Work · Resumes and applications

No experience? What to put instead

Babysitting, mowing, pet care, volunteering, clubs, sports, school projects and caring for family all count. Write each like a job: an action verb, what you did, and a result with a number. "Watched two kids, ages 4 and 7, three afternoons a week for a year" beats "Babysitter." Use a skills or summary section up top, and if you need more, get experience fast through volunteering, job shadowing or an internship. Never stretch the truth.

Easy1 hourFreeChecked October 2, 2026

You'll need

A list of everything you've done in the last few years: school, activities, side jobs, volunteering, caring for family
Two job postings you'd apply to

What to know

List everything. Small jobs for friends, family or neighbors, like mowing, raking, babysitting, pet care or helping an older neighbor with chores, build real work skills. Source: CareerOneStop¹ So do clubs, sports, theater, music, religious groups and community activities, and you can put them on your resume. Source: CareerOneStop¹
Pull the skills out. Volunteering can build skills like writing, child care, teaching, coaching, fundraising, sales, answering phones, organizing and construction. Source: CareerOneStop¹ Circle the ones that match the job posting.
Write each item like a job. Start with an action verb, be specific, and include facts and numbers. Source: Harvard Mignone Center⁴ Not "Responsible for dogs" but "Walked and fed 3 neighbors' dogs daily for 2 summers; never missed a visit."
Add a summary up top with your 3 or 4 strongest skills or accomplishments. Source: CareerOneStop² A highlights section is a good place for volunteer, community or school accomplishments that wouldn't show up otherwise. Source: CareerOneStop³
Put education near the top if you're a new grad or it's required for the job. Source: CareerOneStop³ Include classes, training and certificates related to the job. Source: CareerOneStop⁵
Add a volunteering and activities section for things that show responsibility, commitment or skills, like sports, clubs or languages you speak. Source: CareerOneStop²
Keep it to one page and proofread it, then ask a good speller to check it too. Source: CareerOneStop²

Watch out Be truthful. State your skills and abilities accurately. Source: CareerOneStop² If you use AI to help, check every line: it can write descriptions that exaggerate your experience or make things up. Source: CareerOneStop³ Anything on your resume is fair game in an interview.

See it done

Video by Indeed Company video

First Resume Tips: How to Make a Resume with No Work Experience

Watch on YouTube: First Resume Tips: How to Make a Resume with No Work Experience | Indeed Career Tips

Full title on YouTube: “First Resume Tips: How to Make a Resume with No Work Experience | Indeed Career Tips”2022 · Checked October 3, 2026

Heads up: Indeed made this, so it plugs its own resume templates. Any free template works.

Video won't load at school or work? No problem. Everything you need is in the steps; the video's just a bonus. Watch it on YouTube later.

If it doesn't work

Still feels thin? Get experience fast. Volunteer at a nonprofit or school, and ask about training, since many provide it. Source: CareerOneStop¹ Ask someone you know if you can job shadow them for a few hours or a day. Source: CareerOneStop¹
Want real workplace experience? Look for an internship, a short-term job that may be paid or unpaid, through a school or employment program's internship office, an online internship finder or a company's HR office. Source: CareerOneStop¹
Need references? Ask a teacher, coach, volunteer supervisor, mentor or religious advisor. Family and close friends usually don't serve as references. Ask permission first. Source: CareerOneStop²
Want free help? An American Job Center can give you professional resume feedback. Source: CareerOneStop³ Many jobs programs help with IDs, bank accounts and placements too. Source: CareerOneStop¹
No permanent address? Use a place where you can get mail, or a P.O. box. Source: CareerOneStop²

Good to know

The details, if you want them. Tap a line to open it.

Before and after (made-up examples)

Before: "Babysitter." After: "Cared for two children, ages 4 and 7, three afternoons a week for a year; managed homework, snacks and pickup." Before: "Soccer team." After: "Team captain, varsity soccer; ran warm-ups for 18 players and organized carpools." Before: "Helped at church." After: "Volunteered at monthly food drive; sorted and packed 200+ boxes and trained 5 new volunteers."

Family responsibilities count

Caring for younger siblings or a grandparent, managing a household budget or translating for family are real responsibilities. Describe them the same way: action, what you did, how often.

Interviews too

If you don't have much work experience, use examples from volunteer work, school and other activities in interview answers. Source: CareerOneStop⁵ See Story answers (STAR).

Use their words

Use keywords from the job posting so your resume matches what they're looking for. Source: CareerOneStop²

Skip these

Don't include a photo, your age or gender, or a list of references on the resume itself. Source: Harvard Mignone Center⁴

Take it with you

Printable card Download card (PDF)

Sources

CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) Get work experience (GetMyFuture)
CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) Resumes (GetMyFuture)
CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) Resumes
Harvard University Mignone Center for Career Success Guide to creating a strong resume
CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) Practice interview questions

Lesson W2.3 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed.

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