This catch-22 is as old as work itself: you need a job to get experience, but you need experience to get a job. Either way, you need a resume, and here’s when you start panicking. 

No need for that, though. You might not have specific skills for the job or workplace experience, but you can still craft a convincing first job resume. Whether you're in high school or college and wondering how to make a resume with no work experience, here are some expert tips.

Is it worth making a resume with no experience?

Before we start, let’s address this question. And the answer is: absolutely! A resume is more than job experience—it’s about showcasing your skills, education, and potential. You can highlight volunteer work, school projects, extracurricular activities, and any relevant coursework. Employers value enthusiasm, soft skills, and a willingness to learn just as much as experience.

Plus, creating a resume early on helps you get comfortable with the process. It allows you to see your skills and where you can grow. A well-structured resume makes a strong first impression and sets you up for future opportunities—whether a part-time job, internship, or even college applications.

How to make a resume with no work experience?

Now that you know it’s worth creating your resume even without having had a job, it’s time to see what to put on a resume with no experience. Let’s see what to add section by section and explore some examples that will make your life easier.

1. Choose the best format for a resume with no experience

There are a few dominant resume templates in use today:

• Chronological

• Functional

• Hybrid - a blend of the chronological and functional formats

A type: entry-hyperlink id: 65CHrRs32OK7q5DJBMFb4o lists a candidate's work experience in reverse-chronological order, while a functional resume format highlights hard and soft skills and achievements. While both formats have benefits, most employers and hiring managers prefer a chronological format.

Aside from hiring managers preferring it, it's best to use a reverse chronological resume for two additional reasons:

• It's the most used format in Canada, making it easy for hiring managers to review and find the information they're seeking

• It's preferred by employers' applicant tracking systems (ATS). If an ATS can't read your resume properly, it might not get into the hands of a human reader.

The primary sections of a reverse chronological resume are:

• The heading (with your contact information)

• Resume summary

• Work experience (which will be substituted with other sections when you have no work experience)

• Education 

2. Incorporate your contact information 

Now that you've chosen the best format for a resume with no experience, it's time to complete each section. The first section of your resume is the header section. This is the section that includes your name and contact information. In this section, you'll provide:

• Your name

• Phone number

• Email address

• Location and zip code

• type: entry-hyperlink id: 5fw5UZhf3A9caw75e9gdmj or professional website URL (optional)

Your name should sit above your contact information in a larger font than all other information in the header. Also, your email address must sound professional. Using “jazzy123@email.com” or “havingfunjoan@email.com” won't gain you any points. Instead, we suggest you use your name (or a combination of your initials and surname).

Here's an example of how to list your contact information at the top of your resume:

Joseph Smith

555.555.5555 | jsmith@email.com | Quebec, H2K | linkedin.com/in/jsmith28

3. Include a strong summary statement

The next section of your resume, your Resume Summary, will fall just below your contact information. Your resume summary is not to be mistaken for a resume objective. 

type: entry-hyperlink id: 1SgJj32ErmqY6cik0Xyzrn, where you state exactly what career goals you wish to achieve, have mostly fallen out of fashion. This is mainly because you want to focus on what you can do for the employer, not what the employer can do for you.

On the other hand, a resume summary statement sums up who you are professionally at the top of the page in two to five sentences and serves as the first impression you give a hiring manager to entice them to keep reading. 

For a resume with no experience, your resume summary can still pack a punch. Include some of the key skills you have relevant to the job, while emphasizing your major and any type of experience that speaks to your ability to succeed.

Here's a resume summary example for a recent grad with a human resources degree:

Human resources graduate with a diverse knowledge base in employee relations, benefits design, employment law, and policy design. Avid learner with solid written and verbal communication skills and a strong desire to support all organizational levels for improved employee morale and productive collaboration. 

Now, here’s a summary sample for a high school student seeking an administrative support job:

Organized, detail-oriented high school student with a strong foundation in administrative tasks, data entry, and customer service. Skilled in written and verbal communication, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and time management. Eager to contribute to a dynamic team by providing efficient support and ensuring smooth daily operations in an office environment.

4. Substitute the Work Experience section with other types of experience

Writing a resume with no work experience can be a daunting task. Fortunately, recruiters and hiring managers also seek candidates with a robust background, regardless of experience level. Here are some sections you can use to replace a Work Experience section:

• Internships

• Graduate Assistantships

• Extracurricular activities

• Volunteer Work

• Projects

• Hobbies and Interests

• Awards

These additional types of experiences can be standalone sections on your resume or be under a “Relevant Experience” section. Depending on what you include, it might be best to use a section heading that aligns with the type of experience (“Internships” if you’re applying for an intern job, “Volunteer Work” if you’re volunteering, and so on). 

Internships

type: entry-hyperlink id: 2Qkm0AvSNk3DALrWiu3LXV are great for your resume with no experience. They give you real-life work experience and help you make connections that can put you in a job later. So be sure to list any internships you've completed in your resume. 

If you haven't had an internship, consider applying for one as a step before an entry-level job.

Here are a couple of examples of how to include internships on resumes:

Finance Intern Ontario Ministry of Finance Office, Toronto, ON Jan 2023 - May 2023

• Reconciled budget sheets for quarterly processing

• Supported finance team in year-end tax return audits 

• Analyzed 15 budget reports over a two-month period to ensure accurate data reporting 

Sales and Customer Service Intern Canadian Tire, Kitchener, ON July 2024 – December 2024

• Assisted customers with product inquiries, purchases, and returns to enhance the shopping experience.

• Organized and restocked inventory to maintain efficient store operations.

• Processed transactions at the checkout and handled cash, credit, and loyalty program applications.

• Supported team members in setting up promotional displays to drive sales.

Graduate Assistantships

Similar to internships, a graduate assistantship during school is also great for adding valuable experience to a resume. Graduate assistantships are paid opportunities provided to graduate students. They typically involve part-time teaching or research within their field of study. 

Here are two examples of how to include an assistantship on your resume:

HR Graduate Assistant

Alberta School of Business, Edmonton, AB

August 2022 - May 2023

• Reviewed 100 collective bargaining agreements to identify and document similarities and inconsistencies throughout

• Worked with academic Professors to develop research guidelines for future assistants

Architecture Graduate Assistant University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON January – June 2022

• Assisted professors in researching sustainable design principles and their application in urban planning.

• Reviewed and analyzed architectural case studies to support curriculum development.

• Provided guidance to undergraduate students on design software and project presentations.

Volunteer work

When surveyed, most employers say that they take type: entry-hyperlink id: 101WSZ7wrRpiZHCz8NCjiF, such as being a soup kitchen volunteer, into consideration alongside paid work experience. So, any volunteer work highlighting your skills should be included in your well-prepared resume. 

You'll list volunteer work in a similar way to how you would list internships and actual work experience:

Animal Transport Volunteer Friends for Life Animal Shelter, Vancouver, BC September 2024 - Present 

• Working with local shelters to transport animals to and from shelters and foster homes

• Assisting in cleaning kennels and common areas to support sanitation efforts

• Spearheading animal supply drive, collecting $10K worth of supplies

Extracurricular activities

Your extracurricular activities can add much value to your resume instead of work experience, as long as you relate them to the job you're applying to. For example, if you were an officer for a club during college or a sports team captain, these roles speak to your leadership ability. 

In general, these types of activities show that you can collaborate with others. It also shows you have the ability to keep up with school work while being involved in other areas outside of school, which speaks to time management and organizational skills. 

Here are some of the top extracurricular activities to include on a resume with no experience, as well of some of the skills they help to highlight:

• Artistic endeavors: speaks to creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, ability to learn 

• Sports: speaks to teamwork, collaboration, hard work, problem-solving, conflict resolution

• Club leadership roles: speaks to leadership, organization, perseverance, time management

• General club membership: speaks to time management, community involvement, prioritizing

• Student government: speaks to leadership, public speaking, time management, problem solving, organization

Here are two examples of how to list extracurricular activities on a resume with no experience:

Student Council, Jeanne-Mance High School August 2023 - May 2024

• Spearheaded clothing drive to support the homeless in Quebec

• Wrote and delivered three speeches to the student body focused on student wellbeing, fundraising events, and life beyond high school

Business Club Officer, University of Winnipeg September 2022 – May 2023

• Led weekly meetings to organize networking events and skill-building workshops for students.

• Coordinated a mentorship program connecting students with industry professionals.

• Managed social media outreach to increase club engagement and event attendance.

Special Projects

If you completed job-related projects during high school or college, they can be a valuable addition to your resume. Personal projects are also suitable for a resume with no experience if they're relevant to the job. 

Here's how you might list a personal project on your resume:

Social Media Campaign Sparkle and Shine Fundraising Event February 2022 - Mar 2024

• Created social media campaign to support fundraising efforts for a local children's shelter, supporting education in underprivileged youth

• Increased followers by 25% in two months

• Generated leads that converted to $3,000 in donations

Here's how you might list school projects on your resume:

Concordia University Masters in Counseling and Development

• Career counseling planning design for women with chronic fatigue syndrome

• Group counseling proposal for friends and family members of those who have mental health challenges

• Behavioral health program design to work with males ages 18 to 30 with adverse childhood experiences

Hobbies and Interests

More and more people include hobbies and interests on their resumes since it provides insights into them as persons. Hobbies and interests require soft and hard skills—many of which are key to job success and can especially be helpful to fill in gaps when you lack work experience.  

For additional information on how to list hobbies and interests on your resume with no experience, refer to “How to List Hobbies and Interests on a Resume (With Examples).”

Awards

An award can signal an employer to take note since it's a distinction that speaks to your skills, abilities, and accomplishments. Adding an Awards section is an excellent way to showcase your ability to succeed instead of work experience. 

When you list an award, include the award and issuing institution. For example:

2024 Science Olympiad Award recipient, Science Olympiad Foundation 2023 Academic Excellence Award, LaSalle College, Montreal 2022 Leadership & Community Service Award, Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations

Certifications

Acquiring certifications is excellent for filling in skill and experience gaps. There are many free certification opportunities on sites like LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and Grow with Google. Certifications show you're focused on personal and professional development, which employers appreciate in candidates.

You can list certifications in a standalone Certifications list or with your Education section. For more information on how to best include certifications on a resume with no experience, refer to “type: entry-hyperlink id: 65nG3CWMSwVarNCn74FRBb.” 

5. Include your education 

When you have work experience, it's common to include Education after your Work Experience section. However, on a resume with no experience, many opt to emphasize their education after the summary since your education is what's most relevant to employers when you leave school. 

Also, you can expand and focus on the type: entry-hyperlink id: 71mWjOlBMk9bBYubdxFifO to highlight the skills you've developed. What can you do well that this job requires? What will be useful to the hiring company? What have you done and studied in school that prepared you for assuming this job?

This is generally easier if you're a college graduate with specialized education. Still, even a high school graduate can talk about their electives and relevant coursework, why they wanted to take them, and what they learned from the class. You can also include scholarships, awards, honors, student clubs, and committees you participated in—for example, if you were on the Dean's list. 

Many also wonder if they should include their GPA on their resume. The short answer is yes, if it's 3.5 / 70% or higher. This level of achievement highlights your potential and the hard work you're willing to put in for success. 

Here's the order to list items in your Education section, with items 5 to 8 being optional:

1. Degree issued

2. GPA 

3. Honors

4. Issuing institution

5. City and state of institution 

6. Graduation date (or expected graduation date, if in progress)

7. Relevant coursework

8. Student committees

Here's how your education might look laid out on your resume:

Bachelors of Science - Psychology (85% GPA, magna cum laude), University of British Columbia

Relevant coursework: human growth and development, assessment, treatment planning, abnormal behavior High School Diploma (Honours, 4.0 GPA), Luther College High School, Regina, SK

Relevant coursework: Business Studies, Communications, Computer Applications, Organizational Leadership

6. Emphasize your skills

Even when you don't have actual work experience, you have definitely acquired skills to support you on the job, which can set you apart from the competition. Be sure to highlight both hard and soft skills on your resume. You can do this by including a Skills section near the end or adding a Core Competencies section below your Resume Summary. 

You may also wonder what the difference between hard and soft skills is. Hard skills are technical skills that are measurable and learned. Soft skills are intangible and difficult to measure. 

Examples of valuable hard skills on a resume include:

• Mathematics

• Computer skills

• Data analysis

• Research

• Project management

• Social media

• Editing

• Language skills

Here are some common soft skills employers seek in their employees:

• Communication

• Problem solving

• Organization

• Interpersonal skills

• Analysis

• Time management

• Creativity

• Working well under stress

7. Add a cover letter

Even if one isn't required, it's generally a good idea to send a short cover letter along with your resume. Cover letters are where your personality comes out, and you can use them to make the case for why you're the perfect candidate for this job. 

A standout cover letter can convince an employer to bring you in for an interview, even if your resume doesn't have everything they'd like to see. Your cover letter allows you to show a bit of personality and express why you're interested in the job, as well. Be sure your cover letter uses the same font and style as your resume for consistency. 

Elements you should never include on a resume

While there are many elements you should consider adding to your resume, career experts say there are a few things you should never include because they waste space, don't tell the employer anything relevant, or could damage your personal brand. This list includes but isn’t limited to: 

• type: entry-hyperlink id: 7uczqJOnUNn9S4pcMQrF0c

• Writing samples

• type: entry-hyperlink id: 1IT04flmQC0U9M2QJ6SKUA of yourself

Do not add this information to your resume unless an employer or recruiter asks you to provide it. 

Additional tips for a resume with no work experience 

As you develop your resume with no experience, here are a few more tips to consider. 

Take stock of your achievements and activities

Make a list of everything you've done that might be useful on a resume. Then, you'll need to narrow down what to actually include in it. Different things might be relevant to different jobs, so keep a full list and pick the most relevant things to include on your resume when you send it out.

Pay attention to technical details

Make sure your resume has no punctuation, grammatical, or spelling errors that will make it look unprofessional. Then, have someone read it to catch any mistakes you might have missed — as a candidate with no prior work experience, you can't afford a typo or missing word. Also, vary your language and use action verbs throughout your resume to keep your reader engaged.

Keywords, keywords, keywords!

Most employers use type: entry-hyperlink id: OFo6qkwwOImnU4412MrMh. This may seem unfair, but it's the reality of modern-day hiring. To combat this, you'll want to include a list of keywords in your resume when applying for any job. The best place to type: entry-hyperlink id: 1qmaraXRSE3yOc4iX4uHSH is in the job post itself or in ads for similar jobs.

One caveat: Don't use meaningless "buzzwords," such as "go-getter," "team player," and “detail-oriented," even if they’re the only keywords listed in the ad. If that's the case, you'll need to sneak them in alongside your detailed accomplishments and academic achievements.

Customize your resume for each job you apply to

The most important thing to remember when creating a good resume is type: entry-hyperlink id: 5j1Iq1yxY9nxHyFyALbkNA. Different job postings will have different keywords, job duties listed, and so on. Appealing to each individual employer's needs and job requirements is the best strategy for getting your application noticed and landing your first job.

Use AI to generate ideas

While we don’t recommend using AI to write your entire resume or cover letter, it can be a powerful tool to help identify keywords and gaps in your resume. Use ChatGPT or a similar tool to input a prompt like “resume with no work experience example” or “skills for a resume with no work experience,” and use the information it returns to inspire your ideas.

Relevant experience goes beyond work

At the end of the day, the only perfect resume is the one that gets you the interview. Regardless of whether you have work experience, it's still possible to stand out by highlighting other types of experience related to the role.

Even once you're comfortably employed, be prepared to tweak and update your resume to get noticed with each job application you submit. In the meantime, use any relevant experience to help you shine and land an interview. Sooner or later, you'll land that job and gain that much-coveted relevant work experience.

Tackling this kind of resume isn't easy. If you've recently graduated or are in an entry-level job search, a professional resume writer can prepare you for success.