How to write a resume if you have little work experience.

You don’t always need to have extensive work experience to get a job.

You can still create an effective resume even if you have a limited amount of work experience. Focus on other sections of the resume, such as your education, skills, and achievements. Highlight anything that shows you are a good candidate for the job. For example, if you have volunteer experience or internships, be sure to include those. You can also list any relevant coursework, student projects, or professional certifications you have completed.

What to include in your resume.

If you have little actual experience, it's important to show that you are a motivated and capable individual ready to learn and grow in the workforce. The sections that you should include in a resume are:

  1. Contact information. Include your address, email, and phone number where the employer can reach you.
  2. Education. If you don’t have an undergraduate degree, show your high school and year of graduation plus any relevant college coursework in progress. (If you have a postgraduate degree, you need only mention your undergrad degree.)
  3. Skills. List any special skills you have developed that may be relevant to your desired job, as well as any that demonstrate discipline or character.
  4. Achievements. This section can include accomplishments that indicate a strong work ethic, desire to learn, and extraordinary motivation.
  5. Work experience. Employers respect honest work of any type, but they do watch out for gaps in work history. Even if this section has little content, you should list any jobs you have held.

Resumes should never be more than two pages long, and a resume with no significant work experience is probably better organized as a one-page document so that it doesn’t look either bare or obviously padded. It's essential to be concise and focus on the most relevant information.

In addition, it should be easy to read and understand. The best way to format a resume is as a PDF so that it can be read on any device and effortlessly shared. A PDF will also allow reviewers within the hiring organization to add comments.