Do you know that 75 percent of resumes never make it to the hiring board, let alone get an interview?
That’s not all.
Today, an average job seeker submits about 600 job applications before landing just one interview.
It’s that serious.
So yes, the job market is fierce and getting a job is very hard.
But do you know what can be harder?
Getting a job with no experience.
In this blog, you’ll be learning practical tips on how to make a resume for first job, which will help you land your dream job role with absolutely no experience.
In case you’re wondering whether or not this blog is worth your read, check out this blog on how similar tips from the Creaitz community had helped a member secure 3 job roles with no prior experience.
What is a Resume?
Before we dive into the tips and hacks on how to make a resume for first job, let’s talk about what a resume actually is.
What’s all the fuss about it? Why does everyone say you need one to get a job?
Resumes are like your personal introduction to an employer.
It’s a simple yet powerful document that tells them who you are, what skills you have, and why you’d be a good fit for a job role.
There are predominantly three kinds of resumes:
- Chronological Resume: This focuses on your work experience and is great for senior or mid-level professionals.
- Functional Resume: This type of resume focuses on your skills and what you can offer and is good for new professionals.
- Combination Resume: This resume combines work history and skills and is very common to use.
If you’re wondering how to write a CV with no experience or qualifications, the good news is that employers don’t just look for job history, they also want to know what your skills, education, and potential are.
And the functional resume can be your safe haven.
Here’s how to do it.
How To Write A Resume For Your First Job
While it’s true that many job postings ask for significant experience, don’t be discouraged.
Skills, potential, and volunteer experience, can still help you land a job.
And if you know how to identify your strengths and potential effectively, you can make a compelling case to employers.
Follow this step-by-step guide on how to make a resume for first job, even with no experience.👇.
- Highlight Your Education
Since you don’t have work experience, your education becomes one of the strongest sections of your resume.
Your education tells the recruiter of your background, interests, and the skills you have.
Structure your education section to showcase why you’re a strong candidate.
Here’s what to include:
- Relevant Coursework That Connects to the Job
If you don’t have experience at work, then you must have had some while learning in class.
For instance, if you’re applying for an admin role, your college courses on English, business, or computer studies show your ability to communicate and stay organized.
And if it’s a tech role you’re applying for, then you might want to list math or those programming classes you took with Creaitz.
Take a look at the job description and list those courses that relate to the exact requirements they want.
- Academic Achievements That Show Dedication
It isn’t just your college teachers that love hard work, all employers value hard workers.
If you have a high GPA (generally 3.5 or above), honor roll recognition, or any other academic awards, highlight them.
Your academic achievements tell the recruiters that you’re committed, focused, and willing to put in the effort; things employers want in all employees.
- Projects That Demonstrate Skills in Action
While in school, did you participate in any school project that had to do with working with a team, researching, or problem solving?
That random design you made for your class, the report you wrote when no one else wanted to, or that science experiment your instructor forced you to do.
Even though they may not be done in a real job setting, they are all great ways to showcase practical skills.
- Certifications or Online Courses That Show Initiative
That free Creaitz course that you took could also be your pass to landing a job.
Is it a digital marketing course you’ve taken online, such as graphics designing or coding? whatever niche it is, list them.
They tell your employer that you’re passionate about learning and improving yourself, and proactiveness to growth is another quality that can set you apart.
- Showcasing Relevant Experience
The mistake many people make is thinking the experience you need to write your resume should only come from formal jobs.
Have you taken on any volunteer job role, engaged in a personal project, or even helped out on a family business?
These are all impressive experiences that could interest your employer.
This is what you should do:
- Volunteer Work That Proves Your Work Ethic
If you’ve ever taken on a volunteer role, whether at school, a community program, no matter how less significant the setting is, it is worth mentioning.
This shows that you are proactive, willing to take responsibility, and work with others.
For instance, you once helped to coordinate at a food bank, this is a brilliant highlight of customer service and problem-solving.
- Part-Time Jobs or Side Gigs That Demonstrate Skills
So while preparing for school, you once babysat, tutored your siblings’ other younger students, or even helped in a family business.
Yes, these aren’t official jobs, yet they still show that you have real-world skills.
Babysitting highlights responsibility and patience, while tutoring demonstrates communication and leadership.
If you ever run a small shop, that denotes good customer service and cash handling experience.
- Extracurricular Activities That Show Leadership and Teamwork
If you were involved in student politics or any school club or sports team, that’s also a good point for leadership skills.
Employers really want people who have demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills.
Organizing and being a part of groups like debate teams shows critical thinking, commitment, and attention to details.
- Personal Projects That Show Self-Motivation
Have you ever started a blog, built a website, or created content on social media?
Similarly, personal projects like blogging, or even creating content for your social media accounts also showcase passion, creativity, and dedication.
For someone applying for a digital marketing role, running your personal Instagram page is an important experience.
Above all, your employers just want to see that you have been active, responsible, and capable, even if you haven’t had a traditional job yet.
- List Your Skills
Another way to write a job-winning resume even with no prior work experience is to list the skills you already have.
Employers don’t just focus on experience, they want to see what you can do, the skills you have that relate to the job.
So, let’s check how you can make your CV stand out even with no prior work experience:
- Identify Skills That Match the Job You Want
The fact that you haven’t worked at a company doesn’t mean you don’t have job skills.
Think about those things you excel at, do you have a good communication skill, you’re a member of the debating club?
What skills did you apply while involved in those extracurricular activities?
Perhaps you really know how to use Canva and Microsoft Office.
Boy, these are all impressive skillsets recruiters love to see, what you need to do is to check the Job descriptions and then tailor it to the relevant skills you have.
- Include Both Hard and Soft Skills
Hard skills are the technical abilities like using work software, writing, data analysis, or graphic design.
Soft skills are equally as important, in fact they go a long way in influencing whether or not you’ll get a job.
They are personal qualities, like teamwork, problem-solving capability, and adaptability.
So, among the tips and tricks to make a resume for a first job, listing both hard skills and soft skills is also important.
- Prove Your Skills With Examples
Don’t just list your skills, add quantifiable metrics, you can put a short explanation of how you developed them.
For instance, if you write “Leadership,” back it up with a line like: “Led a team of five students to organize a charity event, raising $2,000.”
Many people do not do this, so it gives you an edge above others.
It also adds trust and authority to your resume.
- Tailor Your Skills to Each Job
Do not submit the same resume for all job applications, if you do this, you’re essentially just wasting your time.
Requirements for each job are different, so your resume has to be too.
You have to tweak your resume each time to match the Job requirements.
So yes, even without formal work experience, you still have the needed skills recruiters would love to see.
The important thing you need to do is to highlight them in your CV brilliantly as we’ve explained above.
- Crafting a Compelling Summary
Thousands of applicants submit resumes for a single job offer.
Sometimes, recruiters don’t have time to look at all.
So adding a resume summary can get them interested in checking you out.
Among other things, it tells the recruiters who you are and why they should hire you.
Aside the other tips to writing resume for first job that we’ve listed, this is one of the most important:
- Start Strong With Your Key Strengths
Resume summaries are straight to the point, it should immediately highlight your most relevant skills, education, or achievements.
Rather than say, “Looking for my first job,” say something like:
“Motivated graduate with strong problem-solving skills.”
- Make It Job-Specific
Again, don’t use the same summary for all jobs, tweak it to always fit the job you’re applying for.
If you’re applying for a customer service role, highlight communication and problem-solving skills. If it’s a tech job, focus on analytical thinking and attention to detail.
- Use Keywords Naturally
Many job applications are screened by software, and these software focus on keywords, so using the right keywords can help.
If you’re applying for jobs that require a good understanding of SEO, including keywords like SEO analytics tool, will make you get noticed.
- Keep It Concise and Impactful
Your summary should be 2–3 sentences long.
Don’t use generic phrases or fluffy words like “hardworking and passionate.”
Instead, be specific about what makes you a great candidate.
Are you still worried how to write a CV with no experience?
Well, focus on keeping your summary concise and impressive as it shifts the focus from what you don’t have to what you bring to the table.
And also, it’s very important that you review your resume with free tools like GPT, Zety, Jobscan and several others.
They help you spot out mistakes and other places you need to improve on.
- Using a Professional Template
The structure and design of your resume matters too.
When your resume is well organized, and has a good layout, it makes your information easy to read and looks professional.
Knowing how to write a CV with no experience isn’t just enough, you need to know what template to use to present your skills and qualifications in the best possible way.
Why should you use a template resume?
Formatting isn’t everybody’s biggest strength, but that’s where a good template comes in.
It saves you time, ensures proper alignment, and helps maintain a professional look. A resume with too many designs can make it difficult for employers to find key details
A structured template keeps everything clear and concise.
What to Look for in a Template?
- Simple and Professional Designs
Choose a template that is clean and easy to scan.
Recruiters only spend a few seconds on each resume, so a minimalist layout with clear headings works best.
- Sections That Fit Your Strengths
Find a template that allows you to emphasize your skills, education, and any relevant projects.
Some templates highlight a skills section more prominently, and this can be helpful if you lack traditional work experience.
- Easy Customization
Your chosen template should be easy to customize so that you can tailor your resume while keeping the format intact.
There are free resume templates on platforms like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Canva, which provide excellent options that are easy to edit.
NOTE: If available resumes templates didn’t exactly meet up with the above qualities or they do not just feel perfect for the job, it’s best you create one from scratch.
Check this video below on how to create a resume by using Microsoft Word:
In Conclusion’s
Landing your first job might feel like a challenge, but with the right resume, you’re already halfway there.
Even though you have no prior industry experience, there are still many things you have to offer—your skills, education, and passion can make all the difference.
The most important thing is how you present yourself.
And if you ever feel stuck, remember Creaitz is here to help you.
Join our community for more job winning tips and support to land your dream job role.
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