How To Write A CV With No Work Experience CV Writing

Whether you have just left school or college, graduated from university, or stepping out into the job market for the first time, you’ve probably wondered how on earth you write a CV with no work experience. You’re not alone. In fact, many people in the same position of you have worried about where to start with their CV, especially if they have no work experience.

However, we are here to show you that it is possible, and you shouldn’t feel disheartened about entering the job market with no experience. Many employers and recruiters take much more than experience into account. They look at your enthusiasm, skills, education, and personality as well. So, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give yourself a fair shot by crafting a CV that shows an employer who you are and why you are the best fit for a job.

In this article, we’ll explore how you can write an effective CV with no work experience. Read on to find out more.

How To Write A CV With No Work Experience

Focus On Your Personal Statement

A personal statement comes at the beginning of your CV. It is your opportunity to showcase your personality and skills, as well as share with the recruiter why you are a good fit for the role. The challenge with your personal statement is making it short and sweet while giving a snapshot of what makes you a great employee. Before you launch into your CV as a whole, dedicate a good portion of time into creating a personal statement that grabs the readers attention and shows you in the best light possible.

Highlight Your Skills

While you may have no formal experience, we’re willing to bet that you do have quite a lot of life experience. Not only that, through your education and personal life you have probably developed transferable skills which can be used at work.

If you have no work experience, start by brainstorming your skills and qualities. These could include:

  • Communication skills
  • Honesty
  • IT skills
  • Determination
  • Loyalty
  • Teamwork
  • Problem Solving Skills

You may have had the opportunity to demonstrate or develop these skills in your life. For example, in school or college you might have been part of a project which required good teamwork and communication skills. All these experiences and skills should be showcased on your CV in place of ‘Work Experience’ if you have none.

Shout About Voluntary & Extra Curricular Activities

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because you weren’t paid to do something you can’t put it on your CV. You can! From voluntary experiences to extracurricular activities, you should absolutely include it, along with any skills that you used in the course of these experiences.

Write down your past experiences and prioritise them by the most relevant. Flesh these out and pinpoint skills and qualities you used and developed during these experiences, then add them to your CV!

Make The Most Of Your Education

Education includes any formal education received, as well as courses and training you have undertaken. The education section of your CV is your opportunity to shout about the experiences you have had and skills you have developed – it’s not all about your qualifications! As well as this, if you took part in any school clubs, team or competitions, include those too.

When you are creating your CV it’s important to relate any experience or education you have to a skill or quality you developed. This is particularly important if the job advert has an attached person specification that you can relate your own skills to in order to demonstrate your ability to do the role you are applying for.

Get Help From Building Better Opportunities

If you would like help and support in building your CV, we can help! At Building Better Opportunities, we support unemployed individuals in South Stafford & Staffordshire gain employment, develop their skills and build their confidence and self-esteem. To find out more about the Building Better Opportunities programme and employment support in Staffordshire, contact us today or drop into one of our Drop In Sessions.