How to Build a Resume (Resume Writing Guide 101)
Quick resume guide with resume templates, resume examples, and expert tips on how to write a resume fast.
How to write a first job resume, or an entry-level resume, especially when other candidates have experience? This guide shows you.
Whether a first job resume, an entry-level resume, or a resume for a first job in this particular field, one thing is certain:
You don’t have experience relevant to this position.
Making matters worse, you’re up against 249 other candidates.
But, let me ease your mind.
All 250 of you are new. It’s their first time applying to this job, as well.
To gain the upper hand, you have to write an entry-level resume that grabs the hiring manager’s attention.
Here’s how—
In this resume guide, you’ll see:
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First up, here’s a sample resume for a candidate without relevant work history:
Alessandra Frigiola
212-555-3214 • alessandra.frigiola@gmail.com • linkedin.com/in/alessandrafrigiola • twitter.com/alessandrafrigo
Dependable university graduate with IT major in cloud infrastructure and deployment. Seeking to apply award-winning UI design (2018 GoodLooks winner in User Interface—Personal Blog category), highly-scored cloud architecture project management (99.35%), and modern networking skills to grow alongside SWA as the new cloud engineer.
BS in IT Infrastructure—Data Science Specialty
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Relevant Coursework
Restaurant Server
Bahari, Astoria, NY
January 2017–December 2018
Key Achievements
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With your level of experience, it’s not your work history that’ll catch their attention.
So what will?
For starters, knowing how to format a resume for entry-level jobs:
Expert Hint: Want to make sure that your entry-level resume renders correctly on the hiring manager’s computer like it does on your own? Save the resume as a PDF. The PDF keeps all your formatting and fonts intact.
According to an eye-tracking study by TheLadders, employers give your resume a mere 7-second glance.
That hurts.
So, you’ve got to make that time count.
How?
Put a powerful resume objective on top of your resume.
Also known as a resume profile, this is a brief paragraph of text explaining (1) what skills you have, and (2) how you want to develop at a given company
How to write an objective for a resume without experience?
Let’s look at two resume objective examples for an entry-level IT role:
Why is that second resume objective sample so bad? Too many adjectives and too much focus on you.
What makes the other one so good?
It follows all the best resume objective practices.
The ideal entry-level resume objective is:
Lack of relevant past employment can make or break your resume.
But it doesn’t have to—if you switch tactics.
Always start your resume with your greatest strength. If that means your education, go with that!
Move the education section above the experience section and highlight your greatest educational wins.
When writing your entry-level resume education section:
Additionally, you will get a leg up on your competitors by listing any honors, minors, extracurricular activities, and relevant coursework as an education subsection. We go into detail in our resume education guide.
So, how to put education on an entry-level resume?
Look at this sample:
BS in IT Infrastructure—Data Science Specialty
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
So, some of you might be writing a resume with no job experience, which means you can skip this part, right?
Technically, yes. You could just move on to other resume areas.
But—
I strongly suggest you get some experience.
I don’t mean getting a first-first job before your first job, but rather doing some freelance gigs or volunteer work.
Looking to become a graphic designer? Find some one-off design gigs on Upwork—it’ll look great on your resume for first jobs and/or professional portfolio.
Alternatively—
Highlight relevant skills or achievements from unrelated job. Let’s say you are an IT student who worked part-time as a waiter:
Restaurant Server
Bahari, Astoria, NY
January 2017–December 2018
Key Achievements
We skipped the common “job responsibilities” subsection, but we highlighted tech-centric resume achievements. Also, start each achievement and job duty entry with a power verb.
You may have waited tables, but handling that installation of the new POS, as well as integrating them with Uber Eats—super relevant on the entry-level IT resume!
Expert Hint: Don’t add too many skills to your resume. You don’t want to get thought of as the “jack of all trades, master of none.” Add no more than 10.
Find out more: Resume Work Experience Section: Job Descriptions that Wow
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There used to be a time when everyone and their mother put they’re skilled in Microsoft Word.
(Some people still do.)
Don’t get me wrong, this is a great skill to have.
But—
It’s irrelevant to 99% of jobs.
Take a look at that job description again.
Find the area that says “Qualifications” or “Requirements”—THESE are the things they’re looking for on your entry-level resume.
And include them in your resume, because—
Remember that ATS thing? This software scans your resume in search of resume keywords. Key words often mean key skills.
So, when finding skills to list on resumes:
Since you have a first-time resume, you’ll be hard-pressed to fill out even one page.
Treat it as an unintentional gift.
You have room to make the case for your candidacy in other, less traditional ways:
Add extra resume sections.
Here are the best resume parts to include to make your entry-level resume exceptional:
When you have very little relevant work experience, add any volunteer work in a separate section. When you have no experience at all, add your volunteer work within your main work history section.
Can you speak French or Spanish? Add it to your entry-level resume and describe your linguistic proficiency. Fluency in a second language can make all the difference to a hiring manager.
Certificates can make up for what’s lacking in your experience section. Looking to be an IT consultant? That CompTIA Network+ certificate you’ve earned will come in handy. An award for the best apple pie at the state fair will likewise look great on a restaurant resume.
At first glance, who cares, right? But adding hobbies and interests can subtly show aptitude and certain skills. For example, team sports emphasize teamwork, while coaching team sports help show managerial skills.
Expert Hint: One resume addition you should leave off always is that “References Available Upon Request” line. Because, they know, you know? This is always implied.
A cover letter is a must alongside your entry-level resume.
Why?
First, it is your secret power to convince the recruiter you’re worth hiring even without relevant jobs under your belt.
Second, almost half of all employers will simply reject your first job resume if a cover letter doesn’t come with it.
Lubomir Tomaska of Comenius University in Bratislava puts it like this:
“Think of your cover letter as… a cork that represents an entry to the contents of a wine bottle. Just as a cracked or rotten cork will discourage a user from pouring the contents of the bottle into a glass…, an uninspiring cover letter might prevent the recruiter from reading the full application and assessing your suitability for the position.”
We won’t go into how to write a cover letter here, but check out our guide on writing a cover letter with no experience before you send one with your resume.
Also, check out our best cover letter tips to adjust it to perfection!
Expert Hint: The importance of a cover letter can't be ignored. But remember, a cover letter is not supposed to repeat your resume. It should complement your entry-level resume by adding additional details and explaining your motivation to work at a given company.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Have any questions on how to make a resume for first jobs or an entry-level resume? Let’s chat about it here in the comments below, and thanks for reading!
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