How to Write Your First CV With No Work Experience
18 Oct 2026
Almost everyone starts with an empty "work experience" section. Employers who hire school leavers, trainees and graduates know this. What they look for in a first CV is different: can this person follow instructions, communicate clearly, learn quickly and turn up on time? A good first CV answers those questions with evidence from your studies, activities and everyday responsibilities.
Keep it to one page
A first CV should fit on one A4 page. Use a clean font, a size between 10 and 12, and clear headings. Do not add photographs, coloured backgrounds or decorative borders unless the advert asks for a photo. A recruiter often spends less than a minute on each CV, so make the important parts easy to find.
The sections that work best
1. Contact details
Your full name, a mobile number you answer, a professional email address (your name, not a nickname) and your town. You do not need to include your NIC number, religion or marital status on a private sector CV unless the employer asks.
2. A short profile
Two or three sentences that say who you are and what kind of job you want. For example: "A-Level Commerce student from Kurunegala with good computer skills and experience handling cash at my family shop. Looking for a trainee accounts or office assistant position where I can learn and grow." Change this line for each type of job you apply for.
3. Education
When you have no work history, education goes near the top. List your most recent studies first: degree or diploma, A/L stream and results, O/L results. Include the school or institute and the year. If a result is still pending, write "results pending".
4. Skills
Be specific. Instead of "computer literate", write "MS Word, Excel (formulas, tables), email and Google Docs". Add typing speed if you know it, driving licence category, and languages with your level: Sinhala (fluent), English (good written, fair spoken), Tamil (basic).
5. Experience that is not a "job"
This is where most first CVs are weak. Think about:
- Helping in a family business – serving customers, keeping stock records, handling money.
- Part-time, seasonal or event work, even for a few days.
- Volunteering at a temple, church, mosque, society or school event.
- School positions: prefect, club secretary, sports captain, organising committee.
- Courses and NVQ training, with the practical work you did.
Write each one as a short line that shows what you actually did: "Kept daily sales records for a small grocery shop and balanced the cash at the end of each day."
6. Achievements and activities
Competitions, certificates, sports, music or anything that shows effort and commitment. Keep it short – three to five lines is enough.
7. References
Two non-related referees, such as a teacher, principal, course lecturer or a person you helped in a business. Ask them first. Many applicants simply write "References available on request", which is also acceptable.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Spelling errors. Read it aloud and ask someone else to check.
- Copying a CV template word for word. Recruiters see the same sentences every day.
- Long paragraphs. Use short lines and bullet points.
- Sending a Word file with a strange name. Save it as a PDF named like Nimal-Perera-CV.pdf.
- Exaggerating. If you write "advanced Excel", expect to be tested on it.
Send it the right way
When you email your CV, write the post you are applying for in the subject line, add a short polite message in the email body, and attach the PDF. If the advert gives a WhatsApp number, send a short message with your name, the post and your town, and attach the same PDF.
You can make a free CV on JobPortal LK with our CV builder, then download it and apply for the jobs on this site.
