Introduction

If you're a new grad and have little to no experience, then you may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the prospect of writing your first resume. While there is no one-size-fits all approach to writing a resume for a first job, there are some general guidelines that can help you along the way:

Start with your personal information.

First, you'll want to include your personal information. This includes:

Your name.
Your address (City, State, Zip - no need to include the full address)
Phone number & email address

If you have a social media account for work (like LinkedIn), list it here as well.

Write your job value proposition.

The job value proposition is your chance to highlight what makes you a good fit for the position. It's also an opportunity to show off your skills and accomplishments, so don't be shy about including them. Think of this section as the place where you can tell the hiring manager why he or she should hire you over other candidates who may have similar qualifications.

Here are some things to consider when writing your job value proposition:

What do I bring to the table? (For example, "I am a hard worker who always delivers on time." Or: "I am highly organized, which means I'll never miss a deadline!") If there are any unique qualities that set you apart from other applicants--such as being bilingual or having experience with software X --it's worth mentioning them here too!
How can I help this company succeed? (Including specifics helps.)

List down your relevant education and training steps.

You should include the name of the school you went to, the dates of your attendance and any special awards or recognitions you received. If there are relevant courses that were taken by you, then also include them in this section. Finally, if there is any volunteer work done by you which can be helpful for your career growth and development then also add it here in this section.

Include study abroad, research, and any special projects.

The next step is to create a resume. Your resume should include any work experience, volunteer work, special projects or courses and awards.

Include your education information at the top of your resume (name of school, city and state).
List all of your relevant coursework in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Include only those courses that relate directly to the job for which you are applying.
For each class:
List course number; name of professor; number of credits earned; grade received (if applicable)

Highlight your skills and accomplishments.

This should be an easy one, but it's important to make sure that your resume is full of all the skills you have acquired during your education. Remember to include any internships or work experience (even if it was just for a few months) as well as any relevant volunteer work. If there are gaps in employment, try highlighting skills learned outside of the workplace, such as in clubs or organizations.

If possible, highlight any awards or honors received during this time period as well!

The key to a resume for first job includes honesty, brevity and an emphasis on the employer's needs.

Don't lie. If you don't have the experience or skills to do a job, it is best to be honest about it.
Don't include unnecessary information. If you are applying for an administrative assistant position and have never worked in an office before, there's no need to include your high school diploma or college transcript on your resume--those things may not even be relevant to this particular employer!
Make sure your resume is easy-to-read and understand. The purpose of a first job resume is not only to get your foot in the door; it also serves as a calling card for future employers who might want more information about how great of an employee (and person) you were during those first few months on the job at [insert company here].

Aim to make a resume that is professional, easy to read, and shows what you have done that matters to the employer.

Be honest. Your resume should be a truthful representation of your professional experience and skills, not some made-up nonsense that makes you look like an expert in everything. Employers aren't looking for someone who can do everything; they want someone with specific skills that match their needs. If you don't have those skills, then don't put them down on your resume!
Be brief and to the point--the shorter and more concise it is, the better off it will be when employers are reviewing hundreds (or even thousands) of applicants' resumes at once! This means no fluff or filler words like "I am" or "I have." Instead say what action verb(s) best describe what YOU did: e.g., "organized" instead of "managed" because managers oversee many tasks whereas organizers focus on just one thing at once (and thus require different skill sets).

Conclusion

After reading this article, you should be well-equipped for writing your first resume. You know how important it is to write in a clear and concise manner that highlights what the employer needs most. You understand how to format your resume so that it looks professional while also making sure that all relevant information is included. Finally, we hope that you have been inspired by our examples of how other people have done just that!