How to Write a Resume for a Casual Job with No Experience

Writing a resume can feel difficult when you have never had a formal job.

The good news is that employers recruiting for entry-level casual positions are not always expecting a long employment history. They may be looking for someone who is reliable, available, friendly and willing to learn.

Your resume should help the employer answer one question:

Can this person be trusted to learn the job, attend their shifts and work well with others?

Here is how to build a strong resume even when you have little or no paid experience.

Keep Your Resume Simple

For a first casual job, one or two pages will usually provide enough room.

Use:

• A clear font
• Consistent headings
• Short paragraphs
• Bullet points
• Plenty of spacing
• A professional file name

A suitable file name is:

Jordan-Lee-Resume.pdf

Avoid:

resume-new-final-UPDATED2.pdf

Save the resume as a PDF unless the employer requests another format.

What to Include

A first-job resume can use this structure:

1. Name and contact details
2. Professional summary
3. Key skills
4. Education
5. Volunteer work, projects or activities
6. Certificates and licences
7. Availability
8. Referees

1. Contact Details

Include:

• Full name
• Mobile number
• Professional email address
• Suburb and state

You usually do not need to publish your complete residential address.

Use an email address based on your name where possible.

2. Write a Short Professional Summary

Your summary should be two to four sentences.

Mention:

• Your current situation
• The type of work you want
• Two or three relevant qualities
• Your availability where useful

Example

Responsible Year 12 student seeking a casual retail or customer service position. Friendly, organised and comfortable helping people through school fundraising and community activities. Available after school, on weekends and throughout school holidays.

Avoid unsupported descriptions such as:

I am an amazing employee who is perfect for every job.

Keep the tone confident but realistic.

3. Identify Your Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are abilities developed in one situation that can be useful in another.

You may have developed skills through:

• School assignments
• Group projects
• Sport
• Music or performing arts
• Caring responsibilities
• Volunteering
• Religious or community groups
• Clubs
• Fundraising
• Online projects
• Household responsibilities

Communication

• Delivering presentations
• Helping customers at a fundraising stall
• Speaking with teachers, parents or community members
• Explaining instructions to younger students

Teamwork

• Participating in team sports
• Completing group assignments
• Helping organise an event
• Performing in a band or production

Time management

• Balancing study and extracurricular activities
• Meeting assignment deadlines
• Attending training regularly
• Organising transport and appointments

Responsibility

• Caring for siblings
• Handling money at a fundraiser
• Looking after equipment
• Completing regular household duties
• Serving as a school captain or club representative

Technology

• Microsoft Word or Excel
• Google Workspace
• Point-of-sale exposure
• Social media scheduling
• Basic website management
• Graphic design tools

Do not simply list every skill. Select those relevant to the advertised position.

4. Turn Activities into Evidence

A skill is more convincing when accompanied by an example.

Instead of: Teamwork

Write: Worked with six students to plan and operate a school fundraising stall that served more than 100 attendees.

Instead of: Responsible

Write: Helped supervise two younger children each week, including preparing meals and following the family’s routine.

Instead of: Good with money

Write: Collected payments, provided change and balanced the cash container during community fundraising events.

Do not exaggerate your responsibilities or invent numbers. Use specific details only when they are accurate.

5. Include Education

List your most recent education first.

Example:

Riverdale Secondary College – VCE
Expected completion: November 2026

Relevant subjects:

• English
• Business Management
• Food Studies
• Information Technology

Achievements and activities:

• Student representative
• Member of the school basketball team
• Assisted with the annual open day

Include individual subjects only when they strengthen the application.

For example, Food Studies may be relevant to a café position, while Business Management may support a retail application.

6. Add Volunteer Work and Informal Experience

Unpaid experience can still demonstrate valuable skills.

Possible experience includes:

• Helping at a sporting club
• Assisting at school events
• Volunteering at a charity shop
• Pet sitting
• Babysitting
• Lawn mowing
• Helping in a family business
• Tutoring another student
• Managing a club’s social media
• Participating in community clean-up days

Present the experience professionally.

Example

Volunteer Event Assistant – Riverdale Community Centre
March 2026

• Welcomed visitors and directed them to activity areas
• Helped arrange tables, signs and equipment
• Served food while following hygiene instructions
• Assisted with cleaning and packing up after the event

Government and career guidance similarly recommends focusing on relevant skills and experience, presenting information professionally and using projects or coursework when formal employment history is limited.

7. Include Relevant Certificates

Depending on the job, useful certificates may include:

• Responsible Service of Alcohol
• Food safety training
• First aid
• CPR
• Construction induction card
• Working with Children Check
• National Police Check
• Driver licence
• Forklift licence

Do not obtain every possible certificate without a reason. Check which qualifications are required for the jobs you want.

Clearly distinguish between a certificate you already hold and one you are willing to obtain.

8. State Your Availability

Casual employers often need to know when you can work.

Availability
• Monday to Friday after 4:00 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: all day
• Available during school holidays
• Available for additional shifts with reasonable notice

Only list times you can reliably commit to.

9. Choose Suitable Referees

A referee should be able to comment on qualities such as reliability, conduct, communication or teamwork.

Possible referees include:

• Teacher
• Sports coach
• Volunteer coordinator
• Community leader
• Supervisor from work experience
• Previous customer from regular babysitting or gardening work

Ask permission before listing anyone.

Avoid using friends as referees. Family members are generally less persuasive unless you worked in a genuine family business and the relationship is explained.

First Casual-Job Resume Example

Tailor the Resume to Each Job

Look for repeated requirements in the advertisement.

For a retail position, emphasise:

• Customer service
• Communication
• Presentation
• Cash handling
• Weekend availability

For a café position, emphasise:

• Working quickly
• Hygiene
• Teamwork
• Following instructions
• Early morning availability

For warehouse work, emphasise:

• Safety
• Physical capability
• Accuracy
• Reliability
• Following procedures

Workforce Australia recommends creating a tailored application that reflects the particular advertisement rather than sending an unchanged document to every employer.

Final Resume Checklist

• Is my phone number correct?
• Is my email address professional?
• Is the layout easy to read?
• Have I removed spelling mistakes?
• Does my summary mention the relevant job?
• Have I provided evidence of my skills?
• Is my availability accurate?
• Have my referees agreed?
• Is the file name professional?
• Have I saved the document as a PDF?

You do not need an impressive job title to produce a useful resume. Show the employer that you are dependable, prepared and ready to learn.

Suggested internal links

• Browse casual jobs with no experience
• Find casual jobs for students
• How to find casual work in Australia
• Common casual-job interview questions
• How to write a casual-job cover letter

Authoritative sources referenced

• SEEK Career Advice – Resume template for no experience
• Workforce Australia – Job application tips