I'm working on my resume for a part-time job application. Does anyone have examples or tips for writing a resume when you have limited experience? What should I include to make it stand out to potential employers?
Creating a competitive resume as a high school student with limited professional experience may seem challenging at first, but there are ways to demonstrate your abilities and potential.
Let's start with the basics: your resume should include your contact information at the very top. This section should include your full name, phone number, and professional email address.
In the absence of formal work experiences, your resume will need to highlight other aspects of your background, like education, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and relevant skills.
Here's how you can breakdown the different sections in a high school resume:
1. Objective Statement: This is a brief (1-3 sentence) description of your career goals and how your unique qualifications match the employer's needs. Think about the attributes that the employer may value — depth of commitment, range of skillset, a willingness to learn and grow, etc.
2. Education: Include the name of your high school, the expected date of graduation, and your GPA if it's strong. You can also include any related coursework that might apply to the job you're seeking.
3. Extracurricular Activities: Participation in clubs or sports can demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and dedication. Include specific roles held, such as team captain or club secretary, and any accomplishments tied to those roles.
4. Volunteer Work: Volunteering not only shows your commitment to serving your community but also allows you to build transferable skills. Similar to extracurriculars, elaborate on your responsibilities and the impact you made.
5. Skills: List skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for. These can range from technical skills, like a proficiency in a software or language, to soft skills such as public speaking, organization, or teamwork.
6. Awards and Accomplishments: This is where you showcase any notable achievements that make you stand out — this could be academic honors, achievements in extracurricular activities, or recognition from community service.
For each section, give specific examples and use action words where possible to demonstrate your contributions and achievements. Remember, you want to convey not just what you've done but what you can offer similarly, so think about the skills you've developed in these experiences and how they could benefit potential employers.
Lastly, don't forget to proofread. Minor spelling and grammatical errors can undermine the credibility of even the strongest resume. Write simply, clearly, and honestly, and you'll be on your way to creating a strong resume.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.