Writing your first resume with no work experience

Writing your first resume can feel strange. What do you put on it when you have never had a job?

Here is the good news. For entry-level jobs, employers don't expect a long work history. They want to know three things. Will you show up on time? Can you learn? When can you work?

Your resume answers those questions. This guide shows you what to include, what to leave out, and a simple layout you can copy.

What employers look for

Managers at stores, cafés, and warehouses often read many resumes at once. They spend only a short time on each one. Make yours easy to read.

A good first resume is:

Short. One page is enough when you are starting out.
Clear. Use simple headings, plenty of white space, and one easy-to-read font.
Honest. Never invent jobs or skills. A short, true resume is better than a long, false one.
Focused. Show what matters for the job: being reliable, working well with people, and being ready to learn.

What to include when you have no jobs yet

Contact information

Put your name at the top in larger letters. Under it, add your phone number, your email address, and your city (for example, "Burnaby, BC" or "Mississauga, ON"). You don't need your full street address.

Use an email address that looks professional, such as one with your first and last name. Check that your voicemail greeting sounds friendly, too.

A short summary

Write two or three lines about who you are and what job you want. Keep it simple.

Availability

For hourly jobs, availability is one of the first things a manager checks. List the days and times you can work. Be honest. If your school schedule changes every term, you can explain that in the interview.

Education

List your school, your grade or program, and when you expect to finish. If you have good grades, an award, or a course that fits the job (like food studies, math, or business), add it.

Volunteering and activities

This is where you show real experience. Volunteering counts. So do school clubs, sports teams, student council, events at your place of worship, community festivals, and food bank shifts.

Informal work counts, too: babysitting, tutoring, pet sitting, helping at a family business, or caring for a family member. Describe what you did, not just the title.

Skills

Choose skills that fit the job. Good examples for entry-level work:

Languages you speak. In Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area, a second language can help in customer service.
Handling cash or counting money, for example at a school fundraiser
Using a computer, phone apps, or a cash register
Lifting boxes or standing for long periods
Working on a team and following instructions

Certificates

If you have a certificate, list it with the date you got it. Food safety and alcohol service certificates are common for first jobs. Read our guides to FOODSAFE and Serving It Right in BC and Smart Serve and food handler certification in Ontario. A first aid certificate is worth listing, too.

What to leave out

The Government of Canada's Job Bank resume advice lists a few things to skip:

No photo. Photos are not the norm on Canadian resumes, and Job Bank says one can lower your chances.
No personal details such as your age, height, weight, or marital status.
No Social Insurance Number (SIN). Never put your SIN on a resume. Service Canada says you don't have to give your SIN to fill out a job application. An employer needs it only after you are hired.
No references on the resume. Keep them on a separate page. Share them only when an employer asks.

A simple layout

Use this order, from top to bottom:

Name and contact information
Summary (two or three lines)
Availability
Education
Volunteering and activities
Skills
Certificates, if you have any

Start each bullet point with an action word, like "helped," "organized," "served," "counted," or "cleaned." Skip "I" and "my."

A short example

Here is an example for a high school student with no paid jobs. Replace every part with your own information.

Your Name

Surrey, BC · (your phone number) · (your email address)

Summary

Friendly, reliable Grade 12 student looking for a part-time job at a grocery store. Quick to learn and comfortable helping customers.

Availability

Monday to Friday after 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, any time.

Education

Grade 12, (your school name). Expected to graduate in June 2027.

Volunteering

Food bank volunteer, (organization name), 2025 to now

Sort and shelve donated food in a busy warehouse

Help families find items and carry bags to their cars

Volunteer, school fundraiser, 2025

Took payments and counted cash at the end of each event

Skills

Speak English and Punjabi

Comfortable standing for long periods and lifting boxes

Basic math and careful with cash

Certificates

First aid, (provider name), 2026

Notice what this example does. It has no job history, but it still shows reliability, teamwork, customer contact, and handling money. Those are exactly the things a grocery store manager wants to see.

Make it fit each job

You don't need a brand-new resume for every application. But take a few minutes to adjust it. Read the job posting carefully. If it asks for "weekend availability" or "customer service," make sure those words appear in your resume, where they are true.

Before you send it

Check for mistakes. Read it out loud. Ask a friend, teacher, or family member to read it, too.
Save it as a PDF. Name the file with your name, like "Your-Name-Resume.pdf".
Print a few copies if you plan to apply in person. Use clean, unfolded paper.
Try a template. Job Bank's Resume Builder has a template for youth and recent graduates. You need a Job Bank account to use it.

Your first resume won't be perfect, and that's okay. Every job, volunteer shift, and course you add will make the next version stronger.

Next steps

Get ready for the next stage: Your first job interview
New to Canada? Read Your first job in Canada as a newcomer
Browse entry-level jobs in Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area