sample resume high school graduate no work experience

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3 High School Graduate Resume Examples & Writing Guide

In recent years, the U.S. has seen around 3.8 to 3.9 million high school graduates annually. Approximately 30–40% of high school graduates enter the labor force directly after graduation, while the majority either enroll in college or pursue further education. That’s about 1.2–1.5 million people who are going to become your competition.

Make yourself much more marketable to employers by creating a high school graduate resume that’s better than most others. I’ll show you how.

Top Insights:

• Put extra emphasis on your education section to show relevant qualifications in your high school graduate resume.
• Target keywords from the job description by writing a tailored resume.
• Use a simple resume template that’s clean and professional.

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High School Graduate Resume Example #1—for Experienced High Schoolers

Cara Beldad

Recent High School Graduate

Phone: 607-301-7378

Email: [email protected]

linkedin.com/in/carazbeldad_1

Resume Summary

Driven high-school graduate with exceptional communication and organizational skills. Eager to join Aardvark Inc. as a Sales Associate. As leader of the Furry Angels Fundraising Group, helped save the lives of 1,500 animals, raising $2,000+ annually.

Core Qualifications

• Marketing strategy
• Crowdsourcing
• Customer Service

John Jay High School, Katonah, NY

August 2020–June 2024

President, High School Yearbook Committee

• Led team of 8 to source 750+ photos of 253 senior students, plus 100+ memorable quotes and other memories.
• Worked with vendors to secure a 15% cost-savings.
• Created marketing plan that raised sales 20% over previous year.

Excelled in Business Coursework

• Enrolled in 5 business classes through the school's young business leader program, including accounting, business law, and marketing.
• Maintained 4.0 GPA in all 5 core business classes.

Captain of Debate Team 2 Years

• Led team to 3rd place in New York State debate tournament.
• Coached and mentored 5 debate team members in best practices to improve debate scores by 20% in 3 months.

Lacrosse Team Co-Captain

• Led team to 2 winning seasons in highly-competitive state.
• Mentored 5 players to increase cradling and passing skills 30%.
• Led daily stretches, drills, and workouts with 30+ members.
• Organized video recording and analysis that raised performance 20%.

Co-Founder, Leader

Furry Angels Animal Fundraising Group, Katonah, NY

September 2022–June 2024

• Created crowdsourced animal fundraising group with 2,500+ members.
• Raised $2,000+ annually for homeless animals.
• Assisted with saving the lives of 1,500 dogs, cats, and a llama.

Counter Clerk, Cook

Barvel's Corner Store, Katonah, NY

April 2022–May 2023

• Opened and closed store, operated cash register, made sandwiches, and provided exemplary customer service in a busy sandwich shop.
• Commended 5x by manager for attention to detail.
• Mathematics
• Interpersonal skills
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Spanish (Full Working Proficiency)

What makes it work:

• This sample high school graduate resume sample is perfect for candidates with work experience and extensive schooling accomplishments.
• It highlights the applicant’s qualifications, skills, and drive.
• Core Qualifications present the candidate’s most valuable strengths right away.

High School Grad Resume Example #2— With No Experience

Emma R. Taylor

High School Graduate

[email protected]

(987) 654-3210

linkedin.com/in/emmataylor

twitter.com/emmataylor

Motivated high school graduate with strong communication and organizational skills, seeking a position as a Hotel Front Desk Associate at Sheragram. Eager to apply customer service abilities in a professional hospitality environment and contribute to a welcoming guest experience. Certified in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Springfield High School

Springfield, IL

Graduated: June 2024

• GPA: 3.6/4.0
• Relevant Coursework: English, Mathematics, Hospitality and Tourism, Business Studies

Extracurricular Activities

High School Yearbook Committee Member

August 2022–June 2024

• Contributed to the layout and design of the yearbook, helping to collect and organize photos and quotes.
• Assisted with coordinating deadlines and working with team members to meet production goals.
• Participated in brainstorming sessions to develop themes and concepts for the yearbook.

Debate Team Member

September 2021–June 2024

• Participated in local and regional debate competitions, honing public speaking and critical thinking skills.
• Collaborated with team members to develop arguments and strategies for debates.
• Attended workshops and practice sessions to improve debate techniques and performance.
• Organization
• Team Collaboration
• Time Management
• Problem-Solving
• Computer Skills (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace)

Certifications

• CPR and First Aid Certification, American Red Cross, January 2023
• Hospitality and Tourism Management Certification, AHLEI, March 2024
• Guest Service Gold Certification, AHLEI, May 2024
• English: Native Proficiency (C2)
• Spanish: Conversational Proficiency (B2)
• French: Basic Proficiency (A2)

Hobbies & Interests

• Reading: Enjoy reading books on hospitality, tourism, and customer service.
• Traveling: Passionate about exploring different cultures and hotel experiences.
• Art: Interested in interior design and decor, with a focus on hospitality environments.
• This inexperienced high school grad resume template works wonders, despite not having any work experience.
• It puts extra emphasis on the education section, showcasing multiple accomplishments and skills.
• Additional sections present the candidate as a driven applicant who showcases a lot of skills transferable to their chosen industry.

High School Graduate Resume Example #3—for Interns

Ethan J. Miller

Welder Intern

[email protected]

(123) 456-7890

linkedin.com/in/ethanmiller_weld

Career Profile

Dedicated high school graduate currently with a year of hands-on experience through an internship as a welder. Assisted senior welders in performing MIG, TIG, and arc welding tasks on various metal structures. Participated in metalworking projects, including the creation of metal sculptures and tools, as a member of the Trades Club. Looking to join MTL Inc. to contribute to overall team productivity and decrease project completion times.

Core Competencies

• MIG, TIG, and Arc Welding
• Metal Cutting and Shaping
• Tool Maintenance
• Blueprint Reading
• Safety Protocols

GPA: 3.5/4.0

Relevant Coursework: Physics, Mathematics, Technical Drawing

Honors: "Future Engineer Scholarship," awarded to students demonstrating exceptional skills in technical subjects, 2023

Trades Club

• Participated in metalworking projects, including the creation of metal sculptures and tools.
• Assisted in organizing workshops and demonstrations for fellow students interested in metalworking and welding.
• Collaborated with club members to design and build a metal bench for the school campus.

Competitions

1st Place, Statewide Engineering Design Challenge

• Led a team of four students in the Statewide Engineering Design Challenge, where participants were tasked with designing and building a functional bridge model using limited resources.

Internship Experience

Welding Intern

ABC Fabrication, Springfield, IL

June 2023–June 2024

Key Responsibilities

• Assisted senior welders in performing MIG, TIG, and arc welding tasks on various metal structures.
• Prepared materials for welding by cutting, shaping, and cleaning metal components.
• Followed safety protocols to maintain a safe and organized work environment.
• Inspected welds for quality and ensure they meet specified standards.
• Learned and apply various welding techniques under the supervision of experienced welders.

Key Achievements

• Successfully completed over 50 welding projects, including the fabrication of metal frames and components, with a 98% quality approval rate.
• Assisted in increasing the overall productivity of the welding team by 20% by streamlining the preparation and setup processes.
• Contributed to a 10% decrease in project completion times by adopting efficient welding practices and collaborating effectively with the team.

Other Skills

• Attention to Detail
• Creative Thinking
• Basic Math and Measurement Skills
• Basic Welding Techniques Certification, Lincoln Electric Welding School, August 2024
• OSHA 10-Hour Safety Certification, OSHA, February 2024
• Automotive Repair: Enjoy working on cars and learning about automotive welding and fabrication.
• Woodworking: Skilled in creating wooden furniture and combining metal and wood in projects.
• Outdoor Activities: Passionate about camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.
• This candidate is already skilled in their chosen trade. They focus on showcasing many strong accomplishments from the internship.
• While the education section takes the back spot, it still doesn’t get neglected.
• Both the hobbies and certifications sections add relevant qualifications.

A comprehensive analysis of 500,000 resumes built with our tool showed that*:

- 29.73% of our users include certifications on their resumes. - A total of 2.65% of users report zero work experience, while 18.06% have less than three years on their resumes. - Users most frequently highlight Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Multitasking as key skills. - The median time to build a resume on ResumeLab is just 21.3 minutes. * The data comes from the last 12 months (August 2023–August 2024).

Make Sure Your Resume Passes the Test

When you graduate high school, there are two primary paths you can take. Either you pursue further education or you enter the job market. And that first option is becoming less popular each year .

This means that if you choose path #2, you’ll face increasing competition. But don’t worry. You have a major advantage on your side. You’re reading this article, which will help you write a high school grad resume that will blow the socks off of recruiters. I’ll walk you through each step.

1. Read the Job Posting

This may seem obvious, but so many people just look at the job title + salary, and they either decide to send their generic resume or skip it. To show you how to write a targeted resume , we first need a target job.

Here’s an ad for an entry-level welding job in Illinois:

Job Description: Join our team as a passionate and hardworking welder! We’re seeking an entry-level welder who is eager to develop their skills in metal fabrication and join our experienced team. Higher education is not required. You will be responsible for executing welding tasks under the supervision of skilled professionals, ensuring quality workmanship and adherence to safety standards.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in preparing and welding metal components to create or repair structures, equipment, and products.
• Operate welding equipment and tools, following safety protocols and standard procedures.
• Learn and apply various welding techniques, such as MIG, TIG, and arc welding, in different positions.
• Maintain and organize tools, equipment, and materials to ensure an efficient workflow.
• Inspect welds to ensure they meet quality and safety standards, making necessary adjustments as needed.
• Collaborate with the team to complete projects on time, supporting senior welders and taking on additional tasks as required.

This job piqued Ethan Miller's interest. Who is he? Here is some info:

Ethan J. Miller is a dedicated aspiring welder with hands-on experience gained through a year-long internship. A recent high school graduate, Ethan is passionate about developing his welding skills and pursuing a long-term career in the trade. During his internship, Ethan assisted senior welders in performing MIG, TIG, and arc welding tasks, successfully completing over 50 projects with a 98% quality approval rate. His keen attention to detail and commitment to precision helped reduce material waste by 15% and contributed to a 20% increase in team productivity.

Ethan's education includes a high school diploma from Springfield High School, where he excelled in relevant coursework such as Physics, Mathematics, and Technical Drawing. Actively involved in the Trades Club, Ethan participated in metalworking projects and helped organize workshops for fellow students. He holds certifications in Basic Welding Techniques from Lincoln Electric Welding School and an OSHA 10-Hour Safety Certification, underscoring his dedication to safety and continuous learning in the field.

But despite how skilled Ethan is, the first draft of his resume was rusty:

Unprofessional resume introduction

High school graduate eager to continue developing welding skills and pursue a career in the trade. Committed to safety, precision, and continuous learning in the field of welding. I’m looking forward to working at your company.

And he didn’t know how to display his accomplishments either:

Key Responsibilities:

• Successfully completed welding projects.
• Recognized by supervisors for quick learning.
• Prepared materials for welding

Ethan felt that something was wrong. Despite his experience, his resume sounded unimpressive, so he decided to open ResumeLab and give his high school graduate resume a much-needed lift. Here’s the advice he followed:

2. Display Your Best Qualities in the Resume Profile

Do you remember how every essay you wrote in high school had a word/page limit, and sometimes it was difficult to shorten a grand subject into a single paragraph? A resume introduction is just like that. 

To make a great first impression, Ethan made the following resume profile:

Improved Ethan’s resume profile

Why is this resume profile much better than the previous one? A few things:

• It mentions a few resume keywords from the job posting.
• It shows accomplishments from both his internship and school club endeavors.
• It shows his drive and dedication.

If you already have work experience, you’re going to use a resume summary . It will focus entirely on your work accomplishments and skills. If you have little to no work experience, use the resume objective . In it, mention your school achievements or relevant extracurricular qualifications. The general structure for both is pretty much the same.

Expert Hint: If you want to add some extra flare to your high school graduate resume, consider adding a resume headline . If you have an impressive achievement, it will definitely set you apart from other candidates.

3. Prepare a List of Core Competencies

There are a lot of universal skills that most companies would be happy to see in their candidates . But those universal job skills are mostly soft skills . Technical skills are job-specific, and I recommend you show them on the top of your resume in a core competencies section.

Pick 4–8 of these core competencies. Use them to target resume keywords and make an ATS-compatible resume .

What makes this list of qualifications so great?

• This list is tailored to the job offer.
• It uses vital resume keywords.
• It’s short and doesn’t take up much space.

So, where should you showcase your soft skills? Don’t worry, I’ll tell you about the additional skills section in a moment. But first, there is something more important for a high school graduate resume.

4. Emphasize Your Education

You have just now graduated from high school. You may have worked a job already, but you may also have zero minutes of past work experience. This is why you should focus your efforts on developing your resume education section .

First, take a look at Ethan’s education:

Why does this education section work?

• It shows Ethan’s strong determination and drive towards perfecting his craft.
• It gives the candidate additional qualifications.
• Furthermore, it mentions valuable skills like leadership and collaboration.

When it comes to your education section, the more extensive your work experience history, the fewer details you’re going to mention here.

Expert Hint: If you have no work experience, I recommend adding even more information to the education section. Include honors, awards, capstone projects, club activities, student exchange programs, leadership roles, or other qualifications.

5. Include Work Experience if You Have It

Here’s what worries hiring teams: finding applicants who’ll really get the job done. You can prove that’s you by adding a relevant experience section to your high school graduate resume. Think volunteering, internship, freelancing, projects.

Work it like this resume sample for high school graduates:

Why is this job description impressive?

• Each sentence starts with a resume action word to convey impact.
• It’s divided into non-quantified responsibilities and quantified resume accomplishments .
• They target keywords from the job posting.
• You can see the results of Ethan’s work.

Don't worry if you have no work experience whatsoever. You're writing a high school grad resume, so no recruiter is going to expect several years of work experience from you. Of course, it can help, but if you have never worked a job in your life, put extra emphasis on your education section and your bonus sections (which I'll discuss soon).

Expert Hint: To find out more about writing a resume with no experience , click the embedded link. It’s going to give you a ton of great resume tips .

6. Fill Out Your Contact Info

Okay, we went through some tough sections, so let’s take a breather with something very simple. But simple doesn’t mean unnecessary. The resume header is by far the most important part of your high school graduate resume. Without it, no one will be able to contact you.

Include your name, title, phone number, and email. Optionally add a link to your LinkedIn profile , or other relevant websites (such as your portfolio).

7. Add Bonus Sections for Additional Qualifications

You don’t have to put any more sections to your resume for high school graduates. But think of it this way.

You’ve got a finite amount of space. And your competition isn’t just other high school grads. You need to show you’re better than some experienced workers as well. A great way to do so is by incorporating bonus sections. I recommend:

• Earned Certifications
• Volunteering Experience
• Freelancing
• Personal Projects
• Associations
• Foreign Languages You Speak

Here’s which sections Ethan added to his resume:

What makes this choice effective?

• The additional skills feature high-quality soft skills.
• His certifications are industry-specific and show Ethan’s dedication to welding and safety.
• Ethan chose two job-relevant hobbies and one additional hobby to show his outgoing personality.

If you’re skeptical about the power of bonus sections, let me tell you something: even after graduating from university, I didn’t have much work experience. However, my extensive list of certifications allowed me to secure fantastic freelance opportunities and greatly helped me get this career expert job.

Want more details on writing effective resumes? I recommend you read these articles:

• How to Start a Resume
• Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid
• How to Make Your Resume Perfect

Otherwise, continue reading to see how to make your resume look good .

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now .

Format Your High School Graduate Resume Template

In school, you might’ve gotten away with assignments written on a crumbled piece of paper 15 minutes before the deadline. Unfortunately, you’re no longer in school, and delivering messy documents is out of the question. So take proper care of your high school graduate’s resume format .

As a high school graduate, you don’t need a fancy resume. I recommend you stick to the basics. Choose a single-column layout, and have your education section be the focal point. Separate the sections on your resume with large subheadings. Avoid infographics, use minimal icons, and choose a white background. Marta Bongilaj CPRW Career Expert

When it comes to creating a resume template, it’s something that takes time and some basic graphic design skills. But you don’t have to do it by yourself. The internet is full of free Word resume templates you can choose from. Or pick a simple resume template from our builder to get you started.

But if you’d like to make a template yourself, or optimize a downloaded one, see the tips below:

• Pick the layout style: For high school graduates, a classic resume design with clear sections works best. Avoid infographic resumes .
• Decide on the font choice: Choose between a sans-serif font like Arial or Helvetica for a clean, modern look or a serif font like Times New Roman or Georgia for a more traditional feel. Ensure that the font size for the body text is between 10 and 12 points, and use 13 to 16 points for your name and section headings.
• Keep it concise: As a high school graduate, it’s important to keep your resume to one page . Since you likely have limited experience, focusing on relevant skills, education, and activities is key.
• Leave some white space: Set your margins to 1 inch on all sides . This ensures a clean, professional look and provides enough white space to make the content easy to read. Use single spacing within sections, but add an extra line of space between different sections (e.g., between Education and Skills). This helps differentiate each part of your resume without wasting space.
• Ensure ATS compatibility: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by many employers to screen resumes. Make sure your resume is ATS-friendly by keeping the design simple and avoiding graphics that could confuse the system. Also, export your resume to a PDF file and copy the text into Notepad or a similar text editor. If the text appears correctly, your resume should be readable by ATS software.

If you want to learn more about resume templates, see the articles below:

• Blank Resume Templates You Can Fill In
• Current Styles of Resumes
• How to Write a Skills-Based Resume

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

Do you have questions on how to write good resumes for high school graduates? Not sure how to choose what to put in your resume? Our builder can help you with that! And you can also leave a comment. I’ll be happy to help!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Mariusz is a career expert with a background in quality control & economics. With work experience in FinTech and a passion for self-development, Mariusz brings a unique perspective to his role. He’s dedicated to providing the most effective advice on resume and cover letter writing techniques to help his readers secure the jobs of their dreams.

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Best High School Graduate Resume Examples For 2024 (Template & Free Guide)

Whether you’re a recent high school graduate stepping into the workforce or preparing for college applications, our resume examples and tips will help you showcase your achievements and potential. Get ready to take the next step in your educational or career journey with our resume templates and expert guidance as you craft a compelling high school graduate resume!

Table of contents

High School Graduate Resumes: Overview

High school graduate resume: choose a format, how to write a high school graduate resume, top 5 certifications for a high school graduate resume, key skills a high school graduate resume, top 10 tips for writing a high school graduate resume, view similar resume examples, key takeaways, more resume examples, high school graduate resume faq.

Crafting an impressive resume is a crucial step in your life journey after high school, opening doors to part-time jobs, internships, college admissions, and scholarships.

A resume for a high school graduate will list educational achievements and highlight skills, extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences, and any part-time jobs or internships undertaken.

Common components of a high school graduate resume include:

• Contact Information
• Objective or Summary
• Extracurricular Activities
• Volunteer Experience
• Part-Time Jobs or Internships

Navigating the transition from high school to the next phase of life can be challenging, but a well-crafted resume can be your ticket to success.

Our high school graduate resume examples will help you present your strengths effectively and make a positive impression on potential employers or academic institutions.

For more guidance, explore our collection of professional resume examples and downloadable resume templates . With our resources, you can build your next resume in minutes!

Writing a high school graduate resume begins with choosing the right template and format.

It is particularly important to choose a format that clearly showcases your qualifications in an engaging manner so that you stand out among other job candidates.

There are three types of resume formats that high school graduates can consider.

Chronological Resumes For High School Graduates

The most popular and recommended is the chronological resume format , which strongly focuses on the applicant’s relevant experience, even if it includes part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer work.

A high school graduate would, for example, list all their relevant experience in the work history section, such as part-time jobs, internships, and volunteer positions.

Each work experience is given a detailed description of responsibilities and achievements, as well as the job title, name of the employer, location, and dates of employment.

Responsibilities and achievements are listed in bullets that should contain strong action verbs and quantifiable metrics to stand out and provide a unique context to their qualifications.

Chronological resumes are also very compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) , helping your resume stand out during the initial screening process.

Functional Resumes For High School Graduates

Functional resumes emphasize the skills of an applicant. They are used when a candidate lacks relevant experience for the position.

For example, a recent high school graduate might use the functional resume format and focus on the skills they learned in school, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work.

Because most employers place a higher value on work experience, functional resumes are not usually compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and do not engage employers as effectively.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever use a functional resume, especially if you lack relevant work experience. However, it is important to understand the limitations of a functional resume.

Combination Resumes For High School Graduates

A combination resume is a hybrid between the chronological and functional resume formats. It places equal emphasis on skills and experience, which allows candidates to showcase both effectively.

A high school graduate’s resume might choose the combination format, especially if the dedicated skills section can help compensate for lack of experience.

Are you ready to write an impressive resume that sets you on the successful path as a high school graduate?

Follow this comprehensive step-by-step guide that outlines what you need to do to ensure your resume stands out and showcases your qualifications effectively.

Your resume should begin with your full name, a phone number where you can be reached, and a professional email address. Including your location, such as city and state, is optional but can be helpful for local job searches.

Kick off your resume with a concise objective or summary statement. An objective focuses on your career goals and how they align with the opportunities you're pursuing. In contrast, a summary briefly highlights your qualifications and strengths relevant to the job or college admission.

Start with your most recent high school information, including the school name, location, graduation date, and your GPA if it's competitive. If you've earned any honors or awards, be sure to include them.

If you have any work experience, even part-time jobs or internships, provide details about the roles, responsibilities, and skills gained. Emphasize any transferable skills, such as communication or time management.

The work experience section is an important part of your resume, because most employers want to see proof that validates your skills.

As a recent high school graduate you may feel like you lack the proper experience, but that is not necessarily true! Consider part time jobs, volunteer opportunities, extracurricular activities, and anything else that shows you have used your skills effectively in accomplishing certain goals.

Highlight relevant skills on your resume such as computer proficiency, language skills, or certifications to show that you are capable and professional high school graduate.

Be specific about your proficiency level and choose words found in the job description so that your resume stands out with employers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) .

Detail any notable academic achievements, such as Advanced Placement (AP) courses, scholarships, or participation in academic clubs. These can also help validate your skills by showing that you were recognized for your abilities.

Highlight your involvement in clubs, sports, or organizations and describe your roles and any leadership positions you held. Extracurricular activities are a great way to fill up your resume to showcase your skills in action and that you are an active member of your community!

If you lack professional work experience, you can describe any volunteer experiences and their impact on your personal growth and community involvement. This also demonstrates that you are willing to learn new skills and put them to the test.

If you received any awards for school, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or at a part-time job, be sure to include them on your resume to showcase your value as a recent high school graduate.

Having certifications on your resume will show that as a high school graduate, you have successfully undertaken important professional development that demonstrates your skills in action.

This can be especially useful when your certifications are sought after in the job descriptions that you apply to.

• High School Diploma: Mention your high school diploma as a foundational certification that indicates your completion of basic education.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: If you’ve completed AP courses, list them to highlight your commitment to challenging coursework.
• First Aid and CPR Certification: Consider obtaining a basic first aid and CPR certification, which can be valuable in various situations.
• Language Proficiency Certificates: If you’re proficient in foreign languages, include relevant language certificates or awards.
• Extracurricular Certificates: If you’ve received certificates or awards in specific extracurricular activities, showcase them to demonstrate your achievements beyond academics.

When creating your high school graduate resume, it’s essential to highlight the hard skills and soft skills that make you a standout candidate for college admissions or entry-level jobs.

Here are key skills for your resume that can help you shine:

• Academic Excellence: Showcase your strong academic performance, including a high GPA and any honors or awards you’ve received. Mention specific subjects in which you excel.
• Critical Thinking: Highlight your ability to think critically, solve problems, and make informed decisions. Share instances where you’ve applied critical thinking skills.
• Communication: Emphasize your written and verbal communication skills, essential for college coursework and most professions. Provide examples of presentations, essays, or projects that demonstrate your communication prowess.
• Time Management: Describe how you effectively manage your time to balance school, extracurricular activities, work, or volunteer commitments. This skill is highly valued in both academic and professional settings.
• Leadership: If you’ve held leadership roles in clubs, sports teams, or organizations, mention them. Describe how you’ve motivated and guided your peers to achieve common goals.
• Adaptability: Highlight your ability to adapt to new situations, whether it’s adjusting to college life, taking on challenging coursework, or navigating the demands of a job.
• Problem-Solving: Provide examples of situations where you’ve successfully identified and resolved issues. Problem-solving skills are valuable in various settings, from academics to the workplace.
• Computer Literacy: Mention your proficiency in using software and technology relevant to your field of interest to highlight your computer skills . Specify any programming languages, software, or applications you’re comfortable with.
• Teamwork: Explain how you collaborate effectively with others, whether in group projects, sports teams, or community service initiatives. Teamwork is essential for both academic and professional success.
• Initiative: Share instances where you’ve taken the initiative to start projects, propose ideas, or volunteer for leadership roles. This shows your proactive approach to learning and work.

By showcasing these skills , you’ll demonstrate your readiness for college and future career opportunities.

Remember to provide specific examples or experiences that illustrate each skill, making your resume more compelling and persuasive.

Creating an impressive high school graduate resume is essential for showcasing your accomplishments and securing opportunities.

Follow these top 10 tips to craft a compelling resume:

Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each application by emphasizing skills and experiences relevant to the position or college program. Use a Clean Format: Maintain a clean, well-organized format with clear headings, bullet points, and consistent fonts to enhance readability. Start with a Strong Objective or Summary: Begin with a concise statement highlighting your career or educational goals and how they align with the job or college program you’re pursuing. Highlight Academic Achievements: Emphasize your academic accomplishments, such as your GPA, honor roll status, or specific courses that showcase your strengths. Include Extracurricular Activities: List involvement in clubs, sports, volunteer work, or leadership roles to demonstrate your well-roundedness and dedication. Showcase Relevant Skills: Highlight skills such as communication, problem-solving, technical skills , and teamwork, which are valuable in academic and professional settings. Detail Work Experience: If you have part-time jobs or internships, describe your responsibilities and achievements, emphasizing transferable skills. Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, use quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your impact. For example, mention how you contributed to a successful school event or fundraiser. Include References: While not always necessary, you can mention that references are available upon request to add credibility. Proofread Thoroughly: Review your resume carefully for spelling and grammatical errors. Consider seeking feedback from teachers, mentors, or career advisors.

Following these tips to create a high school graduate resume that effectively communicates your qualifications, skills, and potential.

Tailoring your resume to your specific goals and showcasing your achievements will set you on a path to success in your academic and professional pursuits.

Helping Job Seekers Like You

Entry Level Resume Examples (5)

• High School Graduate Resume
• College Student Resume
• Internship Resumes Resume
• Teen Resume Example Resume
• High School Student Resume Resume

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Tailor your high school graduate resume for each application to highlight relevant skills, achievements, and experiences that align with your goals.

Use quantifiable achievements to illustrate your contributions, whether it's raising funds for a school event or excelling in a leadership role. This adds depth and credibility to your resume.

Maintain a well-organized and visually appealing format with clear headings and consistent fonts for maximum readability.

Start with a compelling objective statement that succinctly conveys your aspirations and how they relate to your chosen path, whether entering the workforce or pursuing higher education.

Showcase your academic excellence, such as your GPA and honors, and highlight your involvement in extracurricular activities to demonstrate your dedication and versatility.

Resume Examples (5)

• Entry-Level Resume
• Administrative Resume
• Food Service Resume
• Sports Resume
• Information Technology (IT) Resume

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How do I write a resume with no work experience?

If you want to write a resume with no job experience , focus on your skills, education, and any extracurricular activities or volunteer work you have done. Use a functional resume format to emphasize your abilities and potential. Highlight any relevant projects, coursework, or school activities that demonstrate your skills and qualifications.

What should I include in my high school graduate resume's education section?

Your high school graduate resume should include the following key sections:

• Contact Information: Full name, phone number, professional email address, and location (city/town and state).
• Summary or Objective: A brief overview of your most relevant skills and career goals.
• Work History: List of your past jobs, internships, and volunteer experiences, with descriptions of responsibilities and achievements.
• Skills: A list of relevant skills that match the job description.
• Education: Details of your high school education, including the name of the school, graduation date, and any relevant coursework or achievements.
• Additional Sections: Any certifications, awards, extracurricular activities, or hobbies that are relevant to the job.

Should I include references on my high school graduate resume?

It’s not necessary to include references directly on your resume. Instead, prepare a separate list of references to provide when requested by potential employers or college admission offices.

How can I make my high school graduate resume stand out to colleges?

To make your resume stand out:

• Tailor it to the job by using keywords from the job description.
• Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results (e.g., "Increased sales by 20%").
• Use a clean, professional layout with consistent formatting.
• Include a compelling summary or objective that grabs the reader's attention.
• Proofread carefully to avoid any typos or errors.

How can I highlight leadership skills on my high school graduate resume?

Highlight leadership roles you’ve held in clubs, sports teams, or student organizations. Describe your responsibilities, achievements, and how you positively influenced others or contributed to the group’s success.

How long should my high school graduate resume be?

For high school graduates, a one-page resume is typically sufficient. Keep the content concise and relevant to the job you are applying for. Use bullet points and clear headings to make the resume easy to read.

Should I include my GPA on my resume?

Including your GPA on your resume is optional. If you have a strong GPA (generally 3.5 or higher), it can be a positive addition. If your GPA is lower or if you have other impressive achievements, you might choose to leave it out.

Can I include extracurricular activities on my resume?

Yes, including extracurricular activities can be very beneficial, especially if you lack work experience. Activities such as sports, clubs, student government, or volunteer work can demonstrate valuable skills like leadership, teamwork, and commitment.

How should I format my high school graduate resume resume?

Use a simple and clean format with clearly defined sections. Stick to a professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, and use bullet points for easy readability. Ensure there is enough white space to make the document visually appealing.

Do I need a cover letter with my high school graduate resume?

While not always required, a cover letter can enhance your application by allowing you to explain why you are interested in the job and how your skills and experiences make you a good fit. It also shows that you are serious about the application and willing to put in extra effort.

What kind of skills should I put on my resume?

Include a mix of hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (personal attributes). 

Examples of skills that are valuable for high school graduates include:

• Hard Skills: Microsoft Office, Google Suite, social media management, basic coding, customer service, cash handling.
• Soft Skills: Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, adaptability, leadership.
• Olivia Crosby, “Resume, Applications, and Cover Letters,” Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 2009.
• University of Michigan, "Resume Resources," November 2023.

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How to Write a Resume with No Experience [21+ Examples]

It’s time for your first job hunt !

You need to write a resume , which can be nerve-wracking if you don’t have any real-life work experience.  

You don’t know where to start, what to include, or which resume format to choose.

On top of that, most advice you find online isn’t relevant because it focuses on emphasizing professional background.

Chances are, you’re straight out of college with no experience to speak of. 

Or maybe you're a high-school student applying for a part-time job.

Whichever the case may be, you’re probably having trouble filling in the blank space on your resume that’s supposed to be the work experience section.

Worry not, though. In this guide, we’re going to help you create an AMAZING resume, no work experience is needed.

• How to format your resume with no work experience
• 4 sections to replace work experience (that help you stand out)
• 2 no-work experience resume samples (guaranteed to land you the job)

How to Format Your Resume [with No Work Experience + Examples] 

A resume format is the layout of your resume .

The ideal resume format usually depends on how much work experience you have. 

But what happens when you have none?

For a no-experience resume, we recommend that you use the reverse-chronological format . 

It’s the most popular format amongst applicants and a recruiter favorite.  

The sections in your reverse-chronological resume will be: 

• Header : Contact Information and Resume Statement
• Internships, extracurricular activities, projects, volunteer work  (These sections will replace your work experience)

In this article, we’ll walk you through each of these sections, and explain how to write them in a way that you stand out from the crowd.

Let’s dive in.

Start With Your Resume Header

Your resume header includes your contact information and your resume statement.  

Below, we’ll show you how to write both of these elements and how to include them in your header section.

Put Down Your Contact Information

Just like the name suggests, the first thing you add to your header is your personal and contact information.

It’s the easiest part to get right, just keep it short and to the point.

In your contact information section, mention the following:

• First and Last Name
• Phone Number
• E-mail Address
• A link to a professional profile (e.g. LinkedIn ) or personal webpage (if you have one)

Make sure to use a professional-sounding E-mail.

I.e. something along the lines of “[email protected].” 

You’re sure to leave a wrong impression if you use an email you created back in preschool ( “[email protected]” ).

Make sure to double-check, triple-check your contact information. After all, the recruiter can’t contact you if you have a typo in your phone number.

(Optional) Write Your Resume Objective

A resume objective is a short heading statement in your resume, where you describe your professional goals and aspirations.

Fun fact - hiring managers look at your resume for 5-6 seconds max .

Yep, that’s right. In most cases, the hiring manager is literally drowning in resumes. So, they have a couple of seconds to skim each one.

Well, this section is your chance to catch their attention (and let them know you’ve got what it takes).

A resume objective is usually 3-4 sentences max and includes information on:

• What your field of study is;
• What your skills and experiences are (ones that are relevant to the job );
• Why you’re applying for this position and/or this company.

As with contact information, you don’t need to label your resume objective with a title. Just write it underneath your contact information section.

Here’s an example of what a resume objective looks like:

“ Recent Communications graduate looking to apply for the role of Secretary at XYZ inc. Extremely organized with good writing and multitasking skills. Practical experience in management gained through several university projects, which involved coordinating tasks between different team members and ensuring that everyone was in sync with the latest information. ”

Emphasize Your Education

In your average resume, the first section would be work experience.

Since you don’t have any, though, you’ll want to omit that and replace it with the education section.

This way, you bring a lot more attention to your education, which is one of your main selling points. 

What should you include in the Education section? 

List the following features in this order:

• Name of the degree
• Name of the institution
• Years attended
• Location of the institution (optional)
• GPA (optional)
• Honors (optional)
• Relevant coursework (optional)
• Exchange programs (optional) 

As a general rule, if you studied in a prestigious university, you can add the name of the institution before the degree . This way, you will catch the recruiter’s attention faster.

Now, let’s go through some real-life examples:

BA in Computer Science

Tufts University

Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts

10/2015 - 06/2018

Magna Cum Laude

• Exchange Program in Greenville, NY

University of the Arts London

BA in Interior Design 

10/2017 - Ongoing

Westwood High

Boston, Massachusetts

Class of 2018 

Education Section Q&A

Still have some questions about the education section? Worry not, we’re about to give you all the answers!

Do I include my GPA?

• The answer here is a “maybe.” We’d recommend including a GPA if it’s higher than 3.5. Anything lower than that, and you might be underselling yourself. Keep in mind, though, that most employers don’t care about your grades.

Should I include my coursework?

• Yep, but just as long as it’s relevant. If you have no work experience, including courses can help establish your expertise in a field. Feel free to skip out on any basic courses, though. No one cares about your Maths 101 course.

Do I mention my degree if I dropped out?

• If you studied for more than 2-3 years, yes. A half-finished degree is still better than no degree. If you dropped out after a semester, though, that doesn’t really mean much.

Do I mention my high school degree?

• Only if it’s your only degree. If you have any higher education, your high school degree will only take up space.

4 Sections to Replace Work Experience [With Examples]

Now that you’ve listed your education, it’s time to fill that work experience gap in your resume.

You aren’t still worried about your lack of experience, right?

Because here are four sections you can use instead:

1) Internships

Have you done an internship that is relevant to the position you are applying for?

Now’s the time to mention it. 

Here is how you add an internship to your resume:

First , place the Internship section right after the education section. 

Title it: Internships

Second , write your internship title and role . Be specific.

If your internship was in the marketing department, instead of just “Intern”, say “Marketing Intern”. 

Third , put down the company name , location , and duration of the internship - in that order.

Marketing Intern

Full Picture

New York, NY

09/2019 - 12/2019

Easy and straightforward, right?

One more step:

Last , add a list of responsibilities you had as an intern in bullet point form. 

If you have any tangible achievements , even better! Write those in as well.

Finally, tailor both the responsibilities and achievements to the role you’re applying for.

Here’s how that looks in practice:

You used to be an Advertising Intern .

You’re applying for the position of Social Media Assistant . 

Here’s how you would put down your internship entry:

Internships

Full Picture Company

• Analyzed various social media platforms for trending content
• Managed company social media accounts
• Posted interested content on company Facebook page, increasing engagement by 25%

The listed responsibilities and achievements are directly connected to the Social Media Assistant job requirements.

You’re applying for a Content Writer position. Take a look at the same entry now:

• Assisted the Marketing Manager in writing press releases and new blog posts , which increased web traffic by 25%.

Notice how the internship title remains the same. 

But in this case you’re applying for a Content Writer position, so you are highlighting your writing experience instead.

For more examples, check out our full guides to an internship resume and how to write a cover letter for an internship .

2) Extracurricular activities

Still have a ton of empty space in your resume?

Extracurricular activities are always a great addition!

Whether they’re related to the job you’re applying for or not, they still show one thing:

You’re hard-working and motivated.

Imagine you’re the HR manager, and you can pick between these 2 candidates:

• Josh Johnson. Studied at Massachusetts State. 4.0 GPA, but that’s all he did in college - no extracurricular activities, internships, or anything else.
• Suzie Activeson. Also studied at Massachusetts state. 3.2 GPA. Vice-president of the business club. Served as a student government senator for 2 semesters. Organized several events as part of the marketing club.

Sure, Josh is probably qualified, but we don't know anything about him, other than that he studied a lot.

Suzie, on the other hand, can manage a team (business club VP), organize events (marketing club), and is passionate about making a change (student government).

So, which one would you pick?

Now, let’s explain how to list extracurricular activities on your resume:

• Title of the section: Extracurricular Activities
• Name of the organization and/or team 
• Your role in the organization
• Time period
• Noteworthy awards or achievements

Extracurricular Activities

Public Speaking Club

Vice-President

09/2018 - 09/2019

• Organized 10+ public speaking lectures
• Brought in speakers from all over the state
• Conducted public speaking workshops

3) Volunteering Experience

Volunteering shows dedication and passion to apply yourself. 

And there’s nothing recruiters love more than a committed employee.  

Whether you spend your free time in a soup kitchen, or you helped collect trash in the countryside, you can mention it in your resume!

But how do you list volunteering experience?

Well, it follows the same logic as your internship and extracurriculars:

• Title of the section: Volunteering Experience
• Name of the organization
• Relevant tasks and achievements (bullet points)

Volunteering Experience

Grand Archive Library Volunteer

Washington, D.C

08/2017 - 02/2019

• Performed secretarial activities, such as sorting mail, filing documents, answering phone calls, and taking messages. 
• Led a poetry reading event twice a month. 

4) Projects

In this section, you can add any relevant projects you were part of during your time in school or at an internship.

Your capstone project, graduation thesis, or research project go here. 

No need for work experience!

You can also mention any other type of project you’ve worked on in school, including:

• Business project for a real-life client
• Mock website you created in Web Design 101
• Fake magazine you created as a capstone project
• Market research you did as part of your graduation thesis
• Software you developed in Software Engineering class

...And so on!

Here’s how you put them down:

• Title of the section: Projects
• Project name
• Project type
• Related organization 
• Relevant responsibilities and achievements (optional)

And now, for some practical examples. Here’s what a journalism student project could look like:

Online Privacy and Social Media: a Journalistic Study of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica

Journalism Capstone Project

Harvard University

09/2018 - 11/2018

And here’s a law school example:

In-House Pro Bono Project

Columbia Law School

11/2018 - 03/2019

• Completed a full petition for U nonimmigrant status, interviewed legal persons and drafted affidavits.

If you have anything physical to back up your project with, feel free to include a link.

For example, if you’re a developer, you could include a link to your GitHub profile.

Stand out with your Skills 

There are two types of skills you can include on your no-experience resume: 

Soft skills and hard skills. 

What’s the difference? 

Soft skills are attributes or habits that describe how you work. They are not specific to a job, but indirectly help you adapt to the work environment. 

Here are some of the most popular ones: teamwork, responsibility, leadership, creativity, etc.  

Hard skills , on the other hand, refer to specific tools, technical knowledge and training and other work-specific skills. They apply directly to the job. 

Technical writing, C++, financial accounting, etc. are all examples of hard skills.

So, which of these skills should you include? 

That depends on a lot of factors, but as someone with no work experience, you should opt more for hard skills .

See, you could write all the cool buzzwords like “Critical Thinking” and “Leadership,” but the recruiter won’t believe you.

Fun fact - that’s what 90% of students do.

Instead, you should focus on skills that make you stand out , and in most cases, those are hard skills.

So, how do you decide which hard skills to mention? Easy! Just check the job ad you’re applying for.

Let’s say you’re applying for an entry-level creative internship, and you find these requirements in the job description: 

• Video editing experience (Premiere, After Effects)
• UI design experience
• Photo editing experience (Photoshop)
• Photography experience
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator

You’d transfer this into your skills section:

• Premiere & After Effects - Expert
• Photoshop - Expert
• UI Design - Intermediate
• Adobe Illustrator - Intermediate
• Photography - Intermediate

Not sure which skills to mention? Check out our article on 150+ must-have skills for all sorts of professions !

Other Sections You Could Include in a No-Experience Resume

A resume without experience does have one advantage: extra space . 

You can use this space to create other sections that highlight how awesome you are!

Here are some sections you could include:

• Hobbies and Interests . Add flair to your resume by showing your genuine passion and interest in the industry.
• Languages. Do you know a second language? Or even a third? Awesome! Most companies these days are pretty international and appreciate an extra language skill or two. Be mindful not to over-exaggerate your proficiency, though. Only knowing how to ask “¿Donde está la biblioteca?” doesn’t warrant a Spanish entry on your resume.
• Awards & Certifications . Do you have any fancy pieces of paper that show you’re smart? Maybe it’s an award for a terrific essay in a competition, or a certificate from an online course . Whichever the case may be, awards and certifications show that you’re a winner, so definitely include them in their own respective section.

Need Inspiration? 2 No Work Experience Resume Samples

Do you still have questions or don’t know where to begin?

That’s when a resume sample comes in handy. 

It provides you with a predetermined format.

It also helps you picture how your no-experience resume is supposed to look like. 

As Picasso put it: Good artists copy; great artists steal! 

Here are 2 no work experience resume samples you can borrow ideas from:

Business Student Resume Sample

High-school Student Resume Sample

Create a Matching Cover Letter

All done with your resume?

It’s not over yet. You need to write a cover letter to go with it.

A cover letter is a single-page letter that accompanies your resume and is part of your job application.

Look at it this way: your resume describes your experiences, and your cover letter explains (in simple words) how they’re relevant to the job.

Now, here’s a quick infographic on what to include in a cover letter:

Finally, as with everything else in your resume, make sure to keep your cover letter relevant, short, and concise.

The hiring manager doesn’t have time to read an autobiography, they’ll only review your cover letter for a few minutes. 

There’s a lot more to creating a good cover letter than what we just explained.

For a complete, all-you-need-to-know walk-through, check out our Complete Guide on How to Write a Cover Letter !

Key Takeaways

...and that’s a wrap!

At this point, you should know everything there is to know about writing a killer no-experience resume.

Just to keep things fresh, though, let’s quickly go through everything we’ve learned so far:

• When creating your no-experience resume, use the reverse-chronological format.
• You can create a killer no-experience resume by emphasizing your education instead. Include relevant internships, soft & hard skills, and projects.
• Other sections you can include on your resume are hobbies & interests, languages, certifications, or achievements.
• Keep all the content on your resume clear, precise, and relevant. Use bullet points for all your descriptions.
• After you’re done with your resume, you want to write an awesome cover letter that goes with it. The cover letter is a one-page letter that tells the story behind your resume content and reemphasizes why you’re a great fit for the job.

Related Resume Examples

• Internship Resume
• High School Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• College Resume
• Students and Graduates Resume
• Teacher Resume

Recommended Readings:

• 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job in 2024
• 20+ One-Page Resume Templates [Free Download]
• 35+ Common Interview Questions and Answers [Complete List]

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Resume Examples High School Resume

4+ High School Resume Examples & Templates

Struggling to write a resume as a high school student? Whether you're applying for your first job or putting together college applications, our high school resume templates, high school cover letter , and writing tips will help you make an impressive job application (even if you have no work experience).

Take your pick of careers as you leave high school: we have resume examples for hundreds of jobs.

High school resume template

More high school resume examples for different situations, how to write a resume for a high school student, frequently asked questions.

You can copy and paste the templated text below into a resume design that looks appropriate for the job you’re applying for.

[Your Address] New York, NY [Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number] [LinkedIn Profile] (optional)

Driven and compassionate student with a 3.8/4.0 GPA and excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. Seeking to apply my tutoring and mentorship skills to the Youth Development summer internship at [Company]. Possess proven communication skills and passion for advocacy that will support your organization’s cause.

West Ashley High School Class of 20XX

3.8 GPA, made Honor Roll Fall of 2022 & Spring of 2023 National Merit Scholarship Finalist

Relevant Coursework Calculus AP English

Extracurriculars Mu Alpha Theta: Math Honor Society Poetry Club

• Mathematics
• Spanish and English
• Web and tech savvy, require little to no training
• Adaptability
• Self-motivation
• Work with 3 students each semester to increase math comprehension through online study and tutoring sessions each lasting 2 hours
• Improved students’ test scores by an average of 18% over the course of the semester
• Actively seek varied teaching methods to effectively cater to different learning styles, meeting each student where they are
• Volunteered twice weekly in reading remediation and mentoring programs, working with 15 foster children
• Assisted children in reading and development of literacy skills, fostering a love of learning
• Provided support to children, serving as a source of stability in their daily lives

Want more resume examples ? Check out these 4 high school resumes:

High school resume for college

Why this example works

• The applicant shows employers they’re hard-working by including their 4.0 GPA on the resume
• In the education section, they explain how they gained relevant skills
• The resume objective focuses on their academic goals

High school resume for a first job

• The experience listed indicates the student is responsible and reliable
• The skills section includes highly sought-after transferable skills such as Microsoft Word and Excel and language skills
• The applicant has tailored the resume objective to the specific position they’re applying for by mentioning the restaurant’s name

High school resume with no work experience

• To fill a full page and avoid having blank space on their resume, the applicant includes a section for extracurricular activities
• An honors and awards section showcases their academic achievements
• They highlight common hard skills employers are likely looking for

High school graduate resume

• A bold header like this will draw attention to the applicant’s name
• The resume follows a standard chronological resume format , which is what hiring managers are most used to seeing
• The applicant lists relevant coursework in their education section

If you’re like most high school students, you’re in the tough situation of writing a resume without any work experience.

We’ll explain exactly how to make a high school student resume for your first job, internship, or college that highlights your strengths even if you have no work experience.

• Resume examples for teens
• How to write an entry-level cover letter
• The 40 best jobs for teenagers
• How to make a sorority resume
• Internship resume example
• How to write a scholarship resume
• Babysitter resume
• Dog walker resume

1. Use a simple student resume format

If you’re writing a resume for your first job , then you’re probably not sure where to start. So we’ll break it down for you.

Start by using the standard chronological resume format . This format places your most recent experience at the top of the page (just below your resume’s header section and introduction), and older experience underneath it. Note that this experience doesn’t need to be work experience, and can be things like internships, volunteer work, and class projects.

You should then include the following information on your resume:

• Contact information – your name, email address, and phone number.
• Resume objective – a 3-sentence summary about who you are and why people should hire you.
• Education – your high school and graduation date.
• Work or volunteer experience – this can be anything from mowing your neighbor’s lawn to helping out at the local food bank.
• Projects – worked on a cool project for school or just for fun? Mention it on your resume.
• Extracurricular activities – clubs or sports you do outside of class.
• Languages – any languages you study or speak (if you speak more than one).
• Hobbies – any interests you have outside of school.

2. Write an outstanding high school resume objective

A resume objective is one type of introduction for a resume you can use to summarize who you are to employers. This intro is great for high school students or anyone with little job experience because it emphasizes your future career goals and passion (rather than your current accomplishments).

However, if you’ve achieved a lot as a student so far in your life, you could try generating a professional resume summary .

Before you write your resume objective, read the job ad to see what qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, write a 2–3 sentence paragraph that highlights your:

• relevant skills
• related career goals
• what you can contribute to the company or organization

Employers appreciate seeing a resume introduction because it lets them know that you’re passionate about getting a job and whether or not you’re qualified.

Here are two student resume summary examples that emphasize the applicant’s strengths:

Student resume summary example for an internship

Driven high school student with a 3.8/4.0 GPA and excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. Seeking to apply my tutoring and mentorship skills to the Youth Development summer internship at your company. Possess proven communication skills and passion for advocacy that will support your organization’s cause.

Here’s why this resume objective works : in the first sentence of this example, the student establishes several key skills, and includes their GPA to demonstrate a capacity for high achievement.

The second sentence clearly explains where the student wants to work, and the third sentence tells the hiring manager what skills they have to bring to the position.

Student resume summary example for a first job

Motivated high school student with a strong work ethic looking to gain valuable real-world experience and contribute to a team-oriented environment. Demonstrated ability to provide exceptional service through previous volunteer serving experience at school events, showcasing excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and a friendly demeanor. Eager to apply my knowledge, learn new skills, and contribute to creating memorable dining experiences for customers at your establishment.

Here’s why this resume objective works : In the opening and closing sentences, the candidate clearly expresses how they hope to contribute to the company, and in the second sentence they highlight their relevant experience and skills.

6 example resume objectives for high school student

A good resume objective provides a quick snapshot of your skills, qualifications, and career goals. Here are some examples you can use for inspiration:

Highly engaged high school student actively involved in student government and community service projects. Through my volunteer experience at a local food bank, I honed my ability to collaborate with diverse groups and developed a deep sense of responsibility. Eager to secure a challenging entry-level position that allows me to leverage my strong communication and teamwork skills.

A passionate technology enthusiast, I am seeking an internship where I can apply and enhance my programming skills, drawing from my active participation in the school’s coding club and robotics team. With a commitment to innovation, I aim to contribute to a dynamic work environment and gain real-world experience in a field I am deeply passionate about.

Motivated high school student looking for first part-time job in an office setting to learn administrative and clerical skills. Responsible and diligent with experience helping teachers, organizing events, and tutoring other students. Eager to apply technology skills and contribute to a positive work environment.

Well-organized high school student looking for administrative or bookkeeping position to refine attention to detail. Responsible and experienced in tracking finances for school club fundraisers. Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Suites. Eager to learn and take on more responsibility in a collaborative environment.

Hardworking high school student seeking position as grocery store clerk or stocker. Physically fit and energetic with experience lifting and moving items from school sports. Works well independently and as part of a collaborative team. Looking to gain skills in inventory and merchandising.

3. Highlight your volunteer experience and extracurriculars

There’s no need to panic if you’re writing a resume with no experience . You can simply replace the work experience section of your resume with a section describing details like your:

• main extracurricular activities
• examples of volunteer work
• contracting and freelance gigs

Here’s an example of how to include volunteer work on your resume:

If you still have gaps in your resume, you can expand on the extracurricular activities you’ve been involved in. Include noteworthy information, like leadership roles you held, or major projects you led and organized, like this:

Heritage High School Student Council Secretary, 2021 – Present

• Write and distribute detailed notes from 10 student council meetings every semester
• Introduced Trello to streamline management of council projects, saving an average of 3 weeks on each project compared to time frames from previous semesters

You should also include your hobbies and interests on your resume if they showcase some sort of soft skill such as teamwork skills or leadership skills .

Your interests are especially important to mention if they’re related to the position in some way. For example, reading is a good hobby to put on a library page resume because it shows you enjoy being around books.

If you have received any academic or job-related awards you can list them in a special section or under your education section.

4. Include relevant coursework on your high school student resume

If you don’t have many volunteer or extracurricular activities to put on your high school resume, that’s okay.

Instead, highlight what you do have by including coursework related to the position you’re applying for in the resume’s education section .

Including your school coursework shows that you have some relevant unpaid experience and that you can handle projects efficiently.

Here’s an example of how to include relevant coursework in your own resume:

RELEVANT COURSEWORK

Intro to Business

• Completed module on 10 types of business models and strategies
• Gave a 10 minute oral presentation on global business ethics for the class
• Collaborated with 3 other students to write a complete business plan

If you’re unsure what classes relate to different jobs, here are some ideas:

• Creative Writing, Rhetoric, and Humanities → Journalism jobs
• Government, Civics, Economics, and Public Speaking → Political or legal roles
• Fundamentals of Math, Algebra, and Accounting → Accounting or finance positions
• Foreign Languages → Customer-facing roles
• Biology, Calculus, and Computer Science → STEM internships

5. Focus on your transferable skills

If you’re wondering what to put for skills on a high school resume, we’ve got you covered with our lists below.

While you may not have many examples of hard skills for your resume because they often take years of experience or education to learn, you may still have some and not realize it. For instance, you’ve probably developed skills through your life that are valuable to a variety of different jobs, like typing and other various computer skills .

Plus you’ve likely built a range of soft skills during your time as a high school student (and in life in general), and these skills are highly transferable and valuable for all kinds of work.

Transferable soft skills

Soft skills are the personal qualities that determine how you interact with others, such as basic communication skills or your ability to collaborate. These skills are very useful because they’re hard to teach and help you excel naturally in pretty much any environment.

Here are some soft skills to highlight on your resume:

High school resume soft skills

However, soft skills aren’t the type of skills you can just list in the skills section of your resume . After all, what does it really mean to have strong communication skills?

To convey your top transferable skills to employers, you’ll need to provide real-life examples of how you’ve applied them in your experience section and resume’s introduction.

Notice all of the soft skills (in bold) mentioned in this resume objective example:

Driven and compassionate student with a 3.8/4.0 GPA and excellent organizational and interpersonal skills . Seeking to apply my tutoring and mentorship skills to the Youth Development summer internship at your company. Possess proven communication skills and passion for advocacy that will support your organization’s cause.

Including skills in your introduction like this can help hiring managers see that you’re a good fit for the position and want to work with them specifically.

Try to pick out skills relevant to the position you’re applying for, and then include examples of how you demonstrated them in your experience section.

Transferable hard skills

Here are some additional skills to include in your high school student resume that you’ve likely picked up through school or your social life:

High school resume hard skills

And remember: a well-balanced skills section can make your resume stand out amongst other job applicants and help you land an interview for a high-paying teen job . So why not spend a little extra time to write a great one?

6. Use descriptive action verbs

When you’re writing a resume, you need to articulate what makes you a valuable and qualified candidate in as concise and engaging a way as possible.

To make the best impression possible, omit bland and passive phrases like “was responsible for” or “was tasked with” – they don’t tell employers anything meaningful about your performance. Opt instead for vibrant action verbs that describe how you did things and what you accomplished.

As a general rule, start each bullet point of your experience section with an action verb, like this:

Organized and maintained library resources, including cataloging new books, shelving materials, and ensuring a neat and accessible library environment

Here are some useful action verbs for your high school resume:

If you’re writing about a particular experience you’re still participating in, use present tense. For all previous experiences, use past tense.

Here are some answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about writing a high school resume.

What is a high school diploma called on a resume?

A high school diploma is called a high school diploma or a GED on a resume.

You should include your high school diploma on your resume if you’re a recent graduate. Here’s an example:

Hill Valley High School Hill Valley, KS High School Diploma 2023

How long should a high school resume be?

A high school resume should be no longer than one page. If it doesn’t fill a whole page and looks sparse, try to find ways to spread it out evenly and make good use of white space.

Choosing a pre-designed resume template can make it easier to create a well-organized resume.

What should I put under education on a resume in high school?

You should put your high school diploma under the education section of a resume in high school. Here’s an example:

Arapahoe Ridge High School Boulder, CO High School Diploma 2022

If you have any relevant coursework or honors you want to show off, you can include those as well. Here’s an adjusted example:

Arapahoe Ridge High School Boulder, CO High School Diploma 2022 GPA: 3.8/4.0 Relevant Coursework : AP English Language and Composition, Creative Writing

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4 Examples: Impressive Resume with No Work Experience for Students

By Status.net Editorial Team on November 8, 2023 — 8 minutes to read

• Key Components of a Professional Resume Part 1
• Resume Formatting Tips and Tricks Part 2
• Example Resume for High School Students Part 3
• Example Resume for College Students Part 4
• Tailoring Your Resume Part 5

Part 1 Key Components of a Professional Resume

Contact details.

Start your resume by providing your full name, phone number, and email address. This ensures potential employers can easily contact you. A professional email address (for example, [email protected] ) is recommended. Keep your address and other personal details out of your resume.

Career Objective

As someone with no work experience, your career objective should focus on your abilities and motivation to succeed in the position you’re applying for. State your goal and highlight relevant skills you possess. Be genuine about your enthusiasm and commitment to work hard and learn.

Here, you’ll showcase your transferable skills, demonstrating how they’re applicable even without formal work experience. Group your skills into categories (such as communication, technical, and project management) and provide examples of how you acquired and applied those skills in school, extracurricular activities, or personal projects.

Education Details

Outline your educational background, including the school name, degree or diploma obtained, and graduation date. If your GPA is impressive, consider listing it. Describe relevant coursework, projects, and achievements that demonstrate your competence and abilities related to the job you’re applying for.

Volunteer Work

Showcase any volunteer work you’ve done, describing your role, the organization, and the dates when you volunteered. Focus on the tasks you performed and the skills you gained during this time. Volunteering demonstrates your willingness to learn, commitment, and eagerness to contribute to a cause.

Certifications and Training

Lastly, list any relevant certifications, training, or workshops you’ve attended. These demonstrate your dedication to continuous learning and professional development. Public speaking workshops, leadership programs, or certificates in technical skills, for example, can be valuable additions to your resume.

Related: How to Email a Resume to an Employer (Examples)

Part 2 Resume Formatting Tips and Tricks

The importance of consistency.

Consistency is key when formatting your resume. Choose one font and stick with it throughout the entire document. Make sure your headings, subheadings, and body text are all the same size and style. This will give your resume a polished and professional look.

Making Use of Bullet Points

Bullet points are a great way to break up your text and highlight important information. When listing your skills, education, or other relevant information, consider using bullet points to make the content easier to digest. Not only do they help add structure to your resume, but they also draw the reader’s attention to essential details.

Including Action Verbs

Start each bullet point or description in your resume with a strong action verb. This will show potential employers that you are proactive and capable of achieving results. Examples of powerful action verbs include “managed,” “created,” “implemented,” and “optimized.” Using these types of verbs will give your resume a more dynamic and engaging feel.

Limiting Resume to One Page

Keep your resume concise and limit it to one page. This ensures all your relevant information can be easily scanned by hiring managers. Be selective about the information you include, focusing on your most significant achievements and skills that relate to the position you’re applying for. A well-organized, one-page resume is often more impactful than a long, detailed document.

Resume with No Work Experience: Templates and Examples

When creating your resume with no work experience, templates can save you time and help you focus on showcasing your strengths.

Part 3 Example Resume for High School Students

[Your Name] [Contact Information]

Objective : Motivated high school student aiming to apply strong work ethic and teamwork abilities to a part-time retail position.

Education : [High School Name], [City, State] (Expected) Graduation Date: [Month, Year] GPA: [Number]

Skills: – Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) – Detail-oriented and organized – Bilingual (English and Spanish)

Experience:

Volunteer, [Local Organization], [City, State], [Duration] – Assisted with organizing and executing community events – Collaborated with other volunteers to improve team efficiency

Participated in the [School Club/Project], [High School Name] – Contributed to successful projects and events – Enhanced leadership and teamwork abilities

Activities:

– [High School Club], Member – [Sport], Varsity team – [Volunteer Organization], Regular participant

Objective: Motivated high school student seeking a part-time [position] role at [Company Name] where I can apply my strong work ethic and dedication to learning new skills.

• Expected graduation: [Month Year]
• GPA: [X.XX/4.0]
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Able to work independently or in a team

Activities & Honors:

• [Student Club/Organization], [Position/Role], [Year]-[Year]
• [Community Service/Volunteer Experience], [Organization], [Hours/Date Range]

Remember to fill in your information and customize the template for the job you’re applying for. This example puts emphasis on education and focuses on the skills and activities that showcase your abilities as a high school student with no work experience.

Part 4 Example Resume for College Students

Objective : Driven college student with strong analytical skills seeking a data analysis internship to apply coursework and gain hands-on experience.

Education : [University Name], [City, State] (Expected) Graduation Date: [Month, Year] Degree : [Bachelor’s or Associate’s] in [Major] GPA: [Number] Relevant Coursework: [List relevant courses]

– Proficient in Python, R, and SQL – Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities – Excellent written and verbal communication – Familiarity with basic statistical concepts

Experience :

Research Assistant, [University Name], [City, State], [Semester, Year] – Collaborated with a faculty member on a research project – Gathered, organized, and analyzed data using statistical software

Title: [Project name] – Developed a [project description] using [tools or programming languages] – Presented findings at [relevant event or conference]

Extracurricular Activities:

– [University Club], Member – [Volunteer Organization], Regular participant

Objective: Driven college student pursuing a [Major] degree at [University Name] seeking an internship in the [Industry] field to expand my knowledge and gain real-world experience.

• [Major], Expected graduation: [Month Year]

Relevant Coursework:

• Proficient in [Programming Language/Software]
• Strong research and analytical abilities
• Effective time management skills

Projects & Volunteer Work:

• Brief description of the project and your role.
• [Volunteer Opportunity], [Organization], [Hours/Date Range]

Make sure to customize this template, focusing on skills and experiences relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Part 5 Tailoring Your Resume

• When applying for a specific job, be sure to demonstrate how your strengths, abilities, and past experiences, even if they are not directly related to the job, can benefit the company. Read the job description and requirements thoroughly; carefully study which skills, keywords, or requirements stand out. Then, make sure to integrate them into your resume.
• For example, suppose the job description emphasizes good communication skills. In that case, you can mention any relevant experience that contributes to your communication skills, such as group projects, being part of a club, or participating in volunteer work where you had to interact with others. Don’t forget to highlight interpersonal skills like teamwork and leadership, as they are often essential in every workplace.
• When it comes to organizing your resume, consider using functional or combination formats, as these tend to place more emphasis on your skills rather than work experience. At the top of your resume, include a strong objective statement or a summary that highlights your career aspirations and the applicable abilities you possess. Use this statement to communicate your enthusiasm and dedication to potential employers.
• Using action verbs or phrases can also help bring your resume to life. As you describe your skills, achievements, or educational experiences, consider using words like “achieved,” “managed,” “created,” or “implemented.” These verbs convey a sense of accomplishment and initiative, which will surely impress your potential employer.
• Lastly, don’t be afraid to showcase your accomplishments outside of traditional work settings. Include any accomplishments that demonstrate your resourcefulness and skills, such as completed projects, awards, or certifications. Make sure to highlight any volunteer work or internships, as these can showcase your dedication and willingness to learn in real-world situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i create an impressive resume without work experience.

To create an impressive resume without work experience, focus on your relevant skills, education, projects, volunteer activities, and personal interests. You can also emphasize your achievements in these areas, showing how they make you a good candidate. Use a clean and professional template that highlights your strengths and keeps the reader engaged.

What should I include in my first resume as a college or high school student?

As a college or high school student, your first resume should include the following sections:

• Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and mailing address.
• Resume Objective: Write a brief statement about your goals and the value you can bring to a potential employer.
• Education: List your most recent educational experiences and degrees, and any relevant coursework.
• Skills: List relevant hard and soft skills you possess, such as computer programming, public speaking, or leadership.
• Experience: Include any unpaid experiences like internships, volunteer work, or school projects.
• Extracurricular Activities: Mention clubs, sports, or organizations you participate in and any leadership roles you’ve held.

What skills and achievements can I highlight on my resume without any job history?

To highlight skills and achievements without job history, consider the following:

• Academic achievements: Include high GPA, academic awards, or being on the honor roll.
• Volunteer work: List any relevant community service and the impact you had.
• Projects: Mention school or personal projects that demonstrate your skills and abilities.
• Certifications: Add any certifications you’ve earned, such as first aid, coding, or foreign languages.
• Skills: Showcase both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for

What are some tips for writing a resume summary when I don’t have any work experience?

When writing a resume summary without work experience, focus on your skills, education, and other experiences that highlight your strengths and potential to excel in the position. Emphasize your professional attributes like dedication, adaptability, or problem-solving abilities. Tailor your summary to the specific job you’re applying for, incorporating keywords from the job posting. Keep it concise (2-3 sentences) and focused on what you can offer to the employer.

• 35 Examples: How To Highlight Work Experience on a Resume
• 3 Accountant Resume Examples: Crafting a Winning Resume
• 2 Examples - How to Write a Resume With No Experience
• 30 Examples: How To List Volunteer Work on a Resume
• 3 Smart Examples: Choosing a Resume File Name
• 20 Examples: How To List Education on a Resume

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• no experience resume

How to Write a Resume With No Experience (First Job)

Marketing yourself and your skills can feel intimidating when you don’t have experience. Whether you’re applying for your first job or you’re fresh out of college, keep reading to learn how to create a job-winning resume — even without experience.

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Sample Resume With No Work Experience

Choosing the Best Resume Format With No Experience

Before you can write your resume, you need to determine the best resume format to showcase your informal experience and skills. Most hiring managers are familiar with three resume formats: chronological, hybrid and functional. But, only the functional format downplays your lack of experience and prioritizes the skills you developed in school, volunteering and day-to-day activities.

Functional:

Although we consider the functional the riskiest format thanks to custom headers that don’t align with most online application tracking systems (ATS), this skills-based resume is the friendliest resume for you because it deprioritizes your non-existent work history. Instead of describing your previous jobs, it uses examples of your technical knowledge to demonstrate how you can adapt your skills to complete job-relevant tasks. We strongly recommend submitting this type of resume at in-person job fairs or recruitment events.

A functional resume is always going to follow this order:

• Contact information
• An objective statement
• Summary of qualifications
• Professional skills
• Work history

Combination/hybrid:

We typically recommend the hybrid format if you have three or more years of relevant experience, but this ATS-friendly layout showcases your skills and work history equally. This strategic balance of skills and working knowledge makes it the second best option for a resume with no experience.

Chronological:

The chronological format is for senior-level professionals with 10 years or more of work experience. The chronological format lays out a steady work history by organizing experience and credentials in a neat timeline. Since this format favors job seekers with a decade of experience or multiple promotions, it’s the worst option for a no-experience resume.

Wondering how to make a resume for your first job with no experience? Check out how other fresh grads market their best abilities with our sample resume for students .

Writing Your Resume Objective With No Experience

If you’re looking for your first job, start your resume with a killer resume objective . A resume objective focuses on which transferable skills and work ethic you can provide an employer, making this a great strategy for teens, students or job seekers without experience. It allows you to focus on what you can do for the company, not what the employer can do for you.

Think of your objective section as the introduction to your resume. Your resume objective will be the first thing recruiters will read about you. Follow these four simple steps to writing an attention-grabbing objective.

• Be straightforward. Employers are reading piles of resumes at a time to determine whose qualified. Make your resume objective concise and keep it to only two or three sentences long.
• Make the objective statement a perfect match. Use the job post to find the specific skills and requirements they’re looking for in a candidate. Use those keywords in your objective to let the employer know you have what they’re looking for.
• Use power words. Peak the interest of recruiters with strong, powerful keywords and actionable descriptions. For example, “Attentive to detail” and “driven,” “Team player” and “reliable” or “Problem-solver” and “leader.”
• Describe what you bring to the table. Clearly state how you bring value to the company’s success. Add skills such as work ethics and communication.

By integrating these tips into your objective, you shift from lack of experience to how your goals can help the company!

Here’s an example of an objective statement for a no experience resume.

Highly motivated law school graduate seeking a full-time position in the Office of Inspector General where I can lend my investigative abilities to help improve profitability.

Adding Your Education Section

If you don’t have any work experience, your academic achievements add to build a picture of your credentials for the job. The education section helps you outline your academic training as qualifications in place of your zero experience.

In this section, name the college you attended, the degrees you completed and the honors you received. If your highest level of education is a high school diploma, include it in the education information. Otherwise, leave it out and start with your highest degree earned.

Here’s a quick checklist of what to include in your education section:

• Your degree or education in progress
• The name of your school
• The school’s location
• Dates attended and graduation date or expected graduation date
• Your field of study and degree major
• Your GPA — only if it’s above 3.5
• Any academic honors and relevant courses
• Relevant extracurricular activities or programs

For example:

Include Relevant Experience (Volunteer, Internships and more)

Impress recruiters even without paid experience. Not sure what experiences you can list that would benefit your application? Here are the top ten experiences you may consider for your first resume:

• Jobs like babysitting or mowing lawns.
• Extracurricular activities, such as clubs and sports.
• Internships or apprenticeships.
• Translating or interpreting projects.
• Volunteer work.
• Service-learning experiences.
• Military experience.
• Student organizations.
• Leadership experiences.

Once you’ve narrowed down your most relevant experiences, use bullets to list the skills you’ve developed in each role and the tasks you performed. Not sure how to start? Use the job description as your guide to match your skills, activities and abilities with the keywords mentioned in the post. Once you have identified these, use bullet points with action verbs to list your qualifications.

For instance, if you were applying for a teaching assistant role, you might compose your experience like this:

Design lesson plans for the students.

Assess a student’s level of progress.

Create a schedule for further education and development in subject areas.

Assess student’s knowledge of a subject and identify areas for improvement.

Opened and prepared the club for daily activities.

Ensured the safety and security of 20+ kids a day.

Planned games and outdoor activities

However, if you don’t have relevant experience and will be writing a functional resume, select your top skill categories and list how you’ve used each skill set. In other words, when listing your duties, instead of listing tasks you’ve completed by job, list the activities you’ve done by skill category or by theme. And, remember to include the results you delivered by applying your skills by adding concrete numbers wherever possible.

For example, a Professional Skills section for someone interested in a social media specialist role in the academic field would look like this:

Achieved over 1,000+ followers in the first 30 days of launching the profile with successful conversion rates.

Wrote copy for social posts and ran advertising campaigns to drive engagement with original content.

Applied attention to detail to monitor the brand on all social media platforms, quickly replying to any mentions.

Top influencer impacting 100+ followers daily with valuable academic advice.

Avid planner for marketing campaigns to create brand awareness and market the company’s services.

Analytical and mathematical skills to identify trends.

Prepared lessons for 20 students a day about upcoming assignments specific to math and science.

Maintained communication with parents regarding student’s progress.

Researched learning materials and resources to use during lessons.

What about if you have internship experience? The following entry-level job and internship resumes can help you see how other job seekers write a resume with little to no experience. Check out these internship resume examples to inspire you:

• Research Intern
• Engineering Intern
• Design Intern
• Marketing Intern
• Sales Intern
• Data Analyst
• Software Intern
• Paralegal Intern
• Medical Intern
• Real Estate Intern
• Architect Intern
• Public Relations Intern
• Financial Intern
• Medical Assistant Intern
• Culinary Intern
• Congressional Intern
• Graphic Design Intern
• Legal Intern
• Audit Intern
• Intern Pharmacist
• Event Planning Intern
• Software Engineer Intern

As you complete internships, add them to your experience section as part of your work history.

Listing Your Skills for the First Job

For candidates new to the workforce, spotlighting a variety of critical skills can ultimately impact a hiring decision. There are two main types of skills that let recruiters determine whether you are fit for the job: hard and soft skills.

Hard skills are technical abilities that require specific knowledge to accomplish your job assignments, such as accounting or graphic design.

Soft skills , on the other hand, are not tangible. They define your traits, such as friendliness and a strong work ethic.

Employers look for candidates with a mix of soft and hard skills that relate directly to the job. These skills become part of the keywords used in the job description and by recruiting software like the applicant tracking system (ATS).

Let’s break down the most in-demand soft and hard skills to optimize your resume:

Soft skills

• Self-starter
• Time management
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving
• Active listening
• Communication skills
• Logic-based reasoning
• Trustworthiness
• Reliability
• Flexibility
• Decision-making

Hard skills

• Customer service
• Computer proficiency
• Design skills
• Book keeping
• Graphic design

Make Sure Your Resume Is Easy to Read

Even if you’re qualified for the job, having a resume that is hard to read will immediately get you overlooked! In fact, Harvard shares eye-tracking research that shows recruiters spend about six seconds on their initial decision to determine whether a candidate is qualified. If your resume is cluttered and unorganized, you will most likely get passed over.

As someone who’s making a resume for the first job, you might not have thought that taking the time to format your resume well is a crucial step in getting your resume noticed. Here are expert tips to ensure your resume is easily readable and gets attention.

Division of sections

Differentiate your sections by labeling each in bold or italics such as your Header, Education and Work Experience. By doing so, your resume looks organized and easy to read.

Keep the spacing consistent and align your text to the left. Since the eye naturally returns to the left, this is the most natural and readable format. However, align dates and locations to the right, which helps to separate that information and makes it easy to scan.

Use clean, minimalistic fonts, such as Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma or Cambria. Keep your font size between 10-12 points for the content and 12-14 points for headers.

Use bullets to break up long text. Using bullet points also draws attention to your accomplishments, which is the information you want to highlight.

Use white space

Using plenty of white space is much easier on the eyes than large, dense chunks of text. It creates a clean, well-designed look that’s appealing to the reader.

We Can Help With Your First Resume

Having writer’s block? JobHero features an online Resume Builder as the ultimate hack for creating your first resume.

It’s a convenient and easy-to-use interactive tool, loaded with resume templates that help you create a professional resume with the latest design styles.

Our online builder takes you through each part of your resume, generating industry-specific phrases and keywords to help you create a powerful resume.

Remember, you have to customize your resume for each job. All jobs have their unique postings with different keywords and requirements.

Appealing to each job post can be a hassle, luckily the Resume Builder lets you generate powerful resumes in just minutes! We also feature sample resumes for a first job .

Remember to match your resume with your own cover letter , even if it’s not required. Cover letters are where your personality shines through! It also creates the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that you’re a qualified candidate for the job.

First Job Resume FAQ

Is it hard to get a job without any experience on a resume.

You can impress recruiters even without any experience on your resume. Writing a resume with no formal work experience means showcasing your skills and putting a spotlight on your education, extracurriculars and volunteering activities.

When you start putting together a resume, you might feel like you don’t have any relevant experience. However, you can demonstrate community involvement, abilities and willingness to work.

Perhaps you worked part-time in school, tutored or babysat kids — be sure to include these experiences. You can also include extracurricular activities that help polish and develop new skills.

Can you skip the experience section on a resume?

Instead of skipping the experience section, use the opportunity to create a skill-based resume. Also known as a functional resume, this type of format shifts the focus onto your skills and abilities instead of professional experience.

It lets you connect with the employer and show them what you can contribute to the company despite having no formal experience yet. The biggest flex of a functional resume format is that it focuses on your relevant skills so you can market your best abilities.

How do I pass ATS without any experience on a resume?

Employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to track qualified candidates. However, an ATS does more than just track applications — it selects qualified candidates for a hiring manager or recruiter to assess.

Luckily, getting past the ATS is easier than you might think. To get past the ATS even if you don’t have experience, follow these tips:

• Use the job description to identify the keywords that match what the employer is looking for in their next hire.
• Place these relevant keywords throughout each section of your resume — as long as you actually have the skill they listed, that is. By doing so, you are ensuring your resume has what the ATS is scanning for.
• Use an ATS-friendly resume template like the ones JobHero offers. Simply customize them with your information.

Should my resume focus on skills if I have no work experience?

Yes. The key to a job-winning resume with no experience is to focus on the professional skills that you have learned at school or in extracurricular activities.

If you have no experience, skills will represent your qualifications to perform a duty or job. For this reason, having the right balance of skills is critical.

There are two main types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills refer to skills that can be developed and improved through experience and certifications, such as learning to code or to create marketing campaigns. Meanwhile, soft skills are personality traits that give you the ability to be a team player or stay organized while multitasking.

Demonstrating that you have a mix of both types of skills will help you in your job search.

What is the best resume format if you don’t have work experience?

The best resume format, if you lack experience, is the functional resume format. Functional resumes are excellent for students, recent graduates or candidates changing careers.

A functional resume highlights your skills and matches them to the job posting, allowing you to increase the chances of getting an interview, even without experience.

For a no-experience resume , instead of starting off with a work experience section, a functional resume format allows you to demonstrate your relevant skills in three distinct sections.

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Career Planning
• Finding a Job

First-Time Resume With No Work Experience Example

Writing Your First Resume

What to include in your resume.

• Tips Preparing Your First Resume

Resume Template and Example

More resume examples and templates.

YinYang / E+ / Getty Images

Writing your first-ever resume can be a challenge. How do you sell yourself to an employer when you’re a student who doesn’t have any experience in your targeted field?

When writing your first resume with no formal work experience, it's appropriate to include casual jobs like babysitting, pet-sitting, lawn-mowing, and shoveling snow. You can also include volunteering, internships, extracurriculars, and community activities.

All experience counts. The best way you can present yourself, your skills, and your assets to a hiring manager is to provide them with a strong resume that showcases your unique talents.

Here's how to write your first resume, what to include, how to show employers the skills you have, a sample resume to review, and a template you can use to get started writing your resume.

To get started, review information on the  different parts of a resume  and what is included in each element. It's a good idea to review high school resume examples to get an idea of what is appropriate. Even if you've never held a formal job, you still have important life experience that applies to the job search.

Don't forget to look at volunteer work, civic groups, and youth organizations (for example, the Scouts or 4-H). The skills you have developed doing these things have given you valuable experience that will impress employers.

The bottom line is you actually have a lot more experience than you think you have.

Writing your first resume  can seem intimidating, but if you take it step-by-step, you will be able to put together a document that will highlight your abilities and show the hiring manager that you’re worth calling for an interview.

Start by mining your life experience and academic achievements to show you'll be an asset to the company even though you don't have any related job titles to show off at this stage in your career.

For your first resume, take the soft skills (also known as “people skills”) you have and show how they translate into success where you choose to apply them. Include volunteer experience, school achievements, sports, clubs, and organizations you belong to.

Scan the job descriptions for the positions to which you're applying. Look for keywords that indicate what the hiring manager values in a candidate.

For example, the job listing might say, "Successful candidate will be a self-starter who delivers on time and within budget." In that case, although you don't have relevant work experience in the same field, you can get the hiring manager's attention by being sure to include (and emphasize) projects that you've successfully led, such as high school clubs in which you held a leadership role that required you to manage both your time and the team's money.

Other people skills that employers often seek in entry-level job applicants include traits like dependability, good communication, organizational skills, a solid work ethic, and teamwork.

If you start with the job listings instead of a blank page, the hiring manager's keywords will guide you, and help you focus on which of your academic or after-school experiences have prepared you for this first step in your career.

Once you've compiled a list of what you need in your resume, it should include:

• Contact information
• Experience (casual work, volunteering, clubs, youth organizations, and teams)
• Skills (related to the job)
• Awards and Achievements (academic and extracurricular)

Tips for Preparing Your​​ First Resume

• Don't lie.  No matter how tempting it might be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a bad idea. You might make it through this round of interviews and even get the job, but you won't be able to deliver on the promises your resume offered. Plus, you'll potentially be caught—and fired.
• Don't pad.  You don't need to include the line "references upon request," personal information beyond your contact information, or a bunch of unrelated hobbies. In fact, there's a lot of stuff you don't need to put on your resume, even when it's your first one.
• Proofread.  Nothing is less persuasive than a resume full of typos and inconsistencies. Have a trusted friend or family member  proofread your resume  before you submit it.

Download the resume template  (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) to use as a starting point for your own resume.  

Resume Example (Text Version)

Michelle Washington 18 Sunnyside Boulevard Arlington, NY 16543 mwashington@email.com 111.123.1234

EDUCATION Arlington High School, Arlington, NY CLASS OF 2024 (3.9 GPA)

Pet Sitter — Arlington, NY JUNE 2022 - PRESENT

Established successful pet-sitting business including dog walking, feeding, and yard care. Responsible for obtaining clients, scheduling and attending visits, organizing visits, and maintaining client relationships.

Soup Kitchen Volunteer — Arlington, NY SEPTEMBER 2022 - PRESENT

Act as weekend/holiday volunteer manager at local soup kitchen, scheduling volunteer time slots, managing intake of donated food, and assisting with preparation and distribution of meals on Sundays and holidays including, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Child Care Provider — Arlington, NY JUNE 2020 – JUNE 2022

Provided child care for several families after school, on weekends, and during school vacations.

SKILLS                                                  

Customer service Hospitality Microsoft Office Google Drive

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

National Honor Society Honor Roll President of Arlington High School Volunteer Club MVP, Arlington Varsity softball team

Here are more examples that you can use to get ideas for your own resume:

• Entry-Level Resume Example
• High School Student Resume Example
• High School Student Resume Template

Key Takeaways

Think about everything you've done. Incorporate casual jobs, volunteering, internships, extracurriculars, and community activities to showcase your skills and assets, even if you lack formal work experience.

Highlight your transferable skills. Emphasize soft skills like communication, dependability, organizational skills, and teamwork that align with the job requirements.

Tailor your resume to the job. Customize your resume for each application by including relevant keywords from the job description and focusing on experiences that demonstrate your fit for the position.

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CareerOneStop. " Resumes ."

• High School Student with No Experience Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on High School Student with No Experience Resumes:

• Assisting with basic administrative tasks such as filing, photocopying, and organizing documents
• Answering phones and directing calls to the appropriate staff members
• Helping to set up and prepare for school events, such as assemblies, sports events, and dances
• Assisting teachers with classroom preparation, such as setting up equipment or distributing materials to students
• Participating in peer tutoring or mentoring programs to support fellow students
• Assisting in the school library with shelving books and helping students find resources
• Helping with the maintenance of school grounds, including light cleaning or gardening tasks
• Supporting the school's technology team with basic IT tasks, such as troubleshooting computer issues for students or staff
• Working with the school's nutrition staff to distribute lunches or organize the cafeteria during meal times
• Contributing to the school's newsletter or website by writing articles or taking photographs
• Assisting with inventory management, such as tracking school supplies or sports equipment
• Participating in community service projects organized by the school or associated clubs

Speed up your writing process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to. Try it for free.

High School Student with No Experience Resume Example:

• Streamlined the administrative process by organizing over 1,000 student records and documents, resulting in a 30% improvement in retrieval time for the school staff.
• Coordinated and executed setup for 15+ school events, contributing to a 20% increase in student participation and community engagement.
• Implemented a peer tutoring schedule that matched 40 students with tutors, enhancing academic support and contributing to a 10% rise in average test scores.
• Assisted in the school library by cataloging over 500 books and resources, improving the book retrieval system efficiency by 25%.
• Supported the IT team in resolving 100+ student and staff computer issues, increasing the overall technology uptime by 15%.
• Contributed to the school's newsletter with 10+ articles and photographs, leading to a 35% increase in readership among the student body.
• Organizational Skills
• Event Planning and Coordination
• Peer Tutoring and Academic Support
• Library Cataloging and Resource Management
• Technical Support and IT Troubleshooting
• Written Communication and Journalism
• Photography
• Volunteerism and Community Service
• Inventory Management
• Time Management
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Problem-Solving
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability
• Data Entry and Record Keeping

Top Skills & Keywords for High School Student with No Experience Resumes:

Hard skills.

• Organization
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Computer Literacy
• Research Skills
• Mathematics
• Writing Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Customer Service

Soft Skills

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Time Management and Organization
• Leadership and Initiative
• Positive Attitude and Enthusiasm
• Resilience and Perseverance
• Self-Motivation and Drive
• Learning Agility and Curiosity
• Professionalism and Work Ethic

Resume Action Verbs for High School Student with No Experiences:

• Participated
• Collaborated
• Contributed
• Demonstrated
• Volunteered

Build a High School Student with No Experience Resume with AI

Resume FAQs for High School Student with No Experiences:

How long should i make my high school student with no experience resume, what is the best way to format a high school student with no experience resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a high school student with no experience resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a high school student with no experience, compare your high school student with no experience resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the High School Student with No Experience job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for High School Student with No Experiences:

High school student first job, high school graduate, high school senior, student teacher, beginner teacher assistant, substitute teacher with no experience.

High School No Experience Resume Examples and Templates

This page provides you with High School (No Experience) resume samples to use to create your own resume with our easy-to-use resume builder . Below you'll find our how-to section that will guide you through each section of a High School (No Experience) resume.

If you’re a high school student stressed about writing your first ever resume, don’t worry – it’s not just you! When you’re young and inexperienced, resumes can seem like a serious challenge. All you want is to land your first ever part-time job – but how do you fill all that space, when you’re totally new to the world of work?

Don’t give up hope! You probably have more relevant experience than you think, even if it isn’t directly related to work. As a high school student, employers will expect you to include things like club activities, school-based responsibilities, and even volunteering work on your high school resume.

To give you a head start, we’ve written up a helpful guide to writing your first ever resume. We’ve put together examples of what a good resume should look like, hints on what to do (and what not to do) when writing, and advice on what to expect from the job application process – including some tips you may not get from your school’s careers counselor. Read on, and you’ll be sending out your first resume in no time!

How to Write Your High School No Experience Resume

As a high school student with no work experience, it’s unlikely that youve never had to write a resume before. Don’t let it scare you – it’s not as complicated as you might expect! In general, most resumes will contain the following sections:

• A summary and/or objective
• A record of your past work experience
• A list of your qualifications, certifications, and licenses
• A list of your relevant skills

Your resume needs to show a hiring manager two things, especially when you have no previous work experience. The first is that you have relevant qualifications for the role you want – whether that’s an academic qualification in a relevant field, or just some relevant experience that may not have anything to do with work. The second is that you have the skills that will allow you to excel in the role.

This means that it’s okay if you don’t have much to fill out your experience section. As a high school student, new to the workforce, you won’t be expected to bring any real professional experience to the table. The more important thing is how you present yourself in your resume – which means calling attention to the skills, qualifications and experience that you do have, so hiring managers know why they should give you the opportunity you want.

We’ll cover each section of your resume one by one, so you can build it one step at a time.

The Best Format for a High School No Experience Resume

Before you actually write your resume, you’ll need to choose the right layout! The format of your resume dictates what hiring managers will notice first when they see your job application. The right format will draw their attention to your best qualities, and draw it away from the areas where you know you aren’t as strong as you would like.

This is something to keep in mind when you choose your professionally-designed resume template from our selection. As you won’t have any previous work experience, you will benefit from choosing a format that will highlight your skills instead. That way, recruiters can see what you bring to the table, rather than what you don’t!

Remember, this is only your first resume – when you have more work experience behind you, you’ll be able to create a brand new resume for future job applications. After you’ve built up a stronger work history, you will benefit from choosing a resume format that balances your skills and qualifications with your work experience. When that time comes, our resume guides for a wide range of different industries will help you make the best and smartest choices!

• Applicant Tracking Systems

Some companies use an applicant tracking system (or ATS) to sort through the job applications they receive for each open position. ATS software filters resumes based on keywords (usually taken from the job description) to help weed out resumes that are generic, not qualified for the role, or otherwise unsuitable to progress to the interview stages. This is really useful for hiring managers – it allows them to speed up the hiring process, which saves them a lot of time.

But for candidates, it isn’t such good news! If your resume doesn’t get through the ATS software’s filtering system, it is likely to be rejected before a human gets to see it at all. That can be upsetting, especially if you’ve put a lot of time and effort into your resume.

You can boost your chances of getting through the ATS software by paying close attention to the requirements of the job description. Wherever possible, you should use the exact words used in the job description when describing your skills: for instance, if a job description asks for ‘high levels of personal organization,’ use that exact phrase when writing about your experience of balancing multiple AP classes at school. Treat the job description as your guide, and you can maximize your chances of success.

ATS software can sometimes get confused by complex resume formatting. But don’t panic – all of VisualCV’s resume templates are designed to make your resume easy for ATS software to read. That means you don’t have to worry about the software being confused by the format of your resume – you can focus on your resume’s content, instead.

How to Write a Summary for Your High School No Experience Resume

Most resumes open with a summary, which means it’s the first thing most recruiters will see when they pick up your resume. A summary is meant to give recruiters a short, clear description of your best qualities. The key to a good summary is keeping it brief – think about the three main reasons why you are qualified for the job you want, and write them down in three sentences or less.

It’s important to remember that your summary should be specific to the role you’re applying for. You can’t get away with reusing the same summary for multiple applications! Recruiters will notice, and it will affect your chances of getting hired.

Since you’re applying for your first ever job, you can’t talk about your past work experience in your summary. However, you can bring up your educational background, your skills, your best qualities, and any relevant non-work experience you have. Later in your career, you can use your summary to lay out your career journey so far, so recruiters can easily see where you’re coming from and what you bring.

• 3 High School No Experience Summary Examples:
• Junior year student at William McKinley High, achieving a 3.5 GPA. Student editor of the school magazine, with experience of teamwork and project management. A fast learner with a strong work ethic.
• Senior year high school student maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Active member of the school field hockey team, bringing my drive to succeed and my passion for teamwork to everything I do.
• Current student at West High School, maintaining a 3.6 GPA. Three years of volunteer experience at a local animal shelter. I deliver great customer service, compassion and care in all areas of my life.
• How Not to Write a High School No Experience Resume Summary

You might be tempted to use your summary as a second cover letter – a longer piece of writing telling the story of why you want the job you’re aiming for. In fact, this is the number one thing you shouldn’t do when writing your summary!

A summary needs to be clear and to-the-point, focused on what you can offer your employer. You need to keep it focused, professional, and short. If you want to talk more about yourself, you can do that in your cover letter instead – your resume simply doesn’t have the space to accommodate it.

We know that summaries can be tough to pin down. Some recruiters don’t think you need a summary at all – in fact, opinion is divided – so don’t feel too bad if you’re having a hard time! Leave it out for now, and think about coming back to it later on.

• For the past three years, I have worked as a volunteer at the Soft Paws Animal Shelter, cleaning the animals’ environments and providing enrichment activities. I believe this history of taking responsibility for my surroundings will give me a head start in the role of Part-Time Janitor, as I already know the best cleaning and sanitation techniques.

Do You Need a Resume Objective?

By now, you should be pretty clear on what a summary is – but what about your resume objective?

When you’re just starting out on your career journey, an objective is a great way to give hiring managers more information about your long-term plans. Your objective should be a one-sentence statement about where you want to work or what you want to do in the future. While it might sound obvious, you do need to make sure that your objective is relevant in some way to the role you’re applying for!

You won’t always need a resume objective. They’re much less useful when you already have an extensive work history, because your career so far can tell a hiring manager a lot about your long-term goals. But when you’re applying for a first job, most recruiters agree that an objective is a smart thing to include.

• High School No Experience Resume Objective Example:
• Current student at William McKinley High, hoping to build experience in the food service industry.

How to Describe Your Experience on Your High School No Experience Resume

We know you don’t have any previous experience of holding down a paid job – after all, this is your first ever resume! But you almost certainly have more relevant experience than you think you do. Here are just a few things you might be able to include in this section of your resume:

• High school clubs and extracurriculars
• Sporting activities
• Volunteering experience
• Work experience placements
• Relevant hobbies and achievements

As long as you can use the experience to show how it has prepared you for the role you want, you can include it! Try taking the time to list all of the skills you have used or learned during your non-work experience. Then you can include any experience where those skills match up with the skills listed on the job description.

Remember, you don’t have to add everything you’ve ever done to your resume! If you’ve participated in a lot of extracurriculars, be selective about which ones you include. On the flip side, if you don’t have much experience, don’t lie to pad it out – you will probably get caught, and it will throw up some serious red flags for any recruiter or hiring manager.

• Describe Your Experience Effectively

Each ‘item’ of experience on your resume should come with a bullet-pointed list of things you achieved while doing it. But as you’ll see in the example we’ve provided, it’s not always that straightforward! Every bullet point should prove that you have a skill or quality listed in the job description.

That’s why you should do your best to write about what you actually achieved – not just about the basics of what you did every day. Instead of ‘cleaned floors,’ try ‘maintained a clean and sanitary work environment in accordance with health and safety guidelines.’ Doesn’t that sound more professional?

Generally, hiring managers want to see evidence that you were able to succeed in your previous work. If you can show the results you achieved by completing each task, hiring managers will be more likely to believe that you can get those results again in a future job.

Do: Volunteer, Soft Paws Animal Shelter | 2019-21

• Provided a clean and sanitary environment for employees and animals by participating in a regular cleaning rota
• Delivered great customer service and well-researched advice to members of the public looking to rescue a pet
• Participated in a volunteer dog-walking and play rota, delivering enrichment and stimulation to animals in the shelter’s care
• How Not to Describe Your Experience

You should never write a simple list of the tasks you completed! Without any context, a basic list of responsibilities assigned to you won’t tell a hiring manager anything. They won’t have any reason to believe that you did a good job when you carried out those tasks, or that you might do them just as well in a new job.

The most important thing about writing a resume is showing hiring managers that you have the skills to succeed. Be explicit about those skills and how you have applied them in the past! You can’t afford to assume that they will make those connections without your input.

Don’t: Volunteer, Soft Paws Animal Shelter | 2019-21

• Cleaned work areas
• Greeted the public
• Walked dogs

How to List Skills on Your High School No Experience Resume

Your resume’s skills section is a list of your skills – specifically the ones that will help you in the role you’re applying for. You can refer to the job description to find out what those skills are! Most of the time, job descriptions include a list of qualities that applicants should have, so use that as a guide for this section.

It will help to know the difference between ‘hard skills’ and ‘soft skills.’ Hard skills are the practical skills you’ll use in your role – like the use of particular tools or equipment, or the ability to use a certain software package. If you don’t have all the hard skills necessary for the role you want, don’t give up – you can let hiring managers know, either in your cover letter or as part of your skills section, that you’re keen to learn on the job.

Meanwhile, you definitely have some relevant soft skills already! We’ll cover those in more detail in the next section.

For general information about skills on your resume, check out our resume skills guide here!

Important Soft Skills for Your High School No Experience Resume

Soft skills are the skills you rely on in every aspect of your professional life. Skills like communication, organization and attention to detail are vital in almost every line of work, and will help you navigate a new job more easily. When you don’t have any past work experience, a good list of soft skills can show an employer that you have the tools to succeed.

Whatever the nature of the job you’re applying for, certain soft skills are always useful. Here are some of the most important soft skills to include on your high school no experience resume!

• Communication

Can you share information clearly and appropriately in person, in writing, and over the phone? Communication is absolutely critical in most jobs. Being able to communicate well will bolster your customer service skills, as well as your ability to work effectively as part of a team.

• Organization

You might get away with disorganization in high school, but the world of work is a lot less forgiving. You’ll need to be able to balance your various obligations, show up on time, and look put-together. If you can show that you’re an organized person, you’ll stand a better chance of landing almost any job!

• Willingness to Learn

For high school students looking for their first job, this one is vital – you’re likely to need more on-the-job training than more experienced candidates, after all. Being willing to absorb and adapt to new information is an important skill that will stand you in good stead with hiring managers!

There are very few jobs that will let you work independently of a larger team. Having a job means getting on effectively with people from all backgrounds, regardless of whether or not you actually like them. Teamwork also means taking on your fair share of responsibilities in partnership with the rest of your team.

Final Thoughts

Writing your first resume can be an intimidating prospect, especially when you’re young and inexperienced. But we’ve given you all the tools you will need to write a well-constructed resume, regardless of your experience level. Remember, it’s not about what you don’t have – it’s about how you present what you do have!

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5 College Student No Experience Resume Examples & Templates [Edit Free]

College Student No Experience Resume

• College Student No Experience Resumes
• Resume Writing 101

Sometimes, ambitious college students can’t wait to start working. Janee considered how to show value on her resume as a grad: Dreaming of working as a business analyst at Resource Data fueled her to research the company and think of relevant college achievements.

Janee recalled real projects from her degree in math and economics that saved a local manufacturer thousands. Even her stint as basketball captain highlighted her ability to organize, boost morale, and drive positive results.

Referencing her class movie recommendation project and the time her random forest model outperformed projections by 19 percent, Janee topped off her college student no experience resume with a career objective . Bam—hired. Try our resume templates for yourself; we can’t wait to applaud your success, too!

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Follow Janee’s college student no experience resume and make the most out of your project work to showcase your abilities in programming, modeling, data visualization, and teamwork. Finally, celebrate your victory lap with a well-crafted career objective.

College Student No Experience 2 Resume

College Student No Experience 3 Resume

College Student No Experience 4 Resume

College Student No Experience 5 Resume

Related resume examples

• Current College Student
• College Student Internship
• College Graduate
• Grad School
• College Student

What Matters Most: Your Skills & Background Experience

When you lack experience, your skills become more important than ever! As a college student, you now have a nice, clear understanding of what you can do, and recruiters want to know all about it.

Make sure you list skills that are relevant to your field. For example: If you’re eager to step into the world of business analysis, then prioritize technical skills and highly relevant abilities.

And make sure those skills are worded in a deliberate and specific way, too! The last thing you want is to sound too apathetic about your future role to dig deeper than the usual generic terms on your resume.

Here are some examples of more specific skills you can use to show off your potential:

9 Best College Student No Experience Skills

• scikit-learn
• Linear Regressions
• Logistic Regressions
• Data Reporting
• Google Sheets

Sample College Student No Experience Work Experience Bullet Points

Now we’re on to the fun part! No really: It’s time to get creative and look for some nifty spins to put on your past projects and internships. Class groups, teams, clubs, and volunteer initiatives can all be used to demonstrate your ability to make the most of your skills, too.

Just make sure that anything you include is highly relevant to the field you want to work in! Use those sharp, specific skills you honed earlier to recall examples of experiences when you used them.

And always measure the impact you had when you reached those milestones! Use quantifiable data to back up your achievements and make them look way more credible:

• Reported to executives during business analytics class and initiated re-evaluation of resource allocation, saving $47K in vendor costs
• Aggregated data from Rotten Tomatoes and used k-nearest-neighbors in scikit-learn to improve recommendation system for personal tastes, boosting positive feedback by 12%
• Organized a community outreach for the university basketball team to train at-risk high school students and boost morale, leading high school teams to win 92% of total games
• Compiled and prepped 4 years of fantasy football projection data from 8 independent sources into a MySQL database, boosting positive ratings by 14%

Top 5 Tips for Your College Student No Experience Resume

• I know, I know, we just talked about it, but this really is a crucial aspect of your resume! When you don’t have any job experience yet, you’ll really need to hand-pick the most relevant bits and pieces of as many projects and college teams as you can.
• Many people hear “one page” and assume that filling their resume page is as important as limiting themselves to one page only. But this isn’t the case: Just focus on your best relevant achievements and allow some white space for things to breathe.
• Get strategic about your skill placement. Group similar types of skills together, such as everything related to Python, followed by everything related to data analytics, and so on.
• By all means, try out as many of our resume templates as you can! But while you compare them, keep a deliberate eye out for which one makes your college and project history look the fullest and most impressive.
• Keeping your experience examples sleek and to-the-point demonstrates your ability to get things done and convey info efficiently. You don’t have time to ramble since recruiters have to read things quickly!

Honestly, this isn’t something to worry much about: As long as it’s all together in one place and easy for recruiters to spot at a glance, you’re fine.

Customize it for each job description . It’s easy: All you need to do is reference the job description again and grab some key phrases and buzzwords to switch out in your resume, and boom: You’re now delivering a hand-tailored resume that’s designed to impress!

In our honest opinion, writing a cover letter is better. You get the best of both worlds: Your project and educational history will be able to take center stage while you use your cover letter to detail your qualifications in greater depth than you’d be able to with an objective statement.

• We’ll show you how, step-by-step • Real, practical tips and tools • 100% free

High School Graduate Resume with No Experience

Applying for a first job always seems quite overwhelming.

But if you have the right guidance, you can write your most important job application document – the resume – with excellence.

As a newly graduated high school student, your focus should be on presenting yourself as a possible candidate for an advertised position.

Regardless of the position that you are applying for, your resume should hold information about your skills and qualifications.

Specifically, you must concentrate on your communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to stay organized at all times.

A resume sample for a newly graduated high school student is given below for reference purposes:

Meghan Cunningham 52 Edison Road, Derry, NH65402 (000) 654-9987 [Email]

SUMMARY High school graduate, with excellent skills in communicating with people from different walks of life. Strengths in handling administrative and clerical work. Solutions-driven individual, with diverse interest in learning new things, and contributing effectively. A resourceful, and motivated achiever who exceeds goals, and can effectively blend technical expertise with interpersonal skills.

EDUCATION High School Diploma Derry High School, Derry, NH – 2019

Coursework • American Literature • Creative Writing • Composition • Debate • Poetry • Business Communication • World Geography • Bible Doctrine • Foundations for Living

Academic Achievements • Excelled in class for 3 years in a row, receiving accolades from the school management • Chosen to represent the school at a communications convention held in Sydney, Australia

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Intern Overland Inc., Derry, NH 12/2019 – 2/2020 • Handled filing and records management systems • Oversaw supplies and equipment inventory • Operated PABX systems and handled incoming and outgoing calls • Provided customers and visitors with the required information • Created and maintained reports as per provided instructions • Assisted executives in handling correspondence, such as memos and letters • Prepared presentations using PowerPoint, and other software applications • Handled clerical work such as indexing information and setting up record databases • Assisted marketing and sales personnel in handling promotional events • Worked with executives to handle travel and accommodation arrangements • Managed file conversions from paper to electronic forms

COMPUTER SKILLS

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES • Taught orphan children basic life skills during 2 summers in 2018 and 2018 • Led a team of special children on 3 hiking trips, as part of endeavors to connect with nature

• High School Graduate Cover Letter With No Work Experience
• Resume Writing Tips for High School Students with No Experience
• 10 High School Student No Experience Resume Summary Examples
• Sample Reference Letter for Graduate School

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How to Create a Resume For Freshers with No Experience

Quick Summary

• The hiring manager focuses 88% on the skills mentioned in the resume.
• For cyber security roles, a resume should highlight proficiency in ethical hacking, Python, SQL, and the latest technologies. Marketing newcomers should be knowledgeable in SEO, SEM, Social Media Management, Google Analytics, and Google Ads.
• Chronological resumes list work history in order of most recent to least recent, whereas functional resumes highlight specific talents above work history. 

Table of Contents

Your resume is not just an initial step of a professional journey. It can be a game-changer when looking for jobs. Impressive work experience mentioned on a resume is a plus point when applying for a job. It is an effective way to tell your employer, “I have done it, and I can do it.” It demonstrates the candidate’s skills, reliability, and accomplishments. But what about the resume for freshers with no experience? It is challenging for freshers to create a strong resume that proves one’s potential, relevance to the position, and expertise in the area. 

Moreover, competing against candidates with experience can make it harder to stand out. Though experience is significant, a resume isn’t solely shortlisted based on experience. Other sections, like education, skills, certifications, and achievements, highlight your knowledge and potential. 

A survey by Resume Genius concluded that experience grabs 67% of the attention of hiring executives, while the same for the skill section is 88%. Hence, you can create a strong resume even without prior experience. This blog will enlighten you on the tips to create a compelling resume for freshers with no experience. So, let’s delve into the guide to create impressive resumes for various profiles, including the role of cyber security fresher.

Essential Sections of a Fresher’s Resume

Several sections and the right format make a fresher resume impressive and impactful. Below are the essential sections of the resume format for freshers with no experience .

Contact Information

Your resume should first provide basic details about you. Information like the candidate’s name, address, contact number, email ID, and LinkedIn profile should be mentioned at the beginning of the resume. This will make hiring executives familiar with the person who applied for the position.

Objective/Summary

After contact information, an objective or summary is a noteworthy part of the resume format for freshers with no experience. Highlighting the career goals and your expertise in just two or three lines makes up an impressive summary or objective.

Next, the hiring manager will be interested in knowing your educational background. This section should comprise your college or university name, degree obtained, graduation date, certifications, and academic achievements.

Whether you have experience or not, your skills can attract your dream job. After education, add separate skills sections for both technical and soft skills. Technical skills include hard skills or expertise related to a job like programming languages, MS Office etc. Soft skills highlight general merits like communication, teamwork, etc.

If you worked on any relevant academic or personal projects, you should add a project section to enhance the overall resume.

Internships and Volunteer Work

Your internship during college or any volunteer work can count as your experience. As a fresher, you should mention your internship or voluntary work and describe your accomplishments.

Extra-Curricular Activities

If you have an extracurricular activities record, mention it for the desired influence on companies. You can mention the leadership roles like faculty head girl/boy, NCC cadet, NSS projects, etc., in this section. If you have achievements in college or university competitions, add them as well.

Hobbies and Interests

Add this section if you have hobbies that align with the job or interests that demonstrate valuable qualities. You can add 3 to 5 hobbies or interests, such as writing, public speaking, photography, painting, etc.

Writing an Effective Summary for Freshers with No Experience

An impactful resume summary is essential, especially when you lack work experience. Here are some insights on the importance of a summary, along with tips and examples.

Importance of a summary or objective statement.

It appears right after your contact information and provides a brief overview of your qualifications, accomplishments, or suitability for the role. It is the “first impression” of your personality and merits, so it must be unique and impressive.

Tips for writing a compelling summary

An impressive resume summary for those without experience should highlight the following:

• Academic Accomplishments and Leadership Roles
• Passions for specific and relevant areas
• Relevant Skills and strength
• Phrases that instantly grab the employer’s attention

Make sure you highlight the above-mentioned factors in only 2-3 sentences.

Examples of summary statements for different fields.

Below is the sample summary for resume for freshers with no experience:

Summary for creative roles like Graphic Designer

As a creative graphic artist with meticulous attention to detail, I have extensive knowledge of multiple graphic design tools. Seeking to use specialised in developing graphic elements that contribute to the company goals. Praiseworthy time management abilities to best results within the deadline.

Summary for academic roles like a School teacher

A goal-oriented B.ed graduate with expertise in commerce subjects and excellent communication skills. Aiming to utilize my skills and qualifications for the objectives of the institution, while continuing to grow as a professional. Frequently proved my abilities as a student, I can be relied upon to help your institution achieve its goals.

Summary for tech roles like software developer

A dedicated and innovative software developer with a Master’s degree in Computer Science Engineering. Seeking an entry-level position where I can apply my strong coding skills and technological expertise to help your firm reach its objectives.               

Resume Format For Freshers with No Experience

Follow the right format for resume sections to leave the desired impression. The format is determined by the significance of each section in decision-making.

Choosing the right format

Below are the three best resume formats for freshers;

• Chronological Resume : As the name suggests, this format highlights academic and professional history in chronological order, beginning with the most recent.
• Functional Resume : Since a functional resume emphasises skills over experience, it is a favourable format when you lack work experience.
• Combination Resume : A mix of both, highlighting skills and relevant experience

Layout tips

The following layout tips are essential to create a visually appealing and easy-to-read resume;

• Font : Stick to clean and simple fonts instead of fancy fonts that make resume reading complex. Professional fonts for resumes are Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Helvetic, with 10-12 font sizes.
• Headings : The font size for a resume heading fonts should be larger than the rest of the content. For headlines, choose 14-16 point font and make them bold.
• Bullet Points : To improve readability and make the resume scannable, choose bullet points over paragraphs. Write a summary as a paragraph and other information in bullet points.
• Spacing : Maintain consistent spacing throughout the resume. It should be 1.5 to make the resume ATS-friendly.

Ensuring clarity and readability.

To enhance clarity and readability, keep your resume concise. A one-page resume for freshers with no experience is apt. Avoid decorative fonts and too small or large font sizes.

Sample Resume Examples for Freshers with No Work Experience

Here are some resume examples for freshers with no work experience;

Example 1: General resume for a fresher

[Your Name]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

[LinkedIn Profile]

A passionate technology enthusiast and B.tech (CSE) graduate with an 8.5 CGPA who has consistently contributed to campus events as a student council member for three semesters running. I seek to apply my abilities and love for technology in a dynamic entry-level position. Frequently proved my abilities as a student, I can be relied upon to help your company achieve its goals.

Bachelor of Technology in CSE

[University/college name]

[Month, Year] – [Month, Year]  

Technical Skills

• Well-versed MS-Office
• C, C++, Java, PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript,
• Proficient in Photoshop, Corel Draw

Soft Skills

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Web application development using CSS [Project title or organisation]
• Report Analysis Tool [Project title or organisation]

Internships and Volunteer Experience

• Data operation intern

[Company Name]

– Assisted with CRM System 

– Gained hands-on experience in complex data requests and predictive data modelling.

– Collaborated with technical experts and data manager for reporting solutions.

– Participated in the NGO’s educational event

– Developed leadership and teamwork skills

– Contributed to children’s tech-education

Extracurricular Activities

• Students IT club

[College Name]  

Participated in Hackathon, a coding contest, and achieved second rank

• Student council members

Helped streamline college events

• Reading                      
• Instrumental music     

This resume highlights exceptional skills and internship experience that can increase the probability of selection. The volunteer experience and student club members demonstrate personality and ethics.

Key Takeaways

• Craft a summary highlighting academic accomplishments and career goals.
• Highlight your educational background along with the relevant coursework
• List 4-5 technical and soft skills relevant to the work profile
• Consider adding extracurricular activities, projects, and hobbies to strengthen the resume

Example 2: Resume for a cyber security fresher.

A highly motivated and detail-oriented cybersecurity graduate with hands-on experience in network security and ethical hacking. Seeking an entry-level position where I can use my strong analytical abilities and technology knowledge to protect and maintain organisational assets.   

Bachelor of Technology in Cyber Security

[College Name], [City, State]  

Relevant Coursework: Network Security, Ethical Hacking, Information Security Management, and Cyber Law

Certifications

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

[Institute Name], [City, State]  

• Firewalls and Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
• Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment
• Python, Bash, SQL
• Wireshark, Metasploit, Nessus
• Attention to detail
• Time-management
• Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign

Developed educational materials on phishing, password security, and safe internet practices.

Held workshops and seminars to encourage best practices in cybersecurity.

Internships Experience

• Cyber Security Intern

[Company Name], [City, State]  

– Examined network traffic for potential security threats.

– Supported the implementation of security protocols and procedures.

• Inter-college hacking contest

Participated in Inter-college hacking contest twice and achieved second and first position, respectively

• Reading    
• Photography
• Illustration

A cyber security graduate must be familiar with the latest technology and most significant tools. This resume for a cyber security fresher with no experience emphasizes this aspect, following a scannable resume format.

Key Takeaways:

• Add practical experience with security risk assessments, vulnerability scans, and hacking.
• Demonstrate proficiency in researching security solutions and risk assessments.
• Mention certifications and internship experience that prove your expertise in the area.

Example 3: Resume for a Marketing Fresher

A passionate business administration graduate with a specialisation in marketing. With considerable knowledge of digital marketing, market research, and content creation, I’d like to use my skills to contribute to effective marketing campaigns.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing  

– Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Social Media Marketing, Brand Management

• Google Analytics Certified
• HubSpot Content Marketing Certified
• SEO, SEM, Email Marketing, Social Media Management
• Copywriting, Blogging, Video Production
• Tools: Google Analytics, Google Ads, Hootsuite, Canva
• Social Media Marketing Campaign

– Analyzed campaign performance using Google Analytics

– Provided actionable insights to improve campaign performance

• Social media marketing intern

– Assisted in planning marketing campaigns for Instagram and Facebook.

– Conducted market research and created content for social media platforms.

• Debate and Literary Club

Participated in various oratory contests at college and inter-college level

• Story Writing and painting     
• Anchoring and public speaking

This sample resume for freshers with no experience exhibits the candidate’s creativity and communication efficiency in various ways. Certifications, abilities, projects, internships, activities, and interests all demonstrate these two characteristics. 

• Highlight a strong foundation in digital marketing strategies.
• Showcase SEO optimisation, social media management, and email marketing skills.
• Mention hobbies and interests that align with marketing goals.

Build a strong resume to strengthen your professional journey 

A solid resume is essential for freshers with no experience because it showcases their abilities, dependability, and successes. A fresher CV should have sections for education, skills, projects, internships and voluntary work, extracurricular activities, and hobbies and interests.

Furthermore, an impacting summary is a vital component of a resume for freshers with no experience, providing a concise review of eligibility for the position. Writing a compelling summary that reflects your passion for the role and adding your achievements or strengths can help you stand out. Click here to create a strong resume for freshers or update your resume to the best standards.

What should I include in my resume if I have no work experience?

Besides basic contact and qualification information, add the following sections in resumes for freshers; A brief yet impactful resume summary highlighting your suitability Relevant certifications, technical specialisation, and soft skills Internship and volunteering experience Specific relevant projects and extracurriculars Impressive hobbies and interests

How can I make my resume stand out as a fresher?

Tips to make your resume stand out as a fresher; Tailor it to the job you’re applying for and avoid too common phrases Create a compelling intro as a resume summary Highlight skills, certifications, and achievements Follow the right format and layout to ensure high readability

What format is best for a fresher’s resume?

The chronological format is undoubtedly the best format for a resume since it boasts the most preferred order for resume sections. The chronological format follows the given order; Personal information Summary Education Certifications Skills Experience Project Achievements Interests

Should I include hobbies and interests in my resume?

As a fresher with no experience, you should add a hobbies and interests section. It eliminates the lack of content issues when you don’t have the experience to mention them. Make sure you choose an interest related to your job or skills and keep it brief.

How do I write a summary for a cyber security fresher resume?

Keep your summary brief, concluding it in 3-4 lines. Start with mentioning qualifications and professional qualities. The second line may demonstrate specialisation. The last sentence should focus on what makes you a right fit or why you want to join.

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