resume for call center with no experience

Call Center Resume Examples & The Skills to Include [+Templates]

Updated: April 26, 2024

Published: May 15, 2023

A good resume stands between your dream job and rejection. The difference between a good resume and a mediocre one is that of structure, keyword use, skill sets, references, and more.

Writing a call center resume is no exception. You must include the relevant qualifications, skills, and experiences that align with the job requirements.

Read our guide on best practices for writing call center resumes, what skills and objectives to include in your resume, and the industry-best call center resume examples to stand out.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide:

What is a call center resume?

Call center resume examples & templates.

• Customer Service Resume Summary

Call Center Resume Objective

Call center resume skills.

12 Free Customizable Resume Templates

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A call center resume focuses primarily on your skills, professional background, and qualifications, aligning them with the job requirements. Depending on the job position, such as the seniority level or the size of the organization, you should know the average length of your resume.

Just like any resume, make sure you include the following sections when on the hunt for your next call center gig:

• Your name and contact information.
• Your education.
• Relevant work experience.
• Helpful skills.
• Relevant non-work experience if you're new to the job market.

In the next section, we'll discuss more specific templates you can leverage based on your skill set and the open role.

These templates will help you better understand how to craft a strong resume that will grab the attention of potential employers. Consider the role you're applying to and find the example below that most closely aligns.

Featured Resource: Free Resume Templates

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7 Call Center Representative Resume Examples for 2024

Call Center

Best for careers that encourage creativity.

Browsing for creative resume templates? In graphic design, photography, or event planning? Make a statement with this modern resume.

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Like this template? Customize this resume and make it your own with the help of our Al-powered suggestions, accent colors, and modern fonts.

• Call Center Representative Resumes
• Call Center Resume by Experience
• Call Center Resumes by Role

You’d think that  crafting resumes  and writing cover letters would get easier as you progress through your career. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Entry-level and experienced call center representatives alike struggle with  generating successful resumes . 

Expanding on limited experience or condensing decades of work to fit one page is not an easy task, so that’s where we come in. 

We’ve taken the time to analyze hundreds of resumes from call center representatives  and used analytic tools to determine what does (and what doesn’t) land applicants interviews in 2024. 

We’ve  generated seven call center representative resume samples to help you land your next call center job using this analysis . 

Call Center Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Utilizing numbers strategically on your call center resume will allow you to convey more information in a smaller amount of space instead of describing your experience with words alone.
• Avoid filler words and use numbers as often as possible.
• When do you need a resume summary? They’re helpful in setting you apart from the competition if you boast 10+ years of expertise in your field and have specializations you can showcase.

Call Center Representative Resume

• To avoid instant elimination from the sea of applicants, ensure that your call center representative resume includes relevant skills. Check the job description, look for key skills and talents, and have them on your resume. 
• Resumes are frequently processed by applicant tracking systems (ATS) before they reach hiring managers. Call center resumes at this stage with skills that are not specifically pre-selected by hiring teams will never be seen by people. Instead, they’re automatically rejected. 
• When an employer reads your resume, they should instantly know that you’re extraordinary. Present yourself as confident, capable, and goal-oriented by demonstrating your value and that you understand the job responsibilities. 
• What makes recruiters want to interview you? The numbers!
• Pretend for a moment that you’re an employer charged with bringing on an exceptional new team member. Review your current resume and see what you think.

Entry-Level Call Center Representative Resume

• When you’re looking to make your first break into a career, it can feel impossible to craft a compelling entry-level call center resume. How do you demonstrate your job capabilities when you have limited prior experience, irrelevant experience, or no job experience? 
• The most important thing you can do is demonstrate the key skills and responsibilities highlighted in the job description. 
• If you have some relevant prior experience, make sure it features prominently in your work experience sections and quantify your work in each role. 
• If you have irrelevant job experience, you can still highlight relevant skills and responsibilities. For example, if you’re looking for a job as a call center representative, you can highlight soft skills like “friendly” or “empathetic.” 
• If you do not have any work experience, remember that you can detail school projects (perhaps ones that required great communication or leadership), volunteer experience, or extracurricular activities that required relevant expertise. 
• When do you need a resume objective? They’re more important if you’re looking for a career change. They’re also helpful if you’re a little light on experience and need to fill up space.

Call Center Agent Resume

• Also, remember to weave in your software skills such as Salesforce to give your call center agent resume an edge and put you ahead of the rest.

Call Center Customer Service Representative Resume

• You can borrow a leaf here by composing your piece to highlight big achievements and matching them with realistic numbers.

Call Center Manager Resume

• Increased work responsibilities demonstrate growth and personal development, showing potential employers that you will continue to become more valuable to the company over time and increasing the chances of being contacted for an interview. 
• Though you may value an internship you completed 15 years ago, it’s no longer relevant to your resume. Only include the most recent (and related) jobs you’ve held, and save an anecdotal tidbit about your internship for the interview. 
• When you have years of experience, your managerial resume may become denser. Ensure that hiring managers read the most important expertise on your resume by listing it in reverse-chronological order. When your most recent work experience is listed at the top, we’ve found that employers are twice as likely to request an interview. 

Outbound Call Center Resume

• At a minimum, you should demonstrate your capacity to handle high call volumes, ensure customer satisfaction, and achieve or exceed sales targets. You’ll make yourself an even more compelling job candidate if you highlight how you boosted efficiency for yourself and your co-workers.
• Mentioning command over popular customer service software tells employers that you’ll require less job training and may be able to train other staff members on new software programs. 
• Your resume won’t look the same for every application.
• Try reorganizing, quantifying, and using an active voice throughout your resume. Then check your resume to make sure you get interviews using our  resume checker .

Related resume guides

• Sales associate
• Customer service
• Sales Representative

• Career Blog

25 Call Center Resume Examples & Skills for 2024

When it comes to crafting your call center resume, there are some basic components that you need to include in order to make a great first impression on potential employers. In addition to the standard sections, like your contact information and work history, there are also a few specific considerations that are unique to call center resumes.

Basic Components of a Resume

Here are the key elements that every resume should have:

• Contact Information: Include your name, phone number, email address, and physical address (optional).
• Summary/Objective Statement: This is a brief statement that describes your goals and qualifications.
• Work Experience: List your previous jobs, including your job title, the company you worked for, and the dates you worked there. Be sure to include any relevant accomplishments or responsibilities.
• Education: List your degree(s), the school(s) you attended, and the dates you attended.
• Skills: Highlight any skills or certifications that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Specific Considerations for Call Center Resumes

When it comes to call center resumes, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Highlight customer service skills: Your resume should showcase your ability to provide exceptional customer service, including your communication skills, professional demeanor, and ability to handle difficult situations.
• Emphasize metrics and performance: Call center employers are often interested in metrics such as the number of calls you handled, your average handle time, and your call quality scores. If you have any of these metrics to showcase, be sure to include them in your resume.
• Showcase technical proficiency: Many call center positions require proficiency with specific software or equipment. If you have experience with any of these tools, be sure to include them in your resume.

Examples of Effective Formats

Not sure where to start when it comes to formatting your call center resume? Here are a few examples of effective formats:

• Chronological Resume: This is the most common type of resume, which lists your work experience in reverse chronological order.
• Functional Resume: This format emphasizes your skills and qualifications above your work experience.
• Combination Resume: As the name suggests, this format combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes.

No matter which format you choose, be sure to customize your resume to the specific position you’re applying for. This will help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Crafting a great call center resume requires attention to detail and a focus on highlighting your unique skills and qualifications. By including the basic components of a resume, paying attention to specific considerations for call center positions, and choosing an effective format, you can create a winning resume that helps you land your dream job.

Professional Summary

A professional summary is a brief statement that summarizes the most important aspects of your career and accomplishments. It is typically located at the top of your resume and serves as a quick snapshot of your qualifications for the job you are applying for.

When it comes to writing an effective summary for a call center position, it is important to highlight your experience providing excellent customer service and your ability to handle high-pressure situations. Emphasizing your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency in utilizing call center software can also be beneficial.

An effective professional summary for a call center position should be concise and tailored to the specific job you are applying for. It should provide a clear and focused overview of the value you can bring to the company.

Here are some examples of successful professional summaries for call center positions:

Experienced Call Center Representative with a proven track record of providing exceptional customer service. Skilled in handling high-pressure situations and resolving complex customer issues. Proficient in using call center software and technologies.

Results-driven Call Center Manager with over 5 years of experience leading teams of customer service representatives. Adept at developing strategies to improve customer satisfaction and streamlining call center operations. Excellent communication and leadership skills.

Motivated and detail-oriented Call Center Agent with 2 years of experience in the industry. Excels at multitasking, problem-solving, and providing personalized customer service. Proficient in using call center software and technologies.

Your professional summary should showcase your relevant skills and experience while also providing a glimpse of your personality and work ethic. It should be tailored specifically to the call center position you are applying for and show why you are the best fit for the role.

Skills and Abilities

When it comes to working in a call center, there are specific skill sets employers are looking for. These include:

Customer service: Demonstrating excellent customer service skills is a must in any call center role. This involves being able to maintain a positive attitude, displaying empathy, and communicating clearly and effectively.

Communication: Excellent communication skills are essential in a call center role. This includes being able to listen actively, ask the right questions, and convey information clearly and concisely.

Technical abilities: Many call centers use advanced technologies and databases to manage customer interactions. Having a strong aptitude for technology and experience with online systems can be a significant advantage.

Time management: In a fast-paced call center environment, it’s essential to be able to manage your time effectively. This includes the ability to prioritize tasks, complete work efficiently, and meet deadlines.

Multitasking: Call center employees are required to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, such as answering phone calls while updating customer records. Being able to multitask while maintaining a high level of accuracy is crucial.

To showcase these skills effectively in a call center resume, be specific and use concrete examples. Instead of listing soft skills like “good communication skills,” use action verbs and phrases like “Managed a high volume of customer calls daily while maintaining a positive and upbeat demeanor.”

Here are some other tips to keep in mind for crafting an effective call center resume:

Tailor your resume to the specific job. Highlight the skills and experiences that directly align with the job listing.

Quantify your accomplishments. Use numbers and statistics to demonstrate your successes, such as “Increased customer satisfaction ratings by 10% through effective communication and problem-solving skills.”

Keep it concise. Employers receive many resumes, so make sure your resume is easy to read and only includes relevant information.

Finally, when it comes to including a skills section on your call center resume, make sure you use powerful and specific language. Here are some examples of effective skill sections:

Professional Skills: Strong communication skills, customer service expertise, ability to work well under pressure, proficiency in CRM software and call center technologies.

Technical Skills: Experienced with cloud-based customer service software, adept at navigating complex databases, broad understanding of customer data privacy and security protocols.

By showcasing your relevant skills and demonstrating how you can add value to a call center team, you can create a compelling resume that stands out to employers in this competitive space.

Work Experience

When it comes to detailing your previous call center work experience in your resume, there are a few best practices to keep in mind. These best practices include quantifying accomplishments and responsibilities, along with providing examples of call center work sections.

Best Practices for Detailing Previous Call Center Work Experience in a Resume

Focus on relevant experiences  – If you have worked in multiple call centers during your career, emphasize the experiences that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.

Be specific  – Provide details about your role and the types of calls you handled. For example, did you handle customer complaints? Tech support? Sales calls? Be specific and provide examples.

Highlight achievements  – Detail specific achievements and accomplishments from your past call center work experience. By quantifying your achievements, you can demonstrate your impact and value as an employee.

Include relevant skills  – List the skills that you acquired and used during your call center work experience, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, and technical skills.

Use metrics  – Whenever possible, use metrics to quantify your accomplishments. For example, if you were able to achieve a high rate of customer satisfaction or reduce call wait times, include those statistics in your resume.

Quantifying Accomplishments and Responsibilities

To make your past call center work experience more impactful on your resume, you need to quantify your accomplishments and responsibilities. Here are a few examples of how to do that:

• Increased sales revenue by 20% through successful cross-selling techniques.
• Responded to an average of 50 customer complaints per day, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rating.
• Handled 80 calls per day with an average call time of 2 minutes or less.

By providing specific numbers and statistics, you can demonstrate your value as a call center employee and showcase your abilities to potential employers.

Examples of Call Center Work Sections

Here are a few examples of how to structure your call center work experience section in your resume:

Call Center Representative ABC Company June 2017 – May 2020

• Handled 75 calls per day, achieving a 92% customer satisfaction rating.
• Generated a conversion rate of 15% through successful upselling techniques.
• Trained new reps on company policies and procedures.

Customer Service Representative XYZ Corporation January 2015 – May 2017

• Consistently met and exceeded monthly quotas for sales revenue and customer retention.
• Provided technical support for customers experiencing software and hardware issues.

Education Section

When it comes to creating your call center resume, the education section is an important part that you shouldn’t overlook. Even if you don’t have a college degree, it’s still important to include any relevant education and training that you’ve received. Here are some tips on how to effectively convey your education in a call center resume:

How to effectively convey education in a call center resume

Be concise and clear:  Only include the necessary information and keep it simple.

Highlight relevant coursework:  If you have taken any courses that are specifically related to a call center job, make sure to include them.

Include certifications:  If you have any certifications, such as a certificate in customer service, that can also be listed.

Don’t forget about on-the-job training:  If you have any training that you received on the job, it can still be included in the education section.

List your GPA (if applicable):  If you have a good GPA, it can be an asset to your resume. However, if your GPA is low, you may want to leave it off.

Appropriate education level for a call center position

While a college degree isn’t always required for a call center job, having at least a high school diploma or GED is usually necessary. However, some call center positions may require additional education or training. For example, if you are applying for a technical support position, having a degree in a related field may be required.

Examples of effective education sections

Here are some examples of effective education sections that can be used as a guide when creating your own:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, XYZ University, 2015-2019
• Relevant coursework: Customer service management, communication skills, marketing principles

Education and Training:

• Diploma in Business Administration, ABC High School, 2011-2015
• On-the-job training: Six months of customer service and sales training

Certifications and Training:

• Certificate in Customer Service, XYZ Training Center, 2018
• Training: Three months of call center operations training

Remember, your education section should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for. Highlight any relevant education and training that you have received and make sure to keep it clear and concise.

Basic Tips for Writing an Effective Call Center Resume

When it comes to crafting a strong call center resume, there are general tips that apply to any type of resume as well as best practices specific to call center resumes. It’s important to also be aware of common mistakes to avoid.

General tips for any type of resume

• Keep your resume clear, concise, and easy to read. Use bullet points and clear headings to organize your information.
• Tailor your resume to the job description. Highlight specific skills and experiences that align with the requirements of the position.
• Use action words to describe your achievements and responsibilities, such as “managed,” “resolved,” and “improved.”
• Quantify your accomplishments wherever possible. For example, instead of saying “handled customer complaints,” say “successfully resolved an average of 50 customer complaints per week.”

Best practices specific to call center resumes

• Emphasize your customer service skills. Call center roles require excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Highlight your experience with call center software and technology. This includes familiarity with phone systems, customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, and call monitoring software.
• Mention any language proficiency. If you are bilingual or multilingual, this can be a huge asset in call center roles as it allows you to assist a wider range of customers.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Being too vague. Avoid using overly general terms or phrases that do not clearly convey your responsibilities or achievements.
• Failing to customize your resume. Using the same generic resume for every job application can make it seem like you’re not invested in the specific role.
• Listing irrelevant experience. While it’s important to include all relevant work experience, including irrelevant experience can make your resume less focused and effective.

By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a call center resume that highlights your strengths and experiences, and ultimately helps you stand out to potential employers.

Call Center Resume Samples

As an experienced copywriter and subject matter expert, I understand the importance of a well-crafted resume. In this section, we will provide 25 sample call center resumes and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Our goal is to help you identify what makes a particular resume stand out from the rest and how specific sections of the resume contribute to its overall quality.

Sample Call Center Resumes

We have curated 25 call center resume examples that showcase various styles, designs, and formats. We have chosen resumes from candidates with different levels of experience and skill sets to provide a comprehensive view of the field. Each resume will be analyzed in terms of its structure, content, and presentation.

Strengths and Weaknesses Analysis

Our team of experts will provide a detailed analysis of each resume, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. We will identify key areas such as formatting, achievements, skills, and work experience to provide valuable insight into what makes a great call center resume.

Standout Resume Factors

We will also discuss what makes a particular resume stand out from the rest. By identifying key factors such as attention-grabbing opening statements, relevant skills, and quantifiable achievements, we will provide actionable tips to help you improve your resume and make it stand out in a highly competitive field.

Sectional Contributions to Overall Quality

To help you understand the importance of each section of the resume, we will provide an explanation of how specific sections contribute to its overall quality. We will review each section, such as the profile summary, skills section, work experience, and education and analyze how they add value to the resume.

Frequently Asked Questions About Call Center Resumes

When crafting a resume, it’s common to have questions about what information to include and how to present yourself in the best light. A call center resume can present some unique challenges, which is why we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help guide you in the right direction.

Common questions about resumes in general

What should I include in my resume? A: Your resume should include your contact information, a professional summary, work experience, education, relevant skills, and any additional certifications or training.

How long should my resume be? A: A standard rule of thumb is to keep your resume to one page, but if you have extensive work experience or additional relevant information to include, your resume can extend to two pages if necessary.

How do I format my resume? A: Use a professional and clean layout, with clear section headings and bullet points to succinctly highlight your experience and skills.

Questions specific to call center resumes

What skills should I include? A: Relevant skills for a call center resume include excellent communication, customer service, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities. Additionally, proficiency in call center software and a familiarity with customer relationship management (CRM) systems can be a plus.

Should I include metrics in my resume, such as call volume or resolution rates? A: Yes! Including specific metrics in your resume can help quantify your achievements and showcase your success in the role.

How do I handle gaps in my call center work experience? A: Be honest and transparent about any gaps in your work history, and use your cover letter to explain any reasons for time away from the industry. Additionally, highlighting any transferable skills or experience gained during this time can be valuable.

Answers to frequently asked questions

What are some common mistakes to avoid? A: Avoid misspellings and grammatical errors, using inappropriate language or tone, and failing to customize your resume to the job description. Additionally, be sure to include only relevant information and avoid including any personal information outside of your contact information.

How do I make my resume stand out? A: Along with including relevant skills and metrics, use keywords and phrases from the job description, and highlight any unique experiences or accomplishments that set you apart from other candidates.

Should I include a cover letter with my resume? A: Yes, including a tailored cover letter can help show your enthusiasm for the role and highlight your qualifications in a more personal way.

Crafting a call center resume is all about showcasing your relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments in a clear and professional way. By following these frequently asked questions and best practices, you’ll be well on your way to landing your next call center job.

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More from ResumeHead

How to Write a Resume with No Experience [21+ Examples]

It’s time for your first job hunt !

You need to write a resume , which can be nerve-wracking if you don’t have any real-life work experience.  

You don’t know where to start, what to include, or which resume format to choose.

On top of that, most advice you find online isn’t relevant because it focuses on emphasizing professional background.

Chances are, you’re straight out of college with no experience to speak of. 

Or maybe you're a high-school student applying for a part-time job.

Whichever the case may be, you’re probably having trouble filling in the blank space on your resume that’s supposed to be the work experience section.

Worry not, though. In this guide, we’re going to help you create an AMAZING resume, no work experience is needed.

• How to format your resume with no work experience
• 4 sections to replace work experience (that help you stand out)
• 2 no-work experience resume samples (guaranteed to land you the job)

How to Format Your Resume [with No Work Experience + Examples] 

A resume format is the layout of your resume .

The ideal resume format usually depends on how much work experience you have. 

But what happens when you have none?

For a no-experience resume, we recommend that you use the reverse-chronological format . 

It’s the most popular format amongst applicants and a recruiter favorite.  

The sections in your reverse-chronological resume will be: 

• Header : Contact Information and Resume Statement
• Internships, extracurricular activities, projects, volunteer work  (These sections will replace your work experience)

In this article, we’ll walk you through each of these sections, and explain how to write them in a way that you stand out from the crowd.

Let’s dive in.

Start With Your Resume Header

Your resume header includes your contact information and your resume statement.  

Below, we’ll show you how to write both of these elements and how to include them in your header section.

Put Down Your Contact Information

Just like the name suggests, the first thing you add to your header is your personal and contact information.

It’s the easiest part to get right, just keep it short and to the point.

In your contact information section, mention the following:

• First and Last Name
• Phone Number
• E-mail Address
• A link to a professional profile (e.g. LinkedIn ) or personal webpage (if you have one)

Make sure to use a professional-sounding E-mail.

I.e. something along the lines of “[email protected].” 

You’re sure to leave a wrong impression if you use an email you created back in preschool ( “[email protected]” ).

Make sure to double-check, triple-check your contact information. After all, the recruiter can’t contact you if you have a typo in your phone number.

(Optional) Write Your Resume Objective

A resume objective is a short heading statement in your resume, where you describe your professional goals and aspirations.

Fun fact - hiring managers look at your resume for 5-6 seconds max .

Yep, that’s right. In most cases, the hiring manager is literally drowning in resumes. So, they have a couple of seconds to skim each one.

Well, this section is your chance to catch their attention (and let them know you’ve got what it takes).

A resume objective is usually 3-4 sentences max and includes information on:

• What your field of study is;
• What your skills and experiences are (ones that are relevant to the job );
• Why you’re applying for this position and/or this company.

As with contact information, you don’t need to label your resume objective with a title. Just write it underneath your contact information section.

Here’s an example of what a resume objective looks like:

“ Recent Communications graduate looking to apply for the role of Secretary at XYZ inc. Extremely organized with good writing and multitasking skills. Practical experience in management gained through several university projects, which involved coordinating tasks between different team members and ensuring that everyone was in sync with the latest information. ”

Emphasize Your Education

In your average resume, the first section would be work experience.

Since you don’t have any, though, you’ll want to omit that and replace it with the education section.

This way, you bring a lot more attention to your education, which is one of your main selling points. 

What should you include in the Education section? 

List the following features in this order:

• Name of the degree
• Name of the institution
• Years attended
• Location of the institution (optional)
• GPA (optional)
• Honors (optional)
• Relevant coursework (optional)
• Exchange programs (optional) 

As a general rule, if you studied in a prestigious university, you can add the name of the institution before the degree . This way, you will catch the recruiter’s attention faster.

Now, let’s go through some real-life examples:

BA in Computer Science

Tufts University

Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts

10/2015 - 06/2018

Magna Cum Laude

• Exchange Program in Greenville, NY

University of the Arts London

BA in Interior Design 

10/2017 - Ongoing

Westwood High

Boston, Massachusetts

Class of 2018 

Education Section Q&A

Still have some questions about the education section? Worry not, we’re about to give you all the answers!

Do I include my GPA?

• The answer here is a “maybe.” We’d recommend including a GPA if it’s higher than 3.5. Anything lower than that, and you might be underselling yourself. Keep in mind, though, that most employers don’t care about your grades.

Should I include my coursework?

• Yep, but just as long as it’s relevant. If you have no work experience, including courses can help establish your expertise in a field. Feel free to skip out on any basic courses, though. No one cares about your Maths 101 course.

Do I mention my degree if I dropped out?

• If you studied for more than 2-3 years, yes. A half-finished degree is still better than no degree. If you dropped out after a semester, though, that doesn’t really mean much.

Do I mention my high school degree?

• Only if it’s your only degree. If you have any higher education, your high school degree will only take up space.

4 Sections to Replace Work Experience [With Examples]

Now that you’ve listed your education, it’s time to fill that work experience gap in your resume.

You aren’t still worried about your lack of experience, right?

Because here are four sections you can use instead:

1) Internships

Have you done an internship that is relevant to the position you are applying for?

Now’s the time to mention it. 

Here is how you add an internship to your resume:

First , place the Internship section right after the education section. 

Title it: Internships

Second , write your internship title and role . Be specific.

If your internship was in the marketing department, instead of just “Intern”, say “Marketing Intern”. 

Third , put down the company name , location , and duration of the internship - in that order.

Marketing Intern

Full Picture

New York, NY

09/2019 - 12/2019

Easy and straightforward, right?

One more step:

Last , add a list of responsibilities you had as an intern in bullet point form. 

If you have any tangible achievements , even better! Write those in as well.

Finally, tailor both the responsibilities and achievements to the role you’re applying for.

Here’s how that looks in practice:

You used to be an Advertising Intern .

You’re applying for the position of Social Media Assistant . 

Here’s how you would put down your internship entry:

Internships

Full Picture Company

• Analyzed various social media platforms for trending content
• Managed company social media accounts
• Posted interested content on company Facebook page, increasing engagement by 25%

The listed responsibilities and achievements are directly connected to the Social Media Assistant job requirements.

You’re applying for a Content Writer position. Take a look at the same entry now:

• Assisted the Marketing Manager in writing press releases and new blog posts , which increased web traffic by 25%.

Notice how the internship title remains the same. 

But in this case you’re applying for a Content Writer position, so you are highlighting your writing experience instead.

For more examples, check out our full guides to an internship resume and how to write a cover letter for an internship .

2) Extracurricular activities

Still have a ton of empty space in your resume?

Extracurricular activities are always a great addition!

Whether they’re related to the job you’re applying for or not, they still show one thing:

You’re hard-working and motivated.

Imagine you’re the HR manager, and you can pick between these 2 candidates:

• Josh Johnson. Studied at Massachusetts State. 4.0 GPA, but that’s all he did in college - no extracurricular activities, internships, or anything else.
• Suzie Activeson. Also studied at Massachusetts state. 3.2 GPA. Vice-president of the business club. Served as a student government senator for 2 semesters. Organized several events as part of the marketing club.

Sure, Josh is probably qualified, but we don't know anything about him, other than that he studied a lot.

Suzie, on the other hand, can manage a team (business club VP), organize events (marketing club), and is passionate about making a change (student government).

So, which one would you pick?

Now, let’s explain how to list extracurricular activities on your resume:

• Title of the section: Extracurricular Activities
• Name of the organization and/or team 
• Your role in the organization
• Time period
• Noteworthy awards or achievements

Extracurricular Activities

Public Speaking Club

Vice-President

09/2018 - 09/2019

• Organized 10+ public speaking lectures
• Brought in speakers from all over the state
• Conducted public speaking workshops

3) Volunteering Experience

Volunteering shows dedication and passion to apply yourself. 

And there’s nothing recruiters love more than a committed employee.  

Whether you spend your free time in a soup kitchen, or you helped collect trash in the countryside, you can mention it in your resume!

But how do you list volunteering experience?

Well, it follows the same logic as your internship and extracurriculars:

• Title of the section: Volunteering Experience
• Name of the organization
• Relevant tasks and achievements (bullet points)

Volunteering Experience

Grand Archive Library Volunteer

Washington, D.C

08/2017 - 02/2019

• Performed secretarial activities, such as sorting mail, filing documents, answering phone calls, and taking messages. 
• Led a poetry reading event twice a month. 

4) Projects

In this section, you can add any relevant projects you were part of during your time in school or at an internship.

Your capstone project, graduation thesis, or research project go here. 

No need for work experience!

You can also mention any other type of project you’ve worked on in school, including:

• Business project for a real-life client
• Mock website you created in Web Design 101
• Fake magazine you created as a capstone project
• Market research you did as part of your graduation thesis
• Software you developed in Software Engineering class

...And so on!

Here’s how you put them down:

• Title of the section: Projects
• Project name
• Project type
• Related organization 
• Relevant responsibilities and achievements (optional)

And now, for some practical examples. Here’s what a journalism student project could look like:

Online Privacy and Social Media: a Journalistic Study of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica

Journalism Capstone Project

Harvard University

09/2018 - 11/2018

And here’s a law school example:

In-House Pro Bono Project

Columbia Law School

11/2018 - 03/2019

• Completed a full petition for U nonimmigrant status, interviewed legal persons and drafted affidavits.

If you have anything physical to back up your project with, feel free to include a link.

For example, if you’re a developer, you could include a link to your GitHub profile.

Stand out with your Skills 

There are two types of skills you can include on your no-experience resume: 

Soft skills and hard skills. 

What’s the difference? 

Soft skills are attributes or habits that describe how you work. They are not specific to a job, but indirectly help you adapt to the work environment. 

Here are some of the most popular ones: teamwork, responsibility, leadership, creativity, etc.  

Hard skills , on the other hand, refer to specific tools, technical knowledge and training and other work-specific skills. They apply directly to the job. 

Technical writing, C++, financial accounting, etc. are all examples of hard skills.

So, which of these skills should you include? 

That depends on a lot of factors, but as someone with no work experience, you should opt more for hard skills .

See, you could write all the cool buzzwords like “Critical Thinking” and “Leadership,” but the recruiter won’t believe you.

Fun fact - that’s what 90% of students do.

Instead, you should focus on skills that make you stand out , and in most cases, those are hard skills.

So, how do you decide which hard skills to mention? Easy! Just check the job ad you’re applying for.

Let’s say you’re applying for an entry-level creative internship, and you find these requirements in the job description: 

• Video editing experience (Premiere, After Effects)
• UI design experience
• Photo editing experience (Photoshop)
• Photography experience
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator

You’d transfer this into your skills section:

• Premiere & After Effects - Expert
• Photoshop - Expert
• UI Design - Intermediate
• Adobe Illustrator - Intermediate
• Photography - Intermediate

Not sure which skills to mention? Check out our article on 150+ must-have skills for all sorts of professions !

Other Sections You Could Include in a No-Experience Resume

A resume without experience does have one advantage: extra space . 

You can use this space to create other sections that highlight how awesome you are!

Here are some sections you could include:

• Hobbies and Interests . Add flair to your resume by showing your genuine passion and interest in the industry.
• Languages. Do you know a second language? Or even a third? Awesome! Most companies these days are pretty international and appreciate an extra language skill or two. Be mindful not to over-exaggerate your proficiency, though. Only knowing how to ask “¿Donde está la biblioteca?” doesn’t warrant a Spanish entry on your resume.
• Awards & Certifications . Do you have any fancy pieces of paper that show you’re smart? Maybe it’s an award for a terrific essay in a competition, or a certificate from an online course . Whichever the case may be, awards and certifications show that you’re a winner, so definitely include them in their own respective section.

Need Inspiration? 2 No Work Experience Resume Samples

Do you still have questions or don’t know where to begin?

That’s when a resume sample comes in handy. 

It provides you with a predetermined format.

It also helps you picture how your no-experience resume is supposed to look like. 

As Picasso put it: Good artists copy; great artists steal! 

Here are 2 no work experience resume samples you can borrow ideas from:

Business Student Resume Sample

High-school Student Resume Sample

Create a Matching Cover Letter

All done with your resume?

It’s not over yet. You need to write a cover letter to go with it.

A cover letter is a single-page letter that accompanies your resume and is part of your job application.

Look at it this way: your resume describes your experiences, and your cover letter explains (in simple words) how they’re relevant to the job.

Now, here’s a quick infographic on what to include in a cover letter:

Finally, as with everything else in your resume, make sure to keep your cover letter relevant, short, and concise.

The hiring manager doesn’t have time to read an autobiography, they’ll only review your cover letter for a few minutes. 

There’s a lot more to creating a good cover letter than what we just explained.

For a complete, all-you-need-to-know walk-through, check out our Complete Guide on How to Write a Cover Letter !

Key Takeaways

...and that’s a wrap!

At this point, you should know everything there is to know about writing a killer no-experience resume.

Just to keep things fresh, though, let’s quickly go through everything we’ve learned so far:

• When creating your no-experience resume, use the reverse-chronological format.
• You can create a killer no-experience resume by emphasizing your education instead. Include relevant internships, soft & hard skills, and projects.
• Other sections you can include on your resume are hobbies & interests, languages, certifications, or achievements.
• Keep all the content on your resume clear, precise, and relevant. Use bullet points for all your descriptions.
• After you’re done with your resume, you want to write an awesome cover letter that goes with it. The cover letter is a one-page letter that tells the story behind your resume content and reemphasizes why you’re a great fit for the job.

Related Resume Examples

• Internship Resume
• High School Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• College Resume
• Students and Graduates Resume
• Teacher Resume

Recommended Readings:

• 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job in 2024
• 20+ One-Page Resume Templates [Free Download]
• 35+ Common Interview Questions and Answers [Complete List]

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Silk pajamas, spanking and questions about STDs: Stormy Daniels details sexual encounter with Trump

Adult film actor Stormy Daniels took the witness stand at Donald Trump 's New York criminal trial Tuesday, testifying under oath about the sexual encounter she says she had with him in 2006 and the $130,000 deal for her silence that was struck during the closing days of the 2016 presidential campaign.

In a remarkable day of testimony with the former president sitting roughly 10 feet away from her, Daniels recounted the tryst in detail. She also talked about Trump's supposed efforts to get her on his TV show and her decision to come forward with her story, as well as the payoff and the fallout from doing so.

During cross-examination, which at times became heated, Daniels tangled with one of Trump’s attorneys, Susan Necheles, who accused her of making up a series of false claims to "extort" Trump, then a presidential candidate.

Trump’s lawyers also argued that some of Daniels’ account of the 2006 encounter “was unduly and inappropriately prejudicial.” They then requested a mistrial.

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told the judge that Daniels’ unfair claims included her testimony that Trump didn’t use a condom and that she thinks she “blacked out” for a part of it.

“There’s no way to unring the bell, in our view,” Blanche said during a dramatic exchange with prosecutors.

Judge Juan Merchan shot down the mistrial motion but acknowledged that "there were things that would have been better left unsaid,” adding that he would strike some of Daniels' testimony from the record.

Court isn’t in session Wednesday. Cross-examination of Daniels will resume Thursday morning.

Trump is headed to Florida on Tuesday evening, with plans to spend Wednesday at Mar-a-Lago, campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Daniels testified that she first met Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in July 2006. Describing their first meeting as a "very brief encounter" on a golf course, Daniels said she was 27 and remembered Trump being as old as her father — around 60.

The jury — which appeared focused intently on Daniels and her testimony — was shown a picture of them together from that trip.

Daniels said that they later ran into each other at the club and that a man she later learned was Trump's bodyguard told her Trump wanted to have dinner with her. She said she replied, "No, with an expletive in front."

She did, however, get the bodyguard's number, and she said that later that day her publicist convinced her she should accept the invitation, telling her: “It’ll make a great story. He’s a business guy. Like, what could possibly go wrong?”

She said she went up to Trump's penthouse hotel suite and was told they'd be going to dinner at one of the restaurants downstairs. When she entered the room, which she described as "three times the size of my apartment," he was wearing "silk or satin" pajamas, she said. She said she quipped, “Does Hugh Hefner know you stole his pajamas?” and asked him to change, which he did.

They then sat at a dining table in the suite, where, she said, Trump asked her numerous questions about her adult film writing and directing. He then asked her about sexually transmitted diseases, and she said she was tested constantly and "I've never had a bad test."

She said that she grew frustrated with him because he kept cutting off her answers and that when he pulled out a magazine with him on the cover, she said, "Someone should spank you with that." She said she then rolled it up and "swatted" him with it. While jurors mostly appeared poker-faced through her testimony, one began rubbing her face and appeared to be holding back laughter.

After that, she said, Trump was "much more polite" and suggested she should come on his TV show, "The Apprentice." Daniels testified that "he said, 'You remind me of my daughter,'" and that appearing on the show would demonstrate she shouldn't be underestimated.

In all, they chatted for about two hours, Daniels said. She said that she went to the bathroom and that when she walked out, Trump was lying on the bed "in boxer shorts and T-shirt." She said she was "startled, like a jump scare. Wasn’t expecting someone to be there, especially minus a lot of clothing.”

She said Trump told her, "I thought you were serious about what you wanted." She said she felt "there was an imbalance of power, for sure. He was bigger and blocking the way, but I was not threatened either verbally or physically.” Asked in court whether she ended up having sex with him on the bed, she said, "Yes."

She described the sex as brief and said Trump told her “it was great. Let’s get together again, honey bunch.” She said he hadn’t used a condom and hadn't expressed any concern about his wife’s finding out what had happened. She said he also didn’t give her his phone number.

Trump's bodyguard reached out to her the next day to invite her to meet Trump at a bar in her hotel, she said. When she got there, she said, he was with then-Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Trump left about 10 minutes later but continued to call her well after the encounter, she said, "with an update — or a non-update if he didn’t have one — for ‘Apprentice.’”

"He always called me honey bunch," she said.

She said they saw each other again in January 2007, when he invited her to the launch of his Trump vodka brand. While she was there, she said, he introduced her to his friend "Karen," who she later learned was Karen McDougal , a former Playboy model who said she was having a monthslong affair with Trump during that period. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified earlier in the trial that he paid McDougal $150,000 to keep her quiet about the claim during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has denied both Daniels' and McDougal's claims.

Daniels said Trump also invited her to Trump Tower around that time and assured her, "I'm still working on the ‘Apprentice’ thing."

She said they last saw each other in the summer of 2007, when he invited her to see him at a bungalow he was staying at in Los Angeles. She said that he "kept trying to make sexual advances" but that she shot him down. "I told him I was on my period," she said. He said he later called her and told her he hadn't been able to get her on his show.

Payments made to Daniels by Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen at the end of the 2016 campaign are at the heart of the case, the first criminal trial of a former president. Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 in return for her keeping quiet about her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump.

Daniels said Tuesday that Gina Rodriguez, her manager, spoke to her about going public with her story for money in 2015 after Trump announced he was running for president. Rodriguez didn’t have much success shopping the story until after the release in October 2016 of the "Access Hollywood" tape, in which Trump was recorded in 2005 bragging that he could grope women without their consent.

She said that Rodriguez then told her that Trump and Cohen were "interested in paying" for the story and that she agreed, because it meant the story — which her husband didn’t know about — wouldn’t become public. "I didn't care about the amounts. It was just, 'Get it done,'" she said.

Prosecutors say Trump reimbursed Cohen the money in payments that were falsely described as legal expenses. They have charged him with 34 counts of falsifying business records. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

Daniels' deal with Cohen was revealed in a January 2018 story in The Wall Street Journal. Asked about the impact the story had on her life, Daniels said, "Chaos."

“My husband asking questions, my friends asking questions,” she said, with people showing up on her front lawn.

She said that Cohen started to talk about her allegations publicly but that she couldn’t because of the NDA and the $1 million penalty it included if she violated it. She said she later hired lawyer Michael Avenatti "so that I could stand up for myself."

He helped her get out of the NDA but also filed an unsuccessful defamation suit against Trump on her behalf and against her wishes, she said. Daniels lost the case and was ordered to pay Trump's legal fees . She eventually fired Avenatti, who was convicted of several crimes, including stealing from Daniels .

Daniels had vowed on Twitter, now X, never to pay the legal fees, which she acknowledged on cross-examination totaled over $660,000.

"You said, 'I will go to jail before I pay a penny'?" Necheles asked Daniels. "Correct," she responded.

Daniels also acknowledged that she hates Trump and has called him mean names online, including having referred to him as an "orange turd," but she said Trump, who has repeatedly referred to her as "horseface," made fun of her first.

Necheles also pressed Daniels about earlier accounts of her story. Daniels testified she agreed to do an interview with In Touch magazine in 2011 after it told her it was writing about the alleged encounter with Trump. Daniels said that it had agreed to pay her $15,000 for the interview but that the deal was scrapped after Cohen got the story killed. She said she was threatened weeks later by a man in a Las Vegas parking lot who told her to "leave Trump alone."

Necheles repeatedly suggested the parking lot incident was made up, which Daniels disputed. Daniels said that she was frightened by the encounter and that she stayed quiet until Trump declared his candidacy for president, at which point she gave her manager the green light to shop her story around.

“You weren’t really scared, were you?” Necheles said.

“I was terrified, but the ballgame changed,” Daniels replied, implying that by telling her story when Trump was a candidate, she felt she could ensure her safety.

“You were looking to extort money from President Trump, right?” Necheles said.

“False,” Daniels replied.

Before Daniels first took the stand, Merchan told prosecutors she could testify that she and Trump had sexual relations but that she should leave details out. Once she was on the stand, Daniels often elaborated on her claims without being asked, and Merchan repeatedly told her just to answer the questions that were posed to her.

When Blanche made his mistrial motion, Merchan also faulted the lawyers for not having spoken up during her testimony, saying he was surprised there weren't more objections.

"I think that I signaled to you and to the prosecution that we were going into way too much detail,” Merchan said.

Trump, whom Merchan has fined for repeatedly violating a gag order by attacking Daniels and Cohen, took to his social media platform before Tuesday's court proceedings to complain he had "just recently been told who the witness is today."

“This is unprecedented, no time for lawyers to prepare. No Judge has ever run a trial in such a biased and partisan way,” he wrote in a post that was taken down a short time later.

The Truth Social post went up shortly before The Associated Press first reported that Daniels was expected to testify. It's unclear when Trump and his lawyers were told she'd be testifying — prosecutors have typically not been telling them who would take the stand until the day before, citing Trump's record of witness commentary.

That Daniels would testify wasn’t a surprise, however. Trump’s legal team had argued unsuccessfully that she should be barred from taking the stand, a request Merchan rejected before the trial started. Cohen is also expected to testify.

Before Daniels, prosecutors called a longtime publishing executive to authenticate and read excerpts from some of Trump’s books.

Sally Franklin, an executive at Penguin Random House, read one from "Trump: Think Like a Billionaire" that talked about how closely Trump tracks his money — which prosecutors are likely to use to show he was well aware of what he was paying Cohen back for.

"I always sign my checks so I know where my money is going,” he said in the excerpt.

Adam Reiss is a reporter and producer for NBC and MSNBC.

Gary Grumbach produces and reports for NBC News, based in Washington, D.C.

Jillian Frankel is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.

Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.