Is it possible to write a great resume with no experience? Absolutely! And this guide will use no-experience resume examples for first jobs to show you how.
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert
So, you’re browsing job postings on the Internet, and all you see are entry-level jobs that require candidates to have 2 years of experience. And to get experience, you need a job. It’s a never-ending cycle.
Not necessarily. I’ll show you how to escape this cycle and get your first job with a head-turning resume with no experience.
In this article, you’ll find:
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Want some other first-time resume without experience? See our guides:
Our review of over 500,000 resumes built with our tool revealed that*:
- 2.65% of our users report having no previous work experience, and 18.06% of users show below 3 years of experience.
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- Median creation time for a resume on ResumeLab is just 21.3 minutes.
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Alexandra B. Thompson
Graphic Designer
Personal Info
Phone: (555) 123-4567
Email: alexandra.thompson@email.com
Portfolio: www.thompsondesign.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandrathompson_design
Objective
Creative, recent Graphic Design graduate with a passion for visual storytelling and a strong foundation in design principles. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and experienced in creating compelling graphics, logos, and layouts. Participated in a project, creating a logo, website, and promotional materials, improving engagement by 30%. Eager to contribute innovative design solutions to Turnover Marketing.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
University of Art and Design, Artville, CA
Typography and Branding
Web and Interactive Design
Print and Digital Media
Projects
Senior Capstone Project: Brand Redesign for Local Non-Profit
Interactive Website Design for University Event
Skills
Additional Activities
Awards
Avery Waters
High-School Graduate
Phone: (123) 456-7890
Email: avery.waters@resumelabmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/avery.waters
Instagram: instagram.com/avery.loves.beauty
Objective
Personable high-school graduate with a passion for the beauty industry seeking a retail assistant position. Knowledgeable about leading makeup brands and a keen tester of new cosmetic products. Eager to educate customers at Lovely Organic about the product selection, plant-based ingredients, and benefits of organic skincare. Gained cashier experience while volunteering at a bake sale in 2021. Runs an Instagram account dedicated to cosmetology since 2019.
Education
High School Diploma
Salem High School, Salem, MA
September 2018–June 2022
Personal Projects
Makeup Artist
Volunteer Experience
Volunteer
Salvation Army, Salem, MA
Skills
Languages
Interests
Ready to write a resume that’s as compelling as the above examples? Read on, I’ll walk you through each step of writing a resume with no experience.
To help you write your resume for your first job, you can click these links to read about certain steps of the process, with examples:
Let’s start:
You might’ve heard about various resume formats. Which one should you choose for your resume with no experience?
Go with the reverse-chronological resume. It’s preferred by recruiters and easily adjustable for any candidate, no matter their level of experience. It's also what career experts like me suggest most of the time.
Then, keep in mind these rules:
If formatting documents in Word or Google Docs is not your strong suit, go with pre-made resume templates instead. You can easily find them online, or you can save some time and try our collection of Word resume templates or Google Docs resume templates to see if they match your taste.
The hiring manager’s gaze will first land at the top of your resume, where your resume header must appear. It’s not only a space to put your name in—it’s also the best section to display your contact information on a resume with no job experience.
Here’s what you should put in a resume header:
What does the term professional social media mean, exactly? From my experience, LinkedIn is your best choice, as it’s a network designed specifically for business purposes. But if you run an Instagram or Facebook account related to your profession, that’s a good option, too. For example, if you’re an aspiring graphic designer, an Instagram page showcasing your work is perfect.
But the header isn’t just the first section that gets noticed, it’s also the last. When the recruiter decides to contact you, they will need to use one of the contact options you provided. That’s why you need to quadruple-check that the contact information on your resume with no experience is correct and up to date.
Expert Hint: Make sure your email address sounds serious. An unprofessional email address is one of the most popular mistakes made on resumes when applying for jobs. Consider creating a new account for work and keep it separate from your personal email.
One of the things preventing your resume with no experience from securing you an interview might be the lack of a strong resume profile.
For a resume with no experience, the best type of profile you can use is a resume objective, which highlights skills and knowledge and specifies what you can do for the employer and the company.
Use it to mention relevant skills and knowledge to help you succeed professionally. You might also say a few words about your relevant experience from part-time jobs, volunteer work, or university if you have it.
Here’s how to write the perfect introduction for a resume with no experience:
The other profile type is a resume summary and is typically reserved for experienced professionals. However, if you have a lot of experience gained through personal projects, freelancing, academia, and volunteering, you can still go for it. If you do, focus purely on your achievements, proving your fit for the role.
Now, enough theory. I'll show you some examples:
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.
Even though not all well-paid jobs require a college degree, having one can significantly improve your career prospects. And since you don’t have work experience yet, your education section needs to do a lot of the heavy lifting to impress recruiters.
Here’s how to make a strong education section in your first-job resume:
Doing more than just studying while at school can be really beneficial. Your time at college can not only get you a degree but also provide a chance to start networking as a student.
Here are examples of how your education section on a resume with no experience might look:
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s how to make a resume with no experience:
Got questions on how to write a resume with no work experience? Maybe you don’t know where to start writing your resume for the first job? Leave a comment. I’ll be happy to reply!
At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.
Written by Roma Konczak, CPRWRoma Konczak is a career expert and a Certified Professional Resume Writer with a background in education and humanities. She’s passionate about personal development and helping others advance in their careers. She writes guides that simplify complex HR terminology based on thorough research and factual information.
You can stop searching—this is the ultimate collection of best resume tips that can help you succeed in 2024. These resume writing tips will help to impress hiring managers.
Roma Konczak, CPRW
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert
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Roma Konczak, CPRW
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert
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