How to Create a Resume for High School Students

How to Create a High School Resume That Really Works

Getting your first job or internship can feel like climbing Mount Everest, right? But a great resume can make that climb a whole lot easier. This guide is all about making a killer high school resume – one that shows off your awesome skills and experiences. You might not have years of work experience, but you have plenty of other stuff to show off!

Why Even Bother with a High School Resume?

Think of your resume as your personal advertisement. It's a quick snapshot of who you are and what you can do. Unlike college resumes, yours focuses on high school and anything cool you did outside of class. It's your ticket to:

• Landing a part-time job: Show employers you're responsible and ready to work.
• Snagging an internship: Prove you're serious about a certain field.
• Winning scholarships: Highlight your awesome grades and community involvement.
• Boosting college apps: Showcase all your extracurricular activities and achievements.

What Makes a High School Resume Great?

Here's what a winning resume needs:

1. Contact Info: Your name, phone number, email (use a professional one!), and maybe your LinkedIn profile (if you have one). Keep it simple and clean. No nicknames!
2. Summary/Objective (Optional): A short (2-3 sentences) overview of your skills and goals. Helpful if you're applying for something specific. For high school, a short objective usually works best.
3. Education: Your high school, graduation date (or expected date), and GPA (if it's above 3.5). Mention any honors or awards too.
4. Experience: This is where you shine! This includes:

What Kind of Experience Counts?

• Part-time jobs: Even small jobs show you're responsible. Try to show results – like "Increased sales by 10%."
• Volunteer work: Show you care about your community. Mention how many hours you volunteered and what you accomplished.
• Extracurriculars: Sports, clubs, student government – these all show teamwork and leadership. Instead of "Debate Club," try "Debate Club Member: Placed second in regionals!"
• Internships (if you have any): Describe your role and what you did.
• Projects: Did you build a website or app? Put it here!
• Awards and Honors: List all your awesome achievements.

5. Skills: List both hard skills (like computer skills) and soft skills (like teamwork and communication). Tailor these to the job you're applying for.
6. References: Just put "References available upon request" at the bottom. You don't need to list them on the resume itself.

Tips to Make Your Resume Shine

Here are a few more tips to make your resume stand out from the crowd:

• Use action verbs: Start each bullet point with a strong verb (managed, organized, led). It makes your accomplishments sound more impressive.
• Quantify your achievements: Use numbers to show results ("Increased customer satisfaction by 15%").
• Tailor it: Customize your resume for each job. Highlight the skills that matter most for that specific job.
• Proofread! Typos are a big no-no. Ask a friend, teacher, or parent to check it over.
• Keep it short: Aim for one page. Recruiters are busy!
• Use a professional font and format: Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri work well. Keep it consistent.
• Highlight extracurricular achievements: Show off leadership roles and awards.
• Showcase tech skills: Highlight your skills with software, coding, etc. – employers love that!
• Use a template: Lots of free templates are available online.

Examples of Amazing Bullet Points

Instead of "Member of the Debate Club," try:

• "Debate Club Member: Consistently ranked top 3, helped team win the regional championship."

Instead of "Volunteer at the local animal shelter," try:

• "Animal Shelter Volunteer: Assisted with daily care for over 100 hours, improving animal hygiene and welfare."

Review, Revise, Repeat!

Once it's done, review it carefully. Get feedback from a teacher, parent, or counselor. Your resume is a living document – update it as you gain new experiences.

Your High School Resume: Your Secret Weapon

Creating a strong high school resume is an investment in your future. By showing off your skills and accomplishments, you'll increase your chances of landing that job, internship, or scholarship. Follow these tips, tailor it to each application, and watch your success soar!