Resume Examples to Help Get Your First Entry-Level Job

Structure Of An Entry-Level Resume

For an entry-level resume, you will want to use the functional resume format. This resume format is ideal for when you have little to no experience in the job field you are applying for. Also, keep in mind that an entry-level resume should be no longer than one page, and there are many components you will want to pack into this limited space. Focus primarily on your skills and education, as you may not have a lot of professional experiences yet. Any professional experiences you’ve had should be listed in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent experience at the top. For the font, use something easy-to-read like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

Essentials to Boost Your Career

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• Contact information

  The first part of your entry-level resume is the header. This is where you will put your contact information including your full name, phone number, and email address so potential employers and recruiters know how to contact you.

• Resume summary

  The resume objective, or resume summary. is the next section in your professional resume. A resume objective is used when you have little to no work experience and states your career goals. In contrast, a resume summary highlights your most notable achievements in your work history. Regardless of whether you decide to use a resume objective or a resume summary, this section will only be about 2-3 sentences long.

• Skills

  Since you may not have a lot of professional experience to share, the skills section is where you can shine during your job search. You will want to share hard skills and technical skills that are related to your field. For example, using Microsoft Excel and other software programs, or managing social media, are hard skills.

  Soft skills are skills that are not tangible but are useful in all jobs. Some examples are communication skills, teamwork, and organization skills. If you can, group your skills into categories (e.g., “Organizational Skills,” “Computer Skills”) and aim to display around 16-20 skills total.

• Work experience

  Work experiences should be listed in reverse-chronological order section. Include the title of the job, company, and dates you held the job. Then, using bullet points, list the major responsibilities and accomplishments you had at that job. Begin each sentence with action verbs like “Processed” or ”Compiled” (e.g., “Managed and directed 500 customer calls on a daily basis”).

  Include only relevant experience. Part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, internships, and volunteer work may be considered relevant even if they are not paid, as long as they feature important skills. For instance, if you are applying to a paralegal position and were in the debate club, that could be important to note! Keep in mind that your responsibilities of a job may be similar to the job description you are applying to, even if the job title is not the same!

• Education

  For an entry-level position, the education section of your resume is very relevant, especially for recent graduates. List your highest credential (e.g., high school or college) and your course of study, as well as any relevant coursework. Only list your GPA if it was above 3.5 and you graduated within the past year. You can also include any certifications you may have, such as Microsoft 365 or a Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate.

  Was this not quite what you were looking for? Don’t worry. The examples below might be just what you need:

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