How should I structure my resume as a high school student?

I'm trying to make my first resume to apply for a part-time job after school. What should I include as a high schooler and how can I make it stand out even if I don't have much experience?

Creating a resume as a high school student might seem daunting, especially if you don't have much work experience yet, but there are plenty of other things you can include to make yourself stand out to employers!

1. Contact Information: Start with your name, contact number, professional email address, and if relevant, your LinkedIn profile or any other professional social media handle.

2. Objective Statement: Following your contact info, include an objective statement. This is a short, concise sentence that presents your goals and what you aim to bring to the job. For example, you might write "Motivated high school senior looking to apply my leadership skills and work ethic in a part-time retail role."

3. Education: Since you're still in high school, place your education next. Include the name of your high school, your current grade level, and your GPA if it's strong. If you took any relevant coursework or are enrolled in any advanced classes related to the job you're applying for, make sure to mention it here.

4. Experience: Even if you don't have formal work experience, you can still make this section shine. Any volunteer work, club participation, internships, or even substantial projects for school counts as experience. Put these in reverse chronological order (most recent experience first) and bullet point some of your responsibilities and achievements in these roles.

5. Skills: Here you want to mention specific hard and soft skills you possess that will benefit the role you're applying to. Examples can include "excellent customer service skills," "familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite," "strong communicator," or "problem solver."

6. Extracurricular activities: If you're involved in any clubs, sports teams, or other organizations, list them here. Any leadership roles (like being a club president or team captain) should be highlighted.

7. Honors and Awards: If you've received any academic or non-academic awards, scholarships, or honors, mention them here. This section is optional and would depend on your personal accomplishments.

8. References: You typically wouldn't put references on your resume unless the job listing requests them. Instead, you can write "References available upon request" at the end of your resume.

Remember to keep it concise and aim for a one-page resume. Use an easy-to-read font and spell check for any grammatical errors. Tailoring your resume to fit each job you're applying to can make you a more attractive candidate. Good luck with your job search!