Tips for creating a resume for a high school student's first job

I'm putting together my first resume for a part-time job application. Does anyone have tips or templates that work well for high school students with no work experience yet?

Sure, constructing a high school resume might seem daunting, especially when you don't have any job experience yet, but don't worry! Even without job experience, you have a lot to offer. Here are a few tips to create an effective resume:

1. Define Your Career Objective: Since it's the first section that hiring managers see, make it count. In a concise statement, identify the type of job you're seeking and outline your career goals.

2. Highlight Education: Place your education right at the top of your resume. Include your high school, your grade level, and your GPA (if it's good).

3. Extracurricular Activities: These are great to show that you have interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and a commitment to filling your time with worthwhile activities. These might include sports, choir, debate, clubs, student government, or volunteering.

4. Detail Skills & Certifications: Maybe you've completed a first-aid course or earned a certification in a computer program. Even everyday skills like proficiency in a foreign language or the ability to use common software programs can be valuable to an employer.

5. Show Any Work Experience: This could be informal work experience like babysitting, pet sitting, tutoring, or lawn mowing. If you have participated in a school-run business, that counts too.

6. Don't Forget Hobbies & Interests: Activities like blogging, playing an instrument, or participating in a chess club can demonstrate a work ethic and commitment that employers appreciate.

7. Maintain Consistency: Make sure your resume has a consistent format with clear headings, bullets and an easy-to-read font. Be sure that your contact information is correct. Proofread it multiple times to remove typos and grammatical errors.

Even though it's your first resume, you've likely got a lot more to include than you realize. Employers hiring high school students are well aware that you might not have a long list of past jobs, so don't stress. Instead, use the resume to tell your story and showcase what you bring to the job. Good luck!