Can you really write a good resume without experience?
Yes. Every employer hiring for an entry-level role knows that applicants are at the start of their careers. They are not expecting a long job history. They are looking for evidence that you can learn quickly, communicate clearly, take responsibility and care about the work. You can show all of that without a formal job title.
The trick is to replace the missing "work history" with other real proof: education, projects, volunteering, leadership in clubs, certifications and informal work. Think of your resume as a portfolio of evidence, organised in a clean and readable way.
What is the best format?
Use a simple, single-column layout with these sections in this order:
- Contact details: name, phone, email, city and a link to your professional profile or portfolio.
- Summary: two or three lines stating who you are and what you are looking for.
- Education: your degree or program, with relevant coursework and any honours.
- Projects or experience: the most relevant things you have done.
- Skills: technical and practical skills that match the job.
- Volunteering, activities and certifications: anything that supports your case.
You can start from an ATS-friendly template in the resume builder and fill in each section. Keep it to one page.
How do you write the summary?
Instead of "Hard-working graduate seeking a challenging role," say what you can do and what you want. For example:
"Recent business graduate with hands-on experience running social media for a student society and analysing campaign results in spreadsheets. Looking for an entry-level marketing role where I can learn quickly and support a growing team."
Mention one or two concrete things, name the field and keep it short.
What can you use as experience?
Projects
University assignments, personal projects, open-source contributions and freelance jobs all count. For each project, say what the goal was, what you did, which tools you used and what the outcome was.
Bus delay dashboard | Personal project
Collected public transport data, cleaned it in Python and built an interactive dashboard to show delays by route and time of day. Shared the results with a local community group.
Volunteering
Volunteer roles show initiative and are often rich in skills. Describe your responsibilities and any measurable results, such as the number of events you helped organise or people you supported.
Clubs and leadership
Running a society, captaining a team or organising an event demonstrates teamwork, planning and responsibility. Use the same style as a work experience bullet.
Part-time and informal jobs
Retail, hospitality, babysitting, tutoring and delivery work teach reliability, customer service and time management. Do not be embarrassed by them. Focus on the skills that transfer to the role you want.
Internships and shadowing
Even short internships or job shadowing can be valuable. List them as you would a job, with one or two achievement-focused bullets.
How do you write strong bullets?
Start with an action verb, say what you did and add a result or detail where you honestly can. Avoid vague claims.
- Weak: "Helped with customer service."
- Stronger: "Served customers at a busy cafe, handling orders accurately and resolving complaints calmly during peak hours."
Only include numbers that are true. If you do not have a number, describe the scope, the tools you used or what changed because of your work.
Which skills should you list?
Include skills that match the job description and that you can demonstrate. Technical skills such as spreadsheets, programming languages, design tools or languages should be specific. Soft skills like communication or teamwork are better shown through bullets than listed on their own. Paste a job ad into the free ATS checker to see which skills the employer is asking for and whether your resume includes them.
What should you leave out?
- A photo, date of birth, marital status or other personal details, unless required in your country.
- Generic phrases such as "team player" and "hard-working" without examples.
- A long list of unrelated tasks from every job you have had.
- References on the page. "References available on request" is optional.
- Spelling mistakes. Read it aloud and ask someone to proofread.
Should you write a cover letter?
Yes, when the application allows it. A short cover letter is a good place to explain your interest, your motivation and one or two strengths that a resume cannot capture. The cover letter builder and examples by role can help you get started.
How do you tailor it for each job?
Read the posting, pick out the key skills and responsibilities and reorder your projects and bullets so the most relevant come first. Our guide on tailoring your resume walks through the steps.
Quick checklist
- One page, single column, clear headings.
- A short summary naming the field and your strengths.
- Education, projects and volunteering with action-led bullets.
- Skills that match the job description.
- No exaggerations or invented numbers.
- Proofread and saved as a PDF.
When you are ready, you can start building your first resume and download the PDF for free. Then browse entry-level openings on the jobs page.
What does a simple one-page structure look like?
If you are unsure how much to write, aim for this balance on a single page: a three-line summary, an education section with two or three lines, two or three project or experience entries with two to three bullets each, a short skills list and a final section for volunteering or activities. If you run out of space, cut the weakest bullets first, not the strongest project. White space matters, because a clean page is easier to scan than a crowded one.
When you are ready to apply, save the file with a clear name, such as your full name and the word resume, and upload it as a PDF unless the employer asks for something else. A professional file name is a small detail that makes a good impression.