A Curriculum Vitae or CV is a document that helps to outline education, skills, work experience, and achievements when applying for jobs and internships. However, when students apply for their first job, they do not have any relevant work experience or work-aligned skills which they can include.
When students apply for jobs with no prior work experience, their CV will focus on education, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and transferable skills that demonstrate potential.
In this article, we will explore what employers look for in a CV with no experience, a guide to writing such a CV, and some CV examples for students with no experience.
Table of Contents
Understanding What Employers Look for in a CV With No Experience
When creating a CV with no work experience, students need to reflect on their qualifications, skills, and extracurricular experience that can positively align with a job role. Even when a prospective employee has no work experience, employers search for qualities that highlight traits and qualities that are required to succeed in the corporate world.
If one examines CV examples for students with no experience, one will notice that the CV is organised in a reverse chronological order, which helps to highlight their highest educational experience at the top, giving it the maximum priority. They will also notice in an example of a CV with no experience that it is limited to a single page and is structured in a professional manner for maximum effect.
Listed below are some elements that employers look for in a CV with no experience:
1. Personal Statement
While this is optional, employers look for a well-thought-out personal statement summarising the candidate’s skills and education and how they align with the job role. This allows recruiters to quickly identify a student’s background and how they will benefit the organisation.
Example:
Detail-oriented Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Financial Services graduate from Regenesys School of Finance with a strong foundation in financial analysis, reporting, and budgeting. Completed an internship in the finance department of a leading supermarket chain, gaining experience in forecasting and data interpretation. Eager to apply analytical skills and business acumen in a Junior Financial Analyst role to support data-driven decision-making in banking.
2. Strong Educational Background
When reviewing CV examples for students with no experience, one will notice that the educational background is well highlighted. It often includes courses directly related to the job the student is applying for. Prospective employers look for grades, relevant projects, and additional certifications that are completed and how they help contribute to the job role.
Example:
Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Financial Services[Name of Institute] | Graduated: 2025
Relevant Coursework: Credit Management, Financial Management, Strategic and Change Management
Academic Achievements: [Valedectorian]
Certifications: [Add those, if any]
3. Relevant Experience
CV examples for students with no experience include replacements for professional roles. These include internships, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and projects. Employers look for professionalism, dedication, and skill development through these work experience replacement fields in a CV.
Example:
Internship: Finance Intern[Name of Organisation] Johannesburg [May to July 2024]
Assisted in financial forecasting and budgeting, analysing trends to support business planning.
Gained experience in data interpretation, financial reporting, and variance analysis.
Collaborated with senior analysts to evaluate cost efficiencies and revenue projections.
Developed analytical and problem-solving skills by examining financial trends and variances.
4. Relevant Projects
Conducted a financial forecasting analysis for a case study, applying data-driven insights to optimise budgeting strategies.
Skills: Employers are always interested to know a prospective employee’s skills. These are a combination of technical and soft skills that will aid them in the job and the workplace. When reviewing CV examples for students with no experience, one will notice soft skills are typically integrated throughout the CV rather than listed separately. These can include problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Example:
Technical Skills: Financial Analysis & Forecasting, Excel, Financial Modeling, Familiarity with Data Visualisation Tools
Read more on What Is a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Financial Services? here
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a CV With No Experience
Before a student can begin applying for jobs, writing a CV is the most important task. Since employers and recruiters who advertise for prestigious job openings receive hundreds of CVs, it is important to submit a well-crafted CV. Even when a student has no prior work experience, a CV can be written to strategically highlight strengths and skills that make one an ideal candidate.
A CV should include relevant information that will help to get a CV with no experience get shortlisted. Listed below are the steps a student can follow to write a strong CV:
1. Choose the Right CV Format:
Read through some CV examples for students with no experience to create your own CV that follows a reverse-chronological format and focuses on functional skills. This is recommended for students since it highlights education and internships.
2. Add Your Contact Information:
It is important to include up-to-date contact information, which includes a phone number, a professional email ID, and possibly a LinkedIn profile.
Write a Strong Personal Statement: While it is not necessary, a strong personal statement provides a quick summary of your education and skills to a prospective employer.
3. Highlight Your Education:
If you examine CV examples for students with no experience, you will notice that the educational qualifications are the highlight of the CV. Include the name of the programme, institute, year of graduation, relevant modules, projects, etc.
4. Showcase Internships, Volunteer Work, or Projects:
In place of relevant work experience, students should include these replacements that demonstrate their qualities and skills. These can also be used to highlight a strong set of soft skills.
5. Emphasise Skills:
This section should be used to display proficiency in technical skills that are directly related to the job that one is applying for.
6. Add Extracurricular Activities & Certifications:
When creating a CV for a first job, students can also include extracurricular activities that demonstrate skills such as leadership. It can also include additional certifications that display an urge to gain additional skills and knowledge.
7. Proofread & Format Professionally:
After a CV is complete, it should be proofread to eliminate any mistakes. It should also be written in a professional font, use bullet points for clarity, and be saved as a PDF before sending. When crafting a CV for the first job, students should not let it exceed one page in length.
Read more on How to Write a CV: Tips, Template, and Example
CV Example For Students With No Experience
Writing a CV might seem like a monumental task if you do not have any prior work experience. However, if one brainstorms their past achievements and examines some CV examples for students with no experience, it will help them create their own CV.
Listed below is a CV example for a student with no work experience in South Africa that can be used to guide the writing process:
[Your Name]
[Your Location] | [Your Phone Number] | [Your Email] | [LinkedIn Profile]
Professional Summary
Motivated [Name of Undergraduate Programme] graduate from [Name of School], honoured as Valedictorian for academic excellence. Completed an internship in the banking sector, gaining hands-on experience in financial analysis, risk assessment, and data interpretation. Passionate about integrating data science and financial analytics to drive data-driven decision-making in the banking industry.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Financial Services[Name of School, Country] | Graduated: [Year]
- Valedictorian – Top-performing student recognised for academic distinction.
- Relevant Coursework:Credit Management, Financial Management, and Banking.
- Capstone Project: Developed a credit risk assessment model for small business loans.
Internship Experience
Finance Intern[Bank Name, Country] | [Internship Duration]
- Assisted in financial data analysis and risk evaluation, supporting banking decisions.
- Gained experience in loan portfolio assessment and financial forecasting.
- Collaborated with senior analysts to evaluate market trends and investment opportunities.
- Developed proficiency in Excel-based financial modelling and report preparation.
Certifications & Additional Learning
- Data Science for Finance – [Name of Institute] [Completion Year]
- Financial Modeling & Valuation – [Name of Institute] [Completion Year]
Technical Skills
- Financial Analysis & Reporting, Risk Management & Assessment, Data Interpretation & Visualisation (Excel, Power BI)
Extracurricular Activities & Leadership
Finance & Investment Society – Treasurer
- Managed a budget of ZAR [amount] and coordinated financial literacy workshops.
Volunteer Mentor – Regenesys Peer Tutoring Programme
- Assisted first-year students with foundational banking and finance concepts.
Final Tips Before Sending Your CV With No Experience
Once a student has completed writing a CV that highlights their educational and extracurricular achievements, they must look it over to proofread. If possible they should also ask their peers or a member of the faculty to examine a CV. This will help students highlight points they might have missed or fix any errors in formatting.
Listed below are the top 10 tips students should keep in mind before sending a CV with no experience:
- Limit the CV to 1 page
- Include updated contact details
- Clean and professional format
- Customise CV for each job role
- Infuse soft skills throughout the CV
- Highlight educational achievements
- Include keywords from the job description
- Proofread for any errors
- Add a strong email subject line
- Save as a PDF
Conclusion
Writing a strong CV with no work experience might seem challenging, but by following the step-by-step guide and examining some CV examples for students with no experience it will become simple. Students with no prior work experience should highlight their educational qualifications and include extracurricular activities and technical skills that align with the job role they are applying for.
A well-structured CV that includes all the points that employers and recruiters are looking for, helps to increase the chances of a CV getting short-listed. Visit the Regenesys website today to explore our various programmes.
CV Examples for Students With No Experience FAQs – Your Questions Answered
What should I include in my CV if I have no work experience?
A CV with no work experience should focus on education, internships, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and skills relevant to the job.
How long should my CV be?
A CV with no work experience should ideally be one page long to keep it concise and impactful.
Should I include a personal statement on my CV?
While optional, a personal statement can provide a quick overview of your education, skills, and career aspirations.
Can I list online courses on my CV?
Yes, including relevant online courses demonstrates a willingness to learn and enhances your qualifications.
What should I look for when reading through an example of a CV with no experience?
When examining CV examples for students with no experience as a guide, one should learn how they have infused soft skills and how they are using their extracurricular activities and educational qualifications to demonstrate how they are suitable candidates for the role.
