How to Make a Resume for a Teenager

So, you're trying to land your first job, huh? As a teen, that can feel like climbing a mountain. But guess what? A really good resume is your secret weapon. It shows off what you can do, even if you haven't had a "real" job yet. Think of it as your personal highlight reel! This guide will show you how to make a teen resume that gets noticed. You'll learn to highlight your strengths and leave a great impression. Whether you want a part-time gig, an internship, or even to volunteer, I'll give you the tools you need to ace that job application.

Why Bother With a Resume?

Maybe you're thinking, "I don't have any experience! Why do I need a resume?" Well, even without a long work history, a resume for teenagers proves you're serious and organized. It lets you:

Show off your skills: Things like teamwork, talking to people, solving problems, and managing your time are super valuable.
Brag about your wins: Talk about what you've done in school, clubs, and volunteering.
Make a great first impression: A good resume shows you care and are willing to work hard.
Stand out from the crowd: A polished resume can give you an edge in a tough job market.
Get ready for the future: Making a teen resume now helps you get ready for future jobs.

What Goes Into a Great Teen Resume?

First, gather everything you need. Your contact info, school stuff, skills, clubs, volunteer work, any awards... you get the idea. Here's what your resume for teenagers needs:

1. Your Contact Info

This is easy, but important! Make sure it's right.

Your Full Name: Use a normal font, but a little bigger.
Your Phone Number: Use a number where people can actually reach you.
Your Email: Use a professional email address. ([email protected] is good). Leave the funny nicknames at home!
Optional: Got a LinkedIn profile? A website? If it makes sense for the job, add it!

For Example:

Jane Doe
(555) 123-4567
[email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janedoe

2. A Summary or Objective (Maybe)

This is optional on a teen resume, especially if you don't have much experience. But it can help you highlight what you're good at. Pick one, not both.

Summary: Short and sweet. Talk about your skills and what you bring to the table. Use this if you have some experience.
Objective: Talk about what you want to achieve in the job. Best if you don't have much experience. Focus on what you can do for the employer!

Example (Objective):

"Hardworking high school student wants a part-time job at [Company Name]. I want to use my customer service skills to make customers happy."

Example (Summary):

"High school student with great communication and teamwork skills. Learned these through volunteering and clubs. Ready to work hard and learn new things!"

3. Your Education

This is really important for a resume for teenagers. Include:

School Name and City: Pretty self-explanatory.
Graduation Date: When do you expect to graduate?
GPA (Maybe): Only if it's good (above 3.5). Otherwise, leave it out.
Good Classes: List classes that are related to the job. (Computer science for a tech job, etc.)
Honors and Awards: Did you get good grades? Win an award? Put it here!

Example:

[School Name], [City, State]
Expected Graduation: May 2025
GPA: 3.8
Relevant Coursework: Algebra II, Biology, English Literature
Honors: Honor Roll (2023, 2024)

4. Your Skills

Time to show off what you can DO! List both "hard" skills (technical stuff) and "soft" skills (people skills). Think about what the job needs.

Hard Skills: Computer programs (Microsoft Office, Google stuff), social media, typing, coding, languages.
Soft Skills: Talking to people, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, helping customers, leading, being flexible, being creative.

Example:

Skills:

Customer Service
Communication (Written & Verbal)
Teamwork
Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Social Media Marketing (Instagram, TikTok)
Time Management

5. Your Experience (Even Without a Job!)

This is where you talk about what you've done, even if you haven't been paid for it. Think about anything where you've learned skills:

Volunteering: What did you do? What did you achieve?
Clubs: What did you do in the club? How did you help?
Personal Projects: Built a website? Made an app? Blog? List it!
Babysitting/Pet Sitting: Shows you're responsible.
Tutoring: Shows you can teach.
Yard Work/Odd Jobs: Shows you're willing to work.

For each thing you list, include:

Name of the place (or your name if it was your own project)
Your Role/Title
When you did it (Month Year - Month Year)
Description: Use strong words to describe what you did! And if you can, use numbers! ("Increased website traffic by 20%," "Raised $500 for charity").

Example (Volunteer Work):

[Organization Name], [City, State]
Volunteer Tutor | September 2023 - Present

Helped elementary school students with math and reading.
Helped students get better grades.
Made learning fun!

Example (Extracurricular Activity):

[School Name] Debate Club, [City, State]
Member | August 2022 - Present

Debated every week! This helped me think better and speak in public.
Researched and made arguments.
Went to debate tournaments.

6. Awards (Maybe)

If you won anything, list it here! School awards, sports awards, volunteer awards... anything that shows you're awesome. This makes your teen resume even better.

Example:

Awards and Honors:

Student of the Month (October 2023)
President's Volunteer Service Award (2022)
[Sports Team] Most Valuable Player (2023)

Tips for a Great Teen Resume

Now you know what goes in a resume for teenagers. Here are some extra tips:

Use Action Words: Start each bullet point with a strong word. ("Managed," "Organized," "Developed," "Implemented").
Use Numbers: If you can, use numbers to show how well you did. ("Increased sales by 15%," "Managed a team of 5 volunteers").
Change It Up: Change your resume for each job! Highlight the skills that matter for that job.
Check for Mistakes: Have someone read your resume! Check for spelling and grammar errors!
Make it Look Good: Use a simple font (Arial, Times New Roman). Make it easy to read.
Keep it Short: One page is best.
Use Keywords: Look at the job description and use the same words in your resume.
Be Honest: Don't lie!
Save as PDF: This makes sure it looks the same on everyone's computer.
Get Feedback: Ask a teacher or career counselor to look at it.

Teen Resume Examples

Need some help? Here are some teen resume templates and examples to get you started:

Microsoft Word: Has resume templates you can use.
Google Docs: Also has easy-to-edit templates.
Canva: Has pretty resume templates.
Online Resume Builders: Resume.com, Zety, and Kickresume can help you make a resume.

When you use a template, make it your own! Don't just fill in the blanks. A teen resume that's tailored to you is way better.

Common Mistakes

Don't do these things on your resume for teenagers:

Typos: Makes you look bad.
Bad Email: Use a professional email.
Boring Objective: Change it for each job.
Wrong Skills: Only list skills that matter.
Lying: Don't do it!
Vague Language: Be specific!
Not Checking: Always proofread!
Weird Photo: Don't include a photo unless they ask for it.
Missing Info: Make sure they can contact you!

Don't Forget the Cover Letter!

A cover letter can make your job application even better. It lets you:

Say hello.
Say why you want the job.
Show off your skills.
Show your personality.
Talk about anything specific in the job description.

Change your cover letter for each job! Research the company and say why you'd be a good fit. A good cover letter, with a great teen resume, makes you way more likely to get an interview.

Your Resume is Your First Shot

Making a teen resume might seem hard, but it's a skill you'll use for the rest of your life. Use these tips and you can make a resume that shows off what you can do, even if you haven't had a "real" job. Remember to change it for each job, check it carefully, and get feedback. Good luck with your job application!