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No Experience / First Job Resume — Two-Column Template
First-job resumes succeed by maximising every signal of potential: coursework, personal projects, volunteer work, extracurriculars, and transferable skills. The goal is to prove you're a fast learner who takes initiative — experience comes later. The Two-Column layout places credentials, skills, and contact details in a sidebar, freeing the main column for your experience. It looks more polished than single-column — but some ATS systems struggle with multi-column parsing.
Why the Two-Column layout works for no experience / first job roles
check_circleDirect recruiter outreach (not through ATS portals)
check_circleCreative and design roles where visual polish is valued
check_circleStartup and SME applications reviewed by humans first
check_circleNetworking introductions and portfolio supplements
Not ATS-safe. Use as PDF for direct outreach only — do not submit through job boards with ATS parsers.
Key skills to include on your no experience / first job resume
ATS systems scan for these keywords. Make sure the ones that match your experience appear in your resume.
CommunicationMicrosoft OfficeGoogle WorkspaceTeamworkTime ManagementCustomer ServiceProblem SolvingLeadershipSocial MediaResearch
Writing tips for no experience / first job resumes
- 1Lead with education and relevant coursework — it's your strongest credential at this stage.
- 2Include personal projects: websites, apps, content, volunteer initiatives — anything that shows initiative.
- 3Skills-based formatting helps if you're thin on formal experience — move your skills section up.
Common job titles this template targets
Entry-Level AssociateJuniorTraineeApprenticeVolunteerPart-time Associate
More No Experience / First Job templates
No Experience / First Job — Classic✓ ATS-Safe
No Experience / First Job — Executive✓ ATS-Safe
No Experience / First Job — Modern✓ ATS-Safe
No Experience / First Job — Compact✓ ATS-Safe
Two-Column templates for other Experience Level roles
edit_documentUse this template free →
Free · No account required · Export as .docx or PDF