It is not a secret that young people find it difficult to find work, but many times it is because they do not look for it in the correct way. There are some basic steps to finding a job that will boost your chances of being hired.
Anyway, the starting point is to learn how to make a resume, because it is the document that is in charge of describing who you are. Next, we will give you some effective recommendations and examples for you to be successful.
Employment statistics for people without experience
In Spain there is an unemployment rate of more than 37% in young people under 25 years of age. This is largely due to the fact that the competition is very high in the market, so the job search has become an arduous task.
As a consequence, more than 70% of the population decides to look for work through the Internet. It is a good alternative to have several doors to play on. Now, although it is difficult to find a good job, it is not an impossible task.
In this sense, what will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates is your CV and the way you write to me.
What format is best suited for this resume?
On the internet you will see numerous templates for create your first resume from scratch. However, not everyone is effective, especially if you do not have experience.
Before starting, you should know which are the most used formats:
Chronological order. Narrate your most important academic and work achievements in descending or ascending order. It’s never a good fit for your first job, because you don’t meet the track record requirements.
functional resume. It focuses on your skills and competencies as a professional, showing the best of you. Although it does not replace the experience and training sections, it does not give them the focus.
mixed resume. It is a combination of the two previous formats. It is appropriate to highlight your academic background when it is very striking, but focusing on the skills.
In general terms, the format that will help you get started in your first job is the functional resume. It’s simple, very easy to write, and makes you look like a good candidate, even if it’s your first time walking through an office door.
How to make a resume for my first job
Creating a CV without experience does not have much mystery nor do you have to be a professional person in writing and layout. With a basic resume is more than enough for appear in the selection of personnel. Put aside elaborate models and extravagant designs.
Although it is true that you should choose an attractive CV template, The most impressive thing is the way you describe each section. Right now, we break down the most relevant sections for your CV:
Personal information
You must include your full name and surnameLike a email and phone number. Some candidates also add their social networks and, if they have one, a web page. The important thing is that all your contact information is clear for a possible contract.
Professional objective
It is the mouthpiece of the resume and the section that should have the most impact on the recruiter. The career objective consists of a short paragraph that explain what your aspirations, goals and objectives are inside the company. It is also possible to talk about important achievements in your academic training.
Experience
Obviously, the objective of this section is to narrate how you have developed as a professional. The problem is that you are looking for your first job, so you do not have a track record in any company. You can think about deleting it, although it is not recommended.
There is always something that is practical to put in the experience section. Don’t worry, we will give you some interesting tricks later.
Academic training
Since your track record isn’t the highlight, putting some emphasis on your educational background is a good idea. You have to talk about your degree obtained, the educational institution and the dates. In addition, it is convenient to complement with a short list of acquired skills and achievements.
✒️Note: If you have a university degree, skip compulsory secondary education and primary education.
Skills
This is the section that should capture all the attention of the viewers. Skills are the main bait that will make recruiters take the bait and decide to hire you. This section has the purpose of explaining what you have to offer the company.
Employers know that you are young and because of your age they will understand that you do not have much experience. Therefore, more than experience and education, they want someone who provide benefits to your company.
In this sense, these competences are classified into the following:
Soft skills. These are personal qualities that make you a good worker. For example: empathy, optimism, communication, conflict resolution, etc.
hard skills. These are job-specific skills, and they change depending on your studies. For example: design, software mastery, negotiation, knowledge of laws, etc.
⚠️Warning: Do not use all your skills, because the curriculum would be overloaded. It is preferable to analyze the job offer and select only the skills that are relevant.
What to put in the resume without work experience?
As promised, we will help you get the most out of this section. Do not resort to the temptation to eliminate it completely, because the CV would be left with some gaps that make you attractive.
Fortunately, there are several alternatives that are very interesting:
Professional practices. It’s not a job as such, but here you exercise your skills just as if it were a job.
Personal projects. If you’ve done independent work, either for a neighbor or online, it doesn’t hurt to include it.
Volunteering and courses. Above all they are relevant if they are somehow related to the vacancy in question.
Tutorials. If you’re good at what you do, you may have helped other people. Also, if you were appointed as a preparer in your academic institution, it is a very interesting fact.
With all these steps you will be ready for write a resume for first job. It is very simple and you can do it in a matter of minutes. By applying these suggestions, the results will be as follows:
Sample resume for my first job
La Puerta, San Sebastian 15168
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 555 555 555
Professional objective
Third year student in business administration. I am looking for a job that allows me to complement my academic training with the world of work. I am able to deal with a large audience, multitask, and work efficiently. I have participated in 3 presentations at the university and I am part of a care program for students with learning difficulties.
Academic training
Business Administration
university of Navarra
January 2019 – Present
With competences in:
accounting records
tax billing
Resource Optimization
Marketing strategies
Key achievements:
Student of the year in the last period
GPA of 9.4
Skills
Public attention
Microsoft Office Word and Excel
Teamwork
cash management
Creation of payment balances
Academic experience
Trainee and trainer
university of Navarra
Help more than 15 students with difficulties in numerical skills
University Library Administration
Collaboration with the management department
For a candidate with no experience and who has not yet finished their studies, this resume is very attractive. You will make a good first impression and in no time you will get your job.
Tips for designing the resume for the first job
You are ready to create your resume and stand out in the recruitment process. It is easier than it seems, as long as you describe each section as we have explained. Anyway, here are some additional tips that will help you boost your CV:
Select an attractive model. There are numerous templates on the web that adapt to your needs, personality and profile. It combines good taste, elegance and professionalism.
Choose the ideal source. The most common is to use Arial or Times New Roman, classic letters and known by all recruiters. But if you want to give a distinctive touch, use Helvetica, Tahoma, Lato, Gill Sans, among others.
Don’t forget your photo. The use of photography is well regarded in Spain and becomes a vital requirement for a curriculum vitae. Use an image where you are smiling and well dressed.
Have a balanced structure. Make sure that each section is easily found so that the recruiter does not have trouble reading it. Avoid overly long blocks of text and leave some white space to serve as a margin.
Choose the right extension. PDF is almost always used, because it is an unalterable file. Still, check to see which extension is preferred by recruiters. Finally, if you are going to present it physically, print the resume on a white sheet and keep it in a folder.
Complement your resume without experience with a cover letter
If you want to show more motivation and professionalism, the cover letter is the perfect resource. It is a document in which you can delve more about competencies, skills, goals and aspirationsas well as personal achievements.
Here are some suggestions for writing the cover letter:
Use data different from that of the curriculum vitae Combine formal and elegant language with a friendly and cordial demeanor Make sure to write with good spelling and grammar Use paragraphs and sentences that are not too long
To end
It is time to write your resume for the first job and start in the professional world. As you have noticed, the process to follow is very simple and you can highlight your profile even if you have no experience. Remember to be honest, objective and brief in each section to make the best first impression.
Finally, we want to recommend that you use a resume template without experience that suits your needs. For this, we invite you to visit our catalog of CV models, where you will find attractive, professional and effective copies.
Don’t wait any longer to take one of the most important steps in your life: enter the world of work.