How to Write a CV With No Experience

Nobody recruiting for a Saturday job, an apprenticeship or an entry-level role expects a list of previous employers. They know the job may be your first. What they want to see is evidence of a few basic qualities, and a CV that is tidy, honest and free of mistakes is itself part of that evidence.

• Reliability: turning up, being on time, finishing what you start.
• Attitude: willingness to learn and to do the less interesting tasks.
• Working with people: teamwork, politeness, dealing with the public.
• Basic skills: reading, writing, numbers, and everyday technology.
• Interest in this job: a reason for applying that is about them, not only about you.

Make a list of everything you have done in the last few years that involved responsibility, effort or other people. Most people find they have more than they expected.

• School or college: group projects, presentations, prefect or mentor roles, school council, helping at open evenings, work experience weeks.
• Volunteering: charity shops, food banks, youth groups, places of worship, community events, fundraising.
• Clubs, sport and activities: teams, cadets, Scouts or Guides, music, drama, awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the UK.
• Informal work: babysitting, dog walking, gardening, paper rounds, helping in a family business, selling items online.
• Caring and home responsibilities: looking after children or relatives, managing a household budget, organising appointments.
• Personal projects: building a website, running a social media page, repairing bikes or computers, making and selling crafts.
• Courses and certificates: first aid, food hygiene, online courses, a driving licence.

Anything on this list can go on your CV under a heading such as 'Experience', 'Volunteering' or 'Projects and activities', written up in the same way as a job.

• Name and contact details: phone number, a sensible email address and your town or city. No photo, date of birth or full address.
• Opening statement: two to four lines on who you are, what you offer and the kind of role you want.
• Education or key skills: school leavers usually put education next; returners usually do better with a key skills section next.
• Experience, volunteering and activities: each with a title, the organisation or setting, dates and two or three bullet points.
• Skills: practical skills such as software, languages and certificates.
• Interests: optional, and only if they say something useful about you.

One page is the right length. A single well-filled page is stronger than two thin ones, in the UK as well as the US.

Do not start by pointing out what you lack. Start with what you have. Compare 'Although I have no work experience, I am keen to learn' with the following examples.

School leaver: 'Reliable and organised school leaver with GCSEs including English and Maths at grade 5. Two years as a volunteer at a weekend youth football club, setting up equipment and helping coach the under-9s. Looking for an apprenticeship in business administration.'

Returner: 'Organised and practical parent returning to work after eight years raising a family. Recent experience as a volunteer in a school office and as secretary of a parent-teacher association, handling enquiries, records and event planning. Seeking a part-time administrative role.'

US first job: 'Dependable high school graduate with two years of volunteer experience at a community food pantry, sorting donations and assisting visitors. Comfortable with cash handling from school fundraising events. Seeking an entry-level retail position.'

For each item, write two or three bullets that begin with an action word and say what you did, how much of it, and what came of it. Small, true details are more convincing than big claims.

• Instead of 'Helped at a charity shop', write 'Served customers, sorted donations and operated the till during a weekly four-hour shift for over a year.'
• Instead of 'Babysitting', write 'Looked after two children aged four and seven for a neighbouring family two evenings a week, including meals and bedtime routines.'
• Instead of 'Member of school council', write 'Represented my year group on the school council and presented a proposal for a new recycling scheme to senior staff.'
• Instead of 'Cared for a relative', write 'Managed medication schedules, appointments and household budgeting as the main carer for a family member.'

Never invent experience or qualifications. Entry-level employers check references from teachers, volunteer coordinators and others, and an honest short CV beats an impressive false one.

Choose skills from the job advert that you can back up with one of your examples. Useful ones for a first job include customer service, cash handling, teamwork, timekeeping, following instructions, basic IT such as word processing, spreadsheets and email, and any languages you speak. Add certificates such as first aid or food hygiene, and a driving licence if you have one. Avoid a long list of adjectives with nothing behind them.

Returners often undersell themselves. Years spent raising children, caring for someone or managing a household involve planning, budgeting, negotiating and coping under pressure. Name the break plainly in one line, include anything you did alongside it, such as volunteering, committees or courses, and bring earlier jobs back in even if they were a long time ago, summarised briefly. A short refresher course in current office software is an easy way to show your skills are up to date. Our guide to explaining employment gaps covers the wording in more detail.

• Name: CV in the UK, resume in the US. Use the word the employer uses.
• Education: in the UK list GCSEs, A-levels, BTECs or T Levels with grades; in the US list your high school diploma or GED, graduation year, and GPA if it is strong.
• Spelling: British in the UK, such as 'organised'; American in the US, such as 'organized'.
• Opening section: usually called a personal statement in the UK and a summary or objective in the US. A short objective is still acceptable on a first US resume.
• Routes in: apprenticeships and traineeships are common first steps in the UK; internships and entry-level hourly jobs are more typical in the US.
• In both countries: no photo, no date of birth, one page, and references given only when asked.

• Ask a teacher, careers adviser, family member or friend to proofread it.
• Check your phone number and email address are correct, and that your voicemail greeting is sensible.
• Save it as a PDF with your name in the file name, unless the employer asks for another format.
• Adjust the opening statement and skills for each job you apply for.
• Add a short cover letter or email explaining why you want this particular job.