What do I put on a resume if I have no work experience?

Education, relevant coursework, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, personal projects, sports teams, community involvement, and any informal work like babysitting or lawn care.

How do I write a resume objective with no experience?

State who you are, what you are applying for, and what you bring: "Motivated high school graduate seeking a part-time retail role. Strong communication skills and a track record of reliability in volunteer work."

Should a no-experience resume include references?

You can add "References available upon request" at the bottom. For student roles, teachers, coaches, or volunteer supervisors make excellent references.

Can I get a job without a resume?

Many entry-level jobs (retail, fast food, service) accept walk-in applications, but having a one-page resume — even a simple one — always improves your chances.

How long should a first resume be?

One page — always for a first resume. Fill it with everything relevant but do not pad it with filler. Honest and concise beats inflated and vague.

Entry Level

Resume Writing Guide with No Experience

Every career starts somewhere. If you have never held a formal job, your resume can still be compelling — it just needs to be structured differently, leading with your education and skills while drawing on every experience that demonstrates you are reliable, capable, and ready to learn. This template is built for exactly that situation.

View example sections

Resume Template with No Experience preview

Who should use this template

First-time job seekers with no formal work history
Students applying for their very first job
Adults returning to work after a career gap

Key skills for your resume for no experience

Include these keywords in your skills section to match what recruiters and ATS systems look for in resume template with no experience applications.

Communication & listeningReliability & punctualityCustomer service basicsTeamworkBasic computer skills (Word, email)Problem solvingWillingness to learnPositive attitude

Resume example sections

Structure your resume with these sections in order for the best results with recruiters and ATS software.

1Objective Statement
2Education
3Skills
4Volunteer & Community Experience
5Projects & Activities
6References Available Upon Request

Professional Summary Example

Motivated and detail-oriented recent high school graduate seeking an entry-level retail or hospitality role. Strong communication and customer service skills developed through 2 years as a volunteer at a community center and leadership role in school's drama club.

Work Experience Bullet Examples

Volunteered 4 hours weekly at community food bank for 2 years, assisting with inventory management and customer interactions.
Served as Drama Club president, coordinating rehearsals for 25 members and managing a $500 production budget.
Completed first aid certification and served as school safety monitor for 1 year.

ATS optimization tips

For a first resume, describe relevant coursework, projects and transferable skills truthfully; matching words alone does not establish suitability for a role.

List any courses, workshops, or certifications relevant to the job.

Save as a plain .docx or PDF (not a scanned image) so text is machine-readable.

Mirror keywords from the job description verbatim — spelling counts.

Common resume mistakes to avoid

Writing "no experience" anywhere on the resume — you always have transferable skills and activities.

Leaving the resume to one or two lines — fill the page with education, skills, and activities.

Including a photo, date of birth, or other personal details not relevant in the US/UK.

Ignoring the job description keywords and writing a generic resume.

Ready to build your entry level resume?

Use this free ATS-friendly resume template with no experience as your foundation and fill in each section with your own achievements.

View template sections ATS Resume Guide

Frequently asked questions — resume template with no experience

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