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Create ResumeIf you have no work experience, your resume still needs to prove three things: you understand what the job needs, you have transferable skills, and you are low risk to train. In Australia, employers hiring entry level candidates do not expect a long work history. They do expect a clear, organised resume that shows reliability, communication, availability, basic workplace judgement, and evidence that you can learn. That evidence can come from school projects, volunteering, sports, family responsibilities, short courses, community work, unpaid experience, placements, or casual responsibilities. The mistake I see most often is candidates trying to hide the lack of experience with vague phrases like “hardworking team player”. That does not help a recruiter. Specific proof does.
A no experience resume is not a confession that you have never had a job. It is a positioning document. That sounds a bit dramatic for a first resume, but it is true.
When I screen a resume from someone with no formal work history, I am not looking for corporate achievements. I am looking for signs that the person can be trusted in a real workplace. Can they follow instructions? Can they communicate? Can they show up? Can they deal with customers, classmates, teachers, team members, or community groups without creating chaos? Can they learn quickly enough that training them is worth the time?
That is the real hiring question behind many entry level jobs.
A strong no experience resume in Australia should show:
The type of role you are applying for
Your availability if it matters for casual, retail, hospitality, warehouse, admin, or support roles
Transferable skills from school, study, sport, volunteering, personal projects, or life responsibilities
Any certificates or licences relevant to the job
A simple, readable layout that works for applicant tracking systems
When employers say “no experience required”, they usually do not mean “we have no standards”. They mean they are open to training someone, but they still need enough evidence to feel confident.
Here is what I am really scanning for.
Reliability is the quiet skill that matters more than most candidates realise. Especially in entry level jobs, employers worry about people cancelling shifts, arriving late, disappearing after training, or not taking the role seriously.
You can show reliability through:
Strong school attendance
Completing volunteer commitments
Playing a team sport over several seasons
Helping with family responsibilities
Meeting assignment deadlines
Proof of reliability, communication, organisation, teamwork, and willingness to learn
Clear examples instead of empty claims
Most no experience resumes fail because they either look too empty or they try too hard to sound professional. The best ones sit in the middle. They are honest, clear, practical, and specific.
Being available for consistent shifts
Holding a leadership role at school, university, TAFE, sport, or in the community
Do not just write “reliable”. Show the pattern.
Weak Example
Reliable and hardworking person looking for a job.
Good Example
Balanced Year 12 study with regular weekend volunteering at a local community event, supporting set up, guest assistance, and pack down across several events.
The second version gives me something to believe. The first version asks me to take your word for it.
For many entry level roles in Australia, communication is not about sounding fancy. It is about being clear, polite, and calm with customers, managers, teammates, and sometimes difficult people.
You can show communication through:
Presentations
Group projects
Customer facing volunteering
Tutoring younger students
Helping at school events
Team sport
Student leadership
Community activities
Multilingual ability
A hiring manager does not need you to write a TED Talk. They need to know you can listen, ask questions, follow instructions, and respond like a normal human in the workplace. A shocking number of resumes forget this.
No experience candidates are hired for potential. That means your resume needs to show that you can learn.
Trainability can be shown through:
Completing short courses
Learning software
Improving grades
Taking on new responsibilities
Receiving feedback during school, sport, volunteering, or placements
Learning workplace related skills such as food safety, first aid, responsible service of alcohol, or basic administration
Employers are more comfortable hiring someone inexperienced when the resume shows they have already learned something independently.
This is where many no experience resumes go wrong. Candidates send the same resume to every job and hope “enthusiastic and motivated” will do the heavy lifting. It will not.
A retail resume should highlight customer service, presentation, teamwork, and availability.
A hospitality resume should highlight pace, communication, reliability, food safety, and shift flexibility.
An admin resume should highlight organisation, accuracy, computer skills, communication, and attention to detail.
A childcare or support role resume should highlight patience, responsibility, safety awareness, and communication.
A warehouse resume should highlight physical reliability, safety, punctuality, following instructions, and teamwork.
You do not need a completely new resume for every job, but you do need to angle the same experience toward the role.
For most Australian no experience resumes, I recommend this structure:
Name and contact details
Professional summary
Key skills
Education
Relevant experience
Volunteering, projects, placements, or extracurricular activities
Certificates and licences
Availability
References
This format works because it does not force you to pretend you have a work history. It moves your strongest evidence higher on the page.
The biggest mistake is putting “Work Experience” near the top when there is nothing useful underneath it. That immediately frames the resume around what is missing. Instead, use headings like Relevant Experience, Volunteer Experience, Projects, School Leadership, or Practical Experience.
That is not trickery. It is clearer. Recruiters know the difference between paid and unpaid experience. We do not need candidates to hide it. We just need the information organised in a way that helps us assess fit.
If you have never had a paid job, you can still include experience that proves workplace relevant behaviour.
Relevant resume content can include:
School assignments involving research, presentations, planning, or teamwork
University or TAFE projects
Volunteering
Community involvement
Sports teams
Student leadership
Family business help
Caring responsibilities
Babysitting
Tutoring
Fundraising
Events
Personal projects
Short courses
Certifications
Work placements
Club participation
Creative or technical projects
Awards or achievements
The key is not whether the experience was paid. The key is whether it tells the employer something useful.
For example, “played netball” by itself does not say much. But “committed to weekly training and weekend matches for three seasons, contributing to team communication and consistent attendance” tells me something about discipline, teamwork, and reliability.
No, you do not need to make sport sound like a boardroom strategy meeting. Please do not write like you were the CEO of passing the ball. Just translate the experience into workplace relevant language.
Chloe Nguyen
Melbourne, VIC
0400 000 000
Available after school, weekends, and school holidays
Professional Summary
Motivated Year 11 student seeking a casual retail or customer service role. Strong communication skills developed through school presentations, group assignments, and helping at school events. Reliable, organised, and confident speaking with people from different backgrounds. Available for regular weekend shifts and additional hours during school holidays.
Key Skills
Customer service mindset and polite communication
Reliable attendance and punctuality
Teamwork through group assignments and school activities
Confident speaking with students, teachers, parents, and visitors
Basic cash handling understanding from school fundraising activities
Organised, quick to learn, and comfortable following instructions
Strong presentation and personal grooming standards
Education
Year 11, Victorian Certificate of Education
Northside Secondary College, Melbourne, VIC
Expected completion: 2027
Relevant subjects: English, Business Management, Psychology, General Mathematics
Relevant Experience
School Open Day Volunteer
Northside Secondary College, Melbourne, VIC
2025
Welcomed parents and prospective students at the registration desk
Provided directions to classrooms, information booths, and event areas
Answered basic questions politely and referred visitors to staff when needed
Helped set up tables, signs, brochures, and guest materials before the event
Worked with other student volunteers to keep visitor flow organised
Fundraising Team Member
School Community Fundraiser, Melbourne, VIC
2024
Assisted with selling raffle tickets and handling small cash payments under teacher supervision
Spoke with students, parents, and staff in a friendly and confident manner
Helped count items, organise supplies, and clean up after the event
Contributed to a team fundraising target for school community programs
Extracurricular Activities
Netball Team Member
Local Community Netball Club, Melbourne, VIC
2023 to present
Attend weekly training and weekend games during the season
Communicate with teammates during fast paced matches
Follow coach instructions and contribute to a positive team environment
Maintain commitment across school, sport, and personal responsibilities
Certificates
Working towards First Aid Certificate
Completed school based customer service workshop
Availability
Monday to Friday after 4 pm
Saturday and Sunday flexible
Additional availability during school holidays
References
Available on request
This resume works because it does not try to pretend Chloe has retail experience. It proves she has customer facing potential.
The resume gives the employer evidence of:
Communication with visitors
Reliability through sport and volunteering
Basic confidence with people
Teamwork
Availability
Presentation and organisation
Willingness to learn
For a casual retail, fast food, cinema, supermarket, or customer service role, that is enough to start a conversation. Not always enough to win the job, but enough to avoid being dismissed as “too blank”.
The strongest part is the specific event experience. Many students leave this out because it was not paid. That is a mistake. Employers care about behaviour. Paid work is just one place behaviour shows up.
Amelia Singh
Sydney, NSW
0400 000 000
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ameliasingh
Professional Summary
First year Bachelor of Commerce student seeking an entry level administration, receptionist, or customer support role. Strong organisational, written communication, and computer skills developed through university study, group projects, and volunteer coordination. Confident managing tasks, responding professionally, and working in structured environments.
Key Skills
Professional written and verbal communication
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Workspace, and Canva
Organisation, scheduling, and document preparation
Research and information management
Customer service approach with calm, polite communication
Team collaboration through university projects
Accuracy, attention to detail, and willingness to learn systems
Education
Bachelor of Commerce
University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
2026 to present
Relevant study areas: Business communication, management, accounting foundations, marketing principles
Higher School Certificate
Parramatta High School, Sydney, NSW
Completed 2025
Relevant Experience
University Group Project Contributor
Business Communication Project, University of Sydney
2026
Worked in a team of five to research and present a business communication case study
Prepared written content, slide materials, and supporting research notes
Coordinated task updates with team members using Google Docs and shared folders
Presented findings clearly to classmates and teaching staff
Met project deadlines while balancing multiple university subjects
Volunteer Administration Assistant
Community Cultural Event, Sydney, NSW
2025
Assisted organisers with guest lists, registration notes, and event materials
Answered basic attendee questions and directed people to the correct area
Updated simple spreadsheets to track volunteer names and assigned tasks
Helped maintain a calm and organised registration desk during busy periods
School Leadership Committee Member
Parramatta High School, Sydney, NSW
2024 to 2025
Supported planning for student events, assemblies, and awareness activities
Communicated updates between students and supervising teachers
Helped prepare posters, notices, and event information
Represented student feedback in committee discussions
Technical Skills
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
Google Docs
Google Sheets
Canva
Zoom
Email and calendar management
Achievements
Received school award for contribution to student leadership committee
Completed HSC Business Studies major assignment with high distinction equivalent result
Availability
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after 1 pm
Tuesday and Thursday after 3 pm
Weekend availability by arrangement
References
Available on request
This resume is built for admin, receptionist, and customer support roles. It does not waste space saying Amelia has “excellent communication skills” without proof. It shows where those skills have been used.
For entry level office roles, I want to see:
Can this person write clearly?
Can they use basic systems?
Can they organise information?
Can they handle people politely?
Can they follow instructions without needing constant rescue?
Can they manage deadlines?
This resume answers those questions with university projects, event volunteering, and school leadership. It also lists software in a clean way, which matters for office based entry roles.
A lot of students make their resume too academic. They list subjects but forget to show practical workplace behaviour. This example connects study to work. That is the difference.
Liam O’Connor
Brisbane, QLD
0400 000 000
Available for full time, part time, and casual work
Professional Summary
Practical and reliable candidate seeking an entry level warehouse, delivery assistant, or operations support role. Physically fit, safety conscious, and comfortable working in structured team environments. Strong record of reliability through community sport, home responsibilities, and hands on tasks. Looking for an opportunity to learn, contribute, and build long term work experience.
Key Skills
Reliable, punctual, and comfortable with early starts
Physically fit and able to complete hands on tasks
Follows instructions carefully and asks questions when unsure
Teamwork through community sport and group activities
Basic computer and phone skills
Safety aware and focused on doing tasks properly
Calm under pressure and willing to learn workplace procedures
Education
Queensland Certificate of Education
South Brisbane State High School, Brisbane, QLD
Completed 2025
Relevant subjects: English, Essential Mathematics, Industrial Technology Skills, Physical Education
Relevant Experience
Home and Property Support Responsibilities
Brisbane, QLD
2023 to present
Assist with regular lifting, moving, cleaning, and organising tasks around the home
Help maintain garage, storage areas, and outdoor spaces in a safe and tidy condition
Follow instructions for practical tasks involving tools, equipment, and basic maintenance
Manage recurring responsibilities independently without constant reminders
Community Football Team Member
South Brisbane Football Club, Brisbane, QLD
2022 to present
Attend regular training sessions and weekend matches during the season
Work within team structures and follow coach instructions during training and games
Maintain fitness, discipline, and commitment across the full season
Support teammates and contribute to a respectful team environment
School Practical Project
Industrial Technology Skills, South Brisbane State High School
2025
Completed hands on construction and repair based classroom projects
Followed safety instructions, equipment guidance, and teacher feedback
Planned simple tasks, prepared materials, and cleaned work areas after use
Developed confidence using basic tools in a supervised environment
Certificates and Licences
Learner Driver Licence
Willing to obtain forklift licence if required
Willing to complete white card or safety induction before starting work
Availability
Monday to Friday full day availability
Available for early starts
Weekend work available by arrangement
References
Available on request
This resume is honest. It does not dress up home responsibilities as a fake job, but it still shows relevant behaviour for physical, operations, warehouse, and support roles.
For hands on entry level roles, employers often care about practical reliability more than polished language. They want someone who can show up, follow safety instructions, work with others, and keep going when the work is repetitive or physical.
This resume shows:
Physical readiness
Practical task experience
Safety awareness
Team discipline
Availability
Willingness to get relevant certificates
That last part matters. If a job asks for a white card, forklift licence, RSA, Working with Children Check, or first aid certificate, being willing to obtain it is useful. But do not write that you already have it unless you do. Employers check. And yes, people get caught. More often than they think.
The best skills for a no experience resume are skills you can prove. A long skills list with no evidence looks like keyword stuffing. Recruiters notice when a resume says “leadership, stakeholder management, strategic thinking, conflict resolution” and the candidate has never had a workplace responsibility. It feels copied.
Use skills that match the job and support them elsewhere in the resume.
For retail, customer service, fast food, hospitality, and supermarket roles, useful skills include:
Customer service
Clear communication
Teamwork
Reliability
Cash handling awareness
Working under pressure
Personal presentation
Following procedures
Availability for shifts
For administration, receptionist, call centre, and office support roles, useful skills include:
Written communication
Email etiquette
Data entry
Microsoft Office
Google Workspace
Scheduling
Attention to detail
Document preparation
Phone communication
For warehouse, labouring, delivery support, and operations roles, useful skills include:
Physical fitness
Safety awareness
Punctuality
Following instructions
Manual handling awareness
Teamwork
Stock organisation
Practical problem solving
Comfort with routine tasks
For childcare, aged care support, disability support, and community roles, useful skills include:
Patience
Responsibility
Respectful communication
Safety awareness
Emotional maturity
Following care instructions
Confidentiality awareness
Calm behaviour under pressure
Willingness to complete checks or certificates
The skill itself is only half the story. The proof is what makes it believable.
Your professional summary should be short, specific, and connected to the role. Do not use it to say you are “passionate” unless the word genuinely fits. Most of the time, it does not.
A strong summary should include:
Your current situation
The type of role you want
Two or three relevant strengths
One practical detail, such as availability, study area, certificate, or work type
Weak Example
I am a hardworking and enthusiastic person looking for a chance to grow. I am passionate about success and work well in a team or independently.
This says almost nothing. It could belong to anyone applying for anything.
Good Example
Year 12 student seeking a casual retail or customer service role. Confident communicating with people through school events, group assignments, and community volunteering. Reliable, well presented, and available for weekend shifts and school holiday work.
This works because it gives the employer useful information quickly.
Good Example
First year nursing student seeking an entry level support or customer service role. Strong communication, patience, and organisation developed through study, volunteering, and team activities. Available for part time shifts around university commitments.
This summary connects the candidate’s study, skills, and availability. It gives the recruiter a reason to keep reading.
Unpaid experience is useful, but it needs to be described honestly. The goal is not to inflate it. The goal is to translate it.
Here is the difference.
Weak Example
Managed customer service operations at a school event.
If you were a student volunteer at a desk, this sounds exaggerated. Recruiters do not like inflated language because it makes them question the rest of the resume.
Good Example
Welcomed visitors at the registration desk, answered basic questions, and directed families to event locations during school open day.
That is clear, useful, and believable.
Weak Example
Led logistics for community fundraiser.
Maybe you did. But if you helped set up chairs and organise items, say that.
Good Example
Helped set up event materials, organise donated items, assist guests, and pack down the venue after the fundraiser.
The good example sounds less glamorous but more credible. Credibility matters more than inflated language, especially when you are early in your career.
A recruiter can work with honest, specific evidence. We cannot work with vague exaggeration because it forces us to guess. And when recruiters have to guess, they usually move on.
No experience resumes often make the same mistakes. Most are easy to fix once you understand what the recruiter is actually trying to assess.
Some candidates only include their name, school, and a few skills. That makes the employer do all the thinking.
You may think, “I have no experience, so there is nothing to write.” But the employer still needs evidence. Add school projects, volunteering, sport, certificates, achievements, and responsibilities that show workplace relevant behaviour.
Words like “motivated”, “hardworking”, “friendly”, and “reliable” are not bad words. The problem is when they appear without proof.
Instead of only writing “friendly”, show that you helped visitors, worked in a team, supported classmates, or communicated with customers during volunteering.
A no experience resume needs tailoring more than an experienced resume, not less. When you have less work history, every detail has to work harder.
For a retail job, your resume should feel customer focused.
For an admin job, it should feel organised and accurate.
For a warehouse job, it should feel practical and reliable.
For a hospitality job, it should feel fast paced, flexible, and service focused.
Please do not write like you are applying to become a senior executive when you are applying for your first casual job. “Stakeholder engagement” does not belong on most first resumes. Neither does “strategic leadership” unless you genuinely led something strategic.
Use clear workplace language. Not childish. Not corporate theatre. Just clear.
For casual and part time jobs in Australia, availability can be a deciding factor. If the hiring manager needs weekend staff and your resume says you are available weekends, that helps.
Include availability when it matters, especially for:
Retail
Fast food
Cafes
Restaurants
Supermarkets
Warehousing
Events
Customer service
Aged care support
Disability support
Certificates can lift a no experience resume quickly because they reduce employer risk.
Relevant certificates may include:
Responsible Service of Alcohol
Responsible Conduct of Gambling
Food Safety Supervisor or food handling certificate
First Aid
CPR
Working with Children Check
National Police Check
White Card
Manual handling certificate
Only include what you have completed or are genuinely in the process of completing. “Willing to obtain” is fine when true.
Use this template as a practical structure. Keep it to one page if you are a school student or early career candidate. Two pages can be fine if you have substantial volunteering, placements, projects, or certificates, but do not stretch it just to look more experienced.
Full Name
Suburb and State
Email Address
Phone Number
LinkedIn if relevant
Availability if relevant
Professional Summary
Write two to four lines explaining who you are, what type of role you are seeking, and the strongest evidence that you are suitable. Mention availability, study area, certificates, or relevant strengths where useful.
Key Skills
Skill connected to the job
Skill connected to the job
Skill connected to the job
Skill connected to the job
Skill connected to the job
Skill connected to the job
Education
Qualification or Year Level
School, TAFE, or University, Location
Dates or expected completion
Relevant subjects, study areas, achievements, or projects if useful.
Relevant Experience
Role or Activity Title
Organisation or Context, Location
Dates
Describe what you did in clear, practical language
Show communication, reliability, teamwork, organisation, or technical skills
Include outcomes, responsibilities, or frequency where possible
Keep it honest and specific
Volunteering, Projects, or Extracurricular Activities
Activity Title
Organisation or Context, Location
Dates
Explain what you contributed
Connect the experience to workplace relevant behaviour
Avoid exaggeration
Certificates and Licences
Certificate name
Certificate name
Licence or check if relevant
Availability
Days and times available
School holiday or university break availability if relevant
Immediate start if true
References
Available on request
A strong no experience resume stands out because it feels considered. It makes the employer’s job easier.
That is the part candidates often miss. Your resume is not just about you. It is also about reducing uncertainty for the person reading it.
A hiring manager looking at entry level applicants is usually sorting people into rough groups:
Could train this person
Not enough information
Not suitable for this role
Your job is to avoid the “not enough information” pile.
The best no experience resumes usually have these qualities:
They are tailored to the job type
They include specific examples
They are honest about experience level
They show availability clearly
They avoid exaggerated language
They include relevant certificates
They are easy to skim
They show signs of reliability and maturity
They make the candidate look trainable
This does not mean you need a perfect resume. Entry level hiring is not perfect either. Sometimes employers are slow, vague, or unrealistic. Sometimes they say “junior” but want two years of experience, which is not junior, it is just cheaper. But you still control the quality of your application.
Before you apply, check your resume against this list.
Does the first third of the resume clearly show what role you are suited for?
Does your professional summary mention the type of job you want?
Have you included unpaid experience, school projects, volunteering, sport, or responsibilities where relevant?
Are your skills supported by examples elsewhere in the resume?
Have you removed vague claims that do not prove anything?
Is your availability clear for casual or part time roles?
Have you included relevant certificates, checks, or licences?
Is the resume easy to read on a phone and computer?
Have you used Australian spelling and terminology?
Does the resume sound honest, not inflated?
Could a recruiter understand your value in less than 30 seconds?
That last question matters. Recruiters do not read every resume slowly at first. We scan first, then decide whether to read properly. Your resume needs to survive the scan.
Written by Simar Malhi, a recruiter and headhunter with international recruitment experience. I write about CVs, job applications, hiring decisions, and the reality behind recruitment processes. My goal is to help candidates understand more honestly how employers, recruiters, and hiring managers actually select candidates.
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