How to Write a Resume with No Experience

"No experience" rarely means nothing to show. Employers hiring for entry-level roles look for signs that you will turn up, learn quickly and work well with others. School, volunteering, projects, clubs, sports, caregiving and informal work can all provide that evidence.

What to include when you have no work experience

Education

Your school, program, graduation date, strong grades, awards and relevant courses.

Projects

Class projects, personal projects, portfolios, competitions or anything you built, organized or researched.

Volunteer work

Community service, charity events, church or mosque programs, food banks, animal shelters or tutoring.

Activities and leadership

Clubs, sports teams, student government, music groups or any role with responsibility.

Informal work

Babysitting, lawn care, pet sitting, helping in a family business or freelance tasks.

Skills and certifications

Software, languages, first aid or CPR, food handler cards, driver's license where relevant.

The best resume format with no experience

Use a simple, one-page layout with this order:

Name and contact details
Resume objective or short summary
Education
Projects, volunteer work or activities (whichever is strongest)
Skills
Certifications, awards or languages, if you have them

Rename sections to fit what you have. "Relevant Experience" can include volunteering and projects. "Leadership and Activities" works well for clubs and sports. Use the heading that best describes your content.

Write a focused objective

With little experience, a short resume objective helps the reader understand what you want and why you fit.

First jobDependable high school senior with volunteer experience at a local food bank, seeking a part-time grocery associate role. Available evenings and weekends.
GraduateRecent biology graduate with lab coursework and a research project on water quality, seeking an entry-level laboratory technician position.

Turn everyday activities into resume bullets

Describe what you did the same way you would describe a job: start with an action verb, explain the task and add a result or scale where possible.

Examples of turning activities into resume bullets
Activity	Resume bullet
Helped at a school fundraiser	Organized a bake sale with 8 volunteers that raised $900 for the school library.
Played on a sports team	Balanced 12 hours of weekly varsity soccer practice with a full course load and a 3.4 GPA.
Group project in class	Led a 4-person team to research and present a marketing plan for a local cafe, earning the top grade in the class.
Babysitting	Cared for 3 children aged 4 to 10 twice a week, managing meals, homework and bedtime routines.
Family business	Served customers and handled cash at the family restaurant on weekends during peak lunch hours.
Personal project	Built a personal website with HTML, CSS and JavaScript to showcase photography, visited by 300+ people.

For more verbs to start your bullets, see resume action verbs.

Skills employers want in entry-level candidates

Reliability
Customer service
Communication
Teamwork
Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
Cash handling
Time management
Languages
Social media
Problem-solving

Pick the ones the job posting mentions and that you can back up with an example. The resume skills guide explains how.

Tips to stand out

Keep it to one page with plenty of white space
Use a professional email address, ideally with your name
Mention your availability if the job involves shifts
Get a quick certification if it is relevant, such as food handler, CPR or a free online software course
Write a short cover letter to explain your motivation. The cover letter builder can help
Ask a teacher, coach or volunteer coordinator whether they would act as a reference

What not to do

Do not invent jobs, dates or skills. Honesty matters more than a long resume.
Do not apologize for your lack of experience. Focus on what you can do.
Do not fill space with unrelated hobbies. Include interests only if they show a relevant skill.

See how this looks in practice in the college student resume example and the recent graduate resume example.

The Student template puts education, projects and skills first.

Use the Student Template

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a job with no experience on my resume?

Yes. Many entry-level jobs are designed for people without experience. Employers look at your education, attitude, availability and transferable skills.

Should I include high school on my resume?

Yes, if it is your highest level of education or you are still in or just out of high school. Once you have a college degree, you can usually remove it.

Does volunteer work count as experience?

Yes. Volunteer work shows responsibility and skills. You can list it in its own section or under "Relevant Experience".

How long should a resume with no experience be?

One page. Focus on quality rather than length.