’s attention and convinces them you’re the ideal candidate despite lacking extensive background.

For example , in the above image, the data analyst/financial analyst distinguishes themself  as someone who can “ equip executive teams with data-led insights that impact strategy, growth, and profitability. ”

This is the analyst’s value offering , which is backed by a short paragraph highlighting their specific skills. 

Recruiters often come from different backgrounds than entry-level applicants. Value proposition statements bridge this gap.

Similar to career objectives or resume summaries, value propositions translate your skills, experiences, and even personal qualities into clear, outcome-oriented statements that resonate with the employer. By showcasing your potential impact, you become a magnet that attracts their attention.

Express sales or marketing strategy in a resume

Here are some tips to showcase your sales and marketing savvy, even as an entry-level candidate:

• Sales: Focus on transferable skills like communication, persuasion, customer service, and negotiation. Did you lead a successful fundraising campaign for your club? Mention it! Highlight your ability to build rapport, identify customer needs, and present solutions
• Marketing: Emphasize analytical skills, creativity, and a data-driven approach. Did you manage social media for a club or create compelling presentations for a class project? Mention it! Showcase your understanding of target audiences, content creation skills, and ability to analyze results

Analyze the job description and identify specific skills and strategies mentioned. Tailor your resume to showcase how your skills and experiences align with their needs. This demonstrates your understanding of the role and how you can contribute to their sales or marketing strategy.

Instead of:

‘Increased sales at a retail store.’

‘Applied strong communication skills and product knowledge to consistently exceed sales targets by 10% in a competitive retail environment.’

‘Managed social media for a club.’

‘Developed and implemented a social media strategy for a student club, resulting in a 20% increase in follower engagement and brand awareness.’

For entry-level jobs, create a resume that showcases your potential, even without extensive work experience. 

Here’s how:

1. Draft a compelling resume summary/objective statement

The top section of your resume, often a 3-4 sentence blurb, is the first thing a recruiter will see. Here, you’ll grab the employer’s attention with an objective statement or a resume summary . Choosing the right one depends on your background—objective statements are for recent graduates with no experience, and resume summary for those with 1 to 2 years of work experience. 

The above is an example of an objective statement for a recent graduate applying for an entry-level accounting job. 

2. Highlight relevant skills 

While you might lack formal work experience, you possess a wealth of transferable skills gained through various avenues. 

Here’s how to identify and emphasize them:

• Think beyond work: Consider skills honed through volunteering, extracurricular activities, and even hobbies! Did you organize a fundraising event? You showcased leadership, communication, and teamwork. Were you captain of the debate team? You developed research, critical thinking, and persuasive communication skills
• Action verbs are key: Don’t simply list skills. Instead of ‘communication,’ use ‘effectively communicated complex information to diverse audiences’

For example:

Job description: Looking for a social media intern with strong communication and content creation skills.

Your resume:

‘Managed social media accounts for a local animal shelter, resulting in a 15% increase in follower engagement through creative content creation and engaging posts.’

3. Focus on internships and volunteer work

Employers want to see your impact. The best way to show this is through volunteer work and internships. 

Instead of ‘Helped with administrative tasks,’ say something like: ‘Streamlined volunteer onboarding process by 20%, improving volunteer retention for a local non-profit’. This demonstrates initiative, problem-solving skills, and quantifiable results.

Volunteer: Community Garden Project (2022-Present)

• Developed and implemented a social media outreach program, attracting 30 new volunteers within six months
• Spearheaded educational workshops for the community, promoting healthy eating habits and sustainable gardening practices
• Used excellent communication and collaboration skills to create a positive and inclusive volunteer environment

Treat internships like condensed professional experiences. Highlight the projects you tackled, the skills you honed, and the problems you helped solve.

3. Demonstrate potential

The above resume can be considered a great example of showing potential even though the candidate lacks experience. In the resume format, look at the weightage given to transferable skills one might have picked up during their internship and volunteering projects. 

Other ways to demonstrate potential are:

• Relevant coursework: Focus on courses that directly align with the job description and showcase valuable skills. For example, if applying for a marketing role, mention courses in ‘Consumer Behavior’ or ‘Social Media Marketing’ that demonstrate your understanding of customer trends and digital marketing strategies
• GPA and honors: If your GPA is 3.5 or above, it demonstrates a strong work ethic and academic success. List academic honors like scholarships, Dean’s List recognition, or awards earned. These showcase your dedication and potential for excellence
• Relevant projects: Did you complete a group project that involved market research or developing a marketing campaign? Mention it! Briefly describe the project, your role, and the skills you used. This demonstrates your ability to apply classroom knowledge to practical situations
• Certifications and online courses: List any r elevant certifications or online courses you’ve completed that enhance your skillset for the target position. For instance, a Google Analytics Individual Qualification (IQ) demonstrates initiative and interest in data analysis, valuable for marketing roles
• Languages: Proficiency in a second or third language is a sought-after asset! List any languages you speak and your level of fluency (conversational, business fluent, etc.). This can be particularly beneficial if the company operates internationally or caters to a multilingual audience
• Relevant work experience: Even part-time jobs, tutoring gigs, or helping your family business can be valuable additions. Focus on experiences that showcase transferable skills relevant to the job. For example, a customer service role demonstrates your communication and interpersonal skills, while babysitting highlights your time management and responsibility
• Extracurricular activities: Don’t underestimate the value of extracurricular activities. Participation demonstrates your willingness to explore interests, develop new skills, and collaborate within a team. Include any leadership positions you held, highlighting your ability to motivate and organize others

Also read: Career Advice 101: All You Need to Know Before Starting a New Job and Excelling at Your New Workspace!

5. Emphasize technical skills

Even with no formal work experience, you can highlight a surprising range of technical skills on your resume! 

Here are some categories and examples to consider:

Software proficiency:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint): Basic proficiency is expected in most workplaces. Highlight your ability to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
• Project management tools (e.g., ClickUp , Asana, Trello): If you’ve used project management tools for school projects or volunteer work, mention them. This shows your ability to organize tasks, collaborate with others, and manage deadlines
• Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer): Did you manage social media accounts for a club or personal project? Mention the tools you used and your familiarity with scheduling posts, analyzing engagement, and interacting with followers
• AI tools: Writing prompts, generating results, and using AI for research with popular tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexitiy AI, and more shows you’re well-versed with futuristic trends

Programming and web development:

• Introductory programming languages (e.g., Python, Javascript): Highlight any online courses or self-learning experiences related to basic programming concepts. Even introductory knowledge demonstrates initiative and a willingness to learn new technologies
• Web development tools (e.g., HTML, CSS): Did you build a personal website or blog using basic coding? Mention your familiarity with these foundational web development tools

Data analysis and visualization:

• Microsoft Excel (Data Analysis Functions): Beyond basic spreadsheet skills, can you use Excel to analyze data and create charts or graphs? Mention your familiarity with functions like PivotTables and VLOOKUPs
• Data visualization tools (e.g., Google Data Studio): If you’ve used online tools to create visualizations from data sets, mention them. This showcases your ability to understand data and present it in a clear and compelling way

Design and Multimedia:

• Graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop (Basic)): Even basic knowledge of design software demonstrates your visual communication skills and ability to create graphics for presentations or social media posts
• Video editing software (e.g., iMovie, Windows Movie Maker): Did you create video content for school projects or personal YouTube channels? Mention the software you used and your ability to edit footage and create engaging videos

6. Research preferred resume formats 

A combination resume format is the most ideal for entry-level jobs or first-time job seekers. It allows you to showcase both your skills and limited work experience. Here’s why you should use it:

• The opening summary section lets you highlight your key skills and career goals, grabbing the employer’s attention right away
• The dedicated skills section allows you to delve deeper into your technical and soft skills, demonstrating your qualifications for the job
• The experience section, even for limited work experience, can showcase your ability to apply those skills in real-world settings. You can focus on results and achievements to demonstrate your value
• The combination format is highly adaptable. You can adjust the weight given to the skills and experience sections based on the specific job and your strengths

Pro tip: For optimal readability, ensure all text on your resume is left-aligned. Centering is optional for your name, contact information, and headline, but avoid centering any other elements. Avoid light and intricate fonts, as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)  won’t read it well. 

Most HRs use skills management software for hiring and onboarding, which means everyone uses solutions-based software. So why shouldn’t you? 

Using supportive tools for creating, managing, and tracking resumes at an early stage, like that of entry-level jobs, can help you get a proactive advantage. 

That’s why you need ClickUp , a comprehensive productivity and work management software! For personal use cases, it can work more than a document management platform.

Here’s how you can use ClickUp effectively for creating your resume:

1. Craft resumes quickly with docs 

With ClickUp Docs , you can create impressive resumes. Here’s how:

• Rich text formatting for impact: Differentiate sections with clear headings (H1, H2, etc.) and eye-catching banners. For instance , highlight your name, contact information, and career objective with a banner for a bold first impression
• Images & links for visual appeal: Consider adding a professional headshot to personalize your resume. Some employers might have preferences regarding headshots, so research company guidelines. For impactful projects or publications, you can embed links within your resume 
• Seek feedback proactively: Seek feedback from career mentors with the real-time collaboration detection feature. You can see what part of the resume they are reading and can share feedback by tagging you in the comments
• Version control for consistency: Keep track of all the edits made and return to the previous version if the latest edit doesn’t work for the job you’re applying to

2. Summarize, edit, and proofread with AI

There are so many possibilities when it comes to combining ClickUp Brain ’s AI Writer for Work with ClickUp Docs to refine your resume:

• Elevate the language: Use AI within docs to summarize, shorten, spell-check, and proofread to maintain factually correct grammar and conciseness
• Generate and insert keywords: You can write prompts to generate industry-specific ATS-friendly keywords for each section and insert them throughout your resume 

• Create templates: By writing prompts on the Ask AI chatbot , you can generate doc templates for your resume with the type of tonality and language as well as points you want to highlight

3. Leverage pre-built templates for any use case

ClickUp templates are pre-built documents that eliminate the need to create resumes, cover letters, or job applications from scratch every time, saving you valuable time and effort.

For instance, use the ClickUp Job Search Template to track all resumes, job applications, responses, and follow-ups in one place. 

Feeling overwhelmed by the job search process? ClickUp’s Job Search Template facilitates your entire search, keeping you focused and informed every step of the way. Here’s how:

See your progress at a glance:

• List view: Keep track of every job you’ve encountered. Quickly scan application details, statuses, and critical dates like interview times—all in one place
• Board view: Move applications between stages like ‘Applied,’ ‘Phone Interview,’ and ‘Offer’ using Kanban boards. This clean visual keeps you organized and motivated

Craft stellar applications:

• Doc view: Create powerful cover letters, tailor resumes for specific roles, and store important company information, all within ClickUp
• Calendar view: Schedule upcoming interviews and deadlines directly within the calendar view. Set reminders for follow-up calls and ensure you stay on top of every stage of the process

Customize your search:

• Custom statuses: Perfectly align your workflow with custom statuses. Examples include ‘Open’ (jobs you’re interested in), ‘Applied,’ ‘Interview Scheduled,’ and even ‘No Offer’ (so you can track rejections and potentially follow up later)
• Custom fields: Capture all the information you need to make informed decisions with custom fields. Examples include ‘Glassdoor Rating’ (to assess company culture), ‘Contact’ (for hiring manager details), ‘Salary’ (to track desired compensation), and even ’Health Insurance’ (to see if it’s offered)

Say you’re now at a mid-career stage. It is now time to level things up. Use the ClickUp Career Path Template to visualize your progress journey.

ClickUp’s Career Path Template helps you to take control and visualize your professional goals within your organization. Here’s how it can help:

Craft a personalized roadmap:

• Start here view: This initial section acts as your guide, helping you set up the template
• Whiteboard view: Use virtual sticky notes in the digital whiteboard to map out specific milestones and steps you need to take to achieve your goals. Visually connect them to create a clear and actionable roadmap

Maximize ClickUp’s power:

• Tagging: Organize your career path journey by tagging relevant skills, work habits , departments, or projects to each milestone. This allows for easy filtering and helps you see the bigger picture
• Nested subtasks: Break down significant milestones into smaller, manageable tasks. Use nested subtasks in ClickUp to create a detailed action plan for achieving each step on your roadmap
• Multiple assignees: Planning for a career change often involves seeking guidance. Assign specific tasks or milestones to mentors or colleagues for collaborative support with Multiple Assignees in ClickUp
• Priority labels: Prioritize your development goals! Set task Priorities in ClickUp to highlight the most critical skills or certifications you need to focus on first

Bonus: 10 Career Map Templates to Empower Your Team’s Growth Path

Your resume is often your first impression with potential employers, so it needs to be informative, well-organized, and visually appealing. 

Here are some essential tips and best practices to elevate your resume and grab the attention of hiring managers:

Formatting and design:

• One-page rule (generally): Aim for a concise one-page resume, especially for entry-level positions. For experienced professionals, a two-page resume might be acceptable, but keep it focused and relevant
• Clear layout: Maintain a clear and consistent layout throughout your resume. Use margins, headings, and bullet points effectively to create a visually scannable document
• Readable font: Choose a professional and easy-to-read font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid overly decorative fonts that might be difficult for ATS to read
• Font size: Use a font size between 10pt and 12pt for optimal readability

Content and wording:

• Action verbs: Showcase your accomplishments with strong action verbs. Replace generic verbs like ‘responsible for’ with more impactful verbs like ‘developed,’ ‘implemented,’ ‘increased,’ or ‘managed’
• Quantifiable achievements: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements using metrics and data. For example , instead of saying ‘improved customer satisfaction,’ state ‘increased customer satisfaction by 15% through implementing a new training program’
• Keywords: Research the job description and incorporate relevant keywords throughout your resume, especially in your skills section and work experience descriptions. This can help your resume pass through ATS filters

Additional best practices:

• Proofread meticulously: Typos and grammatical errors can create a negative impression. Proofread your resume carefully and consider having someone else review it for an extra layer of polish
• Keep it honest & accurate: While highlighting your accomplishments, ensure all information is truthful and verifiable
• Link to the portfolio (optional): If you have a relevant online portfolio showcasing your work or projects, consider embedding a link in your resume

Also read: Technical Resume Templates to Stand Out to Recruiters in 2024

Now that you know how to draft your entry-level resumes, let’s check out some resume templates to help you get started:

1. Project Management Resume Template by Microsoft

Looking for a project management role and need a resume that screams organization and efficiency? Look no further than the Project Management Resume Template by Microsoft . 

This template offers a clear and straightforward structure ideal for showcasing your skills and experience, even if you’re just starting your career journey.

Focus on what matters most:

• Objective: Craft a concise and targeted objective statement highlighting your passion for project management and eagerness to learn
• Education: List your educational background, including any relevant coursework or certifications related to project management
• Experience: While you may have limited formal experience, highlight any projects, internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities demonstrating your organizational and leadership skills. Quantify your achievements whenever possible
• Skills & Activities: Showcase your technical skills like Microsoft Project or other relevant software proficiency. Highlight soft skills crucial for project management success, like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Mention any relevant extracurricular activities that demonstrate these skills
• Contact details: Ensure your contact information is clear and professional

This template prioritizes a clean and readable layout, perfect for making a strong first impression. The best part? You can customize it with different monochrome solid colors to add a personal touch and maintain a cohesive design.

2. Entry Level Resume Template by GDoc

The Entry-Level Resume Template by GDoc is designed for Google Docs and Microsoft Word. It is especially suitable for fresh graduates or those seeking internship opportunities.  

This template prioritizes a clean and organized layout, making it easy for hiring managers to navigate your qualifications. Here’s what it offers:

Clearly defined sections: Each section has a distinct heading and dedicated space to showcase your skills and experiences.

• Header: Prominently display your name and contact information (phone number, email address, and optional LinkedIn profile URL)
• Objective: Write a targeted objective statement highlighting your career aspirations and passion for the industry you’re entering. Use the provided filler content as a guide
• Experience: Even with limited formal experience, you can shine! List any relevant projects, internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities that showcase your transferable skills
• Education: Highlight your educational background, including your degree, major, and graduation date. Mention any relevant coursework or projects completed during your studies
• Skills: This is your chance to showcase your technical and soft skills. Include software proficiency, communication skills, teamwork abilities, and problem-solving skills

Don’t worry if you’re starting from scratch! Each section comes with pre-written filler content to guide you on what information to include and how to structure your text. Simply replace the filler text with your details and tailor it to each job application.

3. Simple Professional CV Resume Template by Canva

Land your first job confidently using a beautifully designed and easy-to-use Simple Professional CV Resume Template by Canva .

Here’s what it offers:

• Professional Summary: Showcase your career goals and key skills in a compelling opening
• Relevant experience: Highlight your practical experience, even if it’s from past projects, volunteer work, or internships
• Education: Showcase your academic achievements, including coursework related to the desired job
• Expertise: In bullet points or a simple list, demonstrate your proficiency in software, tools, or specific skills

Cover Letter Template:

• Simple, customizable layout: Edit the pre-written content easily to tailor it to each job application
• Clear instructions: Learn how to personalize the template to highlight your qualifications and experiences
• Professional tone: Make a strong first impression with a well-written and polished cover letter

Bonus: 7 Engineering Resume Templates and Examples for Job Seekers

As an entry-level applicant, it’s crucial to showcase your potential and avoid common mistakes that could land your resume in the rejection pile. 

Here are some pitfalls to watch out for and how to fix them:

Mistake #1: Lack of focus

• The problem: Generic resumes that don’t highlight relevant skills for the specific job get overlooked
• The fix: Tailor your resume for each application. Read the job description carefully and identify key skills and experiences they seek. Rephrase bullet points and achievements to demonstrate how you fit the specific role

Mistake #2: Duties vs. achievements

• The problem: Listing basic job duties doesn’t showcase your impact
• The fix: Use action verbs to describe projects you led, problems you solved, or results you achieved

Mistake #3: Typos and grammatical errors

• The problem: Small errors scream carelessness and can reflect poorly on your attention to detail
• The fix: Proofread meticulously! Have a trusted friend or family member review your resume for typos and grammatical errors. Use spell check and grammar tools, but don’t rely solely on them

Mistake #4: Irrelevant information

• The problem: Including irrelevant hobbies or personal details can distract from your qualifications
• The fix: Keep your resume focused on your professional goals and relevant skills. Consider creating a separate portfolio or website to showcase creative hobbies

Mistake #5: Unprofessional formatting

• The problem: A cluttered or messy resume is hard to read and leaves a bad impression
• The fix: Use a precise and professional resume template. Maintain consistent formatting with clear headings, bullet points, and easy-to-read fonts

Pro tip: Don’t underestimate the power of a strong cover letter! Briefly reiterate your qualifications and enthusiasm for the position, further personalizing your application.

Crafting an entry-level resume can feel like building a bridge from scratch—you have the drive and materials, but the process can be daunting. It’s your first chance to showcase your potential, and nailing it is crucial.

That’s where a comprehensive tool like ClickUp comes in. It goes far beyond resume templates. 

The platform equips you with AI-powered writing assistants to craft compelling content, task management features to keep your job search organized, and document management to facilitate the process.

Sign up to ClickUp today! 

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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

Resume Summary with No Experience: Examples for Students and Fresh Graduates

By Biron Clark

Published: December 18, 2023

Recent Grads | Resume/CV

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

If you’re looking for how to write a summary for your resume with no work experience , you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to walk you through exactly what to do, and then we’ll look at resume summary examples for entry-level job seekers, students and fresh graduates. 

How to Write a Summary For Your Resume With No Experience:

First, a resume summary is different than an objective . And it’s much better. Putting an objective on your resume is outdated and unnecessary. Resume objectives are useless because they don’t share anything the hiring manager doesn’t already know (such as “my goal is to obtain a position in the ___ industry”). So what we’re doing here is better and will help your resume stand out from people who simply put an objective. Whereas, the resume summary gives a quick highlight reel of your qualifications, education, and more. If you’re not sure what a resume summary actually is, check out this article on 10 resume summary examples . And while it’s easier to figure out what to put if you’ve built up some work experience, you can still write an effective resume summary with no work experience whatsoever.

So in this article, I’m going to show you how. What should go into your summary when you don’t have any work experience? 

1. Put academic accomplishments and leadership

What did you study? Did you just graduate with a degree? Mention that. If you took a leadership role in your class projects, or clubs/groups at your school, you can mention that too. Leadership doesn’t need to be in a job to get the hiring manager’s attention! Taking a leadership role in a sports environment is impressive as well. You’re not going to mention specific accomplishments in your resume summary usually (you can do that later in your resume), but you can say things like “proven leadership” or “natural leader”, etc.

2. Put your interests and passions

Are you passionate about startups and technology? Great, put that. Want to make a difference in the world, and focus your career on social impact? Mention that. This can include the grades you received, but also leadership positions you led, and clubs/groups you participated in.

3. Put “hard” skills

If you’re proficient in any tools, technologies, etc… you can include that in your resume summary. Don’t list 20 things. That’s what your “Skills” section is for. But pick the three or four things that are most relevant for the job you’re applying for.

Coming up in this article, we’re going to look at two resume summary examples for people with no experience. .. and in the second example, you’ll see how this would look.

4. Include soft skills

Are you great at analytical thinking? Do you love working as a part of a team? Are you great at multi-tasking and handling a fast-paced team environment? While these shouldn’t be the main focus of your resume summary section, they can be worth mentioning. It’s especially good to include soft skills that you see mentioned in the job description.

For example, if you see they mention wanting someone who’s great at multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment, and you feel that describes you well, then your resume summary is the perfect place to include this.

5. Put statements that will grab the employer’s interest and make them want to ask you questions!

If you mention leadership they’ll want to ask you more about your leadership experiences. That’s a good thing. Remember, whatever you put, they’ll probably ask you about. So as you write your summary for your resume, try to think about what you want them to discuss with you, and what you want a chance to talk about. And try to “tailor” your resume to fit the companies you’re applying to. If you’re applying to large corporations don’t start your summary by saying “Startup enthusiast”.

3 Resume Summary Example for Students, Fresh Graduates and Entry-Level Job Seekers:

In this section, I’m going to share three examples of how to write a summary for your resume with no experience. You can use these resume summary examples as a student, entry-level job seeker, or any job search where you don’t have experience:

Resume Summary with No Experience – Example #1: Economics Student

Enthusiastic, highly-motivated Economics student with proven leadership capabilities, who likes to take initiative and seek out new challenges.

In this example above, you’re showing that you completed your Economics degree and have an interest in the subject, and you’re mentioning leadership and making the reader want to learn more about this. You’re also making yourself sound ambitious and motivated at the end, which is always a good thing (I’m referring to the part that says “who likes to take initiative and seek out new challenges). Notice the format too. This is how I recommend phrasing it. Don’t say “I am a ___”. Just start with the descriptive words.

This is a simple yet effective resume summary example for students OR recent graduates.

Resume Summary with No Experience – Example #2: Fresh Graduate in Computer Science

Computer Science graduate passionate about data engineering and machine learning. Highly-capable leader, having led multiple Senior class projects to completion. Proficient in a range of modern technologies including Python, Java and Scala.

This is another good example of a student or fresh graduate resume summary that still shows your skills and academic focus, even if you have no formal work experience.  In this entry-level resume summary example, you’re highlighting accomplishments and leadership as a student and you’re also showing that you’re passionate about your work. Saying you’re passionate about data engineering is much better than just saying, “Looking for a job in data engineering.” They’ll know you’re looking for jobs because you applied. Taking up space to say it is a bad use of this area of your resume, and is why I never recommend having a resume “Objective” section. The summary exists instead of an “Objective” and is much better.

The example above also included some great programming keywords (Python, Java, Scala) to help get past any automated application systems and grab the hiring manager’s attention very quickly when they first look at your resume. If you work with any tools or technologies that have names like these, you can include it in your entry-level resume summary if you’d like. Other examples of tools/technologies: Photoshop, MS Excel, etc.

If you decide not to include these on your resume summary, make sure to include them elsewhere such as your Education or Skills section .

Resume Summary Example with No Experience #3: Math Student Graduating Soon

4th year mathematics student passionate about statistics and data analysis. Proven project leader. Active member of Boston University’s Mathematics Club. Speaker at 2018 “New York Young Mathematicians Conference.”

This resume summary example for students shows how you can list accomplishments even if you’ve never formally worked before. Did you participate in any clubs at school? Have you led any class projects? These are impressive pieces you can add to your resume summary with no experience formally working. 

How to Write a Resume Summary For Students/Fresh Graduates – Quick Recap

• Skip buzzwords like “hard-working” and put real academic accomplishments instead, like projects you produced and tasks you led
• Include what you’re interested in and passionate about to show them why you are applying for this position
• Mention hard skills like “Java Programming” or “Excel,”  especially if they’re listed on the job description
• Include soft skills as well like, “excellent at multi-tasking”, especially if you saw these keywords anywhere on the job description
• Include statements in your resume summary that will catch the employer’s interest and make them want to talk with you and ask you more. Remember – the entire goal of your resume is to get invited to interview. So if you did anything unique like giving presentations, working in an internship , participating in a school club, etc., you can include this in your entry-level resume summary.

If you follow the tips above, you’ll have a great entry-level resume summary that will stand out and catch a recruiter’s or hiring manager’s attention so you can get more interviews.

After you write your entry-level resume summary, here are two more articles that may be helpful when job searching with no experience:

• The best times of year to job search
• How to create a great elevator pitch for job hunting

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

More Resume Tips & Guides

Crafting the perfect resume for teens (template & expert advice), are resume writers worth it, don’t say you’re a quick learner on your resume, what do recruiters look for in a resume, chronological resume: the best format (and how to write it), the 3 best colors for a resume, career change resume: examples and tips from experts, what makes a good resume 9 ways to know, how long should a resume be, walk me through your resume: answer examples, 7 thoughts on “resume summary with no experience: examples for students and fresh graduates”.

This site was pretty helpful in guiding me throughout my school resume, would love other tips would do well.

This is a great guide. If only schools were actually interested in teaching children real life skills like this.

Hi, I am a student who has been finding it very difficult to make resumes due to the lack of working experience. I am currently trying to find a job while studying at the same time. I am in University completing a certificate and will soon be applying for a BA in Psychology and Criminolgy. However, I wish to apply for a part time job in the fashion industry. Can you please leave me some tips about what I can do to ensure that I can find a job without needing experience.

Your page has really helped, Thank you.

Hi, I’m a job seeker with 2 years experience working as a cart collector at grocery store and an Associate’s Degree in Computer Information Systems, is this a good professional summary?: “Reliable team member with a keen interest in information technology and other applications. Capable of handling multiple projects within deadlines. Eager to apply my professional and academic background as an Administrative Assistant at Bogdan Contracting.”

I’ve been job seeking since October 2018, I’m hoping I can start a career in tech support as soon as possible.

Hi Marcais,

I think it sounds pretty good. My least favorite part is the first word, though. “Reliable” sounds pretty average/boring. Sure, you show up, do your job, etc. That’s what I think when I hear “reliable”. But not much more.

I’d look for a better word to lead off with.

I would like to say thank you for making this article about writing a summary for a resume. For the past couple of months, I have been struggling to find someone who can help me with that because I don’t have a lot of experience in my field (i.e. engineering). I do have one question though. Is it appropriate to use first-person nouns in the summary section? I have seen people do that, but I find it quite odd.

Please let me know as soon as you can. Thank you.

Hi Frances,

I’d avoid saying, “I” if that’s what you’re asking.

Just say “Led team of 7 people to accomplish ___”

Just start without a pronoun.

Another example: “Highly-accomplished accounting professional who has ____”

Comments are closed.

• Career Blog

25 Things to Put on a Resume When You Have No Experience

Creating a resume with no experience can seem daunting, but it’s not impossible. Our goal with this article is to provide you with the information and guidance you need to create a compelling and effective entry-level resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers.

We understand that starting your career journey can be challenging, especially when it comes to highlighting your strengths and abilities without previous job experience. This article will cover various strategies and tips that will help you build a solid foundation for your resume and showcase yourself as a desirable candidate for your dream job.

We aim to provide you with practical insights on how to outline your skills, education, volunteer work, and other relevant experiences even if you don’t have direct job experience. This article will also dive into the importance of tailoring your resume to the position you’re applying for and optimizing it for applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Our goal is to show you that a lack of experience does not have to hold you back from landing your dream job. By the end of this article, you will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to create a top-notch resume that highlights your shining qualities and sets you apart from other applicants.

So, let’s get started!

Understand the Importance of a Strong Resume

The job market can be a competitive and challenging space, especially for those who are just starting out or have little to no experience. In such situations, having a strong resume is an essential tool for anyone to succeed in their job search. Understanding the importance of a well-written resume can mean the difference between landing your dream job and never getting past the application process.

Why a resume is important for a successful job search

A resume serves as your personal marketing tool; a document that introduces you to prospective employers and communicates your skills, experience, and achievements. It is your opportunity to present yourself in the best possible light, showcase your strengths, and convince employers that you are the right person for the job. A well-crafted resume can help you stand out from other candidates, create a positive impression, and get your foot in the door.

What employers look for in a resume

Employers have specific criteria when it comes to screening resumes. They want to see that you have the relevant skills, experience, and qualifications for the job; that you possess the qualities that match their company culture; and that you can contribute to the organization’s success. To make a good impression on employers, it is crucial to tailor your resume to each job you apply for, highlighting your relevant skills and experience.

Employers typically look for the following things in a resume:

• Clear and concise presentation of your skills and experience
• Relevance to the job you are applying for
• Consistency in all the information provided
• Evidence of your achievements and contributions
• Attention to detail in formatting and style

How a good resume can increase your chances of getting hired

A well-crafted resume can significantly increase your chances of getting hired. It can catch the employer’s attention by presenting a clear, concise, and compelling snapshot of your experience, skills, and qualifications. Additionally, a good resume can help you pass the initial screening process and make it to the next stage of the hiring process.

A good resume can help you:

• Stand out from other applicants
• Demonstrate your potential value to the employer
• Highlight your most relevant experience and achievements
• Show that you are a professional and take your career seriously

A strong resume is an essential tool for anyone searching for a job, especially those with little or no experience. A well-crafted resume can make all the difference in securing your dream job. Ensure that your resume highlights your most relevant skills and achievements, is tailored to each job application, and presents you in the best possible light to increase your chances of getting hired.

Identify Your Relevant Skills and Qualifications

One of the biggest challenges for individuals with no work experience is identifying their relevant skills and qualifications. However, it is important to note that prior work experience is not the only factor employers consider when evaluating candidates.

Here are some tips on how to determine your relevant skills and qualifications:

1. Consider Your Education

Your education can provide insight into the skills and knowledge you have acquired. Make sure to include any relevant coursework, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities. For example, if you are applying to a job in marketing, you may want to highlight any coursework in advertising, market research, or business strategy.

2. Assess Your Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are skills that can be applied to various settings and industries. Some examples of transferable skills include communication, leadership, problem-solving, and organization. Assess your own transferable skills by thinking about experiences in your personal life or volunteering activities. For example, if you have volunteered at a community organization, you may have developed leadership and communication skills that can be applied to the workforce.

3. Use Job Descriptions as Inspiration

Reading through job descriptions of positions you are interested in can provide insight into the skills and qualifications employers are looking for. Take note of any recurring requirements such as computer proficiency, attention to detail, or customer service.

How Soft Skills Can Play an Important Role in Your Resume

Soft skills, often referred to as people skills, can be a valuable asset in any professional setting. While technical skills such as coding or accounting are important, soft skills demonstrate personal qualities that can set you apart from other candidates. Here are some examples of soft skills to include on your resume:

1. Communication Skills

Communication skills are essential in almost any job. Being able to convey ideas and actively listen to feedback can lead to better collaboration and more successful projects. Highlight your communication skills by mentioning any public speaking or debate experience as well as any strong writing capabilities.

2. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills can also differentiate you from other candidates. Even if you haven’t held a formal leadership role, experiences such as leading a project or working in a team can demonstrate these skills.

3. Problem-Solving Skills

Being able to approach problems with creativity and adaptability is a sought-after trait. Showcase your problem-solving skills by mentioning any experiences where you had to troubleshoot a tricky situation or come up with an innovative solution.

While job experience is a valuable asset, it is not the only factor employers consider when evaluating potential candidates. Identifying your relevant skills and qualifications and highlighting your soft skills can make you a strong contender for a position.

Highlight your Education

One of the best ways to showcase your potential as an entry-level candidate when you don’t have work experience is to highlight your education. Your education section is prime real estate on your resume, as it gives employers insight into your capabilities, potential and desire to learn.

How to showcase your educational background

When it comes to highlighting your education on your resume, be sure to include the following information:

Name of the institution  – Start with the name of the institution where you received your degree. Be sure to spell it correctly and include the official name, as well as any commonly used abbreviations.

Degree name and level  – Include the name of your degree, such as Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Also, indicate the level of the degree, whether it’s an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.

Major/field of study  – Indicate your area of focus, such as marketing, psychology or computer science.

Graduation date  – Include the date you received your degree.

Relevant coursework  – If you don’t have any work experience, your coursework can help you showcase your abilities and qualifications. Include any relevant courses that you took in college that relate to the position you’re applying for.

GPA  – Including your GPA is optional, but can be helpful if you have a high GPA or if the employer asks for it.

Honors and awards  – If you received any academic honors or awards, such as Dean’s List, Phi Beta Kappa, or scholarships, be sure to include them.

Including relevant coursework and achievements in your education section

When it comes to highlighting your relevant coursework and achievements, be strategic about what you include. Only include coursework and achievements that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Here are some tips:

Focus on skills and competencies  – Instead of listing individual courses, focus on the skills and competencies you developed in those courses. For example, if you took a course in project management, you can highlight your ability to manage timelines, budgets and resources.

Quantify your achievements  – If you received high grades in your coursework, mention your GPA or any academic awards you received. If you completed a project, mention the scope of the project and any measurable outcomes.

Speak to the job requirements  – Look at the job description and identify the key requirements. Then, tailor your education section to highlight the coursework and achievements that demonstrate your ability to meet those requirements.

By highlighting your education in your resume, you can demonstrate your potential and willingness to learn. Don’t shy away from showcasing your relevant coursework and achievements, as they can help you stand out in a competitive job market.

V. Emphasize Your Extracurricular Activities

One of the best ways to showcase your skills and potential when you have no professional experience is to highlight your extracurricular activities. From leadership roles to volunteer experiences, including these on your resume can demonstrate your commitment, passion, and ability to excel in various areas.

When featuring your extracurricular activities and involvement, be sure to include specific details about your role and responsibilities. For example, if you were a member of a club, mention the projects you worked on, the events you organized, and the skills you gained through your involvement. If you volunteered at a non-profit organization, highlight the impact you made, the challenges you faced, and the lessons you learned.

In addition, don’t forget to mention any leadership roles you held. Clearly state the position you held and the size of the team you managed, as well as any accomplishments or initiatives you spearheaded. This can demonstrate your ability to take charge, delegate tasks, and motivate others.

Finally, if you have received any awards or recognition for your extracurricular activities, make sure to mention them. This can add credibility to your accomplishments and prove your dedication and excellence in a particular area.

Including your extracurricular activities and involvement on your resume can help you stand out from other candidates and give potential employers a more well-rounded view of your skills and potential.

Highlight Any Relevant Internships or Work Experience

One way to compensate for a lack of direct experience in a particular field is to refer to relevant internships or work experience, even if they occurred in other industries or areas. Such experiences can still be valuable in terms of teaching transferable skills that can be applied to the job at hand.

For instance, highlighting that you interned as a sales associate in a retail store can illustrate key skills such as customer service, teamwork, and handling money. If you worked as a waitress, you might have developed communication skills, multitasking abilities, and attention to detail. You can then demonstrate how you can apply those acquired skills to a different role or industry.

Be sure to highlight any relevant work or internships in your resume by including detailed descriptions of your responsibilities and accomplishments. Use active verbs and quantify your achievements to give potential employers a clear understanding of your contributions. Additionally, you can showcase your transferable skills learned from previous experiences through your cover letter, emphasizing how they can translate into relevant tasks and requirements of the job you’re applying for.

Even if you don’t have direct experience related to the field you’re applying for, highlighting previous relevant work or internships and demonstrating transferable skills can still make you a strong candidate for the job.

Showcase Your Relevant Achievements and Accomplishments

When listing your achievements on your resume, it is important to do so in a clear and concise manner. Rather than simply listing your responsibilities, focus on highlighting the impact you had on previous projects or positions. This will demonstrate to potential employers that you can contribute to the success of their organization. Here are some tips to showcase your achievements effectively:

Highlight quantifiable successes

Using numbers and data to quantify your successes can be a powerful way to showcase your achievements. For example, instead of saying “increased sales,” you could say “increased sales by 20% within the first quarter.” This adds context to your achievement and demonstrates your ability to impact a business. Other examples might include reducing costs, increasing productivity, or improving customer satisfaction.

Be specific

When listing achievements, be specific about what you achieved and how. Simply saying you “improved a process” doesn’t give potential employers any real insight into your abilities. Instead, say something like “streamlined a process that reduced production time by 50%.” This provides a clear picture of your accomplishments and how they benefited the organization.

Focus on relevant achievements

When listing achievements, make sure they are relevant to the job you are applying for. If you are applying for a marketing position, list achievements related to marketing or advertising campaigns you have worked on. This will demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and experience for the job.

By following these tips, you can effectively showcase your achievements and make your resume stand out to potential employers. Remember, your accomplishments demonstrate your value as an employee and can make a big difference in landing your next job.

Utilize Resume Keywords

In today’s job market, it is crucial to have a resume that stands out. One way to achieve this is by utilizing keywords throughout your resume. Keywords are specific words or phrases that are relevant to the industry, job, or skills you possess. By incorporating these keywords your resume, it can help you stand out from the pack.

Understanding how to use keywords in your resume to stand out

To make the most of keywords, it’s important to understand how to use them. One way to do this is by reviewing the job posting to identify the keywords that the employer is looking for. You can then incorporate these keywords into your resume in the relevant sections to ensure that your resume matches the job requirements.

Another approach is to use keywords that reflect your skills and achievements. Think of words or phrases that describe your strengths and experience. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, some keywords might include design software, branding, layout, and typography.

When using keywords in your resume, it is important not to go overboard. Don’t just list a bunch of random words or phrases that are not relevant to your industry or experience. Instead, be strategic about where and how you use them. This may include integrating them into your professional summary, work experience, or skills sections.

Examples of relevant keywords for various industries

Here are some examples of relevant keywords that you might consider using in your resume based on the industry:

• Social media
• Advertising
• Marketing campaigns
• Brand management
• Market research
• Content creation
• Lesson planning
• Classroom management
• Curriculum development
• Student assessment
• Differentiated instruction
• Educational technology
• Parent-teacher communication
• Programming languages
• Database administration
• Network security
• Agile methodology
• Cloud computing
• Cybersecurity
• Electronic health records
• Patient care management
• Medical terminology
• Diagnostic procedures
• HIPAA compliance
• Healthcare regulations
• Clinical trials

By using relevant keywords in your resume, you can demonstrate your skills and experience more effectively to potential employers. It helps you stand out and gets you noticed in the hiring process. Make sure to avoid overusing them and follow best practices to tailor them to each application you submit.

Structure and Design of a Strong Resume

When it comes to creating a strong resume, formatting and structure are essential for making sure that your document is easy to read and well-organized. Not only will a well-designed resume grab the attention of potential employers, but it will also make your experience and qualifications stand out.

Here are some tips for formatting and structuring your resume for maximum impact and readability:

How to Format and Structure Your Resume

• Use a clear and consistent font throughout your document. Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman are all good options.
• Limit your use of bold, italic, and underline to highlight important information like headings and job titles.
• Break up large blocks of text with bullet points to make your resume more reader-friendly.
• Use white space to separate different sections and make your resume easier to navigate.
• Use a chronological format to showcase your work experience, with your most recent job listed first.

Tips on Choosing a Resume Template

When it comes to choosing a resume template, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you want to choose a template that fits your style and personality. If you’re applying for a more creative job, you might want to choose a template with a more design-focused layout. If you’re applying for a more traditional job, a clean and simple template might be a better choice.

Here are some additional tips for selecting a resume template:

• Look for templates that match your industry or career level. You don’t want to choose a template that’s too casual or too formal for the job you’re applying for.
• Use color sparingly. A pop of color can help your resume stand out, but too much color can be distracting.
• Use a template that’s easy to edit and customize. You don’t want to spend hours tweaking a template that doesn’t quite fit your needs.

By following these tips for formatting and structuring your resume, as well as selecting a template that fits your style and needs, you’ll be well on your way to creating a strong and effective resume even if you have no prior experience.

Tips for Writing a Compelling Resume Summary or Objective

When it comes to writing a resume, a common section that’s often included is a summary or objective statement. These statements serve as an introduction to your potential employer and give them an idea of your background and goals. However, it’s important to know the difference between a resume summary and objective.

Resume Summary vs. Objective

A resume summary is a brief paragraph or bullet points at the top of your resume that highlights your professional accomplishments and experience. It’s a great way to give a quick snapshot of who you are as a candidate and what you bring to the table.

On the other hand, a resume objective is a statement that outlines your career goals and what you hope to achieve. It’s typically used by job seekers who have little to no work experience or are transitioning into a new industry.

Tips on Crafting a Strong Statement

Whether you’re writing a resume summary or objective, there are certain things to keep in mind to make your statement compelling and memorable. Here are a few tips:

Keep it concise: Your statement should be no longer than 2-3 sentences or bullet points. You want to quickly capture the reader’s attention and not overwhelm them with unnecessary information.

Focus on your strengths: Highlight your most relevant skills and achievements that make you a standout candidate. Tailor your statement to the job you’re applying for and emphasize what you can bring to the role.

Use keywords: Make sure to include keywords and phrases that are relevant to the job description. This can help you get past applicant tracking systems and catch the attention of the hiring manager.

Show your personality: While it’s important to keep your statement professional, don’t be afraid to inject some personality and showcase your unique voice. This can make you more memorable and help you stand out from other applicants.

Your summary or objective statement should give a clear picture of who you are as a candidate and what you can bring to the table. With these tips and a little creativity, you can craft a compelling statement that will make a lasting impression.

Incorporating Relevant Examples in Your Resume

When it comes to resumes, listing your skills and qualifications is important, but it’s not enough. In today’s competitive job market, recruiters and employers are looking for candidates who can provide tangible evidence of their abilities. That’s where incorporating relevant examples in your resume becomes crucial.

Providing examples of your accomplishments, skills, and experience is an effective way to stand out amongst other job applicants. It allows you to showcase your strengths and capabilities, instead of simply stating them. Including examples in your resume can help to give recruiters and potential employers a better understanding of your abilities and achievements, making you a strong candidate for the job.

Here are some examples of relevant and resonant examples to include in your resume:

1. Academic Achievements

Include any academic achievements such as awards or scholarships you’ve received. If you were involved in any academic competitions, mention your achievements and your role in the team. For example, if you competed in a science fair and won an award, mention that in your resume.

2. Volunteer Work

Volunteering can give you valuable experience and skills that you can highlight in your resume. If you volunteered in a leadership role, be sure to mention that. If you volunteered for a non-profit organization and helped raise money, include the amount you raised and how you accomplished it.

3. Internships

Internships are a great way to gain work experience in your field of interest. Highlight your contributions to the company you interned at and any projects you worked on. Be sure to mention any new skills you learned while on the job.

4. Freelance Work

If you have done any freelance work, be sure to include it in your resume. This could include anything from designing a logo to writing an article. Mention the project you worked on, what you accomplished, and the impact it had on the client.

5. Personal Projects

If you recently completed a personal project, it’s worth mentioning in your resume. This could include a website you designed or a YouTube channel you started. Highlight your skills and the impact your project had.

Incorporating relevant examples in your resume is a powerful tool to showcase your abilities, accomplishments, and potential. By providing tangible evidence of your skills and experience, you can make yourself stand out from other job applicants and increase your chances of securing the job of your dreams.

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Funeral Director CV: Sample & Guide (Entry Level & Senior Jobs)

Create a standout funeral director cv with our online platform. browse professional templates for all levels and specialties. land your dream role today.

A funeral director plays a crucial role in helping families navigate through the difficult process of laying their loved ones to rest with dignity and respect. It requires a combination of compassion, organizational skills, and attention to detail. In our Funeral Director CV example article, we will provide a sample CV template and offer tips on how to effectively highlight your experience and qualifications in this sensitive and important profession.

We will cover:

• How to write a CV , no matter your industry or job title.
• What to put on a CV to stand out.
• The top skills employers from every industry want to see.
• How to build a CV fast with our professional CV Builder .
• What a CV template is, and why you should use it.

What does a Funeral Director do?

A funeral director is responsible for making arrangements for funerals and managing the details of the service. They work with the family of the deceased to organize the specifics of the funeral, such as selecting a casket, arranging for the transportation of the body, and coordinating with the cemetery or crematory. Additionally, funeral directors may help in obtaining necessary permits and assisting with paperwork related to the death.

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What are some responsibilities of a Funeral Director?

• Meeting with families to make arrangements for funerals or cremations
• Coordinating with clergy, cemetery personnel, and other parties involved in the funeral process
• Preparing the body for viewing and burial
• Assisting families with obtaining necessary legal documents and permits
• Arranging for transportation of the body and coordinating funeral processions
• Providing grief support and counseling to the families
• Managing funeral home operations and maintaining facilities and equipment

Sample Funeral Director CV for Inspiration

John Smith - Funeral Director Personal Details:

Date of Birth: May 5, 1985

Address: 123 Main Street, City, State, Zip Code

Phone: 123-456-7890

Email: [email protected]

John Smith is a dedicated and compassionate Funeral Director with 10 years of experience in providing exceptional care and support to grieving families. He is highly skilled in coordinating funeral arrangements, managing funeral home operations, and conducting memorial services with empathy and professionalism.

• Funeral Director - XYZ Funeral Home (2015-Present)
• Funeral Assistant - ABC Funeral Services (2010-2015)
• Bachelor's Degree in Mortuary Science - City University (2006-2010)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficient in funeral arrangements and service coordination
• Expertise in managing funeral home operations
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities
• Licensed Funeral Director (State of Residence)
• Certified Mortician (National Board)

English (Fluent), Spanish (Conversational)

CV tips for Funeral Director

Crafting an impeccable CV that kickstarts your career is a challenging endeavor. While adhering to fundamental writing principles is beneficial, seeking guidance customized for your unique job pursuit is equally prudent. As a newcomer to the professional realm, you require Funeral Director CV pointers. We've curated top-notch advice from experienced Funeral Director individuals. Explore their insights to streamline your writing journey and enhance the likelihood of fashioning a CV that captivates potential employers' attention.

• Highlight your experience in managing funeral arrangements and coordinating with families in their time of need.
• Showcase your professionalism and compassion in dealing with grieving families and helping them through the funeral process.
• Include any relevant certifications or qualifications, such as a funeral director's license or certification in grief counseling.
• Demonstrate your organizational skills and attention to detail in handling logistical aspects of funerals, such as scheduling services and arranging transportation.
• Emphasize your ability to work well under pressure and handle sensitive situations with empathy and tact.

Funeral Director CV Summary Examples

A Funeral Director CV summary or objective can provide a concise overview of your experience, skills, and goals in the funeral industry. It can help to quickly grab the attention of potential employers and highlight your qualifications for the role. A well-crafted summary or objective can also demonstrate your passion for supporting families during difficult times and your commitment to providing compassionate and professional funeral services. For Example:

• Overseeing all aspects of funeral service planning and execution
• Arranging and coordinating funeral arrangements with families
• Conducting grief support and counseling
• Handling administrative duties such as paperwork and records
• Ensuring compliance with all funeral industry regulations

Build a Strong Experience Section for Your Funeral Director CV

As a funeral director, a strong experience section on your CV is essential to showcase your expertise and track record of successfully managing funeral services, coordinating with families, and handling administrative tasks. It provides potential employers with insight into your skills, knowledge, and professional accomplishments, demonstrating your ability to provide compassionate and effective support to grieving families. A well-constructed experience section can make you stand out as a candidate in the funeral industry. For Example:

• Successfully arranged and coordinated funeral services for families.
• Worked closely with bereaved families to provide emotional support and guidance.
• Managed funeral home staff and ensured smooth operation of daily activities.
• Handled all administrative tasks including paperwork and legal documentation.
• Collaborated with clergy, cemeteries, and other service providers to create meaningful funeral experiences.
• Conducted funeral arrangement meetings with families to personalize services according to their wishes.
• Supervised embalming and preparation of decedents for services.
• Provided grief counseling and assistance to families during difficult times.
• Assisted in the planning and execution of funeral pre-arrangements and pre-needs counseling.
• Ensured compliance with all state and federal regulations in the funeral industry.

Funeral Director CV education example

Funeral directors typically need at least an associate’s degree in mortuary science, although some states have specific licensing requirements that may also include completing a state-approved funeral director program and passing a state board exam. Many funeral directors also undergo on-the-job training and apprenticeships to gain practical experience in the field. Continuing education and professional development are also important to stay current in the industry. Here is an example of an experience listing suitable for a Funeral Director CV:

• Associate Degree in Mortuary Science, XYZ University, City, State
• Funeral Director Apprenticeship Program, ABC Funeral Home, City, State
• Certification in Grief Counseling, Grief Counseling Institute, City, State

Funeral Director Skills for a CV

It is important to add skills to a Funeral Director CV because it demonstrates the candidate's ability to perform the specific tasks and responsibilities of the role. Employers want to know that the candidate has the necessary skills to handle the sensitive nature of funeral arrangements, manage administrative tasks, and provide compassionate support to grieving families. Including skills on a CV can help a candidate stand out and showcase their qualifications for the position. Soft Skills: ```html

• Communication
• Organization
• Attention to Detail
• Problem-solving
• Time Management
• Flexibility
• Stress Management
• Funeral Arrangements
• Grief Support
• Body Preparation
• Thanatology Knowledge
• Casket Selection
• Cosmetology Skills
• Documentation Compliance
• Service Coordination
• Legal Regulations Knowledge

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Funeral Director CV

In today's competitive job market, an average of 180 applications floods employers' inboxes for each vacant position. To streamline this influx of CVs, companies frequently employ automated applicant tracking systems that weed out less qualified candidates. If your CV manages to surpass these digital gatekeepers, it must still captivate the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager. Given the sheer volume of applications, a mere 5 seconds is typically allocated to each CV before a decision is reached. With this in mind, it's crucial to eliminate any extraneous information that might relegate your application to the discard pile. To ensure your CV shines, consult the list below for elements to avoid including in your job application.

• Skipping the cover letter: A well-crafted cover letter is an opportunity to showcase your suitability for the role and express your enthusiasm for it.
• Excessive jargon: CVs laden with technical terms can alienate hiring managers who lack specialized knowledge.
• Neglecting vital details: Incorporate your contact information, education, work history, and pertinent skills and experiences.
• Relying on generic templates: Tailoring your CV to the specific job exhibits your commitment to the position and company.
• Errors in spelling and grammar: Proofreading is essential to eliminate typos, spelling errors, and grammatical blunders.
• Overemphasizing duties: Highlight accomplishments to underline your candidacy's value.
• Sharing personal information: Steer clear of revealing personal details like age, marital status, or religious affiliations.

Key takeaways for a Funeral Director CV

• Include relevant education and training
• Highlight experience in funeral service operations
• Showcase skills in organizing and coordinating funeral arrangements
• Emphasize ability to provide compassionate support to grieving families
• Include any relevant certifications or licenses
• Show evidence of good communication and interpersonal skills
• Highlight proficiency in handling administrative tasks
• Include any specializations or areas of expertise
• Show evidence of commitment to maintaining a high standard of ethical and professional conduct