You need experience to get the job, but you need the job to get experience. Here's how to break the loop with an application that works even when you've never worked before.
You need experience to get the job. But you need the job to get experience. If you're looking for your first summer job, you know that loop well.
The good news: employers who post summer jobs know they're hiring people without work experience. They're not looking for a long CV. They're looking for someone who shows up on time, does the work, and isn't a headache to train. This post shows how to write an application that convinces them you're that person.
Managers who hire seasonal staff at hotels, shops, cafés, and warehouses consistently mention the same four priorities when they're sitting with 80 applications, regardless of industry:
None of these require five years of CV. They show in how you write the application, what you choose to share, and whether you've done your homework on the company.
You've done more than you think. Pick one thing from each category and see what fits:
What counts isn't what you did, but that you can show you:
Keep it under one A4 page. Summer-job managers read quickly.
1. Opening (2–3 sentences): Why this specific job, at this specific company?
"I've shopped at Rema 1100 Storgata for years and noticed how efficiently the morning team stocks and packs. I'd love to be part of that this summer."
Concrete. Shows you've observed something. Beats any "I am hereby applying..."
2. Who you are (3–4 sentences): Age, what you do during the day, and one sentence on what kind of person you are — ideally with an example.
"I'm 17 and in my second year at Bjørknes upper secondary. Alongside school I train handball five times a week and have been the team manager for two seasons. In practice that means I'm the one making sure everyone knows where and when training is, and that the team kits are clean before a match."
You've just shown reliability and responsibility without using the words.
3. Why you fit (3–4 sentences): Tie one thing you've done to what the job requires. Don't describe your qualities — show them.
"This summer you need someone who can handle a high pace and stay organised. As team manager I'm used to keeping track when a lot is happening at once, and honestly, I work best when there's pressure."
4. Availability and closing (2 sentences): When can you work? How many weeks? When can they reach you?
"I'm available from 17 June through 11 August, and can work any shift. I respond quickly to email and phone if you'd like a short chat."
The generic version most people send:
I am hereby applying for the position of summer substitute. I am a cheerful and outgoing person who likes working with people. I am structured and learn fast, and I work well both independently and in teams. I will be a great asset to your business.
What the recruiter thinks: could have been written by anyone, for any role, by anyone of any age. Next.
The specific version:
I'm applying for the summer substitute role at Café Sara. I've been a regular here since 9th grade and always wondered how you keep such a fast pace in the morning without it feeling stressful.
I'm 17 and in my second year at Bjørknes. In my free time I train handball and I'm the team manager. That means I keep track of attendance lists, kits, and match schedules for 14 players.
That skill matches a café in the morning rush: keeping track when a lot is happening at once, and prioritising without panicking. I haven't worked in a café before, but I learn fast and I'm honest about when I need to ask.
I can work from 17 June to 11 August, any shift. Reach me at arne@example.no or +47 401 12 345. I respond quickly.
Same person, same experience, same job application. The difference is that the second one will be remembered.
surferdude01@hotmail.com. Switch to firstname.lastname@gmail.com (or similar). Takes 2 minutes.A CV without work experience doesn't have to be empty. (For a deeper CV guide, see How to write a CV that actually gets read.) Structure it like this:
Keep it to one page. Use the same tone and font as the application.
For summer 2026:
Rule of thumb: apply at least three months before you want to start.
The hardest thing about your first application isn't the writing. It's knowing what's worth pulling out from your life. Which bits from handball count? How do you phrase "babysitting" so it sounds professional?
jobbjobb helps you translate what you've already done into the language employers look for. You fill in your background once (school, free-time activities, roles, the small jobs you've done), and when you paste in a posting we make you a tailored draft that's actually yours. You edit; we take the grunt work.
When do I need to apply for a summer job to be early enough? Many larger employers have application deadlines in February or March. For local jobs (shops, cafés, hotels) January–April is a good window. After May most seasonal roles are filled, but cancellations and late rounds keep appearing.
What do I write in the application when I've never worked before? You've done more than you think. School projects, volunteering, voluntary work, sports teams, babysitting, helping family or neighbours — it all counts. Pick one concrete example that shows you're reliable, and tie it to the job you're applying for.
How old do I have to be to get a summer job? From age 13 you can do light work with parental consent. As a 13–14-year-old (or if you're still in compulsory school) you can work max 2 hours per day on school days and 7 hours per day / 35 hours per week during holidays of at least one week. From age 15, when compulsory school is finished, max 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week applies year-round. From 18, regular Working Environment Act rules apply. Check the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's rules for under-18s before you apply.
Do I need a reference letter or referee in a summer job application? No, not necessarily. Many first-time applicants have neither references nor referees. In that case you can name a teacher, sports coach, or volunteer leader who can confirm you're reliable — but ask them first.
A good application isn't a summary of your CV. It's the bridge between your experience and the company's needs. Here's how to match your application to the posting.
Heading into the interview for your first summer job? Here's how to prepare, how to dress, how to answer the common questions — and what the boss is NOT allowed to ask you about.
Concrete job interview prep for 2026: what you must know about the company, how to answer with the STAR method, what to do with the salary question, and what an employer is not legally allowed to ask.