As a high school student, this is likely your first time building a resume. With little or no formal work experience, the writing process can be extremely challenging. That said, there are many ways to create an impactful resume that stands out to potential employers even when pursuing your first job.
The key is to find other ways to demonstrate your compelling skills and personal strengths, such as featuring academic projects, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work. In this guide, we’ll provide expert tips and insights to help you create a high school student resume that stands out to potential employers.
The first step in writing a great high school resume is finding a template that organizes and presents your content effectively. Opt for an elegant, clean layout that makes it easy for the hiring manager to navigate your skills and qualifications. Be aware that you may need to make strategic adjustments, such as replacing professional experience with a volunteerism or academic project section.
Lead your high school student resume with a summary that provides a concise overview of who you are and what you bring to the table. Start with a strong opening sentence that captures three of your most valuable skill sets and personal traits. For instance, you could highlight interpersonal, organizational, or even technical skills.
In the remaining sentences, feature something notable you’ve achieved during your high school career. You might emphasize a particularly challenging academic project, an athletic achievement, or a volunteer event you helped organize. While these may not be explicitly relevant to the role you’re targeting, they can help give the hiring manager a better sense of what your strengths are.
A motivated high school student with a strong history of academic success, specializing in communication, creative solution-seeking, and team collaboration. A proven track record of coordinating with the school librarian as a volunteer to support students and daily library operations.
A high school student who consistently receives high grades and positive feedback from teachers for academic work. Looking for a part-time opportunity with your store to gain valuable customer service skills and experience.
This section of the resume can be especially daunting for high school students entering the workforce for the first time. Without professional experience to draw from, how can you show employers that you have what it takes to succeed in the position? In this situation, take time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished thus far in your high school career.
Have you sustained a consistently high GPA? This speaks to your work ethic and detail-oriented nature. Are you a member of an academic club or sports team? This shows you can commit yourself to your endeavors. If you have participated in any volunteer initiatives, this illustrates your personal character and interpersonal skills. As you build your resume, focus on your qualifications rather than worrying about the experience you currently lack.
Cashier | Subway Restaurant | Los Angeles, CA | June 2023 – August 2024
Cashier | Subway Restaurant | Los Angeles, CA | June 2023 – August 2024
As a high school student, you won’t have any degrees or industry certifications to display. Instead, use this section to exhibit any notable academic insights that might draw the hiring manager’s interest, such as your GPA or awards. You could also feature coursework, especially if it lends itself to the job role. For instance, demonstrating an Excel class you completed shows your technical acumen, whereas an English course can show that you’re creative and analytical.
Education:
Lincoln High School
Chicago, IL | Expected Graduation: June 2024
When applying for your first job, it’s acceptable to not possess every skill listed in the posting. The goal of a high school student resume is to present the knowledge and strengths you’ve cultivated thus far. Whereas a seasoned professional should avoid terms such as problem-solving and attention to detail, it’s appropriate to list these types of skills at the entry level. Below are skill sets and personal attributes you can feature on your resume:
| Academic research | Editing |
| Analytical thinking | Event planning |
| Attention to detail | Mathematics |
| Communication | Microsoft Office Suite |
| Community service | Leadership |
| Creative solution-finding | Organizational skills |
| Creative writing | Team collaboration |
| Customer service | Written communication |
Resume.org offers free, HR-approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes.
Build Your ResumeChoosing the right resume template for your data analyst role is a crucial step in your job application process. The template you select should reflect your professional style and focus on your analytical skills and technical qualifications in a clear, organized manner. A well-chosen template ensures your most important skills and experiences, such as your ability to analyze data, use relevant tools, and generate insights, are easy to spot. This increases the likelihood that hiring managers will give your resume the attention it deserves.
Lily Martinez
(555) 789-4567 | [email protected] | San Diego, CA
A dedicated high school student seeking an entry-level position with a focus on customer service and team collaboration. A strong communicator with excellent organizational skills, ready to contribute to a positive work environment while developing new skills.
Team Member (Volunteer)
Café on the Hill | San Diego, CA | June 2023 to August 2023
Westview High School
San Diego, CA | Expected Graduation: June 2025
GPA: 3.6
Relevant Coursework: English, Algebra I, Computer Science
Incorporating action verbs into your high school student resume is a great way to add a unique and engaging element to your writing. This allows the hiring manager to better visualize your academic, extracurricular, and community service achievements. We’ve put together a list of action verbs you can use to craft your bullet points:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Led |
| Collaborated | Managed |
| Communicated | Performed |
| Coordinated | Presented |
| Coordinated | Provided |
| Created | Supported |
| Delivered | Wrote |
| Identified | |
Tailoring your high school student resume to the job description can give you an edge, as it shows that you’ve refined your application. As you begin writing your document, pay attention to what skill sets and traits the company is looking for.
For example, let’s say the company is seeking a candidate who has strong customer service skills. While you may not have hands-on experience in this type of role, you can make yourself a stronger match for the position by featuring your communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
A combination format is generally best suited for a high school student resume. This allows you to compensate for a lack of professional experience by highlighting your skills, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities. If you’ve already held an entry-level position, such as a cashier or retail job, you can consider a reverse chronological format.
Career Coach
Irina Pichura, founder of Resumeology, is a renowned career coach with over 10 years of recruiting experience at Fortune 500 companies like Goldman Sachs and ADP, as well as startups such as Investopedia. With a degree in Psychology from Fordham University in New York City, Irina offers a unique perspective on what it takes to stand out in a competitive job market.
Resume.org offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
