Your first job is an exciting first step in your new IT career. However, applying for roles can be daunting, especially when you’re crafting a resume with a pretty blank work experience section.
The good news is you can still make a very strong first impression without a long list of formal work experience. Employers understand that you’re at the beginning of your work journey and are looking for potential, as well as a great attitude, work ethic, and what you can bring to the team.
And you can put forward a confident, polished resume that shows exactly that.
Start With What You Do Have
If you’re new to the workforce, your resume won’t look like a traditional one, and that’s completely fine.
You want to emphasise the experience you do have, not what you lack. This includes your education, skills, projects, extracurricular activities, awards, and volunteer work.
When you approach your resume as a showcase of your strengths rather than a list of missing parts, it will effectively showcase your hiring potential.
Here’s How to Build Your Resume
Contact Details
Keep this simple and professional. Include:
You don’t need to add your full address; your suburb and state is enough information if you choose to include it.
Short Summary
This is optional, but effective. Think of this as your click-bait. A great summary should be no more than one or two sentences about who you are and what you’re aiming for. This displays enthusiasm and ambition, which are attractive to employers.
Alternately, you can just write a short statement about your objective and career goals.
This might sound something like:
“After receiving my Bachelor’s degree in IT, majoring in Software Development, I am excited to begin a career within your organisation and grow with a supportive team.”
Education
This will likely be your strongest section when you’re starting out.
- Your qualification
- School or institution
- Key subjects, projects or areas of strength
- Graduation date
Do not hold back on your academic achievements. Highlight:
- Academic awards
- Honours
- Leadership roles
- High marks and recognition in relevant subjects
Skills
This is where you can really shine. List the skills that make you a great candidate, such as:
Make sure they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Projects & Coursework
Your university projects and assignments count. If you’ve worked on a project that relates to the job, include it.
Outline on what you did, how you did it, and the outcome.
Volunteering
Volunteer work shows initiative, reliability and community spirit, and these are all big pluses for employers.
You can include coaching, school events, charity work, it all counts.
Extracurricular Activities
Think clubs, team sports, music groups, coding clubs, gaming tournaments or anything that demonstrates a your interests and commitment. Often, these small details illustrate your enthusiasm and aptitude for teamwork and leadership better than paid work can.
References
Let your prospective hear about you from someone who already knows you. Include their details or simply state Available on request.
Here’s How to Tie It All Together
Keep It Easy to Read
Use clear headings, bullet points, and short sentences. For IT roles, your resume doesn’t need to be pretty or over formatted, clean and simple always wins.
Tailor It to Each Job
This is important. You get better results by customising your resume for every role. Highlight the skills and experiences that best match what the employer is looking for.
Confidence Is Key
Even without experience, you bring potential, eagerness to learn, and fresh perspective. Let that come through in your writing.
You’ve Got This
Everyone starts somewhere. Step confidently into the first chapter of your career story. Focus on what you can offer, present it clearly, and don’t underestimate the value of what makes you uniquely you. Your skills, your interests, and your enthusiasm.
