Struggling to get interviews?
- Learn how to add academic, volunteering, or internship experience to your resume
- Download free resume samples that you can adapt to your unique profile
- Use our no-experience application checklist to make sure your documents are formatted correctly and ready to submit
Writing a resume without relevant work experience can be challenging, but the right approach makes the process manageable.
This article explains how to impress employers when you’re writing a resume for your first job or if your work experience isn’t directly related to your target role. We also provide several free samples to download and modify for your specific background.
First, take a look at this resume example showing how a high school graduate highlights transferable skills from volunteering roles to apply for a retail job:
Writing your first resume?
How to write a resume when you have no formal work experience
Here’s how to write a resume when you lack direct experience in your target job, step-by-step:
1. Fill in your header
Include the following information in your resume’s header:
- First and last name
- Phone number
- Email address
- City and state (if relevant)
- LinkedIn profile (optional)
- Website or portfolio (optional)
Choose a professional email address for your resume, like firstname.lastname@gmail.com.
2. Write a strong resume summary
Your resume summary offers an opportunity to make a strong first impression. This 2–4 sentence paragraph at the beginning of your resume states your key skills and immediate career goals.
Even without work experience, you can highlight your most relevant skills and your enthusiasm for the position. This paragraph functions as an opening pitch to capture the employer’s interest.
Strong college student summary
Biology major with hands-on laboratory research experience and strong analytical skills seeking an entry-level data analyst position. Proficient in Excel, R, and statistical analysis through academic coursework and a summer research internship. Eager to apply scientific methodology and data interpretation skills to help organizations make evidence-based decisions.
Weak college student summary
Recent biology graduate looking for a data analyst role. I don’t have direct experience in data analysis, but I’m a fast learner and willing to work hard. Hope to gain valuable experience in the field.
3. Substitute work experience with any relevant experience
What if you don’t have formal work experience?
Fortunately, many recruiters value more than just traditional work experience: in fact, 65% of recruiters would consider hiring candidates with relevant skills even if they lack work experience.
You can demonstrate those skills through one or more of these six alternative sections that replace the traditional work experience section:
Internships
Internships are considered valid work experience, even if they’re unpaid. You can list them in a professional experience section just like any paid job.
Here’s how to list an internship on your resume:
Internship Experience
Research Intern
Green Energy Tomorrow
May 20XX – December 20XX
- Maintained Excel spreadsheets, updating outreach contacts, photo accreditation details, and website pages
- Gained SEO knowledge through content writing for the website blog
- Transcribed interviews to create written online content
Looking for internships to apply for? Use our list of the best job boards to find opportunities.
Volunteer work
Including volunteer work on your resume shows employers you’re motivated and passionate, qualities that make for an exceptional employee.
To list volunteer work, follow the same structure as a traditional job entry: start with your position (Volunteer), followed by the organization and dates.
Then, detail your experience with 3–5 bullet points, as you would with any job.
Volunteering Experience
Volunteer
Denver Food Rescue
July 20XX – Present
- Rescue and redistribute food from community partners around Denver each week by bicycle, reducing food waste and minimizing CO2 emissions
- Create and share content across the organization’s Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts as a Social Media Ambassador
Freelance work
List freelance work on your resume like any other job. Include your role, client type, or business name (use “Various Clients” or “Freelance” if working with multiple clients), and dates. Then, detail your responsibilities and accomplishments with bullet points.
Freelance Experience
Freelance Graphic Designer
Various Clients
June 20XX – Present
- Design logos, social media graphics, and promotional materials for 10+ small business clients
- Communicate directly with clients to understand project requirements and deliver revisions within deadlines
- Manage project timelines and invoicing using organized tracking systems
- Build portfolio of work showcasing diverse design styles and brand identities
Extracurricular activities
If your extracurricular activities are relevant to the industry you’re applying for, they can strengthen your resume and demonstrate valuable skills.
Some examples of extracurriculars for your resume are:
- Student government: Shows leadership abilities and experience in prioritizing, participating in meetings, and public speaking.
- Club president or officer: Demonstrates event planning, task delegation, and collaboration.
- Peer tutoring: Highlights subject mastery, patience, communication, and dedication to helping others succeed.
- School newspaper or yearbook: Develops writing, editing, and deadline management skills while collaborating with design teams.
- Arts: Demonstrates creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to express complex ideas through performance or visual media.
- Sports: A strong indicator of commitment, teamwork, and communication skills.
You can list extracurriculars in a relevant experience section (formatted like work experience), as bullets in your education section, or in a separate extracurricular activities section:
Extracurricular Activities
Debate Team
Washington High School
- Wrote and delivered 50+ compelling speeches to audiences ranging in size from 100–1,000 people
- Winner of the Regional Debate Tournament in 20XX
Awards
Receiving an award is a sign of distinction and shows that you’ve been recognized for outstanding achievements or performance. Employers value candidates whose work has earned formal acknowledgment.
Student resumes benefit from including academic honors, competition wins, and scholarship awards. You can feature them within your education section or create a separate section like this:
Awards
- Recipient of the 20XX Award for Excellence in Volunteerism, Colorado Association for Engaged Volunteerism
- First Place, Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium, Biology Division, 20XX
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member, January 20XX – Present
Projects
Listing projects on your resume shows employers you’ve moved from theory to practical application. Whether academic or personal, projects demonstrate skills applicable in the workplace.
Examples like developing a website, creating relevant content on social media, or directing a short film signal that you take initiative and produce measurable outcomes.
Here’s how to list an academic project in your education section:
Education
University of Maryland
Bachelor of Science in PsychologyMay 20XX
Capstone project
Psychological Impacts of the Adoption Process on Pre-Adolescent Youth
- Studied a group of 100 adoptees over 9 months during the adoption process and transition period
- Analyzed data from monthly surveys to evaluate participants’ mental states
For personal projects, you can make a dedicated projects section, like this:
Projects
bakingwitherica.com
April 20XX – Present
- Prepare hundreds of pastries, finding the perfect ingredients and recipes to share with readers
- Use strategic SEO to increase organic traffic and boost CTR
- Build, design, and maintain the website for optimal user experience
4. Emphasize your educational background
As a job seeker without professional experience, your educational background is likely your strongest qualification.
Expand your education section beyond basic degree information by including relevant achievements, involvement, and academic performance. Include student organizations you joined, scholarships or awards you earned, honors like making the Dean’s List, and your GPA if it’s above 3.5.
Unless your non-academic experience is more relevant to the job you’re applying for, consider placing the education section at the top of your resume, just underneath your summary.
Here’s one way to format an expanded education section:
Education
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
May 20XX
GPA: 3.8/4.0
Achievements:
- Dean’s List, Fall 20XX and Spring 20XX
- IEEE Student Member, participated in robotics competition, placing 2nd regionally
- Undergraduate Research Grant recipient, $1,500 for renewable energy project
5. Highlight your transferable skills
A strong skills section can make a big difference in your job search, setting you apart from other applicants and increasing your chances of landing an interview.
Even if you don’t have work experience, you’ve likely developed valuable transferable skills throughout your life.
Here are some common transferable skills to consider including on your resume:
Transferable skills for no-experience resumes
| Customer service | Research | Mathematics |
| Language skills | Computer skills | Social media management |
| Video editing | Collaboration tools (Slack, Zoom, Trello) | Photo editing |
| Critical thinking | Written and verbal communication | Leadership |
| Teamwork | Organization | Public speaking |
| Time management | Problem solving | Attention to detail |
Sample resumes from candidates with no experience
Here are eight more resume examples from people with no experience to help you structure your own resume:
High school student resume
If you’re a high school student with limited work experience, this example shows how a strong academic record and relevant activities can demonstrate your qualifications for an entry-level position:
College student resume
Are you about to graduate college, or looking for a part-time job? Here’s an example of what a college student resume should look like when you don’t have formal work experience yet:
Career change resume
If you’re building a career change resume, here’s an example showing how to reframe unrelated work experience and highlight transferable skills to prove you’re ready for a new field:
Internship resume
If you’re applying for an internship, this example can give you some ideas for ways to show your relevant skills:
Volunteer resume
If you’re looking to transition from volunteer work to a paid position, here’s an example showing how to emphasize your community impact and organizational skills:
Customer service resume
This resume example shows how to highlight your transferable skills and show that you can succeed in an entry-level customer service role:
Freelancer resume
If you’ve built your skills independently through freelance work, here’s an example demonstrating how self-taught expertise and client projects translate into qualifications for a full-time position:
Resume templates for applicants with no experience
Writing a resume for your first job can be daunting, but we’ve got you covered. These three resume templates are specifically designed for candidates with no experience, helping you make a good first impression on employers:
No experience application checklist
Submitting a strong application means presenting yourself as polished, prepared, and genuinely interested in the position. Use this checklist to ensure every element of your application works in your favor:
Proofread thoroughly: Ask someone to review your resume and cover letter for errors
Verify contact information: Ensure your email address and phone number are accurate and professional
Maintain consistent formatting: Use matching fonts, bullet styles, and spacing throughout
Customize for the role: Highlight skills and experience that match the job requirements
Quantify achievements: Include specific numbers or examples that demonstrate your impact
Save as PDF: Name your file professionally (e.g., “Jane_Smith_Resume.pdf”)
Personalize your cover letter: Explain why you’re excited about this specific opportunity
Follow instructions: Submit all required materials before the deadline
Build your finished resume in minutes
Skip the guesswork and create a polished resume quickly. Our AI resume builder writes tailored content for your experience level, applies professional formatting automatically, and offers dozens of templates designed for entry-level candidates.
About the Author
3
Years of Experience
41
Articles Written
Cort is a writer on the Resume Genius team. With a focus on helping job seekers showcase their strengths with clarity and confidence, he specializes in creating practical resources, from tailored resume samples to step-by-step guides on navigating applications and interviews.
With a background in marketing and communications, Cort has spent years honing his ability to provide straightforward, actionable content designed to help readers quickly find what they need.
Cort graduated from the University of California, Davis with a B.A. in Economics and International Relations.
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