CV Tips for Beginners: Build a Resume That Lands Your First Job

Your education is a key asset for entry-level roles, especially for beginners.

• Place your Education section at the top of your resume.
• Include your degree, major, school, and graduation year (e.g., “B.S. Computer Science, XYZ University, 2025”).
• List relevant coursework, e.g., “Data Structures, Web Development.”
• Add academic achievements, e.g., “Dean’s List, GPA 3.8.”

Example: Education: “B.A. Business Administration, ABC College, 2025. Relevant Coursework: Marketing, Financial Analysis. GPA: 3.7.”

Keywords make your resume ATS-friendly, even with limited experience.

• Extract keywords from job postings, e.g., “customer service” or “Python programming.”
• Incorporate keywords into Education, Skills, and Experience sections.
• Use synonyms, e.g., “teamwork” and “collaboration,” to avoid repetition.
• Aim for a 70%+ ATS match score without keyword stuffing.

Example: For a tech support role: “Resolved customer issues using CRM software, improving response time by 20%.”

Transferable skills from school, volunteer work, or part-time jobs are key for beginners.

• List skills like “communication,” “problem-solving,” or “basic Excel.”
• Include technical skills, e.g., “HTML” or “Google Workspace,” if relevant.
• Reinforce skills in Experience, e.g., “Organized events, coordinating 50+ attendees.”
• Avoid irrelevant skills to keep the resume focused.

Example: Skills: “Team Collaboration, Microsoft Office.” Experience: “Collaborated on group projects, streamlining tasks with Microsoft Excel.”

Internships and projects demonstrate hands-on experience, even for beginners.

• List internships or volunteer roles under Experience, e.g., “Marketing Intern, XYZ Corp.”
• Include academic or personal projects, e.g., “Built a portfolio website using HTML.”
• Quantify impact, e.g., “Designed social media campaign, increasing engagement by 10%.”
• Link to projects on GitHub or a personal website, if applicable.

Example: Projects: “Developed a task management app using JavaScript, improving team efficiency by 15%.”

A strong summary grabs recruiter attention and boosts ATS compatibility.

• Use the job title, e.g., “Entry-Level Software Developer,” in your Summary.
• Highlight key qualifications, e.g., “Proficient in Python and teamwork.”
• Mention a relevant achievement, e.g., “Completed a capstone project with 95% client satisfaction.”
• Keep it concise (3-4 sentences) for readability.

Example: “Entry-Level Retail Associate with a B.A. in Business and strong customer service skills, achieving 98% satisfaction in volunteer roles.”

A clean format ensures ATS compatibility and recruiter readability.

• Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman.
• Avoid headers, footers, or tables that confuse ATS systems.
• Keep it one page for entry-level roles.
• Use clear section headings like “Education,” “Skills,” and “Experience.”

Example: Use Hireflow’s $2.99 ATS-friendly templates for a clean, one-page beginner resume.

Tools simplify resume building for beginners, ensuring ATS compatibility.

• Use Hireflow’s free ATS Resume Checker to score your resume.
• Extract keywords with Jobalytics Chrome Extension.
• Choose Hireflow’s $2.99 templates for beginner-friendly layouts.
• Proofread with Grammarly to eliminate errors.

Example: Hireflow’s checker suggested adding “customer service” for a retail role, boosting ATS score to 75%.