Resume Writing Tips For High School Students: Building Your First Resume

Creating a resume as a high school student can be challenging, especially with limited work experience. However, learning essential resume writing tips for high school students can help you build a strong foundation that highlights your skills, accomplishments, and potential.

Whether you’re applying for a part-time job, internship, or preparing for college applications, a well-crafted resume can set you apart.

By focusing on education, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and transferable skills, you can create a professional resume that shows employers or admissions committees that you’re a motivated and capable candidate.

Start With A Clear, Professional Format

Your resume format is important, as it sets the first impression for anyone reading it. Use a clean, simple design with easy-to-read fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, sized between 10-12 pt for body text. Include clear section headings, such as “Education,” “Skills,” and “Experience.” Avoid using bright colors, photos, or decorative fonts, as they can distract from your content.

Tip: Stick to a one-page resume to keep it concise and focused.

Include A Resume Objective

A resume objective is a brief, one- or two-sentence statement that introduces you and outlines your goals. As a high school student, a resume objective can highlight what you’re seeking (like a part-time job or internship) and the skills you bring to the role.

Example: “Hardworking high school junior with strong organizational skills and a passion for customer service, seeking a part-time position to gain hands-on experience.”

Emphasize Education

Since you may not have extensive work experience, your education section is key. List your school name, anticipated graduation date, GPA (if it’s strong), and relevant coursework. You can also mention academic achievements, like being on the honor roll, awards, or relevant classes that relate to the job you’re applying for.

Example of Education Section:

• City High School Expected Graduation: June 2025 GPA: 3.8 Relevant Coursework: Computer Science, Creative Writing, Economics

Highlight Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities can showcase your skills and interests beyond academics. Clubs, sports teams, volunteer work, or leadership roles can demonstrate qualities like teamwork, time management, and dedication. Highlight activities where you took on responsibilities or demonstrated leadership.

Example:

• Member, Student Council Organized events and led meetings, developing leadership and public speaking skills.

List Volunteer And Community Service

If you’ve volunteered or participated in community service, include it on your resume. Volunteer work shows your commitment, responsibility, and willingness to contribute to a cause. Highlight any specific skills or accomplishments, such as hours completed or roles you took on.

Example of Volunteer Experience:

• Volunteer, Local Food Bank
  • Assisted in sorting and organizing food donations for community distribution.
  • Developed time management and teamwork skills while helping others.

Showcase Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are valuable because they apply across different jobs and industries. Examples include communication, problem-solving, time management, and teamwork. If you’ve gained these skills through school projects, group activities, or personal hobbies, they’re worth mentioning on your resume.

Examples of Transferable Skills:

• Communication Skills: Developed through group projects and public speaking events.
• Time Management: Balancing school assignments, sports, and extracurricular activities.

Highlight Part-Time Jobs Or Internships

If you have any part-time job experience, such as babysitting, working at a store, or internships, this is a great addition to your resume. Part-time jobs show that you’re responsible and have basic workplace skills like punctuality, customer service, or problem-solving.

Example of Work Experience Section:

• Sales Associate, XYZ Retail
  • Assisted customers with product selection and maintained a clean store environment.
  • Learned customer service skills and cash handling.

Add A Skills Section

A dedicated skills section can highlight specific abilities relevant to the job. You could list both technical skills (such as proficiency in Microsoft Office or familiarity with social media) and soft skills (like teamwork or organization). Choose skills that relate directly to the role you’re applying for or that demonstrate your potential.

Example of Skills Section:

• Technical Skills: Microsoft Word, Excel, Social Media Management
• Soft Skills: Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Organization

Use Action Verbs In Descriptions

When describing your responsibilities or achievements, start each bullet point with a strong action verb. Words like “organized,” “led,” “created,” or “assisted” can add energy and impact to your experience, showing that you were actively involved rather than passively participating.

Example of Descriptions with Action Verbs:

• Organized weekly meetings as part of the Debate Club, enhancing team communication.
• Created digital posters to promote school events, improving attendance.

Focus On Accomplishments, Not Just Tasks

Instead of just listing tasks, try to highlight accomplishments. For example, instead of saying, “Worked at a school fundraiser,” say, “Raised $500 by organizing a school fundraiser.” This demonstrates the value you added to the activity or job.

Example of an Accomplishment-Focused Bullet Point:

• Raised over $500 for school athletics through a well-coordinated fundraiser.

Keep Your Resume Concise

As a high school student, your resume should typically be one page. Avoid including unnecessary details, such as personal hobbies, unless they’re directly relevant to the job. Focus on the skills and experiences that best showcase your abilities and qualifications.

Tip: Use bullet points to keep your descriptions short and to the point.

Avoid Common Resume Mistakes

Several common mistakes can hurt your chances of making a positive impression:

• Spelling and Grammar Errors: Carefully proofread your resume or ask someone to review it for you.
• Inconsistent Formatting: Ensure that fonts, font sizes, and spacing are consistent throughout.
• Too Much Personal Information: Avoid including your age, photo, or unrelated hobbies.

Tip: Use a checklist to review your resume before submitting it.

Proofread And Edit Carefully

A polished resume reflects professionalism, so take the time to proofread and edit it. Typos, inconsistencies, and small formatting errors can leave a negative impression. Review your resume multiple times, and consider asking a teacher, parent, or mentor for feedback to ensure it’s as strong as possible.

FAQs

Conclusion

Creating a resume as a high school student might seem intimidating, but by focusing on your strengths, skills, and experiences, you can build a strong resume that helps you stand out. Start with a clean format, add a resume objective, and emphasize education, extracurriculars, and volunteer work.

Highlight transferable skills and accomplishments to demonstrate your potential. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a resume that opens doors to job opportunities, internships, or college applications.