If you are looking for your first job, you may be wondering what to write on your resume. Even if you don’t have formal work experience yet, you’ve almost certainly gained skills and other experience through your education and extracurricular activities.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how to write a resume for your first job if you’re new to it. Learn how to identify your most marketable skills and experiences and format your resume to show them.
Reading: How to create a first time resume
What is a resume?
A resume is a formal document that presents you Pass on your career, achievements and skills to potential employers. When you submit an application, your resume is typically the first thing a recruiter or hiring manager will look at to assess if you’re a good fit for the job.
How to write a resume with no work experience
Many job postings ask about relevant experience. But just because you’ve never had a job doesn’t mean you don’t have experience. Your experience happens to come from outside the workplace. For a first job, your resume should focus on your academic achievements, as well as informal work, volunteer experience, or extracurricular activities.
Here are some steps you can take to create a resume for your first job .
1. Choose the right layout.
The majority of many resumes focus on work experience, listed from newest to oldest. If you cannot list work experience, choose a resume format that includes an education section above.
2. Match your experience to the job posting.
Writing a solid resume starts with studying the job description for the position you are applying for. You want your resume to match what the company is looking for, so start by making a list of key terms from the job description.
Review the job description and note or highlight any skills, abilities, and values listed therein. If necessary, pay close attention to those listed.
Now think of experiences in your own life that correspond to the items on the list. If the job ad asks for someone with strong organizational skills, think of times when you needed to be extra organized. Maybe you helped plan a school event or led a group project.
It’s okay if you don’t have something for every item. Keep this list nearby when you start filling out your resume template.
3. Focus on your education.
You may find it helpful to start with the education section of your resume. List your school and dates attended, as well as:
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Relevant coursework: Have you taken any courses related to the position you are applying for apply (or from your job description research)? Be sure to list them.
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Grade Average: A good grade point average (usually 3.5 or higher) can employers demonstrate this You have the skills and work ethic to be successful at the job.
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Academic Achievements: Close include anything else that demonstrates your ability to succeed academically – for example, on the Dean’s List or the National Honor Society.
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Extracurricular Activities: Focus on the activities that match the job posting. For example, student council participation might demonstrate leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving. Playing a team sport shows you can work together and manage your time.
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Certifications or online courses: If If you’ve attended training, boot camps, courses, or certification programs outside of school, please add them here.
If you’re still enrolled in a program, list it as on “in progress” with your expected completion date.
More information: How to list the education on a resume
4. Highlight volunteer work and extracurricular activities.
Next, add an experience section. While you may not have formal work experience, consider including volunteering, community activities, internships, or informal work experience (such as tutoring, blogging, or helping at a family business) that is relevant to the job.
Refer to the list you created in step 2 when completing this section. You don’t have to specify everything; Instead, focus on your experiences that match terms that appear earlier in the job description or are listed as required rather than preferred.
5. List your technical and human skills.
Add a bullet list of skills to your resume, highlighting both your human and technical skills.
The skills that Listing them on your resume should reflect what is listed in the job description. In the case of technical skills, also state your level of knowledge. For example, if you’re still working on a skill, you could write, “Familiar with Excel spreadsheets.”
It’s okay if you can’t list many technical skills.A study by job board LinkedIn found that 80 percent of companies value candidates with better job or people skills that are more difficult to place [1]. According to LinkedIn [2], the five most in-demand human skills in 2020 were:
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Creativity
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Persuasion
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Collaboration
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Adaptability
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Emotional Intelligence
6. Write down your resume goal.
This short statement goes at the top of your resume to summarize your skills. It’s usually a good idea to write this last once you have a better idea of what’s on your resume. Limit yourself to a sentence or two that explains who you are, what you want, and what you can offer the employer.
Tips for creating your first resume
Have it now You’ve filled it up for most of your resume, here are some tips to make it stand out:
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See also: How to create a free email address for a business (with examples)
Keep it on a single page. This is especially true , if you do not include work experience. Add what is relevant to the job and leave out the rest.
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Use action verbs, when you describe your skills and experience. Try starting sentences with verbs (e.g. designed, guided, guided, improved, established, managed).
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Include the same words and phrases from the job posting. Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to sort applications by keyword. Using the same words and phrases as in the job description may increase your chances of getting your resume noticed.
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Fit Attach your resume to each position. Each job posting has different keywords and requirements. You don’t have to start from scratch every time, but make sure to customize your CV for each job you apply for.
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Proofread. Make sure there are no spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors in your resume. If possible, also ask a friend or family member to proofread for you.
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Provide your contact information, including your full name, phone number, and email address.
Student Resume Sample
Here is a sample of one Resume for a college graduate applying for a position as an IT technician:
First Resume Template
When you’re ready to incorporate your own unique strengths, experiences, and skills into your own resume, you can use this first resume template use as a starting point.
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Article sources
1. LinkedIn. “LinkedIn Talent Trends 2019: Soft Skills, Transparency and Trust, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-2019-talent-trends-soft-skills-transparency-trust-bersin/.” Retrieved August 10, 2022.
2. LinkedIn. “The Most In Demand Hard and Soft Skills of 2020, https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-strategy/linkedin-most-in-demand-hard-and-soft-skills.” Retrieved August 10, 2022.
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