How to Set Up a High School Student Resume?

I'm looking to get my first job while still in high school and need to create a resume. What should I include if I don't have much work experience yet? Any specific tips for making it stand out to employers?

Creating a high school resume can often feel a bit daunting, especially when you feel like you don't have much in the way of tangible work experience. Not to fear! Here's how you can construct your resume:

1. Contact Information: At the top, include your full name, physical address, email address, and phone number. Make sure your email address is professional looking. It can be as simple as your firstname.lastname@gmail.com.

2. Objective Statement: Draft an objective that outlines what kind of job you're looking for. This should be specific and tailored towards the kind of jobs you are applying for.

3. Education: Next, list your education, which in this case would be your high school. Include the name of your school, the city/state, and anticipated graduation date.

4. Class Work: Adding coursework that might be relevant to the job you're applying for can also be useful. For instance, if you're applying for a position in a retail clothes store and you've taken a class in fashion design, it would be beneficial to list that.

5. Extracurricular Activities: This is where you highlight leadership roles, club memberships, sports, or other school activities. These can demonstrate qualities like teamwork, organization, leadership, and commitment.

6. Volunteer Work/Community Service: If you've volunteered at a local shelter, served food at a food bank, or organized a community event, include these as they demonstrate a commitment to helping others.

7. Honors/Awards: This can include things like Honor Roll, National Honors Society, academic awards, and athletic trophies.

8. Skills: Include any skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for. This may include computer or technical skills, languages, etc.

Lastly, consider formatting and presentation. Make sure your resume looks clean and professional. Use a basic (but modern) font like Arial or Calibri, 11 or 12 point type, and black ink on white paper. Don't hesitate to ask a teacher or counselor to help proofread it! Your first resume is just the beginning, so don't stress too much. Remember, everyone starts somewhere!