CV Writing Tips for First-Time Job Seekers

For fresh graduates or recent college alumni, writing the ‘Work Experience’ section feels tricky, right? This section is usually the standout factor to attract the attention of HRD.

Indeed, work experience is essential because it provides a real picture of what you’ve done: the roles you’ve taken, the responsibilities you’ve handled, and the achievements you’ve gained along the way.

From here, the company can assess whether your skills and experience match the position you are applying for.

But what if you don’t have any work experience at all? Don’t worry! There are still many ways to make your CV look professional and grab HR’s attention.

The secret lies in highlighting your potential, personality, and skills. Here are some tips to get you started.

See also: An Attractive CV Isn’t a Shortcut to Immediate Employment—Here’s Why

8 Tips for Creating a CV Without Work Experience

1. Create an engaging short profile

In addition to personal details, write a short yet engaging note about yourself. Highlight your key skills, educational background, and potential.

Don’t forget to write your career objective, for example, the position you are aiming for or the skills you want to develop in the company.

2. List relevant education

Include your most recent or relevant education, complete with the name of the institution and year of graduation. If you have a good GPA, write it down.

If your major is relevant to the position you are applying for,briefly explain the important learning or material that you have studied.

3. Include organizational experience or other activities

If you are actively involved in campus organizations, communities, or social activities, include them in your CV.

This will show that you have soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, and adaptability. Also, explain your role and responsibilities in the activity.

See also: August 2025 Job Opportunities at Astra Group’s SERA

4. Describe your skills and attach a portfolio

Write down skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for. If you have certificates from training or courses, create a special column for ‘Certification.’

For creative work positions, include a portfolio in PDF format or links to your work.

5. Highlight achievements and accomplishments

Achievements don’t always have to be about winning competitions. They can include measurable results from your activities or projects. For example, “successfully increased online shop sales by 40% in one year” or “gained 10,000 social media followers within 6 months.”

Specific, measurable results will make your achievements look more convincing and valuable.

6. Use active sentences

Active sentences always sound more assertive and confident. For example, change “The number of event visitors was successfully raised to 1,000 people” to “Successfully increased event visitors up to 1,000 people”.

7. Match your CV to the vacancy

Adjust the contents of your CV to the position you are applying for. Highlight the most relevant skills and experience. A customized CV usually has a greater chance of passing the initial selection process.

8. Stay honest

Having minimal work experience is normal for fresh graduates. So, never falsify information just to look great.

The company’s HR will usually verify the data during the interview, and dishonesty can have serious consequences for your career.

See also: Things to Consider Before Attending a Job Fair

That’s how you can create an impressive CV even without work experience. In addition to applying these tips, make sure you also apply to companies that offer a positive work culture and clear career prospects, such asPT Serasi Autoraya (SERA).

SERA is a leading transportation and logistics company in Indonesia established on 22 March 1990 and operating under the Astra Group. To this day, SERA regularly opens job vacancies for various positions.

For more details about job opportunities at SERA, visit its official websitewww.sera.astra.co.id or navigate directly to its career portalcareer.sera.astra.co.id.