How to Write a Resume with No Previous Job Experience

You may have more job skills than you think.

Traditional resumes typically follow a chronological format that identifies job titles, employers, responsibilities, wages and the number of years each position was held. For students, recent graduates or homemakers, a more accommodating summary of acquired knowledge and talents is a format called the functional or skills resume. This form of presentation provides prospective supervisors with a concise overview of those tasks to which an applicant might best be suited.

Instructions

1. Create a list of everything that you know how to do with a solid level of proficiency. Examples: Creative writing, graphic design, photography, typing, shorthand, key data entry, cooking, carpentry, cleaning, gardening, public speaking, sports, problem solving, bargain shopping. In concert with this list, identify any awards or commendations you have received as well as any leadership roles you have held at school, in your church or as the member of a club.

2. Make a second list for your academic credentials, fields of study and any specialized training, certifications or professional licenses you have received. Examples of the latter include computer training, CPR and first aid, real estate, vehicular licenses, martial arts, equestrian training, foreign language study.

3. Write down all of the volunteer activities you've had at your school or in your community on a third list. Examples include event planning, fund raising, participating as a mentor in after-school programs, reading stories aloud at the library, making cakes for bake sales, organizing yard sales, putting on music or theatrical programs, selling tickets, making speeches, designing posters.

4. Study the qualifications and desirable personality traits referenced in the job specifications sheet or classified ad. From the three lists you've made, extract those experiences that best meet what the employer is looking for. Cluster these experiences under headings such as organizing, supervising, delegating, decision-making, communications, creative arts, financial management.

5. Open a new document in Word, set your margins for one inch on each side, select single-spacing, and choose a 12 point font such as Courier, Times New Roman or Bookman for your resume's content. Center your name and full contact information at the top of the page.

6. Define your career objective at the left margin and three lines down from your contact information. A career objective is a concise sentence that tells the reader at a glance the type of employment opportunity you're seeking. Example: Seeking an entry-level administrative assistant position in an academic environment that will allow me to use my fluency in English, French and Italian to help students locate affordable housing.

7. Structure your resume so that the most significant or unique qualification is listed first. For students, the first heading below the career objective is often their educational background and specifies their course of study, their degree and grade-point average (including anticipated date of graduation if still enrolled), and the name of the institution. For non-students, the first heading is likely to be their volunteer experience. Academic credentials would then be last.

8. Use bullet points or asterisks to list related experiences under each cluster heading. Example:

   VOLUNTEERISM

   *Delivering meals and running errands for home-bound seniors
   *Recording books for the blind

9. Use a separate page to list the contact information for any personal references who can vouch for your skills and character. Examples include teachers, members of the clergy and directors or fellow members of volunteer agencies.

Tips & Warnings

• One size does not fit all when it comes to resumes. Tailor each resume to the specific job for which you're applying. Rearrange your entries so that you can spotlight the skill sets that are the best match for each position.

• Your resume should not exceed one page and should be devoid of artwork, cartoons or a picture of yourself.

• Never include spouses, parents or other family members on your list of personal references.

References

• "The Only Resume and Cover Letter Book You'll Ever Need: 600 Resumes for All Industries 600 Cover Letters for Every Situation 150 Positions from Entry Level to CEO"; Richard Wallace; 2008
• "Amazing Resumes: What Employers Want to See---and How to Say It"; Jim Bright, Joanne Earl; 2009
• "New Resume New Career: Get the Job You Want with the Skills and Experience You Already Have"; Catherine Jewell; 2010

Resources

• "Easy Job: No Experience, Student, Just Graduate or First Job Resume?"
• "Rockport Institute: How to Write a Masterpiece of a Resume"
• "UC Santa Cruz: No Work Experience Resume Example"