First Job Resume (Guide & Examples)

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Table of contents

How to Format Your First Job Resume
How to Choose a Resume Template for Your First Job
How to Write Your First Job Resume
First Job Resume Example
Key Takeaways
Resources to Help With Your Job Search

Entering the workforce for the first time is a big transition; maybe one of the biggest transitions in your life! This means it's a time of unknowns and plenty of questions. Writing your resume for a first job can sometimes feel like a big puzzle. But don't worry!

With the help of our guide, plus resume examples for a first job, you can start applying with confidence today!

Our guide includes:

Formatting tips to help get your resume started.
A step-by-step walkthrough of the resume-writing process for beginners.
A resume example for a first job to inspire your process.

Ready to build your resume now? Our Resume Builder lets you skip ahead by taking your input and generating unique text to fill out your resume, and providing automatic formatting and stylish templates that match your needs.

How to Format Your First Job Resume

You're ready to start writing, and you might already have a few ideas about which strengths and professional skills to put on your resume. But how do you turn a blank page into a resume that recruiters will love?

It's not as simple as listing all your best traits, but it is as simple as choosing an effective resume format and using it to organize your achievements.

There are three formats that most resumes follow. Here are the options:

The functional format: Struggling with the "experience" part of building a first-time resume? This format is for you. Filling a whole page with professional experience when you're applying for your first job can seem like an impossible paradox. The functional format solves this problem by de-emphasizing or eliminating the experience section in favor of your skill set. Instead of focusing on what you don't have, fill that resume space with skills, projects and extracurriculars that show what you can do.
The chronological format: Since you're making a resume for your first job, this format is not ideal. While it's the most traditional format, chronological resumes focus on showcasing the candidate's experience, which is not your selling point at this point in your career. Once you have a few years of experience under your belt, you can consider making a chronological resume.
The combination format: As the name implies, the combination format blends the chronological and functional formats. If you have gig experience or have done volunteer work, consider using this format to highlight your existing experience — even if it's scarce — while also focusing on the skills and core qualifications that make you ideal for the job.

For your first job, a functional resume is often the best choice, but it's ultimately up to you to decide how to tell your story.

How to Choose a Resume Template for Your First Job

A resume format influences the structure and layout of your resume, but it isn't the only factor that decides your resume's style. Choosing the right resume template is also important to build an eye-catching first resume that is appropriate and appealing.

Resume templates come in many different forms, from the colorful and creative to the modern and sleek. It can feel overwhelming to try and choose exactly which template will look best on your resume.

Many first-time applicants feel drawn to flashy creative templates, but this isn't always the best choice. Your resume should communicate your qualifications first and foremost. Unless you're in a creative field, a bold and colorful resume might end up becoming a distraction.

For a first job resume, templates should be simple. Focus on making your details clear and consistent and ensuring that your resume is clean and error-free. Use a professional font and make sure your margins and line spacing are consistent and easy to scan.

How to Write Your First Job Resume

Let's walk through the simple steps to make a first resume you can be proud of.

Step 1

Take a closer look at the job description

Whether this is your first retail job as a high school student or a post college opportunity in a field that you've studied for, the steps to get started on your resume are the same. First, you need to get acquainted with the role.

Your resume should be customized to fit the job description for the role you have in mind. This means looking for keywords that describe the hiring manager's expectations for the ideal candidate.

Integrating these keywords into your resume will show how well you fit what they're looking for and help you pass through the applicant tracking system (ATS) that the employer might use to filter out unqualified candidates.

Pro tip

Adding keywords from the job description might feel like cheating, but it's something employers actually appreciate. Taking the time to customize your resume for the role shows initiative. Just make sure you're honest about the skills you actually have and you can't go wrong!

Step 2

Build a header

This might not seem important, but remember that your resume's most important job is to get you a callback from the employer. To do that, they need your contact info.

List your name, phone number, email address, city and state and any other relevant links that you think the employer should have. If, for example, you have an active LinkedIn presence or an academic portfolio, you can include these in your header.

Step 3

Write a resume profile

Now, it's time for introductions. Your introduction gives the employer a sense of who you are and what to expect to see on your resume. This is a resume profile and it usually comes in two forms.

A professional summary is a profile paragraph that focuses on summarizing your career so far and highlighting major achievements that show how well you fit the role. This is an option for any resume, but for a total beginner's entry-level resume, it can be hard to kick off your resume with a discussion of your experience.

A resume objective, on the other hand, focuses more on your goals. You can discuss why you're interested in the role and what you hope to learn in the future. This is often the go-to option for beginner candidates.

Example resume objective for a first job resume

Recent college graduate with a passion for technology and a strong foundation in computer science. Looking for an entry-level IT support position to utilize technical skills, learn from industry professionals and contribute to solving complex challenges.

Step 4

Summarize your skills

Next up is the bread and butter of your first resume. Because a resume for your first job isn't likely to showcase a whole bunch of experience, your skills section is even more important than usual. Be sure to highlight a blend of both hard and soft skills relevant to your field and focus on skills that match the job listing.

When writing a functional or combination resume for your first job, you can also include a summary of qualifications to help employers understand what makes you qualified for the role. Better yet, you can highlight your core competencies and dissect your top three skill categories to show what you can do.

Sample hard and soft skills for a first job resume:

Hard Skills

Soft Skills

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Basic computer troubleshooting
Cash handling and point-of-sale (POS) operation
Data entry and typing
Social media management basics

Communication skills (verbal and written)
Time management
Problem-solving
Teamwork and collaboration
Adaptability and flexibility

Example summary of qualifications section for your first resume:

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and skilled in data entry with strong attention to detail.
Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with a customer-focused attitude.
Experienced with point-of-sale (POS) systems and adaptable to new technologies.
Excellent time management, problem-solving abilities and collaborative team mindset.

Pro tip

You don't need technical experience to have a strong skills section. Things like organization and proficiency with computers can go a long way, as can soft skills like collaboration. Employers appreciate entry-level candidates who can show that they're willing to learn new skills.

Step 5

Describe your experience

Now, it's time to write your experience section. Newcomers to the workforce often find this section the most intimidating, but don't worry!

You don't have to have on-the-job experience to fill out this section. There's no rule against listing your experience with extracurriculars, academic projects or volunteer work.

Here's how they might look on your resume:

Treasurer, School Environmental Club
George Washington High School
Macon, GA
September 2022 – May 2023

Managed the club's budget, tracked expenses and ensured accurate financial reporting for fundraisers and events.
Collaborated with club members to plan and execute community clean-up events, increasing participation by 25%.
Developed communication and organizational skills by coordinating with school officials and local businesses for sponsorships.
Assisted in social media promotion, helping to boost awareness and engagement with the club's initiatives.

Pro tip

Using active language and numerical data to highlight your achievements helps make your work experience section jump off the page and shows employers that your past achievements had a real impact.

Step 6

Describe your education

Now, for your education section. Whether you're a high school student or a college graduate, listing your education is especially important if you're in an early stage of your career and don't have as much experience to show.

Check out the following example:

Education

George Washington High School
Macon, GA
High School Diploma (Expected Graduation: June 2024)

GPA: 3.8/4.0
Honors: National Honor Society, Principal's Honor Roll

Pro tip

As your career progresses, your education will become less important. For now, it might help to include relevant coursework or honors, but once you've spent a few years in the workforce, you can start to phase those out of your resume in favor of on-the-job experience.

Step 7

Add extra sections

At this stage, your resume may be complete, but if there are still achievements you want to showcase, then you can start thinking about what extra sections to include. Anything from relevant hobbies, language proficiency and volunteer work to awards and certifications is appropriate.

Just make sure you don't repeat information between sections. Volunteer work, for example, shouldn't be shown under both experience and its own designated section, otherwise it may become repetitive.

First Job Resume Example

Now that you know what goes into a resume, take a look at this resume example for a first job. Notice how it brings together the sections we learned about. The candidate's lack of experience doesn't stop their skills from standing out!

Use this template

Pro tip

Now that your resume is finished, consider building a cover letter too. This will help your application stand out and will show your dedication to pursuing the role. Our Cover Letter Builder can help you get started.

Key Takeaways

Pick the right format and template

The style and layout of your resume are important because they give you a starting point to work off of and determine the first impression you'll make. Pick a format that matches your needs and opt for a simple template to help you get started.
Start with the job description

Make your resume stand out by using keywords from the job description to show how well you match the needs of the role. This will also help you pass through ATS screening.
Write a resume profile

Start with a professional summary or a resume objective to introduce yourself to the employer.
Build a balanced skills section

Even without paid experience, you can use a blend of soft skills and technical skills to create a persuasive and balanced skills section.
Make your experience section pop

Whether it's volunteer work or academic experience or anything in between, make your experience shine using action verbs and measurable data.
Showcase your education

Build a polished education section that may include academic achievements or relevant coursework.

Resources to Help With Your Job Search

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.