Landing a first job often feels challenging, especially when crafting a resume without much work experience. Many young job seekers struggle to decide which details will catch an employer’s attention and highlight their potential. A well-structured resume can make a strong impression by emphasizing relevant skills, education, and any volunteer or extracurricular activities. This post will guide readers through essential resume sections, suggest what to include for a first-time applicant, and offer tips to present information clearly and professionally.
Key Takeaways from What To Put On A Resume For First Job
Understanding the Basics of a First Job Resume
- Focus on clarity and simplicity to make your resume easy to read.
- Highlight relevant skills even if you lack formal work experience.
- Use a clean, professional layout without unnecessary graphics or colors.
Essential Sections to Include
- Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile if available.
- Objective or Summary Statement: Write a brief statement tailored to the job you are applying for, focusing on your motivation and goals.
- Education: List your current school, expected graduation date, relevant coursework, and any academic honors.
- Skills: Highlight both hard and soft skills that relate to the job, such as communication, teamwork, or technical abilities.
- Experience: Include internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, or relevant projects, focusing on achievements and responsibilities.
- Additional Sections: Certifications, extracurricular activities, or hobbies that demonstrate positive traits or relevant skills.
Tips for Highlighting Strengths Without Formal Experience
- Emphasize transferable skills gained from school projects, sports, or clubs.
- Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements.
- Quantify accomplishments when possible (e.g., Organized a fundraiser that raised $500).
- Include any relevant coursework or training that shows your preparedness for the role.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving out contact information or providing unprofessional email addresses.
- Using vague phrases like hard worker without examples.
- Submitting a resume with spelling or grammatical errors.
- Making the resume too long or cluttered; one page is ideal for first-time job seekers.
Example Resume Structure for a First Job
| Section | Details to Include |
|---|---|
| Contact Information | Name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn (optional) |
| Objective | One or two sentences about your goals and what you bring to the employer |
| Education | School name, expected graduation, relevant courses, GPA (if strong) |
| Skills | List of relevant technical and interpersonal skills |
| Experience | Internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, projects, including achievements |
| Additional Information | Certifications, extracurricular activities, awards |
Final Thoughts
- A first job resume should showcase your potential, willingness to learn, and relevant skills.
- Tailor your resume for each job application to highlight the most relevant experiences and skills.
- Proofread carefully and consider feedback from teachers, mentors, or career advisors.
Contact Information
Ensure your contact details are clear and easy to find at the top of your resume. This section should include:
1. Full name
2. Phone number (use a professional voicemail message)
3. Email address (use a professional-sounding email)
4. LinkedIn profile link (if available)
5. Optional: Location (city and state)
Example:
“`plaintext
Jane Doe
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
linkedin.com/in/janedoe
Seattle, WA
“`
Crafting a Strong Objective or Summary
For your first job, an objective statement works best. It highlights your enthusiasm and goals without exaggerating experience.
How to write an effective objective
Use this formula:
1. Who you are (student/recent graduate)
2. What you want (type of role or industry)
3. What you offer (skills or qualities)
4. What you hope to achieve or contribute
Example:
“`plaintext
Motivated recent high school graduate seeking a customer service role to leverage strong communication skills and a passion for helping others in a dynamic retail environment.
“`
Education Section
Since work experience may be limited, education plays a central role.
Include the following details
1. Name of the institution
2. Degree or diploma earned
3. Graduation date or expected date
4. Relevant coursework, honors, or GPA (if strong)
Example:
“`plaintext
Greenwood High School, Greenwood, CA
High School Diploma, June 2023
Relevant coursework: Business Fundamentals, Computer Science
GPA: 3.8/4.0
“`
Adding Certifications and Training
Include any certifications, workshops, or online courses that support your job goals, such as:
1. CPR certification
2. Microsoft Office Specialist
3. Google Analytics
4. Customer service training
Example:
“`plaintext
Certified Microsoft Office Specialist – Excel, 2023
Completed Coursera course: Introduction to Digital Marketing, 2024
“`
Highlighting Skills
A well-organized skills section helps employers quickly identify your capabilities.
Types of skills to include
1. Soft skills: communication, teamwork, time management
2. Technical skills: MS Office, social media, basic coding
3. Language skills: bilingual abilities
4. Job-specific skills: cash handling, customer service, inventory management
Skills table example
“`plaintext
| Skill Category | Examples |
|——————-|————————————-|
| Communication | Public speaking, active listening |
| Technical | Microsoft Word, Google Sheets |
| Languages | English (native), Spanish (intermediate) |
| Job-specific | Cash handling, POS system operation |
“`
Work Experience and Volunteer Activities
Even without formal jobs, include internships, volunteer work, or school projects that demonstrate responsibility and skills.
How to describe experience
Use action verbs and quantify achievements where possible. Follow this structure:
1. Role title
2. Organization name and location
3. Dates of involvement
4. Key responsibilities and accomplishments
Example:
“`plaintext
Volunteer, Local Animal Shelter, Seattle, WA
June 2023 – Present
– Assisted with daily feeding and care of 20+ animals
– Organized fundraising events resulting in $1,000+ donations
– Educated visitors on pet adoption procedures
“`
Action verbs to use
1. Assisted
2. Organized
3. Coordinated
4. Communicated
5. Managed
6. Supported
Projects and Extracurricular Activities
Showcase school or personal projects that illustrate problem-solving, creativity, or leadership.
Examples to include
– Science fair project with measurable results
– Leading a school club or team
– Organizing community events
– Personal coding or design projects
Example:
“`plaintext
Project Leader, Science Fair – Renewable Energy Model
March 2023 – April 2023
– Designed and built a solar-powered water heater prototype
– Presented findings to 50+ attendees and received first place in regional competition
“`
Formatting Tips for First-Time Job Seekers
A clean, easy-to-read layout makes a strong impression. Follow these formatting guidelines:
1. Use a professional font (e.g., Arial, Calibri) size 10–12
2. Keep margins between 0.5 to 1 inch
3. Use bullet points for readability
4. Limit resume length to one page
5. Avoid using graphics or photos unless required
Sample Resume Outline
“`plaintext
Jane Doe
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/janedoe | Seattle, WA
Objective
Motivated recent high school graduate seeking a customer service role to leverage strong communication skills and a passion for helping others in a dynamic retail environment.
Education
Greenwood High School, Greenwood, CA
High School Diploma, June 2023
Relevant coursework: Business Fundamentals, Computer Science
GPA: 3.8/4.0
Certifications
Certified Microsoft Office Specialist – Excel, 2023
Completed Coursera course: Introduction to Digital Marketing, 2024
Skills
Communication: Public speaking, active listening
Technical: Microsoft Word, Google Sheets
Languages: English (native), Spanish (intermediate)
Job-specific: Cash handling, POS system operation
Experience
Volunteer, Local Animal Shelter, Seattle, WA
June 2023 – Present
– Assisted with daily feeding and care of 20+ animals
– Organized fundraising events resulting in $1,000+ donations
– Educated visitors on pet adoption procedures
Projects
Project Leader, Science Fair – Renewable Energy Model
March 2023 – April 2023
– Designed and built a solar-powered water heater prototype
– Presented findings to 50+ attendees and received first place in regional competition
“`
Additional Tips for Making Your Resume Stand Out
Tailor each resume
Customize skills and experience to match the job description. Highlight keywords recruiters look for.
Use numbers and results
Quantify achievements when possible (e.g., “Raised $500 for charity” or “Managed a team of 5”).
Proofread thoroughly
Eliminate typos and grammatical errors. Use tools like Grammarly or ask someone else to review.
Consider a cover letter
Include a short letter expressing enthusiasm and fit for the role. This often makes a big difference for first-time applicants.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Including irrelevant personal details (e.g., age, marital status)
2. Using an unprofessional email address
3. Overloading with unrelated hobbies
4. Submitting a generic resume for all applications
5. Listing job duties instead of accomplishments
Summary
For first job seekers, the key lies in emphasizing education, skills, and any relevant experience such as volunteer work or projects. Keep the layout simple, tailor content to the job, and use clear action verbs to demonstrate your potential. With a focused and well-organized resume, you increase your chances to land interviews and make a strong first impression.
How To List Your Education
When applying for your first job, your education section is often one of the most important parts of your resume. Here’s how to present it effectively:
1. Start with your most recent educational experience.
2. Include the name of the institution, location, degree or diploma earned, and your graduation date or expected graduation date.
3. Add relevant coursework or academic achievements if they relate to the job.
Example 1:
Education
– Springfield High School, Springfield, IL
High School Diploma, Expected June 2024
Relevant Coursework: Business Fundamentals, Computer Science
Example 2:
Education
– Lincoln Community College, Lincoln, NE
Associate Degree in Information Technology, Graduated May 2023
Achievements: Dean’s List, Completed Internship in IT Support
How To Showcase Your Skills
Skills are crucial to help employers understand what you bring to the table. Focus on transferable skills and those relevant to the job.
1. List both hard skills (technical skills) and soft skills (interpersonal abilities).
2. Use bullet points for clarity.
3. Tailor your skills to match the job description.
Example 1:
Skills
– Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
– Basic coding in HTML and CSS
– Strong communication and teamwork skills
– Time management and organization
Example 2:
Skills
– Customer service experience
– Data entry and accuracy
– Problem-solving abilities
– Adaptability and quick learning
How To Include Work Experience Without Formal Jobs
If you don’t have formal job experience yet, include internships, volunteer work, or school projects that demonstrate your abilities.
1. Use a clear title for each experience, like “Volunteer,” “Intern,” or “Project Participant.”
2. Describe your responsibilities and achievements in bullet points.
3. Highlight skills you developed that relate to the job you want.
Example 1:
Work Experience
Volunteer, City Library, Anytown, USA
June 2023 – August 2023
– Assisted with organizing community events and workshops
– Managed book inventory and helped patrons locate materials
– Developed strong customer service and organizational skills
Example 2:
Intern, Tech Start-Up, Remote
March 2023 – May 2023
– Supported the marketing team by managing social media accounts
– Created content calendars and scheduled posts using online tools
– Improved communication skills and learned basic digital marketing strategies