Regardless of how old (or young!) you are or the type of job you’re looking for (e.g., part-time during the summer, full-time post-college), you’re going to need a resume. In many cases it will be the first “picture” a potential employer will have of you. So, it’s important that it be informative, representative and well written.

Something else that’s important? Understanding that, even if you think you don’t have enough work experience — due to a cancer diagnosis that interrupted your life, prolonged your education or delayed the start of your anticipated career — there are ways to craft your resume to make it strong and make your skills shine.

Below are key points to keep in mind, as well as some tips for how, exactly, to write your best resume for where you’re at now.

The Basics

Design and format: While you certainly want a visually appealing resume, substance is what truly counts. So, in terms of aesthetics, don’t go overboard. The primary focus should be on making it clear, well organized and easy to read.

• When it comes to formatting, putting dates on the right side of your resume is the general practice.

Summary/profile: Many career coaches (including ours) strongly recommend having a summary at the top of your resume; it provides the reader with a snapshot of who you are, that may not be entirely clear from your work history.

• Include one or two lines that outline your skills, experience and goals.
• Include characteristics as well — a couple of traits that convey a sense of your personality and how you might conduct yourself in a work environment.
• If possible, indicate the type of work you’re interested in.

Work experience: If you’re concerned that you lack longevity in the workforce, think about any prior experience you have that might qualify as work or “work adjacent.” To build out this section, consider including activities you’ve been involved in or projects you’ve worked on that demonstrate a level of responsibility, accountability, and the consistent dedication of time and effort to a particular task. Additionally, you can highlight some relevant skills that were used and/or developed in your involvement. Some examples:

• Summer jobs
•  Internships, volunteer work, community service projects
• Serving in student government or as an officer of a school club/organization
• Being captain of a sports team

Education: Include any degrees or certifications you have. This can also include any online courses or programs in which you’ve participated.

• If you’re a recent grad or still in school, include your grade point average if it’s 3.5 or higher.
• If you’re still in college, consider listing your major/area of study.

Outside interests: Again, if you’re worried that your resume is light on substance, you can round things out by listing other activities you’re passionate about — just be sure they are hobbies that reflect where your interests lie, since you’ll want to be able to speak authentically about them if asked during an interview. If you can find a way to weave how your interest in them translates into a skill for the job, even better!

• Some examples: chess, art, theater, cooking
• Avoid mentioning any religious/political affiliations

The Power of Words

As you think about how to approach writing a resume, it helps to understand how resumes are evaluated. These days, many companies use applicant tracking system (ATS) software, which quickly reviews a resume and determines whether it syncs with the job they’re looking to fill. So it’s important for your resume to include as many keywords as possible that reflect the skills and experience required for the job you’re applying for. That doesn’t mean you have to have done that type of job before; it just means you should think creatively about the ways in which the “work” or activities you’ve participated in up until this point have utilized the same (or similar) skills.

In general, both human readers and resume programs look for certain keywords near the top of your resume; therefore, try to include these types of words in your summary/profile, if possible.

It’s also helpful to use active words to describe your contributions — ones that are specific and focused on your accomplishments — rather than generalizations or cliched personality traits. For example, aim for words such a “created,” “increased” and “implemented,” rather than “effective,” “outstanding” or “energetic.”

There are specific keywords for every industry. An easy way to determine the most desirable skills and traits for the line of work you’re hoping to go into is to look at recent job postings in that field; the job descriptions will likely use the same words and concepts that you’ll want to have reflected in your resume. A sample list of keywords for popular specialties can be found in our Charts & Checklist section. Another helpful tool is to utilize ChatGPT or another AI tool to see if it is able to provide additional keywords that would increase your chances of ATS moving your resume forward.

Keep in mind that the goal of a resume isn’t necessarily to land you a job; it’s to get you in the door (or on Zoom) for an interview. And the best way to do that is to present a thoughtful, substantive picture of yourself that represents your experience, skills and interests, whatever they may be. While experience in an industry, or in the professional realm in general, is a plus, if you have gaps or your diagnosis prevented you from getting said experience, being creative about how you present yourself and skills can ease some of those concerns and put you on a more level playing field.

For a sample entry-level resume, click here.

With all of this said, it’s also important to note that a resume is just one aspect of the job search. Networking is a vital part of the process as well and can provide opportunities for roles that may not have presented themselves otherwise. Reaching out to your career services department at your college, or even alumni groups, may help to get you in the door even if you’re worried about a lack of experience.

Updated 2024