What Should You Include on Your Resume for Your First Job in 2026?

[VanElliot]

I’ve been where you are—staring at a blank resume, wondering what on earth to put when you have zero work experience. The short answer is: focus on transferable skills, education, and any unpaid or volunteer activities that demonstrate responsibility and reliability. Your first job resume isn’t about listing jobs you’ve never had; it’s about showing employers you’re trainable, motivated, and aware of professional norms.

Start with a clear contact header—name, phone, email, and a LinkedIn profile if you have one. Next, write a professional summary (2–3 sentences) that states your career goal and highlights your strongest qualities. For example: “Motivated high school graduate with strong communication and time-management skills, seeking a customer service role to develop hands-on experience.” This immediately tells the recruiter what you’re after.

Then, list your education—school name, graduation date (or expected), GPA if above 3.5, and any relevant coursework. If you’ve taken leadership roles in clubs or sports, add a “Leadership & Activities” section. For instance, being treasurer of a student council shows you can handle money and organize. Don’t underestimate volunteer work or extracurriculars; they prove you’re dependable and engaged.

For skills, be specific. Instead of “good with people,” say “customer service experience from school event planning.” Include hard skills like Microsoft Office, basic coding, or a foreign language. If you’ve completed any online courses (e.g., Google Career Certificates), list them.

Finally, consider adding a “Projects” section—a class project where you built a website or organized a fundraiser counts. Below is a quick reference table for what to prioritize:

Section	What to Include	Why It Helps
Contact Info	Name, phone, email, LinkedIn	Professional first impression
Professional Summary	2–3 sentence goal + top traits	Quickly communicates your value
Education	School, degree, GPA (if high), relevant courses	Shows academic foundation
Activities & Leadership	Clubs, sports, student government roles	Shows teamwork, initiative, and reliability
Volunteer Work	Organizations, hours, tasks performed	Demonstrates community involvement
Skills	Technical tools, languages, certifications	Proves you can do the job from day one
Projects	Class projects, personal initiatives, competitions	Gives concrete examples of your abilities

The key is to tailor every section to the job you’re applying for. If the role is in retail, highlight a project where you managed a bake sale inventory. If it’s an office assistant job, emphasize your typing speed or familiarity with spreadsheets. And always proofread—typos on a first resume are a huge red flag.

[PaulRose]

I tell my friends who are just starting out: don’t overthink it, but do think about what you’ve already done. Even if you’ve never had a paid job, you’ve got experience. Babysitting, mowing lawns, helping at a family business—that’s all real work. List it under a section called “Other Experience” or “Relevant Activities.” Use action verbs like “organized,” “managed,” “assisted.” And keep it to one page—nobody wants to read a novel from a first‑timer. Also, if you don’t have a LinkedIn yet, make one. It’s free and it shows you’re serious about your career.

[AdelynRose]

I’ve sat on the other side of the table. Honestly, we don’t expect you to have a long work history. What we look for is effort and clarity. Put your education first, then a short list of any volunteer work or school projects. Avoid generic phrases like “hardworking” or “team player” without backing them up. Instead, say “Organized a school food drive that collected 500 cans” – that’s a real achievement. And please, format it cleanly: consistent font, no crazy colors, and save it as a PDF. A messy resume makes me wonder if you’ll be messy on the job.

[JasperMarie]

My son just landed his first job, and here’s what worked for him. He listed his high school diploma and a few honors classes, then added his part-time work helping at a local community garden. He called it “Environmental Volunteer” and described the tasks: planting, weeding, and talking to visitors. That caught the manager’s eye because it showed he could follow instructions and work with people. He also put “Available evenings and weekends” right on the resume—that’s a huge plus for entry-level jobs. Lastly, we had him include a short cover letter explaining why he wanted the job. It made all the difference.

[MacStella]

When I was starting out, I had no traditional experience. So I used my self-taught skills like basic HTML and video editing from YouTube tutorials. I listed them under “Independent Projects” with a link to a small website I built. That got me an interview for a junior admin role. For a first resume, be honest but creative. If you’ve learned something on your own—like a language or a tool—put it down. And don’t forget to include your availability and willingness to learn. Employers love that. Also, keep it simple: bullet points, no paragraphs. It’s about showing you can communicate clearly.