Key Takeaways

• Build a first job resume around skills + proof from school, projects, volunteering, and activities.
• Keep it a one page cv for most first jobs in Australia.
• Use Australia keywords from the job ad so ATS can match your resume.
• Treat volunteering and projects as real experience on resume with no experience.
• Tailor the cv profile and skills list for every application.

Introduction

Getting a first job in Australia with no work experience is normal. A strong Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume for a first job shows skills, effort, and proof from school, volunteering, projects, sport, and community work. i’ll show you what to put on a resume if no experience, how to keep it as a one page cv, and how to use Australia resume keywords so Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can read it.

This guide covers how to build a resume for a first job, how to type a resume for a first job, and how to create a resume with no work experience without sounding fake.

Why You Need a CV/Resume

In Australia, a CV or resume is a screening tool. For a first job resume, the employer wants to know:

• Can this job seeker resume follow instructions?
• Is this person reliable and available?
• Can this person communicate, learn fast, and work in a team?
• Does this person have basic safety awareness (WHS) and customer service habits?

A resume for beginners is not about having years of work history resume. A resume for beginners is about showing evidence of skills.

CV/Resume Tips & Best Practices

General Rules & Things to Consider

Use a clean layout, one column, and clear headings. Keep a consistent font size. Save as PDF unless the employer asks for Word.

Aim for:

• 1 page for most first jobs
• 2 pages only if there is strong experience (rare for teens)

Resume Language Should Be:

• Clear
• Direct
• Specific
• Proof-based (results, numbers, outcomes)

Avoid vague lines like “hardworking” with no proof. Put the proof in bullets.

Action Verbs for Your Resume

Use action verbs at the start of bullet points. Pick verbs that match the job.

Examples:

• Served, assisted, supported, handled, resolved, explained
• Organised, scheduled, coordinated, prepared, arranged
• Stocked, packed, cleaned, checked, labelled, counted
• Helped, guided, trained, coached, mentored
• Completed, delivered, improved, updated, tracked

Top Five Resume Mistakes:

1. Using a messy layout that ATS cannot read
2. Writing a long story in the personal summary
3. Listing skills with no proof
4. Leaving out availability for casual roles
5. Sending the same resume for every job

Do:

• Match your words to the job ad
• Keep bullet points short
• Use Australian spelling
• Use a clear file name: FirstName-LastName-Resume-Retail.pdf

Don’t:

• Add a photo
• Add date of birth, marital status, religion
• Use fancy columns, tables, icons, graphs
• Write “references: my mum”

Plan to Work Internationally?

Use an Australian CV for Australian jobs. If a role asks for a Europe-style CV, tools like Europass CV and the European Job Mobility portal (EURES) can help for EU roles. Keep the Australian version separate.

Tailor Your CV/Resume

Tailoring means changing:

• The cv profile (summary)
• The top skills list
• The bullet points under projects, volunteering, and activities

Tailor to one target job each time.

Make it Readable

A recruiter skims fast. Use:

• Short sections
• Bullet points
• White space
• Bold role titles or section headings

Use Reverse Chronological Order

Put the newest education, volunteering, and activities first. Reverse chronological order helps employers see current skills.

Polish and Fine-Tune

Do a final check:

• Spelling
• Dates and formatting
• Consistent tense (past for past tasks, present for current)

Stick to the One-Page Limit

A one page cv is normal for a 1st job resume. Keep only what helps the employer say yes.

✨ Create your perfect resume now!

CV/Resume Sections

Contact Details

Include:

• Full name
• Mobile
• Email (professional)
• Suburb, State (Australia)
• LinkedIn (only if clean and updated)

Example:
Jordan Nguyen
Sydney NSW | 04xx xxx xxx | jordan.nguyen@email.com

Personal Summary / Resume Objective / Personal Statement

A strong personal summary is short and targeted. For a first job, an objective can work well.

What is a CV personal statement?

A cv personal statement is 2–4 lines that explain:

• what role you want
• what skills you bring
• what proof you have (school, volunteering, projects)

First Job CV personal statement examples

Retail / Customer Service (no experience)
“School leaver seeking a casual retail role. Strong customer service habits from volunteer event work and school leadership. Confident with POS basics, cash handling practice, and fast learning in busy shifts.”

Warehouse / Stock / Back of House (no experience)
“Student applying for a part-time warehouse role. Strong attention to detail from stocktake volunteering and school project tracking. Comfortable with repetitive tasks, lifting guidelines, and WHS basics.”

What to include in your First Job CV personal statement

Include:

• the job title
• 2–3 skills from the ad
• one proof point (project, volunteering, sport, leadership)
• availability if it matters (weekends, evenings)

Skills

Skills are the fastest way to show fit. For Australia, include both workplace skills and practical skills.

Technical vs. Workplace Skills

• Technical skills: POS, MS Office, Google Docs, data entry, basic Excel, barista basics, food handling basics
• Workplace skills: teamwork, communication, reliability, time management, attention to detail

Top skills for your First Job CV

Pick 8–12 skills that match the role. Examples for common first jobs:

Retail / Fast Food

• customer service
• cash handling
• POS
• stock replenishment
• cleaning and closing tasks
• teamwork
• problem solving
• availability and flexibility

Office / Admin (junior)

• data entry
• email and phone etiquette
• Microsoft Word (Word)
• calendars and scheduling
• filing and document control
• attention to detail
• confidentiality

Tailor Skills to the Job Ad

Copy the skill words from the ad and use the same wording. This improves ATS matching.

Achievements

Achievements are proof. Use numbers when possible:

• “Completed 40 hours of volunteering”
• “Raised $300 in a school fundraiser”
• “Placed top 10% in class for Business Studies”
• “Captain of a 12-person team”

Work Experience / Work History

If there is no paid job, use:

• volunteer work
• school projects
• extracurricular roles
• community activities
• family support work (keep it professional)

Gaps in Your Work History

If there is a gap, keep it simple:

• studying
• caring responsibilities
• sport commitments
• training or certificates

Short Work History

If there is only one small job, keep it. Add 2–3 bullets and focus on outcomes.

What counts as work experience on your first CV?

• volunteering at school events
• tutoring younger students
• sports coaching
• helping at a family shop
• babysitting (if relevant)
• a school-based enterprise program

You do not need to label it as “fake work.” Label it as “Volunteer Experience” or “School Projects.”

What’s the best way to structure job history on your CV?

Use this structure:

• Role title (Volunteer Team Member / Student Project Lead)
• Organisation + location
• Dates
• 3–5 bullets with action verbs and outcomes

Work history examples for your first CV

Volunteer Event Assistant | Hillside School | Perth WA | 2025

• Assisted with event setup, pack-down, and guest support for 200 attendees
• Supported ticket table, handled basic cash tasks, and tracked items in a simple list
• Followed WHS rules for lifting, moving, and crowd flow

Merchandise Seller | West Amateur Swim Club | Brisbane QLD | 2024–2025

• Served members, processed sales, and kept a tidy counter area
• Counted stock weekly and recorded items in a basic spreadsheet
• Kept accurate cash totals and reported issues to the coach

Education and Training / Education History

List education even if still studying.

How to write your education section

Include:

• school name
• suburb/state
• qualification (Year level or certificate)
• expected graduation date

Example education sections

Hillside School | Perth WA
Year 12 (HSC/VCE/QCE equivalent: list your state certificate), Expected 2026
Subjects: Business, English, Maths, Hospitality

What to include in your education section

Add:

• awards
• leadership roles
• relevant projects
• attendance or punctuality awards

Best qualifications for your First Job

Common Australia-first-job certificates:

• RSA (hospitality)
• Food Safety / Food Handling
• First Aid
• White Card (construction)
• Working With Children Check (WWCC) if needed

CV/Resume Templates and Examples

Types of Resume Templates

Pick templates that fit ATS and keep the content readable.

ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

Best choice for most first jobs. One column, simple headings, no tables.

Basic Resume Templates

Good for teens and school leavers.

College Resume Templates

Good for uni students, internships, and casual roles.

Combined Resume Templates

Useful if there is mixed experience (volunteer + short job history).

Creative Resume Templates

Avoid for most entry-level roles unless the job is design-based.

Executive Resume Templates

Skip for a first job.

Functional Resume Templates

Useful for no experience, yet some employers prefer chronological. Use carefully.

Google Docs Resume Templates

A Google Docs cv template can work. Export to PDF before sending.

High School Resume Templates

High school resume templates should highlight education, skills, and activities first.

Hybrid Resume Templates

Good if there is some work and some volunteering.

Minimal Resume Templates

Great for ATS and printing.

Modern Resume Templates

Keep modern styles simple. Avoid heavy colour blocks.

Professional Resume Templates

Works for admin or customer service roles.

Simple Resume Templates

Safe choice.

Skill-Based Resume Templates

Helpful for experience on resume with no experience.

Stylish Resume Templates

Avoid if ATS struggles to read it.

Traditional Resume Templates

Fine for conservative employers.

First Job Resume Template

Use this order:

1. Contact details
2. cv profile
3. Skills
4. Achievements
5. Work Experience / Volunteer / Projects
6. Education
7. Additional info
8. References

Resume Sample

This is a sample resume Australia style (text-only). Copy and edit.

ALEX CLARKE
Melbourne VIC | 04xx xxx xxx | alex.clarke@email.com

CV Profile
School leaver applying for a casual retail role. Strong customer service habits from school events and club volunteering. Comfortable with POS basics, stock replenishment, and tidy closing tasks. Available weekends and school holidays.

Skills
Customer service | POS | Cash handling | Stock replenishment | Teamwork | Communication | Time management | Attention to detail | WHS awareness | Fast learner

Achievements

• Completed 60+ hours of volunteering across school events (2024–2025)
• Captain, West Amateur Swim Club squad (2025)
• Tenner Challenge participant: planned stock, pricing, and sales tracking (2025)

Volunteer Experience
Volunteer Event Assistant | Hillside School | Melbourne VIC | 2025

• Assisted with setup and pack-down for events with 150–200 attendees
• Supported guest questions and kept queue flow organised
• Recorded item counts and reported shortages to staff

Merchandise Seller | West Amateur Swim Club | Melbourne VIC | 2024–2025

• Served members, processed sales, and kept accurate totals
• Counted stock weekly and recorded numbers in a simple sheet
• Maintained a clean counter and followed hygiene expectations

Education
Hillside School | Melbourne VIC
Year 12, Expected 2026

Additional Information
Availability: Saturdays and Sundays, weekdays after 4pm
References available on request

CV Example

In Australia, “CV” and “resume” often mean the same thing for entry-level roles. For university, research, and roles like a cv for phd application, a CV can be longer and include publications. For first jobs, keep it one page.

Alex Clarke Example

Alex Clarke is a first-job candidate with no paid work history. Alex Clarke uses:

• skills matched to the job ad
• proof from volunteering and sport
• short achievements with numbers

School Leaver CV example

Use the resume sample above. Keep the focus on education, skills, and activities.

Student CV example

A student CV example can add projects:

Student Project: Fundraiser Lead | 2025

• Coordinated a 6-person team for a school fundraiser
• Tracked costs and sales using Google Docs
• Raised $420 and delivered a short report to staff

Student with no exp CV example

Use a skills-first layout and expand “Projects” and “Volunteer Experience.”

✨ Make your resume shine fast!

Creating a Resume for Your First Job

Pick the Right Layout

Use:

• one column
• bold headings
• short bullet points

This works for resumes for teenagers and a resume for first job.

Match Your Experiences to the Job Listing

If the ad wants “customer service,” show proof from volunteering or school events. If the ad wants “teamwork,” show sport, group projects, or club roles.

Focus on Your Education

Education is your strongest base right now. Add relevant subjects and projects.

Highlight Volunteer Work and Extracurricular Activities

Volunteering can be stronger than a short casual job, if the bullet points show outcomes.

Write Your Resume Objective

Use 2–4 lines. Include the job title and 2–3 skills from the ad.

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Formatting and Design

Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template

For most first jobs:

• chronological (education + recent volunteering)
• or skill-based if there is no work history resume at all

Customize Resume Colors, Fonts, and Layout

Use simple fonts:

• Arial
• Calibri
• Helvetica

Keep font size 10.5–12 for body text.

Format a CV or Resume for ATS

ATS-friendly rules:

• avoid tables and text boxes
• use standard headings (Skills, Education, Experience)
• save as PDF
• use job ad keywords in skills and bullets

Summary

This article explains how to make a CV for a first job in Australia with no work experience using a clear, practical approach. It shows how to build a one page CV by focusing on skills, education, volunteering, school projects, and extracurricular activities instead of paid work. You’ll learn what to put on a resume if no experience, how to structure a work history resume using non-paid experience, and how to use Australia-specific ATS keywords. The guide also includes first job resume examples, templates for students and teenagers, and step-by-step advice to tailor your CV for real Australian job ads.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need work experience to get my first job in Australia?
No. Many Australian employers hire first-time job seekers based on skills, availability, attitude, and proof from school, volunteering, or activities.

What should I put on a resume if I have no experience?
Include a short CV profile, skills, education, volunteer work, school projects, extracurricular activities, certificates, and availability.

Should a first job CV be one page in Australia?
Yes. A one page CV is standard for a first job, high school student resume, or low experience resume in Australia.

What skills should I list on a first job resume?
List job-related skills such as customer service, teamwork, communication, time management, reliability, attention to detail, and basic technical skills like POS or Microsoft Word if relevant.

Is a CV different from a resume in Australia?
In Australia, CV and resume are often used interchangeably for entry-level jobs. For a first job, both usually mean a short, one page document focused on skills and education.

Author Information

Anny Kuratulain | Career Development Expert

Anny Kuratulain is a seasoned professional with over 9 years of experience in social media strategy, freelance coaching, and resume optimization. Specializing in helping professionals in various fields, Anny provides expert guidance on crafting resumes that stand out to hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Anny’s insights focus on empowering job seekers to highlight their key strengths, tailor resumes to job descriptions, and land the jobs they desire.