How to Write a CV With No Experience (Using Free ChatGPT)
Everyone starts with no experience. A good CV for a first job shows what you can do, what you have learned and why you can be trusted. This guide shows you what to include, gives you free ChatGPT prompts to copy, and helps you avoid the mistakes that get CVs ignored.
Key takeaways
- With no work experience, lead with your skills, education, short courses and any informal work, volunteering or responsibilities.
- Free AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Meta AI in WhatsApp can turn your notes into a clean CV in minutes.
- Always tell the AI not to add anything that is not true, and check every line yourself.
- Keep it to one or two pages, tailor it to each job, and save it as a PDF with your name in the file name.
In this guide
1What to put on a CV with no experience
Your CV should still be full, just with different sections at the top. Use these, in this order:
2Step by step: write your CV with free ChatGPT
Step 1: Write down your facts first
AI can only work with what you give it. In your phone’s notes, list your details, school, courses, any work or responsibilities, and what you are good at.
Step 2: Ask the AI to build your CV
Open ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Meta AI in WhatsApp, paste your notes, then send this:
Step 3: Make it fit the job
Copy the job advert and send:
Step 4: Improve your wording
Step 5: Check every line yourself
Read it slowly. Fix names, dates and numbers, and delete anything the AI added that is not true. You may be asked about any line in an interview.
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3Example: a first-job CV layout
Here is how a simple CV for someone with no formal experience can look. The person is made up, so use it as a guide, not a template to copy word for word.
Thandi Mokoena
Khayelitsha, Cape Town · 071 000 0000 · thandi.example@email.com
Profile
Friendly and reliable school leaver looking for an entry-level retail role. Good with people, careful with money and quick to learn.
Skills
Customer service · Cash handling · Basic computer skills · Teamwork · Time management
Education
Grade 12, Example High School, 2025
Courses and certificates
Cashier Course, Purple Growth eCampus (certificate of completion), 2026
Experience
Market stall helper (weekends), 2024 to 2025: served customers, handled cash sales and balanced the cash box at the end of each day.
4Mistakes that get CVs ignored
| Mistake | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Sending the same CV for every job | Tailor the top half to each advert. |
| Letting AI add skills you do not have | Tell the AI to keep everything true, then check it yourself. |
| Long paragraphs | Use short bullet points that are easy to scan. |
| An unprofessional email address | Use a simple address with your name. |
| Spelling mistakes | Ask the AI to check spelling, then read it once more yourself. |
| A file called cv-final-2.docx | Save as a PDF named like Thandi-Mokoena-CV.pdf. |
5Bonus: write your cover letter with AI
Once your CV is ready, use the same chat to write a short cover letter for each job:
Read it, add one sentence in your own words about why you want this job, and send it with your CV.
?Frequently asked questions
How do I write a CV with no experience?
Lead with your profile, skills, education and any short courses. Add informal work, volunteering or responsibilities as experience. Keep it to one or two pages and tailor it to each job.
Can ChatGPT write my CV for free?
Yes. The free versions of ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Meta AI in WhatsApp can turn your notes into a CV. Tell it not to add anything untrue, and check every line yourself.
What should a matriculant put on a CV?
Contact details, a short profile, skills, your matric results or school details, any short courses, and experience such as part-time work, volunteering or school leadership roles.
How long should a CV be?
For a first job, one page is usually enough. Two pages is the most you need.
Should I add short courses to my CV?
Yes. List them under Courses and certificates with the course name, provider and year. They show initiative and new skills.
Is it okay to use AI for my CV?
Yes, as long as everything on it is true and you have checked it. Employers care that the CV is accurate and that you can talk about it in an interview.
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