How to Make a Resume With No Experience (+Examples +Tips)

STEP 4 Add your contact information to your no experience resume

Make sure your contact information is up to date and easy to find. Always put it at the top, in the header of the no work experience resume template you choose.

Include your:

STEP 5 Highlight your strengths in a no experience resume objective

Every resume needs a summary or objective statement. For a beginner resume, we recommend a no experience resume objective, which is a two- to three-sentence statement that explains your job goal and highlights some of the valuable skills you offer. You could write a professional summary for a resume with no experience, but an objective works best for beginners because it states your career goals and intentions for the role.

For example:

Notice how this example objective for a resume with no experience displays a mix of hard (“Educate”) and soft skills (“Outstanding listening and speaking skills”) and technical knowledge (“Adept in Montessori teaching methodologies”). It also tells the potential employer exactly what the job applicant’s goals are, such as “Aims to educate students… while inspiring them.”

STEP 6 Make a no experience resume skills section

Since you don’t have professional work experience, you have to let your skills carry you on your first resume, so put them directly below your resume objective where recruiters and hiring managers can see them right away.

We’ve already pointed out that soft skills are a big hit with employers, so if you lack technical skills for the job, play up the soft skills that can help you succeed in the role.

According to Nicky Garcia of talent management company Cappfinity, the top five most valuable soft skills employers want to see on beginner resumes in 2023 are:

• Curiosity: Potential employers want you to ask questions, investigate how things work and be excited about new experiences because it shows initiative. To display curiosity, you might highlight skills such as problem-solving, research or process improvement.
• Learning agility: Hiring managers love it when new employees can pick up new knowledge and skills quickly. To show you are an agile learner, add skills to your no experience resume like decision making and the ability to juggle multiple projects.
• Growth mindset: A growth mindset is a great asset to any company because it conveys persistence and the desire to overcome challenges. Skills such as risk-taking, the ability to see the “big picture” and a drive for self-development convey a growth mindset.
• Critical analysis: Potential employers want new hires who can make informed decisions, so if you can show that you are able to approach problems from several angles and offer a unique perspective, you will stand out.
• Collaboration: Hiring managers get excited when they see first time resumes in 2023 that display collaboration because most jobs require the ability to work with others. Verbal communication, open-mindedness and conflict resolution are three skills that show you’re a team player.

You can add more than one skills section to your resume template for your first job, but aim for a maximum of 20 words overall, or about five critical skills per section. Too many skills in a skills section might overwhelm recruiters and hiring managers and backfire, so be concise and focus on the required skills and soft skills that can help you succeed without experience.

Take this beginner job sample resume skills section, for instance:

Browse our collection of more than 800 resume examples for more ideas We have several resume examples for a first job to inspire you!

STEP 7 Emphasize your education in your beginner resume

Display your education prominently on your first job resume template to emphasize your readiness for the job. On resumes with no experience, especially student resumes with no experience, highlight relevant coursework or participation in a study abroad program in this section.

The education section of a first job resume is where to show off academic honors and recognitions like graduating magna cum laude or summa cum laude below your school’s name.

Your education section should look like this beginner sample resume education section:

STEP 8Add a section for licenses and certifications if needed

If you are working toward or have specialized certifications and licenses for a job like nursing, accounting or teaching, you can create a separate section on your no experience resume  labeled “Licenses and Certifications” and place it just below your education section.

Create a bullet point for every license or certification you have and list them in reverse-chronological order with:

• The title of the certification, course or license.
• The name of certifying agency or body.
• The date you obtained each certificate.
• The expiration date of your certificate, if applicable. If you have not yet finished the course, write “In progress” and the expected date of completion.

For example:

STEP 10Add optional sections to enhance your no experience resume

Want to know how to make a resume with no job experience and stand out? Add optional resume sections on your resume. If you have room on one page, by all means, show off your academic or community awards, scholastic honors or scholarships, personal or school projects, language proficiency and job-relevant hobbies.

Here’s a no experience resume sample for an optional awards section: