Entry-Level Resume Templates
Entry-Level Resume Templates: Highlight Skills When Experience Is Thin
For a first job, the best template is one that lets skills, projects and education carry weight next to a short work history. A combination layout often suits this stage.
Download Free →The combination layout
A combination (or hybrid) layout opens with a skills-focused summary, then lists experience and education. It lets you lead with what you can do instead of a short job list.
- Header and two-line summary
- Key skills (six to eight, in plain text)
- Experience and internships with results
- Projects
- Education and certifications
Choose skills from the job post
Read two or three similar postings, note the terms they share, and include the ones that are true for you. This helps both recruiters and applicant tracking systems see the match.
Filling the page honestly
- Add class projects, volunteering and freelance work
- Include relevant certifications and online courses
- Describe part-time jobs by responsibility and result
Never invent experience. Use the entry-level resume example as a model for wording.
Frequently asked questions
What template is best with no experience?
A single-column combination layout with a short skills section, projects and education.
How long should an entry-level resume be?
One page.