Writing a resume for your first job can be nerve-wracking if you don’t know the basics.

Aren’t resumes mostly focused on work experiences? What details should I include in my resume?

These are the type of questions that most freshers usually have while creating an entry-level resume. If you are one of them, you’ve come to the right place.

Your first job resume must highlight your educational qualifications, skills, academic achievements, and volunteer or internship experiences (if any). Its purpose is to showcase you as the ideal candidate who is motivated to leverage their knowledge for the targeted company’s growth.

And simply stuffing your resume with information about your career trajectory is not enough. You must also ensure to format it well so that it looks professional and crisp.

Read on to see some killer first-job resume samples for different job profiles and get clarity on the following related questions:

• What is a first-job resume?
• How to write a resume for a first job with no experience?
• How to write a first job resume objective?
• What are some of the best resume samples for a first job?

What is a First Job Resume?

A first job resume, also known as an entry-level resume, or a fresher’s resume is an official document that summarizes a candidate’s skills, qualifications, educational background, experiences (if any), projects, and contact details.

It is often the first point of reference and helps the recruiters assess the candidate’s suitability for a particular position.

As opposed to a resume of an experienced professional that includes sections like summary and work experience, a first job resume includes an objective section along with sections for volunteer and/or internship experiences.

And given that recruiters only spend about 6 seconds on a single resume, your first job resume must be well formatted with distinct sections, bullet points, and easy-to-read fonts so that it grabs the recruiters' attention.

Also Read: How to write a stellar resume with no experience?

Resume Tips for First Job

To help you build a first-job resume that is sure to get you shortlisted, given below are some useful tips you can follow:

Analyze the Job Description

Before you begin writing your first job resume, it is important to do some research and learn about whom you’re writing the resume for.

Meaning, what is your dream company? Which is the listing you want to apply for?

While you might want to send the same resume to multiple listings, the chances of your resume getting shortlisted are slim when it is not tailored to a specific job position.

Once you’ve identified your targeted listing, analyze the job description provided in it and make a note of the key requirements.

Following this approach will allow you to know what details you must highlight in your first job resume and which ones you can skip.

Create a Suitable Header

The header of your first job resume consists of the topmost section.

Instead of writing “CV” or “resume” as the header, it is advisable to write your full name in a font size of 14-16 points so that it's easy for the recruiters to identify your resume.

Followed by this, create a subsection for your personal contact details and include the following information:

• Resume title
• A reachable contact number
• A professional email address
• Your current location (city & state)
• A link to your online portfolio or LinkedIn profile

Also Read: How to create an impressive resume header?

Write a Compelling Objective Statement

The objective statement of your first job resume must highlight your most notable academic achievements and skills which are relevant to the job description of the role you’re targeting.

If you have completed any relevant certification course, you can also highlight the same in your objective.

However, you must remember that the purpose of an objective statement is to express your intention of leveraging the best of your skills and knowledge to benefit the targeted company.

And it is not about writing about your personal goals or objectives.

This simple shift of focus from yourself to the targeted employer can make a world of difference to make your objective statement compelling or just average.

Also Read: How to write an objective statement for your first job?

Use Bullet Points and Quantify Your Achievements

To enhance the readability of your first job resume, use bullet points rather than writing in paragraphs to describe your internship or volunteer experiences if you have any.

And to frame effective pointers, you can use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) format and quantify your achievements.

The STAR format follows the approach of briefly writing about the situation, the task that you were assigned, the action you took to complete the task, and the result you achieved.

For instance, if you are an aspiring LPN nurse with an internship or volunteer experience, you can write:

• Rendered assistance in administering IV therapies to 10+ patients on a daily basis to ensure cellular homeostasis.”

Use Keywords

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software used by 75% of recruiters to filter resumes based on the number of keywords used in resumes.

If you want to rank high in the ATS, you must do some research about the industry-specific keywords and include them in your first job resume. You can also pick keywords from the job listing.

For instance, if the listing calls for a candidate who is dedicated and self-motivated, you can include these keywords in your objective statement or skills.

Tip: Ensure to use the same terminology in your first job resume that is used in the job listing to help it rank high in the ATS.

Also Read: What are resume keywords and how can you use them in your resume?

First Job Resume Samples

Now, for your reference, given below are some role-specific resume examples for your first job:

No Experience First Job Beginner Resume Sample

High School Student First Job Resume Sample

Entry-level Medical Sales Representative

First-Time Job Resume Sample (Data Analyst)

First-Time Job Resume Sample (Biomedical Engineer)

Also Read: How to write a resume as a college student for internships?

Key Points from the Blog

• Your first job resume must highlight your educational qualifications, skills, academic achievements, and volunteer or internship experiences (if any).
• Tailor your first job resume to the job description and include bullet points and quantified accomplishments.
• The purpose of an objective statement is to express your intention of leveraging the best of your skills and knowledge to benefit the targeted company.
• Include keywords in your first job resume to make it ATS-friendly.
• To frame effective pointers, you can use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) format and quantify your achievements.
• Instead of writing “CV” or “resume” as the header, write your full name in a font size of 14-16 points so that it's easy for the recruiters to identify your resume.

If you want to create your resume within minutes using readymade ATS-friendly first job resume templates, use Hiration’s AI-powered Resume Builder which offers 24x7 chat support.