An empty resume may give a hiring manager the impression that you haven’t done anything productive with your time in school. Just because you may not have any paid work experience under your belt, does not mean you don’t have anything to put on your resume. Even though you may not have any work experience, you can still fill out this field with other types of experiences. Prove that you have skills to offer by giving solid examples of the education and experience that you’ve gained along the way.
Don’t hesitate to think outside the box as you’re building your resume. If you’re struggling to identify your strengths, ask around. Teachers, parents, friends, and family members can help you identify areas of strength where you stand out. They may point out that you’re a strong speaker, an organized and punctual individual, or a natural leader.
Tailor your resume to the position that you’re applying for as much as possible. Highlight the most relevant skills and try to give some cohesion to your resume whenever possible. For example, if you’re applying to work at a recreational park, you can make your teamwork, physical abilities, and experience with outdoor activities into relevant features that show why you’re the right person for the job.
Here are a few examples of how you can use your volunteer activities, student involvement, and classroom projects to build out your Work Experience section:
