sample resume for 15 year old with no experience australia

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Resume template: VCE + no work experience

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Use this sample resume as a basis for your own resume if you:

• Have completed (or are currently completing) VCE 
• Have little or no formal (paid) work experience

For sample resumes designed for other levels of education/work experience, check out our Sample CVs page . 

Download this sample resume template:

• Sample Resume: VCE + No Work Experience - Word (133.87 KB)
• Sample Resume: VCE + No Work Experience - PDF  (123.51 KB)

NOTE: DON'T SUBMIT YOUR RESUME AS A .PDF. Always submit your resume as a .doc, .docx or .rtf. If you have trouble with this sample resume, contact us at [email protected] .

If you've finished or are currently doing VCE (or an equivalent) but you haven't had much - or any - paid work experience, this sample resume can help you focus on the personal attributes you can contribute to the needs of an organisation.

This sample resume has been designed to focus on:

• A marketing statement that highlights your capabilities and demonstrates what you bring to the job
• Personal attributes that will help you to transition into the work environment
• Any achievements, commendations or awards you received at high school that show you are honest and reliable
• Any volunteer placements that demonstrate your willingness to contribute to the community

Other things you can put on your resume include:

• Any sporting or community club participation (if relevant to the job)
• Work placements or work experience that show you know how to work in a professional environment
• Key skills that demonstrate your employability (and examples of their use) 
• Written testimonials provided by supervisors, sporting club coaches, teachers or others involved in volunteer and community clubs
• Any hobbies or interests that are relevant to the job

This sample resume is one page long. A one-page resume is more than acceptable when you're just starting out in the world of work. You may end up with two pages if you include all of the suggested additional information.

If your resume ends up being three pages long, you're probably providing too much information - try cutting some things out and sticking to two pages maximum.

For more about resumes and cover letters, check out these pages:

• Sample Cover Letters
• How to Write a Resume
• How to Write a Cover Letter

Email: [email protected] Mobile: XXXX XXX XXX

VCE graduate seeking casual employment in a dynamic organisation

Personable and astute student with proven time management and collaboration skills developed from sporting and volunteer engagements. Strong interpersonal skills enhanced by taking part in theatre activities to develop confidence and communication abilities. Understanding of general employability skills and the importance of working as part of a team, learning from others and developing as a professional. VCE graduate looking for first-time employment in a position that requires a dedicated, young and enthusiastic employee.

• Customer Service (phone and face-to-face)
• Problem solving
• Cash management
• Sales reconciliations
• Transaction processing
• Sales refunds
• Dispute resolution
• Data processing
• Inventory control
• Store-based security
• Stock receipting
• End-of-day processing
• Sales negotiations
• Product selection

Software Skills: Microsoft Word ~ Microsoft Excel ~ Microsoft Outlook ~ Firefox ~ Internet Explorer

All Saints Anglican College VCE 2013 ATAR: 88.7

Achievements:

• 2013: Class captain (in partnership with one other class representative)
• 2012: Represented school at National Youth Day events
• 2012: Recognition award for contribution to the local community and volunteering

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Effective Communication Skills:  Articulate communicator with appreciation for the different communication styles required when working with other team members or with customers.
• Honest and Reliable:  Strong morals and ethics ensure honesty, reliability and ability to undertake tasks responsibly.
• Flexible:  Understanding of need to remain flexible to support last-minute demands and changes. Comfortable in changing environments and situations, ensuring ability to remain flexible and adaptable at all times.

STUDENT WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENTS

Taylor Smith Partners (2-Week Work Placement - 2013)

Achievements and Contributions

• Customer Service:  Responded to incoming calls. Screened telemarketing and direct sales calls while transferring customer enquiries to appropriate department.
• Administration:  Typed general communication and letters to customers and businesses as directed. Ensured accurate development of communication by providing correspondence to supervisor for approval.
• Records Processing:  Entered customer information into internal records management system. Updated existing customer records while creating new data files as directed.

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS

Melton Community Gardens (2011 - current)

Worked in community gardens assisting members of the local community in planting and caring for allocated sections. Assisted with setup and preparation of community garden, including general repair and maintenance works.

St Vincent De Paul (2010-2013)

Provided support during various fundraising activities for local community group. Assisted at events and gatherings including providing suggestions to help meet fundraising targets. Personally attended various events, including spending time with homeless youth in Melbourne CBD.

PROFESSIONAL REFEREES

Joanne Boyle Manager St Vincent De Paul Society Phone XX XXXX XXXX

Allan Blue Maintenance Manager Melton Community Gardens Phone: XX XXXX XXXX

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How to Write a Resume with No Experience

In this post, use a personal statement, highlight your attitude and personality, emphasise your transferable skills, make a personal connection, find examples of relevant experience, use a solid resume template, get started with a resume template.

In this post Show

Are you looking for your first job in high school, or entering the workforce for the first time? Here’s exactly how to write a compelling resume as a high school student without any work experience.

The catch-22 of applying for jobs as a young person is that in order to score a job, you need experience, but in order to get experience, you need to have had a job! Follow the points in this resume template to craft the perfect resume and get closer to landing your first job, even as a young person with minimal experience.

While personal summaries or statements at the top of your resume aren’t necessary, they can help to add substance to a beginner’s resume . Your personal statement allows you to talk about your long-term career goals, and assert your enthusiasm and suitability for the role.

Noticed how so many job descriptions talk about having a positive attitude or a strong work ethic or being a team player? That’s because these traits are universally tied to being a fantastic employee. Hiring managers are often looking for someone with a great personality that they can then train up in the relevant skills.

Use your resume and cover letter to shine a light on the personality traits that would make you a great coworker and employee. This could be by including personal achievements that illustrate your drive and willingness.

When it comes to entry-level roles, recruiters and hiring managers tend to focus on the skills that make you a good all-rounder . Again, specific skills can often be learned on the job. Use the skills section of your resume to list skills like time management or problem-solving, which you’ve probably already developed through completing assignments and meeting deadlines at school. Other great skills to highlight as a young job seeker are organisational skills, the ability to multitask, or hands-on experience with IT, and soft skills like being a strong communicator and a people person.

You’ve probably heard that when it comes to the job search, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. A good strategy when applying for your first job is to call the recruiter or hiring manager to simply have a conversation about the job posting . If getting on the phone with someone isn’t possible, try researching the relevant point of contact on LinkedIn so that you’ll be able to have a personable conversation with them if you do get called into an interview.

Of course, the biggest dilemma young people have when writing their first resume is figuring out what to include in the experience section of their resumes when they don’t have traditional work experience. But when you dig deep, you’ll realise that you do have plenty of life experience to draw on . This could be:

• Informal jobs you’ve worked like mowing the lawn for a neighbour or babysitting for a family member
• Completing extracurricular activities at school or through a sports club
• Completing an internship or apprenticeship
• Participating in volunteer work
• Any relevant coursework , especially if it involved leading a team or a project, or if the subject you studied relates to the job you are applying for

Following a pre-made resume format will help you create a more professional resume , despite not yet having industry experience. Utilise bullet points, check for typos, include your contact information and use a resume template to properly structure your application. Presenting your resume in a professional way can help you look more experienced than you are, and ensure that the automated applicant tracking systems recruiters often use won’t miss any vital info in your application.

With the above tips, there’s no reason your lack of professional experience will hold you back from scoring a stellar job!

Using a resume template will help you properly structure the information on your resume, and make your resume appear more professional.

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How to Write Your Teen’s First Resume

• August 21, 2018

Do you have a teen who’s about to apply for their first job? They’re probably feeling excited at the prospect of earning their own money, being a bit more independent, and making new friends. But first thing’s first: if they want to get a job, they’ll need a resume.

Writing a resume for your teen (or helping them write their own) might sound simple… after all, there’s not a lot to write about yet. But in some ways, that’s what makes it more challenging.

I’ve put together some tips and a super basic format to make it as simple as possible to write a resume for your teen. You might be surprised at just how much experience they already have and how impressive their resume can look, even if they’ve never had a job before.

Before we get into it…

What makes a teen’s resume different?

Let’s state the obvious for a sec. It can feel like catch-22 for your teen when it comes to applying for a job. You need a job to get experience. But you need experience to get a job. A well-written resume bridges the gap so that a school-leaver or student who’s never worked before can demonstrate enough experience and value to secure a paid job.

Bridging this gap means writing their resume a little differently than, say, your own… since you’ve probably got a couple of decades of professional experience to talk about! You’ll have to think outside the box about what counts as “work” experience.

To make it super easy for you, I’ve created a basic layout for a teen’s resume below. I’ll walk you through it with instructions on what to write under each heading.

Contact details at the top

The standard resume format includes a clear heading at the top with the applicant’s name. Just under that you’ll include the applicant’s contact details: ● Mobile ● Email ● Location (suburb and state)

Don’t get fancy – make it super easy for the hiring manager to find the information they’re looking for.

Just a note on contact details. If your child has their own email address, make sure it’s something sensible. Ideally, it should resemble their name and not include any words that might give the wrong impression. If not, have them set up a professional email address through a free host like Gmail. And ask them to consider what might happen if they miss a call. Do they have a sensible voicemail message set up? If not, they’ll need to fix that too.

Tip: You don’t need as much contact info on your resume as you used to a few years ago. Date of birth, marital status, fax number, multiple phone numbers, and street numbers aren’t really necessary. Oh and while I’m at it… leave your photo off as well!

Professional profile

Right underneath the contact details, you’ll include the professional profile. Obviously, a professional profile for a teenager’s first resume is going to be very different from someone who’s studied at a higher level or had years of experience in the workplace. Instead of professional skills, you can talk about any soft skills that will support them in the workplace. Things you might mention (if they’re true for your teen) include:

• Communication
• Positive attitude
• Friendly manner
• Problem-solving
• Strong work ethic
• Working in a team
• Independence
• Time management
• Decision making

You could use this opportunity to talk about where they’ve picked up these skills. For example, volunteering with a community group or being involved at school. If your teenager has their own transport, like a car and driver’s licence, this is a great place to mention it as well.

Use the professional profile to give a snapshot of your teen and the attributes that will make them a good candidate for the job. Don’t make it too long – a short paragraph is enough for this section. You’ll get the chance to talk about the specifics in the next couple of sections. We want to make sure this is a smoothly written paragraph. Think along the lines of a blurb on the back of a book, rather than disjointed sentences.

Skills and expertise

This next section can seem a bit tricky at first. After all, it probably looks like your teen is rather short in the skills and expertise department! But once again, I try to bring this back to soft skills backed by any relevant real-life experiences.

But before we do that, let’s take a step back. Think about the kind of job your teenager is applying for. Usually, first jobs will fall under one of four categories: manual labour, retail, hospitality, and care. They’ll probably start out performing very basic tasks on weekends, the occasional afternoon and through the school holidays. These tasks (while they can be challenging at times) don’t require a huge amount of upfront knowledge or technical skills. What your teen really needs to succeed in these roles are soft skills and abilities they’ve already picked up through school, from after-school activities like sports and from other life experiences. If you can demonstrate these skills to the hiring manager, you’ll have a much better chance of landing an interview… and then hopefully a job.

Let me give you some examples of how you might match soft skills and life experiences to the job your teen’s going for.

For example, if I think back far enough, I can remember I used to volunteer at a store around the corner from my mum and dad’s business. It was an op shop with a café attached to it, and they took on volunteers. It was actually a great opportunity to practice some real work skills before I got my first real job – not to mention I got a referee to include on my resume that I WASN’T related to! I learned how to work the coffee machine, do basic food handling and prep and follow hygiene practices. Add to that learning the importance of good communication, putting a smile on my face, and turning up on time. If I was writing a resume for teenage-me, those are absolutely things I’d include under skills and expertise.

Achievements

The next section on their resume is “Achievements”. Once again, since your teenager hasn’t really worked before, you might have to think outside the box a little. So, ask yourself (or ask your teen)… what things have they done so far in life that they’re proud of? What have they done that’s different to most of their peers? Here are a few ideas of achievements that might apply to your teen:

• Sporting achievements – teams, games, commitments, prizes, etc.
• Academic achievements – awards, extracurricular programs, scholarships, grades they’re proud of, etc.
• General life achievements – learning how to drive, climbing a mountain, travelling overseas
• Fundraisers – meeting or exceeding a fundraising target
• Relationships – mentoring younger students, developing leadership skills

While your teen may not have real work experience yet, they probably have some of the above achievements they can talk about. And they’re worth mentioning on their resume because they tell a story about what your teen is like as a person and can perhaps indicate what they’ll be capable of in the workplace.

For example, I helped a young man with his resume recently and he was able to multitask like a CHAMP. We illustrated this by talking about how he’d represented his school at an extremely high level of sport. By demonstrating how he balanced his sporting and schooling commitments (including HSC prep!) we were able to reinforce his maturity, ability to multitask and manage competing priorities.

Work history

Having a “Work History” section for someone who’s never worked before might seem a little odd. But this section is standard for all resumes and there are still plenty of things you can include here. You just need to get creative. I don’t mean making stuff up… I mean interpreting certain activities as work-related even if they weren’t technically paid work.

For example:

• Volunteer work
• Community engagement activities
• Helping out in the canteen with the local footy team
• Coaching kids at netball
• Refereeing hockey games
• Babysitting for friends, family, and neighbours
• Looking after neighbours’ pets, mail, or bins when they’re away
• Any odd jobs

Why are these relevant? Your teen has to turn up at a certain time, they have set tasks to complete, they’re working under others, and engaging as part of the team.

You might also use this section to talk about school. After all, it’s no secret that your teen is still in school or has recently left. So, you might talk about what school they’re at and what year they’re in (or when they graduated). But you don’t need to go into detail on grades and subjects.

Tip : When you write the cover letter, you could potentially talk about grades and subjects a little if it’s relevant. For example, if your teen’s pretty good at maths and they’re applying for a retail job that involves cash handling, it might be worth mentioning.

So, what about the “Hobbies” section? I always advise against including these in a professional resume, even for a teenager, because I just don’t feel like it adds value. If you have enough content elsewhere, I’d strongly recommend leaving this section out.

The only reason you’d keep it might be if their resume is looking a bit empty and you really feel that it would add something. If you do include hobbies, try to keep them relevant, so that there’s some connection to soft skills, life-skills, and the jobs your teen is applying for.

Because at the end of the day, it really depends on the individual and the job they’re applying for. You’re not creating a cookie cutter resume. You’re talking about why your teen is suitable for a role.

That’s it! But before you hit send…

Check your spelling and grammar. If you’ve got the time, set aside the resume for a day and come back to it – you’ll see obvious issues you might’ve missed before. Read each sentence out loud to make sure the sentences flow properly and are easy to read. Or better still, ask someone else to proofread it for you.

Over to you…

I really hope this blog helps you and your teen feel more confident in putting together a first resume. It’s an exciting time… this piece of paper will help them land their first job!   If you’d like to give your teen a leg up, check out our Resume in a Day  course. 

Resume in a Day gives you access to  four guided templates, a suite of video tutorials, the Acing Your Interview ebook, my short course Going Beyond the STAR Method, as well as examples of well done and ‘needs some work’ resume extracts. 

With lifetime course access, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. 

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How to Write Your First Resume as a High School Student

So, it’s time to write your first resume! You’re nervous and excited and probably asking yourself questions like “how do I write my first resume? “, “what do I include on my resume?” or even “what should a resume look like?”

Luckily for you, we’ve got this ultimate guide to writing your first resume so you can go out and nail your job hunting!

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in!

Contact Information Education Previous Work Experience Volunteering Leadership Roles Extra-curricular Activities Awards Skills Availability References

What Should Your First Resume Include?

1. Contact Information

Your contact information should include your:

• Mobile Phone Number
• Home Address
• Link to your LinkedIn profile (if you have one!)

Note: If you’ve still got an email that has an old nickname in it with a bunch of numbers or even your birthday using Hotmail, it’s probably time you made a new and more professional email account!

That means goodbye to [email protected] and hello [email protected] !

Try setting up your new email in Gmail or Outlook as no one really uses Hotmail anymore.

If you’ve got a common first name and surname that’s already been taken, try putting the initial of your middle name in it e.g. [email protected] or if that doesn’t work, initial your first name and middle name e.g. [email protected] .

Learn more about having a LinkedIn profile in high school ! You can also check out more about email etiquette .

2. Education

Here, you should mention what high school you go to and what year you’re in and the years you’ve been there – easy!

This might look something like: Smith College | 2015 – 2020

If you’ve already graduated from high school and you’re proud of your ATAR, you may want to include that here.

3. Previous Work Experience

If you did some work experience in Year 10, maybe had a summer holiday job or even have you own little side hustle, then now is the time to write it down in your first resume!

Make sure you mention the business’ name , what your position title was and the start and end date .

For example, you might stylise this as: Cashier | McDonald’s | February 2018 – September 2020

If you still currently work there, you can put February 2018 – present.

Here, you want to mention your title and underneath dot point or write a brief paragraph about what you did in your role, your key responsibilities and any skills you learned or refined through the job.

4. Volunteering

If you do any volunteering, such as at your place of worship, then list that down! Similar to what you’ve written for  Previous Work Experience , mention the  organisation’s name , the  name of your role , and  dot point or write a short paragraph about what you did within the organisation.

Volunteering looks great on resumes and it’s an easy way to impress employers, so don’t be afraid to show off in this section!

5. Leadership Roles

Were you a Prefect, House Captain, School Captain, or some other leader at your school?

Now’s the time to mention and write about it in your first resume! Here, you want to mention your title and underneath dot point or write a brief paragraph about what you did in your role e.g. any initiatives you started, fundraisers etc, your key responsibilities and any skills you learned or refined e.g. teamwork and communication.

6. Extra-curricular Activities

Have you ever stayed back after school to participate in activities or train for sports? Were some of your lunches spent attending meetings for your school’s Social Justice group or practising for choir?

Well, this section is all about the extra stuff  you do on top of your classes and even outside of school! If you participate in any sports , academic clubs , creative clubs , or even take exams for a musical instrument , list these activities through dot points.

Extra-curricular activities on your resume will show that you get involved in things and are well-rounded as a person!

Did you come first in any subjects? Were you Dux of your cohort? Or maybe you got a commendation award?

Now’s the time to mention any academic related awards , volunteering related awards , leadership awards or any spirit awards you may have received over the course of your time in high school! Try to choose the ones that are the most recent.

As an HSC student, you have excellent communication skills , as you’ve been practising written and oral communication all throughout school and now you’re an expert. Communication skills are essential to any area of the workforce you’re wanting to apply to so writing this on your resume is essential!

If you have any extra experience with communication e.g. you were an MC for a school event or attended a writing course, then you should add this as well.

Teamwork ! You’ve been doing group-work all throughout school, and potentially you’ve done team sports or organised a school/community event and you should be including this in your resume! This looks great to an employer because it is essential that employees get along and cooperate to give the best service possible.

You have great technological skills ! You might be like me and feel that technology was designed to make you look foolish… However, chances are you understand how to operate most computer programs, and if not, you’re able to quickly learn this!

In my part time job I was required to learn how to select items from a drop down menu and ensure that the codes matched exactly; I would then have to put the number of each item in. My 40-year-old boss warned me that it was “quite complicated,” however I learned it with ease, and so would most of you!

The point is that your technological skills are good enough to put them on your resume and if you have extra skills i.e. an excellent grasp of Photoshop , you can add this.

Showing initiative is an excellent skill to have on your resume. Employers are looking for someone who can think on their feet to solve problems , this is especially true for retail.

Interpersonal skills are also a good thing to add; the ability to relate to others is highly desirable to employers as it makes for a cohesive work environment, and in retail makes for good sales!

An ability to work under pressure is essential for most jobs, so it is a good idea to include this in your resume.

9. Availability

When going through your resume, employers will already be thinking about whether your availability will be suited to the needs of the company. Think about your schedule and how often you’d be able to work!

Then, list down the days and the times throughout those days that you’d be able to work. You might want to lay it out like this:

• Thursday: 4pm – 9pm
• Saturday: All day
• Sunday: All day

10. References

You don’t actually have to list references on your resume, but for some job applications, you may be asked to include them. Either way, be sure to have 2-3 references, their contact details (phone number and email), role and organisation e.g. Mentor, Art of Smart Education.

People you can have as references include teachers , any supervisors you’ve had for work experience , or adults who can vouch for any volunteering you’ve done. Be sure to ask your chosen references if they are happy to recommend you for jobs first!

If you choose not to include your references on your resume, you can simply write, “References available upon request”.

Tips for How to Write a Great First Resume

Tip #1: formatting is key.

How you format your resume is super important because if your resume doesn’t look good, or at least organised, no one is going to bother to read it . And then they won’t be able to tell how fantastic you are!

This means you should be using a uniform font – my font of choice has always been Georgia but any font is fine as long as it is clear and legible . Group favourites when I asked my colleagues what font they thought I should use included Calibri and Arial.

You should also have headings!

For each of the sections in your resume, such as  Work Experience  and Volunteering , you should list activities below each heading in reverse chronological order (from most recent to least recent). This ensures that the most relevant information is what your prospective employer will first see!

Short and sweet is key so your resume should be 1-2 pages (without enclosed references). If you aren’t a fan of how Microsoft Word can alter your entire document by moving one text box, try using the free online program Canva !

Here’s an example of how you might want to format your resume:

Tip #2: Tailor your resume to the type of job you are going for

While it’s easy to have a generic resume that you can submit for any job application, hiring managers would rather see experiences relevant and specific to the job they’ve advertised.

So, if you’re looking for a job in food service , highlight any previous experience or skills which would convey why you would be great in such a role ! For a role that involves working with children , highlight previous experiences such as babysitting – you get the gist.

My friend was applying for a job at Smiggle and used a rainbow design for her resume, in an attempt to cater to the organisation and it worked! However, most stores won’t love your rainbow resume and you should stick to just one colour (mine is navy!).

Tip #3: Always edit your resume!

Make sure your resume is free of any typos and grammatical errors ! If it  reads clearly and is  easily scannable , hiring managers won’t have any difficulty going through your resume and seeing if your skills match the needs of the company.

Keep it up to date too, by including your most recent achievements or experiences — so it accurately reflects you!

Need help with writing a great cover letter? Learn more about how to write a cover letter !

Now that you know how to write your first resume, you’re one step closer to landing a job!

If you’ve just finished your HSC and need some help with your job hunt, check out our guide to getting a job post-HSC !

Sophie Dyson  finished the HSC and then realised she needed to get a job,  fast.  Her dad helped her to draft a resume and she proceeded to walk around 4 different shopping centres handing out resumes with friends. This landed her with a Christmas Casual position which she greatly enjoyed, and online applications landed her an ushering gig and her internship at Art of Smart! Sophie wishes you the best of luck in your job hunting and reminds you to be patient when applying for jobs.

• Topics: 💼 Careers

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Teenager Resume With No Work Experience

Creating a resume as a teenager can be hard, but it’s not impossible.

Even without formal work experience, there are many ways to showcase your potential and demonstrate your value to prospective employers.

For your convenience, we have created a great sample teenager resume and expert writing tips that will ensure you stand out from the crowd.

This sample resume will provide you with a solid framework to organize your information effectively.

Similarly, our guidance will help you craft compelling sections such as your objective statement, skills, education, and achievements.

Have a look.

Sample Teenager Resume With No Work Experience

Maria Johnson Houston, TX (000) 251-5214 [Email]

OBJECTIVE Motivated and responsible high school student seeking a part-time job as a clerical assistant. Bringing strong work ethic, punctuality, and dedication to contribute to the success of the organization.

EDUCATION High School Diploma XYZ High School, Houston, TX Expected Graduation Date: May 2024

Relevant Coursework:

• Introduction to Business
• Communication Skills
• Entrepreneurship
• Creative Writing

Achievements:

• Received the “Outstanding Student of the Year” award for exemplary academic performance and dedication to community service
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• Organization
• Time management
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Quick learner

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• Member of the school debate club: Developed public speaking and critical thinking skills
• Volunteer at the local animal shelter: Demonstrated compassion and responsibility
• School community service club: Organized and participated in various community events

REFERENCES Available upon request.

How to Write a Teenager Resume With No Work Experience?

Creating a resume as a teenager without work experience might seem challenging, but it is an excellent opportunity to highlight your skills, achievements, and potential. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create an impressive resume:

1. Contact Information

Include your full name, address, phone number, and email address.

2. Objective

Write a short, focused objective that outlines your career goals and why you’re applying for the job.

3. Education

List your educational background, including the name of your school, the year you’re expected to graduate, and any notable achievements or relevant coursework.

Highlight skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. These can include both hard and soft skills.

5. Volunteer Work and Extracurricular Activities

Include any volunteer experience, internships, or participation in school clubs and sports, as these demonstrate responsibility and commitment.

6. Awards and Honors

List any awards or recognitions you’ve received that can showcase your abilities and hard work.

7. References

You can include a statement that references are available upon request or list the contact information for 2-3 references who can vouch for your character and abilities. This can include teachers, coaches, or supervisors from volunteer work.

Final Tips:

• Keep your resume to one page.
• Use a clean, professional font and format.
• Proofread for spelling and grammar errors.
• Customize your resume for each job application to match the job requirements.

Following these steps will help you create a polished and professional resume, even without work experience.

• Work From Home Resume No Experience Sample
• High School Graduate Cover Letter With No Work Experience
• Resume Writing Tips for High School Students with No Experience
• Fast Food Worker Resume With Less or No Experience

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• Jora Australia Blog

How to write a resume for a first job with no work experience

If you are a high school student, or teenager looking to apply for your first job you have come to the right place! Writing your very first resume can be so confusing. A resume is a document of your work experience, right? So what if you don't have any? In this article, we will help you craft a first job resume that highlights relevant skills and relevant experience without a work history.

Encouragement for first-time job seekers

If you are feeling overwhelmed or worried about your first resume, here are some helpful things to consider.

• Everyone started their career somewhere, and well done for taking the first step to start yours!
• Starting work as a high school student shows initiative, work ethic and personal drive - an excellent thing to have on your resume.
• Companies that advertise entry-level positions for teens such as Woolworths , Coles and McDonalds won't be expecting you to have a lot of work experience, if any!
• Entry-level positions are the most likely to provide on-the-job training.
• Jora has heaps of entry-level jobs that you don't need any experience to apply for!

First job resume template

Here is a template to get you started writing your first job resume. You can easily update our First Job Resume Template with your information on Canva, which is a free online design tool. 

Note: Please replace "[Your Name]", "[Your Address]", "[Your City, State, Postcode]", "[Your Phone Number]", "[Your Email Address]", "[Company Name]", "[School Name]", "[School Location]", and any other placeholders with your specific information. This resume template follows the guidelines outlined in the article and highlights your skills and qualities, even if you don't have formal work experience.

What to include on your first resume

A good resume will convince your prospective employer that you have the right skills and attributes to consider you a good fit for the job. Here is what you should include on your resume when you have no job experience.

1. Contact Information

The first section of your resume should include your full name , address , phone number , and email addres s. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date and professional.

2. Objective Statement

Compose a brief objective statement that highlights your eagerness to start your career and your willingness to learn and contribute.

3. Personal Summary

In this section, provide a concise summary of your traits, such as being reliable, punctual, and a fast learner. Mention any relevant hobbies or interests.

4. Education

List your current school, its location, and your expected graduation date. Include any academic achievements or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your dedication and skills.

Even without formal work experience, you likely possess valuable skills. Include things like:

• Communication

Highlight your ability to effectively communicate, whether it's with classmates, teachers, or through your babysitting experiences.

Mention any group projects or team activities you've participated in, showcasing your collaboration skills.

• Time Management

Discuss how you managed your time while balancing school, chores, and other responsibilities.

• Customer Service

Emphasise your experience interacting with people, whether it's helping with family or friends' needs or providing excellent service while mowing lawns or washing cars.

6. Awards and Achievements

If you've received any awards or recognition in school or within your community, this is the place to mention them. It shows your dedication and commitment.

7. References

Include character references, such as teachers, family friends, or mentors who can vouch for your character and work ethic.

Formatting Tips

The formatting and design of your resume play an important role in making a positive impression on potential employers. Here are some tips to ensure your resume is visually appealing and easy to read:

• Choose a clean and professional font : Opt for a font that is easy to read, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Use a consistent font size throughout the document, typically between 10 and 12 points.
• Use headings and subheadings : Organise your resume using clear headings and subheadings. This makes it easier for employers to navigate through the document and find the information they need.
• Utilise white space : Leave enough white space between sections and paragraphs to make your resume visually appealing and easy to read. Avoid cramming too much information onto one page.
• Use bullet points : List your achievements, skills, and responsibilities using bullet points. This makes the information more scannable and allows employers to quickly identify your key qualifications.
• Keep it concise : Be mindful of the length of your resume. Aim for a one to two-page document, focusing on the most relevant information. Avoid including unnecessary details or irrelevant experiences.
• Use consistent formatting : Maintain consistency in your formatting throughout the document. Use the same font, font size, and formatting style for headings, subheadings, and body text.

By following these formatting and design tips, you can create a visually appealing and professional resume that stands out to potential employers.

Proofread and Edit

Once you have written your resume, it's crucial to proofread and edit it for errors before sending it out to potential employers. Here are some steps to ensure your resume is error-free:

• Read it aloud : Reading your resume aloud can help you catch any grammatical or spelling errors that you might have missed. It also allows you to check the flow and clarity of your writing.
• Use spell-check and grammar-check tools : Utilise the spell-check and grammar-check tools in your word processing software to catch any obvious errors. However, be aware that these tools are not foolproof, so manual proofreading is still necessary.
• Get a second opinion : Ask a trusted friend, family member, or mentor to review your resume. They can provide valuable feedback and catch any errors or inconsistencies that you might have overlooked.
• Check for consistency : Ensure consistent formatting, font usage, and punctuation throughout your resume. Inconsistencies can make your resume look unprofessional.
• Review for clarity and conciseness : Make sure your resume is clear, concise, and easy to read. Remove any unnecessary jargon or technical language that might confuse potential employers.

By thoroughly proofreading and editing your resume, you can ensure that it is error-free and presents you in the best possible light.

How to find your first job using Jora

It's easy to access thousands of first jobs, where you need no prior work experience using Jora. Jora is a job aggregator meaning you will find all the current available job listings in one website.

• To begin, visit Jora's website or download the mobile app.
• To narrow down your search, use relevant keywords for the type of job you're seeking and specify your location preferences. For a first job, words like "no experience" , or "entry-level" can be helpful.
• Once you've found a promising job listing, read through the description carefully and tailor your application to match the employer's requirements. Don't forget to upload your updated resume and cover letter, if applicable.
• Finally, sign up for job alerts . There are new jobs added regularly on Jora, so stay informed of relevant opportunities by setting up a personalised job alert.

Popular first job opportunities in Australia

• Fast-Food Chains: Companies like McDonald's , KFC , Subway , and Hungry Jack's often hire teenagers for positions such as cashier , crew member , or kitchen staff . These roles provide customer service experience and teach valuable teamwork skills.
• Retail Stores: Popular retail chains like Woolworths , Coles , Target , and Kmart hire teenagers as sales associates or cashiers. Working in retail helps improve customer service and organizational skills.
• Supermarkets: In addition to Woolworths and Coles , other local supermarkets like IGA may offer part-time positions for teenagers. These jobs typically involve tasks like stocking shelves and assisting customers.
• Hospitality Industry: Restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops often hire teenagers as waitstaff , dishwashers , or kitchen assistants . These roles teach communication skills and how to work in a fast-paced environment.

Landing your first job can be an exciting journey filled with opportunities to learn and grow. Remember, everyone starts somewhere, and your lack of formal work experience doesn't diminish your potential. By following these resume guidelines and emphasising your skills and positive qualities, you can impress potential employers and kickstart your professional career.

1. Can I include my school projects in the skills section?

Absolutely! School projects that demonstrate your skills and abilities are worth mentioning on your resume.

2. What if I don't have any awards or achievements?

That's okay! Focus on your skills, personal qualities, and any positive feedback or references you can gather.

3. Should I include my age on the resume?

No, it's not necessary to include your age on your resume. Focus on your qualifications and skills instead.

4. How should I format my reference list?

It's OK to put "references available on request" on your resume to avoid prematurely sharing contact information. When asked for references, list your references with their full names, titles, contact information, and a brief description of how they know you. Before sending your reference list it's polite and professional to let your references know they can expect a call from your potential employer.

5. Can I use a resume template?

Certainly! We have free resume templates available on Jora that can help you structure your resume effectively. The best template for a first job resume is above, or you can link to it HERE .

Remember, the key to a successful first job application is confidence and a well-crafted resume. Good luck on your job search journey!

Start looking for first jobs with no experience on Jora today!

Youth Worker resume templates

Download a resume template.

• 1 . Download one of our free resume templates.
• 2 . Tailor your resume with your skills, experience and contact details.
• 3 . Review your resume before saving it as a PDF. Then you’re ready to start applying with it!

More tips to improve your resume and help you stand out

• Examples of good and bad resumes
• This is what a great resume looks like

Skills and experience employers are looking for

Latest youth worker jobs on seek.

• Teens 13-17
• Young Adults 18-25

• 1800 55 1800

Resume writing

Looking for work? You’ll need a resume! We’ve got some tips to help you create a great resume.

What is a resume?

A resume is a written summary of your qualifications, skills and work-related experience..

It's an important tool in your job search efforts

Employers will require a copy of your resume when you apply for a job

Your resume is your first chance to impress an employer and show them that you’re the right person for the job

What do I put in my resume?

You might like to include:, how can i make my resume work well for me, here are some tips for writing a good resume:.

Keep your format simple and easy to read

Make sure your contact details are up-to-date

Tailor your resume to suit the job you’re applying for

Focus on the positives – your strengths, abilities and achievements

Include licence and transport if you have these

Proofread – check your spelling and grammar

What should I avoid?

Here are some things to avoid when writing your resume:

Personal information - date of birth, relationship status

Qualifications which are out of date or not completed

Reasons you left your previous job

An unprofessional email address

Exaggerating or making stuff up

Jargon, slang or negative language

Building a resume using your strengths and achievements

You might worry you fall short of the job criteria, but don't let that stop you! Try turning a weakness into a strength.

Here's some examples:

“I'm only young!”

I'm keen to work, willing to learn and looking for an entry-level position.

“I just finished school and don’t have any experience”

I did woodwork at school and I know how to use power tools safely.

I did a work experience placement at school and really enjoyed it.  

“I've never had a proper job”

I did babysitting for friends and family to earn pocket money while I was still at school.

“I don’t have any skills”

I've played a lot of sport and have great teamwork skills.

“I don’t have qualifications”

I'm really good with computers and I'd like to do a traineeship in IT.

“I didn’t do well at some of the theory-based subjects at school”

I'm a “hands on” learner who loves practical jobs.

“I don’t know what I have to offer”

I'm a reliable young person with a positive attitude and I'm available to start work immediately.

"Combine your strengths and achievements with a willingness to learn and a positive attitude!"

If you would like individual online support to help you reach your work and study goals headspace Work and Study Online can help.

Check these out too:

Getting an interview is great news when you’re looking for a ...

Starting work

Starting your first job can be exciting and overwhelming. Check out these ...

Thinking about leaving home?

Leaving home is a big step and there are some important things ...

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5 Free Resume Templates for Teens (with Little to No Experience)

By: Author Amanda L. Grossman

Posted on Last updated: May 7, 2024

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Free resume templates for teens to fill in using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and various resume builders.

If you’ve been looking for a free resume template for teens for any length of time, then you know how hard they are to find.

So, while I do have some to offer, I have to warn you – there aren’t many options.

There are two different types of free resume templates teenagers can use:

• Microsoft Word and Google Docs resume templates
• Teen resume builders

We’ll go over sources for both.

Free Resume Templates for Teens (Word and Docs)

This is my favorite group of free teen resume templates because you don’t need to use online software to use them.

In fact, you’ll just need either Microsoft Word or Google Docs, to use them.

• Here is how to use Google Docs without a Gmail address
• Here’s how to open and use a Microsoft Word document without Microsoft Office

Not only that, but teenagers can create their baseline resume, save the file, and then update it every six months to a year over the lifetime of their careers.

Note: if your teenager will be applying to jobs by handing their resume to an actual person, then they can use fancy and decorative resumes. If they’ll be applying to jobs online, then it’s best to stick to the minimalist kind that are ATS-friendly. More on that in a bit.

1. Free Resume Template for Teenagers with No Experience

Let’s start with mine – you’ll notice right off the bat that it’s very minimalist, and, dare I say, boring .

That’s on purpose.

You see, hiring managers are being bombarded with thousands and tens of thousands of resumes for each position they list.

And to help them sift through all of these, they use ATS software to automatically discard lots of resumes and only send the ones most aligned to the job listing to actual humans.

This means that your resume must be:

• ATS-Friendly : It’s estimated that  99% of hiring managers use something called ATS  (Applicant Tracking System) to sift through the hundreds and thousands of resumes they receive. This software helps them to skim just the best and most relevant resumes to the top of the pile. If your teen’s resume is not formatted in a way that these systems can easily read? It will likely be rejected. 
• Keyworded : Again, these systems are skimming for the best applications to send to the hiring person. One of the ways they do this is to search for keywords that are important for a job. You need to make sure your teen keywords – or use specific keywords and phrasing found in the job description if they pertain to their skillset – into their actual resume. Otherwise, your teen will not be seen as a good fit for the job. 

Here's more information on how to fill in your resume here: how to make a resume for first-job high school students .

2. ResumeGenius’ Free Teen Resume Templates

There are two different teen resume templates to choose from on this site – and they download to Microsoft Word document.

Hint: you’ll need to click “enable editing” in the Microsoft Word program, all the way at the top, so that you can make edits to the template.

What I like about these is a nice balance between design and minimalism. But you should know that ATS software does not read two columns well, which each of these templates has.

Here’s an example of what spits out of an ATS software when using a two-column resume .

3. HLoom High School Resume Templates

Here’s a great collection of free high school resume templates you can download and open to edit in Microsoft Word.

Free Resume Templates for Teens (Resume Builders)

Now we’re going to get into some of the resume builders available for teens to use.

I’m not as fond of these, because many of them allow you to fill in a teen resume template for free…but then charge you to download it.

Or if you can download it for free – how do you know that the resume builder software will stay in business over the next decade or two when you need to log back in to edit it?

I’ll do my best to highlight the truly free ones (free all the way through, even after download).

1. Indeed’s Free Resume Builder

Not only are there free templates to use with this resume builder, but you can download them for free as a PDF, too!

There are over six template designs to choose from:

Please note that your information is not saved once you close your browser. In other words, you cannot go back in and edit a resume six months or a year later – you’ll have to create a new one.

2. Canva High School Resume Templates

There are lots of “pretty” resume templates to choose from using this program, and it’s easy to get carried away.

Because of all of the formatting with these, teens should only use these templates if they’re personally handing a resume to a hiring manager (and it’s not going through an ATS software that cannot translate the formatting).

Two tips to help teens pick one out:

• Avoid Using Pictures : You generally don’t want to include a photo on a resume. Doing so can create biases with the resume reviewer, may be seen as unprofessional, and images are not ATS-friendly. Instead, choose a template that has no image on it.
•   Avoid Lots of Graphics : You do not want the design of these resumes to distract from the information on the resume.

Note: you’ll need to sign up for a free Canva account to use these, and if there is a yellow royal crown or dollar sign in the bottom righthand corner of the template, then you’ll have to pay for that template. There are plenty of free options to choose from.

I understand how critical it is to not only teach teens how to fill out a resume but for them to also have one so that they can work on scoring that first teen job . And that’s why you’ll want to check back – I’ll be updating this article with any and all new free resume templates for teens that I can find.

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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.

How to Write a Resume for a 15 Year Old

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Activities That Look Good on Teacher Resumes

Role of a nanny, characteristics of a good resume.

• How to Write a Resume for Senior Citizens
• How to Manage a Kid's Modeling Career

Teenagers in the labor force can explore the world of work, gain a sense of independence and learn marketable skills. But before this can happen regularly, a teen needs to secure a job. The Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA , sets 14 as the golden age for employment.

Helping your 15-year-old craft an appropriate, well-thought-out resume – whether it’s for babysitting, lawn-mowing gigs, computer tutoring or working at a pet store – can make all the difference in capturing that coveted job. Online resources offer teenage CV examples.

Start at the Top

Center the teen’s name at the top of the resume in a font that's larger and bolder than the rest of the information on the resume. His contact information should follow either centered under his name or aligned to the left. It should include his full name and the school he attends. Indeed Career Guide states that a teenager's street address is not needed; the city and state is acceptable.

Include an e-mail address rather than his cell phone number because you don’t want an unfamiliar adult having access to a teen’s phone. By providing just an email address, you’ll have a written record of information if you need documentation for any reason. If you feel an email address isn’t enough, include a parent’s or other trusted adult’s phone number for contact.

Job and Life Experiences

If your teenager has a job or previous work experience, include this information in a section titled “Experience” under her contact information. Indicate the name of the employer, the dates worked, the job title and duties. If no jobs exist, there are ways to transfer life skills and experiences into valuable, useful skills in the workplace. For example, if a teen impresses family and friends at Halloween with her costume designing and sewing skills, it’s a good bet that a local seamstress or clothing store will find these skills impressive as well.

Achievements and Abilities

You should also include academic and extra-curricular achievements and awards in a section titled “Achievements and Abilities.” List everything from winning the school spelling competition, to membership on the student council, to sports-associated trophies and medals. If the teen made the honor roll during elementary school and one year into high school, you should note that in this section, too. Good grades show employers a teenager's motivation and strong work ethic.

Involvement and Skills

In a section titled “Extracurricular Activities,” highlight the teen’s activities -- such as playing football, running track, or dancing – noting the dates of participation. Include any clubs and positions the teen held in the community and at school. If he helped organize a food drive for a religious organization, you should note it, as this kind of involvement shows dedication, a willingness to help others and compassion for the world at large. If your child is a three-sport athlete, this shows reliability. In addition, include any skill that pertains to a desired job, such as computer skills for a research assistant position.

Language and Presence

Eye-catching prose stands out on a resume. Express achievements by using action-driven words such as “formed,” initiated,” “improved” and “arranged.” Finally, make sure the resume is free of grammar and spelling errors. There's no room for error when writing a resume for a student with no work experience. The Indeed Career Guide website offers teen resume examples that you may find helpful.

• United States Department of Labor: Youth and Labor
• Indeed Career Guide: Resume Examples for Teens: Template and Writing Tips

Based in Los Angeles, Lisa Finn has been writing professionally for 20 years. Her print and online articles appear in magazines and websites such as "Spa Magazine," "L.A. Parent," "Business," the Famous Footwear blog and many others. She also ghostwrites for mompreneurs and business owners who appear regularly on shows such as Ricki Lake, HGTV, Carson Daly and The Today Show.

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Resume Example for Teens + templates and tips

As a teen, looking for a job can be overwhelming, but it shouldn't be with a good teen resume.

All resume examples in this guide

Resume example for teens

Marry Jane 1245, West San Jose 734-394-5090 [email protected]

Professional Objective

A dedicated and responsible individual with an attention to detail. Multi-tasker who has handled various tasks while volunteering for an organization. Looking forward to building my skills and explore more by being an asset to the company.

Work Experience

Volunteer experience We Make Change, West San Jose (2018-2019)

• Organized donation drives that got 3x more donations than previous campaigns
• Collaborated with fellow volunteers and came up with creative solutions to tackle problems
• Used social media handles to reach out to more people for donations
• Set up new methods to carry out the functioning of the organization
• Communication skills
• Time management
• Multi-tasking skills
• Computer proficiency
• Detail-oriented

Academic Achievements

• Won the best presentation award
• Secured third in an art competition
• Head of sports club
• Team leader of group activity

Wonder high school, Ongoing

• GPA - 3.5/4
• English - Intermediate
• French - Basic

And by good, we don’t mean making it all fancy by adding your experiences to fit the job. Obviously, as a teen, you don't need to have all the experience in the world to land your first job. You may already have the skills required for the job; you just need to describe them in a way that pleases recruiters.

But don't worry about it! We're here to tell you just that with some tips, templates along with resume examples for teens (like you!) for you to land your first job and get your first paycheck.

Before we get into the writing tips to create your teen resume, let’s take a look at one of the teenage resume examples for teens below:

This is just one resume example for teens. If you want to see more, you can check out our other resume examples .

What to Put on a Resume for a Teenager

As a teenager, you don’t have to make your resume look like you’ve had all the experience to fit the job description. So, relax; we’ll show you how to write it outstandingly step by step.

You can add the following sections on your teen resume to attract employers:

• Contact Information
• Career Objective
• Volunteer Experience (Only if you’ve volunteered)
• Extracurriculars
• Achievements

Here, instead of a professional work experience section, you can either add your volunteering experience or anything you've done so far, be it babysitting, hosting a birthday party, or anything. It doesn't have to be about professional office jobs, so take it easy.

If you haven’t volunteered anywhere, you can sign up for one. But if there’s a time constraint, you can omit that section in your resume, and it’s totally okay! But you need to add your contact information at the very beginning.

Here are two quick writing tips for writing a good resume to help you:

The layout for a Teen Resume (and how to make It appealing)

The layout of a resume is how you align your text and use colors. You need to make it visually appealing, as that's what grabs the attention of anyone. Well, even recruiters' attention! We’ll help you make a good first impression with your resume layout here:

Resume for teens with pointers are easy to read, and it’s easy for recruiters to scan. Since recruiters don't spend much time reading every resume, having bullet points would be best for your future employers.

Don’t make the following mistakes:

• Adding sentences with more than two lines.
• Keeping the font size too small or too big.
• Not using numbers or numbering the lists wrong

Use subtle colors and standard font size so that it doesn’t strain the eyes of hiring managers. Don’t use flashy colors like red and neon as they may not look professional. Give attention to these little details to make them appealing.

A well-structured resume will make you stand out of the crowd.

The best resume example format

Formatting your teen resume is the next crucial step. There should be a flow in your resume for teens so that hiring managers don't have to take longer to look for relevant information. The three standard ways to structure your teen resume are as follows:

The best format for a teen is to go with chronological order, where you put your education details in the beginning.

Start with the Header

Let's jump into the basics of creating a teen resume now. It’ll be a great kickstart for your career with a good resume.

The header is the first line that your recruiter sees. Just like the way you clicked this article after reading the heading, your hiring managers will pick your teen resume if your heading is good.

A good & a bad header for teenagers

We’ve given here two resume examples for teens of an incorrect and a correct header to give you an idea.

I am Mary Jane, I live in Texas, I am a babysitter, and I'm looking for a job. My professional email address is [email protected]

As you can see in the resume examples for teens, the first header is unprofessional, and the email address is too. The second one is clear, and the professional email address looks formal too.

Another thing that most people get confused about while writing a resume is adding your photo or not. Well, the thing is, if it is mentioned in the job description, you need to addit. Otherwise, don't include it. Adding a photo can be a distraction and lead to discrimination which is why in the US and the UK, they reject your application right away if there's a photo in your resume.

About me: how to write a professional objective with no experience

This section is where you talk about yourself and your skills. You should not only add what you do but also add how you do it. It shows how you approach things and whether you're responsible enough to handle them independently or not. This example is perfect for teenagers to tell the hiring managers what they can without having work experience.

If you have any work experience like we mentioned earlier, you can add a professional summary instead of an objective. But, for now, you can stick to the objective to land your first job. To give you a clear picture of how a professional objective should be, here are two examples of the correct and the incorrect.

Responsible individual with attention to detail and people skills. Managed donation drives end-to-end smoothly and gathered 3x donations by actively marketing, participating, and involving everyone in the team.

Hardworking and people-centric individual who can take up marketing roles and be the best in them. I'm looking for a similar job in your company.

The incorrect one does not seem professional, and it just says you can take up marketing roles but nothing but what you have done previously to be best at it. However, the correct example shows your skills and the outcome of managing the drive, which is great.

It means you can take up any responsibility and produce better results. Keep it relevant to the job.

Experience (+ what to do if you have no experience)

You may have no experience or have little experience doing summer jobs . If you have done any, you can add it in this section. It's alright if you have no experience. You can add the little things you have done in your neighborhood and high school.

Likewise, you can add your hobbies and interests, extracurricular activities, babysitting experience, and volunteer work. Add what you did in your high school and focus on your cover letter.

Here is an example of a high school resume:

Resume Example of experience for teens

Volunteer Work

We Make Change Org, 2020

• Responsible for successful implementation of donation drives in and around the city.
• Increased donation by 5x in 3 months by reaching out to people on various social media platforms.
• Collaborated with other volunteers, brainstormed ways to help the needy, and came up with practical solutions.

Highlight your education

The next section of the resume for teens is your education. You should add the high school you're studying in, your GPA, graduation date, and coursework here. If you have taken up any other courses online or elsewhere, you can include them too.

How to include your education

In this resume example for teens, here is how you write your education details with your high school:

Mountain Academy

Meansville, GA - Ongoing

Skills: best allies of teens with no work experience

Introduce the skills section and include both your hard and soft skills. Here is an example of it in our resume for teens. You can fill in as many you wish:

• Creative Problem Solving
• Customer Service
• Multi-Task Management
• Cheerful and energetic
• Computer Literate
• Team collaboration
• Resolution-oriented
• Weekly Payroll
• Team Leadership
• Approachable
• Excellent time management
• Cold Calling

What are the most sought-after skills for teenagers?

You need to add your hard skills like the software programs you’ve used in your high school or out of your interest and the soft skills in your resume.

If you've participated in a debate competition or any group project in your high school as a high school student, you can add communication and leadership skills too. To give you an idea, you can fill in the following skills:

• Microsoft excel
• Microsoft word
• Graphic design
• Public speaking
• Computer skills
• Coding skills
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Positive outlook
• Perfect attendance record
• Dedicated team player
• Reliable and dependable
• Excellent multi-tasker
• Professional and mature

You should add skills relevant to the job you're applying to, as that's what the recruiters will be looking at. They try to map the skills to the job and see how well you can complete the assigned tasks. It's very important not to add skills that are not relevant for the job.

Additional Headings for your Accounts Manager Resume

In a student resume, you need to add a section with a few headings that we'll show you here. In this section, you need to add your interests, languages that you know, and the certifications that you have gained so far. As someone new to the field this section can give you an edge over others.

Say, for example, if you know multiple languages and you're applying for a customer support job, it will quickly catch the attention of recruiters, and you'll get a call for sure . So, this section is very important when you're writing a student's resume. We also have a resume template with this section where you can check out.

Computer skills and certifications

If you've worked on your high school projects or designed posters as a club member for fests, or if you have made a good presentation in your group project, then these are some of the skills that can be added. In our resume examples for teens, we’ll show you what to include.

It can be any software you've worked on. You can write you have photoshop skills, proficient in PowerPoint and Microsoft word or excel. Add them in this section to get a call from the recruiters. People who are hardworking are always preferred.

Here, you need to write about your interests and hobbies. Adding this section shows recruiters your interests beyond the job responsibilities and how you can contribute to the company with a broad range of skills.

Writing a resume is easy when you have a resume template with you. In this section, add all the languages that you know so far. Being multilingual is great in any workforce. It brings people together and helps you network with a wide range of people too in your career. So, this is a perfect addition to your resume if you know several languages.

Formation this section in the following way:

Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Photoshop, Microsoft excel

Blogging, child care, art, volunteer work

• English (Advanced)
• Spanish (Intermediate)

What other sections to include?

You can add references in a separate section after the additional section where you can ask the organization you've volunteered for referring to you. You can ask for references from all the places you've worked and add them in this section, so the hiring managers know how you work through them. You can write a great resume by adding this section. You can also write your accomplishments and certifications you’ve received or online courses you’ve done to make it more impressive.

After completing your resume, you can check out Job search sites (or job search engines) and start applying. You can also go through our resume template to finish writing your resume quickly.

Summary: Key Points for Writing a resume for teenagers (even without experience)

That’s about it! Now that you know how to create your resume, you should ensure it is not more than one page, and everything is to the point. Let’s take a quick recap here:

• Format your resume with professional colors and layouts
• Structure your resume in the chronological order
• Add a good resume objective
• Add your experience and the responsibilities held if you have volunteered
• Make use of resume templates to write impressive resumes
• Include both your hard and soft skills
• Write your achievements, languages are known, and certifications in the additional section.
• Don’t forget to add your contact information such as your phone number, email address, and social media handles (preferable LinkedIn)
• Add referrals in the end.

Write a Cover Letter that matches your resume perfectly

If you want to know how to write one, you can check out a few resume samples of cover letters.

Have a look at the Best online jobs for teens and some of our templates to craft a good professional resume.

FAQs about resumes for teens

Can a 14-year-old have a resume.

Yes, of course, a 14-year-old can have a resume. If you're looking for part-time jobs, you need to write a resume to attract the attention of the employers by keeping it relevant to the job. Writing resumes can be a challenging task initially, but we've given you some examples of resumes, sample resumes, and cover letters to help you out in this article.

What should a 14-year-old put on a resume?

A 14-year-old should put the relevant skills, education, contact details, volunteer experience, and others on a resume. You can check our resumes template to write one and our sample resumes and cover letters.

How does a 14-year-old make a resume?

You can create a resume using a resume builder where you just have to add your details and choose your template, and the resume builder will automatically make one for you. Whether you're applying for part-time or internships, you can add all the sections we've mentioned for the employers to know better about you.

What should a teenager include in a first job resume?

A teenager can include volunteer experience, babysitting experience, hard skills like computer proficiency and knowledge of different software, and soft skills in a professional resume. You need to keep it relevant to the job you’re applying to. Check out our sample resume and use our resume builder to create a great resume for you.

Create your resume with the best templates

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Create your resume in 15 minutes

Our free collection of expertly designed cover letter templates will help you stand out from the crowd and get one step closer to your dream job.

Sample letters to download

Cover Letter

Advice for getting a job, instructions.

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Get help with your resume! Checkout the wiki and/or sidebar for resources and info!

I'm a 15-year-old with no work experience applying to be an Aquatic Program Assistant. Please roast the hell of my resume and decide if I need one of those online formats thanks.