Entry-level Resume: Examples, Templates & Tips

How to write a resume for an entry-level position

Ready to turbo-charge your career? Start by learning how to write a resume that will get you called in for an interview.

So, how can you achieve this? You’ll require a well-organized resume outline, which should always include:

By the way, if you’re young, you will find more practical advice and tips in our teen resume guide.

Now, let’s look at each part and talk about specific problems new job seekers might face.

As a newcomer in the job market, your resume should clearly convey your potential, professionalism, and attention to detail. An important part of this impression comes from your resume’s header. It’s a small section, but it packs a big punch as one of the first things a hiring manager sees.

Here’s what you should always include in your resume header:

To improve your header even more, consider adding the following:

The design of your header should be simple and clean, mirroring your budding professional life. Stick to an unfussy, easy-to-read resume font and avoid overly decorative or colorful elements.

Your skills and education are your spotlight now, not fancy design features (unless you’re a professional designer). Make sure every detail counts!

First impressions count, right? And there’s no better place to make a lasting impression than your resume profile.

Located at the top of your resume, your profile offers a quick look at your skills and experiences. This key section lets you show your worth and encourages the reader to look more closely at your resume.

If you’re an entry-level applicant, a resume objective can help you stand out. This short statement should express your career goals and explain why you’re the best fit for the job. Use this space to emphasize any skills you have that are relevant to the role, even if they’re not from previous jobs.

Professionals with at least three years of hands-on experience will benefit from a professional summary. These are typically four or five sentences that emphasize the skills, experiences, and achievements you’ve had in your previous roles.

A resume summary for a beginner can seem like an impossible task, but don’t worry! Even if you have limited experience you can still write one.

Ultimately, your profile should be laser-focused on one mission: convincing the hiring manager that you and the position are a match made in heaven.

To make this section as strong as possible, get to know the company. Look at their mission statement and what they value in their employees. Then, tailor your resume to highlight the skills and achievements that match what they’re looking for.

Unless you’re transferring industries, an entry-level applicant might not have much professional experience, but you have gained important skills through your education, internships, or volunteering. The key is to highlight these skills on your resume in a way that makes you stand out.

For instance, maybe you’ve used hard skills during academic projects or internships, like designing a website or writing a report. On the other hand, you’ve likely used soft skills in group projects or club activities, such as teamwork or leadership.

This isn’t a competition between hard skills and soft skills. Rather, they should work together to make you a well-rounded candidate.

Hard and soft skills for an entry-level resume

Starting out in your career, you might not have a lengthy work experience section. However, you can still make your resume stand out by focusing on your internships, academic projects, or volunteer work. These experiences can help showcase your potential.

But the point is — when you add work experience to your resume, you really want it to leap off of the page.

Here are a few strategies to make your work history shine, even if it’s not extensive:

Entry-level work experience example:

When you’re an entry-level applicant, your education section becomes even more important. After all, with limited work experience, you should lean into other activities, some of which you pursued during your academic career.

Look at this as an opportunity to showcase your academic achievements and the skills you’ve gained during your studies.

Ultimately, your educational credentials should be presented in the following order:

In addition to the standard info, entry-level applicants might want to consider including the following to boost their chances:

Entry-level education example:

Entry-level job seekers may lack extensive work experience in the industry — but that doesn’t mean you can’t pull together a great resume. Adding extra sections is one way to get around the experience gap.

To take your resume to the next level, you should consider adding categories like:

By the way, you should choose a resume template that matches your job title and industry.

There are a ton of templates available to you — from professional designs appropriate for any field to bold and colorful creative templates great for career paths in entertainment or design. Ultimately, select a template that resonates with you.

Alternatively, you can download a resume template for Microsoft Word or Google Docs. But don’t forget that the final goal is to make a well-organized and easy-to-read resume for potential employers.