One of the biggest concerns students have when they’re getting ready to leave school is writing their first resume.
“How can I get a job if I don’t have any experience?”
It’s a question almost everyone asks. The good news is that every employer knows they have to start somewhere too.
Your first resume isn’t about proving you’ve worked for years. It’s about showing your potential, your attitude and the experiences that have helped you develop valuable skills.
Whether you’re looking for casual work, an apprenticeship, a traineeship or your first full-time role after school, here’s how to build a resume that helps you stand out.
Start with what you do have
It’s easy to focus on what you haven’t done yet, but employers are just as interested in the skills you’ve developed through school, hobbies and everyday life.
Think about experiences such as:
- School projects
- Sporting teams
- Performing arts or creative activities
- Community groups
- Leadership opportunities
- Caring responsibilities
- Clubs or extracurricular activities
All of these can demonstrate qualities employers value, including teamwork, communication, organisation and reliability.
Include work experience placements
Completed work experience through school? It absolutely belongs on your resume.
Even if the placement only lasted a few days or a week, it shows initiative and gives employers confidence that you’ve experienced a real workplace.
Include:
- The business name
- The industry
- When you completed the placement
- A few of the tasks you observed or assisted with
- The skills you developed
For example:
Work Experience – Greenleaf Automotive
June 2026
- Observed daily workshop operations
- Assisted with organising tools and preparing work areas
- Followed workplace health and safety procedures
- Developed communication and teamwork skills
The placement itself is valuable, but the skills you gained are what employers really want to see.
Volunteer experience counts too
Many students overlook volunteer work because they don’t think it “counts.”
It does.
Volunteering shows commitment, initiative and a willingness to help others. Depending on your role, it may also demonstrate customer service, organisation, leadership or problem-solving skills.
Examples include volunteering at:
- Sporting clubs
- School events
- Community organisations
- Charity fundraisers
- Local festivals
- Animal shelters
- Churches or community groups
If you’ve given your time to help others, that’s experience worth including.
Highlight your strengths
Employers hiring school leavers aren’t expecting years of industry knowledge. They’re looking for people with the right attitude.
Think about the personal qualities people would use to describe you.
You might be:
- Reliable
- Willing to learn
- Friendly
- Organised
- Punctual
- A good communicator
- Calm under pressure
- Positive
- Hard-working
Choose qualities you can genuinely back up with examples from school, volunteering or other activities.
Include achievements from school
Your education is likely to be one of the strongest sections on your first resume.
Along with your school details, consider including achievements such as:
- Awards
- Certificates
- Leadership roles
- Sporting achievements
- School productions
- Competitions
- Vocational education or training (VET) courses
- Licences or tickets you’ve completed
These all demonstrate commitment, perseverance and a willingness to learn.
Keep your resume simple and easy to read
Your first resume doesn’t need to be several pages long.
In fact, one page is often enough.
Use clear headings and include:
- Your contact details
- A short personal statement
- Education
- Work experience
- Volunteer experience
- Skills
- Achievements or certificates
- Referees (or simply write “Available on request”)
A clean, well-organised resume is much more effective than one filled with unnecessary information.
Tailor your resume for each job
One resume won’t suit every opportunity.
Applying for an apprenticeship? Highlight practical skills, teamwork and reliability.
Applying for a retail job? Focus on communication, customer service and working with others.
Applying for hospitality? Emphasise organisation, working under pressure and being approachable.
Making small changes for each application shows employers you’ve taken the time to understand the role.
Remember: Everyone Starts Somewhere
Every qualified tradesperson, nurse, teacher, mechanic, chef, office worker and business owner once had a first resume.
No one begins with years of experience.
What matters most is showing employers you’re willing to learn, prepared to work hard and ready to take the next step.
Your resume doesn’t have to tell the story of everything you’ve done.
It simply needs to tell the story of where you’re ready to go.
Your Future Starts With Taking the First Step
Writing your first resume can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Start with the experiences you already have, be honest about your strengths and remember that every opportunity, whether it’s volunteering, work experience or school activities, helps build the skills employers are looking for.
Everyone starts somewhere, and your first resume is simply the beginning of your career journey.
