Building a Resume Without Work Experience: Step-by-Step on What to Include

• Chris The Grad
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• June 21, 2025

By: Chris the Graduate 

Let’s be honest, writing your first resume right after high school can feel a little awkward. If you’ve never had a “real job” before, you might be wondering what you’re even supposed to put on it. But here’s the thing: you probably have more experience than you realize. Whether it’s school, volunteering, or side gigs, all of it can help you stand out. This guide will walk you through what to include on your resume and how to make it work for you.

At the top of your resume, you’ll want to keep it simple and clean. Include your full name, phone number, and a professional-looking email address. That means no usernames like “@baller4life” or “@crazycatlover123” stick with something straightforward like janesmith@gmail.com. You can also add your city and state (no longer required to include a full street address), and, if applicable, link to a personal portfolio, GitHub profile, or LinkedIn profile. This info should be easy to spot and not crammed together. Think of this section as your resume’s “business card.” It’s the first thing employers see, so you want it to look sharp and organized.

Right below your contact information, include a brief statement that introduces who you are and what you’re looking for. This is called a resume objective or summary. It only needs to be a sentence or two, but it sets the tone for your whole resume. You want to let the employer know what kind of opportunity you’re after and why you’d be a great fit. For example:

“Motivated high school graduate looking for a part-time job where I can build strong customer service and teamwork skills. I’m eager to learn and committed to doing quality work.”

This short paragraph shows you’re reliable and open to growing, two major things employers look for in students or entry-level workers. If you’re applying to a specific type of job, tweak the summary to match. The more targeted it is, the better.

When you’re just starting, your education is one of your biggest strengths, so give it the spotlight it deserves. Start by listing your high school name, the city it’s in, and your graduation year (or expected graduation date). If your GPA is solid around 3.0 or above, it’s okay to include it. You should also think about any classes that relate to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying to a retail job and took business or marketing in school, that’s worth mentioning. The same goes for honors, awards, or academic achievements like the Honor Roll, AP courses, or dual credit. If you were involved in clubs, sports, or student council, those also show initiative, leadership, and time management, key things that employers love to see, even if they weren’t job-related.

No, you don’t need a traditional job to have valuable experience. Think about any responsibility you’ve had where someone relied on you to show up and do something right. Volunteering at your local church or food pantry, babysitting for your neighbors, mowing lawns, tutoring, or even helping out with school events or fundraisers, all count. The key is how you describe it. Instead of writing “helped out at food pantry,” say something like:

“Volunteered weekly to organize and distribute food to families, working with a team to serve over 100 people each day.”

 This sounds more professional and shows teamwork, reliability, and consistency. Even group projects or class presentations can be spun into experience; just focus on your role, what you learned, and how it made an impact.

This is the part of your resume where you can really highlight what you’re naturally good at and what you’ve picked up along the way. Think about the skills that make you a solid candidate for a first job. Good communication? Time management? Problem-solving? Tech savvy? These are all great additions. You can also list any software you’re comfortable with Google Docs, Excel, Canva, or even basic coding tools if you’re into that. If you’re bilingual or have experience running a social media account, managing group chats for school projects, or editing videos for fun, those can count too. Just be honest, this isn’t the place to fake it. Only include what you can do with confidence, and be ready to talk about those skills in an interview if asked. 

If you’ve been involved in any long-term activity that shows dedication, creativity, or leadership, don’t be shy, add it in. Being team captain of your soccer team, part of a robotics club, performing in theater, or helping organize prom or pep rallies are all great examples. Even hobbies like photography, music production, blogging, or streaming can show consistency, tech skills, or creativity, especially if you’ve stuck with them for a while. The goal here isn’t to list every interest you’ve ever had, but to highlight the ones that reflect qualities employers care about, like commitment, initiative, and the ability to work with others.

One of the most important resume rules, especially for a first-time,r is to keep everything short and easy to read. One page is enough. Use bullet points where it makes sense, keep fonts basic (like Arial or Calibri), and don’t try to get too flashy unless you’re applying to something super creative. You want the layout to look professional, organized, and clutter-free. Also, don’t use the same résumé for every application. Try to tweak it slightly depending on the job, adjust the summary, highlight different skills, or bring forward specific experience that fits the role. Customizing your résumé, even just a little, shows effort, and that makes a difference. 

Your first resume isn’t supposed to be perfect; it’s just the starting point. Everyone has to begin somewhere, and what matters most is that you’re putting yourself out there. You might not have a long list of jobs yet, but if you can show that you’re dependable, motivated, and willing to learn, you’ll already stand out. Focus on what you do have, write it with confidence, and remember that you’ll keep updating and improving your résumé over time. So go ahead, get started, you’re way more prepared than you think.