How to write a CV with no experience

Use education and projects as evidence

Choose two activities that resemble the tasks in the vacancy. Describe the problem, your action and a result or deliverable. Include tools only if you actually used them. If an outcome was not measured, state what you completed rather than inventing a percentage. Add expected graduation dates where appropriate and explain availability if the employer asks. Remove blank sections instead of filling them with generic text. A focused one-page document with a useful project is stronger than several pages of unsupported claims.

For US and Canadian applications, focus on skills and experience, keep personal details limited and follow the employer’s document instructions.

Engineering Intern

For Engineering Intern, the evidence should focus on Python, Java, JavaScript. The sample tools are AutoCAD, MATLAB; keep only the ones you have used. Treat the sample action below as a structure to study, not an achievement to copy. Notice how it identifies a task and an output. In your own version, clarify the scope, the people you worked with and what changed because of your contribution. If the outcome belongs to a team, say which part you completed. If the data is confidential, describe the method and deliverable without exposing customer records or internal figures.

Frontend development with React. REST API integrations. Participation in Agile team work and code review processes.

Apply “How to write a CV with no experience” to this example by writing a fresh paragraph in your own words. Start with Python, Java, JavaScript, pick a relevant action and identify the evidence you can show. Compare the result with the vacancy and remove details that do not help the reader judge your fit. Ask whether each sentence answers a useful question about responsibility, tools or outcome. Keep the wording natural and specific; a recruiter should be able to ask you about the example in an interview. Record any facts you need to confirm before the application, rather than leaving an uncertain claim in the final version.

• Put your degree, expected graduation date and relevant courses at the top.
• Describe two or three projects with your role, the tools you used (SolidWorks, MATLAB, AutoCAD, Arduino) and a measurable result.
• Include team activities such as Formula Student, robotics clubs or hackathons — they show collaboration under deadlines.
• Add your availability, including start date and duration, so the recruiter can match you to the right intake.

Logistics Intern

For Logistics Intern, the evidence should focus on Supply Chain, Warehouse Management, Excel. The sample tools are Excel, ERP, WMS; keep only the ones you have used. Treat the sample action below as a structure to study, not an achievement to copy. Notice how it identifies a task and an output. In your own version, clarify the scope, the people you worked with and what changed because of your contribution. If the outcome belongs to a team, say which part you completed. If the data is confidential, describe the method and deliverable without exposing customer records or internal figures.

Monitoring warehouse operations. Inventory management and stock control. Coordinating shipping processes.

Apply “How to write a CV with no experience” to this example by writing a fresh paragraph in your own words. Start with Supply Chain, Warehouse Management, Excel, pick a relevant action and identify the evidence you can show. Compare the result with the vacancy and remove details that do not help the reader judge your fit. Ask whether each sentence answers a useful question about responsibility, tools or outcome. Keep the wording natural and specific; a recruiter should be able to ask you about the example in an interview. Record any facts you need to confirm before the application, rather than leaving an uncertain claim in the final version.

• Mention any exposure to SAP, Oracle, a WMS or a TMS, even from coursework or a short internship.
• Show Excel skills through tasks: pivot tables, XLOOKUP, inventory reports or route cost comparisons.
• Highlight languages; international logistics teams value English plus a second language.
• Use numbers wherever you can: shipments tracked, orders processed, errors reduced.

New Graduate

For New Graduate, the evidence should focus on Excel & Google Sheets, Market Research, Presentation Skills. The sample tools are Excel, PowerPoint; keep only the ones you have used. Treat the sample action below as a structure to study, not an achievement to copy. Notice how it identifies a task and an output. In your own version, clarify the scope, the people you worked with and what changed because of your contribution. If the outcome belongs to a team, say which part you completed. If the data is confidential, describe the method and deliverable without exposing customer records or internal figures.

Analyzed email campaign results for 30,000 subscribers and proposed subject-line tests that lifted open rates by 4 points. Prepared weekly social media performance reports.

Apply “How to write a CV with no experience” to this example by writing a fresh paragraph in your own words. Start with Excel & Google Sheets, Market Research, Presentation Skills, pick a relevant action and identify the evidence you can show. Compare the result with the vacancy and remove details that do not help the reader judge your fit. Ask whether each sentence answers a useful question about responsibility, tools or outcome. Keep the wording natural and specific; a recruiter should be able to ask you about the example in an interview. Record any facts you need to confirm before the application, rather than leaving an uncertain claim in the final version.

• Place education first with your degree, graduation date, honors and relevant coursework.
• Treat internships, student jobs and volunteering as experience, with one measurable result each.
• Add a projects section for capstones, case competitions or self-directed work.
• Tailor your summary to the graduate program or entry-level role you are applying for.

Put this advice into practice

Read the completed application as if you were seeing it for the first time. Verify names, dates and contact details. Open every portfolio link and inspect the exported file on a small screen. Follow the vacancy’s requested file type and naming convention. Save a copy of the version you sent so you can prepare for an interview with the same evidence.