Skip to main content

Home  »  Resume | CV Writing   »   How To Write a Beginner Resume

How To Write a Beginner Resume

Resume

The resume is the first step in persuading a potential employer to hire you.

Its main purpose is to get you that elusive job interview. 

You need to set yourself apart from the competitors and get the interview by writing the right type of resume. 

The Header, Job Objective, Education section, Experience, and Awards/Volunteer sections are included in the Beginner resume. 

When you have finished college or graduated high school, you will need a starter resume to help you get a job.

Many applicants, however, are concerned that their résumé will not pass inspection because they lack industry expertise. 

Writing resumes is intended to demonstrate a job seeker’s value as a suitable candidate for the job that’s being advertised. 

It offers hope for a better future to novices, particularly graduates.

The work market is always changing. 

As a result, new ways must be devised, and benefits must be used. 

Professionals seeking entry-level work will benefit the most from resume writing for beginners. 

To get the job interview the resume should be original and interesting.

For example, consider how you will brand yourself as a newcomer to the job market.

The Essential Parts of a Beginner Resume

A perfect resume template has five sections.

  • Header
  • Work purpose
  • Education 
  • Experience
  • Volunteer work/awards

This would also be the best format for a starting resume. 

Only use Times New Roman or Arial fonts with a type size of 12 on good-quality paper. 

The sole exception is in the header area, where a slightly larger font for your name is permitted.

In the header, provide your name, home and cell phone numbers, address, and professional email address. 

Next, list all schools attended and mention school names, along with dates and any relevant classes to the job posting. 

Include any co-ops, internships, or laboratory work you did while in school because you are short on experience. 

No matter how insignificant, summer employment is probably acceptable to include because it will provide you with useful skills.

What type of resume to make?

For a beginner’s resume, listing and categorizing previous education and experience is only half the battle. 

There’s also the question of what type of resume to make.

You’ll also need to format the page, and decide what to put in.

This does appear to be a demanding chore that would likely create anxiety in most newcomers.

If used properly, a novice resume might be the most potent tool in your job search toolbox. 

The majority of jobseekers are unaware of the basic trick to having their resume discovered.

There are services like the Resume builder

But nobody can write a better resume than the applicant themselves. 

This paper should read like a summary of your life, highlighting important achievements early in the resume — preferably in the employment profile section. 

By personalizing it precisely to the job you have applied for, every writer may create a tale about how they are a good fit for the position.

Never send a generic resume

A generic resume should never be sent along with a job application. 

This is an instant indication to your potential employer you’re just firing off the same Resume for each job you apply for. 

Most applicants should make modifications as soon as they considered how the reviewer saw their entry level resume. 

You must always put your best foot forward to get the interviewer’s attention. 

This is what sets most resumes apart from the competition. 

It’s also the most effective technique for job searchers to land that crucial interview. 

Stress your hobbies and voluntary work

List any voluntary activities or accolades you’ve received in the final section.

This demonstrates a willingness to go above and beyond.

Most companies appreciate your willingness to volunteer for a good cause.

It shows that you are a well-rounded person with interests outside of work. 

How Should a Beginner Resume Look?

Beginner resume objectives are meant to notify the recruiting manager about your specific goal and how you will benefit their organization. 

For each job opportunity, an employer typically receives hundreds of resumes, which they don’t always look at. 

They merely skim through each résumé and form an initial impression of the full candidate at this point. 

In those few seconds, a well-written resume objective might capture their attention.

Employers frequently complain about the lack of specificity in resume objectives. 

Applicants tend to go generic statements like: “Position with a dynamic organization that will fully utilize my talents and skills.

This doesn’t really mean anything, either about what they offer or what they want from the position.

A resume’s aim must be a simple and straightforward statement. 

Many resume-writing websites advise against stating an objective since it can be restrictive. 

However, it’s more the case that people who do not provide a precise and directed objective are unlikely to be asked for an interview these days.

The most crucial aspect of entry-level resume objectives is the focus. 

Instead, attempt to be as clear as possible when discussing the specific entry-level position, you’re applying for. 

You can narrow down your goal by industry, job description and location.

Here are some excellent sample resume examples for beginners: “An entry-level marketing position with a new media firm. I’m willing to relocate ” and “A role as a staff accountant in the field of public accounting in the San Francisco area.” 

Functional Resume is Best for Beginners

Resumes can be classified into two categories: chronological and functional. 

Some people like to blend the two or even tailor their resumes to a specific position.

The most common resume format is the chronological resume. 

It focuses on the timeline of a person’s employment history, as the name suggests. 

The employment information is usually given immediately after the person’s name and contact information. 

The list starts with the most current position and progresses backward. 

The work experience section is crucial to the chronological resume format. 

Previous work experience is detailed.

Chronological or professional resumes are commonly used by those with a lot of experience who want to stay in the same job or field. 

They’re also effective for people seeking employment in older, more traditional industries like law and academia.

The functional resume, on the other hand, will most likely satisfy the needs of young people with minimal experience. 

It helps students to focus on their abilities rather than their limited work experience.

Functional or entry-level resumes focus on specific abilities. 

For example, if an open position requires familiarity with a specific sort of software, you could point to college courses where you successfully used it.

The functional resume also lets the job seeker list activities outside of work settings that are still relevant to the position for which they are applying. 

Responsibilities as the head of a volunteer group might prove executive abilities.

Extracurricular activities like participation in a college service group can be added as they might show specific skills. 

Recent graduates or anyone in requirement of entry-level resume help should emphasize on their strengths and abilities. 

A well-written functional resume will serve that purpose well.

How to Start Writing Your Beginner Resume

Don’t be disheartened if you’re writing your first resume and don’t know where to begin.

Here are some simple steps to help you create that first Resume. 

The Significance of Visual Appeal

If a hiring manager has a stack of resumes on their desk, they will naturally scan and gravitate to a resume that is uncluttered and visually appealing (even if it spans two pages). 

Your hard work may be diverted to the trash if the initial judgment call is “too crowded and complex to read.” 

If you’re going to use a second page, make sure your resume covers at least half of the second page to be safe.

The best thing to do is to keep it to one page. 

Let The Interviewer Know About You 

In your “Profile” section near the top of your entry-level resume template, under your contact details and branding (“Accountant,” “Registered Nurse,” or “Project Manager”). 

This paragraph contains intangible qualities that establish your personal brand that set you apart from other candidates and highlight your value to the company. 

Each business has its unique set of issues that must be addressed. 

Your profile summary is your sales pitch, emphasizing how your leadership, technical proficiency level, and knowledge help to solve these company difficulties.

Writing a job application document entails tailor-fitting of the document for the practicality of the person who reads who is none other than your target employer. 

First, it must be formatted in an accessible and understandable way. 

Any result that makes it difficult to read is unacceptable and will result in a swift trip from the desk to the trash. 

Instead of being long and dense, sentences and paragraphs should be short and to the point. White spaces should be used to mix and balance written information. 

Second, it must showcase your essential expertise while remaining concise. 

Make sure your work responsibilities section is well-organized and formatted. Place them in columns or shaded graphic boxes to make an impact.

Set Page Limits

Are there any limitations to writing the best resume for a beginner? 

There is, of course, even if he or she is just starting a new job. 

Many professionals recommend resumes are at least two pages long. 

This is to save time for employers and recruiting managers who may have limited reading time due to their hectic schedules.

Your contact details, including your phone number, cell phone number, e-mail address, and home address, must be at the top of the first page. 

Apart from including your identity information, that’s the first thing the hiring manager and employer read. 

As a result, you should make the most of your contact information section by making it look professional.

If you don’t have much to put in your “professional experience” part, you can put your “qualifications” section next to your contact information. 

Remember to keep your sentences short and just to provide the most important details.

Format And Appearance 

Most businesses prefer a common font typeface and size, assuming you have access to and understand how to utilize word processing software tools. 

By default, Times New Roman or Arial fonts in 12-point size are used. 

Unless you work in advertising, follow these guidelines when you write a resume.

Use caution when employing italics or bolded words.

Since they are intended to accentuate a word, they should be used sparingly on the paper. 

When you use too many, they get lost and the resume appears cluttered to the reader. 

This will very certainly result in your resume being rejected. 

To check that the correct font and size are being used, simply highlight the entire paper and go to the two boxes in the toolbar for typeface and font size, which should show what is being used.

Otherwise, select Times New Roman or Arial as the typeface and size 12, respectively. This will give your paper a professional appearance. 

Then, using the print preview or page setup, set the margins. 

Make sure the left and right sides of the paper have one (1) inch margins from the edge.

In addition, the top and bottom should each be one (1) inch. 

If you need more space, these can be modified slightly. If you eliminate too much of the border, your resume will appear unprofessional.

Tailor Your Resume To the Job Advertisement

The resume is intended to land the interview and tailor it to the job posting. 

Use the keywords in the advertisement to demonstrate both your interest in the position and your familiarity with the specific syntax used in this field of work.

Most employers are more impressed with candidates who have done their homework and did not simply send a generic resume to any job posting.

Your resume summary at the very beginning should explain why you are the perfect fit for the position. 

It should be no more than one or two sentences long and contain three to four keywords since this will most likely only include college classes and internships, including a few words here as well. 

This may catch the attention of the hiring manager, who searches for keywords in resumes to find people they want to speak about the position. 

You don’t have the experience, but how do you tell it to employers?

First, be confident that employers advertising entry-level positions will realize you’re not going to have many years of experience in any role. 

But it can be exasperating since you only have the part-time experience to show for this segment. What can you do about this?

Any newcomer to the business world usually has some relevant experience without even realizing it. 

Aside from any part-time jobs that are relevant to the specific position being applied for, education and accreditations in the relevant field are becoming more important to employers who would rather prepare the perfect candidate for the opening than try to fix someone who is used to doing things “their way.”

Evaluate the academic tasks for any applicable ideas or criteria that you believe would be intriguing after perusing the advertisement or job posting. 

A scientific lab employment, for example, might have required lab expertise doing the fundamentals like centrifuging a sample or utilizing a mass spectrometer. 

If you have a scientific degree, you may need some prior laboratory experience to finish a lab effectively. 

Any lab experience, for that matter, is usually relevant to the real world. Therefore, you can include these on your resume.

What To Put In Your Beginner Resume

Internships and Co-ops

Understand that “in a work environment” means literally “in a work environment” to recruiters. 

As a result, it’s critical to clarify what you did during your internship or co-op. Include extra information instead of simply stating “Internship 2020-2021.” 

Have you ever worked on a medical device? 

If that’s the case, what hard skills or knowledge did you obtain from it that will set you apart from other graduates? 

If you were a marketing or sales intern or a social media marketing intern, what did you contribute to the firm that was above and beyond the calls of a college intern?

Volunteering

If you volunteered in an environment that is relevant to the job you are seeking, this is a terrific opportunity to highlight your relevant talents. 

Include successes, completed projects, and knowledge gained through voluntary labor. 

Personal Projects or Hobbies: Include these only if they necessitate skills that can be applied to the medical device industry. 

You can use the college robotics team as an example. 

Perhaps you have gained experience with moving parts or electrical systems that would be beneficial to a new career in medical robotics.

Highlight Your ‘Soft Skills’ 

You are selling your potential because you have little work experience. 

Show the interviewer you are dependable and hardworking. 

Highlight your ability to quickly learn new relevant skills and work with people of various personality types. 

Hiring managers or career experts want new employees who can easily fit into the company culture, so emphasize any personal characteristics that indicate your ability to do so. 

Employers will observe that you have the background and training they want even if it isn’t to their expectations. 

Tips to Keep your Beginner Resume

Keep It To One Page

Working professionals with more than 10 years of experience should use multi-page resumes. HR departments are swamped with entry-level job applications when graduation season arrives, and they just have time to peruse your résumé if that. 

So, limit yourself to one page.

Highlight Your Accomplishments

This one is crucial. 

Let’s face it, you probably believed that answering the phone and filing were the most tedious chores imaginable.

If you write it that way, HR recruiters will be able to tell you found it mind-numbing. 

Instead, offer something along the lines of “creating a file system that improved the company’s research efficiency.” 

Don’t lie, but always consider the wider picture. 

Even if you didn’t realize it at the time, all of your filing and arranging made it easier for your bosses to access files and complete their tasks faster. 

But you probably never considered it in that light.

Bullet Point Those Accomplishments

You want your resume to be as simple to read as possible. 

Instead of writing one long paragraph, list each accomplishment under each job.

If you weren’t referred to them internally, an HR representative will only have time to glance at your resume, so large blocks of text will make it difficult for them to put you in the “yes” pile.

Read More: Career Advice For High School Leavers

Spelling errors are a big no-no

Resumes with typos is one of the major resume mistakes and mean it will almost certainly be rejected instantly by employers. 

Many jobs demand attention to detail, and if you couldn’t find time to reread your Resume, how will you find time to reread that press statement on the job?

Your Educational Experience Goes At The Bottom

Yes, you spent the last four years of your life in school, so it appears to be essential to you.

However, employers usually want to hear about your work experience first, so put that first.

A Resume on the other hand, is distinct and focuses more on research and educational experiences. 

Have A “Skills” Section

Since it is great to list accomplishments rather than day-to-day tasks at each job you’ve held, a section on your skills would be useful to include anything that didn’t fit in your bullet points. 

So, if you know about using HTML, Excel, PowerPoint  or Ms office and are fluent in Spanish and French, this is the place to put it.

Don’t Have An “Objective” Section

You don’t want to box yourself in as an entry-level college graduate, and an objective statement is the first step toward doing so. 

Assume you’re trying to apply for a position that was filled yesterday but is still listed as open on the website.

If there is a sales job opening that your skills would meet the criteria you for, but your goal is to be a “media planner,” your resume will most likely be disposed of rather than forwarded to the sales department.

A Cover Letter Is Very Necessary

Most job applicants find writing a resume and cover letter to be a big task.

Most people have a lot of misconceptions when it comes to writing a resume cover letter. 

While some put too little information in their entry-level cover letter out of fear, others get confused about what to write and end up writing too many details about themselves that aren’t really necessary.

There are a few things to keep in mind, which are summarised in three simple steps for the cover letter novice.

Relaxing and not stressing yourself to get it right is one of the best ways to ensure you get it right. 

You don’t need to weave a web of intricate stories or a detailed list of your qualifications into your cover letter. 

A simple letter stating your intent to apply and will to be interviewed for the role is adequate. Your letter should be as brief as possible. 

Save the specifics for your resume and keep your cover letter as brief as likely. 

READ MORE: How to write a Good Resume

Cut Out Anything That Makes It Too Long

While there are some things worth emphasizing, you will do well if you eliminate anything that makes it unnecessarily long and overbearing for your reader.

You just need to recognize what happens to your cover letter, how to write it, who will receive it, and how it will be processed ahead of time. You will save a lot of time and worry less this way.

To summarize, a proper job-seeking attitude, relevant work experience, resume, and interview are the basic elements of finding an entry-level job. 

If you do this right, you will be able to find your ideal entry-level job. 

The good news is that many businesses today prefer to hire recent college graduates.

Competition for entry-level positions is fierce, making getting a job even harder than it is has been in recent years. 


Related Articles