high school resume with no work experience examples

High School No Experience Resume Examples and Templates

This page provides you with High School (No Experience) resume samples to use to create your own resume with our easy-to-use resume builder . Below you'll find our how-to section that will guide you through each section of a High School (No Experience) resume.

If you’re a high school student stressed about writing your first ever resume, don’t worry – it’s not just you! When you’re young and inexperienced, resumes can seem like a serious challenge. All you want is to land your first ever part-time job – but how do you fill all that space, when you’re totally new to the world of work?

Don’t give up hope! You probably have more relevant experience than you think, even if it isn’t directly related to work. As a high school student, employers will expect you to include things like club activities, school-based responsibilities, and even volunteering work on your high school resume.

To give you a head start, we’ve written up a helpful guide to writing your first ever resume. We’ve put together examples of what a good resume should look like, hints on what to do (and what not to do) when writing, and advice on what to expect from the job application process – including some tips you may not get from your school’s careers counselor. Read on, and you’ll be sending out your first resume in no time!

How to Write Your High School No Experience Resume

As a high school student with no work experience, it’s unlikely that youve never had to write a resume before. Don’t let it scare you – it’s not as complicated as you might expect! In general, most resumes will contain the following sections:

• A summary and/or objective
• A record of your past work experience
• A list of your qualifications, certifications, and licenses
• A list of your relevant skills

Your resume needs to show a hiring manager two things, especially when you have no previous work experience. The first is that you have relevant qualifications for the role you want – whether that’s an academic qualification in a relevant field, or just some relevant experience that may not have anything to do with work. The second is that you have the skills that will allow you to excel in the role.

This means that it’s okay if you don’t have much to fill out your experience section. As a high school student, new to the workforce, you won’t be expected to bring any real professional experience to the table. The more important thing is how you present yourself in your resume – which means calling attention to the skills, qualifications and experience that you do have, so hiring managers know why they should give you the opportunity you want.

We’ll cover each section of your resume one by one, so you can build it one step at a time.

The Best Format for a High School No Experience Resume

Before you actually write your resume, you’ll need to choose the right layout! The format of your resume dictates what hiring managers will notice first when they see your job application. The right format will draw their attention to your best qualities, and draw it away from the areas where you know you aren’t as strong as you would like.

This is something to keep in mind when you choose your professionally-designed resume template from our selection. As you won’t have any previous work experience, you will benefit from choosing a format that will highlight your skills instead. That way, recruiters can see what you bring to the table, rather than what you don’t!

Remember, this is only your first resume – when you have more work experience behind you, you’ll be able to create a brand new resume for future job applications. After you’ve built up a stronger work history, you will benefit from choosing a resume format that balances your skills and qualifications with your work experience. When that time comes, our resume guides for a wide range of different industries will help you make the best and smartest choices!

• Applicant Tracking Systems

Some companies use an applicant tracking system (or ATS) to sort through the job applications they receive for each open position. ATS software filters resumes based on keywords (usually taken from the job description) to help weed out resumes that are generic, not qualified for the role, or otherwise unsuitable to progress to the interview stages. This is really useful for hiring managers – it allows them to speed up the hiring process, which saves them a lot of time.

But for candidates, it isn’t such good news! If your resume doesn’t get through the ATS software’s filtering system, it is likely to be rejected before a human gets to see it at all. That can be upsetting, especially if you’ve put a lot of time and effort into your resume.

You can boost your chances of getting through the ATS software by paying close attention to the requirements of the job description. Wherever possible, you should use the exact words used in the job description when describing your skills: for instance, if a job description asks for ‘high levels of personal organization,’ use that exact phrase when writing about your experience of balancing multiple AP classes at school. Treat the job description as your guide, and you can maximize your chances of success.

ATS software can sometimes get confused by complex resume formatting. But don’t panic – all of VisualCV’s resume templates are designed to make your resume easy for ATS software to read. That means you don’t have to worry about the software being confused by the format of your resume – you can focus on your resume’s content, instead.

How to Write a Summary for Your High School No Experience Resume

Most resumes open with a summary, which means it’s the first thing most recruiters will see when they pick up your resume. A summary is meant to give recruiters a short, clear description of your best qualities. The key to a good summary is keeping it brief – think about the three main reasons why you are qualified for the job you want, and write them down in three sentences or less.

It’s important to remember that your summary should be specific to the role you’re applying for. You can’t get away with reusing the same summary for multiple applications! Recruiters will notice, and it will affect your chances of getting hired.

Since you’re applying for your first ever job, you can’t talk about your past work experience in your summary. However, you can bring up your educational background, your skills, your best qualities, and any relevant non-work experience you have. Later in your career, you can use your summary to lay out your career journey so far, so recruiters can easily see where you’re coming from and what you bring.

• 3 High School No Experience Summary Examples:
• Junior year student at William McKinley High, achieving a 3.5 GPA. Student editor of the school magazine, with experience of teamwork and project management. A fast learner with a strong work ethic.
• Senior year high school student maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Active member of the school field hockey team, bringing my drive to succeed and my passion for teamwork to everything I do.
• Current student at West High School, maintaining a 3.6 GPA. Three years of volunteer experience at a local animal shelter. I deliver great customer service, compassion and care in all areas of my life.
• How Not to Write a High School No Experience Resume Summary

You might be tempted to use your summary as a second cover letter – a longer piece of writing telling the story of why you want the job you’re aiming for. In fact, this is the number one thing you shouldn’t do when writing your summary!

A summary needs to be clear and to-the-point, focused on what you can offer your employer. You need to keep it focused, professional, and short. If you want to talk more about yourself, you can do that in your cover letter instead – your resume simply doesn’t have the space to accommodate it.

We know that summaries can be tough to pin down. Some recruiters don’t think you need a summary at all – in fact, opinion is divided – so don’t feel too bad if you’re having a hard time! Leave it out for now, and think about coming back to it later on.

• For the past three years, I have worked as a volunteer at the Soft Paws Animal Shelter, cleaning the animals’ environments and providing enrichment activities. I believe this history of taking responsibility for my surroundings will give me a head start in the role of Part-Time Janitor, as I already know the best cleaning and sanitation techniques.

Do You Need a Resume Objective?

By now, you should be pretty clear on what a summary is – but what about your resume objective?

When you’re just starting out on your career journey, an objective is a great way to give hiring managers more information about your long-term plans. Your objective should be a one-sentence statement about where you want to work or what you want to do in the future. While it might sound obvious, you do need to make sure that your objective is relevant in some way to the role you’re applying for!

You won’t always need a resume objective. They’re much less useful when you already have an extensive work history, because your career so far can tell a hiring manager a lot about your long-term goals. But when you’re applying for a first job, most recruiters agree that an objective is a smart thing to include.

• High School No Experience Resume Objective Example:
• Current student at William McKinley High, hoping to build experience in the food service industry.

How to Describe Your Experience on Your High School No Experience Resume

We know you don’t have any previous experience of holding down a paid job – after all, this is your first ever resume! But you almost certainly have more relevant experience than you think you do. Here are just a few things you might be able to include in this section of your resume:

• High school clubs and extracurriculars
• Sporting activities
• Volunteering experience
• Work experience placements
• Relevant hobbies and achievements

As long as you can use the experience to show how it has prepared you for the role you want, you can include it! Try taking the time to list all of the skills you have used or learned during your non-work experience. Then you can include any experience where those skills match up with the skills listed on the job description.

Remember, you don’t have to add everything you’ve ever done to your resume! If you’ve participated in a lot of extracurriculars, be selective about which ones you include. On the flip side, if you don’t have much experience, don’t lie to pad it out – you will probably get caught, and it will throw up some serious red flags for any recruiter or hiring manager.

• Describe Your Experience Effectively

Each ‘item’ of experience on your resume should come with a bullet-pointed list of things you achieved while doing it. But as you’ll see in the example we’ve provided, it’s not always that straightforward! Every bullet point should prove that you have a skill or quality listed in the job description.

That’s why you should do your best to write about what you actually achieved – not just about the basics of what you did every day. Instead of ‘cleaned floors,’ try ‘maintained a clean and sanitary work environment in accordance with health and safety guidelines.’ Doesn’t that sound more professional?

Generally, hiring managers want to see evidence that you were able to succeed in your previous work. If you can show the results you achieved by completing each task, hiring managers will be more likely to believe that you can get those results again in a future job.

Do: Volunteer, Soft Paws Animal Shelter | 2019-21

• Provided a clean and sanitary environment for employees and animals by participating in a regular cleaning rota
• Delivered great customer service and well-researched advice to members of the public looking to rescue a pet
• Participated in a volunteer dog-walking and play rota, delivering enrichment and stimulation to animals in the shelter’s care
• How Not to Describe Your Experience

You should never write a simple list of the tasks you completed! Without any context, a basic list of responsibilities assigned to you won’t tell a hiring manager anything. They won’t have any reason to believe that you did a good job when you carried out those tasks, or that you might do them just as well in a new job.

The most important thing about writing a resume is showing hiring managers that you have the skills to succeed. Be explicit about those skills and how you have applied them in the past! You can’t afford to assume that they will make those connections without your input.

Don’t: Volunteer, Soft Paws Animal Shelter | 2019-21

• Cleaned work areas
• Greeted the public
• Walked dogs

How to List Skills on Your High School No Experience Resume

Your resume’s skills section is a list of your skills – specifically the ones that will help you in the role you’re applying for. You can refer to the job description to find out what those skills are! Most of the time, job descriptions include a list of qualities that applicants should have, so use that as a guide for this section.

It will help to know the difference between ‘hard skills’ and ‘soft skills.’ Hard skills are the practical skills you’ll use in your role – like the use of particular tools or equipment, or the ability to use a certain software package. If you don’t have all the hard skills necessary for the role you want, don’t give up – you can let hiring managers know, either in your cover letter or as part of your skills section, that you’re keen to learn on the job.

Meanwhile, you definitely have some relevant soft skills already! We’ll cover those in more detail in the next section.

For general information about skills on your resume, check out our resume skills guide here!

Important Soft Skills for Your High School No Experience Resume

Soft skills are the skills you rely on in every aspect of your professional life. Skills like communication, organization and attention to detail are vital in almost every line of work, and will help you navigate a new job more easily. When you don’t have any past work experience, a good list of soft skills can show an employer that you have the tools to succeed.

Whatever the nature of the job you’re applying for, certain soft skills are always useful. Here are some of the most important soft skills to include on your high school no experience resume!

• Communication

Can you share information clearly and appropriately in person, in writing, and over the phone? Communication is absolutely critical in most jobs. Being able to communicate well will bolster your customer service skills, as well as your ability to work effectively as part of a team.

• Organization

You might get away with disorganization in high school, but the world of work is a lot less forgiving. You’ll need to be able to balance your various obligations, show up on time, and look put-together. If you can show that you’re an organized person, you’ll stand a better chance of landing almost any job!

• Willingness to Learn

For high school students looking for their first job, this one is vital – you’re likely to need more on-the-job training than more experienced candidates, after all. Being willing to absorb and adapt to new information is an important skill that will stand you in good stead with hiring managers!

There are very few jobs that will let you work independently of a larger team. Having a job means getting on effectively with people from all backgrounds, regardless of whether or not you actually like them. Teamwork also means taking on your fair share of responsibilities in partnership with the rest of your team.

Final Thoughts

Writing your first resume can be an intimidating prospect, especially when you’re young and inexperienced. But we’ve given you all the tools you will need to write a well-constructed resume, regardless of your experience level. Remember, it’s not about what you don’t have – it’s about how you present what you do have!

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10+ Free High School Resume Templates for 2024

Writing your high school resume is already hard as it is - you shouldn’t have to spend hours working on your resume layout and format.

Want to fast-track your resume-creation process?

Use one of these 10+ free high school resume templates!

All you have to do is pick a template that resonates with you and fill in the contents. Zero formatting hassle is required!

10+ Free High School Resume Templates [Pick & Download]

#1. simple resume template.

This timeless layout works for everyone - highschoolers and seasoned professionals alike. 

The understated design and clean look put equal emphasis on all parts of your resume.

#2. Professional Resume Template

The Professional template puts more emphasis on your work experience and skills. Don’t have much work experience? You can always replace it with some other relevant section like extracurricular activities or volunteering experience.

#3. College Resume Template

Created with recent graduates in mind, this template is also suitably structured for any applicant with little to no work experience. 

#4. Creative Resume Template

If you’re looking for a job in the creative industry or want to try something a bit bolder, the Creative template is right for you. It’s guaranteed to stand out in any resume pile with its light on dark header and circle style skill graphs. 

#5. Modern Resume Template

The Modern template is a step up from the more basic designs. It has an organized look featuring brackets and squares.

#6. Functional Resume Template

The Functional Resume template puts more emphasis on your educational background, making it a perfect fit for highschoolers or just about anyone with no work experience.

#7. One Color Resume Template

This template is quite simple and to-the-point. The sections are clearly separated, and the resume objective is located top and center. Bonus points: you can even personalize this high school resume template by customizing the color scheme.

#8. Two-Column Resume Template

The template has a rather unique two-column resume structure . It is easy to skim and pleasant to look at. 

It also has a very compact look, making it perfect for job-seekers with no work experience.

#9. Vertical Header Resume Template

What’s interesting about this template is the vertical layout in the header section. It looks refreshing and straight-up cool. However, it’s a hit or miss kind of situation. The recruiter will either be intrigued by it, or be bothered by having to turn the page to the side. Use at your own risk.

#10. Infographic Resume Template

Infographic resume templates in general use graphs and charts to illustrate the information. This template in particular uses bubbles to portray skills and level of competence, as well as icons to illustrate interests. This makes the resume quick to skim through and the information easy to understand. 

How Long Should a High School Resume Be?

The resume length discussion has been going on for ages and typically, the answer tends to vary depending on industry and years of experience. 

When it comes to a high school resume, however, there’s no room for discussion: your resume should be one-page max. 

It’s justifiable to have a two-page resume in case you have, say 10+ years of experience in the industry (which you don’t).

If your draft resume ends up being longer, revise your content with a critical eye and cut out anything that’s not relevant for the job you’re applying for.

Remember: the recruiter wants to know what your top skills and experiences are, not your entire life story!

What Should I Include In My High School Resume?

In your high school resume, include the following sections:

• Contact Information - This consists of personal and contact information like first and last name, phone number, e-mail address, or links to other profiles. Make sure everything is written correctly so the recruiter can reach you back.
• Resume Objective - This is a 3-4 sentence statement that describes your career goals and aspirations as well as mentions your skills and achievements. It’s used to grab the recruiter’s attention and ensure that they read the rest of your resume.
• Education - You can already guess what this one’s about, right? You should list down your education institution (high school) as well as any academic-related certifications or achievements.
• Extracurricular Activities - This is your resume’s selling point. The equivalent of work experience, if you will. Your extracurriculars are usually participation in high school clubs or various events and they show the recruiter you’re a competent and engaged individual.
• Projects & Gigs - In this section, you’d mention any independent projects you’ve worked on outside of academics. For example, a side-gig or your own blog - anything that shows you’re a self-starter.
• Work Experience (optional) - If you have any, you can list your work experiences. An internship or volunteer work also qualifies for this section.
• Languages - An extra language or two will definitely give you an edge over the other candidates. So, if you’re good at languages, make sure to list a dedicated section for that!
• Hobbies & Interests - Choose a few things that will give the recruiter some insight into your personality. Bonus points if these hobbies and interests are related to the industry where you’re applying - they’ll show you’re passionate and genuinely interested in the job.

And that’s about it!

How to Create a High School Resume With No Work Experience?

You’ve probably heard of the famous trope:

“You need work experience to get a job, but a job to get work experience.”

Fortunately, it’s not actually true.

If you’re applying for an entry-level position in any field, no one’s actually expecting you to have work experience.

Instead, you can focus on the experiences you do have to stand out from the rest of the applicants. Some things you can include in your resume are:

• Extracurricular activities
• Projects & gigs
• Hobbies & interests
• Internships

Key Takeaways

And that’s about it on high school resume templates!

If you want to know more about what to write and how to write it, check out our in-depth guide to writing a high school resume .

Before you go your way, let’s go over the main points of this article one more time:

• Always use a high school resume template instead of working on your resume from scratch - trust us, it’s going to save you a lot of time.
• Stick to the one-page resume limit. The recruiter wants to know about your work experience, not about your entire life story.
• Instead of work experience, focus on alternative sections like extracurricular activities, projects, volunteering experience, and so on.

Discover More Resume Templates

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• Chronological Resume Templates
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• Combination Resume Templates
• Creative Resume Templates
• 2 Page Resume Templates
• Minimalistic Resume Templates

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• High School Student with No Experience Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on High School Student with No Experience Resumes:

• Assisting with basic administrative tasks such as filing, photocopying, and organizing documents
• Answering phones and directing calls to the appropriate staff members
• Helping to set up and prepare for school events, such as assemblies, sports events, and dances
• Assisting teachers with classroom preparation, such as setting up equipment or distributing materials to students
• Participating in peer tutoring or mentoring programs to support fellow students
• Assisting in the school library with shelving books and helping students find resources
• Helping with the maintenance of school grounds, including light cleaning or gardening tasks
• Supporting the school's technology team with basic IT tasks, such as troubleshooting computer issues for students or staff
• Working with the school's nutrition staff to distribute lunches or organize the cafeteria during meal times
• Contributing to the school's newsletter or website by writing articles or taking photographs
• Assisting with inventory management, such as tracking school supplies or sports equipment
• Participating in community service projects organized by the school or associated clubs

Speed up your resume creation process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to.

High School Student with No Experience Resume Example:

• Streamlined the administrative process by organizing over 1,000 student records and documents, resulting in a 30% improvement in retrieval time for the school staff.
• Coordinated and executed setup for 15+ school events, contributing to a 20% increase in student participation and community engagement.
• Implemented a peer tutoring schedule that matched 40 students with tutors, enhancing academic support and contributing to a 10% rise in average test scores.
• Assisted in the school library by cataloging over 500 books and resources, improving the book retrieval system efficiency by 25%.
• Supported the IT team in resolving 100+ student and staff computer issues, increasing the overall technology uptime by 15%.
• Contributed to the school's newsletter with 10+ articles and photographs, leading to a 35% increase in readership among the student body.
• Organizational Skills
• Event Planning and Coordination
• Peer Tutoring and Academic Support
• Library Cataloging and Resource Management
• Technical Support and IT Troubleshooting
• Written Communication and Journalism
• Photography
• Volunteerism and Community Service
• Inventory Management
• Time Management
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Problem-Solving
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability
• Data Entry and Record Keeping

Top Skills & Keywords for High School Student with No Experience Resumes:

Hard skills.

• Organization
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Computer Literacy
• Research Skills
• Mathematics
• Writing Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Customer Service

Soft Skills

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Time Management and Organization
• Leadership and Initiative
• Positive Attitude and Enthusiasm
• Resilience and Perseverance
• Self-Motivation and Drive
• Learning Agility and Curiosity
• Professionalism and Work Ethic

Resume Action Verbs for High School Student with No Experiences:

• Participated
• Collaborated
• Contributed
• Demonstrated
• Volunteered

Generate Your Resume Summary

Resume FAQs for High School Student with No Experiences:

How long should i make my high school student with no experience resume, what is the best way to format a high school student with no experience resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a high school student with no experience resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a high school student with no experience, compare your high school student with no experience resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the High School Student with No Experience job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for High School Student with No Experiences:

High school student first job, high school graduate, high school senior, student teacher, beginner teacher assistant, substitute teacher with no experience.

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Ultimate Guide to High Paying Jobs with No Experience

• Understanding the Job Market
• High Paying Entry-Level Jobs
• Strategies for Landing High Paying Jobs
• High Paying Jobs With No Experience FAQs

If you didn’t start on the right career path when in high school, it can feel like the odds are stacked against you. If you don’t have experience, you can’t get a job, but if you can’t get a job, then how can you ever get experience?

The trick is to expand your definition of “experience.” It’s not just about the paid jobs, but also any experience you have using relevant skills in the real world. Utilizing a resume builder and resume templates can help present these experiences effectively.

The key to getting a job without professional experience is understanding what employers want and knowing how to prove you can do it. Below, we’ll provide the best advice for getting a high-paying job without experience.

Understanding the Job Market with No Experience

When people have all the traditionally acceptable qualifications and professional experience for a certain job, they tend to let those credentials do all the work. If you’re applying to jobs without experience, however, you may need to use a different strategy.

The best way to succeed is to put time into every application, learning exactly what that company wants and what it values, so you can sell yourself as the answer to all of its problems. To pull this off, think about the following four areas:

• Evolving employer expectations: A college degree has been the qualification of choice for a long time, but many college courses don’t focus on practical training. This has resulted in a workforce lacking key soft skills like adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, organizational skills, and more. These areas of overall competency are quite important, and now employers are starting to go back to the old style of hiring competent, quick learners and training them in any technical skills they lack. This is happening alongside an increasing acceptance of non-traditional education paths like bootcamps and online courses, making professional jobs more accessible to people of all backgrounds.
• Navigating new opportunities: A highly skilled job doesn’t just mean working in a New York City or San Francisco office anymore. Advancements in communication, security, and collaborative software have made it possible for people to work together across states and countries. This removes a very real financial barrier to professional work—you don’t have to build up thousands of dollars in savings so you can move to an expensive city before starting the job. What’s more, you can even gain experience remotely. You can find internships, apprenticeships, and freelance projects that can be completed from the comfort of your own home, and these will boost your employability significantly.
• Building a professional brand: Just because you don’t have professional experience doesn’t mean you can’t present yourself as a professional. Using platforms like LinkedIn, X, Medium, or personal blogs and portfolio sites can help you showcase your skills, knowledge, passion, and commitment. It’ll also help you build a network you can use to learn more about the industry and even find job opportunities. Your resume also needs to reflect your brand, so if you don’t know how to write a resume , find resources that can teach you.
• Strategic job application: Writing up one resume and one cover letter and sending them to every hiring company you find is not the best strategy for finding a job. Instead, you face every application head-on, setting aside time for research, reading, and resume tailoring. Look up the company, read about what they do, look at resume examples for the role, use LinkedIn to see what kind of people work there, and read the job description until you practically know it by heart. Then, all you have to do is tweak your resume and write a cover letter that reflects all these thoughts.

High Paying Entry-Level Jobs in Various Industries

There are plenty of industries you might assume are out of your league if you don’t have experience, but that’s really not the case. Let’s have a look at a few varied examples.

Healthcare & medical field

Medical assistant.

Working in hospitals, clinics, and medical offices, these professionals take care of administrative tasks like taking patient medical histories or scheduling appointments. They might also measure vital signs and assist with examinations. Because of the crucial nature of the role, the number of jobs is projected to grow by 14% in the next 10 years.

• Average salary: $38,270

Entry-level laboratory technician

When you get tests done in a hospital or doctor’s office, lab technicians are the ones who get the results for you. They assist with conducting experiments, analyzing samples, and recording data. They need to know exactly how to prepare specimens, operate lab equipment, and maintain cleanliness and safety standards. Projected growth for this role is 5% over the next 10 years—which is faster than the average of 2-3%.

• Average salary: $57,380

Radiation therapist

Radiation therapists administer radiation treatments to patients with cancer and other serious diseases. They work with oncologists and other medical professionals to develop and deliver treatment plans for each patient, and their main duties are to operate the equipment, monitor the patient, and offer support and education. The number of open jobs is expected to increase by 2% in the next 10 years.

• Average salary: $89,530

Technology & IT sector

It technician.

IT technicians help keep the IT equipment in a company operational and help employees with any problems they might have. They also help with the setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the company’s computer systems—performing tasks like installing software, performing system upgrades, resolving technical issues, and managing security and backup procedures. The expected job growth for the role over the next 10 years is 5% .

• Average salary: $59,660

Junior web developer

Web developers are the kind of programmers who build and maintain websites and web applications. They typically work with languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, along with frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js. They design website layouts, write code, debug code, and collaborate with designers and other team members to deploy websites. The projected job growth for this role is 16% over the next decade.

• Average salary: $80,730

Data scientist

Data scientists analyze data to extract useful information we can use to make better decisions. They often work in industries like healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and technology, where they help evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization’s practices and propose data-backed ideas for improvement. They use statistical analysis, machine learning algorithms, and programming skills to turn masses of unstructured data into information we can comprehend and learn from. It’s a very in-demand role right now and is projected to grow by 35% over the next decade.

• Average salary: $103,500

Software developer

Software developers design, develop, and maintain software applications or systems across all kinds of industries. They can work on desktop, web, mobile, or enterprise applications, or even work on video games. The most common languages for a software developer are Java, Python, C++, and JavaScript. Over the next ten years, the number of software developer jobs is expected to increase by 25% .

• Average salary: $124,200

Finance & accounting

Junior financial analyst.

Financial analysts extract information from financial data to aid in decision-making. They gather and organize financial information, perform financial modeling and forecasting, conduct variance analysis, and use various other techniques to assess and understand an organization’s financial data. They also assist with budgeting and financial planning processes. The projected growth for this role over the next decade is 8% .

• Average salary: $96,220

Junior staff accountant

Staff accountants assist in the day-to-day financial operations of an organization, taking on tasks like recording transactions, reconciling accounts, preparing financial statements, and assisting with audits. Some staff accounts will also conduct financial analysis to identify trends or discrepancies and make sure everything complies with accounting principles and regulations. The number of jobs is expected to grow by 4% over the next 10 years.

• Average salary: $78,000

Entry-level in accounting & finance

Entry-level roles in this area can include a range of responsibilities, such as data entry, basic accounting tasks, financial analysis support, and administrative duties. They can make a great starting point if you want to grow into a more senior accountant role, as you’ll learn all the basics of accounting and build valuable experience. The projected growth for financial managers over the coming decade is 16% .

• Average salary: $139,790

Administration & customer service

Administrative assistant.

This kind of assistant typically provides support to executives, managers, or teams within an organization. They perform clerical and administrative tasks like answering phones, scheduling appointments, organizing meetings, drafting correspondence, managing files, and handling office logistics. Unfortunately, the number of jobs is projected to decline by 10% over the next decade, though this will still result in around 316,000 job openings per year.

• Average salary: $44,080

Human resources assistant

HR professionals take care of areas such as employee recruitment, onboarding, training, benefits administration, and personnel records management. Tasks might include posting job openings, screening resumes, scheduling interviews, processing new hire paperwork, maintaining employee databases, and assisting with employee relations activities. The number of HR jobs is expected to grow by 6% over the next 10 years.

• Average salary: $64,240

Customer service jobs

Customer service jobs cover a wide range of roles, from shop floor managers to call center representatives. The goal is either to help customers find what they’re looking for, learn more about a product or service, or tackle any problems they might be having with something they already purchased. The number of these roles is expected to decline by 5% over the next 10 years. However, total employment will still be over 2,500,000, and 373,400 jobs are expected to open every year.

• Average salary: $37,780

Executive assistant

Executive assistants provide high-level administrative support to executives, senior managers, or business leaders within an organization. Their work often goes beyond typical admin tasks and includes strategic planning, project management, and coordination of executive activities. This level of assistant needs to have a good understanding of the industry and the company they’re working in to provide relevant and effective support.

• Average salary: $70,310

Creative & design

Junior graphic designer.

A junior graphic designer assists in creating visual concepts using computer software or by hand to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for various applications such as advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports. The number of jobs for this role is expected to grow by 3% over the next decade.

• Average salary: $57,990

Freelance writer

Freelance writers are self-employed writers who complete work for a number of different clients. They craft articles, blog posts, website content, marketing materials, and more, often on a contractual basis. These writers have the flexibility to choose their projects and manage their schedules, but they must also actively seek out new opportunities and manage client relationships. The projected growth for this kind of role is 4% over the next 10 years.

• Average salary: $73,150

Bloggers create and maintain online platforms where they regularly publish written content on topics of interest to their target audience. There are all sorts of subjects to choose from, such as fashion, travel, food, technology, or personal development. Successful bloggers engage with their audience through comments, social media, and email newsletters to build a loyal following or work as in-house bloggers for an established company.

• Average salary: $40,000 – $80,000

Law enforcement & public safety

Entry-level police officer.

Entry-level police officers are responsible for maintaining public safety and enforcing laws within their jurisdiction. Typical responsibilities include patrolling assigned areas, responding to emergency calls, conducting investigations, and making arrests when necessary. There are different units you can work in, such as traffic, narcotics, or community policing, depending on department needs and your individual interests. The number of police officer jobs is expected to increase by around 3% by 2032.

• Average salary: $69,160

Firefighter

Firefighters respond to emergency situations involving fires, accidents, hazardous materials, and medical emergencies. They extinguish fires, rescue people and animals, and provide medical assistance as needed. Firefighters also conduct inspections, educate the public about fire safety, and participate in training exercises to maintain their skills. It’s a physically demanding profession that requires bravery and teamwork. The projected growth over the next decade is 4% .

• Average salary: $51,680

Security guard

Security guards monitor and protect property against theft, vandalism, and other illegal activities. They patrol assigned areas, enforce rules, and use surveillance equipment to maintain security. Depending on the specific role, they may also screen individuals and vehicles for unauthorized items or behavior. The number of jobs is expected to stay around the same over the next decade.

• Average salary: $34,770

Sales & marketing

Sales representative.

Sales representatives promote and sell products or services to businesses or consumers. They identify potential customers, make sales presentations, negotiate contracts, and follow up to ensure customer satisfaction. You can find them working in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, technology, real estate, or retail. To succeed in sales, you’ll need excellent communication skills, persuasive abilities, and a results-driven mindset. The number of jobs is projected to grow by around 4% in the next 10 years.

• Average salary: $130,600

Marketing associate

Marketing associates help businesses create advertisements that target specific audiences and promote products as effectively as possible. They conduct market research, analyze consumer behavior, and assist in creating advertising materials such as social media posts, email campaigns, and print ads. Marketing Associates also help monitor campaign performance and gather feedback to inform future strategies. Job numbers are estimated to grow by around 6% over the next decade.

• Average salary: $138,730

Real estate agent

Real estate agents help clients buy, sell, or rent properties such as homes, commercial buildings, or land. They guide clients through the entire transaction process, including property listings, market analysis, negotiations, and closing procedures. Estate agents also network with other industry professionals, attend open houses, and stay updated on market trends to better serve their clients. Growth for this role is at the national average with a 3% increase in job numbers expected by 2032.

• Average salary: $52,030

Education & tutoring

Tutors provide academic support and instruction to students in one-on-one or small-group settings. They cover subjects such as math, science, language arts, or test preparation. Tutors assess student needs, develop customized learning plans, and track progress over time. Patience, adaptability, and a passion for teaching are essential qualities for effective tutoring. The expected growth for this job is 3% over the next decade.

• Average salary: $36,680

Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants provide administrative support to teachers, professors, or educational institutions remotely. They may perform tasks such as scheduling appointments, organizing documents, managing emails, and assisting with online course materials. These kinds of assistants also help facilitate communication between students, parents, and faculty members.

Miscellaneous jobs

Claims adjuster.

Claims adjusters investigate insurance claims to determine the extent of coverage and the appropriate settlement amount. They interview claimants, witnesses, and experts, and inspect damaged property to assess the validity of claims. It’s also common for them to negotiate settlements with claimants or their representatives and even testify in legal proceedings if disputes arise. Employment in this kind of job is expected to decline by around 3% over the next decade.

• Average salary: $72,040

Garbage collector

Garbage collectors collect and dispose of waste and recyclable materials from residential, commercial, and industrial areas. They operate garbage trucks, pick up trash containers, and transport waste to disposal sites or recycling centers. Garbage collectors may also sort recyclables and assist in maintaining collection equipment. It’s quite a physically demanding job that requires stamina, teamwork, and a commitment to environmental sustainability.

• Average salary: $45,760

Strategies for Landing High-Paying Jobs without Experience

The first step to landing a well-paid job is choosing what you want to aim for. If you want to shoot for the stars salary-wise, the best kind of jobs to aim for are those with skills you can learn online and showcase through a portfolio. This goes for jobs like software developer, data scientist, graphic designer, web developer, accounting roles, freelance writer, tutor, and more.

As you study your new set of skills, it’s also important to start building a network right away. Look for online communities, participate in subreddits and forums, attend events, or get to know other students if you’re taking a course.

When you’re starting out, you don’t really know enough about the industry and the role to be picky about your network, so it’s best to just connect with everyone you can to increase your chances of success. Stay up to date with the communities you join and stay visible on social media like LinkedIn so people remember you and think of your name when an opportunity pops up.

The idea here is to create the foundations of a career that will last for decades, so it’s important to do things properly. Remember that you’ll be aiming for an entry-level role to start with, and keep yourself on track by looking at job descriptions and learning what people expect from entry-level employees in your chosen career.

Resources for your job search

The biggest tip for landing a job without experience is to make sure you can prove your skills. Proving your skills means different things in different careers, so you’ll need to research what applies to you. Typically, certifications and portfolios are the way to go. They take the emphasis off how you learned and put the spotlight on what you can do.

Always remember to leverage services like recruitment agencies, and platforms like LinkedIn, X, and Medium to interact with people and share your skills.

You can also get help with your resume and cover letter writing—using a resume builder can help you get a concise and professional resume more quickly, and resume checkers can even grade the result. Writing a new cover letter for every application can also get tiring very quickly, especially if writing isn’t your strong suit, but you can speed things up with a cover letter generator .

Exploring and researching is an important step in finding the right career, so don’t be afraid to look into anything you enjoy or don’t know much about. You don’t know where you might find something that sparks your interest. When you find a path to follow, just remember to focus on your skill-building and networking because knowing the right people and being able to do the job are the most important things! Just stay optimistic, do things at a pace that doesn’t put you in financial discomfort, and keep at it until you get there.

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Highest Paying Jobs with No Experience FAQs

It’s possible to get a well-paid job without professional work experience , but it’s still important to gather as much alternative experience as you can. This means internships, apprenticeships, freelance work, open-source work, charity work, and any other opportunities you can find to test your skills in a real-world situation.

The best-paying jobs you can get without any experience are often ones where you can start in an entry-level role and move up quickly. This applies to many tech sector jobs, like software developer, web developer, data analyst, UX designer, and more.

A college education can definitely help you find a job if you don’t have experience, but current trends are starting to turn away from degrees. It’s much more inclusive to interview candidates based on skills, so companies are starting to accept online studies, bootcamps, and other forms of education as well.

Salary negotiation is a difficult topic, and it’s always best to get professional advice on your individual circumstances. However, if you’re applying for your first role, it’s typically okay to accept a job offer with a lower salary so you can take the opportunity to get your foot in the door and earn some of that all-important professional experience.

There are entry-level roles in just about every industry, so it’s more about the position than the industry itself. For example, you won’t be able to get a job as a doctor without the required education and experience, but you can get other jobs in the medical industry, like medical assistant or laboratory technician.

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