personal statement for no experience

Resume Summary with No Experience: Examples for Students and Fresh Graduates

By Biron Clark

Published: December 18, 2023

Recent Grads | Resume/CV

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

If you’re looking for how to write a summary for your resume with no work experience , you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to walk you through exactly what to do, and then we’ll look at resume summary examples for entry-level job seekers, students and fresh graduates. 

How to Write a Summary For Your Resume With No Experience:

First, a resume summary is different than an objective . And it’s much better. Putting an objective on your resume is outdated and unnecessary. Resume objectives are useless because they don’t share anything the hiring manager doesn’t already know (such as “my goal is to obtain a position in the ___ industry”). So what we’re doing here is better and will help your resume stand out from people who simply put an objective. Whereas, the resume summary gives a quick highlight reel of your qualifications, education, and more. If you’re not sure what a resume summary actually is, check out this article on 10 resume summary examples . And while it’s easier to figure out what to put if you’ve built up some work experience, you can still write an effective resume summary with no work experience whatsoever.

So in this article, I’m going to show you how. What should go into your summary when you don’t have any work experience? 

1. Put academic accomplishments and leadership

What did you study? Did you just graduate with a degree? Mention that. If you took a leadership role in your class projects, or clubs/groups at your school, you can mention that too. Leadership doesn’t need to be in a job to get the hiring manager’s attention! Taking a leadership role in a sports environment is impressive as well. You’re not going to mention specific accomplishments in your resume summary usually (you can do that later in your resume), but you can say things like “proven leadership” or “natural leader”, etc.

2. Put your interests and passions

Are you passionate about startups and technology? Great, put that. Want to make a difference in the world, and focus your career on social impact? Mention that. This can include the grades you received, but also leadership positions you led, and clubs/groups you participated in.

3. Put “hard” skills

If you’re proficient in any tools, technologies, etc… you can include that in your resume summary. Don’t list 20 things. That’s what your “Skills” section is for. But pick the three or four things that are most relevant for the job you’re applying for.

Coming up in this article, we’re going to look at two resume summary examples for people with no experience. .. and in the second example, you’ll see how this would look.

4. Include soft skills

Are you great at analytical thinking? Do you love working as a part of a team? Are you great at multi-tasking and handling a fast-paced team environment? While these shouldn’t be the main focus of your resume summary section, they can be worth mentioning. It’s especially good to include soft skills that you see mentioned in the job description.

For example, if you see they mention wanting someone who’s great at multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment, and you feel that describes you well, then your resume summary is the perfect place to include this.

5. Put statements that will grab the employer’s interest and make them want to ask you questions!

If you mention leadership they’ll want to ask you more about your leadership experiences. That’s a good thing. Remember, whatever you put, they’ll probably ask you about. So as you write your summary for your resume, try to think about what you want them to discuss with you, and what you want a chance to talk about. And try to “tailor” your resume to fit the companies you’re applying to. If you’re applying to large corporations don’t start your summary by saying “Startup enthusiast”.

3 Resume Summary Example for Students, Fresh Graduates and Entry-Level Job Seekers:

In this section, I’m going to share three examples of how to write a summary for your resume with no experience. You can use these resume summary examples as a student, entry-level job seeker, or any job search where you don’t have experience:

Resume Summary with No Experience – Example #1: Economics Student

Enthusiastic, highly-motivated Economics student with proven leadership capabilities, who likes to take initiative and seek out new challenges.

In this example above, you’re showing that you completed your Economics degree and have an interest in the subject, and you’re mentioning leadership and making the reader want to learn more about this. You’re also making yourself sound ambitious and motivated at the end, which is always a good thing (I’m referring to the part that says “who likes to take initiative and seek out new challenges). Notice the format too. This is how I recommend phrasing it. Don’t say “I am a ___”. Just start with the descriptive words.

This is a simple yet effective resume summary example for students OR recent graduates.

Resume Summary with No Experience – Example #2: Fresh Graduate in Computer Science

Computer Science graduate passionate about data engineering and machine learning. Highly-capable leader, having led multiple Senior class projects to completion. Proficient in a range of modern technologies including Python, Java and Scala.

This is another good example of a student or fresh graduate resume summary that still shows your skills and academic focus, even if you have no formal work experience.  In this entry-level resume summary example, you’re highlighting accomplishments and leadership as a student and you’re also showing that you’re passionate about your work. Saying you’re passionate about data engineering is much better than just saying, “Looking for a job in data engineering.” They’ll know you’re looking for jobs because you applied. Taking up space to say it is a bad use of this area of your resume, and is why I never recommend having a resume “Objective” section. The summary exists instead of an “Objective” and is much better.

The example above also included some great programming keywords (Python, Java, Scala) to help get past any automated application systems and grab the hiring manager’s attention very quickly when they first look at your resume. If you work with any tools or technologies that have names like these, you can include it in your entry-level resume summary if you’d like. Other examples of tools/technologies: Photoshop, MS Excel, etc.

If you decide not to include these on your resume summary, make sure to include them elsewhere such as your Education or Skills section .

Resume Summary Example with No Experience #3: Math Student Graduating Soon

4th year mathematics student passionate about statistics and data analysis. Proven project leader. Active member of Boston University’s Mathematics Club. Speaker at 2018 “New York Young Mathematicians Conference.”

This resume summary example for students shows how you can list accomplishments even if you’ve never formally worked before. Did you participate in any clubs at school? Have you led any class projects? These are impressive pieces you can add to your resume summary with no experience formally working. 

How to Write a Resume Summary For Students/Fresh Graduates – Quick Recap

• Skip buzzwords like “hard-working” and put real academic accomplishments instead, like projects you produced and tasks you led
• Include what you’re interested in and passionate about to show them why you are applying for this position
• Mention hard skills like “Java Programming” or “Excel,”  especially if they’re listed on the job description
• Include soft skills as well like, “excellent at multi-tasking”, especially if you saw these keywords anywhere on the job description
• Include statements in your resume summary that will catch the employer’s interest and make them want to talk with you and ask you more. Remember – the entire goal of your resume is to get invited to interview. So if you did anything unique like giving presentations, working in an internship , participating in a school club, etc., you can include this in your entry-level resume summary.

If you follow the tips above, you’ll have a great entry-level resume summary that will stand out and catch a recruiter’s or hiring manager’s attention so you can get more interviews.

After you write your entry-level resume summary, here are two more articles that may be helpful when job searching with no experience:

• The best times of year to job search
• How to create a great elevator pitch for job hunting

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

More Resume Tips & Guides

Crafting the perfect resume for teens (template & expert advice), are resume writers worth it, don’t say you’re a quick learner on your resume, what do recruiters look for in a resume, chronological resume: the best format (and how to write it), the 3 best colors for a resume, career change resume: examples and tips from experts, what makes a good resume 9 ways to know, how long should a resume be, walk me through your resume: answer examples, 7 thoughts on “resume summary with no experience: examples for students and fresh graduates”.

This site was pretty helpful in guiding me throughout my school resume, would love other tips would do well.

This is a great guide. If only schools were actually interested in teaching children real life skills like this.

Hi, I am a student who has been finding it very difficult to make resumes due to the lack of working experience. I am currently trying to find a job while studying at the same time. I am in University completing a certificate and will soon be applying for a BA in Psychology and Criminolgy. However, I wish to apply for a part time job in the fashion industry. Can you please leave me some tips about what I can do to ensure that I can find a job without needing experience.

Your page has really helped, Thank you.

Hi, I’m a job seeker with 2 years experience working as a cart collector at grocery store and an Associate’s Degree in Computer Information Systems, is this a good professional summary?: “Reliable team member with a keen interest in information technology and other applications. Capable of handling multiple projects within deadlines. Eager to apply my professional and academic background as an Administrative Assistant at Bogdan Contracting.”

I’ve been job seeking since October 2018, I’m hoping I can start a career in tech support as soon as possible.

Hi Marcais,

I think it sounds pretty good. My least favorite part is the first word, though. “Reliable” sounds pretty average/boring. Sure, you show up, do your job, etc. That’s what I think when I hear “reliable”. But not much more.

I’d look for a better word to lead off with.

I would like to say thank you for making this article about writing a summary for a resume. For the past couple of months, I have been struggling to find someone who can help me with that because I don’t have a lot of experience in my field (i.e. engineering). I do have one question though. Is it appropriate to use first-person nouns in the summary section? I have seen people do that, but I find it quite odd.

Please let me know as soon as you can. Thank you.

Hi Frances,

I’d avoid saying, “I” if that’s what you’re asking.

Just say “Led team of 7 people to accomplish ___”

Just start without a pronoun.

Another example: “Highly-accomplished accounting professional who has ____”

Comments are closed.

ON THIS PAGE

Writing Summary for Resume with No Experience (+50 Examples)

It's very important to lead your resume with a strong summary statement to highlight your key skills, strengths, and career goals. In this guide, we will tell you some tips for creating a summary for a resume. Moreover, you can find 50 resume summary examples here that you can take into your resume.

Create my CV

It's hard for us to write a resume if we have no experience. It's very important to lead your resume with a strong summary statement to highlight your key skills, strengths and career goals.

So, how to write an effective summary for your resume with no experience? In this guide, we will tell you some tips for creating a summary for a resume. Moreover, you can find 50 resume summary examples here that you can take into your resume.

Key Takeaways for Resume Summary with No Experience

• The resume summary is crucial for job seekers with no experience as it highlights your relevant skills, achievements, and potential.
• Focus on transferable skills gained from academics, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, personal projects, etc.
• Highlight your education, coursework, and academic projects that demonstrate applicable knowledge and abilities.
• Convey your passion, motivation, and fit for the role/industry you are pursuing.
• Quantify accomplishments like GPA, leadership roles, and team projects where possible.
• Tailor the summary to the specific job requirements and use relevant keywords.
• The document provides 50 detailed examples of well-crafted resume summaries for varied fields.
• It also promotes TalenCat CV Maker as an easy tool to create professional resumes and leverage AI content generation, even with no prior experience.

Tips to Write a Resume with No Experience

Writing a resume when you have little or no professional experience can be challenging, but it's definitely possible to create an effective one. Here are some tips:

Lead with a strong summary statement

Begin your resume with a compelling summary that highlights your key skills, strengths, and career goals. Emphasize transferable skills you've gained from academic projects, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work.

Emphasize your education

Since you don't have extensive work experience, dedicate a prominent section to your educational background. Include your degree(s), major(s), minor(s), relevant coursework, academic achievements, and any honors or awards you've received.

Highlight relevant skills

Create a skills section that showcases the abilities you've developed through your education, personal projects, or hobbies. Include both hard skills (e.g., programming languages, software proficiency) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving).

Include extracurricular activities and volunteer experience

If you've been involved in clubs, organizations, or volunteer work, include these experiences on your resume. Describe your roles, responsibilities, and any notable achievements or projects you've worked on.

Consider adding coursework or academic projects

If you've completed relevant coursework or academic projects that demonstrate your knowledge and skills, include them on your resume. Describe the project, your role, and any significant outcomes or learnings.

Tailor your resume to the job

Carefully review the job description and tweak your resume to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position you're applying for.

Use a clean and professional format

Even without extensive experience, a well-formatted resume can make a positive impression. Choose a clear and easy-to-read layout, and ensure that your resume is free of errors.

Remember, the goal is to showcase your potential and highlight the skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the role. With careful crafting and a focus on your strengths, you can create an effective resume that will help you stand out to potential employers.

Summary for Resume with No Experience

When you have little or no professional work experience, the summary section of your resume becomes particularly important. This section serves as a powerful introduction that captures the reader's attention and highlights your relevant skills, qualities, and potential contributions.

Also Read This Article:

How to Write a Summary for a Resume with No Experience

To write an effective summary for a resume with no experience, basically, you should focus on your education. Because education is the main selling point that can highlight your commitment and follow-through. Also, many employers value recent graduates for their fresh perspectives and up-to-date knowledge of current theories and practices in their field.

By emphasizing education in the summary, a candidate with no experience can quickly show their qualifications and potential to employers, making up for their lack of work history.

In addition to education, you should also follow the following tips when writing a resume summary:

• Start with a strong opening statement: Craft a compelling opening line that captures your core strengths, qualifications, or career goals. For example, "Motivated and detail-oriented recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, seeking to leverage strong analytical and communication skills in an entry-level marketing role."
• Highlight relevant skills and achievements: Identify and emphasize the key skills, knowledge, and achievements that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. These could include technical skills, academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, or personal projects.
• Demonstrate your passion and motivation: Express your enthusiasm and motivation for the role or industry you're pursuing. Highlight your eagerness to learn, grow, and contribute to the organization's success.
• Quantify your accomplishments: If possible, include quantifiable achievements or metrics that demonstrate your abilities and potential impact. For example, "Achieved a 3.8 GPA while actively participating in the Marketing Club, leading a team of 5 to develop a successful campus awareness campaign."
• Tailor the summary: Customize the summary for each job application to align with the specific requirements and keywords used in the job description. This will increase the chances of your resume being selected by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and resonating with the hiring manager.

By crafting a compelling and well-tailored summary, you can effectively showcase your potential, transferable skills, and fit for the role, even with minimal professional experience. This can help you stand out and make a strong case for why you're the ideal candidate.

50 Summary for Resume Examples with No Experience

Here are 50 summary examples for a resume with no professional experience, each over 50 words in length:

• A highly motivated and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Equipped with strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills gained through academic projects and extracurricular activities. Seeking an entry-level position in the field of marketing to leverage my passion for consumer insights and strategic thinking.
• A dedicated and resourceful individual with a proven ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Skilled in time management, teamwork, and attention to detail. Eager to contribute to an organization that values personal growth and continuous learning. Open to opportunities across various industries to develop practical experience and build a rewarding career.
• A creative and results-driven recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, skilled in digital and print media design. Possess strong problem-solving abilities and a keen eye for detail. Seeking an opportunity to unleash my creativity and contribute to innovative design solutions as a Junior Graphic Designer.
• An enthusiastic and diligent individual with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Possessing strong programming skills in Java, Python, and C++, as well as experience in database management and web development. Committed to staying updated with emerging technologies and eager to apply my knowledge in a challenging and growth-oriented environment.
• A proactive and detail-oriented recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. Adept in financial analysis, data entry, and spreadsheet proficiency. Excellent communication and organizational skills, with a proven ability to meet deadlines. Seeking an entry-level position in the finance or accounting sector to contribute my expertise and grow professionally.
• A highly adaptable and quick learner with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management. Skilled in conflict resolution, employee relations, and training facilitation. Possessing strong interpersonal and multitasking abilities. Eager to join an organization that values diversity and employee development, where I can apply my knowledge and grow within the field.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science. Knowledgeable about sustainability practices, environmental regulations, and conservation efforts. Experienced in conducting field research, data analysis, and report writing. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to environmental preservation and promote eco-friendly initiatives.
• A motivated and tech-savvy recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology. Proficient in various programming languages, database management, and network administration. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a keen interest in cybersecurity. Eager to join a dynamic organization where I can apply my technical expertise and continue learning.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management. Skilled in inventory control, logistics coordination, and data analysis. Possess excellent time management and communication abilities. Seeking a challenging role in the supply chain or logistics sector to optimize processes and contribute to operational efficiency.
• A creative thinker and strategic planner with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. Skilled in market research, social media marketing, and data analysis. Possess strong written and verbal communication skills, with a passion for developing compelling campaigns. Eager to join a dynamic marketing team and contribute innovative ideas to drive brand growth.
• A highly motivated and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Skilled in computer-aided design (CAD), project management, and problem-solving. Possess strong analytical and critical thinking abilities. Seeking an entry-level position in the engineering industry to apply my technical knowledge and contribute to innovative solutions.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. Proficient in writing, editing, and research. Experienced in social media management and content creation. Possess strong communication and multitasking skills. Eager to join a media organization and contribute to compelling storytelling and journalism.
• A passionate and creative recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Interior Design. Skilled in space planning, color theory, and 3D rendering software. Possess a keen eye for aesthetics and a strong understanding of design principles. Seeking an opportunity to contribute my design expertise and create functional and visually appealing spaces.
• A detail-oriented and analytical individual with a Bachelor's degree in Finance. Proficient in financial modeling, risk analysis, and data interpretation. Skilled in Microsoft Excel and Bloomberg Terminal. Seeking an entry-level position in the financial services industry to apply my quantitative skills and contribute to investment strategies.
• A dedicated and resourceful individual with a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management. Skilled in customer service, event planning, and operations management. Possess strong interpersonal and problem-solving abilities. Eager to join a dynamic hospitality organization and contribute to delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• A highly motivated and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Skilled in research, data analysis, and report writing. Possess strong communication and active listening abilities. Seeking an opportunity to apply my knowledge and contribute to improving mental health and well-being.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design. Skilled in product design, prototyping, and user experience (UX) principles. Proficient in CAD software and 3D printing. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative and user-friendly products.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources. Skilled in employee relations, recruitment, and training facilitation. Possess strong communication and conflict resolution abilities. Eager to join an organization that values employee development and contribute to fostering a positive workplace culture.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations. Skilled in media relations, event planning, and social media management. Possess strong written and verbal communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to strategic communication efforts and enhance brand reputation.
• A motivated and results-driven recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Skilled in data analysis, market research, and financial modeling. Possess strong analytical and critical thinking abilities. Seeking an entry-level position in the financial or consulting sector to apply my knowledge and contribute to data-driven decision-making.
• A creative and detail-oriented individual with a Bachelor's degree in Advertising. Skilled in copywriting, visual design, and campaign development. Possess strong problem-solving and time management abilities. Eager to join an agency or marketing team and contribute to innovative and impactful advertising campaigns.
• A highly motivated and ambitious individual with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Skilled in project management, construction site operations, and computer-aided design (CAD). Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to infrastructure development and sustainable construction practices.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. Skilled in research, policy analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Possess strong critical thinking and writing abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to global affairs and promote understanding between nations.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Skilled in inventory control, transportation coordination, and data analysis. Possess strong time management and problem-solving abilities. Eager to join an organization and contribute to streamlining logistics operations.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship. Skilled in business planning, market analysis, and financial projections. Possess strong leadership and communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the development and growth of a startup or small business.
• A highly motivated and ambitious individual with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. Skilled in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific writing. Possess strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an entry-level position in the pharmaceutical or research industry to apply my scientific knowledge.
• A dedicated and resourceful individual with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Skilled in case management, counseling, and community outreach. Possess strong empathy, active listening, and communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to improving the lives of individuals and communities in need.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Skilled in programming languages such as Java, Python, and C++. Proficient in database management and web development. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge software solutions and expand my technical expertise.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. Skilled in financial reporting, auditing, and tax preparation. Proficient in accounting software and Microsoft Excel. Seeking an entry-level position in the accounting or finance sector to apply my analytical skills and contribute to accurate financial reporting.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature. Skilled in research, writing, and critical analysis. Possess strong communication and editing abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to content creation, copywriting, or editorial projects.
• A highly motivated and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. Skilled in market research, social media marketing, and data analysis. Possess strong creative thinking and presentation abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to innovative marketing strategies and brand promotion efforts.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management. Skilled in recruitment, employee relations, and training facilitation. Proficient in human resources information systems (HRIS). Seeking an opportunity to contribute to talent acquisition and employee development initiatives.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Skilled in meal planning, nutrition counseling, and community education. Possess strong communication and interpersonal abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to promoting healthy eating habits and improving overall well-being.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Multimedia Design. Skilled in graphic design, video editing, and web development. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and various multimedia software. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to engaging multimedia content creation and digital storytelling.
• A motivated and results-driven recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Business Analytics. Skilled in data mining, statistical modeling, and data visualization. Proficient in programming languages such as Python and R. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to data-driven decision-making and business intelligence initiatives.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Skilled in legal research, report writing, and investigative techniques. Possess strong analytical and critical thinking abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to law enforcement or legal compliance efforts.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering. Skilled in environmental impact assessment, waste management, and sustainability practices. Possess strong problem-solving and analytical abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development initiatives.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design. Skilled in pattern making, garment construction, and trend forecasting. Possess strong attention to detail and aesthetic sensibilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the design and development of stylish and innovative fashion collections.
• A highly motivated and ambitious individual with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Skilled in circuit design, programming, and project management. Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to innovative electrical systems and technology development.
• A dedicated and resourceful individual with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. Skilled in exercise physiology, fitness assessment, and injury prevention. Possess strong interpersonal and coaching abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to promoting physical activity and overall wellness.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Event Management. Skilled in event planning, vendor coordination, and project management. Possess strong communication and multitasking abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the successful execution of memorable and impactful events.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning. Skilled in community development, zoning regulations, and sustainable design principles. Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the creation of livable and environmentally conscious urban spaces.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Music Production. Skilled in audio engineering, music composition, and sound design. Proficient in digital audio workstations (DAWs) and recording software. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the creation of captivating musical experiences.
• A highly motivated and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems. Skilled in database management, network administration, and cybersecurity principles. Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the development and maintenance of robust information technology systems.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Library Science. Skilled in cataloging, reference services, and information literacy instruction. Possess strong research and communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge in a library or information management setting.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Game Design. Skilled in game mechanics, level design, and user experience (UX) principles. Proficient in game development engines and programming languages. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the creation of engaging and immersive gaming experiences.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology. Skilled in ethnographic research, data analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Possess strong critical thinking and writing abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to understanding diverse cultures and promoting cultural awareness.
• A motivated and results-driven recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management. Skilled in event planning, marketing, and financial analysis. Possess strong leadership and organizational abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the business operations and promotion of sports organizations.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies. Skilled in legal research, document preparation, and case management. Possess strong attention to detail and communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the efficient and effective functioning of a law firm or legal department.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Film and Television Production. Skilled in scriptwriting, directing, and video editing. Proficient in various film and video production software. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the creation of captivating visual stories and cinematic experiences.

Easily Build Your Resume with TalenCat CV Maker

Even if you have no experience, you can still build your resume with TalenCat CV Maker with ease. TalenCat CV Maker has an intuitive resume editor that allows you to create your CV by just filling in the content.

Within TalenCat CV Maker, there are a lot of resume templates available, and you can easily change your resume design to make it look better. Moreover, you can use its AI generator to build your new resume and generate professional content.

For a job seeker with no experience, TalenCat CV Maker can always be the best resume solution.

Step 1. Log in to TalenCat CV Maker, and click the " + Create Resume " button in the top right corner to create a new resume.

Step 2. Then you need to name this resume and click the " Create " or " Create with Example " button.

• Create: You can start your creation with a completely blank resume, you need to fill in everything for your resume.
• Create with Example: You can start resume creating with a ready-to-use resume, you can change any content if it doesn't match you.

Step 3. You will get into a reactive CV editor, you can fill in your detailed information, and any content you enter will be immediately displayed in the right panel to let you have an overview of your resume.

Once you get your resume creation or editing done, you can easily export it as a PDF file or picture.

Also, you can turn on the "online share" feature to get an online link of your resume, then you can easily share your resume with others using this link.

Writing a resume summary with no professional experience can be challenging, but it's an important opportunity to showcase your potential to employers. This article provides 50 detailed examples of resume summaries for various fields, demonstrating how to effectively highlight skills, education, and potential even without work experience.

It also recommends using tools like TalenCat CV Maker to simplify the resume creation process, especially for those new to job hunting. Remember, a well-crafted summary can compensate for your lack of experience by showcasing your unique qualities, skills, and enthusiasm. This can help you stand out to potential employers and make a strong first impression.

Keep reading

(With Examples) How to Write A DevOps Engineer Resume

In this article, you will learn what content you should include in your DevOps engineer resume and how to organize it to build a professional one. Also, you will get some proven examples of DevOps engineer resumes to help you easily get your resume-building started.

Researcher Resume Summary: Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the essential elements of a standout researcher resume, with a special focus on crafting the perfect resume summary.

(50+ Examples) How to Write An Electrician Resume Summary

So how do you write it when you are building a resume for an electrician job? This article will teach you how to write an effective electrician resume summary with 50+ examples.

Change Your Way Creating CV & Resume

Craft A Standout CV with No Work Experience: Examples & Tips

9 minutes to read

• 01. How to Write A CV With No Experience
• 02. CV Examples For Students With No Experience
• 03. CV Format without Experience: What to Include
• 04. References
• 05. CV Format and Layout
• 06. Tailoring Your CV to the Job
• 07. Proofread and Edit

Looking for jobs with no qualifications? This article will help you learn how to write a CV without experience. It is still possible to get a role without some experience – you have to start somewhere, right? Many employers will be willing to consider people without qualifications if they can prove their work ethic and skills.

It can be tricky writing a CV when you don’t have any professional work experience to include. There are several sections you can focus on instead to help you stand out and land your first job.

Highlight relevant skills and use examples like CV work experience, no qualification jobs, and no experience CV. Discover tips for writing a CV with no experience, including CV examples for students in the UK. Creating a compelling document highlighting your skills, education, and other relevant experiences is still possible, as we explore.

How to Write A CV With No Experience

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you to create a top CV. Remember these tips when you are looking to create a CV with no experience.

• Start with a solid personal statement or objective: Begin your CV with a summary of your career goals, skills, and what you hope to achieve. Highlight your enthusiasm, motivation, and willingness to learn.
• Emphasise your education: Since you lack work experience, focus on your educational background. Include the institution's name, degree or qualification earned, dates of study, and any relevant coursework or projects. Highlight any achievements or honours you received.
• Showcase relevant skills: Identify and highlight skills applicable to your target job or industry. These can be soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving) or technical skills (e.g., proficiency in specific software or programming languages). Provide examples of using these skills in your education or other activities.
• Highlight extracurricular activities: Include any extracurricular activities, clubs, or organizations you were involved in during your education. Focus on leadership roles, teamwork experiences, or projects demonstrating your skills and abilities.
• Volunteer or internship experience: If you have volunteered or completed any internships, include them in a separate section. Highlight the tasks you performed, skills you gained, and any accomplishments during these experiences.
• Include relevant coursework: If you've taken any courses relevant to the job you're applying for, list them separately. Mention specific projects or assignments that showcase your skills and knowledge in those areas.
• Highlight personal projects: If you've undertaken any personal projects, such as building a website, creating artwork, or developing an app, include them in a dedicated section. Briefly describe the project, your role, and any outcomes or achievements.

• Showcase certifications and training: If you have obtained any certifications or completed training programs, list them along with the issuing institution, dates, and any notable achievements.
• Tailor your CV to the job: Analyse the job description and identify the skills and qualities the employer seeks. Customise your CV by aligning your qualifications and experiences with those requirements.
• Format and layout: Keep the CV clean, well-organised, and easily read. Use clear headings, bullet points, and a professional font. Keep the document concise, ideally within one or two pages.
• Proofread and edit: Before finishing your CV, thoroughly proofread it to correct any spelling or grammatical errors. Make sure the information is accurate and up to date.
• Use a CV template or sample: To get started, search for CV templates or samples online designed for individuals with limited work experience. These templates can provide a structure and guide you through the process

CV Examples For Students With No Experience

Remember, even without work experience, you can still highlight your skills , education , and other rele vant experiences to showcase your potential to prospective employers.

Find part-time , easy jobs near you that don't require a CV. Overcome the lack of experience by showcasing previous skills and work experience in your CV. Explore opportunities like unqualified teaching assistant jobs or unqualified nursery assistant jobs.

Here are a couple of examples of student CVs that you can take as inspiration for layout, format, and elements to include:

University Student CV Example

Sixth Form Student CV Example

CV Format without Experience: What to Include

Now that you've seen several sample CVs, let's look in detail at how to format your CV and what to include. Firstly, you should work out the structure from a practical standpoint. Where is information included?

Usually, you should include contact details at the top , underneath your name. Then, the personal statement, work experience if you have it to offer, and other aspects like education, personal skills, and possibly references.

In terms of the actual information to include, and the sections of the CV, we recommend considering the following. Most people use the following structure when creating a CV for a role if they don't have relevant work experience to put at the top of the CV:

Personal Statement CV

The first section of any CV should be a personal statement tailored to the role you’re applying for. Suppose you’re applying for a job as a receptionist. In that case, your personal statement should be completely different to if you were applying for a role as a sales assistant in your local supermarket. Ensure you edit this section each time before sending your CV out.

With a personal statement, you want to answer any introduction questions a recruiter may have: Who are you? What do you offer to our company? What are you aiming for in your career?

Here are some do's and don'ts to remember while writing a personal statement.

As the job you’re applying for will be your first or one of your first, focus on your skill set rather than your limited work history. Showcase what you know and what you can bring to the company , especially modern skills that young people may more commonly possess.

Try to go into detail as much as possible when listing relevant skills. For example, if you list IT skills, name the programs you’re good at.

As well as specific qualifications and hard skills, it’s also good to include soft skills such as confidence in public speaking, a positive attitude and time-keeping skills. Giving examples of times when you’ve used these skills can help back up the points you’re trying to get across.

You should include all your education achievements from GCSEs onwards . Giving an overview of the subjects you took and your grades is a good idea.

Employers respect high grades and hard work.

If you’re still awaiting the results, including the mock exams you’ve sat or your expected results . Make sure you list your results in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent events at the top of the section.

Image by Rubén Rodriguez

Hobbies & Interests

On CVs, a hobbies section is always optional. However, if you haven’t any work experience to include, then listing your hobbies and interests can be a great way to get your skills and personality across.

Make sure any hobbies you list are not too generic. Hanging with friends or watching Netflix isn’t going to impress the recruiter. Completing a sailing course or becoming a black belt in karate shows you have the determination and a get-up-and-go attitude and a level of dedication.

A good question to ask yourself when writing this section is: "Will adding this information help me get the job? "

Employment History

We're exploring the top tips when making a resume for students with no experienc e, so, if you have no employment experience, you can always skip this section.

However, if you’ve done some work experience at school or participated in a volunteering project , this can also be included, even if it was only for a few days. It shows that you have a willingness to work and some experience at least. Here are some examples of things you could add to this section with minimal work experience:

• tutoring experience
• internships
• working in schools or as a teaching assistant
• volunteer experience
• student ambassador
• student council member
• peer mentor
• event organiser
• work experience placement/experience days
• library assistant
• sports team captain or coach

Once you've done a brainstorm on all the different types of relevant experience you could add to your CV, check out this helpful podcast for useful tips for writing a CV from scratch:

If you have no work experience, your school teacher or a family friend is an excellent reference option. Some employers will ask for references directly in the job advert. However, if this isn’t specified, then it’s perfectly fine to state that they are available upon request.

CV Format and Layout

A well-organised and visually appealing CV can leave a positive impression on employers. Consider the following formatting tips:

• Use clear and concise headings for each section (e.g., "Education," "Skills," "Volunteer Experience," etc.).
• Use bullet points to list your achievements, responsibilities, and skills. This makes it easier to read and scan.
• Choose a professional font that is professional and easy to read, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Maintain consistency in formatting, spacing, and indentation throughout the CV.
• Keep the document clean and uncluttered . Avoid excessive use of fancy fonts, colours, or graphics unless you're applying for a creative field where visual elements are expected.

Tailoring Your CV to the Job

To make your CV stand out, it's important to customise it for each job you apply to. Carefully review the job description and identify the key skills, qualifications, and experiences the employer seeks. Then, highlight the relevant skills and experiences that align with those requirements. Use similar language and keywords from the job description to make it easier for employers to recognise your suitability for the role.

If you still have trouble creating a personal statement for CV with no experience, look at this list of 5 questions you must ask when writing your personal statement.

Proofread and Edit

Before submitting your CV, proofread and edit it for any errors or inconsistencies. Here are some steps you can follow:

• Read the entire CV, focusing on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Pay attention to details such as verb tenses and subject-verb agreement.
• Use grammar and spell-checking tools to catch any obvious mistakes.
• Review the content for clarity and coherence. Ensure that the information is presented in a logical and easy-to-follow manner.
• Consider also asking a friend, family member, or mentor to review your CV. Fresh eyes can often catch errors or provide valuable feedback.

Our how to write a cv with no qualifications examples should help you to provide something that still looks professional.

By tailoring your CV to a specific job, paying attention to formatting and layout, and thoroughly proofreading it, you can increase your chances of making a positive impression on potential employers. Remember to showcase your enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and any transferable skills you possess, as these qualities can make up for the lack of work experience.

Get started on your journey today and improve your CV, even without a history in the workplace.

Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!

Ben Jacklin

Ben is a writer from the UK with a passion for all things relating to learning and tuition, especially music, arts, entertainment, and sports.

Frequently asked questions

📃 what to include on a cv without work experience.

If you have no experience in a workplace, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great CV! Include your education, as well as other personal achievements and things you are involved in within the community, such as clubs you are involved in. Any positions of responsibility you’ve held can be useful, too.

🕵🏻‍♂️ Where to find CV examples for students with no experience

Fortunately, we have provided an example above, or there are plenty of others available out there for people who want to see what others have done. If your school has a careers department, you can also ask them, they may have CV examples for students.

Cancel reply

Your comment

Current ye@r *

Leave this field empty

You might also be interested in these articles

Starting University Guide for Freshers 2024-2025

How to Prepare for University in the UK More people than ever are going to university these days and in recent times, for those who haven’t decided to go into a trade or start working earlier on their journey, the university experience has become a staple of many young adults' formative experience.  For extroverts and […]

1 July 2024 ∙ 8 minutes to read

A Look At The Best Secondary Schools In London

What Are The Best State Schools In London? The UK has earned a reputation as one of the best destinations for pursuing an education. It is home to some of the world’s most prestigious third-level institutions, so it is no wonder that such an emphasis has been placed on the quality of secondary school education […]

21 June 2024 ∙ 9 minutes to read

I Have No GCSEs – What Can I Do?

Can I Go To Uni Without GCSEs? Here Are Your Options While the importance of exams, particularly GCSEs and A-levels, is drilled into you from a young age, doing well in them isn’t easy. From parental or peer pressure to a lack of self-discipline when it comes to putting in the hours studying, there are […]

4 June 2024 ∙ 10 minutes to read

The Ultimate Guide to A-Levels 2024

Everything You Need To Know About the A-Levels 2024 We are now just weeks away from Exam Season. Across the United Kingdom, students are spending practically every evening and most of their weekends on revision. The more things change, the more they stay the same. French proverb A-Level exams 2024 reflects that sentiment. In many […]

29 April 2024 ∙ 6 minutes to read

The Complete Guide to the GCSE Exams 2024

The GCSE Exams 2024: The Complete Guide GCSE’s are very important! Most employers require you to have passed them in at least mathematics and English, and lots of careers will require much more than this! In the case of most students, they will be the most serious and challenging exams you will have sat thus […]

22 April 2024 ∙ 8 minutes to read

Key Updates to GCSE Exam Conditions 2024 & GCSE Revision Timetable

We understand that many students education will have been impacted by the disruption caused by the pandemic and for many students 2022 will be the first time approaching formal exams and assessments.

Exploring Your GCSE Options: A Guide to GCSE Subjects

What are the GCSE options? In this article, we’ll be exploring the GCSE qualifications subjects in depth with the goal of shedding some light on the different choices available to learners, along with their similarities, differences, and the possibilities that they might open up. Accordingly, this article is aimed at young students who are either […]

23 October 2023 ∙ 7 minutes to read

What Parents Should Say to Their Kids Upon Exam Failure

Knowing What to Say – What Parents Should Say When Their Kids Fail Exams Oh, dear. You’ve supported your child as best you can through their exams. Now, after a couple of months of uncertainty, it’s time for the results. It’s human nature to hope for – even fantasise about winning or just standing out […]

28 April 2023 ∙ 10 minutes to read

How to support a friend through exam failure

How to Help a Friend Who Has Failed Their Exams We all know it, it’s an undeniable truth. There’s a considerable amount of pressure on students to perform well in academic examinations and get top marks every time. The pressure to achieve the best marks comes mainly from concerns surrounding university admission requirements. And the difference […]

28 March 2023 ∙ 7 minutes to read

How to write a personal statement when you have no work experience

Your personal statement is a key part of your UCAS application when you apply to university – this is your chance to show the admissions tutor who you are, what you’re interested in and why you deserve a place on the course you’re applying for. You’ve probably already researched how to write a personal statement and you know you need to include your skills, achievements and interests and demonstrate that you have the qualities that the admissions tutor is looking for. You’ll also know that admissions tutors like to hear about the work experience you’ve already gained, particularly for courses like Medicine, Nursing and Teacher Training. But what if you haven’t had the opportunity to gain any work experience?

Here at the University of Sunderland, we know it’s not always possible to gain the necessary experience before applying to university. Read on to hear our tips for how to write a personal statement when you have no work experience:

1. Demonstrate your passion, motivation and understanding of the course/role you are applying for

One thing to remember is that the admissions tutor isn’t expecting you to be an expert on the subject – after all, you’re applying to university so you can learn more and train for the role you want after you graduate. But what they will be expecting to hear from you is a sincere explanation for why you want to pursue the career path you’re on. Some people are driven by a vocation while others may experience life events that trigger their interest. It may simply be that you enjoy particular subjects at school and can see yourself working in a related sector. Whatever your motivation, make sure you demonstrate your understanding of the role as well as your enthusiasm.

Our Teacher Training team says, “Training to become a teacher allows you to understand how children or young people learn and develop. Your personal statement should clearly show your passion to make a positive change in a child's life. Work experience within a school is not an essential requirement when applying, however, for you to be able to make a decision on which sector you wish to teach in, we would recommend visiting or shadowing both primary and secondary sectors. There isn't one thing that we are looking for in your application; it's a mixture of passion and willingness to be the best teacher you can be after you graduate. Show us that you have been pro-active and researched the sector, as this will show your enthusiasm to learn and develop.”

Your personal statement should evidence a clear understanding of the course and show an informed choice of course and career. If the course you're applying for is vocational, demonstrate an insight of the opportunities and the demands and challenges of entering your chosen profession and a realistic insight into how you may develop.

One extra tip here – if you’re applying for two different courses/roles, consider writing a second personal statement and sending it to the admissions department at the university you are applying to. Make sure to include your UCAS application number and your full name so that the team can match your second personal statement to your application.

2. Reach out to practising staff or students 

An alternative to work experience is to reach out to staff and current students working in and studying your chosen profession. Remember, you will be spending several years at university, particularly if you are planning to study a course such as medicine, so you want to be sure that this is the right path for you. Staff and students are often keen to share their advice and support and can give you real insight into a profession. They can share with you the current challenges of the sector, the realities of the role and answer any questions you may have. Forums such as The Student Room are great for connecting with current and prospective students. You could also sign up to university Open Days , where staff and students are available to chat to.

By reaching out to practising staff, you may also find that you make connections with people who have their own private practice and may be in a better position to offer work experience.

3. Keep up to date with current affairs 

If the course you're applying for requires an interview as part of its entry requirements, it's likely you will be asked questions about current affairs in that sector, so it may be worth including some of your research in your personal statement (remembering that you only get 4,000 characters!). Consider researching topics such as the key challenges being faced in the sector, how the profession you are applying for has changed and adapted over time, and policy and guideline updates. Draw inspiration from news stories and research the relevant professional body as they will often keep their websites up to date with the latest information.

If you find a way to link the course you are applying for to current affairs, discuss what you have found interesting about that topic and explain how it has inspired your career choice. By doing this, you will be demonstrating your critical thinking, a key skill you will develop at university and will be useful to you upon graduation as it is highly valued by employers.

4. Do some further reading 

A simple way to gain more insight into the course/role you are applying for is to do some further reading around the subject, which will help you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding when you come to write your personal statement. This will show admissions tutors that you're well informed and passionate about learning more about the subject, which is a sign you will be a good student.

Your reading can include textbooks, newspaper websites, professional body websites, relevant forums and even subject-related content on social media. Podcasts are becoming an increasingly popular medium for sharing and consuming information in an easy-to-digest format and could inform your further reading. Try to find ones where the host or guest is an expert in the field you are applying for – many podcast platforms will bring up a list of relevant podcast episodes if you search for a certain name.

Consider getting in touch with the university you are applying for and ask for some recommended reading, or speak to your teachers and careers advisors who should be able to direct you.

If you need further advice or support with your personal statement, get in touch to arrange a 1-2-1 meeting with a member of our friendly and knowledgeable student recruitment team? Email us at [email protected]  

Published 11 December 2023

Published: 11 December 2023

Top tips for writing your personal statement

Don’t worry, writing your personal statement isn’t as difficult as it might seem when you’re staring at an empty Word document. Here are some top tips on how to write the perfect personal statement.

What is a key worker profession?

The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, from the way we view hygiene practices, to our (even stronger) reliance on technology to communicate, to the way we’ve come to appreciate the smaller joys in life. It has also changed the way we view some professions - the key workers.

• Virtual Open Day
• Subject areas and courses
• Student Stories

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Applying to graduate school
• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

College essays

• College essay examples
• College essay format
• College essay style
• College essay length
• Diversity essays
• Scholarship essays

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Avoiding repetition
• Literature review
• Conceptual framework
• Dissertation outline
• Thesis acknowledgements
• Burned or burnt
• Canceled or cancelled
• Dreamt or dreamed
• Gray or grey
• Theater vs theatre

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, July 03). How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/graduate-school/personal-statement/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to write a graduate school resume | template & example, how (and who) to ask for a letter of recommendation, master's vs phd | a complete guide to the differences, get unlimited documents corrected.

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

How to Write a Resume with No Experience [21+ Examples]

It’s time for your first job hunt !

You need to write a resume , which can be nerve-wracking if you don’t have any real-life work experience.  

You don’t know where to start, what to include, or which resume format to choose.

On top of that, most advice you find online isn’t relevant because it focuses on emphasizing professional background.

Chances are, you’re straight out of college with no experience to speak of. 

Or maybe you're a high-school student applying for a part-time job.

Whichever the case may be, you’re probably having trouble filling in the blank space on your resume that’s supposed to be the work experience section.

Worry not, though. In this guide, we’re going to help you create an AMAZING resume, no work experience is needed.

• How to format your resume with no work experience
• 4 sections to replace work experience (that help you stand out)
• 2 no-work experience resume samples (guaranteed to land you the job)

How to Format Your Resume [with No Work Experience + Examples] 

A resume format is the layout of your resume .

The ideal resume format usually depends on how much work experience you have. 

But what happens when you have none?

For a no-experience resume, we recommend that you use the reverse-chronological format . 

It’s the most popular format amongst applicants and a recruiter favorite.  

The sections in your reverse-chronological resume will be: 

• Header : Contact Information and Resume Statement
• Internships, extracurricular activities, projects, volunteer work  (These sections will replace your work experience)

In this article, we’ll walk you through each of these sections, and explain how to write them in a way that you stand out from the crowd.

Let’s dive in.

Start With Your Resume Header

Your resume header includes your contact information and your resume statement.  

Below, we’ll show you how to write both of these elements and how to include them in your header section.

Put Down Your Contact Information

Just like the name suggests, the first thing you add to your header is your personal and contact information.

It’s the easiest part to get right, just keep it short and to the point.

In your contact information section, mention the following:

• First and Last Name
• Phone Number
• E-mail Address
• A link to a professional profile (e.g. LinkedIn ) or personal webpage (if you have one)

Make sure to use a professional-sounding E-mail.

I.e. something along the lines of “[email protected].” 

You’re sure to leave a wrong impression if you use an email you created back in preschool ( “[email protected]” ).

Make sure to double-check, triple-check your contact information. After all, the recruiter can’t contact you if you have a typo in your phone number.

(Optional) Write Your Resume Objective

A resume objective is a short heading statement in your resume, where you describe your professional goals and aspirations.

Fun fact - hiring managers look at your resume for 5-6 seconds max .

Yep, that’s right. In most cases, the hiring manager is literally drowning in resumes. So, they have a couple of seconds to skim each one.

Well, this section is your chance to catch their attention (and let them know you’ve got what it takes).

A resume objective is usually 3-4 sentences max and includes information on:

• What your field of study is;
• What your skills and experiences are (ones that are relevant to the job );
• Why you’re applying for this position and/or this company.

As with contact information, you don’t need to label your resume objective with a title. Just write it underneath your contact information section.

Here’s an example of what a resume objective looks like:

“ Recent Communications graduate looking to apply for the role of Secretary at XYZ inc. Extremely organized with good writing and multitasking skills. Practical experience in management gained through several university projects, which involved coordinating tasks between different team members and ensuring that everyone was in sync with the latest information. ”

Emphasize Your Education

In your average resume, the first section would be work experience.

Since you don’t have any, though, you’ll want to omit that and replace it with the education section.

This way, you bring a lot more attention to your education, which is one of your main selling points. 

What should you include in the Education section? 

List the following features in this order:

• Name of the degree
• Name of the institution
• Years attended
• Location of the institution (optional)
• GPA (optional)
• Honors (optional)
• Relevant coursework (optional)
• Exchange programs (optional) 

As a general rule, if you studied in a prestigious university, you can add the name of the institution before the degree . This way, you will catch the recruiter’s attention faster.

Now, let’s go through some real-life examples:

BA in Computer Science

Tufts University

Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts

10/2015 - 06/2018

Magna Cum Laude

• Exchange Program in Greenville, NY

University of the Arts London

BA in Interior Design 

10/2017 - Ongoing

Westwood High

Boston, Massachusetts

Class of 2018 

Education Section Q&A

Still have some questions about the education section? Worry not, we’re about to give you all the answers!

Do I include my GPA?

• The answer here is a “maybe.” We’d recommend including a GPA if it’s higher than 3.5. Anything lower than that, and you might be underselling yourself. Keep in mind, though, that most employers don’t care about your grades.

Should I include my coursework?

• Yep, but just as long as it’s relevant. If you have no work experience, including courses can help establish your expertise in a field. Feel free to skip out on any basic courses, though. No one cares about your Maths 101 course.

Do I mention my degree if I dropped out?

• If you studied for more than 2-3 years, yes. A half-finished degree is still better than no degree. If you dropped out after a semester, though, that doesn’t really mean much.

Do I mention my high school degree?

• Only if it’s your only degree. If you have any higher education, your high school degree will only take up space.

4 Sections to Replace Work Experience [With Examples]

Now that you’ve listed your education, it’s time to fill that work experience gap in your resume.

You aren’t still worried about your lack of experience, right?

Because here are four sections you can use instead:

1) Internships

Have you done an internship that is relevant to the position you are applying for?

Now’s the time to mention it. 

Here is how you add an internship to your resume:

First , place the Internship section right after the education section. 

Title it: Internships

Second , write your internship title and role . Be specific.

If your internship was in the marketing department, instead of just “Intern”, say “Marketing Intern”. 

Third , put down the company name , location , and duration of the internship - in that order.

Marketing Intern

Full Picture

New York, NY

09/2019 - 12/2019

Easy and straightforward, right?

One more step:

Last , add a list of responsibilities you had as an intern in bullet point form. 

If you have any tangible achievements , even better! Write those in as well.

Finally, tailor both the responsibilities and achievements to the role you’re applying for.

Here’s how that looks in practice:

You used to be an Advertising Intern .

You’re applying for the position of Social Media Assistant . 

Here’s how you would put down your internship entry:

Internships

Full Picture Company

• Analyzed various social media platforms for trending content
• Managed company social media accounts
• Posted interested content on company Facebook page, increasing engagement by 25%

The listed responsibilities and achievements are directly connected to the Social Media Assistant job requirements.

You’re applying for a Content Writer position. Take a look at the same entry now:

• Assisted the Marketing Manager in writing press releases and new blog posts , which increased web traffic by 25%.

Notice how the internship title remains the same. 

But in this case you’re applying for a Content Writer position, so you are highlighting your writing experience instead.

For more examples, check out our full guides to an internship resume and how to write a cover letter for an internship .

2) Extracurricular activities

Still have a ton of empty space in your resume?

Extracurricular activities are always a great addition!

Whether they’re related to the job you’re applying for or not, they still show one thing:

You’re hard-working and motivated.

Imagine you’re the HR manager, and you can pick between these 2 candidates:

• Josh Johnson. Studied at Massachusetts State. 4.0 GPA, but that’s all he did in college - no extracurricular activities, internships, or anything else.
• Suzie Activeson. Also studied at Massachusetts state. 3.2 GPA. Vice-president of the business club. Served as a student government senator for 2 semesters. Organized several events as part of the marketing club.

Sure, Josh is probably qualified, but we don't know anything about him, other than that he studied a lot.

Suzie, on the other hand, can manage a team (business club VP), organize events (marketing club), and is passionate about making a change (student government).

So, which one would you pick?

Now, let’s explain how to list extracurricular activities on your resume:

• Title of the section: Extracurricular Activities
• Name of the organization and/or team 
• Your role in the organization
• Time period
• Noteworthy awards or achievements

Extracurricular Activities

Public Speaking Club

Vice-President

09/2018 - 09/2019

• Organized 10+ public speaking lectures
• Brought in speakers from all over the state
• Conducted public speaking workshops

3) Volunteering Experience

Volunteering shows dedication and passion to apply yourself. 

And there’s nothing recruiters love more than a committed employee.  

Whether you spend your free time in a soup kitchen, or you helped collect trash in the countryside, you can mention it in your resume!

But how do you list volunteering experience?

Well, it follows the same logic as your internship and extracurriculars:

• Title of the section: Volunteering Experience
• Name of the organization
• Relevant tasks and achievements (bullet points)

Volunteering Experience

Grand Archive Library Volunteer

Washington, D.C

08/2017 - 02/2019

• Performed secretarial activities, such as sorting mail, filing documents, answering phone calls, and taking messages. 
• Led a poetry reading event twice a month. 

4) Projects

In this section, you can add any relevant projects you were part of during your time in school or at an internship.

Your capstone project, graduation thesis, or research project go here. 

No need for work experience!

You can also mention any other type of project you’ve worked on in school, including:

• Business project for a real-life client
• Mock website you created in Web Design 101
• Fake magazine you created as a capstone project
• Market research you did as part of your graduation thesis
• Software you developed in Software Engineering class

...And so on!

Here’s how you put them down:

• Title of the section: Projects
• Project name
• Project type
• Related organization 
• Relevant responsibilities and achievements (optional)

And now, for some practical examples. Here’s what a journalism student project could look like:

Online Privacy and Social Media: a Journalistic Study of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica

Journalism Capstone Project

Harvard University

09/2018 - 11/2018

And here’s a law school example:

In-House Pro Bono Project

Columbia Law School

11/2018 - 03/2019

• Completed a full petition for U nonimmigrant status, interviewed legal persons and drafted affidavits.

If you have anything physical to back up your project with, feel free to include a link.

For example, if you’re a developer, you could include a link to your GitHub profile.

Stand out with your Skills 

There are two types of skills you can include on your no-experience resume: 

Soft skills and hard skills. 

What’s the difference? 

Soft skills are attributes or habits that describe how you work. They are not specific to a job, but indirectly help you adapt to the work environment. 

Here are some of the most popular ones: teamwork, responsibility, leadership, creativity, etc.  

Hard skills , on the other hand, refer to specific tools, technical knowledge and training and other work-specific skills. They apply directly to the job. 

Technical writing, C++, financial accounting, etc. are all examples of hard skills.

So, which of these skills should you include? 

That depends on a lot of factors, but as someone with no work experience, you should opt more for hard skills .

See, you could write all the cool buzzwords like “Critical Thinking” and “Leadership,” but the recruiter won’t believe you.

Fun fact - that’s what 90% of students do.

Instead, you should focus on skills that make you stand out , and in most cases, those are hard skills.

So, how do you decide which hard skills to mention? Easy! Just check the job ad you’re applying for.

Let’s say you’re applying for an entry-level creative internship, and you find these requirements in the job description: 

• Video editing experience (Premiere, After Effects)
• UI design experience
• Photo editing experience (Photoshop)
• Photography experience
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator

You’d transfer this into your skills section:

• Premiere & After Effects - Expert
• Photoshop - Expert
• UI Design - Intermediate
• Adobe Illustrator - Intermediate
• Photography - Intermediate

Not sure which skills to mention? Check out our article on 150+ must-have skills for all sorts of professions !

Other Sections You Could Include in a No-Experience Resume

A resume without experience does have one advantage: extra space . 

You can use this space to create other sections that highlight how awesome you are!

Here are some sections you could include:

• Hobbies and Interests . Add flair to your resume by showing your genuine passion and interest in the industry.
• Languages. Do you know a second language? Or even a third? Awesome! Most companies these days are pretty international and appreciate an extra language skill or two. Be mindful not to over-exaggerate your proficiency, though. Only knowing how to ask “¿Donde está la biblioteca?” doesn’t warrant a Spanish entry on your resume.
• Awards & Certifications . Do you have any fancy pieces of paper that show you’re smart? Maybe it’s an award for a terrific essay in a competition, or a certificate from an online course . Whichever the case may be, awards and certifications show that you’re a winner, so definitely include them in their own respective section.

Need Inspiration? 2 No Work Experience Resume Samples

Do you still have questions or don’t know where to begin?

That’s when a resume sample comes in handy. 

It provides you with a predetermined format.

It also helps you picture how your no-experience resume is supposed to look like. 

As Picasso put it: Good artists copy; great artists steal! 

Here are 2 no work experience resume samples you can borrow ideas from:

Business Student Resume Sample

High-school Student Resume Sample

Create a Matching Cover Letter

All done with your resume?

It’s not over yet. You need to write a cover letter to go with it.

A cover letter is a single-page letter that accompanies your resume and is part of your job application.

Look at it this way: your resume describes your experiences, and your cover letter explains (in simple words) how they’re relevant to the job.

Now, here’s a quick infographic on what to include in a cover letter:

Finally, as with everything else in your resume, make sure to keep your cover letter relevant, short, and concise.

The hiring manager doesn’t have time to read an autobiography, they’ll only review your cover letter for a few minutes. 

There’s a lot more to creating a good cover letter than what we just explained.

For a complete, all-you-need-to-know walk-through, check out our Complete Guide on How to Write a Cover Letter !

Key Takeaways

...and that’s a wrap!

At this point, you should know everything there is to know about writing a killer no-experience resume.

Just to keep things fresh, though, let’s quickly go through everything we’ve learned so far:

• When creating your no-experience resume, use the reverse-chronological format.
• You can create a killer no-experience resume by emphasizing your education instead. Include relevant internships, soft & hard skills, and projects.
• Other sections you can include on your resume are hobbies & interests, languages, certifications, or achievements.
• Keep all the content on your resume clear, precise, and relevant. Use bullet points for all your descriptions.
• After you’re done with your resume, you want to write an awesome cover letter that goes with it. The cover letter is a one-page letter that tells the story behind your resume content and reemphasizes why you’re a great fit for the job.

Related Resume Examples

• Internship Resume
• High School Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• College Resume
• Students and Graduates Resume
• Teacher Resume

Recommended Readings:

• 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job in 2024
• 20+ One-Page Resume Templates [Free Download]
• 35+ Common Interview Questions and Answers [Complete List]

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

Retail Job with no Experience CV example

Are you looking for a job in retail but worried your lack of experience is holding you back? Well, with a carefully crafted CV, you can still secure yourself that interview.

But if you’re not sure where to start, that’s OK too! We can help.

In this guide, we’ll teach you how to sell your skills like they were products with our writing guide and retail job CV example for those with no experience.

CV templates 

Retail Job No Experience CV example

This is a good example of a Retail CV without experience which contains all of the information that a hiring manager will need to be impressed, and presents it in a well- structured, easy-to-read format.

Take some time to study and understand this CV, and refer to it throughout the writing of your own CV for best results.

Build your CV now 

Retail Job No Experience CV structure & formatting

The format and structure of your CV is important because it will determine how easy it is for recruiters and employers to read your CV.

If they can find the information they need quickly, they’ll be happy; but if they struggle, your application could be overlooked.

A simple and logical structure will always create a better reading experience than a complex structure, and with a few simple formatting tricks, you’ll be good to go.

How to format your CV

• Length: Whether you’ve got one year or three decades of experience, your CV should never be more than two sides of A4. Recruiters are busy people who’re often juggling numerous roles and tasks, so they don’t have time to read lengthy applications. If you’re a recent graduate or don’t have much industry experience, one side of A4 is fine.
• Readability : To help busy recruiters scan through your CV, make sure your section headings stand out – bold or coloured text works well. Additionally, try to use bullet points wherever you can, as they’re far easier to skim through than huge paragraphs. Lastly, don’t be afraid of white space on your CV – a little breathing space is great for readability.
• CV design: Don’t waste time adding fancy designs to your CV. It generally adds no value to your application and may even end up distracting recruiters away from the important written content.
• Photographs: Profile photos or aren’t a requirement for most industries, so you don’t need to add one in the UK – but if you do, just make sure it looks professional

Quick tip: Creating a professional CV style can be difficult and time-consuming when using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. To create a winning CV quickly, try our quick-and-easy CV Builder and use one of their eye-catching professional CV templates.

CV structure

As you write your CV , work to the simple but effective structure below:

• Name and contact details – Pop them at the top of your CV, so it’s easy for recruiters to contact you.
• CV profile – Write a snappy overview of what makes you a good fit for the role; discussing your key experience, skills and accomplishments.
• Core skills section – Add a short but snappy list of your relevant skills and knowledge.
• Work experience – A list of your relevant work experience, starting with your current role.
• Education – A summary of your relevant qualifications and professional/vocational training.
• Hobbies and interests – An optional sections, which you could use to write a short description of any relevant hobbies or interests.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what you should include in each section of your CV.

CV Contact Details

Tuck your contact details into the corner of your CV, so that they don’t take up too much space. Stick to the basic details, such as:

• Mobile number
• Email address – It should sound professional, such as your full name.
• Location -Just write your rough location, rather than your full address.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL – If you include these, ensure they’re sleek, professional and up-to-date.

Retail Job No Experience CV Profile

Your CV profile is basically a short introductory paragraph, which summarises your key selling points and highlights why you’d make a good hire.

So, write a well-rounded summary of what you do, what your key skills are, and what relevant experience you have.

It needs to be short, snappy and punchy and, ultimately, entice the reader to read the rest of your CV.

CV profile writing tips:

• Make it short and sharp: Recruiters have piles of CVs to read through and limited time to dedicate to each, so it pays to showcase your abilities in as few words as possible. 3-4 lines is ideal.
• Tailor it: No matter how much time you put into your CV profile, it won’t impress if it’s irrelevant to the role you’re applying for. Before you start writing, make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience your target employer is looking for. Then, make sure to mention them in your CV profile and throughout the rest of your application.
• Don’t add an objective: Career goals and objectives are best suited to your cover letter , so don’t waste space with them in your CV profile.
• Avoid generic phrases: Clichés like “ blue-sky thinker with a go-getter attitude” might sound impressive to you, but they don’t actually tell the recruiter much about you. Concentrate on highlighting hard facts and skills, as recruiters are more likely to take these on board.

Example CV profile for Retail Job No Experience

What to include in your retail job no experience cv profile.

• Summary of experience: To give employers an idea of your capabilities, show them your track record by giving an overview of the types of companies you have worked for in the past and the roles you have carried out for previous employers – but keep it high level and save the details for your experience section.
• Relevant skills: Make your most relevant retail key skills clear in your profile. These should be tailored to the specific role you’re applying for – so make sure to check the job description first, and aim to match their requirements as closely as you can.
• Vital qualifications: Be sure to outline your relevant retail qualifications, so that anyone reading the CV can instantly see you are qualified for the jobs you are applying to.

Quick tip: If you are finding it difficult to write an attention-grabbing CV profile, choose from hundreds of pre-written profiles across all industries, and add one to your CV with one click in our quick-and-easy CV Builder . All profiles are written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset.

Core skills section

Underneath your profile, write a core skills section to make your most relevant skills jump off the page at readers.

It should be made up of 2-3 columns of bullet points of your relevant skills.

Before you do this, look over the job description and make a list of any specific skills, specialisms or knowledge required.

Then, make sure to use your findings in your list. This will paint you as the perfect match for the role.

Vital skills for your Retail Job No Experience CV

Customer service – highlighting experience of working with the public to resolve queries and encourage them to purchase products.

Fundraising – highlighting experience of managing projects such as taking responsibility for organising and holding an event or running a fundraiser.

School choir national competitor – highlighting achievements such as competing in or winning a competition.

Captain of the school netball team – evidencing experience of leading others to achieve a goal.

IT skills – evidencing use of key technologies and software programs.

Quick tip: Our quick-and-easy CV Builder has thousands of in-demand skills for all industries and professions, that can be added to your CV in seconds – This will save you time and ensure you get noticed by recruiters.

Your work experience section

Now that recruiters have a good overview of your skills and abilities, you need to jump into the detail of your career history.

Give them a more thorough insight into what you can do by creating a detailed list of your relevant experience.

Start with your current role, and work backwards through all the relevant positions you’ve held. This could be freelance, contract or voluntary work too; as long as it’s related to the role you’re applying for.

Structuring each role

Whilst writing your CV, it’s essential to look at it from the eyes of a recruiter.

If they’re met with giant blocks of text which are impossible to navigate, they might get frustrated and skip onto the next CV.

Instead, make use of the 3-step structure shown below, to give them a pleasant reading experience.

Begin with a summary of your role, detailing what the purpose of your job was, who you reported to and what size of team you were part of (or led).

Key responsibilities

Follow with a snappy list of bullet points, detailing your daily duties and responsibilities.

Tailor it to the role you’re applying for by mentioning how you put the target employer’s desired hard skills and knowledge to use in this role.

Key achievements

Round up each role by listing 1-3 key achievements , accomplishments or results.

Wherever possible, quantify them using hard facts and figures, as this really helps to prove your value.

Sample job description for Retail Job No Experience CV

Supported the Action Aid Cancer Charity Shop to fundraise by going door to door for contributions, raising over £600 for the charity within 12 weeks.

Responsibilities

• Actively engaged members of the public at their homes, advocating for the Action Aid Cancer Charity’s work
• Sourced long term, committed donations
• Maintained high standards in both the quantity and quality of new donors recruited
• Maintained the highest professional standards at all times with regards to both the Action Aid Cancer Charity and door to door fundraising as a whole

Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our quick-and-easy CV Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.

Education and qualifications section

Next up, you should list your education and qualifications.

This can include your formal qualifications (a degree, A-Levels and GCSEs), as well as sector-specific retail qualifications and/or training.

While school leavers and recent grads should include a lot of detail here to make up for the lack of work experience, experienced candidates may benefit from a shorter education section, as your work experience section will be more important to recruiters.

Hobbies and interests

Although this is an optional section, it can be useful if your hobbies and interests will add further depth to your CV.

Interests which are related to the sector you are applying to, or which show transferable skills like leadership or teamwork, can worth listing.

On the other hand, generic hobbies like “going out with friends” won’t add any value to your application, so are best left off your CV.

Writing your Retail Job No Experience CV

When putting together your Retail CV when you have no retail experience, there are a few key points to remember

Always tailor your CV to the target role, even if it means creating several versions for different roles.

Additionally, remember that the structure and format of your CV needs just as much attention as the content.

Good luck with your job search!