ATS Optimization

Entry-Level Resume Tips: How to Land Your First Job (2026 Guide)

Jobalytics Team

December 13, 2025

9 min read

Writing your first professional resume is intimidating. You're competing against people with years of experience, and you're worried your resume is too thin.

Here's the truth: Everyone starts somewhere. And with the right approach, your entry-level resume can land interviews at great companies.

In this guide, we'll show you exactly how to write an entry-level resume that stands out in 2026.

What Makes Entry-Level Resumes Different

Entry-level resumes face unique challenges:

Limited work experience: You can't rely on job history alone
Generic skills: Everyone lists "communication" and "teamwork"
ATS filtering: Same keyword challenges as experienced candidates
Competition: Many applicants for entry-level roles

The solution: Focus on what you DO have—education, projects, internships, skills, and potential.

Best Entry-Level Job Titles to Target

When searching for entry-level positions, look for these keywords:

Business & Operations

Associate
Coordinator
Assistant
Analyst (Entry-Level/Junior)
Specialist

Technology

Junior Developer
Associate Software Engineer
IT Support Specialist
Junior Data Analyst
Technical Support

Marketing & Communications

Marketing Coordinator
Social Media Coordinator
Content Writer
Marketing Assistant
Communications Associate

Finance & Accounting

Financial Analyst (Entry-Level)
Staff Accountant
Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk
Junior Financial Analyst
Audit Associate

Human Resources

HR Coordinator
Recruiting Coordinator
HR Assistant
Talent Acquisition Associate

Pro tip: Use these exact titles in your resume and LinkedIn to match ATS searches.

Entry-Level Resume Structure

For New Grads (Limited Experience)


CONTACT INFO
SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE (optional but recommended)
EDUCATION (put first—it's your strength)
RELEVANT COURSEWORK (if applicable)
PROJECTS (academic or personal)
INTERNSHIPS/WORK EXPERIENCE
SKILLS
CERTIFICATIONS (if any)

For Career Changers


CONTACT INFO
SUMMARY (highlight transferable skills)
RELEVANT SKILLS
RELEVANT PROJECTS/CERTIFICATIONS
WORK EXPERIENCE (emphasize transferable achievements)
EDUCATION

Writing Each Section

1. Contact Information

Keep it simple and professional:


Jane Smith
[email protected] | (555) 123-4567 | Boston, MA
linkedin.com/in/janesmith | github.com/janesmith (if relevant)

Avoid: Full address, unprofessional email, photo (in US)

2. Summary or Objective

For entry-level, a brief objective can work:

Objective (targeting specific role):

Recent Computer Science graduate seeking an entry-level Software Engineer position. Strong foundation in Python and JavaScript with hands-on project experience building web applications.

Summary (highlighting strengths):

Detail-oriented Marketing graduate with internship experience in digital marketing. Skilled in social media management, Google Analytics, and content creation. Passionate about data-driven marketing strategies.

Keep it to 2-3 sentences. Make every word count.

3. Education (Featured Prominently)

As a new grad, education goes near the top:


EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Boston University | May 2025 | GPA: 3.7/4.0

Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Database Systems,
Web Development, Machine Learning

Honors: Dean's List (6 semesters), Computer Science Merit Scholarship

Include:

Degree and major
School name and graduation date
GPA (if 3.0+)
Relevant coursework
Honors and awards
Relevant extracurriculars

4. Projects (Your Secret Weapon)

Projects show what you can DO. Include:


PROJECTS

E-Commerce Web Application | Personal Project | 2025
• Built full-stack e-commerce site using React, Node.js, and PostgreSQL
• Implemented user authentication, shopping cart, and payment processing
• Deployed on AWS with 99.9% uptime

Customer Churn Prediction Model | Academic Project | 2024
• Developed ML model predicting customer churn with 85% accuracy
• Analyzed 100K+ customer records using Python and scikit-learn
• Presented findings to faculty panel, received highest project grade

Include for each project:

Project name and context
Technologies/skills used
Quantifiable results or outcomes
What you learned or achieved

5. Experience (Even If Limited)

Include ALL relevant experience:

Internships:


Marketing Intern | ABC Company | Summer 2024
• Managed social media accounts reaching 50K+ followers
• Created 30+ blog posts generating 10K monthly views
• Assisted with email campaigns achieving 25% open rate

Part-time/Retail Jobs (focus on transferable skills):


Sales Associate | Best Buy | 2023 - 2024
• Consistently exceeded monthly sales targets by 15%
• Trained 5 new team members on POS system and customer service
• Resolved customer complaints maintaining 95% satisfaction rating

Volunteer Work:


Volunteer Web Developer | Local Nonprofit | 2024
• Redesigned organization website increasing donations by 30%
• Implemented mobile-responsive design improving mobile traffic by 50%

6. Skills Section

List skills relevant to your target jobs:


SKILLS

Technical: Python, JavaScript, React, SQL, Git, AWS, Google Analytics
Tools: Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, HubSpot, Figma
Languages: English (native), Spanish (conversational)

Tip: Check job descriptions for required skills. Include the ones you have.

Entry-Level Resume Tips

Tip 1: Quantify Everything Possible

Even without work experience, you can quantify:

❌ "Worked on team projects"
✅ "Collaborated with 4-person team to deliver project 2 weeks early"
❌ "Managed social media"
✅ "Grew Instagram following from 500 to 2,000 in 3 months"

Tip 2: Use Action Verbs

Start bullets with strong verbs:

For projects: Developed, Built, Created, Designed, Implemented
For leadership: Led, Managed, Coordinated, Organized
For analysis: Analyzed, Researched, Evaluated, Assessed
For communication: Presented, Collaborated, Communicated

Tip 3: Tailor for Each Application

Generic resumes don't work. For each job:

Read the job description carefully
Identify required skills and keywords
Add matching keywords to your resume
Check with an ATS checker before applying

Tip 4: Focus on Potential, Not Just Past

Employers hiring entry-level know you're learning. Show:

Eagerness to learn: Mention courses, certifications, self-study
Initiative: Personal projects, volunteer work, side hustles
Soft skills: Leadership, teamwork, communication examples
Cultural fit: Research company values, reflect them

Tip 5: Keep It to One Page

Entry-level resumes should be one page. You don't have enough experience for two.

If struggling to fill one page:

Add more project details
Include relevant coursework
Expand on internship achievements
Add volunteer experience
Include relevant certifications

If too long:

Cut unrelated experience
Reduce bullet points per role
Remove outdated skills
Tighten language

Common Entry-Level Resume Mistakes

Mistake 1: Including High School

Unless you're a current college student, remove high school details.

Mistake 2: Generic Objectives

"Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills" says nothing.

Fix: Be specific about the role and what you bring.

Mistake 3: Listing Responsibilities Instead of Achievements

❌ "Responsible for customer service"
✅ "Resolved 50+ customer inquiries daily with 95% satisfaction rating"

Mistake 4: Ignoring Keywords

Entry-level ATS filtering is just as strict.

Fix: Use an ATS checker for every application.

Mistake 5: Unprofessional Email

Ditch [email protected].

Fix: [email protected]

ATS Optimization for Entry-Level Resumes

Entry-level applicants face the same ATS challenges:

Check Your Resume Before Applying

Copy the job description
Use Jobalytics ATS Checker
Upload your resume
See your match score
Add missing keywords
Re-check until 70%+

Keywords to Include

For entry-level roles, include:

Universal keywords:

Entry-level, Junior, Associate
Bachelor's degree, Graduate
Internship, Co-op
Coursework, Projects

Role-specific keywords:

Technical: Programming languages, tools, frameworks
Business: Analysis, reporting, presentation
Communication: Written, verbal, collaboration

Entry-Level Resume Example


SARAH JOHNSON
[email protected] | (555) 987-6543 | Chicago, IL
linkedin.com/in/sarahjohnson

OBJECTIVE
Recent Marketing graduate seeking an entry-level Marketing Coordinator 
position. Strong foundation in digital marketing, content creation, and 
data analytics from academic projects and internship experience.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing
University of Illinois | May 2025 | GPA: 3.6/4.0

Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Consumer 
Behavior, Brand Management, Social Media Marketing

Activities: Marketing Club (VP), Business Case Competition (2nd Place)

EXPERIENCE

Marketing Intern | StartupXYZ | Summer 2024
• Created 25+ social media posts increasing engagement by 40%
• Analyzed campaign data using Google Analytics, presenting insights 
  to marketing team weekly
• Assisted with email marketing campaigns achieving 28% open rate
• Managed influencer outreach resulting in 3 new partnerships

Student Ambassador | University of Illinois | 2023 - 2025
• Led campus tours for 500+ prospective students and families
• Represented university at 10+ recruitment events
• Mentored 15 incoming freshmen as peer advisor

PROJECTS

Social Media Marketing Campaign | Academic Project | 2024
• Developed comprehensive Instagram strategy for local business
• Achieved 200% follower growth in 8-week campaign period
• Created content calendar and analytics reporting dashboard

SKILLS

Marketing: Social Media Marketing, Content Creation, Email Marketing,
Google Analytics, SEO basics, Canva, HubSpot (certified)

Technical: Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables), PowerPoint, 
Google Workspace, Basic HTML

Soft Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Time Management, Problem-Solving

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I write a resume with no experience?

Focus on education, projects, volunteer work, and transferable skills from any job (even retail or food service). Quantify achievements wherever possible.

Should I include GPA on my resume?

Include if 3.0 or higher. If lower, omit it. Some industries care more than others—finance and consulting often expect GPAs.

How long should an entry-level resume be?

One page, always. You don't have enough experience to justify two pages yet.

Should I include an objective statement?

For entry-level, yes. It helps clarify what you're looking for. Keep it to 1-2 specific sentences.

What if I have no relevant projects?

Start some! Even simple projects count. Build a website, analyze a dataset, create a marketing plan, volunteer for a nonprofit.

Conclusion

Your entry-level resume should highlight:

Education (prominently featured)
Projects (showing real skills)
Any experience (even non-traditional)
Relevant skills (matching job requirements)
Potential (eagerness to learn and grow)

Don't be discouraged by "entry-level requires 3 years experience" postings. Apply anyway. Optimize your resume with an ATS checker, and let your potential shine through.

Ready to start?

Check Your Resume ATS Score →

Last updated: January 2026

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