Example of a Resume with No Work Experience (Plus Tips and Guidance)

For many, a resume is an opportunity to highlight years of experience in their field of work. But what if you don’t have any work experience and need to write a resume?

Perhaps you are a student who has recently graduated and is looking for your first job. Perhaps you are simply entering the workforce later in life. Even if you have no formal work experience, you can still write a killer resume that will land you interviews.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to optimize your skill set and other experiences in a professional format by showing you an example of a resume with no work experience.

What should a resume with no work experience include?

While resumes are traditionally used to highlight relevant work experience, you can still write a compelling resume before you have years of experience in a job field. The goal of a no-work experience resume is the same as it is for a traditional resume: to show a hiring manager why you’d be a good fit for a job. The only difference is that you must be more creative in your approach to demonstrate your viability for a job when you have no work experience.

When creating a no-work experience resume, include any life experience that will help you qualify for a job.

Here are some examples of what you could include:

• Participation in extracurricular activities or organizations at school
• Being a member of a group
• Work as a volunteer
• Side hustles or self-made cash income sources

Remember that even if your work was not done through a formal organization or employer, you can still use it to demonstrate your skills and ability to handle responsibility. Don’t be afraid to include experience that may have occurred only briefly, such as holiday volunteer work.

How to Write a Resume When You Don’t Have Work Experience

Take the time to carefully put together the right information that will help tell a story about who you are and how you’ll fit into an organization when creating a resume without work experience.

To create your resume, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Research the position

Take the time to learn about the job you’re applying for before you write a resume. Most job postings will include keywords and important information about the hiring manager’s expectations, which you can use to tailor your resume.

If you’re applying for an entry-level sales position, you might see:

Enjoys interacting with others

This information indicates that you should include information in your resume highlighting how you have collaborated with others and your ability to work as part of a team.

Examine the job posting and highlight any keywords or ideas that will assist you in focusing your resume information.

Step 2: Make a list of your extracurricular activities, clubs, teams, and volunteer work.

After you’ve figured out what a hiring manager is looking for in an applicant, make a list of any side jobs you’ve had, clubs you’ve been a part of or led, teams you’ve been on, and volunteer work you’ve done.

Even if it was something minor, such as volunteering at your local soup kitchen during the holiday season, make a note of what you did and when you did it.

Step 3: Create a resume outline

Next, sketch out a rough outline for your resume. From top to bottom, a resume with no work experience should include the following:

Include your name, address, email address, and phone number in your contact information.

Include your high school or college graduation date as well as your completed education.

Use the list you created above to highlight your unique experience.

Highlight your strongest abilities. Use your job role research to help reflect the skills required for the job.

Awards and Achievements: List any awards or achievements you have received through clubs, school, or other organizations in the last section of your resume.

Step 4: Fill in the gaps

Once you have your outline in place, go through and fill in the details. Start your experience section with a factual statement about the role, followed by the dates you participated.

Then, using bullet points, list what you accomplished or learned while leading, volunteering, or participating.

Tips for making your resume stand out if you have no work experience

If you follow the tips above, you’ll be on your way to writing a compelling resume that will help hiring managers understand how you’ll benefit their company. Taking a few extra minutes to polish your no-work resume, on the other hand, can help you stand out, even if you don’t have years of work experience. Use the following suggestions to make your resume stand out.

• Check your resume for errors at least twice. Use an online tool like Grammarly, or ask a mentor or teacher for assistance. An error-free resume shows that you are responsible and capable of paying attention to details, which are all important skills for any job.
• Maintain a simple, clean format. Don’t feel compelled to jazz up the format of your resume. A simple, easy-to-read font and professional layout will make it easier for a hiring manager to scan and will prevent computer readers from being confused by strange columns or graphics.

• Be truthful. No matter how badly you want the job, never lie on your resume about your lack of experience or skills. It is more important to demonstrate how teachable and willing to learn you are than to fake details.

• Use positive statements to describe your experience. You may not be confident in your job skills just yet, but chances are you’ve learned and accomplished a lot by participating in clubs, volunteering, or even babysitting your neighbor’s kids. Use success verbs like helped, earned, managed, or organized to highlight this experience in a positive light.

• Don’t be afraid to experiment! When you have little or no work experience, a job listing can be intimidating. Many employers, however, provide on-the-job training and are willing to work with motivated individuals. Continue to try and send your resume to jobs that interest you.