Your resume is your passport to opportunities, especially as a student seeking jobs or internships. Yet, for those without prior work experience, crafting a compelling resume can seem daunting—a blank canvas seeking direction. In this blog, we'll delve into the art of creating a standout resume that showcases your strengths, talents, and potential.

Your resume isn't just a list of past jobs; it's a reflection of your life experiences and skills. While job experiences are valuable for demonstrating your abilities, they're not the sole means of showcasing your talent. Let’s explore what you can include on your resume when you don’t have prior work experience.

The Basics: What to Include in Your Resume

Personal Information

Start with your Name, City, Email, and Phone Number. You can also add links to your LinkedIn profile or an online portfolio if relevant.

Education

As a student, it’s essential to highlight your education. Include your major, school name, GPA (if 3.5 or above), expected graduation date, emphasis, minors, and any awards or scholarships you’ve received.

Relevant Coursework

Create a section for Relevant Courses from your university that are applicable to the roles you are seeking. Highlight impactful courses with brief descriptions to emphasize the skills or projects you’ve completed.

Example 1 (Single Course):

Applied Mathematics: Learned applied math techniques including estimation, financial mathematics, and exponential models of growth.

Example 2 (Multiple Courses):

Relevant Coursework
- Principles of Advertising
- Video Production
- Media Effects
- Visual Editing
- Global Citizenship
- Social Media Journalism
- Technical Writing
- Marketing

Skills

This section should include both technical and soft skills. Technical skills may include coding languages or software proficiency, while soft skills could involve communication or leadership abilities.

Examples:

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Strong analytical skills
Excellent written and verbal communication

Community Involvement and Volunteer Work

Volunteering demonstrates your commitment to giving back and showcases skills like teamwork, organization, and empathy.

Examples:

Helped distribute free food and medical supplies at the homeless shelter weekly
Tutored elementary school students in math and reading

Projects

Highlight significant projects you’ve worked on, whether academic, personal, or extracurricular. This shows initiative, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration skills.

Examples:

Led a team project to redesign the school’s recycling program
Developed a mobile app for tracking personal fitness goals
Conducted independent research on environmental sustainability

Activities and Clubs

Participation in clubs, sports, or extracurricular activities can highlight your teamwork, leadership, and time management skills.

Examples:

President of the Debate Club
Member of the Robotics Team
Varsity soccer player
Editor of the school newspaper

Leadership Experience

Showcase leadership roles you’ve held in school, extracurricular activities, or community organizations.

Examples:

Captain of the basketball team
Student council president
Coordinator of a volunteer tutoring program
Team leader for a group project

Certifications

Any relevant certifications can be included, whether they are directly related to the job or demonstrate valuable skills.

Examples:

CPR certification
Adobe Certified Associate in Photoshop
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

Interests

While optional, including interests can provide insight into your personality and possibly showcase skills relevant to the job.

Examples:

Photography
Hiking
Cooking
Coding
Foreign languages

Professional Memberships and Associations

Highlight memberships in professional organizations that show your commitment to staying connected within your field.

Examples:

Member of the American Marketing Association
Participant in the Society of Human Resource Management events
Volunteer for the local chapter of Engineers Without Borders

Conferences and Training

Attendance at conferences, workshops, or relevant training sessions demonstrates your dedication to continuous learning and professional development.

Examples:

Attended an annual conference on sustainable energy practices
Completed online courses in web development
Participated in leadership training seminars

Final Thoughts

Crafting a resume without work experience might seem challenging at first, but remember, your unique blend of skills, education, and extracurricular activities can make you a standout candidate. Your resume is not just a document; it's a snapshot of who you are and what you can bring to the table. By effectively highlighting your academic achievements, relevant coursework, skills, volunteer work, and leadership experiences, you can create a compelling narrative that showcases your potential.

Keep updating your resume with new skills, experiences, and achievements as you grow. With determination and a well-crafted resume, you’ll be ready to seize the opportunities that come your way.

The University of Utah’s U Career Success office is geared towards helping students reach their full potential in the professional world. Come meet with your dedicated career coach, who will give you direct advice to help boost your professional presence, and check out the rest of the services that we have to offer to further help you secure that dream job!

Resources: Indeed’s Guide to Technical Skills