How to Write a CV With No Experience (That Actually Works)

To write a CV with no experience that actually works, focus on what makes you a good candidate rather than your lack of formal work history. If you’re just starting out, recruiters don’t expect you to have years of relevant work experience, but they do want you to be motivated and have some transferable skills.

If you’re someone with no experience writing a CV for an internship or your first job, rest assured, you can create a job-winning document, and we’re here to show you how!

In this article, we’ll share a sample of a CV with no experience and walk you through the process of creating one for yourself.

Let’s begin!

How to Organise a CV With No Experience

Organising a CV with no experience correctly is critical to making a strong first impression. While work experience typically should be the focal point of the document, this isn’t the case when you’re writing a CV with no experience. Rather than showing what you have to offer, this will only highlight what you lack as a candidate.

Instead, you should focus on the qualifications that make you a good match for the position—your education and skills. To convince the hiring manager that you have what it takes to excel in the role, you can highlight non-paid experiences, such as volunteering. These serve as selling points that help you differentiate yourself from your competitors.

In entry-level candidates, recruiters typically look for potential, aptitude, and the willingness to learn. Since proactivity in the workplace is associated with skill development, productivity, and other positive outcomes, presenting yourself as a motivated candidate with a can-do attitude is key to securing job interviews.

Which Sections Should You Include in a CV With No Experience?

To write a CV with no experience that leaves recruiters impressed, include the following sections:

Creating an Effective CV Header Without Experience

The first step to writing a CV with no experience is to add a professional CV header where you should list the following contact information:

• Full name

• Mobile number

• Professional email address (e.g., name.surname@example.com)

Under your name, include your job title. This should be the same as the title mentioned in the job description. You can also add your location (city and country) and links to your LinkedIn, professional website, or other relevant social media profiles.

A well-formatted CV header should look something like this:

To take your CV header to the next level, include a personal statement (or a CV summary) to introduce yourself to the recruiter and capture their attention.

Now, how do you write a CV personal statement with no experience?

The answer is simple—by stating who you are, highlighting your key skills, detailing your career objectives, and emphasising the value you can bring to the company.

Here’s an example of how to write a CV summary with no experience:

Make Your Education Section Stand Out

Since the education section is the central part of a no-experience CV, you should put it right under the header.

First, only list your GCSEs and A levels if you’re writing a CV without any qualifications. Otherwise, use the space for additional sections.

Now, if you’re writing a graduate CV with no experience but have more than one academic degree, you’ll want to list them in reverse-chronological order. This way, the hiring manager will see your most recent (and probably highest) degree first.

Here’s what you must include in each entry:

• Degree

• Academic institution

• Attendance years

If you’ve graduated from a top university, consider listing its name before the degree to grab the recruiter’s interest.

Optionally, you can include the following information:

• Exchange programmes

• Relevant coursework and projects

• Academic achievements and honours

Here’s an example:

Wondering how to write a CV with no experience if you’ve yet to graduate? Simply add ‘Ongoing’ instead of the graduation year (e.g., ‘2024–Ongoing’).

Alternative Experiences to Include With No Work History

If you have no formal work history, you can still write a standout CV by including alternative experiences, such as volunteering, academic or personal projects, and internships.

Here’s a more detailed overview of non-paid work you can leverage to write a CV with no experience that piques the hiring manager’s interest:

Volunteer Work and Community Involvement

Most employers find candidates who are actively involved in their communities appealing because selfless acts of service show commitment, eagerness to help others, and a proactive mindset. Emphasising volunteer experience is even more helpful if the company embraces corporate social responsibility.

List all volunteer work in reverse-chronological order and include the following information:

• Volunteering position

• Organisation

• Duration

• Responsibilities, achievements, and relevant skills gained through volunteer work

Here’s a great example:

Academic or Personal Projects

Academic and personal projects, such as case studies, websites, and research projects, make great additions to a no-experience CV. They demonstrate dedication, initiative, and the ability to follow through, which employers value highly. To make this section impactful, ensure each project you list is relevant for the job you’re applying for.

List the following details for each project:

• Project title

• Your role (if applicable)

• Organisation (if applicable)

• Duration

• Achievements and responsibilities (optional)

Let’s see a couple of examples to get you inspired:

Internships

Adding internships to a no-experience CV is an excellent way to show recruiters that you do have hands-on experience, even if it’s unpaid. Since internships are the closest thing to paid work, list them right below education to draw the recruiter’s attention.

To format this section correctly, list the following details:

• Internship title

• Company name and location

• Internship duration

• Responsibilities and key achievements

Once you’re done, it should look something like this:

Essential Skills to Feature on a No-Experience CV

Writing a CV with no experience is no different from crafting any other CV in that you should tailor it to the job. There’s no point in informing the hiring manager that you’re an expert in C++ if you’re applying for the English language teaching assistant position.

So, how do you determine what skills to put on a CV?

By reading the job description.

There, you will find two sets of skills the company expects candidates to have:

• Soft skills. These refer to personality traits and qualities that help you excel in the role, such as adaptability, empathy, or problem-solving.

• Hard skills. These are industry-specific skills, such as software proficiency, which you can acquire through formal education, courses, traineeships, etc.

The trick is to only list the skills the employer is looking for. Just make sure you actually have them, as lying on a CV can backfire!

To make this section well-organised, add soft and hard skills separately. Soft skills are particularly beneficial if you have no experience because they are highly transferable, i.e., they can be applied across different industries and positions.

Here’s an example of a soft skills section you can follow when writing a CV with no experience:

Hard skills are slightly different, as they are measurable. Therefore, you should also include your proficiency level.

Here’s how this looks in practice:

Additional Sections to Enhance Your No-Experience CV

Got some space left after filling out your education, experiences, and skills? Perfect!

Use it for additional sections, such as:

• Awards. Standing out in academics, competitions, etc., demonstrates your effort and dedication, so don’t be shy and share any achievements you’ve been recognised for with recruiters!

• Languages. Listing languages is always a good idea, as they can be useful in virtually any job. 

• Certifications. If you’ve taken a course outside of formal education and it’s relevant for the position, mention it in your CV. This way, you can show your passion for the field and commitment to continuous learning.

• Hobbies and interests. Adding your hobbies and interests is a good way to give recruiters a glimpse of who you are. Bonus points if these are related to the position in one way or another!

Importantly, how long a CV should be depends on your experience level, and since you have no experience, it shouldn’t be longer than a single page. So, if you don’t have much space for additional sections, feel free to skip them.

Here are a couple of examples of well-formatted additional sections:

Do You Need a Cover Letter With Your No-Experience CV?

Writing a CV with no experience is just one part of the job application process; you also need a cover letter to show the hiring manager that you’re willing to go the extra mile and secure their attention. Remember that it should expand on your CV rather than simply restating its contents.

Here’s how to write a winning cover letter:

• Add your and the hiring manager’s contact information in the header.

• Greet the hiring manager by addressing them directly (e.g., Dear Mr. Smith).

• Emphasise relevant skills or accomplishments while introducing yourself in the opening paragraph.

• Detail your educational background, transferable skills, or anything else that makes you a good fit for the job in the first body paragraph.

• Explain your motivation to work for the company in the following paragraph.

• Add anything valuable you haven’t gotten the chance to mention to the closing paragraph, thank the hiring manager, and include a call to action.

• End with a professional sign-off like “Best regards,” “Kind regards,” and “Sincerely,” followed by your name.

To help you get started, here’s an example of an effective cover letter introduction:

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Final Thoughts

“How do I say I have no experience in my CV?” is a common question among students, recent graduates, and other candidates with zero work experience.

But if there’s one thing you should take away from this guide, it’s that you don’t need to emphasise your lack of experience. Instead, focus on your transferable skills and leverage unpaid experiences to show the hiring manager you’re a viable candidate, even if you’re new to the workforce!