There is a lot of emphasis on work experience in a resume, but what do you do if you don’t have any? This article will highlight nine essential things to include in a resume without experience.
Whether you’re a recent graduate or changing career paths, remember these elements to create an attractive resume that demonstrates your skills and lands an interview.
Things to put in a resume with no experience
Include the following elements to make your resume attractive without work experience.
- Professional summary.
- Education.
- Skills.
- Extracurricular activities.
- Relevant projects.
- Volunteer work.
- Certifications.
- Professional memberships.
- References.
1. Professional Summary
A summary without work experience should highlight your skills, education, and career goals in 2-3 sentences.
Here’s an excellent example to inspire you.
“An enthusiastic Marketing graduate with a Bachelor’s degree from Colombia University and a focus on digital marketing. Skilled in using social media platforms and analytics tools to drive engagement and boost brand visibility. Proven ability to collaborate in teams demonstrated through group projects and extracurricular activities.”
2. Education
One of the best ways to prove your expertise without work experience is through your educational background. Here’s a simple format to follow when detailing your educational background.
- The academic level you graduated in.
- The institution’s name.
- Relevant coursework.
- Notable achievements.
- School projects completed.
Here’s an example of what to include.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
Graduated in 2022
Relevant coursework:
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Web Development
- Database Management
Project:
Collaborated with a team of five to develop a web-based application for food waste management.
3. Skills
A skills section is an excellent way to show your value to an organization you’re applying to. The skills you include should be relevant to the job description.
In addition to technical skills, include soft skills that prove you’re a team player, such as effective communication.
4. Extracurricular activities
This section shows you can apply the skills you mentioned above. Extracurricular activities also let recruiters peek into your interests and passions. They indicate you’re a well-rounded individual who enjoys other activities outside work.
Additionally, this section can serve as an excellent conversation starter. Talking about your extracurriculars will ease the already tense atmosphere of job interviews.
5. Relevant projects
A “Projects” section is crucial in a resume with no work experience because it shows your ability to apply theoretical knowledge. This section will set you apart from other candidates.
Ensure the personal or academic project you include is relevant to the job. Additionally, describe any challenges you encountered and how you addressed them. Doing so shows your problem-solving skills to recruiters.
This section should follow this format.
- Project name.
- Date completed.
- Project description.
- Key contributions.
- Technologies/ tools used.
6. Volunteer work
This section shows you have hands-on experience in formal or informal work settings. It also shows you’re a proactive candidate seeking opportunities that contribute to your career goals.
Here’s how to format this section.
- Name of the organization you volunteered in.
- Your role.
- Date of your volunteer work.
- A description of your involvement.
Remember to quantify the impact of your volunteer work. You can include metrics such as the number of workshops conducted, leads generated, and costs saved.
7. Certifications and training
This section makes you an attractive candidate by showing your commitment to continuous learning. For every certification or training, mention the training program and the completion date. Afterward, give a summary of the relevant skills you gained.
8. Professional memberships
An excellent way of showing you keep up with industry trends and engage with other professionals is by listing your professional memberships. In some careers, such as real estate, it’s a legal requirement to be a member of a professional body.
When writing this section, include the following information.
- Body or association name.
- Your involvement.
- The benefits received.
9. References
While references aren’t compulsory in a resume, they allow recruiters to validate your character. If you have no work experience, list your professors and mentors as references. Remember to ask them for permission before listing them as references.
The format to follow for each reference is as follows.
- Their name.
- Their position.
- Institution they work in.
- Their email address.
- Their phone or office number.
Conclusion
Writing a compelling resume without work experience is crucial for creating a positive impression and landing your first job. You should include your professional summary, education, skills, and extracurricular activities. Also, mention any relevant projects you took and training programs you completed.
Follow this guide to stay ahead of the competition and prove yourself the best candidate for the job.