Entry-Level Resumes

ATS Resume Format for Entry-Level Jobs

Updated June 2026·By ATS Perfect

With little work history, your ATS resume has to earn its keywords from projects, internships, and coursework. Here's how to format an entry-level resume so it parses cleanly and still ranks.

The short version

Lead with education, then fill the page with projects, internships, and relevant coursework.
Pull keywords from the posting and place them in a Skills section and your bullets.
Quantify whatever you can — even academic or volunteer results.
Single column, standard headings, text-based PDF.

Structure it around what you have

With limited experience, order matters: Summary → Education → Projects → Experience (internships, part-time, volunteer) → Skills. A Projects section is the key move — it lets you name the exact skills and tools from the posting even without a matching job title.

Earn keywords from projects and coursework

Read the posting and pull its skills and tools. Then show them in your projects and coursework: "Built a budgeting app using Python and SQL" or "Relevant coursework: Financial Accounting, Statistics, Data Analysis." This is honest keyword coverage when you don't have years of experience.

Tip: internships, capstone projects, volunteer work, and leadership roles all count as experience. Describe them with action verbs and results, just like a job.

Quantify what you can

Numbers work even without a career history: "Led a team of 5 on a semester project," "Raised $2,000 in a campus fundraiser," "Improved a process that saved 3 hours a week at my part-time job." Specifics beat generic claims.

Keep it parse-safe

One column, standard headings, standard fonts, and a text-based PDF. Skip the "creative grad" templates with columns and graphics — they scramble in the ATS and you lose the few keywords you have.

Build your first resume, ATS-ready

ATS Perfect helps entry-level candidates turn projects, internships, and coursework into a clean, keyword-matched, single-column resume — exported as a text-based PDF.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I make an entry-level resume ATS-friendly?

Lead with education, then add projects, internships, and relevant coursework to cover the posting's keywords. Use a single-column layout, standard headings, a Skills section, and a text-based PDF.

What do I put on a resume with no experience?

Use projects, internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, leadership roles, and relevant coursework. Describe each with action verbs and results, and include the skills and tools from the job posting where they're true.

Should new grads use a Projects section?

Yes. A Projects section is one of the best tools for entry-level candidates — it lets you name the exact skills and technologies from the posting even without a matching job title, which helps you rank in the ATS.

Are creative templates bad for entry-level resumes?

For ATS, yes. Creative templates with columns, graphics, and icons often scramble in the parser. With limited experience you can't afford to lose keywords, so a clean single-column layout is the safer choice.

Can ATS Perfect build an entry-level resume?

Yes. ATS Perfect helps you turn projects, internships, and coursework into a parse-safe, keyword-matched resume and exports it as a text-based PDF.