How to Make a Resume for a High School Student

How to Make a High School Resume: A Complete Guide

Landing your first job? It can feel like climbing Mount Everest, especially in high school. But don't worry! A great resume is your key. This guide will show you how to make one that really impresses.

Why a High School Resume Matters

Even without tons of work experience, a resume is super important. It's your first impression. Think of it as your personal ad – it sells you to employers. It helps you land part-time jobs, internships, volunteer gigs, even scholarships!

What to Include: The Key Parts

A high school resume is a little different. But it needs to be clear, short, and powerful. Here's what to include:

1. Contact Info

• Full Name: Use a clear font.
• Phone Number: Make sure it's one you check regularly.
• Email Address: Use a grown-up email (no silly nicknames!).
• LinkedIn Profile (Optional): If you have one, add the link.
• Address (Optional): City and state are fine. Skip your full street address for privacy.

2. Summary/Objective (Optional)

This short section highlights your skills and goals. For high school, an objective statement works best. It says what kind of job you want and what you hope to learn. For example:

"Hardworking high school student looking for a part-time customer service job to improve my communication skills and gain experience."

3. Skills

This is HUGE for high schoolers. It makes up for limited work experience. Show off your hard and soft skills:

• Hard Skills: Things like using Microsoft Office, coding (Python, Java?), or speaking other languages.
• Soft Skills: These are personality skills. Think communication, teamwork, problem-solving. Use action verbs! Like, "Effectively communicated with teams" or "Proactively solved customer problems."

4. Education

• School Name: Your high school's name.
• City, State: Where your school is.
• Expected Graduation Date: When you'll graduate.
• GPA (Optional): Include it if it's above 3.5. Otherwise, it's okay to skip it.
• Relevant Coursework (Optional): List classes related to the job you're applying for (like accounting or computer science).
• Honors and Awards (Optional): Any awards or scholarships you've won.

5. Experience

Show off what you've done! Don't worry if you don't have a "real" job. Think broadly.

• Part-Time Jobs: Babysitting? Pet-sitting? These all show responsibility.
• Volunteer Work: What skills did you gain? Teamwork? Communication?
• Extracurricular Activities: Sports, clubs? Show leadership and commitment! Use numbers. "Led a team of 10 volunteers." "Increased club membership by 20%."
• Projects: Built a website? Made art? This shows initiative.

Use the STAR method for each experience: Situation, Task, Action, Result. This helps you show the impact of what you did.

6. References

Just say "References available upon request," or make a separate list. Always ask people first if you can list them as a reference.

Resume Tips Just for High Schoolers

1. Tailor it: Make a new resume for each job. Highlight the skills they need.
2. Use Action Verbs: Start each bullet point with a strong verb (managed, organized, created...).
3. Use Numbers: "Increased sales by 15%." Numbers are impressive!
4. Proofread! Carefully check for typos and grammar mistakes.
5. Keep it Short: One page is enough for a high school resume.
6. Use a Nice Font: Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri – something easy to read.
7. Get Feedback: Ask a teacher or counselor to look it over.

Resume Examples

Here are some examples of how to write bullet points in the "Experience" section. Remember to tailor these to your own experiences!

Example 1: Volunteer Work

Volunteer, Local Animal Shelter – Summer 2023

• Cared for animals: feeding, cleaning, exercising.
• Kept the shelter clean and organized.
• Helped at adoption events, talking to people and answering questions.

Example 2: Extracurricular Activity

Treasurer, Debate Club – 2022-2024

• Managed the club's money: budgeting, tracking expenses, fundraising.
• Organized fundraising events, raising $500 for the club.
• Kept accurate financial records and gave reports to the club.

Career Advice for High Schoolers

A great resume is just the beginning! Here’s more:

• Explore your interests: What do you love to do?
• Network: Talk to people who do what you want to do.
• Gain experience: Get internships, volunteer, or find a part-time job.
• Develop your skills: Take classes or workshops.
• Set goals: Make plans for your future!

Follow these steps, and you'll create a resume that opens doors. Good luck! Your future is bright!