How to Make a Resume When You Have Little or No Experience
As a savvy job seeker, you know your resume is your first impression on the hiring manager. And you want to make it a good one.
However, no matter how much you try, your resume is too short. You know you can do the job, but how do you convey that to the hiring manager when your resume doesn’t even fill out the page?
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a young professional, or a stay-at-home parent, you may have limited professional work experience. But most employers prefer resumes to be one page long, and that can prove challenging if you don’t have an extensive work history.
Below, we’re sharing a few tips to help you expand your resume to one page.
Resume Formatting
Lately, you might have see a lot of trendy resume templates featuring bright graphics, colors, and varied fonts. While these may look pretty, they’re not practical for an online job search. And many applicant tracking systems (or ATSs) can’t read these resumes, which could lead to yours being automatically rejected.
Instead, stick to a classic resume format. Focus on your job experience and skills, which are much more likely to impress a hiring manager than neat graphics.
Lacking Experience? How to Fill Out Your Resume
So, how can you create a resume that grabs the attention of hiring managers and advances you to the interview? Below are a few best practices.
— Include Your Contact Information
This may sound obvious, but you need to include a way for the hiring manager to contact you. However, these days, you don’t need to list your full home address unless you’re mailing in an application. Instead, you should add a professional email address (something like your first and last name—don’t put “hotplantdaddy@aol.com”) and a phone number.
While you don’t need to include your full address, it’s still advisable to put a city and zip code, as many employers still hire based on location.
In addition, you should also include a link to your LinkedIn profile or an online portfolio, if you have one. Over 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn to research candidates, which makes it a crucial part of your job search strategy and a must to include in your resume.
Afterward, your contact information section should look something like this:
Jane Doe
New York, New York 10036
555-555-5555
jdoe@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/j-doe
— Keep It Readable
You’re not going to get the interview if the hiring manager can’t read your resume. Resist the urge to put in fancy script fonts, and opt for more accessible fonts, like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Georgia.
Also, don’t use a tiny font size to squeeze in more information on your resume. Remember, your resume’s job is to market you and get the interview, not give a hiring manager your entire work history. Anything less than 11-point font is too small for someone to read.
— Include Internships or Volunteer Experience
If you’re a recent college graduate, you may have very limited work experience (if any). However, you do have other valuable experience employers value.
For example, you could list extracurricular activities. If you were President of the French Club at your college, you could include any relevant tasks and the skills you honed.
Also, don’t forget to include relevant internships or work-study programs, as well as any volunteer work you’ve done. Experience is experience, whether you were paid for it or not.
Here’s an example of what volunteer experience could look like on your resume:
Bilingual Volunteer Communications Specialist
Local City Free Health Clinic
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- Created a bilingual social media campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- Collaborated with physicians to translate health education materials into Mandarin.
- Managed 10 email outreach campaigns and coordinated communications with press.
— Add Relevant Education
Your education is an important part of your resume, especially if you have limited work experience. For new graduates, your education should be at the top of your resume. If you’re a more experienced professional, you can move it to the bottom, or include it to address an employment gap.
When listing your education, you should include your school’s name, the degree earned, and your GPA (if it’s a 3.5 or above). However, you don’t need to include your graduation dates. This is especially true if you’re an older job applicant—this is a crucial step to combat ageism in your job search.
Here’s what your education section should look like:
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC
Bachelor of Science, Data Analytics (GPA 4.0)
You can also include a minor:
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC
Bachelor of Science, Data Analytics, Minor in Statistics (GPA 4.0)
— Focus on Key Skills
Even if you’re a fresh college graduate who’s never had a formal job, you’ve probably developed some key skills employers want. For example, the following are just a few examples of what employers consider must-have skills:
- Communication
- Foreign languages
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Writing
You’ve likely honed some of these skills from volunteering, extracurricular activities, or even collaborating on a group project for a class. When tailoring your resume to different positions, print out a copy of the job description, and highlight any relevant skills you already have. You can also note any skill gaps and look for courses or other ways to hone those skills.
Fill Out Your Resume With Ease
Sometimes, if you have limited working experience, it can lead to a short resume. However, a lack of formal job experience doesn’t mean you’re not qualified for the position. By focusing on your key skills, education, and volunteer experience, you can fill out a short resume in a way that grabs the attention of hiring managers.