Students & Early Career FAQs: First Jobs, Internships and Education
Answers for students and first-time job seekers on first jobs, internships, expected graduation dates, coursework, study abroad and cover letters.
These answers go a step past the basics for students and first-time job seekers, from listing an internship or an expected graduation date to writing a first cover letter. For the starting questions, such as what a college student should put on a resume, see the Students & Early Career section of our Resume & Career FAQs.
Questions about first jobs, internships and school
Do I need a resume for my first job?
Not always, but it's worth having one. Some hourly jobs, such as retail and restaurant work, only ask for an application form, while internships and office jobs usually ask for a resume. A short resume also makes the form quicker to fill in and gives you something to hand over when you apply in person.
How do I put an internship on a resume?
Put an internship in your experience section and format it like a job: your title (such as Marketing Intern), the organization, the location and the dates, then a few bullets on what you did and what came of it. If you've accepted an internship that hasn't started yet, you can still list it with the word Incoming and its start date, then add bullets once you've done the work.
How do I list an expected graduation date on a resume?
Write it in your education section next to your degree and school, as Expected May 2027 or Expected Spring 2027. The word Expected shows you're still enrolled, and the date tells employers when you can start full time; a date on its own can read as a degree you've already finished.
Should I list relevant coursework on my resume?
Yes, while you're a student or recent graduate and the courses match the job. Add one line under your degree, such as Relevant coursework: Financial Accounting, Business Statistics, Marketing Research, and pick advanced or specialized classes that echo the job posting rather than introductory ones. Cut the line once you have internships or jobs to show instead. Our college student guide shows how to build out your education section.
How do I put study abroad on a resume?
Add study abroad to your education section, under your home school: the program or host university, the city and country, and the term you were there. If it built something the job needs, such as a language, research or working with people from other cultures, add one bullet that shows how you used it. If you came back with a language you can use at work, add it to your skills section too.
How do I list an unfinished degree on a resume?
List the school, your field of study and the years you attended, then say what you completed, for example Coursework toward a B.S. in Biology. This is what "some college" means on an application form: you've studied at a college but haven't finished a degree. Don't list the degree on its own as though you earned it. If you're still enrolled, give an expected graduation date instead; if you've stopped and only plan to go back, keep the dates you attended.
How do I write a cover letter with no experience?
Keep it short and specific. Open with the job you're applying for and why it interests you. In the middle, give one or two examples from school, volunteering, a part-time job or a project, each matched to something the posting asks for, so the reader can see the fit without guessing. Close by saying when you can start and asking for an interview.
More guides for students and first-time job seekers
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