Effective No Experience Resume
Discover the tools needed to write a successful resume with no prior work experience.
When you enter the workforce with no prior experience, finding a job can be overwhelming. Whether you’re a recent graduate or seeking part-time employment, the expectations are high. However, every professional has to start somewhere. Experience comes only from experience. Fortunately, even without work experience, you still can craft an effective resume that employers notice.
Do not let inexperience detract from your employment opportunities. Though you don’t have a professional history, you do have life experience, which employers value. Using this handy resume sample and writing guide, learn how to write a successful no experience resume that captures the attention of hiring managers seeking entry-level applicants.
No Experience Resume Sample
Trevor Gillespie
Silver Spring, MD 11111
T: 555-492-0022 E: tgillespie@anymail
Silver Spring, MD 11111
T: 555-492-0022 E: tgillespie@anymail
Summary Statement
Ambitious journalism graduate with BA in communications seeking editorial internship opportunities in online or print news media. Motivated achiever and effective team player with meticulous attention to detail. Experience in long-form interviews, research, and fact-checking, with a willingness to learn more about the industry.
Skills
• AP and MLA style
• Microsoft Office
• Photoshop
• InDesign
• Interview and information gathering
• Database research
• Critical thinking and analysis
• Team building and coordination
• Problem management
Education
Bachelor of Communications – 2017
University of Maryland – College Park, MD
Relevant coursework includes: Media Ethics, Journalism, Interviewing, Information Literacy
John Jay High School – 2013
Mt. Kisco, NY
Graduated with High Honors
Achievements
• Graduate cum laude; placed on Dean’s List every semester – 2017
• Nominated for the NSPA Story of the Year Award – 2017
• Elected student council vice-president – 2016
• Awarded Presidential Achievement Scholarship – 2013
• Elected chapter president of National Honor Society – 2012
Work Experience
Editor in Chief – 2016-2017
The Diamondback – College Park, MD
• Generated article assignments for staff and contributing writers
• Conducted writer staff meetings to coordinate writer assignments, important stories, long-form investigative articles, and deadlines
• Contributed three to four articles per week covering stories and topics pertinent to the campus and the surrounding community
• Crafted headlines and edited articles for content, grammar, spelling, and word count
• Invited guest authors to facilitate writing clinics for communications students and newspaper staff
• Finalized layout using InDesign and similar software, formatting and editing articles as needed to meet printer specifications
• Authored three long-form pieces investigating the increase in the prevalence of sexual assault on campus, earning regional recognition and nominated for the NSPA Story of the Year Award
• Drafted budget proposal to present to student activities board
Head Soccer Instructor – Summer 2013, 2014, 2015
NOVA Soccer Camp, Mt. Kisco, NY
• Instructed young athletes, ages eight to 14, in soccer techniques
• Coordinated inter-program scrimmages, including scheduling and transportation
• Facilitated weekly instructor meetings to discuss curriculum, logistics, and solutions to camper disputes
• Devised drills and games to encourage team building and skill strengthening
• Communicated with parents to discuss skill development and behavioral issues
• Mediated disputes and discouraged unsportsmanlike behavior
• Conducted progress reports for each athlete at the end of each session
Tips for Creating a No Experience Resume
1. Write an engaging summary statement
The summary statement contains the first information employers learn about you. On average, hiring managers spend only a few seconds reading entry-level applications. Consequently, your summary statement needs to be direct, engaging, and concise. In a very limited space, you need to make the case for why you’re the ideal candidate for the position.
Notice in the resume example how the writer opens with a concise summary of who he is and his employment objective. In one glance, the employer has an idea of this candidate’s qualifications and intentions.
2. Include a substantial list of skills
When you have limited work history, you can use employable skills to compensate for inexperience. Employers want workers who can adapt to different roles and situations. If your skills section reflects your flexibility and well-roundedness, you increase your chances of garnering the attention of hiring managers.
In the sample resume, the writer provides a substantial list of hard skills, including knowledge of specific software programs. Additionally, the example includes soft skills, such as “team building” and “critical thinking,” which are more general in nature but important qualities in an employable job candidate.
3. Call attention to notable achievements
When you don’t have much work experience, you need to call extra attention to your achievements, either in school or other activities. Employers use your extra qualifications to gauge why you’re a better choice than other entry-level candidates. Achievements can include awards, honors, special recognition, initiatives, and more, both in school and in your personal life.
4. Make any previous work experience relevant
Even a no experience resume should include a work experience section. Work history can comprise a variety of experiences, professional or not. In this section, you can include summer jobs, volunteer positions, student activities, and other enriching accomplishments in your life.
More importantly, you want to make the details of each experience relevant to the job you’re seeking. For instance, in the resume sample, the jobseeker connects his experience as a soccer coach to his teambuilding abilities.
5. Do not embellish your resume
Though it may be tempting to pad your resume with embellishments, don’t do it—ever. Employers can tell if an entry-level resume is too good to be true. If your resume feels thin, find other ways to flesh it out. Do not add experience or skills you do not have, as doing so will inevitably come back to haunt you.
The Most Important No Experience Resume Takeaways
Even with limited or no experience, you can still compose an effective resume. As a new jobseeker, no one can blame you for a lack of experience; in fact, employers are looking for candidates who demonstrate a willingness to learn. To make your no experience resume stronger, use the tips you learned in this guide. Focus on your skills and achievements, and be engaging.
Beginning your professional life is a major step and can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, you have an excellent resource at your fingertips. If you need additional help getting started with your resume, be sure to take advantage of our resume builder.
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