seek resume template first job

A resumé template for your first job

You’ve wrapped up your education and you’re keen to make your debut into the workforce. You might have already started bookmarking jobs you like – but there’s something you need to do before you can apply: write a standout resumé. 

A good resumé is an essential tool for every job seeker. And it’s even more important for new job seekers with limited or no work experience. It’s the first thing that prospective employers and recruiters want to see, no matter what stage of career you’re at. A well-written, professional-looking resumé makes all the difference when you’re applying for roles and need to stand out . 

How to approach a first job resumé when you don’t have any experience? First-time job seekers have to take a different tack to writing a resumé than people with years of work experience. If you’ve researched resumé examples for a first job, you’ll have noticed that overall they’re shorter and have a greater focus on education and soft skills than resumés for those with work experience.

In this article, we show you how to write your first resumé , the best fonts and formatting to use, and what skills to put on your first job resumé. We also provide resumé examples for a first job and a resumé template you can use, to give you a head start.

Resumé preparation

Before sitting down to write your first job resumé, it’s important to gather all the information you want to include. By preparing all this information up front, you’ll find it much easier to tailor your resumé to your skills and the types of roles you’re applying for. 

Take a moment to assess your goals. What kind of job are you aspiring  to get? Who is your target audience (a hiring manager, a recruiter, an industry leader)? Make a list of all your soft skills and technical abilities. Write down the formal names of your qualifications, which school or institution they’re from, and when you started and finished the course/training. 

Once you have all your information together, you can start to write your resumé and tailor it to your audience and purpose. For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level role in finance, you’ll want to highlight any education you have in economics or mathematics, and mention soft skills like critical thinking and communication . 

You should also read through any job descriptions you’ve saved and look at the specific criteria they list. It’s important to understand exactly what your prospective employer is looking for before you start to write your resumé. On that note: you should tailor your resumé to suit every role you apply for, changing it to reflect the job requirements listed in each ad.

Essential resumé components

Your resumé doesn’t have to be exactly the same as your peers’ or any first job resumé examples you may have seen online. Resumés come in a wide variety of designs, with different sections, headings and formats. However, there are certain elements you must include, whether it’s your first job resumé or your tenth. These are:

• Your full name and contact information: these should be at the top of your first job resumé, in a bold, easy-to-read font. You want it to be effortless for the hiring manager to get in touch with you. While your home address is not necessary, you should include your phone number, email address and potentially links to your social media accounts, in hyperlinks. 
• Resumé summary: it’s a good idea to write a resumé objective  for a first job as it helps provide some insight into you, your skills and your career ambitions. Without any work experience on your resumé, this is your chance to tell the hiring manager why you’re suitable for the role.  
• Education: your resumé should always include your academic background . List schools and colleges/universities you’ve attended, as well as key qualifications and any special awards you’ve received. There’s no need to include your grades for most job roles, unless they are particularly impressive or relevant to your industry. 
• Experience: you might not have any formal experience to list on a first job resumé, but you can still include this section if you have done any casual or informal jobs. You might have done voluntary work or helped out at the family business. If it’s relevant to your career path, include those duties and what your main responsibilities were.
• Skills section : this is one of the most important parts of your first job resumé. It’s where you list all of your skills, prioritised by how relevant they are to the job you’re applying for. You can list all the skills you accrued in your studies: software proficiency, analytical skills , public-speaking skills, teamwork , graphic design, editing, accounting – any abilities you have that will grab the attention of the recruiter.

Structuring your resumé

Once you’ve decided on the information you want to include on your first job resumé, it’s time to format it. The right formatting ensures that you’re highlighting the correct information and that your skills and qualifications are easy to scan. Not only that, a well-formatted and well-structured resumé makes a professional first impression. It sends a message to the recruiter that you’re organised, competent and have good attention to detail – all desirable qualities in an employee . 

The typical resumé will have a name and contact details at the top, then a short resumé summary or career objective underneath, followed by sections for education, skills and experience. You can download our free resumé template  or do an online search for more resumé examples for first job applications, to get an idea of the structure to use. 

No matter what type of template you opt for, it’s important that the layout is tidy, the design is clean, and the font is professional and easy to scan. It doesn’t matter how skilled or qualified you are if your resumé uses a font that’s too small or hard to read, or your most relevant skills are buried in a big block of text. 

Recruiters usually receive a high volume of applications and have a limited amount of time to read each resumé and cover letter. They might only have time to skim-read for your skills, so it’s worth paying extra attention to the top third of your resumé. 

Enhancing your resumé

Don’t worry if your first job resumé is a little light on content. There are ways you can enhance it without filling it with irrelevant information. If you want to add more dimension to your resumé, think about adding sections for extracurricular activities, hobbies or references . You could also add any sporting achievements, linking your skills to the criteria for the role. For example, as captain of the local soccer team, you may have acquired leadership or conflict-resolution skills .

One important thing to note is that many businesses use software called applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumés and sort them automatically based on key words and phrases. For this reason, it’s also a good idea to tailor your resumé to include the exact words used in the job description. Include the job title you’re applying for in the heading at the top and include keywords that connect to the field of work you want to do.

It’s also good to remember that your resumé is only one factor in your application. In most cases, it will be supported by a cover letter , where you can be more specific and detailed about your suitability for the role. 

Finalising your resumé

Before you send off your first job resumé, read it through for any typos or spelling errors. After that, share it with a friend or family member for feedback, in case you missed any little mistakes. Refer back to the job description and see if you’ve included all the right keywords and phrases. Look up skills to put on your first job resumé if you feel it needs more targeted content to help it stand out.

Once you’ve finalised your resumé, print it out and do a final proofread, as sometimes mistakes are easier to notice on paper than on a screen. If it’s good to go, convert your file to a PDF and print it out a final time to make sure it’s still formatted correctly. 

Resumé templates and examples

To give you an idea of what a complete resumé looks like, here is a resumé for a first job example, which you can use as a template for your own. Read the example, then write your own personalised version, substituting in your details and skills relevant to the job role. Here’s a simple starter resumé example:

Resumé – Bindi Harris

1 George Street, Sydney 044 123 1234 [email protected]

A motivated and determined marketing graduate who recently obtained a Bachelor of Marketing and Public Relations degree from University of Technology Sydney. Skilled in digital content creation and social media management, I’m eager to launch my career in social media marketing with a reputable digital agency.

Bachelor of Marketing & Public Relations, University of Melbourne 2020-2023

VCE, Lowther Hall, 2019 (Captain of the debate team 2019)

2021-22 Volunteer retail assistant, St Vincent de Paul Society Responsibilities: managed stocktake, POS duties, customer service, merchandising, employee training

• Microsoft Office (advanced)
• Illustrator (basic)
• Photoshop (advanced)
• Customer service
• Cash handling
• Operating POS system
• Critical thinking

Hobbies & Interests

• Photography
• Video editing
• Script Writing
• Acting – graduate of Melbourne Actors Lab

A resumé is an essential part of the job-seeker’s toolkit, so it’s worthwhile spending time to get it right. For recent graduates, that means focusing on education, skills and a well-written resumé objective – and making sure your formatting and structure looks neat and professional, so it makes a good impression. 

Tailor your resumé to the job you’re applying for and include important keywords and phrases for potential automated tracking systems. Importantly, remember that your resumé is only a part of your application – keep it concise and to the point and save any extra details for your cover letter.

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How to Write Your First Job Resume [For 2024]

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

Where do you even start?

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

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

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

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

How to Write Your First Job Resume

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

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

Starting with the first step:

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

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

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

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

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

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

A reverse-chronological resume looks as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#2. Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly)

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

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

• First and last name
• Phone number

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

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

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

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

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

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

#3. Include a Resume Objective

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

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

A good resume objective does that for you. 

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

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

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

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

#4. List Your Education (In Detail)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

B.A. in English Literature (Cum Laude)

Boston University

07/2014 - 05/2018

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

#5. Instead of Work Experience, Focus On This

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

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

• Internships
• Extracurricular Activities

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

Business Analyst Internship

AAA Company

Milan, Italy

05/2019 - 12/2019

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

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

Haven’t done any internships? Include extracurricular activities.

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

Moot Court Club Member

2017 - 2019

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

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

Amy’s Book Club Blog

2018 - Present

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

#6. Highlight Your Skills

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

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

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

• Financial accounting
• Adobe Illustrator

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

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

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

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

Tailor Skills to the Job Ad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#7. Mention Optional Sections

Still have some space on your resume?

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

Here are some ideas:

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

#8. Stick to the One-Page Limit

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

Generally, the answer is: it depends. 

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

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

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

#9. Get Inspired by This First-Job Resume

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

First Job Resume FAQ 

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

We’ll answer them here.

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

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

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

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

2. Is a resume necessary for a first job?

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

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

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

Short answer: You don’t! 

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

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

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

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

The exact steps for creating a first job resume are:

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

Key Takeaways

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

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

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

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

• Julia Mlcuchova , 
• Updated January 12, 2024 15 min read

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

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

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

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

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

But let's start with the basics...

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What even is a resume?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who is the resume meant for? 

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

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

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

What does a resume consist of? 

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

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

The necessary resume sections include:

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

From the optional sections , the most frequent include:

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

How long should a resume be?

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

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

Absolutely. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

So let's practise!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Create a compelling resume summary/objective 

What is the purpose.

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

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

It provides an overview of your most impressive professional qualities:

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

What can you do?  

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

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

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

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

Look at this example:

What makes this resume objective good?

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

Step 2: Flash out your education

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

In their case, an education entry contains the following:

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

What can you do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consider this example:

What makes this education section good?

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

Step 3: Camouflage your work experience.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What makes this work experience section good?

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

Step 4: Show relevant skills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Use the skills section to mark your hard skills . Since these can be objectively measured, you can mark down the level of your proficiency by using infographics. Your resume will be sleeker and visually more interesting.  
• Sprinkle your soft skills throughout other parts of your resume . Don't just write communication skills and blackout three out of five circles – that doesn't say much. We aren't saying that this is necessarily wrong; but you can do better!
• Instead of just writing teamwork , mention your participation in various projects when you talk about your education. 
• Don't just write reliable, show how many responsibilities and competences you were able to handle during your internship.
• Instead of just writing leadership skills , mention the fact you led multiple group projects in your resume objective. 

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

What makes this skills section good?

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

Step 5: Provide up-to date contact information

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

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

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

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

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

Step 6: Enhance your resume with optional sections

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your additional section can look like this:

What makes this example good?

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

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

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

Just one more thing.

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

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

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

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

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

Job posting example:

 Entry-Level Customer Service Representative

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

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

Have a look at the following resume example.

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

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

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

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

Student Intern Resume Sample

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is your first resume any good?

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

Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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Entry-Level Resume Writing Guide

Get a headstart with an entry-level resume format

Certified Professional Resume Writer

Entry-level resume writing involves studying the candidate and their goals in order to construct an effective, customized resume for a new or different line of work.

When it comes to  creating an entry-level resume , the case may be that the applicant does not have very much or  relevant work experience  for the position they’re interested in.

It’s also important to understand the difference between first resumes for teenagers, for college students and freshers, a first job resume, and  entry-level . The latter focuses more on  building a career  in that specific area.

This means that  standing out in the application process for an entry-level position  can be somewhat difficult, which is why we’ve created this  writing guide to help entry-level jobseekers compile a comprehensive, tailored resume  to kick start their career.

But do not worry! There are many ways of  catching the eye of potential recruiters  through a  resume without work experience  by inviting the reader to get to know your character, skills, potential, and other achievements that make you the ideal entry-level candidate.

Tips for writing your entry-level resume

Due to the general nature of  entry-level candidates  having little to no work experience, the content and layout of these types of resumes are crucial to attracting potential employers.

Check out the following guide to find some tips and tricks of the trade for  writing entry-level resumes :

The hardest thing about  writing an entry-level resume  is deciding what the goal is; which direction the applicant wants to go in. Once that is clear, the rest will practically write itself.

If you need help figuring this out, try answering the following questions to get a clearer  idea of the target audience for your resume :

• What work or projects have I done in the past that motivate me?
• In which field or profession can I see myself in 10 years?
• What skills do I have that can be applied to an occupation?

With the objective in mind, the candidate can start by choosing  which format is best for an entry-level resume  and specifically the ideal resume structure for each position or company they apply to.

There are 3 main  resume formats  which include the most popular  chronological resume, the functional (skills-based) and combination or hybrid resume .

Depending on each individual’s background and skills it may be preferable to use one of the less  traditional resume types  such as the functional or  combination resume  which either focuses more heavily on the qualities and attributes of each candidate or  emphasizes both skills and work experience  without highlighting one more than the other. These are often  optimal for applicants with little to no professional experience  such as students or individuals seeking entry-level positions.

• To  complete a winning entry-level resume , applicants should demonstrate various  marketable skills and relevant industry knowledge  through the different areas they include in their document, detailing the ways they’ve earned or developed these qualities.
• Another top tip when writing a resume for freshers or graduates with little to no work experience is the inclusion of keywords. The importance of keywords cannot be stressed enough as it is the  best method for passing  Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)  and grabbing the attention of hiring managers  who are looking for specific attributes for each position.

Use the job description as a guide to find the best keywords for each vacancy

• Finally, before sending an entry-level resume, it is essential that all candidates  review their final resume  to ensure that it is correctly adapted for the position offered. This means including the appropriate keywords and relevant information. Perhaps most importantly, check that the  polished entry-level resume does not have any typos or mistakes , because even a small error can lose the applicant the chance at an interview for their dream job!

Remember, if you’re not sure of  how to write an entry-level resume  from scratch, you can either choose from a  selection of entry-level resume templates  to help or even use an online resume builder as a guide.

Writing your first resume: Sections to include

No matter the resume format chosen, each  entry-level resume should include the following sections  as standard and provide all the relevant information to the prospective employer clearly and concisely in one place.

At the  very beginning of all entry-level resumes , candidates should supply a brief statement regarding their  career objective  which should be no more than 3-4 lines.

This part is vital to  capture the attention of the Hiring Manager or HR personnel  who will be reviewing resumes to find suitable candidates for the interview stage.

To make it through this first step, it is essential to include in these few lines the most  important skills that a candidate will bring to the position , making sure to use keywords from the job description, a reference to their relevant experience, and if applicable, their credentials.

The education section plays an important role when writing resumes for freshers or those just out of college , as the candidate may have little to no experience in the workplace and will rely more heavily on their academic achievements. According to the  AACU , 95% of recruiters give hiring preference to candidates with college degrees.

Each degree, course, or diploma should be separated and detailed individually with corresponding names, dates, awarding bodies, and grades if applicable,  beginning with the most recent and following a chronological order . We only recommend including your GPA if it is 3.0 or higher.

Also, this is the best area to  show off your academic awards and accolades  that you’ve gained through research, investigation, participating in school or college societies, or through extra-curricular courses. Here you will find a complete guide on  how to write and format the education section  on a resume.

Within the  Work Experience section of an entry-level resume  candidates should detail any paid or unpaid previous jobs they have held whether full or part-time, temporary or permanent contracts as well as internships and voluntary positions, indicating the dates, roles, companies and locations for each.

Additionally, an  entry-level applicant should include in their resume any leadership positions  they have undertaken and describe the responsibilities, achievements and improvements accomplished through their participation.

This area should be adapted to fit the role or sector that the applicant is applying for using specific keywords and including  action verbs to identify areas of expertise  and general abilities. Only supply relevant  work experience  that can be tailored to fit the vacancy.

In  entry-level resumes the skills section is vital . It helps to market a candidate and allows potential employers to understand each individual profile. It is essential to make this part of an entry-level resume because an applicant needs to highlight their suitability for the position through their abilities.

In this section,  entry-level candidates  can showcase their  technical and practical skills  including IT programs, languages, and ‘soft skills’ which allure more to the individual character, professional manner, and their working methods. A study by  LinkedIn  suggests that  80% of employers  want to see good soft skills from potential hires.

It is also important to  include keywords from the job description  and vacancy advert as well as adapt the top skills to fit the role adequately.

Luckily for entry-level candidates, Hiring Managers are often used to seeing resumes from freshers who do not have much professional experience. This means they will be paying more attention to the skills sections to find out if the candidate possesses the correct skill set for the job.

First Resume for a Teenager

As young students reach an age where they start to look for  first jobs or summer work , they come up against the first challenge in the job hunt: resume writing!

And although  resume writing for teenagers can be tough  at times, nothing is impossible!

Read on for  tips on how to write a teenager’s first resume .

• First things first, as young people often have little to  no paid work experience  to detail, it is recommended that entry-level candidates use a functional or skills-based resume format to showcase a  blend of skills and activities that benefit teenage jobseekers .
• Secondly, as an extra support there are hundreds of specific first job or teenage resume templates to use which are hugely advantageous  providing a structure, advice and examples for first resume writers .
• The next step is to consider the  content of a teenager resume , including the headings and texts. Teenagers are often active participants in social and athletic groups which allow them to develop  skills and experiences that are crucial to mention on a first resume . These activities can be detailed under the headings ‘education,’ ‘experience,’ ‘extra activities,’ ‘achievements,’ etc.
• Finally, when the content is compiled, it is vital that a  teenager ALWAYS edits and reviews the first resume  as much as possible; even ask a teacher, coach or parent to take a look for you to ensure 100% that there are  no grammar or spelling errors , confusions or irrelevant information which could put a hiring manager off contacting you.

Whether you’re looking to go straight into work from school or need a  first resume for an internship  or college application or an entry-level position in a business where you’d then like to work your way up the ladder, a general rule to follow is use your  unique knowledge and individuality  to stand out so that the potential employer gets a feel for what kind of worker you will be.

Entry-Level Resume Templates

Take a look at our  entry-level resume template library  for the  best resume samples  for entry-level positions and choose the one that can be best customized to your needs.

A useful tool for learning  how to make a resume for entry-level positions  is to use a  resume example  which can serve as a basis for all the positions you apply for.

Although these samples give  examples of what to put in each resume section , it is essential that all candidates remember to  adapt their resume to their chosen field  and the specific vacancy available.

Templates like this offer you a tried-and-tested  structure to take as a starting point  and also provide advice on  how to complete each resume section  with guides as to what to include and what you should avoid in order to attract the right employers.

Making an entry-level resume which stands out  in the search for a job can be made simpler also by employing an online resume builder.  Resume creators  allow jobseekers to make and download their finished resumes straight from the internet to start applying right away.

These  expert-approved resume templates  for professionals  highlight the skills and experience  that each individual includes and allows the jobseeker to improve the impact of their application.

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

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

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

Three Compelling Entry-Level Resume Examples 

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

Resume Template For Entry-Level (Word version)

Download resume example (.docx)

Resume Example For a First Job (text version)

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

Relevant Skills

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

Professional Experience

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

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

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

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

West Side University Business Management BA May, 2005

Example of High School Student Resume with No Work Experience

Resume objective.

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

Washington Highschool 2018-Present  GPA:3.75 Activities: 

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

Work and Volunteer Experience

Babysitting 2018-2020

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

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

Volunteer Work: Counselor at Girlscouts camp 2019-2020

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

Skills and Accomplishments

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

Entry-Level Software Engineer Resume Example 

Objective statement .

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

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

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

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

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

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude, May 2017

Work Experience

Front-End Developer — Freelance  May 2019- Present

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

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

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

ABC Bakery Courtesy Clerk: April 2016- March 2017

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

Technology Summary

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

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

How to Make a Resume with No Experience

No experience — no good resume? Wrong! 

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

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

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

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

1. Choose A Functional Resume

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

Hard skills might include:

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

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

Soft skills are:

• Written communication
• Listening 
• Negotiation
• Multi-Tasking

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

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

2. Make A List Of Your Accomplishments

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

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

3. Avoid Unprofessional Or ‘Cutesy’ Additions

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

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

4. Use An Objective Statement

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

5. Add All Of Your Education

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

6: Add A Great Cover Letter

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

FAQs about Entry-Level Resumes

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

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

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

How do I pass a job interview with no experience?

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

Can I get hired without a resume?

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

Should I put beginner skills on resume?

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

Updated on September 2021.

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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Great tool that has a flexible construction of resumes and cover letters as well as great template

How to Create an Effective Resume

What is a resume.

A resume, also known as a CV (curriculum vitae), is a formal document presenting your professional qualifications to secure a job. It highlights essential skills, education, notable accomplishments, and relevant work experience, creating a compelling snapshot of your background and abilities, increasing your chances of getting hired. Resume writing doesn’t have to be hard if you have the right tools and the best resume formats at your fingertips.

While your ultimate goal with a resume is to get a job, the first purpose it serves is to attract enough attention to get you an interview. Recruiters may go through hundreds of resumes and only pick a few to interview. A well-written and well-formatted resume gets your foot in the door so you can wow them with your communication and personal interview skills.

No matter what type of resume layout you choose, it should be a snapshot of your relevant life and work experience, skills and communication ability. Think of your resume as a one-page advertisement, and you are the product. Combined with a well-written cover letter , your resume gets you through the door for the job.

Why is a good resume important?

When it comes to searching for a job, your resume is the first place you should start to build a solid base. A good resume is important for many reasons, including:

• It sells your strongest accomplishments and skills
• It catches the attention of recruiters and employers
• It shows why you match the project or position
• It helps you get a job interview, where you can sell your skills in person

Depending on the job, a hiring recruiter or manager receives hundreds to thousands of applications for every open spot within their companies. Resumes are the tool they use to narrow down candidates and determine which ones deserve a face-to-face interview. They are often short on time and look for ways to quickly find solid candidates for each job.

A resume can help you land your dream job if it’s written correctly. If you outline your relevant experience and skills, display what unique benefits you offer to the company and match yourself to the position, you grab the employer’s attention. Focus on what makes you different than other candidates and what you offer that no one else can.

Even if your resume doesn’t lead to the job you are applying for now, a memorable resume can be pulled up later when another position opens.

What does a good resume include?

Personal details.

At the very least, the personal details section should include your email address, name and phone number. You may also choose to include a link to a website or portfolio, depending on the job. If you have a LinkedIn account, include that along with any relevant social media accounts.

LinkedIn is the biggest global network for professionals and most recruiters expect that applicants have a profile. Before you add your profile to your resume, take some time to look it over and update information, include a professional photo and remove any inappropriate material.

The same rules apply to any social media profiles your potential employer wants to see. Most often, recruiters use social media searches only to see how you’ll fit into the company culture. In some roles, your online “brand” is crucial to your job. We suggest that you only use social media profiles that apply to your desired job. 

There’s no need to include personal information such as your date of birth or any personal identification number. If you make it further in the hiring process, the recruiter can ask you for additional identifying information. In Canada and the United States, adding a photo on your resume may hurt your chances of getting an interview because of strict discrimination laws and employment policies.

Resume summary or objective statement

After your personal information, the next part is your resume summary . This only needs to be a short paragraph, no more than 3-4 sentences. In your own words, this paragraph highlights your greatest career achievements and top skills. 

Resume objectives can be used in place of resume summaries and are the better option for those who are just starting in a career and don’t have a lot of experience, or any at all. An objective focuses on your plans for your career and what your goals are for the new role.

Work experience

The next part of writing your own resume is extremely important. After a well-written, pointed summary, it’s time to include your work experience and previous jobs. In this section, keep it simple. Rather than a long list of generic bullet points that apply to your position, include specifics. 

Work experience should be listed in reverse-chronological order, meaning you start with your most recent job and go backward from there. In each section of your work history, including the following:

• Your job titles or positions written with clarity in bold so they’re easy to find
• Dates employed
• The company name
• A short bullet list of your main achievements and duties

As you write your work experience, make it as concise as possible. Always start your bullets with a verb and keep it to only three or four. 

If you have too many jobs to list, choose the ones that are relevant to the new job you’re applying for and stay within 15 years. If you have a resume without work experience , feel free to include volunteer work, extracurricular activities and internships.

A gap in your resume doesn’t have to be a big deal. If you’re unemployed for a time, get involved with an organization in your industry. Take classes to continue your education. Include unpaid work on your resume. List only the years of your work experience rather than the months.

After your work history, enter your education information. Again, the resume education section goes in reverse-chronological order. If you have extensive experience in your field, include your degree, the university or school name, and the year you graduated.

If you don’t have a lot of experience, include academic achievements, relevant coursework, your GPA and a thesis or dissertation title if you are in graduate school.

If you have a college degree of any type, don’t include your high school diploma to keep your resume relevant to the situation. Include any advanced degrees you have, just make sure they are in the right order (reverse chronological).

Hard and soft skills

Next, it’s time to list the relevant skills that make you a great candidate for the job. To make an amazing resume, always include a mix of both soft and hard skills.

Soft skills are transferable skills that are beneficial in all jobs, and include proficiency in for example:

• Communication
• Time management
• Interpersonal
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability

Hard skills are more like technical skills and specific to the job you want, and include expertise in for example:

• Writing 
• Presentation
• Computer skills
• Project management
• Analytical skills

List skills in a single-item bullet point list with a short description of your proficiency. Provide a few words for context and change the skills to be relevant for each job you apply for.

Including language skills on your resume is advisable, even if they aren’t directly relevant to the job. It shows cultural competence and global awareness, which are highly valued by employers in today's interconnected world. 

When listing your language skills, make sure to include your level of proficiency for every language you mention. You can describe your comprehension with the levels of “beginner”, “intermediate”, “conversational”, “fluent” and “native”, or use an official scaling system like the ACTFL scale, the CEFR scale or ILR scale. If you have taken language courses or obtained language certifications, then make sure to include these as well.

When discussing languages on your resume , always be honest. You could be tested during a job interview, so be realistic about your ability.

Achievements and awards

There is a difference between awards and achievements and it’s important to understand that when you go to list them on your resume. They can both highlight your value, distract from a lack of work experience and help catch a hiring manager’s attention. They can be listed throughout your resume if they aren’t widely recognized, or you can create a separate section for them to show how you stand out.

An achievement is something that illustrates that you excelled, exceeded expectations or provided value on top of what you were expected to do. Awards are given to groups or individuals by businesses, external bodies, academic institutions or third-party groups and usually involve an official certificate or ceremony.

Any time you add an achievement or award to your resume, use ones that are recent and relevant to the job you are applying for.

Extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities can be used to demonstrate transferable skills, and should be included on your resume in two situations:

• You are in school or have recently graduated and don’t have a lot of paid work or internship experience.
• You are in school or have recently graduated and your extracurricular role highlights a skill or position that is especially relevant to the job you want.

Some examples of extracurricular activities that would go on a resume are volunteer services, student government, tutoring, arts organizations, academic societies of clubs, media or publications, and community and civic activities.

Hobbies and interests

Keep your resume free of hobbies and interests that are generic, and focus on those that are unique or exciting. This section usually gives the hiring team an idea of how you will fit into the company atmosphere and culture. Always be honest about your hobbies and interests, because they can come back to bite you if you aren’t honest about what you enjoy.

Hobbies and interests aren’t always necessary in a resume. While they can be a good placeholder if you lack experience, this section should be eliminated for solid experience, education or skills.

Unless your potential employers have asked for them, don’t include references on your resume. If your resume does need references, include at least three of them, and always get the okay from the person before you list them.

How to make a resume?

A resume should include personal information, an objective or summary statement, work experience, education, and hard and soft skills. If you have room left over, include languages, achievements and awards, extracurricular activities, and hobbies and interests. Only include references if the company asks for them.

Many software programs come with built-in resumes, so there are many ways to make a resume online. Two of the most popular tools used for creating resumes are Microsoft Word and Google Docs . However, while these tools are useful, they do have their disadvantages.

One of the main drawbacks of using Microsoft Word or Google Docs to create your resume is that it can be time-consuming to get the formatting just right. Another downside is that many of the formats lack originality and won’t help you stand out. The chances of other applicants using the same format as yours are high when you use programs such as Google or Microsoft.

A resume builder is a better option if you want to be assured your resume is polished and up to date with the latest trends. A resume builder like Jobseeker offers a wide variety of interactive, easy to use resume templates that help you meet your ultimate goal: to stand out in the application process.

How to format and structure a resume?

The format and structure of a professional resume is important. The content is what gets you the job, but an aesthetically pleasing resume shows that you took the time to get it right, and that you have the basic computer skills to make it look good. Here are some formatting tips when it comes to writing a resume:

• Content should be left-aligned
• Margins should be at one inch
• Use an easy-to-read, professional font
• Clearly divide each section
• Use clear headers for every section
• Use bullet points whenever possible for conciseness
• Try to keep your resume to one page

There are many professional fonts you can use, including Cambria, Times New Roman, Calibri, Georgia, Arial, Lato and Didot. Your name and header sections should be larger, but keep the basic font size between 10 and 12 points for normal text. Headers and section titles should be between 14-16 points. 

Between text, use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing, and adjust that to double lines after any subheadings. You can increase or decrease if your resume is too full or too empty.

How to tailor your resume for specific jobs?

Every time you write a resume for a new job, you should tailor it to that job to stay ahead of other job applicants. Tailoring your resume proves your interest in the job, demonstrates how your skills align with it, emphasizes that you know what the employer needs and can help you get through applicant tracking systems.

Use the following steps to tailor your resume:

• Read through the job description for keywords and qualifications. Check for words and phrases that come up more than once throughout the posting and that seem unique to each job.
• Choose the type of resume format (chronological, combination or functional) to highlight your most relevant experience to each job you apply for.
• Always update your summary and objectives when you apply for a new job.
• Put keywords from the job description in your work history bullet points.
• Use quantifiable examples as you highlight your skills.
• Update your skills section each time you apply for a new job, as the hard and soft skills relevant to each job are different.

What types of resumes are there?

There are many types of resumes, and choosing the right resume format depends a lot on the job you apply for.

Chronological resume

A chronological resume is most commonly used in today’s professional world. It starts with a summary or objective, followed by your professional experience, education, and finally your skills and abilities. Make sure to list your experience and education in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job, moving backwards. This type of resume prioritizes relevant professional experience and achievements, and is most suitable for candidates with a linear career history.

Skills based resume

A skills-based resume (also known as a functional resume ) highlights your skills and experience rather than your chronological work history. It is ideal if you have a gap in your employment history or are changing careers, as it takes attention away from the timeline of your resume and instead emphasizes your transferable skills.

Combination resume

A combination resume format (also known as a hybrid resume ) merges a chronological resume and a functional resume format. The focus is balanced between skills and work history and is ideal for job candidates with an extremely specific set of skills or extensive experience.

Other resume types

For job seekers looking to work in creative fields who want a twist on a traditional resume, a creative resume is a valuable option. A creative resume may include an infographic, online portfolio or a video. While you include the same information you would on a traditional resume, a creative resume gives you the chance to present that information in an interesting and fun way. A creative resume done right catches the attention of a hiring manager and removes the attention from a lack of professional work experience. It allows the focus to be on your qualifications and skills rather than former jobs.

A video resume is a short video, usually included with a job application that provides an actual demonstration of your personality, skills and qualifications. Video resumes are often used in design, marketing, tech, fashion, and media industries. While a video resume can be a valuable supplemental tool, your formal written resume should always be your primary application. A video resume is not a quick snapshot, but rather a structured, scripted, sincere visual representation of what you have to offer.

Creating a resume with Jobseeker

The path to landing your dream job starts with creating a standout resume. Jobseeker offers all the tools and resources to make this process easier.

Jobseeker’s online resume maker offers a wide range of professionally designed outlines, suitable for every profession and industry. Helpful tips and resume examples will provide you with the right inspiration to highlight your unique advantages. Create matching cover letters to ensure a professional look for all your application documents. Check out our cover letter templates and get started right away!

If you have questions about the tools Jobseeker offers or the pricing , search the frequently asked questions page. Contact us if you need any additional help or have other concerns or questions.

Do you have unanswered questions? Take a look at our FAQ

Impress potential employers with your resume

Follow step-by-step professional guidance to create a polished resume in minutes.

The Best Résumé Templates For Your 2024 Job Search

N o matter what the news says about low unemployment rates, if you don’t yet have your dream job , you’re going to need every tool at your disposal to attract an employer’s eye . Literally.

That’s why it’s increasingly popular for people to incorporate flashy designs in their résumé. For those of us who aren’t graphic designers, that often means using a résumé template. We’ll point you in the direction of some résumé templates out there in a minute, but first, you might be wondering how necessary these are for a job search . Do hiring managers even look at résumés when they can find out everything about us on social media or in those lengthy online applications we’re always filling out?

“Employers are always going to look you up on LinkedIn , but you also need to have some kind of tangible document that you can send along to demonstrate your professional identity,” career coach Elana Konstant tells Refinery29.

Amanda Augustine, careers expert for  TopCV , says having a strong résumé template is vital. “If a résumé’s content is king, then consider its design is queen,” she says. “How your information is presented on a résumé is just as important as the information itself. Recruiters want to see a visually appealing, yet uncomplicated, résumé that strikes the right balance between content and white space. If your résumé is not easy to read, employers will simply move on to the next application.”

When you’re going up against potentially hundreds of people for a job, the layout of your résumé could be the difference between being skipped over and getting an interview, Augustine warns. After all, studies have proved recruiters typically make a decision about a résumé within 10 seconds.

“A good résumé template is designed with both the hiring professional and its recruitment tools in mind,” she adds. “The document is first and foremost easily skimmable; it utilizes a consistent layout with clearly marked headings and an uncomplicated design that allow the reader to quickly understand why you’re a good fit for a particular job. It also avoids certain design elements that might throw off an  applicant tracking system  (ATS), such as custom fonts or bullet points, graphics, and right-hand columns or rails, among others.”

As you browse through some of the templates, you might be tempted to choose the designs that are the most artistic or fit the most words on the page. Konstant warns that those aren’t necessarily the ones that will land you a job. Some managers in creative fields might welcome an unconventional design, while many others will prefer a more conservative approach.

“I’ve noticed on Etsy, and some other sites, they sell formats that are pretty to look at, but I sometimes find that it can be hard to extract the right information from them,” she says. “It’s a delicate balance between finding something that you think looks good, but that represents the right information. … I definitely err on the side of fewer bells and whistles and really having the experience stand out.”

While many of these template sites include guidance on the content, not just the design, Konstant suggests seeking guidance offline. “Ask people who actually do the kind of work that you want to do to take a look at [your résumé] and see what’s missing,” she says. “[That way] you can make sure that your résumé really speaks to the kind of jobs that you’re looking for.”

Before you run off and find your mentor, you can at least start by using the following template sites. One note: Beware of many sites offering free or low-cost templates. Some of them will automatically subscribe you to their services after 14 days, and charge you fees. If there’s no pricing info available on a site, that should be a red flag.

There are plenty of options here, and Augustine recommends using the London, Santiago, Singapore and Athens templates if you’re applying for a job in a country that discourages using a résumé photo.

In both the UK and US this should be avoided as many recruiters won’t consider applications with a photo.

Google Docs

The easiest place to start is right here, and it’s free. There are five templates to choose from that include tiny bits of personality in the form of font changes, colour, and lines.

This can give you a clean, need and easy to read format to follow, that you can also adapt and develop further if you need.

Microsoft Office

If you have Office, there are pages and pages of free résumé and cover letter templates available to download and use in Word. They range from the simplest to wildly colorful with photos. Choose wisely — you don’t want to use the same template as everyone else, nor do you want to present something wild to a very traditional employer.

At the very least, use this as a source of inspiration, then create your own format selecting the best of what you’ve browsed through.

There’s a variety of free Word doc templates to choose from here, but it comes with a catch: You have to share a link to the site on Facebook or Twitter in order to unlock the free download link. We know that can feel a bit cringy to do.

As an alternative, you can buy a premium pack, which includes a cover letter format and free email support.

Another site with plenty of Word templates for free, but this one comes with a land mines of ads for other résumé sites scattered throughout the page — and they all look like the buttons you should click for your download until they take you to a different page.

The trick is to hunt for the blue “Download” buttons on the template of your choice, and then click on the hyperlinked word “free.”

Graphic designers use this site to showcase their work, and some up-and-comers are so eager to showcase their wares that they offer résumé templates to download for free. This is a gold mine if employers in your field value creativity.

Canva is another option if you’re keen to be a bit more creative; both paid and free versions are available. Someone working in graphics or a creative role might enjoy the range of design options here more, as there’s plenty of space to put your own mark on your résumé. Remember, it still needs to be clear and easy to read, so don’t go overboard.

Seb Morgan, an expert at CV Genius, says most of the templates here are free to download, and you don’t need to sign up to access them.

“Two of my personal favourites are Severn and Tyneside, two versatile templates that are both easy to personalise and appropriate for most industries,” he says.

This site offers two templates you can download for free in a ZIP file and then edit in Microsoft Word or Apple Pages.

You can also buy fancier templates for around $12-13 (each, with some packages for $19). For another $29, you can get an editor to look at your résumé, too.

Support the entrepreneurial designers out there by buying a template directly from them.

There are plenty listed for around $10, give or take a few dollars. Most offer simple designs, so you might find it worth the investment.

This site offers free one-page résumé templates, in styles ranging from “functional” to “creative,” that are perfect for people in the early stages of their career.

Premium subscribers can get longer résumé templates, custom layouts, cover letter templates, extra fonts and colors, and options to add icons.

The best thing about this site is the way you can import info from your LinkedIn profile to begin building your résumé. Of course, you should probably do a bit of editing after that: Konstant recommends you tailor descriptions of your experience and skills for each position to which you’re applying, making sure you include some keywords that are in the specific job listing.

There’s a free option for some of the templates, but they will include a Resumonk footer, which doesn’t look particularly professional. An annual fee will get you 17 templates in both PDF and doc formats, accompanying cover letter templates, plus a URL for your résumé that allows you to track who’s looked at it.

Though it’s based in Poland and caters to people all over the world, this résumé-building site specifies which formats are recommended for American jobs. An online tool clearly guides users through each step of filling out the template, with tips from recruiters included in each section.

The starter pack includes four templates that you can save in PDF format and download unlimited times. The premium plan includes 18 templates, cover letters, and a URL that tracks views and downloads.

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How to Land Your First Job — Even With No Experience

Trying to get a job in your early career can be a challenge. Here's how to get started.

Melissa Russell

Navigating the job market can be a daunting exercise, even for professionals with long careers and lots of experience behind them.

But whether you’re a recent or soon-to-be college graduate or a high school student contemplating the future , figuring out how and when to start your first job search is even more intimidating.

How are you supposed to get an entry-level job when you have little or no job experience? Even if you don’t have formal job experience, you do have value to offer employers. These tips can help you land an interview and gain the early professional experience that will kick off your career.

What Does It Mean to Have No Experience?

Generally speaking, having no experience in a job means you have not held any positions similar to ones that you are interested in applying for. But, even if you are new to the working world, you have likely gained skills in school, through volunteer work, or through internships that will transfer to the workplace.  

If you are applying for a job that is listed as “entry level” companies already know you have limited or no experience. What they want are candidates who are intelligent and reliable and are quick learners who can soon master the skills needed to do the job.

If you are a high school student thinking about next steps, check out Harvard Summer School’s Career Pathways courses, where you can learn how to prepare for a future career.

What Is an Entry-Level Job?

Although entry-level jobs can vary by industry, for the most part these jobs are the first step on the career path. It is an entry point that either requires no experience or minimal education and experience to apply. They are the lowest ranked jobs — compared to mid-level or senior-level roles — and are meant to help employees develop needed experience and skills. 

It may be the first position you take as you begin your career, and there will likely be training involved. To find out about entry level jobs in your area of interest, go on a job platform and search “entry level” under a company’s name. 

Even if a job posting asks for experience you don’t have yet, apply anyway! You might have a background interesting enough to qualify for an interview.

What Do Employers Look for in New Hires?

A few important traits employers look for in new hires include:

Employers value employees with ambition because they are motivated and focused on what they want to achieve. If you have big dreams, let your future employer know. You’ll be demonstrating you are striving for something beyond just paying your bills.

Communication skills

Employers want employees who show competence in verbal and written communication. Before you send in your cover letter and resume, or an emailed query, be sure your communication is clear, concise, and spell checked. If you land an interview, be sure to speak clearly and demonstrate active listening.

Dependability

A dependable employee follows through on assignments, is punctual, meets deadlines, and has a strong work ethic.

Eagerness to learn

Being willing to learn can help you expand your skill set, adapt to situations, and improve yourself. It also shows your employer that although you have a lot to learn, you’re committed to learning and growing your professional acumen.

Positive people help create healthy work environments and are valuable team members. When you are positive at work, people will likely follow your example.

Employers want people who can work effectively in a group, and are likely to ask in an interview how you work as a member of a team.

Learn more about Career Pathways

How to Make a Job Application Stand Out

There are numerous ways you can optimize your job applications to improve your chances of success.

Inexperience can be an asset

Don’t try to hide your inexperience — embrace it! Show that you are motivated to learn by highlighting your other skills, such as those listed above.  

For example, if you are interested in working in journalism or public relations, let your prospective employer know you developed strong writing skills in a challenging writing class. If you studied abroad , share how the experience enriched you and taught you about cultural differences. 

Share brief personal anecdotes in cover letters and interviews that show how life lessons taught you to be dedicated, hardworking, and motivated; the very qualities employers are looking for in new employees.

Do your research

Learn about the company you are interested in and tie their mission to your personal passions and life experiences. For example, if you want to work for a film studio, be sure to discuss how you loved movies growing up. Explain how that shared passion will enable you to learn quickly once you’re hired.

Build your skills

As you peruse job listings, pay attention to the skills employers are looking for and find commonalities. Do they all seem to use a specific database management system? If so, find out how to gain experience with that platform, through online training or courses at a local college. 

If you are still in college or recently graduated, you might be eligible for an internship in an industry that interests you. Sometimes internships are paid or come with a stipend, and many times, they lead to a job offer with the company after the internship is completed. 

A 2019 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that more than 70 percent of internships led to a job offer.

Earn a professional certificate or certification

Professional certification can be an invaluable addition to your resume. In technical careers like cybersecurity, IT, or data analysis, holding industry-approved skills will show potential employers you are qualified to do the work — even if you have never held a job in the industry.

Networking involves building relationships with people in the industry that interests you. These people will be immensely helpful as you apply for entry level positions.

Resume and Cover Letter Tips

A resume is your opportunity to highlight the value you bring to an employer. A cover letter makes the argument that you are the best person for a particular job. Employers will have different needs, even for the same type of job, so it is necessary to customize your resume for each application to improve your chances of getting an interview.

Create a “master” resume highlighting the qualifications, experiences, and skills that make you right for this job, including relevant coursework such as computer science, math, economics, or writing. If you have a strong GPA and academic honors, list them. Additionally, if you have relevant volunteer or extracurricular experience — particularly if you held a leadership role — if you worked in internships or attended programs like Harvard Summer School , include those as well.

When you are planning to apply for a particular position, read through the job description and note the skills, experiences, and qualifications they are seeking with those that match your own. Tailor your “master” resume by highlighting the specific skills and qualifications emphasized in the job posting. Mirror the language they use, whenever possible, to help get through an automated scanning tool such as applicant tracking systems.

Tailor your cover letter by elaborating on those same skills and experiences you highlighted in your resume. If you completed projects in classes that would be relevant to a future employer, briefly describe them. Relevant skills will likely vary depending on the industry you are interested in, but could include:

• Microsoft Office, Google Suite, or Adobe products like Word, Google Sheets, and Photoshop
• Computer programing
• Social media
• Multiple languages
• Public speaking

If you are having trouble identifying relevant skills, consider volunteering at an organization that could provide that necessary experience. This will also give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the day-to-day workings in the field and build relationships that will be useful to you later on.

How to Leverage Job Boards

Many employers list entry-level positions on job boards such as Indeed , Zip Recruiter , Monster or LinkedIn.  

LinkedIn is a social media platform designed to connect people professionally and you can seek out recruiters at companies you are interested in, as well as industry professionals. The LinkedIn jobs section can give you insight into what sort of careers are available in industries that interest you, the types of skills needed, and the names of recruiters and hiring managers who may be willing to answer your questions. 

You can also use LinkedIn to research relevant professionals to gain insights, research companies, set alerts for entry-level jobs, and find alumni from your high school or college to connect with.Consider using LinkedIn to help build your personal brand to show off what you can offer potential employers.

Increase Your Value

Once you’ve determined what skills are sought out in your ideal first job, identify gaps in your experience so you can invest in becoming the ideal candidate. 

Whether you’re in high school, college, or recently graduated, Harvard Summer School may have a course that can help you build these skills such as Web Programming with Python and JavaScript or Strategic Communication and Public Relations . If it’s the interview you’re worried about, consider a Public Speaking course .  If you have yet to decide what career path to take, consider an exploratory course like these Career Pathways courses to find what’s right for you.

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About the Author

Melissa Russell is an award-winning journalist and editor living in the Boston area. She has written for many news outlets as well as for websites, trade publications and other platforms.

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