- Even without experience, you can create a strong resume by highlighting your skills, education, and extracurricular activities.
- The professional profile plays a key role in a student’s resume, where it is worth showing your ambitions and motivation.
- Skills such as communication, language skills, and proficiency in Office are more important than lack of professional experience.
- A clear layout, no errors, and consistency of information increase your chances of attracting the recruiter’s attention—even if it is your first resume.
The first steps on the job market can sometimes be stressful – especially if you are a student and just starting to build your professional CV. Questions swirl around in your head: “What should I write if I have no experience?”, “What skills should I put in?”, “Is a photo necessary?”. Rest assured – everyone started out at some point. Even candidates for prestigious positions had to prepare their CVs without experience. How do you create a document that, despite your lack of professional work, shows your strengths and opens the door to first-time recruiters?
A CV without experience – it can be done!
Many students give up on sending applications, thinking that lack of practice is a disqualification at the start. This is a big mistake! A well-prepared CV from a person with no experience can attract a recruiter’s attention as long as it is thoughtful and coherent.
Remember – your first CV doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should show that you have potential. You just need to know how to write a CV without experience to present yourself at your best despite your limitations. Check out below how to do it cleverly and with your head.
Where do you start?
To start, get the basics in order:
- contact details – name, email, phone, possibly a link to your LinkedIn profile (if you already have one),
- photo – many people wonder what kind of photo for a CV would be appropriate. Opt for a simple, neat photo, preferably with a neutral background and a gentle smile – one that shows your openness and professionalism,
- location – you don’t need to include your full address, but it’s a good idea to add your town,
- professional email address – avoid informal addresses. A combination of first and last name will work best,
- professional profile (summary) – a short paragraph at the top of your CV where you write who you are, what your goals are and what you can contribute to the company. Even if you don’t have experience yet, show your commitment, motivation and desire to grow.
Professional profile – your most important business card
One of the most important elements of a CV – including a CV for a student – is the professional profile, i.e. a brief description of your persona and ambitions. This is the place where you can highlight who you are and where you are going. If you have no experience, focus on what you are learning, what interests you and why you want your first job.
What might a CV loo like for a trader who is just starting out? For example: I am a student at an economic technical school, interested in marketing and sales. I would like to gain experience in working with customers and develop my interpersonal skills. I am open-minded, communicative and a fast learner.
Not sure what to write about yourself in your CV without experience? Think about what extracurricular activities you undertake – interest circles, volunteering, competitions. These will all help you stand out from other candidates.
Skills – your strengths
Although you don’t have any experience yet, you certainly have competences that are valued by employers. These are what you need to focus on! Examples of skills to include in a CV for a student are:
- communication skills,
- foreign language skills
- operation of MS Office,
- punctuality,
- creativity,
- teamwork,
- time management,
- commitment.
Tailor these to the position you’re applying for – if you’re interested in working for Foodcom, for example, it’s a good idea to highlight analytical skills, accuracy and a desire to grow in the e-commerce or logistics industry.
Education – show what you are learning
For students, it is the education section that becomes the ‘main character’ of the CV. Enter the name of the school, class profile, years of study and any achievements – such as grade point average, participation in Olympiads, language certificates or online courses.
If you are studying at a technical or vocational school, be sure to highlight your qualifications – they can be very valuable to employers, even if you do not yet have an apprenticeship.
Experience – it doesn’t have to be ‘vocational’
The “experience” section does not have to be empty at all. Have you participated in voluntary work? Helped organise school events? Have you completed an apprenticeship? You can put it all on your CV!
If you dream of working in sales, for example, you could mention that you organised the school fair or ran the class social media account. Such activities show that you have initiative and can act in practice – which counts a lot, especially for positions such as a sales job.
Interests – show your personality
Counter-intuitively, well-described interests can say a lot about your personality. Don’t write generalities like “music, sports, film”. Instead, choose something that really makes you stand out – e.g. analogue photography and photo editing, creating podcasts about 20th century history, playing on an amateur volleyball team.
What to write in your cover letter?
Although not always required, a well-crafted cover letter can complement a CV for someone with no experience. In a few sentences, describe why you are applying for the position, what you expect from the job and what you can offer the employer. In the case of companies such as Foodcom.co.uk, it is good to show that you are interested in modern business and want to grow in a developmental environment.
CV for a student – the most common mistakes
When creating your first CV, watch out for the most common mistakes:
- too general information,
- lack of specifics,
- spelling mistakes and typos,
- outdated contact details,
- lack of clarity (unreadable layout)
Remember that your CV should be clear, concise (preferably on one A4 page) and aesthetically pleasing. You don’t need to use colourful templates – it’s the content and how it is presented that counts.
Working at Foodcom – a good start on your career path
If you are interested in working for Foodcom, a company that operates at the interface between commerce, technology and logistics, this is a great opportunity to learn and develop. A good CV without experience is your ticket to such an opportunity.
Foodcom.co.uk appreciates young people with energy and potential. If you show that you are ambitious, organised and want to grow – doors may open for you.
A student’s first CV – how to get your career off to a good start?
Writing a CV for a student with no work experience is a challenge, but definitely doable. All you need to do is prepare well, think about what to write, how to present yourself and which skills to include in your CV.
Make sure you have a clear layout, a professional photo for your CV, a strong professional profile and real information about yourself. Your first CV is the start of the journey – and the first step towards a career, and maybe even in a company like Foodcom.co.uk. Good luck!
