Students & Early Career FAQs: First Jobs, Internships and Education
For students and first-time job seekers: a resume with no experience, class projects, internships, graduation dates, study abroad and cover letters.
For students and first-time job seekers: a resume with no experience, class projects, internships, expected graduation dates, study abroad and a first cover letter. Questions for later in your career are in our Resume & Career FAQs.
Questions about first jobs, internships and school
How do I write a resume with no experience?
On a resume with no work experience, lead with what you have done: school projects, coursework, volunteering, clubs, sports, caregiving and informal paid work all count as evidence. Describe each entry in short bullets that say what you did and what came of it.
What should a college student put on a resume?
A college student's resume usually starts with education, then the projects, coursework, internships, part-time jobs, campus roles and volunteer work that fit the job. Choose what supports the role you're applying for rather than listing everything.
Can class projects go on a resume?
Yes: class projects are good evidence when they show skills the job needs. Name the project, then say what problem it addressed, the tools or methods you used, your part in it and the result.
Should I include high school on my college resume?
Early in college, listing high school on a college resume can still help when the achievement is recent and relevant. Take it off once your college coursework, jobs or internships give you stronger evidence.
How many hours should a college student work?
Most college students do best with a moderate part-time schedule, because long hours, and a full-time job above all, tend to pull grades down and lead to burnout. The right number of work hours for a college student depends on your course load, so cut back if your grades or health start to slip.
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. If you're in high school, start from one of our high school resume templates.
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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