Tips for High Schoolers Writing a Resume for a Job

I'm a junior looking for a part-time job and I've never written a resume before. Can anyone share tips on how to make a high school job resume stand out even if I don't have much experience?

Even if you haven't had an official job yet, there's more you can put on a resume than you might think. It's all about identifying the skills you have, the experiences that have helped you grow, and presenting them to potential employers in the best possible light. Here are some tips to help you out.

1. Contact Information: Start with your full name, contact number, and email address. Make sure your email sounds professional - ideally, it should be some variation of your first and last names.

2. Objective Statement: Though optional, having an objective statement can give your resume a focused look. This is a brief overview about what you're looking for (i.e., "High-achieving junior seeking part-time sales position").

3. Education: Since you're still in high school, your education can be one of your strongest features. Include your high school name, the city, and state. Mention the time period (or expected graduation year), and if your GPA shows strength in academic performance, include that as well.

4. Skills: Identify the skills you have that are relevant to the job you're applying for. These can be soft skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving or hard ones like computer systems you might be adept in.

5. Experience: This can include formal and informal work you've done. Do you have household responsibilities, or do you care for a younger sibling? That's experience. If you've ever volunteered, put it down. Include any leadership roles or involvement in student organizations or teams. Frame these experiences in a way that highlights your skills.

7. Honors/Awards: Include any acknowledgements you've received that reflect your work ethic or skills. This could be honor roll, a spelling bee victory, sports awards, art contests, etc.

6. References: You should consider adding a section for references at the end. This can include teachers, counselors, coaches, or anyone else who can vouch for your character and work habits.

Remember to focus on transferable skills throughout the resume – the abilities you've gained and honed through your various experiences, that would be useful in any work context like leadership, responsibility, time management, to name a few!

You won't have the job history of an adult, but employers looking to hire high school students know this. They'll be interested in your potential, your attitude, and your dedication. Keep your resume neat, uncluttered, and professional, and you'll make a great first impression. Good luck!