The whole vicious cycle of “needing a job to get experience but needing the experience to get a job” is a most frustrating phase for anyone who is out looking for employment for the first time, instead of panicking though you need to focus upon crafting a resume even without having any skills and experience gained within a traditional work environment. The big question is, how do you make a resume with no work experience whatsoever. But fret not, as we have 7 surefire tips to make a resume with no work experience.
- Add a Summary Statement
Including an objective statement in your resume, which tells your prospective employer what are the goals you want to achieve has become quite an outdated thing. This is basically because you need to tell the employer what you have to offer them, not what the company can do for you. As far as a summary statement is concerned, though, it sums up who you are as a professional at the right at the beginning of the resume. If you are crafting a resume for the first job, then a summary statement gives the ideal first impression for the ones hiring you.
- Decide on a Format
There are few formats that are most used today for resumes which are functional, chronological, and hybrid format, which combines the two types. A chronological format lists your work experience in reverse chronological sequence. A functional format focuses upon highlighting the achievements and skills of a candidate instead of the experience. While the preferred option for a resume for college students with no experience is the functional format, most recruiters are looking for either a hybrid or chronological resume. Whichever format you choose in the end, make sure that it stays consistent throughout the entire document.
- Technical Details
When it comes to writing a resume with no experience, it becomes even more of a priority to make it look professional. Be careful while editing and fix any grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that might have happened. Have a family member or friend review it again to make sure there aren’t any mistakes left as typos or missing words are unacceptable and create a negative impression. Use varying and appropriate vocabulary in a way that keeps the reader interested enough to read till the end.
- Take Stock of Your Activities and Achievements.
Create a list of every experience or achievement that you think will be useful on your career path. Then narrow down the ones that can actually be mentioned in the resume itself. The relevancy of the achievements or activities will differ from job to job, so pick the ones most suitable for the position you are applying for.
- Focus on Your Skills and Education
If you do not have any work experience, the best strategy is to focus and expand your skills and academic achievements in your resume. Tell the employer what you are good at doing and how does it fill the requirement of the job. Mention any courses or subjects that you have studied, which prepare you for the position you are hoping to acquire. It is easier for college students as they have specialized degrees, but even as a high school student, you can talk about your electives and the useful concepts you have learned in class.
- Internships
Paid and unpaid internships are another solution to when you are at a loss about how to fill out a resume without experience. They give you a valid real-life job experience along with allowing you to create a network and connections that can make the path to employment much easier. In your resume, make sure to include all the internships that you have done. If you haven’t done any then you should consider it before looking for a job fresh out of college.
- Include Volunteer and Extracurricular Activities
According to a survey, the majority of companies say that they prefer hiring candidates with volunteer experiences along with a paid work experience. So do not hesitate to highlight any volunteer work that honed your talents or from where you developed a new skill in your resume.
There are many elements that you should include to enhance your resume and make it showcase the person you are, but there are also some things that should never be put in it to avoid making it look like the work of an amateur and getting it rejected right away. References, photos of yourself, or writing samples are some of these things unless the employer has asked for them specifically. Things that might seem minor, like having a proper professional email address helps you convey a serious and responsible image of yourself to a future employer.
These were all the dos and don’ts we have for you when you are stressing about how to write a resume with no experience. But also keep in mind that there is no instant formula for writing a resume that will get you a job on the spot. You can use all these tips and techniques and use them to update and tweak the document according to the employment position you are applying to. Make sure that you have filled it out with the requirements of the recruiters in mind, as they will be different for every other job.
When you don’t have any work experience to put on display, just use a hybrid format that will enable you to highlight your skills and education, which are ultimately what counts the most. Your willingness to work and the organized way you can handle a job should be evident in your resume to convey to the employer that you will not disappoint when it comes to dealing with difficult tasks at the workplace. Use appropriate keywords that you can find in the job advertisement itself so that your resume can get past the ATS successfully and reach into the employer’s hands directly.