personal statement for someone with little work experience

Craft A Standout CV with No Work Experience: Examples & Tips

9 minutes to read

• 01. How to Write A CV With No Experience
• 02. CV Examples For Students With No Experience
• 03. CV Format without Experience: What to Include
• 04. References
• 05. CV Format and Layout
• 06. Tailoring Your CV to the Job
• 07. Proofread and Edit

Looking for jobs with no qualifications? This article will help you learn how to write a CV without experience. It is still possible to get a role without some experience – you have to start somewhere, right? Many employers will be willing to consider people without qualifications if they can prove their work ethic and skills.

It can be tricky writing a CV when you don’t have any professional work experience to include. There are several sections you can focus on instead to help you stand out and land your first job.

Highlight relevant skills and use examples like CV work experience, no qualification jobs, and no experience CV. Discover tips for writing a CV with no experience, including CV examples for students in the UK. Creating a compelling document highlighting your skills, education, and other relevant experiences is still possible, as we explore.

How to Write A CV With No Experience

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you to create a top CV. Remember these tips when you are looking to create a CV with no experience.

• Start with a solid personal statement or objective: Begin your CV with a summary of your career goals, skills, and what you hope to achieve. Highlight your enthusiasm, motivation, and willingness to learn.
• Emphasise your education: Since you lack work experience, focus on your educational background. Include the institution's name, degree or qualification earned, dates of study, and any relevant coursework or projects. Highlight any achievements or honours you received.
• Showcase relevant skills: Identify and highlight skills applicable to your target job or industry. These can be soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving) or technical skills (e.g., proficiency in specific software or programming languages). Provide examples of using these skills in your education or other activities.
• Highlight extracurricular activities: Include any extracurricular activities, clubs, or organizations you were involved in during your education. Focus on leadership roles, teamwork experiences, or projects demonstrating your skills and abilities.
• Volunteer or internship experience: If you have volunteered or completed any internships, include them in a separate section. Highlight the tasks you performed, skills you gained, and any accomplishments during these experiences.
• Include relevant coursework: If you've taken any courses relevant to the job you're applying for, list them separately. Mention specific projects or assignments that showcase your skills and knowledge in those areas.
• Highlight personal projects: If you've undertaken any personal projects, such as building a website, creating artwork, or developing an app, include them in a dedicated section. Briefly describe the project, your role, and any outcomes or achievements.

• Showcase certifications and training: If you have obtained any certifications or completed training programs, list them along with the issuing institution, dates, and any notable achievements.
• Tailor your CV to the job: Analyse the job description and identify the skills and qualities the employer seeks. Customise your CV by aligning your qualifications and experiences with those requirements.
• Format and layout: Keep the CV clean, well-organised, and easily read. Use clear headings, bullet points, and a professional font. Keep the document concise, ideally within one or two pages.
• Proofread and edit: Before finishing your CV, thoroughly proofread it to correct any spelling or grammatical errors. Make sure the information is accurate and up to date.
• Use a CV template or sample: To get started, search for CV templates or samples online designed for individuals with limited work experience. These templates can provide a structure and guide you through the process

CV Examples For Students With No Experience

Remember, even without work experience, you can still highlight your skills , education , and other rele vant experiences to showcase your potential to prospective employers.

Find part-time , easy jobs near you that don't require a CV. Overcome the lack of experience by showcasing previous skills and work experience in your CV. Explore opportunities like unqualified teaching assistant jobs or unqualified nursery assistant jobs.

Here are a couple of examples of student CVs that you can take as inspiration for layout, format, and elements to include:

University Student CV Example

Sixth Form Student CV Example

CV Format without Experience: What to Include

Now that you've seen several sample CVs, let's look in detail at how to format your CV and what to include. Firstly, you should work out the structure from a practical standpoint. Where is information included?

Usually, you should include contact details at the top , underneath your name. Then, the personal statement, work experience if you have it to offer, and other aspects like education, personal skills, and possibly references.

In terms of the actual information to include, and the sections of the CV, we recommend considering the following. Most people use the following structure when creating a CV for a role if they don't have relevant work experience to put at the top of the CV:

Personal Statement CV

The first section of any CV should be a personal statement tailored to the role you’re applying for. Suppose you’re applying for a job as a receptionist. In that case, your personal statement should be completely different to if you were applying for a role as a sales assistant in your local supermarket. Ensure you edit this section each time before sending your CV out.

With a personal statement, you want to answer any introduction questions a recruiter may have: Who are you? What do you offer to our company? What are you aiming for in your career?

Here are some do's and don'ts to remember while writing a personal statement.

As the job you’re applying for will be your first or one of your first, focus on your skill set rather than your limited work history. Showcase what you know and what you can bring to the company , especially modern skills that young people may more commonly possess.

Try to go into detail as much as possible when listing relevant skills. For example, if you list IT skills, name the programs you’re good at.

As well as specific qualifications and hard skills, it’s also good to include soft skills such as confidence in public speaking, a positive attitude and time-keeping skills. Giving examples of times when you’ve used these skills can help back up the points you’re trying to get across.

You should include all your education achievements from GCSEs onwards . Giving an overview of the subjects you took and your grades is a good idea.

Employers respect high grades and hard work.

If you’re still awaiting the results, including the mock exams you’ve sat or your expected results . Make sure you list your results in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent events at the top of the section.

Image by Rubén Rodriguez

Hobbies & Interests

On CVs, a hobbies section is always optional. However, if you haven’t any work experience to include, then listing your hobbies and interests can be a great way to get your skills and personality across.

Make sure any hobbies you list are not too generic. Hanging with friends or watching Netflix isn’t going to impress the recruiter. Completing a sailing course or becoming a black belt in karate shows you have the determination and a get-up-and-go attitude and a level of dedication.

A good question to ask yourself when writing this section is: "Will adding this information help me get the job? "

Employment History

We're exploring the top tips when making a resume for students with no experienc e, so, if you have no employment experience, you can always skip this section.

However, if you’ve done some work experience at school or participated in a volunteering project , this can also be included, even if it was only for a few days. It shows that you have a willingness to work and some experience at least. Here are some examples of things you could add to this section with minimal work experience:

• tutoring experience
• internships
• working in schools or as a teaching assistant
• volunteer experience
• student ambassador
• student council member
• peer mentor
• event organiser
• work experience placement/experience days
• library assistant
• sports team captain or coach

Once you've done a brainstorm on all the different types of relevant experience you could add to your CV, check out this helpful podcast for useful tips for writing a CV from scratch:

If you have no work experience, your school teacher or a family friend is an excellent reference option. Some employers will ask for references directly in the job advert. However, if this isn’t specified, then it’s perfectly fine to state that they are available upon request.

CV Format and Layout

A well-organised and visually appealing CV can leave a positive impression on employers. Consider the following formatting tips:

• Use clear and concise headings for each section (e.g., "Education," "Skills," "Volunteer Experience," etc.).
• Use bullet points to list your achievements, responsibilities, and skills. This makes it easier to read and scan.
• Choose a professional font that is professional and easy to read, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Maintain consistency in formatting, spacing, and indentation throughout the CV.
• Keep the document clean and uncluttered . Avoid excessive use of fancy fonts, colours, or graphics unless you're applying for a creative field where visual elements are expected.

Tailoring Your CV to the Job

To make your CV stand out, it's important to customise it for each job you apply to. Carefully review the job description and identify the key skills, qualifications, and experiences the employer seeks. Then, highlight the relevant skills and experiences that align with those requirements. Use similar language and keywords from the job description to make it easier for employers to recognise your suitability for the role.

If you still have trouble creating a personal statement for CV with no experience, look at this list of 5 questions you must ask when writing your personal statement.

Proofread and Edit

Before submitting your CV, proofread and edit it for any errors or inconsistencies. Here are some steps you can follow:

• Read the entire CV, focusing on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Pay attention to details such as verb tenses and subject-verb agreement.
• Use grammar and spell-checking tools to catch any obvious mistakes.
• Review the content for clarity and coherence. Ensure that the information is presented in a logical and easy-to-follow manner.
• Consider also asking a friend, family member, or mentor to review your CV. Fresh eyes can often catch errors or provide valuable feedback.

Our how to write a cv with no qualifications examples should help you to provide something that still looks professional.

By tailoring your CV to a specific job, paying attention to formatting and layout, and thoroughly proofreading it, you can increase your chances of making a positive impression on potential employers. Remember to showcase your enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and any transferable skills you possess, as these qualities can make up for the lack of work experience.

Get started on your journey today and improve your CV, even without a history in the workplace.

Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!

Ben Jacklin

Ben is a writer from the UK with a passion for all things relating to learning and tuition, especially music, arts, entertainment, and sports.

Frequently asked questions

📃 what to include on a cv without work experience.

If you have no experience in a workplace, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great CV! Include your education, as well as other personal achievements and things you are involved in within the community, such as clubs you are involved in. Any positions of responsibility you’ve held can be useful, too.

🕵🏻‍♂️ Where to find CV examples for students with no experience

Fortunately, we have provided an example above, or there are plenty of others available out there for people who want to see what others have done. If your school has a careers department, you can also ask them, they may have CV examples for students.

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Writing Summary for Resume with No Experience (+50 Examples)

It's very important to lead your resume with a strong summary statement to highlight your key skills, strengths, and career goals. In this guide, we will tell you some tips for creating a summary for a resume. Moreover, you can find 50 resume summary examples here that you can take into your resume.

Create my CV

It's hard for us to write a resume if we have no experience. It's very important to lead your resume with a strong summary statement to highlight your key skills, strengths and career goals.

So, how to write an effective summary for your resume with no experience? In this guide, we will tell you some tips for creating a summary for a resume. Moreover, you can find 50 resume summary examples here that you can take into your resume.

Key Takeaways for Resume Summary with No Experience

• The resume summary is crucial for job seekers with no experience as it highlights your relevant skills, achievements, and potential.
• Focus on transferable skills gained from academics, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, personal projects, etc.
• Highlight your education, coursework, and academic projects that demonstrate applicable knowledge and abilities.
• Convey your passion, motivation, and fit for the role/industry you are pursuing.
• Quantify accomplishments like GPA, leadership roles, and team projects where possible.
• Tailor the summary to the specific job requirements and use relevant keywords.
• The document provides 50 detailed examples of well-crafted resume summaries for varied fields.
• It also promotes TalenCat CV Maker as an easy tool to create professional resumes and leverage AI content generation, even with no prior experience.

Tips to Write a Resume with No Experience

Writing a resume when you have little or no professional experience can be challenging, but it's definitely possible to create an effective one. Here are some tips:

Lead with a strong summary statement

Begin your resume with a compelling summary that highlights your key skills, strengths, and career goals. Emphasize transferable skills you've gained from academic projects, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work.

Emphasize your education

Since you don't have extensive work experience, dedicate a prominent section to your educational background. Include your degree(s), major(s), minor(s), relevant coursework, academic achievements, and any honors or awards you've received.

Highlight relevant skills

Create a skills section that showcases the abilities you've developed through your education, personal projects, or hobbies. Include both hard skills (e.g., programming languages, software proficiency) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving).

Include extracurricular activities and volunteer experience

If you've been involved in clubs, organizations, or volunteer work, include these experiences on your resume. Describe your roles, responsibilities, and any notable achievements or projects you've worked on.

Consider adding coursework or academic projects

If you've completed relevant coursework or academic projects that demonstrate your knowledge and skills, include them on your resume. Describe the project, your role, and any significant outcomes or learnings.

Tailor your resume to the job

Carefully review the job description and tweak your resume to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position you're applying for.

Use a clean and professional format

Even without extensive experience, a well-formatted resume can make a positive impression. Choose a clear and easy-to-read layout, and ensure that your resume is free of errors.

Remember, the goal is to showcase your potential and highlight the skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the role. With careful crafting and a focus on your strengths, you can create an effective resume that will help you stand out to potential employers.

Summary for Resume with No Experience

When you have little or no professional work experience, the summary section of your resume becomes particularly important. This section serves as a powerful introduction that captures the reader's attention and highlights your relevant skills, qualities, and potential contributions.

Also Read This Article:

How to Write a Summary for a Resume with No Experience

To write an effective summary for a resume with no experience, basically, you should focus on your education. Because education is the main selling point that can highlight your commitment and follow-through. Also, many employers value recent graduates for their fresh perspectives and up-to-date knowledge of current theories and practices in their field.

By emphasizing education in the summary, a candidate with no experience can quickly show their qualifications and potential to employers, making up for their lack of work history.

In addition to education, you should also follow the following tips when writing a resume summary:

• Start with a strong opening statement: Craft a compelling opening line that captures your core strengths, qualifications, or career goals. For example, "Motivated and detail-oriented recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, seeking to leverage strong analytical and communication skills in an entry-level marketing role."
• Highlight relevant skills and achievements: Identify and emphasize the key skills, knowledge, and achievements that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. These could include technical skills, academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, or personal projects.
• Demonstrate your passion and motivation: Express your enthusiasm and motivation for the role or industry you're pursuing. Highlight your eagerness to learn, grow, and contribute to the organization's success.
• Quantify your accomplishments: If possible, include quantifiable achievements or metrics that demonstrate your abilities and potential impact. For example, "Achieved a 3.8 GPA while actively participating in the Marketing Club, leading a team of 5 to develop a successful campus awareness campaign."
• Tailor the summary: Customize the summary for each job application to align with the specific requirements and keywords used in the job description. This will increase the chances of your resume being selected by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and resonating with the hiring manager.

By crafting a compelling and well-tailored summary, you can effectively showcase your potential, transferable skills, and fit for the role, even with minimal professional experience. This can help you stand out and make a strong case for why you're the ideal candidate.

50 Summary for Resume Examples with No Experience

Here are 50 summary examples for a resume with no professional experience, each over 50 words in length:

• A highly motivated and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Equipped with strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills gained through academic projects and extracurricular activities. Seeking an entry-level position in the field of marketing to leverage my passion for consumer insights and strategic thinking.
• A dedicated and resourceful individual with a proven ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Skilled in time management, teamwork, and attention to detail. Eager to contribute to an organization that values personal growth and continuous learning. Open to opportunities across various industries to develop practical experience and build a rewarding career.
• A creative and results-driven recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, skilled in digital and print media design. Possess strong problem-solving abilities and a keen eye for detail. Seeking an opportunity to unleash my creativity and contribute to innovative design solutions as a Junior Graphic Designer.
• An enthusiastic and diligent individual with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Possessing strong programming skills in Java, Python, and C++, as well as experience in database management and web development. Committed to staying updated with emerging technologies and eager to apply my knowledge in a challenging and growth-oriented environment.
• A proactive and detail-oriented recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. Adept in financial analysis, data entry, and spreadsheet proficiency. Excellent communication and organizational skills, with a proven ability to meet deadlines. Seeking an entry-level position in the finance or accounting sector to contribute my expertise and grow professionally.
• A highly adaptable and quick learner with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management. Skilled in conflict resolution, employee relations, and training facilitation. Possessing strong interpersonal and multitasking abilities. Eager to join an organization that values diversity and employee development, where I can apply my knowledge and grow within the field.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science. Knowledgeable about sustainability practices, environmental regulations, and conservation efforts. Experienced in conducting field research, data analysis, and report writing. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to environmental preservation and promote eco-friendly initiatives.
• A motivated and tech-savvy recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology. Proficient in various programming languages, database management, and network administration. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a keen interest in cybersecurity. Eager to join a dynamic organization where I can apply my technical expertise and continue learning.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management. Skilled in inventory control, logistics coordination, and data analysis. Possess excellent time management and communication abilities. Seeking a challenging role in the supply chain or logistics sector to optimize processes and contribute to operational efficiency.
• A creative thinker and strategic planner with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. Skilled in market research, social media marketing, and data analysis. Possess strong written and verbal communication skills, with a passion for developing compelling campaigns. Eager to join a dynamic marketing team and contribute innovative ideas to drive brand growth.
• A highly motivated and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Skilled in computer-aided design (CAD), project management, and problem-solving. Possess strong analytical and critical thinking abilities. Seeking an entry-level position in the engineering industry to apply my technical knowledge and contribute to innovative solutions.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. Proficient in writing, editing, and research. Experienced in social media management and content creation. Possess strong communication and multitasking skills. Eager to join a media organization and contribute to compelling storytelling and journalism.
• A passionate and creative recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Interior Design. Skilled in space planning, color theory, and 3D rendering software. Possess a keen eye for aesthetics and a strong understanding of design principles. Seeking an opportunity to contribute my design expertise and create functional and visually appealing spaces.
• A detail-oriented and analytical individual with a Bachelor's degree in Finance. Proficient in financial modeling, risk analysis, and data interpretation. Skilled in Microsoft Excel and Bloomberg Terminal. Seeking an entry-level position in the financial services industry to apply my quantitative skills and contribute to investment strategies.
• A dedicated and resourceful individual with a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management. Skilled in customer service, event planning, and operations management. Possess strong interpersonal and problem-solving abilities. Eager to join a dynamic hospitality organization and contribute to delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• A highly motivated and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Skilled in research, data analysis, and report writing. Possess strong communication and active listening abilities. Seeking an opportunity to apply my knowledge and contribute to improving mental health and well-being.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design. Skilled in product design, prototyping, and user experience (UX) principles. Proficient in CAD software and 3D printing. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative and user-friendly products.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources. Skilled in employee relations, recruitment, and training facilitation. Possess strong communication and conflict resolution abilities. Eager to join an organization that values employee development and contribute to fostering a positive workplace culture.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations. Skilled in media relations, event planning, and social media management. Possess strong written and verbal communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to strategic communication efforts and enhance brand reputation.
• A motivated and results-driven recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Skilled in data analysis, market research, and financial modeling. Possess strong analytical and critical thinking abilities. Seeking an entry-level position in the financial or consulting sector to apply my knowledge and contribute to data-driven decision-making.
• A creative and detail-oriented individual with a Bachelor's degree in Advertising. Skilled in copywriting, visual design, and campaign development. Possess strong problem-solving and time management abilities. Eager to join an agency or marketing team and contribute to innovative and impactful advertising campaigns.
• A highly motivated and ambitious individual with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Skilled in project management, construction site operations, and computer-aided design (CAD). Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to infrastructure development and sustainable construction practices.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. Skilled in research, policy analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Possess strong critical thinking and writing abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to global affairs and promote understanding between nations.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Skilled in inventory control, transportation coordination, and data analysis. Possess strong time management and problem-solving abilities. Eager to join an organization and contribute to streamlining logistics operations.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship. Skilled in business planning, market analysis, and financial projections. Possess strong leadership and communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the development and growth of a startup or small business.
• A highly motivated and ambitious individual with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. Skilled in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific writing. Possess strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an entry-level position in the pharmaceutical or research industry to apply my scientific knowledge.
• A dedicated and resourceful individual with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Skilled in case management, counseling, and community outreach. Possess strong empathy, active listening, and communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to improving the lives of individuals and communities in need.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Skilled in programming languages such as Java, Python, and C++. Proficient in database management and web development. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge software solutions and expand my technical expertise.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. Skilled in financial reporting, auditing, and tax preparation. Proficient in accounting software and Microsoft Excel. Seeking an entry-level position in the accounting or finance sector to apply my analytical skills and contribute to accurate financial reporting.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature. Skilled in research, writing, and critical analysis. Possess strong communication and editing abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to content creation, copywriting, or editorial projects.
• A highly motivated and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. Skilled in market research, social media marketing, and data analysis. Possess strong creative thinking and presentation abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to innovative marketing strategies and brand promotion efforts.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management. Skilled in recruitment, employee relations, and training facilitation. Proficient in human resources information systems (HRIS). Seeking an opportunity to contribute to talent acquisition and employee development initiatives.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Skilled in meal planning, nutrition counseling, and community education. Possess strong communication and interpersonal abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to promoting healthy eating habits and improving overall well-being.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Multimedia Design. Skilled in graphic design, video editing, and web development. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and various multimedia software. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to engaging multimedia content creation and digital storytelling.
• A motivated and results-driven recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Business Analytics. Skilled in data mining, statistical modeling, and data visualization. Proficient in programming languages such as Python and R. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to data-driven decision-making and business intelligence initiatives.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Skilled in legal research, report writing, and investigative techniques. Possess strong analytical and critical thinking abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to law enforcement or legal compliance efforts.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering. Skilled in environmental impact assessment, waste management, and sustainability practices. Possess strong problem-solving and analytical abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development initiatives.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design. Skilled in pattern making, garment construction, and trend forecasting. Possess strong attention to detail and aesthetic sensibilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the design and development of stylish and innovative fashion collections.
• A highly motivated and ambitious individual with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Skilled in circuit design, programming, and project management. Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to innovative electrical systems and technology development.
• A dedicated and resourceful individual with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. Skilled in exercise physiology, fitness assessment, and injury prevention. Possess strong interpersonal and coaching abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to promoting physical activity and overall wellness.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Event Management. Skilled in event planning, vendor coordination, and project management. Possess strong communication and multitasking abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the successful execution of memorable and impactful events.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning. Skilled in community development, zoning regulations, and sustainable design principles. Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the creation of livable and environmentally conscious urban spaces.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Music Production. Skilled in audio engineering, music composition, and sound design. Proficient in digital audio workstations (DAWs) and recording software. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the creation of captivating musical experiences.
• A highly motivated and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems. Skilled in database management, network administration, and cybersecurity principles. Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the development and maintenance of robust information technology systems.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Library Science. Skilled in cataloging, reference services, and information literacy instruction. Possess strong research and communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge in a library or information management setting.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Game Design. Skilled in game mechanics, level design, and user experience (UX) principles. Proficient in game development engines and programming languages. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the creation of engaging and immersive gaming experiences.
• A passionate and driven individual with a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology. Skilled in ethnographic research, data analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Possess strong critical thinking and writing abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to understanding diverse cultures and promoting cultural awareness.
• A motivated and results-driven recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management. Skilled in event planning, marketing, and financial analysis. Possess strong leadership and organizational abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the business operations and promotion of sports organizations.
• A detail-oriented and organized individual with a Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies. Skilled in legal research, document preparation, and case management. Possess strong attention to detail and communication abilities. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the efficient and effective functioning of a law firm or legal department.
• A creative and innovative thinker with a Bachelor's degree in Film and Television Production. Skilled in scriptwriting, directing, and video editing. Proficient in various film and video production software. Seeking an opportunity to contribute to the creation of captivating visual stories and cinematic experiences.

Easily Build Your Resume with TalenCat CV Maker

Even if you have no experience, you can still build your resume with TalenCat CV Maker with ease. TalenCat CV Maker has an intuitive resume editor that allows you to create your CV by just filling in the content.

Within TalenCat CV Maker, there are a lot of resume templates available, and you can easily change your resume design to make it look better. Moreover, you can use its AI generator to build your new resume and generate professional content.

For a job seeker with no experience, TalenCat CV Maker can always be the best resume solution.

Step 1. Log in to TalenCat CV Maker, and click the " + Create Resume " button in the top right corner to create a new resume.

Step 2. Then you need to name this resume and click the " Create " or " Create with Example " button.

• Create: You can start your creation with a completely blank resume, you need to fill in everything for your resume.
• Create with Example: You can start resume creating with a ready-to-use resume, you can change any content if it doesn't match you.

Step 3. You will get into a reactive CV editor, you can fill in your detailed information, and any content you enter will be immediately displayed in the right panel to let you have an overview of your resume.

Once you get your resume creation or editing done, you can easily export it as a PDF file or picture.

Also, you can turn on the "online share" feature to get an online link of your resume, then you can easily share your resume with others using this link.

Writing a resume summary with no professional experience can be challenging, but it's an important opportunity to showcase your potential to employers. This article provides 50 detailed examples of resume summaries for various fields, demonstrating how to effectively highlight skills, education, and potential even without work experience.

It also recommends using tools like TalenCat CV Maker to simplify the resume creation process, especially for those new to job hunting. Remember, a well-crafted summary can compensate for your lack of experience by showcasing your unique qualities, skills, and enthusiasm. This can help you stand out to potential employers and make a strong first impression.

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(With Examples) How to Write A DevOps Engineer Resume

In this article, you will learn what content you should include in your DevOps engineer resume and how to organize it to build a professional one. Also, you will get some proven examples of DevOps engineer resumes to help you easily get your resume-building started.

Researcher Resume Summary: Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

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Reset password, create a free fasthire account, how to write an excellent personal statement with zero work experience.

• April 19, 2022
• Education/Study

A complete personal statement must have included in it your work experience, even if you have zero work experience. This is valid for either a job personal statement or an admission personal statement.

Are you a fresh graduate or an individual without work experience?

Are you worried you won’t be able to write an excellent personal statement because you don’t have any work experience?

If you are, then worry no more. This article will teach you how to write an excellent personal statement without any work experience.  To begin, we will discuss what a personal statement is, the dos and don’ts of writing a personal statement, and other important information. Let’s begin!

Table of Contents

What is a Personal Statement?

A Personal Statement is an essay required by the admissions board as part of your application. This essay gives your application reviewer more information about you than what your transcripts and academic records state.

It is also an essay you write when applying for a job. It is included as part of your application documents when applying for a job, as requested by the employer. 

Your Personal Statement is an important document that has the power to either get you admitted or employed, depending on what you are using it for or not. Therefore, you must present yourself well.

Importance of a Personal Statement

A Personal Statement is of the following importance;

• It shows your intellectual prowess.
• It gives the recruiter an idea of who you are.
• Your personal statement shows your possible area of contribution to the company if employed or to the school if admitted.
• It also shows your future ambitions and aspirations.

Dos and Don’ts of a Personal Statement

The following are the things you should do and shouldn’t do in your personal statement.

• Write clearly and concisely.
• Write a story and make it about you. It’s called a personal statement for a reason.
• Start with a captivating introduction.
• Write within the required word limit.
• Proofread and correct grammar errors.
• State the reasons why you want to attend the university or college
• State the reason why you chose the company you are applying to.
• Show your strengths
• State your motivation, and personal and career goals.
• Sound enthusiastic.
• Include previous work experience.
• repeat what is on your CV or resume on your personal statement.
• exceed the word limit.
• write vaguely.
• submit your first draft.
• write in a casual tone.
• submit a poorly written personal statement.
• write your personal statement at the last minute.
• use big words. 
• write using clichés.

Do I Need Work Experience for My Personal Statement?

Yes, work experience is needed in your personal statement. However, the work experience you include should be relevant to the job you are applying for. This shows that you are serious with your career. It also shows that you, at least, have a working knowledge of how an organization functions.

If you do not have work experience, you can write about any volunteer experience that you may have had in the past. No matter how little the work was, provided it is relevant to the job you are applying for, ensure to include it. You should also include the skills and anything else that you gained while volunteering.

Personal Statement with Zero Work Experience Sample

•  Public Health Personal Statement Without Experience

How to Write a Personal Statement with Zero Work Experience

If you are writing a personal statement but have no work experience, you can write it by following these steps;

Step 1: Make an outline

Your personal statement is an important part of your application process, either for a job or for education. Therefore, before you start writing it, outline. This guides your writing.

Step 2: Brainstorm

This is the process of writing down your ideas and the possible topics or how to approach the personal statement. At this point, you write down everything that you can think about. You also write down the possible stories about you that you could tell in your statement.

Step 3: Write your first draft

Write everything that you can think of to include in your personal statement. You have to refer to the first step to guide you in writing down your story. However, do not let it restrict you at this point. Following that structure, write all that comes to mind. It is your first draft anyway, so you can be as free as possible.

Your draft should be written in the order of

• The opening statement
• The body of the personal statement
• The closing statement

For the opening statement, it is advised that you leave it as the last thing you will write. This will give you ample time to write a better attention-grabbing opening. 

The body of the personal statement is to contain your story, your intellectual trajectory, work experience, and other relevant information. In a situation where you do not have any work experience, you can do the following:

• Demonstrate your passion, motivation, and understanding of the course/role you are applying for.
• Reach out to practicing staff or students.
• Keep up to date 
• Do some further reading

These will help you better present and position yourself to be granted the job or be admitted.

For the closing statement, summarise the key points in your personal statement.  

Step 4: Rewrite and rewrite

You have to re-write the draft that you have written. You have to go over it again and again and rewrite it as much as is needed till you get a personal statement that you can submit.

Step 5: Proofread

Proofreading is an important step in your personal statement writing. You are to go through your personal statement over and over again to detect any grammar errors, typographical errors, and other errors. If you are from a non-English speaking country, get someone who speaks and writes English to go through it for you.

Step 6: Get feedback

You can give your finished copy to someone to go through it. Let the person know what to look out for and also be as critical as possible when going through it. Let them be as open and critical as possible. 

Note: To read more about how to write about work experience in your personal statement, click here .

Conclusion: How to Write Personal Statement with Zero Work Experience

Your personal statement is an important part of your application. Be sure to give it your best shot. You can follow the steps in this article to write an excellent personal statement even if you do not have any work experience.

In a case where you still need help writing your personal statement, you can contact us here . At Fasthire, we have professionals who write personal statements amidst other professional services that we render. 

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How to Write a CV With No Experience: The Format

How to write a cv with no experience for your very first job, how to write a cv without experience example, key things to remember when writing a cv with no experience, frequently asked questions, final thoughts, how to write a cv with no experience – 2024 guide + examples.

Updated November 29, 2023

When you’re writing a CV for the first time and have little or no work experience, you need to write more about your relevant soft and hard skills – to draw out why you would be a good hire. The sections that cover your education, skills and hobbies need to be data-driven and descriptive, linking your abilities to the role that you are applying for.

A CV is basically a summary of yourself that sells you to an employer. During a job application, you might be requested to send a CV with a covering letter that expresses your interest in the specific role.

To write these, you might have to get creative with how you market your skills and knowledge if you don’t yet have much work experience. This article will help you do that.

You might not have work experience if you’re a school leaver or fresh graduate, but you do have a wealth of experience in working with teams (sports, for example) or time-management (juggling your academics with extracurriculars) and even attention to detail (science experiments, maybe.)

The key is to write out everything you’ve ever done that might impress a future employer. You can start by mind-mapping or brainstorming with a friend or family member.

Then you need to nail the formatting, which is where this article comes in handy. It gives tips and examples as well as frequently asked questions to help you on your application journey.

Typically CVs fall into two categories, skills-based or experience-based. In this article, the focus is on the former – since the aim is to assist those without much experience.

You don’t want to send the same CV to everyone. You might have a basic or core CV that you then tweak for a specific job application, making sure you’re matching the skills you talk about to the actual job description.

How to write a CV with no experience is not impossible, but you want to make sure it looks as strong as possible. Getting formatting right is important when you’re looking for your first job and you’re looking to stand out amongst others.

There is always competition, but it’s hardest for graduates when there are a lot of other people in the same boat, looking for their first jobs.

There are certain items a CV should have. These are:

• Contact details
• Personal statement
• Core skills
• Education/certifications
• Experience (for example, volunteer or club experiences you might have)

There are optional extra sections you can add such as:

• Language skills/IT skills
• Hobbies and interests

Step 1 . Contact Details

This section is very simple – just add your name (usually centred in bold and a bigger font), along with a phone number and your email address.

Keep your email address sounding professional – for example, ' [email protected] ' is better than ' [email protected] '.

Bear in mind that your voicemail greeting should be equally neutral and simple. You don’t need to add your physical address, ethnicity or date of birth on your CV.

Step 2 . Personal Statement

This is a stylistic addition to CVs that works like a taster for a recruiter who is in a rush and might not read the whole CV.

It’s a two-to-five sentence summary that gives a flavour of who you are and your biggest achievements.

It helps to think of these almost as bullet points, and you can start most sentences with a verb.

You can write this last after you’ve done the rest of your CV and look at it like a frame for what follows.

For example:

Hardworking self-starter looking for roles in marketing to grow and develop my career. Worked on my college newspaper and raised circulation by 15% over two years by incorporating local advertisers. Excited to bring my attention to detail and communication skills to a bigger opportunity.

Step 3 . Core Skills

Think about what you learned at school or university that can be applied to a workplace. Can you write Powerpoints or give presentations?

That always impresses an employer.

You can also talk about general soft skills, like organisational ability or networking. How to write a CV with little experience requires you to use lateral thinking and draw upon all your extracurriculars.

If you attend workshops at your careers centre, that shows you’re proactive and engaged. Make sure you get used to adding to your core CV every couple months so you don’t forget anything new you’ve done or learned through day-to-day activities.

You can then use this as a master document to work from when you have a specific job application you’re making.

You want your CV to be memorable, so try and add something that sounds unique or different.

For example, if you did a sponsored skydive for a homelessness charity, you can use it to show that you are socially aware and able to empathise with those in different circumstances. It could even show interpersonal skills because getting sponsorship requires persuading people.

Step 4 . Education/Certifications

Your education should be written in reverse chronological order, so the more recent exams and results are displayed first.

Ideally, you want to enter your grades here but that is optional. Be sure to add dates, and you can add the names of the institutions too, if you like.

How to write a CV with little experience requires you to try and expand the education section more and make it sound as impressive as possible.

You might be surprised at what else you can put in this section. Exam results certainly, but also things like a driving licence or first aid count. You might have a lifeguarding or musical/drama qualification you can also add.

Any kind of training also counts – for example, you might have attended a workshop on gender sensitivity. Be sure to highlight what skills they have helped you develop.

For example, you could organise the section as follows:

Ten GCSEs (2022) including Triple Science (indicating an analytical mind) Merit Award (2021) in National Maths Challenge (showing logic skills) Grade 8 currently – Speech and Drama (public speaking and communications).

Step 5 . Experience

How to write a CV with no job experience is not impossible. But if you are still nervous about how to write this section, you can get professional help.

Remember, even if you weren’t paid for a role you did, it doesn’t mean you didn’t gain important business skills from it.

You can enter your volunteer roles in your CV as you would have done a paying job – specify how long you volunteered, significant tasks and the soft and hard skills you developed.

Worked in an Oxfam shop all through 2022 and learnt how to operate the checkout software, the ways to handle inventory and strong customer service skills.

Step 6 . Language Skills/IT Skills

These days, language skills are impressive and IT abilities are necessary for almost every role.

How to write a good CV with no work experience means you want to lean into these more transferable skills you might have.

Don’t be afraid to spell it out, for example:

Self-taught fluent Spanish speaker. Used Duolingo during the pandemic to achieve a 500-day streak and travelled to Spain alone (showing determination and resilience) Adept with all software packages , including statistical analysis (SPSS) Social media savvy: able to edit and produce marketing videos for various organisations

If you have a portfolio online or a particularly impressive social media following (and it’s work-appropriate), don’t be afraid to share one or two links here.

If you’re serious, you may also have a LinkedIn profile and you can also add that to your CV.

Obviously keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date and looking active with relevant shares and follows (making sure it matches the key info in your CV too) is important.

If you are sharing your LinkedIn URL, leave out the first part, so it simply reads like this: 'linkedin.com/in/NinaPatel', for example.

Step 7 . Hobbies and Interests

There is a difference between hobbies and interests: hobbies are activities you actually engage in on a regular basis, while interests are the curiosity to learn more about a topic.

So a hobby could be football (remember to talk about transferable skills like teamwork or focus), while an interest could be learning about animal taxidermy (you can link it to attention to detail or another useful trait like scientific curiosity).

There can be a lot of hobbies and interests you might want to include, but remember you are tailoring to a specific job advert.

Prioritise the items you enter in this section – for example, if you are applying for tutoring roles, employers will be keener to hear that you volunteer at the children’s library above the fact that you ran the school’s fashion show.

Other Formatting Notes

Be aware of the optimal length of a CV (no more than two pages but ideally one), the use of bullet points (they help readability) and using right font size (at least 11 for body text and above for headings).

You might also be wondering if you need to include a photo. In the UK there is no norm for including photos unless you’re applying for a job where your appearance is relevant – for example, acting or modelling.

Some big employers will often automise their CV sifting so be aware of that and use relevant keywords as much as possible.

Remember it’s not just full-time paid roles that go on your CV. How to write a CV with no job experience requires a little finesse but is doable.

Young candidates or those going through a career change should also considering adding any:

Part-time roles with relevant/transferable skills – Even if your role is working as a babysitter, there are skills like communications and delegation that you can talk about.

Internships – Ideally you have done some kind of placement through school or college, but it’s never too late to ask around local companies and offer to do some free work experience for them. Being proactive like this is a marketable trait in itself and looks great on your CV. How to write internship experience in a CV is simple — you can just break down what you did and what you learned.

Relevant voluntary work – If you visit people at a care home or if you look after a sibling it still counts as experience. You can talk about how you’re learning to manage multi-tasking or how you are building on your emotional intelligence as relevant soft skills.

Here is a sample that shows how to write experience in a CV when you have minimal working roles.

In this case, you would bulk up the sections on skills and hobbies/interests, drawing out how they were helpful in developing you as a person.

Alex Smith 4567 Adventure Road Innovation City, Tech 54321 (123) 456-7890 [email protected] Objective As a recent Information Technology graduate, I am eager to apply my technical knowledge and problem-solving skills in an entry-level IT role. I am keen on contributing to a team that values innovation and continuous learning. Education Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Tech University, Innovation City August 2019 – May 2023 Graduated with a 3.8 GPA. Relevant Coursework: Software Development, Network Security, Database Management, Web Design. Senior Project: Developed a web-based inventory management system for small businesses. Diploma in Computer Science Future Leaders High School, Cyber Town August 2015 – May 2019 Specialized in computer programming and digital technologies. Led the coding club, organizing weekly coding challenges and workshops. Core Skills Programming Proficiency: Skilled in Python, Java, and HTML/CSS. Analytical Thinking: Capable of analyzing complex problems and developing effective solutions. Teamwork and Collaboration: Experienced in working on group projects, contributing technical expertise and coordinating efforts. Quick Learner: Rapidly adapt to new technologies and programming languages. Experience Peer Tutor, Tech University September 2021 – May 2023 Tutored students in basic programming and web development, enhancing teaching and communication skills. Developed resource materials and practice exercises, showcasing organizational skills. Volunteer, Community Tech Help June 2020 – August 2022 Assisted community members with basic computer setup and troubleshooting, demonstrating technical knowledge and patience. Conducted workshops on internet safety and digital literacy for seniors. Hobbies/Interests Robotics: Build and program robots as a hobby; participated in several amateur robotics competitions. Gaming: Active in online gaming communities, developing strategic thinking and team coordination. Mountain Biking: Enjoy off-road biking, demonstrating physical fitness and a love for outdoor challenges. Other Skills Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Completed an online course in cybersecurity, gaining basic knowledge in network security and data protection. Communication: Effective communicator, capable of explaining complex technical concepts in easy-to-understand terms. Multitasking: Adept at managing multiple tasks simultaneously without compromising quality. References available upon request.

When you are looking for your first job and don’t have much experience, getting the basics right is really important.

Top tips for how to write experience in a CV are as follows:

Research the role and company – The importance of tailoring your CV can’t be overstated. Use similar skills/language as seen in the job posting for success. You can paraphrase, too, if you are referencing the same trait several times – for example, use ‘hardworking’ instead of ‘dedicated’ so that there’s not too much repetition.

Highlight your skills – Focus more on both of your hard and soft skills when you don’t have a lot of job experience.

Showcase your education – When you have no experience, your education can be a big boost – don’t forget about the different coursework/projects/extracurricular activities you’ve done either.

Proofread your CV – Always ensure it is free of errors and mistakes and get a second pair of eyes to help you. Your careers teachers at school are a good place to start. You can also ask their opinions on how to write a CV when you have no experience.

How do I write a simple CV with no experience?

Showcase your education – it can be a big boost. Highlight the different coursework/projects/extracurricular activities you’ve done too.

Be aware of the optimal length of a CV (no more than two pages), use bullet points and the right font size (at least 11 for body text and above for headings).

How do I write a CV for my first job?

Write more about your relevant soft and hard skills to draw out why you’d be a good hire. Make the education, skills and hobbies section data-driven and descriptive, linking your abilities to the role.

Research the role and company, and use similar skills/language as seen in the job posting.

How can I write a CV that highlights my volunteering roles?

Even if you weren’t paid for a role, it doesn’t mean you didn’t gain important business skills from it.

Enter your volunteer roles in your CV as you would have done a paying job – specify how long you volunteered, significant tasks and the soft and hard skills you developed.

How do I write a student CV?

Think about what you learned at school or university that can be applied to a workplace. Did you write Powerpoints or give presentations? You can also talk about general soft skills, like organisational ability or networking.

If you attend workshops at your careers centre, that shows you’re proactive and engaged.

What makes a good CV for students?

You might not have work experience, but you may have a wealth of experience in working with teams, time-management and even attention to detail.

Write out everything you’ve ever done that might impress a future employer. Then you need to pick what is a good fit for the specific job.

What is a CV for college students?

Focus on academics and the skills you’ve developed through them as well as useful extracurriculars.

Consider adding part-time roles with relevant/transferable skills – even if your role is working as a babysitter, there are skills like communications and delegation that you can talk about.

Relevant voluntary work also helps.

How do I write a CV for a fresher?

Think about all aspects of your educational background – as well as the traits or interests that make you a strong match for the job.

Write the educational section in reverse chronological, and add in any kind of training. Be sure to highlight what skills you developed.

How to write a CV without experience can seem daunting. You want to make a great first impression, so getting the CV right and focusing on hard and soft skills will help.

Make sure you have thought about all aspects of your educational background – as well as the traits or interests that make you a strong match for the job.

How to write work experience in a CV is a skill, especially when you don’t have a lot to focus on. With a bit of time and practise, you’ll be able to create a great CV showing transferable skills to help begin your dream career.

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You might also be interested in these other Psychometric Success articles:

Or explore the Application Advice / CVs sections.

CVs & Résumés

• Jan 11, 2024

How to Write a Résumé with No Relevant Experience (Example)

You can still put your best foot forward.

Mike Dalley

HR and Learning & Development Expert

Reviewed by Chris Leitch

We will all have times in our careers when we need to consider applying for jobs with little to no experience. Often, this is when we’re starting out in our careers, but also you might be thinking about relocating or changing jobs.

Applying for a job with no relevant experience is challenging, but it can be done. The process starts with a great résumé, and this article will cover what goes into one. We’ll discuss how to write a résumé with no experience, what to focus on, résumé tips, and also a sample résumé for your inspiration.

Should you apply for a job when you have no relevant experience?

There are plenty of valid and perfectly acceptable reasons for applying for jobs when you have no relevant experience.

For starters, if you’re a college graduate or looking for entry-level jobs , then you will likely have no experience at all to share with employers. Secondly, if you’re considering changing careers, then you might also have no relevant experience to share.

In many cases, employers love to hear from candidates with little to no experience. Such candidates can bring fresh perspectives and new ideas. They will often come with a wide variety of transferable skills that can be applied to many different jobs or educational achievements that can be applied to new industries.

Candidates who show a great attitude, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn can bring many benefits to the workplace, and all it takes is to ensure your résumé stands out from the crowd when the time comes to apply.

What should you include in your résumé?

A résumé should never be a list of skills and experience, and when writing a résumé for a job when you have no relevant experience, this is doubly so.

A good résumé starts with a strong personal statement, as this is where you want to grab the hiring manager’s attention and encourage them to keep reading. After this, focus the résumé on transferable skills: abilities that can be used in a variety of settings, such as communication skills , administrative ability, or technical credentials like programming ability or word processing capability.

Also include your academic achievements and qualifications, as these also hold relevance to a wide variety of situations. Talk about coursework and projects, as these can highlight transferable skills too. Also, if you have held volunteering roles or undertaken community work, these can also add an extra dimension to your application.

What’s the best résumé format?

If you have no relevant experience, steer away from a traditional chronological résumé format , which is geared to showcase work history. Instead, consider both functional and combination résumé layouts. Both are well-known and understood by recruiters.

Combination résumés balance soft skills and qualifications with an abbreviated work history section. These are good to use when you have some work history but also want to highlight academic achievements.

Functional résumés focus on categorizing skills, putting them into sections, and explaining how you have used these skills. These résumés are best to use when you have little work experience or are changing careers.

Résumé writing tips when you have no relevant experience

Carefully preparing your résumé is critical when it comes to applying for a job with no experience. Here are 10 tips to help you do just that:

1. Start with a strong objective or summary

The key to any résumé is to pique the reader’s interest.

If you have no relevant experience, then the most important thing to start with is to create an eye-catching personal statement or objective that illustrates why you want the job and what skills, education or achievements mean that you are qualified for it.

Ensure this section is tailored to the job you’re applying for (using keywords from the vacancies or job descriptions), and keep the language punchy and positive.

A good summary section should only be a few lines long. If you feel you want to add more, consider attaching a cover letter to your application as well.

2. Emphasize what you can do, not what you can’t do

When applying for a role with no relevant experience, it’s important to think positively and reference in your application everything that you can bring to the organization.

Avoid using phrases like “Although I have not worked in this field before” or “I might not have the experience you need, but I can…” as this language is passive and presents a negative “you” that might discourage recruiters from considering your application further.

Instead, ensure you reference in your résumé everything that is relevant and transferable to the role, and explain these points positively.

3. Pick and choose what to include

Focusing on what not to include in a résumé is just as important as focusing on what goes into it.

When applying for a job with no relevant experience, sometimes certain elements of a traditional résumé can be left out. This can include specific work experience that is not relevant to the job or even some qualifications that will not be applicable to the role you are applying for.

Certain résumé types , such as functional and combination formats, are structured in such a way to support you in omitting the right information so that your application is laser-focused on the things that will matter and add value to your application.

4. Proofread

When writing a résumé with no relevant experience, it's too easy to focus on the wrong information or go off on a tangent, writing about things that might not matter, just because we think more information is better.

When you have written your résumé, either proofread it yourself the day after you have written it or ask someone with a fresh pair of eyes to go over the document and see whether it makes sense and if it is concise and focuses on the job.

Go through the drafting and proofreading stages a couple of times until you are sure that you have a résumé that isn’t waffling and is highlighting the right things about your credentials.

5. Hire a professional writer

When you’re applying for a role with little to no experience, creating a résumé that will resonate with recruiters is challenging. The role of a professional résumé writer is for them to support you and write a professional modern résumé that is ATS compliant and gives you the best chance of success.

Professional résumé writers can be a great investment. They will meet with you to understand your career needs, and once it's written, you can use it over and over again.

6. Use action verbs

Action verbs can really make your résumé come to life. They are especially useful in functional or combination résumés, as they can make your skills and achievements jump off the page. They also convey experience, even if you don’t have much. Examples of action verbs include “led”, “executed”, “increased”, “managed”, “facilitated” and “analyzed”.

Using a combination of action verbs gives the best impact in a résumé, as does using them to start off bullet points . Make them even more powerful by tailoring them to job descriptions and ensuring you are using them in the same tense throughout the résumé.

7. Emphasize achievements

When writing about your skills and education in your résumé, it's important to make them jump off the page.

Tying achievements into your résumé brings it to life and shows recruiters that you not only have credentials, but you have put these to work as well. You can also talk about your achievements when writing about your extracurricular activities .

Where possible, when adding your achievements into a résumé, relate them to the organization or industry you are applying to for maximum impact. Give particularly important achievements emphasis by highlighting them in your personal statement.

8. Tailor your résumé for each application

Tailoring your résumé for each application ensures that recruiters see the context and reasoning behind your application. This can be done by talking about your motivations, education and skills, and referring to the industry or the job description at the same time.

Similarly, you might want to only include relevant skills or education that are aligned to particular roles.

Tailoring your résumé also ensures it’s ATS friendly. Aligning verbiage to words and phrases in the job description means that the résumé’s information is parsed effectively, making it pass automated screening systems.

9. Emphasize your skills section

When you have little to no relevant experience when applying for a job, your skills section is your best friend. When emphasizing your skills section, bump it to the top of your résumé, under your objective or personal statement.

But don’t just list your skills: explain them, detailing accomplishments and aligning them to the job you’re applying for.

Furthermore, highlight two or three of your strongest or most relevant skills in your personal statement. This drives home to recruiters your competencies and what you are strongest at.

10. Get the formatting right

When applying for a job using a résumé, the document is making your all-important first impression to your potential employer. Therefore, you must ensure it’s professionally laid out and expertly written.

Sure, professional résumé writers can help with this, but expert formatting only requires following a few fundamental rules .

Format your résumé consistently and spell check it too. Make sure the relevant information is meaningful, concise and accurate. Finally, ensure you present yourself positively and professionally in the résumé, as this will make recruiters sit up and take notice of your application.

Résumé example

Below, you will find an example combination résumé for someone with a finance background wanting to work in sales.

Get the ATS-Friendly template

Final thoughts

When you have little to no experience, a great résumé focuses on all the positive things you can bring to an organization in place of a work history. Typical résumés in this regard are functional or combination-based and will focus heavily on relevant skills and the education section.

Ensure that your résumé is created with care and detail, and tailored to the role you want. Ensure that it positively showcases all that you have to offer, and that everything relevant is included and everything that doesn’t need to be there is minimized or omitted. This will ensure your application is seen as relevant and aligned to the role you are applying for, giving you the best chance of success.

Got a question? Let us know in the comments section below.

Originally published on June 5, 2015.

Work Experience

Résumé Writing

How to Write a CV with No Experience in 2024 (Examples and Tips)

by Karien de Villiers

• · August 28 2024
• · 10 min read

Table of contents

Looking for your first job can be a daunting and stressful time. We’ve all been there: you spend significant time applying for jobs but receive little feedback from recruiters or hiring managers. In most cases, the simple phrase, ‘ your application is not successful ’, can be demotivating and often frustrating. Nonetheless, we’re here to help you succeed.

If you're wondering, "I’ve got no experience; where do I start?” worry not, we’ve got you covered. You might be a school leaver, a graduate eager to take the first step, or seeking a career change . Regardless of who you are, we've compiled a step-by-step guide and best tips to help you create a keyword-strong CV that makes you shine in the pool of other candidates.

Looking to create your first CV?

Applying for your first role? We can help! Check out our tips and tricks for writing an effective CV for a first job to kick off your career on the right foot.

Student CV example

Download this CV example - a university student CV.

This CV example features Penelope, a third-year university student looking to kickstart her career in Human Resources. She opted for a one-column format and a simple CV template . During her studies, Penelope gained relevant experience, both professionally and voluntarily. By including education at the top of the CV, we can draw attention to key skills and qualifications. Part-time or voluntary experience has been strategically incorporated into the additional experience section with years only.

Internship CV example

Download this CV example - Internship CV.

This CV template for no experience features Katie Andrews, a recent graduate looking to kickstart a career through an internship. With the Princeton CV template, she showcases her experience through education and side jobs while drawing attention to her technical and language skills.

School leaver CV example

Download this School Leaver CV sample in PDF

This CV format without experience focuses on Isabella, a high-school leaver who is seeking to leverage customer service and language skills to gain a competitive edge. The additional experience section outlines how she has played a key role in volunteering and organising successful community events and fundraisers. She clearly demonstrates her dedication, teamwork and leadership skills. This Wheaton CV template is well-structured, concise, and well-formatted, which looks appealing and is easy to read by recruiters.

10 tips on how to write a CV with no experience

1. create a job-specific cv.

Unlike a master CV , a job-specific CV is a document that outlines your work experience and education, relevant to a specific job or industry. Do not confuse it with a generic CV, which may be used to apply for various jobs; a job-specific CV showcases the skills and experiences most relevant to the position.

As a teenager, 16-year-old, or school or college leaver, you have little to no experience but have found a job that catches your eye. The next step is to pay close attention to the job descriptions and the company’s ‘About us’ page before creating a CV. Once done, create a list with main keywords and incorporate them in your CV accordingly. Doing so ensures you are tailoring your CV, showing recruiters that you truly took the time and effort to apply .

For more information, read our article on how to write a good CV .

2. Keep your CV clear and concise

No one wants to read long chunks of text with lengthy job descriptions and achievements. These confuse a recruiter or hiring manager by distracting them from the main points of your CV. Eventually, it makes it harder for them to assess your key strengths and qualifications.

If you are writing a CV with no experience, focus on highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant. Keep your writing clear and concise, and try not to overwhelm a recruiter with unnecessary details.

To learn more about what makes a strong CV and how to optimise it for applicant tracking systems (ATS) , refer to our article on how to improve your CV .

3. Incorporate strong action verbs

Another CV tip is to utilise keywords and action verbs to convey your message more effectively. This tactic makes your CV more scannable by both recruiters and ATS, ultimately leading to more job interviews. Furthermore, they make your CV more concise and to the point.

Avoid: During my time as a marketing assistant, sales significantly increased over a few months.

Include: Achieved a 30% increase in sales over five months by initiating proactive customer support and driving new sales strategies.

Learn more about how to effectively incorporate action verbs in your CV .

4. Show your personality in a personal profile

If you are applying for your dream job, let your excitement shine through in your personal profile, also known as your personal statement. The general rule of thumb is to keep it brief and to the point , generally no more than six lines, depending on your CV template and experience level. Show why you are passionate about a specific field and believe you are a great fit for the role. Use this section to explain your long-term career goals while keeping it clear and to the point. In turn, this can help to show your commitment and ambition.

For more details, see the article on how to write a personal profile .

Personal profile examples for CV with no experience:

High-school student cv personal profile example.

Enthusiastic and data-driven school leaver passionate about marketing. Demonstrated hands-on experience in public speaking, customer service, and team management. Seeking to leverage communications and analytical skills to kickstart a career as a marketing assistant in a team-oriented start-up or small enterprise.

For more inspiration, refer to the school leaver CV example.

Undergraduate student CV personal profile example

Attentive and organised third-year law student majoring in International Human Rights Law,  experienced in building partnerships with clients and knowledgeable in court procedures and case transcriptions. Adept at legal research, document filing, and time management. In search of an entry-level job position as a policy advisor in a respected and professional law firm.

Take a look at the undergraduate CV example for more inspiration.

Data Scientist graduate CV personal profile example

Analytical and result-driven data scientist graduate with strong knowledge of JavaScript, Python, Scala, SQL, and R. Experienced in machine learning and statistical tools. Adept at converting complex data into clean and easily understandable results. Demonstrated excellent communication and data visualisation skills. Looking for a new internship to apply for and improve my programming skills.

Get more tips with our data scientist CV example .

Career change CV personal profile example

Enthusiastic and detail-orientated French-English translator who aims to change career as a Technical Writer. Quick learner with demonstrated communication skills in different multicultural and professional settings. Eager to kickstart a career in an international and team-oriented company as an intern or entry-level writer.

Refer to our career change CV example if you're looking to transition to a new field such as translator to a technical writer .

Looking to create a professional CV?

5. leverage transferable or interpersonal skills.

Transferrable skills are abilities you can apply to various jobs and industries and can help elevate your CV if you have little to no experience. These are often broad and valuable, showing that candidates can learn new things, think critically, and work effectively with others.

In some cases, you have some of the required skills, not all, but one approach is to identify transferable skills. CV experts advise turning these skills into professional hard or soft skills. Remember that the skills you select should align with your desired job goals. With little to no work experience, we encourage you to emphasise transferable skills gained through training, projects, volunteering, or other extracurricular activities that would strengthen your CV.

Examples of transferable skills:

Critical thinking

Adaptability

Project management

Data analysis.

To learn more about the different types of skills on a CV, read our article on what skills to put on a CV .

6. Draw attention to your education and qualifications

If you have little to no work experience, shift your CV's spotlight to your education and qualifications. Don’t hesitate to place education above work experience if that is more relevant to the position and showcases your suitability for the role.

Tips on what information to include in the education section:

Degree (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD) with the final grade

Thesis title and final grade (only if it is 70 or more)

Degree description

Relevant courses

Honours degree or certificate

Erasmus program.

Writing a degree description is a strategic way to showcase the relevant knowledge that would set you apart from other candidates. If you lack work experience, use it to highlight transferable skills from your studies that you can apply in a corporate setting.

Additionally, you could also include the following information in your CV:

Apprenticeship

Academic achievements or publications

Refer to our how to list education on a CV article for more insights.

If you’re still unsure how to write a CV with no experience or qualifications, think outside the box and show you have the potential to be a valuable asset to the company. Re-consider your strategy and shift the focus to achievements to demonstrate your potential.

7. Apply a skills-based CV layout

Do you feel you don’t have enough experience to include in your CV? Experts at CVMaker recommend creating a skills-based format. This type of CV emphasises your qualifications and skills. It’s best suited for those new to the industry or changing careers. If you want to learn more, see how to write a skills-based CV .

8. Utilise the additional experience CV section

Most employers prefer to hire candidates with relevant work experience, even if you don't have a degree relevant to the job. If you’re struggling to add to your work experience section, consider creating an additional experience section to elaborate on volunteering, hobbies and interests, student societies, or other side activities. Even with non-paid work experience, you can still benefit from the skills and achievements you’ve gained.

To learn more, see the article on how to write a modern CV.

If you lack relevant experience in any of the aforementioned fields, creating a project-based CV could be another solution. It is a less common type of CV that focuses on tangible skills and accomplishments gained through concrete projects.

9. Add measurable achievements from projects or side jobs

Enhance your CV by adding measurable achievements, also called career accomplishments, to prove your abilities. Quantify by adding numbers and figures such as:

Sales growth percentages

Successful projects

Awards or promotions received. 

Doing so ensures you provide clear evidence you’re qualified for the job, thus making your CV more attractive to recruiters and hiring managers.

Examples of achievements:

Developed and launched a mobile app, receiving 1,000+ downloads within the first month.

Organised and hosted a charity event, raising £2,000 for a local community organisation.

Attained a certification in Digital Marketing from Google Digital Garage with a 95% score.

Refer to how to add achievements on a CV for more information.

10. Boost your no-experience CV with courses and certificates 

Stay ahead of competitors by enrolling in online courses and obtaining relevant certificates. Continuous learning showcases your commitment to professional development and equips you with up-to-date skills and knowledge. 

Examples of courses and certificates:

Coding Bootcamp (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), Udacity 

Certificate in Social Media Marketing, Coursera

Creative Writing Workshop, Skillshare

See how to add courses and certificates on a CV for more information.

Key takeaways

As you embark on your journey towards your first job or a career change, remember that challenges are simply stepping stones to growth. Our guide on writing a CV with no experience has equipped you with the most effective strategies to boost your interview prospects. But before you take your next step, take a moment to reflect on your career goals and strengths - it's the first brick in your path to success.

Next steps?

To help you create an up-to-latest-standards CV, don’t forget to explore our services below:

CV Builder : explore one of our professional CV templates to help you create a tailored and well-structured CV.

Cover Letter Builder: apply for a job with a matching cover letter template with a clear layout so you can easily personalise and adjust to your career goals.

CV Writing service : connect with one of our experts to receive feedback and get quick, professional advice on tailoring your CV to a specific job. 

Blog : see our guides and brief articles to educate yourself on the best strategies to improve your job prospects and help with your job search. Get organised with tips on how to track job applications and send your CV via emai .

Follow our above tips on how to write a CV with no experience to give you a helping hand in the next steps of your career journey.

What is the best font for a CV with no experience?

Choose a professional, easy-to-read standard font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. These fonts are clean and widely accepted, making your CV look polished and easy to read. Avoid decorative or overly stylised fonts, as they may distract recruiters from the content of your CV.

Refer to the best font on a CV article for more inspiration.

What is the best job for beginners with no experience?

If you're just starting out and don't have any work experience yet, here are some great job options that are beginner-friendly and don't require a background in the field. Explore the following CV examples to help get you started:

Virtual assistant

Hospitality

Care Assistant

Catering Assistant.

Take a look at the best jobs for students for more inspiration.

Do I need to add hobbies and interests for my CV with no experience?

Including hobbies and interests on your CV can provide insight into your personality and demonstrate teamwork, creativity, or leadership qualities. However, if you have limited space or if they are not directly relevant to the job you're applying for, we suggest prioritising other sections such as skills, education, or work experience. If your hobbies align with the job or showcase transferable skills, your chances of success could increase.

Read our hobbies and interests in a CV article for more information.

What is the best format for a CV with no experience?

Choose the format based on job requirements and your level of experience.

Chronological: Suitable for experienced professionals with a relevant work history.

Skills-based : Ideal for entry-level candidates with valuable skills but no experience.

Combined : Flexible format suitable for different candidates, highlighting skills and work history.

Remember that a traditional way to create a CV is to use a chronological format. If that’s your goal, consider creating a section called 'Website & socials' instead of going in-depth about your transferable skills and projects.

How to make the CV for your first job stand out?

To ensure your CV captures the attention of your first job in the UK job market, follow these strategies:

Tailor for each application : Craft a unique CV for every job you apply for. Highlight skills and experiences that align with the specific job requirements mentioned in the listing.

Showcase transferable skills : Emphasise skills acquired through education, volunteering, or internships. Focus on abilities like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

Display strong personal profile : Write a concise yet impactful personal statement reflecting your passion for the industry and suitability for the role. Let your enthusiasm shine through.

By customising your CV, emphasising transferable skills, and crafting a compelling personal statement, you are more likely to land that all-important job interview.

How to overcome a lack of work experience on a CV?

The first step is to focus on transferable skills. Emphasise abilities gained through education, volunteering, internships, and extracurricular activities. Additionally, consider creating a skills-based or project-based CV to showcase tangible skills developed through specific projects. Tailor your CV to highlight these skills, proving your suitability for the job despite lacking work experience.

What is ATS, and how should you optimise for it?

To boost your chances of landing your dream job, be aware of applicant tracking systems (ATS), as many large corporations use them to filter out the best candidates based on years of experience, specific skill sets, and keywords from a job description. While it may not apply to a cashier , driver , or waiter/waitress role, this tool is handy for recruiters to scan through applications and avoid manually reading hundreds of CVs. So, make sure to create an ATS-friendly CV to gain a competitive edge over others.

How do I include experience that isn't from a job on a CV?

Including non-job experience on a CV can be a great way to showcase your skills, achievements, and versatility. Other ways to gain experience can be through volunteering, courses, education, internships or work placements.

Start creating your CV

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Updated August 28 2024

Karien has established herself as a leading figure in the career services industry, crafting over 800 professional documents and assisting job seekers globally with reviews such as "I'd hire me". Renowned for her expertise, she continues to empower individuals, specialising in creating resources to aid job seekers in securing employment and staying ahead in the ever-evolving job market. Start here today!

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• Career Blog

25 Things to Put on a Resume When You Have No Experience

Creating a resume with no experience can seem daunting, but it’s not impossible. Our goal with this article is to provide you with the information and guidance you need to create a compelling and effective entry-level resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers.

We understand that starting your career journey can be challenging, especially when it comes to highlighting your strengths and abilities without previous job experience. This article will cover various strategies and tips that will help you build a solid foundation for your resume and showcase yourself as a desirable candidate for your dream job.

We aim to provide you with practical insights on how to outline your skills, education, volunteer work, and other relevant experiences even if you don’t have direct job experience. This article will also dive into the importance of tailoring your resume to the position you’re applying for and optimizing it for applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Our goal is to show you that a lack of experience does not have to hold you back from landing your dream job. By the end of this article, you will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to create a top-notch resume that highlights your shining qualities and sets you apart from other applicants.

So, let’s get started!

Understand the Importance of a Strong Resume

The job market can be a competitive and challenging space, especially for those who are just starting out or have little to no experience. In such situations, having a strong resume is an essential tool for anyone to succeed in their job search. Understanding the importance of a well-written resume can mean the difference between landing your dream job and never getting past the application process.

Why a resume is important for a successful job search

A resume serves as your personal marketing tool; a document that introduces you to prospective employers and communicates your skills, experience, and achievements. It is your opportunity to present yourself in the best possible light, showcase your strengths, and convince employers that you are the right person for the job. A well-crafted resume can help you stand out from other candidates, create a positive impression, and get your foot in the door.

What employers look for in a resume

Employers have specific criteria when it comes to screening resumes. They want to see that you have the relevant skills, experience, and qualifications for the job; that you possess the qualities that match their company culture; and that you can contribute to the organization’s success. To make a good impression on employers, it is crucial to tailor your resume to each job you apply for, highlighting your relevant skills and experience.

Employers typically look for the following things in a resume:

• Clear and concise presentation of your skills and experience
• Relevance to the job you are applying for
• Consistency in all the information provided
• Evidence of your achievements and contributions
• Attention to detail in formatting and style

How a good resume can increase your chances of getting hired

A well-crafted resume can significantly increase your chances of getting hired. It can catch the employer’s attention by presenting a clear, concise, and compelling snapshot of your experience, skills, and qualifications. Additionally, a good resume can help you pass the initial screening process and make it to the next stage of the hiring process.

A good resume can help you:

• Stand out from other applicants
• Demonstrate your potential value to the employer
• Highlight your most relevant experience and achievements
• Show that you are a professional and take your career seriously

A strong resume is an essential tool for anyone searching for a job, especially those with little or no experience. A well-crafted resume can make all the difference in securing your dream job. Ensure that your resume highlights your most relevant skills and achievements, is tailored to each job application, and presents you in the best possible light to increase your chances of getting hired.

Identify Your Relevant Skills and Qualifications

One of the biggest challenges for individuals with no work experience is identifying their relevant skills and qualifications. However, it is important to note that prior work experience is not the only factor employers consider when evaluating candidates.

Here are some tips on how to determine your relevant skills and qualifications:

1. Consider Your Education

Your education can provide insight into the skills and knowledge you have acquired. Make sure to include any relevant coursework, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities. For example, if you are applying to a job in marketing, you may want to highlight any coursework in advertising, market research, or business strategy.

2. Assess Your Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are skills that can be applied to various settings and industries. Some examples of transferable skills include communication, leadership, problem-solving, and organization. Assess your own transferable skills by thinking about experiences in your personal life or volunteering activities. For example, if you have volunteered at a community organization, you may have developed leadership and communication skills that can be applied to the workforce.

3. Use Job Descriptions as Inspiration

Reading through job descriptions of positions you are interested in can provide insight into the skills and qualifications employers are looking for. Take note of any recurring requirements such as computer proficiency, attention to detail, or customer service.

How Soft Skills Can Play an Important Role in Your Resume

Soft skills, often referred to as people skills, can be a valuable asset in any professional setting. While technical skills such as coding or accounting are important, soft skills demonstrate personal qualities that can set you apart from other candidates. Here are some examples of soft skills to include on your resume:

1. Communication Skills

Communication skills are essential in almost any job. Being able to convey ideas and actively listen to feedback can lead to better collaboration and more successful projects. Highlight your communication skills by mentioning any public speaking or debate experience as well as any strong writing capabilities.

2. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills can also differentiate you from other candidates. Even if you haven’t held a formal leadership role, experiences such as leading a project or working in a team can demonstrate these skills.

3. Problem-Solving Skills

Being able to approach problems with creativity and adaptability is a sought-after trait. Showcase your problem-solving skills by mentioning any experiences where you had to troubleshoot a tricky situation or come up with an innovative solution.

While job experience is a valuable asset, it is not the only factor employers consider when evaluating potential candidates. Identifying your relevant skills and qualifications and highlighting your soft skills can make you a strong contender for a position.

Highlight your Education

One of the best ways to showcase your potential as an entry-level candidate when you don’t have work experience is to highlight your education. Your education section is prime real estate on your resume, as it gives employers insight into your capabilities, potential and desire to learn.

How to showcase your educational background

When it comes to highlighting your education on your resume, be sure to include the following information:

Name of the institution  – Start with the name of the institution where you received your degree. Be sure to spell it correctly and include the official name, as well as any commonly used abbreviations.

Degree name and level  – Include the name of your degree, such as Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Also, indicate the level of the degree, whether it’s an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.

Major/field of study  – Indicate your area of focus, such as marketing, psychology or computer science.

Graduation date  – Include the date you received your degree.

Relevant coursework  – If you don’t have any work experience, your coursework can help you showcase your abilities and qualifications. Include any relevant courses that you took in college that relate to the position you’re applying for.

GPA  – Including your GPA is optional, but can be helpful if you have a high GPA or if the employer asks for it.

Honors and awards  – If you received any academic honors or awards, such as Dean’s List, Phi Beta Kappa, or scholarships, be sure to include them.

Including relevant coursework and achievements in your education section

When it comes to highlighting your relevant coursework and achievements, be strategic about what you include. Only include coursework and achievements that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Here are some tips:

Focus on skills and competencies  – Instead of listing individual courses, focus on the skills and competencies you developed in those courses. For example, if you took a course in project management, you can highlight your ability to manage timelines, budgets and resources.

Quantify your achievements  – If you received high grades in your coursework, mention your GPA or any academic awards you received. If you completed a project, mention the scope of the project and any measurable outcomes.

Speak to the job requirements  – Look at the job description and identify the key requirements. Then, tailor your education section to highlight the coursework and achievements that demonstrate your ability to meet those requirements.

By highlighting your education in your resume, you can demonstrate your potential and willingness to learn. Don’t shy away from showcasing your relevant coursework and achievements, as they can help you stand out in a competitive job market.

V. Emphasize Your Extracurricular Activities

One of the best ways to showcase your skills and potential when you have no professional experience is to highlight your extracurricular activities. From leadership roles to volunteer experiences, including these on your resume can demonstrate your commitment, passion, and ability to excel in various areas.

When featuring your extracurricular activities and involvement, be sure to include specific details about your role and responsibilities. For example, if you were a member of a club, mention the projects you worked on, the events you organized, and the skills you gained through your involvement. If you volunteered at a non-profit organization, highlight the impact you made, the challenges you faced, and the lessons you learned.

In addition, don’t forget to mention any leadership roles you held. Clearly state the position you held and the size of the team you managed, as well as any accomplishments or initiatives you spearheaded. This can demonstrate your ability to take charge, delegate tasks, and motivate others.

Finally, if you have received any awards or recognition for your extracurricular activities, make sure to mention them. This can add credibility to your accomplishments and prove your dedication and excellence in a particular area.

Including your extracurricular activities and involvement on your resume can help you stand out from other candidates and give potential employers a more well-rounded view of your skills and potential.

Highlight Any Relevant Internships or Work Experience

One way to compensate for a lack of direct experience in a particular field is to refer to relevant internships or work experience, even if they occurred in other industries or areas. Such experiences can still be valuable in terms of teaching transferable skills that can be applied to the job at hand.

For instance, highlighting that you interned as a sales associate in a retail store can illustrate key skills such as customer service, teamwork, and handling money. If you worked as a waitress, you might have developed communication skills, multitasking abilities, and attention to detail. You can then demonstrate how you can apply those acquired skills to a different role or industry.

Be sure to highlight any relevant work or internships in your resume by including detailed descriptions of your responsibilities and accomplishments. Use active verbs and quantify your achievements to give potential employers a clear understanding of your contributions. Additionally, you can showcase your transferable skills learned from previous experiences through your cover letter, emphasizing how they can translate into relevant tasks and requirements of the job you’re applying for.

Even if you don’t have direct experience related to the field you’re applying for, highlighting previous relevant work or internships and demonstrating transferable skills can still make you a strong candidate for the job.

Showcase Your Relevant Achievements and Accomplishments

When listing your achievements on your resume, it is important to do so in a clear and concise manner. Rather than simply listing your responsibilities, focus on highlighting the impact you had on previous projects or positions. This will demonstrate to potential employers that you can contribute to the success of their organization. Here are some tips to showcase your achievements effectively:

Highlight quantifiable successes

Using numbers and data to quantify your successes can be a powerful way to showcase your achievements. For example, instead of saying “increased sales,” you could say “increased sales by 20% within the first quarter.” This adds context to your achievement and demonstrates your ability to impact a business. Other examples might include reducing costs, increasing productivity, or improving customer satisfaction.

Be specific

When listing achievements, be specific about what you achieved and how. Simply saying you “improved a process” doesn’t give potential employers any real insight into your abilities. Instead, say something like “streamlined a process that reduced production time by 50%.” This provides a clear picture of your accomplishments and how they benefited the organization.

Focus on relevant achievements

When listing achievements, make sure they are relevant to the job you are applying for. If you are applying for a marketing position, list achievements related to marketing or advertising campaigns you have worked on. This will demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and experience for the job.

By following these tips, you can effectively showcase your achievements and make your resume stand out to potential employers. Remember, your accomplishments demonstrate your value as an employee and can make a big difference in landing your next job.

Utilize Resume Keywords

In today’s job market, it is crucial to have a resume that stands out. One way to achieve this is by utilizing keywords throughout your resume. Keywords are specific words or phrases that are relevant to the industry, job, or skills you possess. By incorporating these keywords your resume, it can help you stand out from the pack.

Understanding how to use keywords in your resume to stand out

To make the most of keywords, it’s important to understand how to use them. One way to do this is by reviewing the job posting to identify the keywords that the employer is looking for. You can then incorporate these keywords into your resume in the relevant sections to ensure that your resume matches the job requirements.

Another approach is to use keywords that reflect your skills and achievements. Think of words or phrases that describe your strengths and experience. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, some keywords might include design software, branding, layout, and typography.

When using keywords in your resume, it is important not to go overboard. Don’t just list a bunch of random words or phrases that are not relevant to your industry or experience. Instead, be strategic about where and how you use them. This may include integrating them into your professional summary, work experience, or skills sections.

Examples of relevant keywords for various industries

Here are some examples of relevant keywords that you might consider using in your resume based on the industry:

• Social media
• Advertising
• Marketing campaigns
• Brand management
• Market research
• Content creation
• Lesson planning
• Classroom management
• Curriculum development
• Student assessment
• Differentiated instruction
• Educational technology
• Parent-teacher communication
• Programming languages
• Database administration
• Network security
• Agile methodology
• Cloud computing
• Cybersecurity
• Electronic health records
• Patient care management
• Medical terminology
• Diagnostic procedures
• HIPAA compliance
• Healthcare regulations
• Clinical trials

By using relevant keywords in your resume, you can demonstrate your skills and experience more effectively to potential employers. It helps you stand out and gets you noticed in the hiring process. Make sure to avoid overusing them and follow best practices to tailor them to each application you submit.

Structure and Design of a Strong Resume

When it comes to creating a strong resume, formatting and structure are essential for making sure that your document is easy to read and well-organized. Not only will a well-designed resume grab the attention of potential employers, but it will also make your experience and qualifications stand out.

Here are some tips for formatting and structuring your resume for maximum impact and readability:

How to Format and Structure Your Resume

• Use a clear and consistent font throughout your document. Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman are all good options.
• Limit your use of bold, italic, and underline to highlight important information like headings and job titles.
• Break up large blocks of text with bullet points to make your resume more reader-friendly.
• Use white space to separate different sections and make your resume easier to navigate.
• Use a chronological format to showcase your work experience, with your most recent job listed first.

Tips on Choosing a Resume Template

When it comes to choosing a resume template, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you want to choose a template that fits your style and personality. If you’re applying for a more creative job, you might want to choose a template with a more design-focused layout. If you’re applying for a more traditional job, a clean and simple template might be a better choice.

Here are some additional tips for selecting a resume template:

• Look for templates that match your industry or career level. You don’t want to choose a template that’s too casual or too formal for the job you’re applying for.
• Use color sparingly. A pop of color can help your resume stand out, but too much color can be distracting.
• Use a template that’s easy to edit and customize. You don’t want to spend hours tweaking a template that doesn’t quite fit your needs.

By following these tips for formatting and structuring your resume, as well as selecting a template that fits your style and needs, you’ll be well on your way to creating a strong and effective resume even if you have no prior experience.

Tips for Writing a Compelling Resume Summary or Objective

When it comes to writing a resume, a common section that’s often included is a summary or objective statement. These statements serve as an introduction to your potential employer and give them an idea of your background and goals. However, it’s important to know the difference between a resume summary and objective.

Resume Summary vs. Objective

A resume summary is a brief paragraph or bullet points at the top of your resume that highlights your professional accomplishments and experience. It’s a great way to give a quick snapshot of who you are as a candidate and what you bring to the table.

On the other hand, a resume objective is a statement that outlines your career goals and what you hope to achieve. It’s typically used by job seekers who have little to no work experience or are transitioning into a new industry.

Tips on Crafting a Strong Statement

Whether you’re writing a resume summary or objective, there are certain things to keep in mind to make your statement compelling and memorable. Here are a few tips:

Keep it concise: Your statement should be no longer than 2-3 sentences or bullet points. You want to quickly capture the reader’s attention and not overwhelm them with unnecessary information.

Focus on your strengths: Highlight your most relevant skills and achievements that make you a standout candidate. Tailor your statement to the job you’re applying for and emphasize what you can bring to the role.

Use keywords: Make sure to include keywords and phrases that are relevant to the job description. This can help you get past applicant tracking systems and catch the attention of the hiring manager.

Show your personality: While it’s important to keep your statement professional, don’t be afraid to inject some personality and showcase your unique voice. This can make you more memorable and help you stand out from other applicants.

Your summary or objective statement should give a clear picture of who you are as a candidate and what you can bring to the table. With these tips and a little creativity, you can craft a compelling statement that will make a lasting impression.

Incorporating Relevant Examples in Your Resume

When it comes to resumes, listing your skills and qualifications is important, but it’s not enough. In today’s competitive job market, recruiters and employers are looking for candidates who can provide tangible evidence of their abilities. That’s where incorporating relevant examples in your resume becomes crucial.

Providing examples of your accomplishments, skills, and experience is an effective way to stand out amongst other job applicants. It allows you to showcase your strengths and capabilities, instead of simply stating them. Including examples in your resume can help to give recruiters and potential employers a better understanding of your abilities and achievements, making you a strong candidate for the job.

Here are some examples of relevant and resonant examples to include in your resume:

1. Academic Achievements

Include any academic achievements such as awards or scholarships you’ve received. If you were involved in any academic competitions, mention your achievements and your role in the team. For example, if you competed in a science fair and won an award, mention that in your resume.

2. Volunteer Work

Volunteering can give you valuable experience and skills that you can highlight in your resume. If you volunteered in a leadership role, be sure to mention that. If you volunteered for a non-profit organization and helped raise money, include the amount you raised and how you accomplished it.

3. Internships

Internships are a great way to gain work experience in your field of interest. Highlight your contributions to the company you interned at and any projects you worked on. Be sure to mention any new skills you learned while on the job.

4. Freelance Work

If you have done any freelance work, be sure to include it in your resume. This could include anything from designing a logo to writing an article. Mention the project you worked on, what you accomplished, and the impact it had on the client.

5. Personal Projects

If you recently completed a personal project, it’s worth mentioning in your resume. This could include a website you designed or a YouTube channel you started. Highlight your skills and the impact your project had.

Incorporating relevant examples in your resume is a powerful tool to showcase your abilities, accomplishments, and potential. By providing tangible evidence of your skills and experience, you can make yourself stand out from other job applicants and increase your chances of securing the job of your dreams.

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CV personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.

Your CV personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.

In this guide I have included 17 CV personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

CV templates 

17 CV personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.

Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)

Although this  graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

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School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.

    Top tips for writing a CV personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.

School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate CV personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student CV personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship  CV personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

Graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarising some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their university placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your CV contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this CV is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your CV

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a CV personal statement?

Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.

We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• School/college Uni work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

CV personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

How to write a CV with little or no work experience

2nd April 2019 by Paula Breen and Richard Allnutt

We are always told of the importance of having a CV. However pulling one together is a tricky task if you are leaving school, sixth form or college. This is especially so when work and life experience is limited. Writing a CV with little or no work experience will require you to think outside of the box and evidence your skills, talents and strengths in other ways. Here are CareerWave’s top tips on how to create that all important first CV.

Be self-aware . One of the most difficult questions to answer is, “How would you describe yourself?” Fortunately, there are a couple of practical things you can do to be able to answer this. First, ask close friends and relatives what words they would use to describe you. Second, do a quick self-assessment. For example, try out the Buzz Quiz at www.icould.com and take note of the positive words which describe who you are.

Be employer-aware . What do employers look for? If you know this and you understand yourself, you can start to speak the same language as the employer. The quickest way to know what skills and qualities employers want is to read lots of job descriptions. For many young people their introduction to paid work is through an apprenticeship. So, go ahead and find out what employers look for in potential apprentices at www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship . We are extremely confident you will see that employers are looking for the same things. Take note of the most common key skills and qualities found in the job adverts.

Be CV-aware . What kind of things go into a CV for young people? Well, we’re going to keep it simple so let’s start with one that is basic and single-sided (you can always expand to a second side if you’re more experienced). Include the following; Name, Contact Details, Personal Statement, Skills and Qualities, Education and Qualifications (predicted grades if results not yet known), Work Experience (if any), Interests (if relevant). Below are a few CareerWave recommended websites for further CV advice;

Reed’s school leaver CV advice and access to their template

Youth Employment UK’s ‘How to Write My First CV’

Target Careers, ‘How to write a cracking CV’

Success at School’s ‘My First CV Template’

Now you have done some background research, you can now begin to write the CV. Probably the two most difficult things to get right on the CV are the Personal Statement and the Skills and Qualities .

Write an eye-catching Personal Statement . It is said that you have only a few seconds to grab an employer’s attention. The personal statement is usually the first thing that will be read. It needs to be punchy, original and professional. Four or five sentences in length. Remember your audience and the seriousness of all of this- you want someone to employ you . A Personal Statement commonly includes;

• Where you are now and where you want to be.
• A few words which best describe who you are- they are likely to be skills and qualities, reflecting what you write in the main body of the CV.
• Your greatest accomplishment to date.
• Why you are sending the CV to the employer e.g. why should this employer want to meet you.

Pick out 5 Skills and Qualities most relevant to you.  As noted above most employers look for the same things. Below is a list of some of the most sought after skills and qualities in 2019. For a first CV (and one which will act as your personal template for future targeted versions) we advise that you start with these;

• Positive Attitude
• Communication
• Digital Skills
• Problem Solving
• Willingness to Learn

Against each of the skills and qualities chosen, write a short statement to show employers that you have what you say you have. If you have no work experience, the examples can come from your educational experiences, sporting achievements, community work, extra-curricular activities, music, dance, drama, being in a position of responsibility, awards such as Duke of Edinburgh, roles at home and in the family including caring duties, membership of groups and clubs. Think creatively about this.

Target your message

If you are applying for a specific job role or targeting an industry or company you should tailor and adapt the Personal Statement and the Skills and Qualities. Although this creates more work, it is strongly recommended that you do this every time you send it out. You can find out about a company by exploring their website and social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). You can identify the key skills and qualities for a specific job or industry through the National Careers Service website.

The finished product

Add in your Education and Qualifications (predicted grades if need be), any Work Experience, relevant Interests and there you go….. your first CV. However, do remember that a CV is a living, breathing document. It grows with you and should always be current and relevant.

If you are in a school, sixth form or college with access to a professional Careers Adviser, then you have the best resource available to support your creation of an effective, successful, personalised CV.

• Employability and Skills

Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field (And How to Write Yours)

By Biron Clark

Published: November 10, 2023

Cover Letters | Recent Grads

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

Writing an articulate cover letter is challenging for all job seekers. But if you have little or no work experience in a field, the stakes are higher. It’s more challenging to prove your value when you don’t have a series of professional accomplishments to back up your assertions. On the bright side, you probably have more to offer an employer than you realize. You just have to package your strengths the right way.

In this article, you’re going to learn how to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field. And we’ll look at a full sample after going through the steps.

Let’s get started…

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience

1. the main purpose of your cover letter with no experience.

The purpose of a cover letter is to complement your resume and convince more employers to interview you. You may refer to your resume when writing a cover letter for a job application, but you must expand upon points made in the resume when writing the cover letter.

The cover letter should breathe life into the points made in the resume, and create a compelling—or even emotional—narrative around your career hopes and aspirations . It’s your chance to tell your story and show that you have the passion and the drive to come into a job and make a difference.

And at the end, it should ASK for the interview. We’ll talk about that coming up. Let’s get started by going through how to write a cover letter with no experience, step-by-step…

2. Cover Letter Contact Information

When beginning a cover letter for a job application, start with your contact details in the top left-hand corner of the page. Include your name, city of residence, phone number, and email address. (To preserve your privacy, do not include your physical address). You should also include your LinkedIn URL. Next, write the name of the company you’re applying to, and its city of residence.

3. Your Salutation

Ideally, you address your reader by name in your salutation. Internet sleuthing may reveal the name of the hiring manager. If you can’t find a name, you have two options: call the organization and ask to learn more about the position, or write “Dear ” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

This isn’t ideal, though. You should really only be sending a cover letter if you know the hiring manager’s name and have some specific information about the position. So if you know nothing specific about the hiring manager or job, and the company hasn’t asked for a cover letter specifically, then you probably don’t need to send it .

4. Cover Letter Introduction

Use this section of your cover letter to introduce yourself and share your enthusiasm and why you applied for the position .

Start with your name and provide some background on your strengths. Always identify the position you’re seeking and how you learned about it. If someone at the company told you about the job, then mention that person’s name (only after asking their permission, though). Aim for one to two sentences in your Introduction—keep it short, sweet, and precise.

Example Cover Letter Introduction with No Experience in the Field:

“Hello, my name is Grace Addington, and I’m a goal- and detail-oriented civil engineering graduate from Petaluma College. I was excited to learn about the Junior Engineer internship at Bay Area Rapid Transportation through my former classmate Katie Heinz.”

5. Body Paragraphs

Here comes the most critical part of writing a cover letter with no experience. The purpose of your body paragraphs (one to two brief paragraphs, tops) is to prove that you’re the best candidate for the position. Seeing as how you have little or no previous professional work experience to fall back on, you’ll want to place emphasis on soft skills —attributes of a personal nature that say a lot about your work ethic and ability to work in sync with others. Or, if you have job-related skills (AKA hard skills) from another type of role, point out how those skills will help you transition into this next job and succeed quickly.

That’s what hiring managers are looking for! So while it’s great to write about soft skills and put together a cover letter talking about how you’re willing to learn their job… it’s much better to point out any hands-on experience that you have. So if you’re able, always highlight that first and foremost.

For example, if you had an internship, worked in an unrelated field, did a few academic projects while studying, gave a presentation, etc., those are still valuable pieces to put on your resume AND in your cover letter.

Your resume likely already consists of part-time jobs or school activities or memberships in school associations that maybe aren’t 100% related to the job you’re going after.

Look closer, though—you’ve probably garnered skills in these experiences that can carry over to the job you’re applying for. Below are two examples of cover letter body paragraphs that hone in on two key phrases noted in a job advertisement as requirements: “strong interpersonal skills” and “positive work ethic.” You should be able to figure out pretty quickly which example hits the mark.

Let’s look at two sample paragraphs now from cover letters with no experience in a field:

“I am Twig & Twine’s ideal office manager. As my resume states, I served as an RA at my dorm. I know how to manage an array of things.”

“You’re looking for a candidate with strong interpersonal skills and a positive work ethic. While serving as an RA at Porter College’s main dormitory, I planned monthly social events for over 200 students, settled two to five student disputes per week, and mentored a select group of students in Composition. The experience taught me, rather quickly, how to efficiently multi-task, and how to effectively settle conflicts of all types in a calm, level-headed manner. I feel confident stating that I can bring these talents to Twig & Twine’s office manager position.”

The second example takes the duties that likely appeared in the RA position on the resume and then digs deep, illustrating how the tackling of those duties turned into accomplishments, and led the applicant to grow the crucial skills needed for the office manager position.

One last thing about body paragraphs—remember to frame your message around the employer’s needs, and not yours. Focus on what you can bring to the job, and how your talents will translate into success for the company. That’s important in any cover letter, and becomes even more crucial in a cover letter with no previous work experience.

6. Concluding Your Cover Letter

End your cover letter by reiterating why you’re the best candidate and express your interest once again in the position. And ask them for the interview! It’s surprising but most job seekers don’t do this, and it’s been shown to improve your chances of getting a call to come in for an interview!

So conclude your cover letter by thanking the reader for the time they took to review your application, and tell them you’d like to find a time to meet for an interview to see if it might be a good fit to work together. To close, sign off formally. Try “Respectfully yours” or “Sincerely.”

7. Proofread Everything

Before sending out your new cover letter, read it out loud to catch errors quickly. Ask a trustworthy person to read it as well. Nothing stops you from getting interviews faster than an obvious typo or error in your cover letter or resume, and you only have to check once, but make sure you’re checking it thoroughly!

8. Save it as a PDF

Once the content is finalized, save it as a PDF and title it “ Cover Letter” to prevent confusion. Voila! You’re done. If you follow the tips above, you’ll have a great cover letter with no experience so you can get interviews and job offers in this new field!

Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field:

Next, let’s look at a full sample of a cover letter that explains why you’d fit well in a role ( and why you chose to apply for this type of role ):

Dear Name, I’m writing to you regarding the Sales Associate job posting, which I believe reports to you. I can offer 5+ years of experience working directly with customers over the phone and in person, primarily in customer support. Although I haven’t worked directly in sales, my customer support experience has helped me build skills in communication, persuasion, and problem-solving, which I believe will translate well into selling software subscriptions for your firm. I’m motivated to transition into sales to continue challenging myself and growing in my career, and I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, which I think working in sales will provide me. I’ve attached my resume for your review. If any of the above sounds interesting, I’d welcome the chance to talk on the phone this week. Thanks for considering my note today. Best regards, Your Name

This cover letter is upfront and clear that you have no experience in the field of sales, but shows that you’re willing to learn and excited to learn this new job. That’s essential!

You don’t JUST want to say you’re willing to learn, though. You want to PROVE that you’ll be able to learn. That’s why this letter also mentions the experience you have that is most similar. In the case of the example above, it’s the customer service experience and communication skills.

While this person may not have sold anything to customers, they still interacted with customers directly, which will be seen as a plus.

One other thing you should always point out if possible: Experience working in the same industry. So if you’ve never done sales, but you did customer support in the exact same industry as the employer, that’s a huge plus… because it means you’ll have less learning needed on the job!

Other Articles That May Help You:

• 3 more tips for writing a cover letter that stands out.
• General tips for how to get a job with no experience.
• How to write the perfect resume “Summary” section with no experience.

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This really helped me

Thanks for this! Really helpful for me as a new graduate and non native English speaker. I’ve started using the steps here and am planning on sending a lot of applications this week to see how it works.

Thank you for the examples. I hav ea little bit of experience so I’m not writing the cover letter with absolutely no work experience but this still is helpful and seems to work for me.

One hiring manager told me that the reason they chose to call me was my cover letter.

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How to write a personal statement when you have no work experience

Your personal statement is a key part of your UCAS application when you apply to university – this is your chance to show the admissions tutor who you are, what you’re interested in and why you deserve a place on the course you’re applying for. You’ve probably already researched how to write a personal statement and you know you need to include your skills, achievements and interests and demonstrate that you have the qualities that the admissions tutor is looking for. You’ll also know that admissions tutors like to hear about the work experience you’ve already gained, particularly for courses like Medicine, Nursing and Teacher Training. But what if you haven’t had the opportunity to gain any work experience?

Here at the University of Sunderland, we know it’s not always possible to gain the necessary experience before applying to university. Read on to hear our tips for how to write a personal statement when you have no work experience:

1. Demonstrate your passion, motivation and understanding of the course/role you are applying for

One thing to remember is that the admissions tutor isn’t expecting you to be an expert on the subject – after all, you’re applying to university so you can learn more and train for the role you want after you graduate. But what they will be expecting to hear from you is a sincere explanation for why you want to pursue the career path you’re on. Some people are driven by a vocation while others may experience life events that trigger their interest. It may simply be that you enjoy particular subjects at school and can see yourself working in a related sector. Whatever your motivation, make sure you demonstrate your understanding of the role as well as your enthusiasm.

Our Teacher Training team says, “Training to become a teacher allows you to understand how children or young people learn and develop. Your personal statement should clearly show your passion to make a positive change in a child's life. Work experience within a school is not an essential requirement when applying, however, for you to be able to make a decision on which sector you wish to teach in, we would recommend visiting or shadowing both primary and secondary sectors. There isn't one thing that we are looking for in your application; it's a mixture of passion and willingness to be the best teacher you can be after you graduate. Show us that you have been pro-active and researched the sector, as this will show your enthusiasm to learn and develop.”

Your personal statement should evidence a clear understanding of the course and show an informed choice of course and career. If the course you're applying for is vocational, demonstrate an insight of the opportunities and the demands and challenges of entering your chosen profession and a realistic insight into how you may develop.

One extra tip here – if you’re applying for two different courses/roles, consider writing a second personal statement and sending it to the admissions department at the university you are applying to. Make sure to include your UCAS application number and your full name so that the team can match your second personal statement to your application.

2. Reach out to practising staff or students 

An alternative to work experience is to reach out to staff and current students working in and studying your chosen profession. Remember, you will be spending several years at university, particularly if you are planning to study a course such as medicine, so you want to be sure that this is the right path for you. Staff and students are often keen to share their advice and support and can give you real insight into a profession. They can share with you the current challenges of the sector, the realities of the role and answer any questions you may have. Forums such as The Student Room are great for connecting with current and prospective students. You could also sign up to university Open Days , where staff and students are available to chat to.

By reaching out to practising staff, you may also find that you make connections with people who have their own private practice and may be in a better position to offer work experience.

3. Keep up to date with current affairs 

If the course you're applying for requires an interview as part of its entry requirements, it's likely you will be asked questions about current affairs in that sector, so it may be worth including some of your research in your personal statement (remembering that you only get 4,000 characters!). Consider researching topics such as the key challenges being faced in the sector, how the profession you are applying for has changed and adapted over time, and policy and guideline updates. Draw inspiration from news stories and research the relevant professional body as they will often keep their websites up to date with the latest information.

If you find a way to link the course you are applying for to current affairs, discuss what you have found interesting about that topic and explain how it has inspired your career choice. By doing this, you will be demonstrating your critical thinking, a key skill you will develop at university and will be useful to you upon graduation as it is highly valued by employers.

4. Do some further reading 

A simple way to gain more insight into the course/role you are applying for is to do some further reading around the subject, which will help you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding when you come to write your personal statement. This will show admissions tutors that you're well informed and passionate about learning more about the subject, which is a sign you will be a good student.

Your reading can include textbooks, newspaper websites, professional body websites, relevant forums and even subject-related content on social media. Podcasts are becoming an increasingly popular medium for sharing and consuming information in an easy-to-digest format and could inform your further reading. Try to find ones where the host or guest is an expert in the field you are applying for – many podcast platforms will bring up a list of relevant podcast episodes if you search for a certain name.

Consider getting in touch with the university you are applying for and ask for some recommended reading, or speak to your teachers and careers advisors who should be able to direct you.

If you need further advice or support with your personal statement, get in touch to arrange a 1-2-1 meeting with a member of our friendly and knowledgeable student recruitment team? Email us at [email protected]  

Published 11 December 2023

Published: 11 December 2023

Top tips for writing your personal statement

Don’t worry, writing your personal statement isn’t as difficult as it might seem when you’re staring at an empty Word document. Here are some top tips on how to write the perfect personal statement.

What is a key worker profession?

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Writing a Personal Statement

Preparing to Write

Brainstorming, don't forget, sample prompts.

A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future. Personal statements can be varied in form; some are given a specific prompt, while others are less structured. However, in general a personal statement should answer the following questions:

• Who are you?
• What are your goals?
• How does this specific program/opportunity help you achieve your goals?
• What is in the future?

A personal statement is not:

• A variation of your college admissions essay
• An academic/research paper
• A narrative version of your resume
• A creative writing piece (it can be creative, though)
• An essay about somebody else

Keep in mind that your statement is only a portion of the application and should be written with this in mind. Your entire application package will include some, possibly all, of the materials listed below. You will want to consider what these pieces of the application communicate about you. Your personal statement should aim to tie everything together and fill in or address any gaps. There will likely be some overlap but be sure not to be too repetitive.

• Personal Statement(s)
• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendations
• Sample of written work
• Research proposal

For a quick overview of personal statements, you might begin by watching this "5 Minute Fellowships" video!

If you are writing your first personal statement or working to improve upon an existing personal statement, the video below is a helpful, in-depth resource.

A large portion of your work towards completing a personal statement begins well before your first draft or even an outline. It is incredibly important to be sure you understand all of the rules and regulations around the statement. Things to consider before you begin writing:

• How many prompts? And what are they? It is important to know the basics so you can get your ideas in order. Some programs will require a general statement of interest and a focused supplementary or secondary statement closely aligned with the institution's goals.
• Are there formatting guidelines? Single or double spaced, margins, fonts, text sizes, etc. Our general guideline is to keep it simple.
• How do I submit my statement(s)? If uploading a document we highly suggest using a PDF as it will minimize the chances of accidental changes to formatting. Some programs may event ask you to copy and paste into a text box.
• When do I have to submit my statement(s)? Most are due at the time of application but some programs, especially medical schools, will ask for secondary statements a few months after you apply. In these instances be sure to complete them within two weeks, any longer is an indication that you aren't that interested in the institution.

Below is a second 5 Minute Fellowships video that can help you get started!

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experiences and motivations as they relate to the programs to which you are applying. This will offer you a chance to organize your thoughts which will make the writing process much easier. Below are a list of questions to help you get started:

• What individuals, experiences or events have shaped your interest in this particular field?
• What has influenced your decision to apply to graduate school?
• How does this field align with your interests, strengths, and values?
• What distinguishes you from other applicants?
• What would you bring to this program/profession?
• What has prepared you for graduate study in this field? Consider your classes at Wellesley, research and work experience, including internships, summer jobs and volunteer work.
• Why are you interested in this particular institution or degree program?
• How is this program distinct from others?
• What do you hope to gain?
• What is motivating you to seek an advanced degree now?
• Where do you see yourself headed and how will this degree program help you get there?

For those applying to Medical School, if you need a committee letter for your application and are using the Medical Professions Advisory Committee you have already done a lot of heavy lifting through the 2017-2018 Applicant Information Form . Even if you aren't using MPAC the applicant information form is a great place to start.

Another great place to start is through talking out your ideas. You have a number of options both on and off campus, such as: Career Education advisors and mentors ( you can set up an appointment here ), major advisor, family, friends. If you are applying to a graduate program it is especially important to talk with a faculty member in the field. Remember to take good notes so you can refer to them later.

When you begin writing keep in mind that your essay is one of many in the application pool. This is not to say you should exaggerate your experiences to “stand out” but that you should focus on clear, concise writing. Also keep in mind that the readers are considering you not just as a potential student but a future colleague. Be sure to show them examples and experiences which demonstrate you are ready to begin their program.

It is important to remember that your personal statement will take time and energy to complete, so plan accordingly. Every application and statement should be seen as different from one another, even if they are all the same type of program. Each institution may teach you the same material but their delivery or focus will be slightly different.

In addition, remember:

• Be yourself: You aren’t good at being someone else
• Tragedy is not a requirement, reflection and depth are
• Research the institution or organization
• Proofread, proofread, proofread
• How to have your personal statement reviewed

The prompts below are from actual applications to a several types of programs. As you will notice many of them are VERY general in nature. This is why it is so important to do your research and reflect on your motivations. Although the prompts are similar in nature the resulting statements would be very different depending on the discipline and type of program, as well as your particular background and reasons for wanting to pursue this graduate degree.

• This statement should illustrate your academic background and experiences and explain why you would excel in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (UMass Amherst - M.S. in Civil Engineering).
• Describe your academic and career objectives and how the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies can help you achieve them. Include other considerations that explain why you seek admissions to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and your interests in the environmental field (Yale - Master of Environmental Management).  
• Please discuss your academic interests and goals. Include your current professional and research interests, as well as your long-range professional objectives. Please be as specific as possible about how your objectives can be met at Clark and do not exceed 800 words (Clark University - M.A. in International Development and Social Change).
• Write a 500- to 700-word statement that describes your work or research. Discuss how you came to focus on the medium, body of work, or academic area you wish to pursue at the graduate level. Also discuss future directions or goals for your work, and describe how the Master of Fine Arts in Studio (Printmedia) is particularly suited to your professional goals (School of the Art Institute of Chicago - MFA in Studio, Printmaking).
• Your statement should explain why you want to study economics at the graduate level. The statement is particularly important if there is something unusual about your background and preparation that you would like us to know about you (University of Texas at Austin - Ph.D in Economics).
• Your personal goal statement is an important part of the review process for our faculty members as they consider your application. They want to know about your background, work experience, plans for graduate study and professional career, qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the program, and any other relevant information (Indiana University Bloomington - M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education).
• Your autobiographical essay/personal statement is a narrative that outlines significant experiences in your life, including childhood experiences, study and work, your strengths and aspirations in the field of architecture, and why you want to come to the University of Oregon (University of Oregon - Master of Architecture).
• Personal history and diversity statement, in which you describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may refer to any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education (U.C. Davis - M.A. in Linguistics).
• A Personal Statement specifying your past experiences, reasons for applying, and your areas of interest. It should explain your intellectual and personal goals, why you are interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary degree rather than a more traditional disciplinary one, and how this degree fits into your intellectual and personal future (Rutgers University - Ph.D in Women’s and Gender Studies).
• Your application requires a written statement to uploaded into your application and is a critical component of your application for admission. This is your opportunity to tell us what excites you about the field of library and information science, and what problems you want to help solve in this field. Please also tell us how your prior experiences have prepared you for this next step toward your career goals and how this program will help you achieve them (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Master of Science in Library Science).
• After watching the video, please describe what strengths and preferences as a learner you have that will facilitate your success in this innovative curriculum. What challenges in our curriculum do you anticipate and what strategies might you use to address these challenges? (MGH Institute of Health Professions PT - They recently redesigned their curriculum)
• Your personal goal statement should briefly describe how you view the future of the field, what your goals are to be part of that future, and what brought you to pursue an advanced education degree in your chosen field. You may include any other information that you feel might be useful. (Northeastern PT)
• Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, describe a meaningful educational experience that affected your professional goals and growth and explain how it impacted you. The educational experience does not need to be related to this degree. Focus on the educational experience and not why you think you would be a good professional in this field. (Simmons PT)
• Personal Statement (500 word minimum): State your reasons for seeking admission to this program at this institution. Include your professional goals, why you want to pursue a career in this field and how admission to this program will assist you in accomplishing those goals. (Regis College Nursing)
• “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to this type of program.” (AMCAS)
• Address the following three questions(Though there is no set limit, most statements are 1–2 pages, single-spaced.): What are your reasons for pursuing this degree? Why do you wish to pursue your degree at this institution? How do you intend to leverage your degree in a career of this field? (Boston University MPH)
• Please submit a personal statement/statement of purpose of no more than 500 words for the department/degree of choice. Professional degree essays require a clear understanding of the _______ field and how you hope to work within the field. Be sure to proofread your personal statement carefully for spelling and grammar. In your statement, be sure to address the following: what interests you in the field of _____ what interests you in a specific degree program and department at this institution and what interests you in a particular certificate (if applicable). Please also describe how you hope to use your ________ training to help you achieve your career goals. (Columbia PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology)
• Because each Home Program requires significant original research activities in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, we are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your previous research experiences. Those who already have such experience are in a better position to know whether they are truly interested in performing ______ research as part of a graduate program. Please include specific information about your research experience in your Statement of Purpose. You may also use the Statement to amplify your comments about your choice of Home Program(s), and how your past experiences and current interests are related to your choice. Personal Statements should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). Make sure to set your computer to Western European or other English-language setting. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts. (Stanford Biosciences PhD)
• Your statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the Department of ____ at ___ University. It would be helpful to include what you have done to prepare for this degree program. Please describe your research interests, past research experience, future career plans and other details of your background and interests that will allow us to evaluate your ability to thrive in our program. If you have interests that align with a specific faculty member, you may state this in your application. Your statement of purpose should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). (Stanford Bioengineering PhD)
• Statement of purpose (Up to one page or 1,000 words): Rather than a research proposal, you should provide a statement of purpose. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at this institution and your relevant experience and education. Please provide an indication of the area of your proposed research and supervisor(s) in your statement. This will be assessed for the coherence of the statement; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; and commitment to the subject. (Oxford Inorganic Chemistry - DPhil)

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