First job with no experience: what to put on an empty resume

Start by listing everything you have done over the past few years, even if it does not look like a job. A course you took seriously, a school project you carried through, a task you repeated for a neighbour or family member, involvement in a club or a team: all of that counts as real, concrete experience.

The goal is not to pad the list, but to spot what shows you can organize yourself, follow through on a commitment, and deliver a result. Write down each item with a line or two about exactly what you did, not just a title.

Once the list is done, sort it based on what is closest to the job you are targeting. A resume for a customer service role will not emphasize the same things as one for a warehouse position.

Your education section can take up more room than usual when it is the centerpiece of your background. Include the program, the school, and the year expected or completed. If a school project required research, teamwork, or time management, mention it in one short sentence.

A final project, a job shadowing experience, a successful presentation, or a paper graded above average can be cited if they are relevant to the job. Stay factual: describe what you actually did, not what you wish you had done.

These experiences deserve their own section, often labeled "relevant experience" rather than "work experience." An employer reading an empty resume understands very well that you are early in your journey; what they are looking for is a sign that you are reliable and able to learn.

For each item, note the context, the approximate duration, and one or two concrete tasks. Volunteering with an organization, managing a page for a student club, a personal project carried out over several weeks, or a summer job unrelated to the field you are targeting all show a real form of commitment.

Extracurricular activities such as a team sport, a student committee, or a role in a local event can also be included if they show responsibility or consistency over time.

Only list skills you could actually demonstrate if asked about them in an interview. A technical skill, such as software used at school or a tool used in a personal project, counts as long as you have genuinely practiced it.

For broader skills like teamwork or time management, tie them to a concrete example already mentioned elsewhere in the resume instead of listing them on their own. A skill with no example behind it carries less weight for a recruiter.

A two to three line summary at the top of the resume can help a recruiter quickly understand who you are without having to guess. Mention your current situation (student, recent graduate, career changer), one or two concrete strengths, and what you are looking for.

Avoid vague phrases like "motivated and dynamic person" with nothing behind them. Prefer a sentence grounded in something real: a field of study, a project you completed, a specific availability.

A well written job objective states the type of role you are looking for and, if possible, the sector. It helps the recruiter place your application without having to read between the lines.

Stay realistic about what your background actually supports. Aiming for a role far removed from everything you have done so far, with no visible connection on the resume, risks creating confusion rather than interest.

Many postings ask for a minimum amount of experience even for entry level roles. In many cases, that requirement is more of a guideline than a strict rule, especially if the rest of your profile shows motivation and transferable skills.

Apply anyway if the role interests you and you have relevant elements to present, briefly explaining in your cover letter or message why your background, even without paid experience, fits the role. Do not let this requirement discourage you every time, but do not apply blindly with no real connection to the job either.

Reread your own resume before the interview and prepare a short explanation for each item on it. A recruiter can ask about a school project or a volunteer activity in exactly the same way they would ask about a job.

Also prepare one or two questions to ask about the role or the team: it shows genuine interest and rounds out the impression the recruiter forms of you, beyond the lack of paid experience.

Should you invent experience to fill out the resume?

No. An incomplete but honest resume is better than an inflated one that falls apart under interview questions. Use your studies, projects, and volunteer work instead to show what you can do.

How long should a first resume be?

One page is usually enough for a first resume. The goal is clarity, not length.

Should you mention a summer job with no connection to the role you are targeting?

Yes, if that job shows reliability or transferable skills such as customer service or teamwork. Describe it briefly rather than leaving it out.

How do you explain a gap in your background, like a year with no studies or job?

Mention the period briefly and honestly if it comes up in the conversation, staying factual. There is no need to justify it at length on the resume itself.

Need help structuring your first resume and finding postings that match your profile?

• Canadian resume format: what Quebec employers expect
• How to adapt your resume by country: Canada, France, Switzerland, Belgium
• Write a cover letter that does not sound generic
• Finding a job on Montreal's South Shore