Lots of people look for work without a resume. You might be applying for your first job. You might be coming back after years at home. Or maybe every job you’ve had came through a friend or a walk-in. A blank page can make it feel like you have nothing to write down, but you almost always have more than you think. This guide shows how to build a first resume from the work, volunteering and skills you already have. You can borrow the examples.
Why a simple resume is enough
A first resume does not need to be impressive. It needs to be clear. Recruiters want to know what you’ve done, what you can do and how to reach you. One page with honest, specific details covers that.
For many warehouse, production, hospitality and entry-level office jobs, showing up on time and being willing to learn count as much as a long work history. Your resume should show those things in plain words.
Start with the basics at the top
Put your contact details first so nobody has to look for them.
- Your full name
- A phone number you actually answer
- A professional email address, ideally a version of your name
- Your city and state. You don’t need a full street address.
Below that, add one short line about the job you want. For example, “Dependable worker looking for a first-shift warehouse or production job. Available to start right away.” One or two sentences is plenty.
List your paid work, even if it was informal
Any job where someone paid you counts. That includes part-time jobs, seasonal work, summer jobs, gig work and side jobs for neighbors or family businesses. For each one, write the job title, the place and roughly when you worked there. Then add two or three short lines about what you did.
Here’s an example.
Cashier, Corner Market, Summer 2025
- Rang up cash and card payments for more than 100 customers a shift
- Restocked shelves and kept the front of the store clean
- Opened the store on weekends
Lawn Care and Snow Removal (self-employed), 2023 to 2025
- Kept a regular schedule with 8 neighborhood customers
- Took care of my own equipment and arrived on time for every job
Neither one is a big job. Both tell an employer you show up, finish the work and can handle responsibility.
Don’t skip volunteer experience
Volunteer work is work experience. If you helped at a food pantry, coached a youth team, ran a church event or cared for a family member, put it on your resume. Write it up like a paid job, with a title, a place, dates and a few lines about what you did.
Volunteer, Community Food Pantry, 2024 to Present
- Sort and pack donations every Saturday
- Unload delivery trucks and keep the storage area organized
A warehouse employer reading that knows you can lift, sort and keep a space in order, without you having to say it.
Add your relevant skills
A skills section fills out a resume when your work history is short. Only list skills you can back up. Some to think about:
- Languages you speak, such as English and Spanish
- Computer skills like email, Microsoft Word, Excel or Google Sheets
- Equipment you’ve used, such as a pallet jack, cash register or power tools
- Certifications such as a forklift card, food handler card or CPR
- Work habits employers ask for, like being on time, working with a team and staying calm during a rush
Not sure if something counts? Ask yourself if it would help you do the job you’re applying for. If yes, include it.
Use clear descriptions
How you describe your experience matters more than how much you have. These habits help.
- Start each line with an action word. “Packed,” “served,” “organized,” “trained” and “cleaned” read better than “responsible for.”
- Be specific. “Helped customers” says little. “Helped about 50 customers a day find products and check out” tells the employer what you did.
- Add numbers when you can. Count customers, orders, hours or people. Rough numbers are fine.
- Keep it short. Two or three lines per job is enough.
- Check your spelling and dates. Ask a friend or family member to read it before you send it.
If you have a high school diploma, a GED, trade school or classes in progress, list it near the bottom with the school name and year.
Use it, then keep improving it
Your first resume is a starting point. Once you have a version you like, start sending it out. Add each new job, certification or volunteer role as it comes. Save a copy on your phone or email it to yourself so it’s ready when you apply.
Getting ready to talk with a recruiter for the first time? Our post on how to get started with QLS explains what that first conversation covers.
Ask QLS for help with your resume
You don’t have to do this alone. Our Bensenville, Palatine, Waukegan and Kenosha offices offer resume building for job seekers. Our recruiters can help you decide what to include and how to word it. If you have no resume at all, tell us and we’ll start from scratch with you.
QLS places people in industrial and manufacturing, office and professional, hospitality and other jobs across Chicagoland and beyond. A simple first resume can get you into any of them.
Take the first step
Not having a resume shouldn’t stop you from applying. Write down your paid work, your volunteer work and your skills, and describe each one clearly. Quality Labor Services has connected job seekers with jobs since 2009. Call or visit our office in Bensenville, Palatine, Waukegan, Kenosha or El Paso, or contact our team online and ask for help with your resume this week.
