A CV (or resume) is a short document that shows an employer why you are worth an interview. Without work history, the key is to show skills and proof in other ways.
Direct answer
To write a CV with no experience, put your contact details and a short profile at the top, then projects, volunteering and education, then skills. For each item say what you did and what changed. Keep it to one page, tailor it to each job using words from the job post and proofread it carefully.
CV order for beginners
- Name and contact: phone, email, city, LinkedIn if you have one.
- Profile: two or three lines about who you are and what you want.
- Education: school, dates, relevant subjects or results.
- Projects, volunteering, activities: your best evidence.
- Work experience: any part-time or informal work.
- Skills: specific ones, such as Excel, customer service, languages.
Write a strong profile
Reliable school leaver with experience organising community events and volunteering at a food bank. Looking for an entry-level customer service role where I can learn fast and help people.
Turn activities into bullets
Pattern: verb + what + result.
- Organised a school fundraiser for 120 people and raised the funds needed for new equipment.
- Helped customers at a family shop on weekends, handling cash and stock counts.
- Led a four-person group project and presented the findings to the class.
If you have no number, describe the outcome.
Skills to list
Use the words in the job post, where they are true: communication, teamwork, time management, basic computer skills, languages, customer service. Back them up with examples in the bullets above.
What to avoid
- Long paragraphs
- Spelling mistakes
- Using one CV for every job
- Lying. Interviewers will ask.
- Fancy fonts and graphics that break automated scanners
Next documents
A CV works best with a cover letter and a LinkedIn profile. For the job search itself, see how to get a job with no experience.
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's How to Get Noticed by Employers course walks you through finding your existing skills, building proof without a job, and writing a CV, cover letter and LinkedIn profile that recruiters read. It is for students, graduates and anyone starting out, and free to start.
The bottom line
A good CV is short, specific and matched to the job. Prove it with examples.
