How to Make a Resume for High School Students

Crafting Your High School Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide

So, you need a resume? Don't worry, it's easier than you think! Even if you're in high school, a great resume can open doors to jobs, internships, or even college. This guide will walk you through it, step-by-step.

1. Why Do You Need a Resume?

First things first: why are you making a resume? Is it for that awesome summer job at the ice cream shop? A cool internship? Or maybe a college application? Knowing this helps you tailor it.

• Part-time Jobs: Show you're a team player, great with customers, and responsible.
• Internships: Highlight skills they need—like data analysis or writing.
• College Apps: Showcase your grades, clubs, and leadership roles.

2. Choosing the Right Format: Chronological or Combination?

For most high schoolers, a chronological resume works best. It lists your experience from most recent to least recent—simple and easy to understand.

But if you have limited experience, a combination resume might be better. It blends chronological and functional formats, highlighting your skills first.

3. What to Include in Your High School Resume

1. Contact Info: Your name, phone number, email, and maybe your LinkedIn (if you have one). Keep it clean and professional.
2. Summary/Objective (Optional): A short summary (2-3 sentences) highlighting your skills and goals. Or a short objective statement focusing on your job goal. A strong summary is usually better than a weak objective statement, especially for high schoolers.
3. Education: Your high school, graduation date, GPA (if it's 3.5 or higher), and any honors or special classes (like AP or IB).
4. Experience: This is where you shine! Include:
• Part-time jobs: Use action verbs (like managed, assisted, organized) to show what you did.
• Volunteer work: Show what skills you gained (teamwork, communication, etc.).
• Extracurriculars: Highlight leadership roles and contributions (team captain, club president, etc.).
• Projects: Show off coding, writing, or other projects!
• Academic achievements: Awards, scholarships—anything you're proud of.
5. Skills: List both hard skills (like using Microsoft Office) and soft skills (like teamwork and communication). Tailor these to the job or college.
6. Awards and Honors (Optional): Any awards or recognition you've received.

4. Show, Don't Tell! Use Action Verbs and Numbers

Instead of "Worked at a restaurant," try "Served over 50 customers daily, maintaining high customer satisfaction." See the difference? Numbers make a bigger impact!

5. Tailor Your Resume to Each Job

Don't use the same resume for everything. Read the job description carefully and highlight the skills and experience that match. This shows you're serious and thoughtful.

6. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!

Before you send it, check for typos, grammar errors, and anything else that looks off. Ask a teacher, parent, or friend to look it over, too. A clean resume is key!

7. Keywords (For the Future)

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes for keywords. While not super important now, learn about keywords – it will help you later.

8. Examples:

Experience

Volunteer at Local Animal Shelter (June 2022 – Present)
• Assisted with animal care (feeding, cleaning, socializing).
• Organized and managed donations.
• Worked with a team to keep the shelter clean and safe.

Skills

Technical Skills: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, basic coding (Python)

Soft Skills: Teamwork, communication, time management, problem-solving, adaptability, responsibility

9. Use Your Resume to Explore Careers

Making a resume is a great way to learn about yourself! Thinking about your experiences helps you understand your strengths and what you like doing. This helps guide your future choices.

10. Need Help?

Lots of online resources can help! Your school counselor can also give you great advice and feedback. Remember: your resume is your first impression. Make it count!