How do I write a resume with no job experience as a high school student?

I'm in high school and haven't had a job before. What should I include in my resume to make it stand out? Can I use school clubs or projects to fill the experience section?

Absolutely! Just because you haven't held a traditional job does not mean you lack valuable experiences and achievements that can be showcased in a resume. Here's a way you can structure your resume as a high school student with no job experience:

1. Contact Information: Include your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.

2. Objective: This is a succinct statement about your career goals. Even if your goals aren't fully formed yet, provide a clear and concise summary about what skills and experiences you hope to gain in your future roles.

3. Education: List the name of your high school, city and state, and graduation year. If you've maintained a strong GPA, this would be a solid place to add that as well. You can also list courses that might be relevant to jobs you're applying for.

4. Extracurricular Activities: This is where your involvement in clubs comes in handy. Describe your time in these clubs or teams focusing on your role, responsibilities, and any leadership positions held. Really underscore any achievements or competitions you helped your club obtain or win.

5. Projects: Have you done significant projects in your classes—science fair, group presentations, community work done in through a social studies or English class? You can list them here by providing detail on what the project was about, the skills you gained, and its impact.

6. Skills: List hard skills (like proficiency in a foreign language or ability to use specific software) and soft skills (such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving).

7. Volunteer Work: Even though you didn't get paid does not mean you haven't worked. Include any volunteer experiences you have gained over the years, with a focus on the skills you used and what you learned.

Remember to keep your resume to one page if possible (absolutely no more than two), and proofread for spelling and grammar errors. Tailoring your resume for each job can also increase your chances of getting noticed, so don't be afraid to edit your objective or skills section to fit the position you're applying for.