How to Make a Resume for First Job: Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to craft a standout resume for your first job, with straightforward tips that will help you land interviews.

Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template

Choosing the right template sets the stage for your resume. Think of it as the outfit your information will wear on its first meeting with a potential employer. You want it to look neat, inviting, and, most importantly, professional.

Opt for simplicity over complexity—flashy designs can overshadow your credentials. Consistent fonts, clean lines, and clear section headings are your best friends. Your aim is a format that makes it easy for hiring managers to find the most crucial information.

A chronological layout often serves well, especially if your limited experience is relevant and recent. It helps you tell a coherent story about your educational and extracurricular journey leading to this job.

If you’ve diversified experiences that aren’t directly related, a functional resume can help focus on skills rather than jobs or periods of study. It gives you leeway to connect the dots between what you’ve learned and what the job requires—showing potential despite a thinner work history.

Balance white space and text to avoid crowding. A cramped resume can be overwhelming, while too much spacing might look scant. Aim for equilibrium, and you’ll come off as organized and detail-oriented.

A word to the wise: before you print or send it off, view your resume on multiple devices to confirm it looks good across the board. A format that’s legible on all screens is like a firm handshake—it leaves a positive first impression.

Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly)

Placing your contact information at the top of your resume is like the handshake at the start of an interview—it sets the tone and gets things rolling. Ensure your name is front and center—bold and a smidge larger than the rest of the text. Follow it up with your phone number, professional email address, and possibly your LinkedIn profile. A word to the wise: opt for an email that’s a combination of your name—not the quirky one you created in middle school.

Skip your full address; a city and state do the trick. Also, if you still harbor that teenage love for elaborate fonts, resist the temptation here. Stick to classics like Arial or Times New Roman—they’re like the little black dress of typefaces, never going out of style. Remember, less is more when it comes to juggling fonts and sizes. Keep it uniform, keep it neat.

Another point worth noting: if you’re uploading a video resume or portfolio, include a link but vet it first. A digital footprint can speak volumes. Make sure whatever you share showcases you in a professional light—tidy, organized, and error-free.

In the digital age, an oversight as small as an outdated phone number can derail your job-seeking journey before it even begins. Proofread, double-check, then check again. After all, reaching out to you should be as smooth as sliding into home plate—not a wild goose chase.

Include a Resume Objective

Crafting a resume without substantial work history can be a challenge, but a well-worded objective statement acts as your opening pitch. It’s a brief declaration of your career aspirations and how this role fits into your future plans.

A good objective showcases your enthusiasm for the position and what you aim to bring to the table. It should resonate with your employer, letting them know that you have the relevant skills or attributes for the job, even if your experience is limited.

Here’s the strategy: emphasize your eagerness to learn, your dedication to contributing positively, and the transferable skills from your academic or volunteer endeavors that align with the job at hand.

For instance, if you’re applying for a customer service role, you might mention your strong communication skills and previous experience handling responsibilities in a busy student council office.

Remember, the aim is to bridge the gap between the job requirements and your own experiences, even if they’re not rooted in paid work. Keep it concise; three sentences can suffice.

List Your Education and Relevant Experience (Internships, Volunteer Work, and Extracurricular Activities)

Dive straight into the depths of your formal education, starting with the most recent schooling. Whether it’s high school or college, the degree, location, and years attended should be crystal clear. No diploma yet? No sweat. Mention anticipated graduation dates, and you’re golden.

If your work history is as blank as a new page, fret not. Cast a light on internships, they’re the secret sauce to showing employers you’ve had a taste of the professional kitchen. Flesh them out just like a job – company name, role, and a bullet point list of the delicious skills you brought to the table.

And let’s not keep those extracurriculars and volunteer experiences skulking in the shadows. They’re character actors ready for the spotlight. Whip them into shape with specifics that show off your commitment, leadership, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves for a cause or a team. If you’ve led a project or scored a win, don’t let modesty be your vice; name-drop those achievements like they’re going out of style.

Remember, this isn’t a history report. Think relevance. Choose experiences that echo the job’s requirements. This is your first impression – make it punchy, make it count.

Highlight and Tailor Skills to the Job Ad

Crafting your first resume can feel like putting together a puzzle where experience is scarce. The skills section, however, is your chance to shine with relevance. Each job ad presents a blueprint of what the employer needs — study it with the precision of a detective. They’re not just looking for candidates; they’re scouring for a particular set of skills that match their needs like a key fits a lock.

Jot down keywords that pop up frequently in the job description. If “customer service” is a recurring theme and you’ve ever managed to calm a storm of school cafeteria chaos, that’s golden. Translate that into “managed conflicts and delivered timely solutions.”

Are they seeking someone with ‘attention to detail’? Maybe you aced a group project by seamlessly coordinating schedules and tasks. There it is: “Coordinated complex group assignments, ensuring precision and timely completion.”

Don’t forget those soft skills either. Things like “team player” or “good communicator” are music to employers’ ears. Just make sure you back it up with a quick anecdote or example.

Remember, the goal here is to mirror the job ad with your proven abilities. Make the employer nod with recognition thinking, “This is the one who’s got what we need.” Keep it relevant, make it authentic, and let your resume become the bridge that connects you to your first job opportunity.