What goes on a resume with no experience?
- Education at the top: degree, institution, dates, and a grade if it helps.
- Projects: coursework, a thesis, hackathons, open-source, things you built. Treat each like a job, with a result.
- Part-time jobs, internships and volunteering. Serving tables shows reliability and handling pressure, so say so in one bullet.
- Skills that match the posting, written with the exact words the job uses.
How does the ATS read an entry-level resume?
The same way as anyone’s: it parses headings, dates and skills, then the recruiter searches and ranks. Use standard headings (Education, Experience, Projects, Skills), a single column, and real text rather than a design template with icons and skill bars. Many new-grad programs also use knockout questions (graduation date, right to work, location), so answer those exactly.
How do you write bullets without job results?
Use the same formula: action, what you did, and a number.
- “Built a course-scheduling app in React used by 140 students in my faculty.”
- “Led a team of 4 on a market-sizing project; our recommendation was presented to the partner company.”
- “Handled 60+ customers per shift at a busy café, and trained 3 new staff.”
Where should new grads apply?
- New-grad and junior programs on company career pages, which open months before the start date.
- Your college’s career center and alumni network: alumni referrals are the shortest route in.
- Smaller companies, which often skip the formal new-grad programs and hire juniors directly.