Resume Guide
How to Write a Resume With No Experience
No paid job history does not mean no experience. Classes, projects, volunteering, clubs and informal work all show skills. Here is how to present them so the page is honest and convincing.
Download Free →Where your material comes from
- School: relevant courses, group projects, presentations, research
- Volunteering and community work
- Clubs, teams and leadership roles
- Informal work: babysitting, tutoring, family business, freelancing
- Self-study: online courses, certificates, personal projects
Layout to use
- Header and two-line summary
- Education
- Projects or volunteer experience (with bullets)
- Skills
- Activities and certifications
See the entry-level resume example and student example.
Writing bullets for non-work experience
| Plain | Better |
|---|---|
| Volunteered at food bank | Sorted and packed 300+ food boxes per weekend and trained 4 new volunteers. |
| Tutored classmates | Tutored 6 students in algebra weekly; 4 raised their grades by a letter. |
Illustrative examples. Use your own facts.
What not to do
- Don't invent jobs or titles.
- Don't pad with unrelated hobbies.
- Don't use a two-page resume.
Frequently asked questions
What should I put at the top?
A short summary naming the kind of role you want and your strongest skills, followed by education.
Is it okay to include volunteering?
Yes. Treat it like a job: role, organization, dates and what you did.