How to write a CV when you lack direct work experience

Don't let a lack of work experience put you o applying for a role where otherwise you
meet most of the requirements. Instead, make the most of your other qualities: your
skills, attitude, potential and enthusiasm.

Identify what qualifies you for the role

It isn't only paid experience that counts. Voluntary or community involvement, work
placements, coursework, personal projects and extracurricular activities can all be
highlighted to show your suitability. Think from the employer's perspective decide on
the most interesting factors, where you have used relevant skills, and then make these
prominent on your CV.
For instance, this graduate CV highlights education and training, including
achievements and endorsements, while this CV demonstrates how to emphasise project
work above less relevant work experience. Breaking down each project into target,
result and learned competencies shows relevant skills and achievements in context.

Make yourself irresistible to an employer

One of the hardest things to do convincingly on a CV is to convey desirable personality
traits. Just writing that you are enthusiastic or motivated without giving supporting
details isn't enough. Instead, demonstrate through examples.
Starting something from scratch and overcoming hurdles can show resourcefulness and
determination. For instance: "Launched a local skills-swapping service to slash

household expenditure. Found free advertising channels, and enabled residents to make
combined estimated savings of more than 10,000 in first year." You can use examples
like this to illustrate other characteristics such as an ability to get on with others, or
organisational and communication skills.
Holding down a job to help family finances or pay your way through college can reveal
humility and a strong work ethic: "Consistent work record: held variety of part-time roles
since the age of 16 to contribute to educational costs." Learning about a role or sector
through online communities, upskilling through tutorials or conducting your own
projects all show enthusiasm it could fit into the education, training or skills section of
your CV.
Graduate employers like applicants who can demonstrate these personality traits, as
well as attributes such as numeracy and commercial awareness, which you could show
through retail, marketing or sales work.
Quantify achievements where possible (how much money saved, percentage of time
reduced, etc) and mention instances where you were promoted, rehired, or given greater
responsibility.

Speak the same language

This is especially the case for career changers, but all applicants should aim to use
language that an employer would expect to see from an ideal candidate. Include
keywords throughout your CV, in job titles, skills, and in how you describe your work
experience. In this example, the course modules (international finance, risk
management, etc) are keywords in their own right, and are included in the skills section,
titled "specialised knowledge".

Experiment with layout

You don't need to always use a strict chronological work history format or have the
same section order. Put the most important information first relevant project work can
come before less relevant employment, while voluntary projects bridging your move into
a new career could come before current, paid work.
You can be flexible with layout and include additional sections for work that is less
relevant, or earlier in your career. You can also put your education before your work
experience, or extract relevant course work and place that prominently.
Don't be tempted to flesh out a CV with long, rambling paragraphs and irrelevant details

to compensate for a lack of work experience. Instead, write leanly and concisely, and
focus on making it easy for your reader to find key information.
Consider putting a summary of stand-out points at the beginning of your CV. Put your
name and contact details at the top of the page, then use the job title itself as a
heading. Under this, summarise key details such as years' experience in a particular
skill, project experience or summer placements at that company, or a short branding
statement highlighting your strengths and attributes. A couple of lines in note or bulletpoint format (rather than entire sentences) can work well. Include a brief cover letter
explaining your reasons for applying, and interest in the company.
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