I'm trying to put together a resume for my first high school job and feeling a bit lost. What should I include, and does anyone have a good template or example that helped them? Any help would be appreciated!
Creating a resume for your first job can indeed feel daunting. Don't worry though, everyone starts somewhere! As a high school student, your focus will likely be on showing off the transferable skills you've developed through school and extracurriculars.
To get started, here are some sections you might want to include:
1. Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, and a professional email address. Be sure the email address is appropriate and professional (usually just your name in some format).
2. Objective: This is a concise statement about why you're creating the resume—it could be as simple as "Eager high school student looking for a part-time job as a library aide."
3. Skills: In this section, highlight skills relevant to the job. For example, customer service skills, organizational skills, or fluency in a second language.
4. Education: Add your high school details here. Include your grade or year level and your anticipated graduation date.
5. Experience: Even if you've never had a job before, this is where you can list any relevant experiences—it could be volunteer work, club activities, or projects you've done at school. Remember, the goal is to show off transferable skills!
6. Honors/Awards: If you've received any academic or extracurricular honors/awards, this is a great place to share them.
7. Extracurricular Activities: If you've been involved in clubs at school, sports teams, drama or music groups, etc., be sure to include those.
8. References: Include individuals who can speak positively about your work ethic. This could be a teacher, a sports coach, or a mentor from an extracurricular. Always ask permission before you list someone as a reference.
Remember, your resume is there to sell you as the best candidate for the job. So, highlight your skills and achievements that align with the job you're applying to. While I can't provide you with a template, there are several online resources (like Appily) that provide free templates for building your first resume. One final tip—always proofread! Nothing spoils a good resume like a typo. Good luck with your job search!
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.