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CV guide

How to write a CV with no experience

Everyone starts somewhere. If you have not had a paid job yet, your CV can still show an employer that you are reliable, willing to learn and able to do the job. Here is what to put on it and how to lay it out.

What counts as experience

You probably have more than you think. All of these can go on your CV, as long as you describe them honestly.

  • Part-time or weekend jobs
  • Volunteering
  • Work experience placements
  • School or college projects
  • Sports teams, clubs and societies
  • Caring for a family member
  • Helping at events or fundraisers
  • Babysitting or pet-sitting
  • Duke of Edinburgh's Award
  • Courses and certificates

How to lay out your CV

  1. 1

    Contact details

    Your name, phone number, a professional email address and the town or city you live in. You do not need your full address.

  2. 2

    A short profile

    Two or three lines saying what you are looking for and what you bring that matches the advert.

  3. 3

    Skills, each with an example

    Pick the skills the advert asks for and back each one up with something you have actually done, such as a project, a team or a volunteering role.

  4. 4

    Education

    Put this higher up than usual, because it is your main evidence. List your qualifications and grades, newest first, and mention any relevant projects.

  5. 5

    Experience

    Volunteering, placements, part-time work or anything from the list above. Say what you did, not just where you were.

  6. 6

    Interests (optional)

    Only include interests that show something useful, such as captaining a team or running a club.

Show what you did, not just where you were

The examples below are invented. Yours should describe what you really did.

Weaker

Volunteered at a charity shop.

Stronger

Volunteered every Saturday for six months at a charity shop: served customers on the till, sorted donations and kept the shop floor tidy.

Weaker

Hard-working person looking for any job.

Stronger

Reliable sixth-form student with weekend experience helping at a busy community café. Looking for a part-time front-of-house role.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Leaving the experience section empty
  • Exaggerating what you did
  • A list of qualities with no examples
  • A photo
  • An unprofessional email address
  • The same CV for every job

Check your CV against a job

Free Job Match Analysis

Paste the job advert and see how well your CV matches it: a match percentage, your strengths, what to improve and what the employer asks for that your CV does not show yet. It is free and uses no credits.

Check my CV against a job

Want it done for you? One Application Credit gives you a tailored CV and cover letter for that job, written only from what your CV already says, plus the interview questions you are likely to be asked. See credits and pricing.

Questions about CVs with no experience

How long should a CV with no experience be?
One page is usually enough. It is better to have one full, clear page than two thin ones.
What do I put under experience if I have never had a job?
Volunteering, work experience placements, helping at events, caring for family members, school or college projects and roles in clubs or teams all count. Give the heading a name that fits, such as “Experience” or “Volunteering and projects”.
Should I include my GCSE grades?
Yes, if they are your highest qualifications. Include English and Maths in particular, because many employers ask for them.
Can I mention looking after a family member?
Yes. Caring shows you are reliable and can be trusted with responsibility. Describe what you did honestly; you do not need to give personal details.
Is it all right to apply for jobs that ask for experience?
Often, yes. Many adverts list experience as “desirable” rather than essential. If you can show the skills they want from school, volunteering or other activities, it is worth applying.