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Table of contents

When Should You Include References on a Resume?
How to List References If You Have No Experience
How to Write a Strong First Resume
Key Takeaways
Resources to Help Prepare for Your Job Search

Do you need references for a resume that impresses employers? The short answer is no! Our guide will walk you through the ins and outs of references on a resume and answer your questions about how to succeed in the job hunt without a long track record of experience to fall back on.

Our guide will cover:

When and how you should include references with your resume.
How to list references on your resume with no experience.
Tips to make your first resume shine.
Key takeaways to remember as you build your no-experience resume.

Want a quick and easy resume to use as a starting point? Our Resume Builder has exactly what you need. Build a resume from scratch or update an existing resume using a neat template, automatic formatting and customizable content suggestions.

When Should You Include References on a Resume?

If you're working on your first resume and you don't have any experience, references might seem like an intimidating hurdle. You should be relieved to hear that you don't actually need references for a strong resume. In fact, it's typically not recommended to list references on your resume at all.

So does that mean you don't need references? Let's not get ahead of ourselves! Writing a great resume doesn't require references, but you should still have some in mind as you search for a new job. Some roles may request references with your resume, but many more of them will ask for references after you've passed through the initial stages of the hiring process. When you make it to the interview stage and finally receive that coveted job offer, references may be required as part of the onboarding process.

So, even if your entry-level resume doesn't feature references, you'll still need to prepare them. But how can you submit job references if you have no experience at all?

This might feel totally impossible, but don't worry. We'll walk you through it. Believe it or not, you probably already have plenty of references, even if you've never had a job.

How to List References If You Have No Experience

What can you use as references if you have no experience? It might seem like a puzzle, but we have good news for you; On-the-job experience is not required for a references page.

Here are some examples of potential references that don't require experience and that you can use for your job hunt:

Teachers or professors: Are you a fresh high school or college graduate? A current student? Then you have a wealth of potential references to contact. Reach out to current or former teachers who you think have a strong sense of your abilities. Odds are, they'll be happy to vouch for you.
Extracurricular coaches and supervisors: This is another great option for students and recent graduates. An extracurricular supervisor can verify your work ethic, passion and skills.
Volunteer supervisors: Have you ever done any volunteer work? Reach out to the organizers for references! This is a great way to show employers both your reliability and teamwork as well as your personal values and commitment to your community.
Family friends or mentors: Still can't think of any references to use? Go ahead and contact some family friends who've witnessed your skills in action. Just don't use family members as a reference. It's easy to see through a family member used as a reference, and it doesn't look professional.

Pro tip

Make sure you contact anyone who you intend to use as a reference. You might be confident that they have good things to say about you, but it's both impolite and risky to list them without checking in. Ask if they're comfortable acting as a reference before you give out their contact information to both cover your bases and make sure your achievements are fresh in their mind when they get the call.

How to Write a Strong First Resume

Writing a resume with no experience is daunting. References are just the tip of the iceberg! Here are some simple tips you can use to build a strong resume even if you've never worked at all before.

Use a simple template: A simple resume template will help ensure that your resume presents a polished profile and follows basic style and formatting rules. A template can be a useful shortcut for making your resume appear professional and neat.
Try the functional format: A typical resume follows the chronological resume format, which highlights your experience in reverse-chronological order. This emphasis on your experience isn't the best move for an entry-level resume. Instead, a beginner should try a functional resume format that focuses on your skills above all else.
Check out examples from your industry: Need help getting your resume started? Examining some resume samples from professionals in the field you're after can give you the inspiration to get started.
Emphasize your soft skills: As a newcomer to the workforce, you might not have a robust tool set of technical skills. But that doesn't mean you don't have plenty of useful skills to showcase. Fill your resume with useful soft skills that demonstrate your working habits, interpersonal skills and reliability.
Include extracurriculars on your resume: Don't have work experience? No problem! Your resume can shine with extracurriculars like volunteer work, sports or hobbies and even coursework from high school, college or educational training programs.

Pro tip

Whether you're applying for a sales associate role or your first serious opportunity as an AI software engineer, the steps to build a strong resume are basically the same. Research the role and take it step-by-step to build a targeted resume that impresses employers.

Key Takeaways

Your resume doesn't need references
A resume doesn't need to list references, so don't let your references hold you back from building a resume that you're proud of. Your references will come later, so start thinking about who you plan to call when the time comes.
You don't need work history to list references
With no experience, it can feel impossible to come up with references to list. But there are plenty of options that don't require work experience. Reach out to former coaches, teachers, extracurricular supervisors, volunteer organizers or even family friends. Anyone who has a strong sense of your skills and isn't a part of your family can serve as a reference.
Make your beginner resume strong
No experience? No problem! Not only are there plenty of ways to list references without experience, a great resume doesn't require work history either. You can use a simple style, emphasize your skills and showcase extracurricular activities to build an impressive resume with no work history.