How to Write a Resume With No Experience (With Examples)
Everyone starts with a blank page. Here's how to fill a one-page resume with skills, projects and proof — even if you've never had a job.
To write a resume with no experience, lead with a short summary of what you offer, then highlight your education, skills, projects, volunteering and any informal work such as babysitting or freelancing. Use a clean one-page layout, describe what you did with action verbs and results, and tailor the resume to each job you apply for. Employers hiring for entry-level roles know you’re starting out; they’re looking for potential, reliability and relevant skills.
What to include on a resume with no experience
- Contact details — name, phone, professional email, city, and a LinkedIn or portfolio link if you have one.
- Summary — two or three lines on who you are and what you’re looking for.
- Education — school or college, qualification, dates, and relevant courses or achievements.
- Skills — practical and technical skills relevant to the job.
- Projects — school, personal or online projects that show what you can do.
- Volunteering and activities — clubs, sports, charity work, leadership roles.
- Informal work — tutoring, pet sitting, helping with a family business, freelance tasks.
Choose the right format
If you don’t have much work history, a “skills-based” or combination format usually works best. It puts your skills and projects near the top, rather than a short or empty work history. Keep it to one page, use a simple font, clear headings and plenty of white space. Avoid photos, fancy graphics and multiple columns, which can confuse the applicant tracking systems many employers use to scan resumes.
Write a strong resume summary
Your summary is the first thing an employer reads. Keep it specific and focused on the job.
| Weak | Stronger |
|---|---|
| Hard-working student looking for any job. | Reliable business student with strong customer service skills from two years of volunteering at a local food bank. Seeking a part-time retail role. |
| Recent graduate seeking opportunities. | Recent computer science graduate with three web projects built in JavaScript. Looking for a junior developer role where I can grow my front-end skills. |
Turn school and volunteering into experience
Almost everything you’ve done can show a skill. The trick is to describe it the way you’d describe a job: an action verb, what you did and, where possible, a result.
- Instead of “Member of the debate club” — try “Researched and presented arguments in 12 competitive debates; reached the regional semi-finals.”
- Instead of “Helped at a charity shop” — try “Served customers, handled cash and restocked shelves during weekly volunteer shifts.”
- Instead of “Group project” — try “Led a team of four to design a marketing plan for a local café; received the top grade in the class.”
Which skills to list
Read the job description and match your skills to it. Split them into two groups:
- Hard skills — specific abilities like spreadsheets, a programming language, social media tools, a second language or a driving licence.
- Soft skills — communication, teamwork, time management, problem-solving. Prove these with examples elsewhere on the page rather than just listing them.
If there’s a skill the job asks for that you don’t have yet, consider a short free course. Our guide on how to learn a new skill online for free lists good options, and a finished project is a great resume line.
A simple resume example (no experience)
- Summary: Organised and friendly college student with strong communication skills and experience helping customers through volunteer work. Looking for a part-time front-desk role.
- Education: Associate degree in Business (in progress), City College, expected 2027. Relevant courses: Business Communication, Intro to Accounting.
- Skills: Customer service, Microsoft Excel, Google Workspace, conversational Spanish, cash handling.
- Projects: Created a budget tracker in Excel used by 15 classmates.
- Volunteering: Welcome desk volunteer, community centre (2025–present): greeted 50+ visitors per shift and managed sign-ins.
Tailor it to every application
Sending the same resume everywhere is the most common mistake. For each job, adjust your summary, reorder your skills to match the listing and use some of the same keywords the employer uses. It takes ten minutes and noticeably improves your chances.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spelling and grammar errors — read it aloud and ask someone else to check.
- An unprofessional email address.
- Stretching the truth. Employers check, and it’s never worth it.
- Long paragraphs. Use short bullet points.
- Listing duties without showing any results or skills.
Add a cover letter when you can. It’s your chance to explain why you want this particular job and to show personality that a resume can’t.
Studying while you job hunt? Our guide on how to study effectively can help you balance both. For official career exploration tools, the US Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop is free and useful.
Frequently asked questions
What do I put on my resume if I have no experience?
Education, skills, projects, volunteering, extracurricular activities and informal work such as tutoring or babysitting.
How long should a resume be with no experience?
One page is ideal for entry-level resumes.
Should I include my high school on my resume?
Yes, if it’s your highest level of education or you’re still in college. Remove it once you have a degree and some work experience.
Can I get a job with no experience?
Yes. Many entry-level roles expect little or no experience and focus on reliability, attitude and transferable skills.
