Resume Tips for Students with No Work Experience

Putting together a resume when you’ve never had a job before can feel a bit like writing a story with no beginning. You’re staring at a blank page, unsure how to make yourself sound employable when your experience section looks a bit bare. But here’s the good news: every professional started where you are now. No one comes out of high school or uni with a fully loaded CV, and that’s completely fine.

The truth is, a lack of work experience doesn’t mean you don’t have anything valuable to offer. You just need to learn how to highlight what you do have — and that’s where a strong, well-thought-out resume comes in. Whether you're applying for your first part-time job, an internship, or a graduate position, these tips will help you create a resume that stands out for all the right reasons.

Focus on what you can offer, not what you haven’t done

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that a resume is just a list of past jobs. But it’s really a chance to introduce yourself, your strengths, your potential, and your attitude. Instead of worrying about what’s missing, focus on showcasing your enthusiasm, your willingness to learn, and the skills you’ve picked up in other areas of life.

Have you worked on school projects? Taken part in group assignments at uni? Volunteered, babysat, or helped out at family events? These might not be paid roles, but they still show responsibility, communication, teamwork and initiative — all things employers value highly.

Use a clean, simple format

Your resume should be easy to read at a glance. Stick to a clean layout with clear headings, consistent fonts, and plenty of white space. As tempting as it is to make it flashy, avoid using bright colours or over-the-top graphics unless you’re going for a creative industry where that kind of flair is expected.

Start with your name and contact details at the top. Make sure your email address is professional (avoid anything like partygirl99@hotmail.com — it’s worth creating a new one just for job hunting). Then follow with a short summary or objective, your education, relevant skills, any experience, and extra sections like activities or achievements.

Highlight your education

As a student with no formal work history, your education is one of your strongest assets. Include the name of your school or university, your course or subjects, and your expected graduation year. If you’ve done well academically, you might want to include your ATAR or GPA, but only if it strengthens your application.

You can also list relevant coursework, particularly if you’ve done any units that relate to the role you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a job in admin and you’ve done a subject on spreadsheets or digital literacy, make a note of it.

Emphasise transferable skills

Transferable skills are abilities you can use in almost any job, and they’re especially important when you don’t have formal work experience. Think about things like communication, organisation, time management, teamwork, customer service, or basic IT skills.

Try to give examples. Instead of just listing “teamwork”, you could say:“Worked collaboratively in a five-person group to design and deliver a final year science presentation, resulting in a distinction grade.”

That gives the employer more context and shows how you've applied the skill in real life.

Keep your language confident (but not over the top)

There’s a balance to strike between sounding professional and sounding robotic. Use confident, active language — words like “organised”, “assisted”, “created”, “participated in”, “led”, “managed”, and “achieved” all help to show that you’ve taken initiative. Avoid weak phrases like “I think” or “I hope” and instead focus on what you have done, even if it seems small.

Don’t try to over-inflate your experience, though. Employers can spot exaggeration a mile off, and it’s much better to be honest and real than to oversell yourself. Remember, they’re not expecting you to be a seasoned professional — they just want to see that you’re capable and motivated.

Proofread, then proofread again

Nothing turns off an employer faster than a resume full of typos and sloppy formatting. Run a spell check, but don’t rely on it alone. Read your resume out loud to catch awkward phrasing or missing words. Ask a friend, parent, teacher, or careers advisor to look over it as well — a fresh pair of eyes can spot things you might miss.

Final thoughts

Writing your first resume is a bit of a rite of passage. It might feel uncomfortable at first, especially when you’re trying to sell yourself without much job history to back you up. But you have more to offer than you probably realise. With the right structure, a focus on your strengths, and a bit of attention to detail, you can create a resume that shows employers you’re ready to learn, ready to work, and ready to grow.

So don’t stress about what you haven’t done. Focus on what you can do — and go from there. Everyone starts somewhere.

If you’d like personalised support—whether it’s professional Resume and Cover Letter writing, FIFO Resume, Employer Sponsorship Resumes and Cover Letters, SEEK and LinkedIn profile optimisation, Selection Criteria for Government Jobs, one-on-one Job Interview Coaching or Other Professional Writing Services —call us on 0423 686 904 or email us at hello@adriennasresumes.com