How to write a CV with no experience

What to put on your CV

Use these sections, in this order, and skip any you truly have nothing for.

• Contact details: name, phone, professional email, city, LinkedIn if you have one
• Profile: two or three lines on who you are and what you want
• Education: school or university, dates, relevant subjects, grades if strong
• Projects: coursework, personal or group projects
• Activities: clubs, sports, volunteering, competitions
• Part-time or informal work: tutoring, family business, freelance
• Skills: software, languages, practical skills

Turn activities into evidence

The trick is to describe what you did and what happened, not just your title. 'Member of the photography club' says little. 'Photographed 12 university events; my pictures were used on the faculty's social media' shows skill and reliability.

Use action words: organised, built, led, taught, sold, designed, managed. Add numbers when you have them: people, money, events, followers, grades.

• Weak: Helped at a charity event
• Better: Ran the ticket desk for a 300-person charity concert and handled cash with no errors
• Weak: Did a group project
• Better: Led a team of four to build a budgeting app in Flutter; presented it to 60 students

Write a short profile

Keep it to two or three lines: what you study or finished, one or two strengths with proof, and the kind of role you want. Avoid empty phrases like 'hard-working team player' unless the rest of the CV proves it.

Keep it to one page

With no work history, one page is right. Use a clean layout, the same date format everywhere, and no spelling mistakes. Ask someone to read it before you send it.

Let CVForge do the writing

Describe your studies, projects and activities in your own words and CVForge shapes them into strong, honest lines on a clean one-page layout. It never invents experience; it only works with what you give it.

Should I include school grades?

Include them if they are good or the employer asks. Otherwise list relevant subjects.

Can I list online courses?

Yes, especially ones relevant to the job. Name the platform and when you finished.

Do I need references on my CV?

Usually not. Write nothing or 'available on request' and keep the names ready.

Should I write a cover letter?

Yes, when you can. It lets you explain your motivation, which matters a lot when you have little experience.