How to Write a High School Student Resume
If you’re a high school student searching for a job, having a well-crafted resume can help you find potential opportunities. But you may be unsure where to start, especially if you’ve never written your resume. How to present your education when it’s still underway? And how to get interviews with little or no work experience?
Don’t worry. These concerns shouldn’t keep you from writing a great resume for high school jobs. Chances are, even at a young age, you have experiences (whether work, school, or otherwise) you can translate into strong resume content. The trick is focusing on the relevant skills you’ve gained through these experiences. Read on for tips and examples that will help you give the right focus to your high school resume.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
In a brief paragraph, your Profile summary should describe your top three to five qualifications for your target high school job. You may think (or you may have been told) this resume section isn’t necessary for young jobseekers and entry-level positions. But the truth is that at every career level, the Profile section improves your resume by focusing the hiring manager’s attention on whatever makes you a great fit.
If you’ve worked before, you may want to base your Profile points on that job experience. But you may also want to base them on your high school experience or other activities. It just depends on what’s relevant to the role you’re pursuing. For instance, maybe you have volunteer experience that overlaps strongly with your target job duties. Or you’ve excelled in an AP class at school that relates to your goal. Or you have advanced skills in a foreign language and would like to use those in a work setting. Whatever your top qualifications, feature them in the Profile, and you’ll ensure your resume makes a great first impression.
Profile Example 1
High school student with recent volunteer work at a veterinary clinic. Naturally curious and motivated to learn about new healthcare procedures and equipment. Passionate about supporting the health and well-being of all types of animals.
Profile Example 2
High school student with recent formal experience helping care for toddlers. Dedicated to providing children with fun, educational indoor and outdoor activities. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
2. Add a pertinent experience section
Your resume’s experience section should center on your relevant duties, skills, and highlights. By focusing on your relevant background (whether in or outside high school), you can give hiring managers a clear view of how you fit their needs.
You don’t need directly related work experience (or work experience at all) to draft a solid high school resume. But you do need to brainstorm how you’ve applied yourself in other ways and write how those experiences helped prepare you for the job you’re seeking. This may sound tricky, but keep in mind you can use details about your high school activities, volunteering, or any other area of your life so far.
Below is a list of experience areas you might develop for your high school resume:
- Community Service
- High School Athletics
- High School Clubs and Societies
- Hobbies and Interests
- Internships
- Leadership Experience
- Personal Accomplishments
- Research Experience
- Summer Camps or Coursework
- Travel or Study Abroad Experience
- Volunteer Experience
- Work Experience
For each of the above areas you have experience in, take ten minutes or so to brainstorm answers to these three questions:
1. What were your primary roles, duties, or focus areas?
2. What are you most proud of about this experience?
3. What general skill areas did you develop (e.g., teamwork, efficiency, customer service)?
Next, determine which of your answers overlap with the key skills required for the job you’re now pursuing. Include on your resume anything that overlaps and leave out anything that doesn’t. With this approach, you can show the most relevant aspects of your life so far and give hiring managers a better sense of the skills you offer the job opening at hand. For instance, say you’re applying to be a pizza delivery driver. In citing any high school sports on your resume for this job, you could focus on the relevant skills you gained, such as teamwork or adaptability.
Work Experience Example
Assistant, Paw Plus Pet Shop, Tampa, FL | June 2021 to September 2021
- Gained strong foundation in customer service helping visitors find their desired products
- Stocked shelves and maintained inventory
- Worked the cash register and helped other retail associates as needed
Volunteer Experience Example
Sacramento Veterinary Clinic, Sacramento, CA | August 2021 to Present
- Assist veterinarians and staff with various daily tasks such as animal feeding, walking, and cage cleaning
- Facilitate phone, mail, and email communications with pet owners
- File and maintain information on 150+ clients and their pets
- Help maintain adequate inventory of pet medications
- Refill paper towels and other exam room essentials as needed
High School Athletics Experience Example
Member, Volleyball Team | August 2021 to Present
- Won “Most Valuable Player” for Spring 2022 season
- Demonstrated strong teamwork and adaptability in a high-pressure setting
3. Include your high school education and certifications
You may wonder how (or whether) to give education details when you’re still working toward your diploma. It’s actually pretty simple – see below for a template you can use to accurately show your in-progress high school education and a template for any certifications you’d like to add as well. Note that optional template areas appear in [brackets].
Education
Template:
Candidate: Diploma, High School Name, City, ST | expected graduation date
- [academic awards or distinctions]
Example:
Candidate: Diploma, Texas Preparatory School, Austin, TX | expected June 2023
- 3.9 GPA and perfect attendance record to date
- Taking advanced core curriculum classes in math, science, and language arts for college credit
- Voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by the student body in 2022
Certification
Template:
Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]
Example:
Service Excellence Certificate, VCU Advanced Solutions | 2023
4. List key skills and proficiencies
Include a “Key Skills” section to help further focus your resume on your relevant background. For many high schoolers (especially those with limited work experience), this section should include “soft skills” like problem-solving and collaboration. But also feel free to add specific software programs you’ve used, or other technical skills that you’ll need in your target job. Below are some common key skills for high school resumes:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Adobe Creative Suite | Creative Problem-Solving |
| Customer Service & Relations | Data Gathering & Entry |
| Efficiency Improvement | Filing & Documentation |
| Independent Research | Inventory Monitoring |
| Microsoft Office Suite | Office Administration |
| Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems | Product Sales & Merchandising |
| Reading, Writing & Editing | Task Prioritization |
| Team Collaboration | Time Management |
How to Pick the Best High School Student Resume Template
A clear and straightforward resume template is usually best for high school students. Opt for a visual design that lets the hiring manager quickly review your most relevant information. Use a simple resume font, and avoid any template that has an overly colorful or elaborate design.
High School Student Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Brenda Martin
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Tampa, FL 33601 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
Reliable high school student with strong recent sales experience at a major clothing retailer. Committed to providing positive service experiences to new and returning customers. Motivated and adaptable to new work schedules, challenges, and conditions.
Key Skills
- Creative Problem-Solving
- Customer Service & Relations
- Inventory Monitoring & Control
- Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems
- Product Sales & Merchandising
Work Experience
Sales Associate, XYZ Clothing, Tampa, FL | May 2022 to September 2022
- Provided high-quality service to new and repeat customers of this popular clothing store
- Greeted and directed store visitors to their desired apparel section
- Assisted customers with sizing and product choices
- Efficiently operated cash register to process order payments
- Tagged and displayed incoming merchandise and performed markdowns on previous season styles
- Maintained a clean and tidy work area at all points
Highlight:
- Won “Employee of the Month” in August 2022 for outstanding customer service
Assistant, Paw Plus Pet Shop, Tampa, FL | June 2021 to September 2021
- Gained strong foundation in customer service helping visitors find their desired products
- Stocked shelves and maintained inventory
- Worked the cash register and helped other retail associates as needed
Education
Candidate: Diploma, Tampa High School, Tampa, FL | expected June 2025
Michelle Hamilton
(111) 123-4567 | michel[email protected] | Sacramento, CA 94248 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
High school student with recent volunteer work at a veterinary clinic. Naturally curious and motivated to learn about new healthcare procedures and equipment. Passionate about supporting the health and well-being of all types of animals.
Key Skills
- Data Gathering & Entry
- Filing & Documentation
- Microsoft Word, Excel
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Veterinary Procedures & Equipment
Volunteer Experience
Sacramento Veterinary Clinic, Sacramento, CA | August 2021 to Present
- Assist veterinarians and staff with various daily tasks such as animal feeding, walking, and cage cleaning
- Facilitate phone, mail, and email communications with pet owners
- File and maintain information on 150+ clients and their pets
- Help maintain adequate inventory of pet medications
- Refill paper towels and other exam room essentials as needed
Education
Candidate: College Prep Diploma, Sacramento High School, Sacramento, CA | expected June 2024
High School Honors & Activities
Member, Debate Team | August 2022 to Present
- Collaborate closely on a 10-person team to form and organize compelling debate arguments
Attendee, National Honors Society Conference | May 2022
Aliya Jackson
(111) 123-4567 | ali[email protected] | Sacramento, CA 94248 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
High school student with recent formal experience helping care for toddlers. Dedicated to providing children with fun, educational indoor and outdoor activities. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Work Experience
Childcare Provider, Sacramento, CA | January 2021 to August 2022
- Assisted and collaborated with parents of 2 children, ages 4 and 6
- Created engaging, educational indoor and outdoor activities for each child
- Organized and cleaned the play area regularly
- Provided meals and snacks and assisted with nap times
Education
Candidate: Diploma, Texas Preparatory School, Austin, TX | expected June 2023
- 3.9 GPA and perfect attendance record to date
- Taking advanced core curriculum classes in math, science, and language arts for college credit
- Voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by the student body in 2022
High School Athletics
Member, Volleyball Team | August 2021 to Present
- Won “Most Valuable Player” for Spring 2022 season
- Demonstrated strong teamwork and adaptability in a high-pressure setting
Language
Fluency in Spanish
Frequently Asked Questions: High School Student Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for high school student resumes?+
One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by using a good mix of action verbs in your Experience section. The following verbs list will help you brainstorm and capture the various ways you’ve applied yourself in your experience so far:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Assisted |
| Boosted | Carried out |
| Completed | Contributed to |
| Created | Decreased |
| Developed | Earned |
| Enhanced | Established |
| Exceeded | Garnered |
| Generated | Improved |
| Increased | Integrated |
| Introduced | Managed |
| Mitigated | Overcame |
| Prevented | Produced |
| Proposed | Recommended |
| Reinforced | Streamlined |
| Strengthened | Surpassed |
| Won | |
How do you align your high school student resume with a job posting?+
As of 2021, more than 36 percent (or six million) of American teens held jobs for at least part of the summer season. This was the highest rate of summer employment for teenagers since 2008.
You can get more interviews for high school jobs if you tailor your resume to each application. Start by looking at the job post text and highlighting words or phrases that are repeated, emphasized, or otherwise seem important. Compare these highlighted phrases against the language you’re using in your resume, particularly the Profile and Key Skills sections. Then look for ways to align your resume language with the job post (while not copying phrases or misrepresenting your background).
For example, if the employer is looking for someone collaborative, you may want to call out that aspect of your experience with a Profile line as simple as “Thrive in team-oriented work settings.” Or say the organization has many non-English speaking customers. You may want to highlight your foreign language skills both in your Profile and as a separate section farther down the document. With adjustments like these, you can make your resume more relevant to each new opportunity.
What is the best high school student resume format?+
In nearly all cases, you should use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your relevant skills and experience. It’s also easiest for you to modify based on your job goals.
With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your Experience section(s) and an intro section. (This combination of experience and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a Profile summary and Key Skills section, but you may also include an Awards or Career Highlights section.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
To increase your chances of an interview, write a strong cover letter. The key to an effective letter is customizing it based on each job opening. Read our high school cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our student and internship cover letter guides.
