The hardest resume to write is your first one. When there’s no work history to fill the page, it’s easy to feel like there’s nothing worth putting down. There is, you just need to know where to look.
Here’s how to write a resume that actually works when you’re starting from scratch.
Keep it to one page
You are not applying for a senior management role. Nobody expects two pages from an 18-year-old. One clean, clear page is better than two pages of filler. If a hiring manager picks up your resume and it’s obviously padded, that tells them something, and not something good.
The sections you actually need
Your contact details. Name, phone number, email address, suburb and state. That’s it. No date of birth, no photo, no home address.
A one or two sentence summary. Not a career objective, nobody reads those. A brief, honest sentence about who you are and what you’re looking for. “Year 12 graduate with a strong interest in construction looking for an apprenticeship in SEQ” is better than three sentences about your passion for excellence.
Education. School name, year completed (or expected completion year), and any subjects worth mentioning. If you got a good OP or ATAR, include it. If you didn’t, leave it out.
Work experience. If you’ve had any paid work, even casual, even infrequent, include it. Name of employer, your role, the dates, and two or three dot points on what you actually did. Don’t exaggerate. Don’t dress up “helped customers find products” as “delivered exceptional customer service outcomes.”
Volunteer experience or community involvement. Includes sports, clubs, school leadership roles, community events, helping family businesses. If it required you to show up reliably and work alongside other people, it counts.
Skills. Keep this practical. “Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs” is fine. “Excellent communication skills” tells an employer nothing they can verify. List what you can actually do.
Referees. Two is enough. A teacher, a coach, a sports coordinator, a family friend who employed you informally, anyone who can speak to your character and work ethic. Always ask before listing someone.
What not to include
Don’t include your date of birth, you’re protected against age discrimination and there’s no reason to include it.
Don’t include references to your social media unless it’s directly relevant to the role.
The cover letter
A lot of employers ask for one. Keep it short, three paragraphs maximum.
First paragraph: who you are and what you’re applying for. Second paragraph: why this specific employer and this specific role. Not a generic “I’ve always been passionate about retail”, something real about why them. Third paragraph: a brief statement about what you bring and what you’re looking forward to learning.
Sign off professionally. “Kind regards” works. “Cheers” does not.
Proofread it
Spelling errors and formatting issues on a resume suggest the same thing, that you didn’t care enough to check. Get someone else to read it before you send it.
RooKi’s resume builder is designed specifically for school leavers. It walks you through exactly what to include, helps you frame your experience properly, and outputs something professional, even if you’ve never written a resume before.