Home › Guides

How to write a resume with no experience

Everyone starts somewhere. If you haven't had a formal job yet, your resume can still show that you are reliable, can learn, and have done real things. Here's how to build one.

What counts as experience

"Experience" is not only paid jobs. You can include:

Part-time, seasonal or informal work: babysitting, lawn care, helping at a family business, gig work.
Volunteering: food banks, church or community events, coaching kids, animal shelters.
School: projects, clubs, sports teams, student government, tutoring.
Training: online courses, certificates, a driver's license if the job involves driving, food handler or CPR cards.
Personal projects: building a website, running a social account for a club, fixing bikes or computers.

Write these the same way you would write a job: a title (for example "Volunteer, Riverside Food Bank"), the organization, the dates, and two or three bullets about what you did. Being honest about the size of a role is fine. A hiring manager for an entry-level job is mainly looking for evidence that you can be trusted, show up, and learn. Small, real examples do that better than big, vague claims.

A simple layout for a first resume

Contact details: name, phone, a professional-looking email, city and state.
Summary or objective: two sentences on what you're looking for and what you bring.
Education: school name, expected graduation, and relevant classes or honors.
Experience: paid, volunteer and school roles together, most recent first.
Skills: tools, languages and practical skills.

Keep it to one page and use a simple, single-column layout so it is easy to read (our ATS-friendly resume guide explains why).

Writing bullets from school and volunteering

Describe what you did and, where you can, what came of it. Only include numbers you know are true.

Organized a weekend food drive with three classmates and handled sign-up sheets for volunteers.
Tutored younger students in math twice a week after school.
Managed the club's Instagram account and posted event updates every week.
Babysat two children regularly on weekday evenings, including homework help and dinner.
Worked the concession stand at home games, handling cash and restocking supplies.

Skills employers value in entry-level hires

Many entry-level postings ask for the same basics: being dependable, showing up on time, communicating clearly, working in a team, following instructions, learning quickly, and customer service. Rather than just listing these words, show them in your bullets. "Never missed a scheduled shift at the concession stand" says more than "reliable".

Also list practical skills: Microsoft Word, Excel or Google Sheets, a second language, typing, cash handling, social media, or anything the job post mentions.

Writing a summary when you're just starting

Keep it honest and specific: "High school senior looking for a part-time retail job on weekends. Experienced with cash handling from volunteering at school events and comfortable helping customers. Available Friday evenings and weekends."

References, cover letters and next steps

You don't need to list references on the resume itself. Have two or three ready, such as a teacher, coach, volunteer coordinator or family friend you have worked for, and ask them first. Write "References available on request" only if you have space to spare.

A short cover letter or message can help when you have little experience, because it lets you explain why you want this job and what you would bring. Keep it to a few sentences. Once you have your first job, add it to your resume right away, even if it is part-time, and keep a note of anything you learn or improve. That makes your next resume much easier to write.

Mistakes to avoid

Leaving the page almost empty. Volunteering, school and informal work all count.
Exaggerating titles or responsibilities.
An unprofessional email address.
Typos. Ask someone to read it, or read it out loud.
Forgetting availability, which matters a lot for part-time and entry-level jobs.

Want help turning this into a finished resume?

Upload your old resume or answer three quick questions. See a free preview in minutes, then pay $19 once only if you love it.

Start my resume — free preview