- You have more experience than you think (babysitting = childcare professional!)
- Focus on what you've actually done (school projects, volunteer work, sports)
- Keep it simple (one page, clean format, no fancy stuff)
- Make it relevant (tailor it to the job you want)
- Don't lie (seriously, they'll find out)
- Part-time gigs: Target, Starbucks, local restaurants, tutoring
- Summer jobs: Camps, internships, lifeguarding, retail
- Volunteer spots: Animal shelters, food banks, community centers
- College applications: Some schools want to see what you've been up to
- Scholarship apps: They love seeing your activities and achievements
- Special programs: Summer camps, competitions, leadership programs
- Self-awareness: Realizing you've actually accomplished stuff
- Professional communication: Learning how adults talk in work settings
- Organization: Keeping track of what you've done and learned
- Good grades (3.5+ GPA is worth mentioning)
- Honor roll (shows consistency)
- AP classes (proves you can handle challenges)
- Academic awards (even that "Student of the Month" thing)
- Relevant classes (took business? Marketing? Computer science?)
- Sports teams: Leadership, teamwork, handling pressure, time management
- Clubs: Organization skills, commitment, working with others
- Student government: Leadership, public speaking, event planning
- Academic competitions: Problem-solving, working under pressure
- Arts stuff: Creativity, dedication, performance skills
- Community service: Shows you care about others
- Religious/cultural organizations: Cultural awareness, community involvement
- Fundraising: Sales skills, organization, goal achievement
- Environmental projects: Initiative, teamwork
- Helping elderly/disabled community members: Patience, empathy, responsibility
- Babysitting: Childcare professional, crisis management, multitasking
- Pet sitting: Animal care specialist, reliability, problem-solving
- Lawn care/household services: Small business owner, customer service
- Tutoring: Education specialist, patience, communication
- Helping in family business: Business operations, customer service
- Starting a blog/YouTube channel: Content creation, marketing, consistency
- Learning to code: Technical skills, self-motivation
- Creating art/music: Creativity, dedication, skill development
- Organizing events: Event planning, leadership, coordination
- Building stuff: Problem-solving, following instructions, creativity
- Header (your contact info)
- Objective (what you want)
- Education (where you go to school)
- Experience (what you've done)
- Skills (what you're good at)
- Additional sections (awards, activities, etc.)
Your Full Name
Your Phone Number | Your Email | Your City, State
LinkedIn Profile (if you have one) | Portfolio/Website (if relevant)
- "Motivated high school student seeking part-time retail position to develop customer service skills and gain work experience"
- "Dedicated student with strong communication skills looking for tutoring opportunity to help younger students while earning income"
- "Responsible teenager with childcare experience seeking babysitting position with local families"
- "Looking for a job" (too vague)
- "Want to make money" (too obvious)
- "Seeking a challenging position that will utilize my skills" (too generic)
- School name and location
- Expected graduation date
- GPA (if it's 3.5 or higher)
- Relevant coursework
- Academic honors
Lincoln High School, Springfield, IL
Expected Graduation: June 2025
GPA: 3.7/4.0
Relevant Coursework: Business Management, Computer Science, Public Speaking
Academic Honors: Honor Roll (Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
Volunteer Tutor | Lincoln Elementary School | Sept 2023 - Present | Springfield, IL
• Help 15 third-grade students with math homework during after-school program
• Improved student test scores by an average of 20% over one semester
• Created fun learning games to make math more engaging for struggling students
• Collaborated with teachers to identify students needing extra support
- Leadership: Led, organized, coordinated, managed, supervised
- Communication: Presented, explained, collaborated, negotiated, facilitated
- Problem-solving: Resolved, improved, streamlined, developed, implemented
- Achievement: Achieved, exceeded, increased, reduced, earned
Varsity Basketball Player | Lincoln High School | Aug 2022 - Present | Springfield, IL
• Maintained 3.8 GPA while practicing 15 hours per week during season
• Served as team captain, leading pre-game motivation and strategy discussions
• Improved free-throw percentage from 65% to 85% through dedicated practice
• Mentored 8 junior varsity players on shooting techniques and game strategy
Crew Member | McDonald's | June 2024 - Present | Springfield, IL
• Serve 100+ customers per shift while maintaining friendly, professional attitude
• Handle cash register and process payments accurately during busy periods
• Train new employees on food safety procedures and customer service standards
• Consistently arrive on time and cover shifts for absent coworkers
Animal Care Volunteer | Springfield Animal Shelter | Jan 2024 - Present | Springfield, IL
• Care for 20+ dogs and cats daily, including feeding, cleaning, and exercise
• Assist with adoption events, helping 15+ animals find homes in 6 months
• Educate potential adopters about pet care and animal behavior
• Maintain detailed records of animal health and behavior observations
Class Treasurer | Lincoln High School Student Government | Aug 2023 - Present | Springfield, IL
• Manage $5,000 annual budget for class activities and fundraising events
• Organized successful homecoming dance that raised $2,000 for local charity
• Present monthly financial reports to 500+ students at school assemblies
• Coordinate with school administration on budget approvals and expense tracking
- Full name (larger font, bold)
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- City, State (no need for full address)
- LinkedIn profile (if you have one)
Sarah Johnson
(555) 123-4567 | sarah.johnson@email.com
Austin, TX | linkedin.com/in/sarahjohnson
- Use firstname.lastname@email.com format
- Avoid nicknames or unprofessional addresses
- Create a new email if your current one isn't professional
- School name and location
- Expected graduation date
- GPA (if 3.5 or higher)
- Class rank (if in top 25%)
- Relevant coursework
- Academic honors
EDUCATION
Lincoln High School, Austin, TX
Expected Graduation: May 2025
GPA: 3.8/4.0, Honor Roll (Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
Relevant Coursework: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Statistics, Computer Science
- Organized, managed, led, coordinated
- Assisted, supported, helped, guided
- Created, developed, designed, built
- Improved, increased, enhanced, strengthened
- Leadership and teamwork
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Time management and organization
- Responsibility and reliability
Volunteer Tutor | Austin Public Library | September 2023 - Present
• Assist elementary students with homework and reading comprehension
• Develop creative learning activities to engage struggling readers
• Collaborate with librarians to organize educational programs
• Demonstrate patience and adaptability when working with diverse learners
Treasurer | Student Council | August 2023 - Present
• Manage annual budget of $5,000 for school events and activities
• Track expenses and prepare monthly financial reports
• Coordinate fundraising efforts that increased revenue by 20%
• Present budget proposals to school administration
Varsity Soccer Team Captain | Lincoln High School | August 2022 - Present
• Lead team of 25 players through practices and competitive matches
• Mentor younger players and help develop their skills
• Organize team-building activities and community service projects
• Maintain 3.8 GPA while balancing 15+ hours of weekly practice
Babysitter | Private Families | June 2022 - Present
• Provide childcare for children ages 3-10 in family homes
• Plan educational activities and assist with homework
• Prepare meals and maintain safe, clean environment
• Communicate regularly with parents about children's activities and behavior
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Social media management (if you actually know strategy, not just posting selfies)
- Basic photo/video editing (Canva, iMovie, etc.)
- Typing speed (if it's 40+ WPM)
- Programming languages (Python, Java, HTML/CSS, etc.)
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere)
- Database management
- Website building (WordPress, Squarespace)
- Data analysis (Excel, Google Analytics)
- Native/Fluent: You grew up speaking it
- Proficient: You can have conversations and understand most things
- Conversational: You can order food and ask for directions
- Basic: You know some words and phrases
Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Proficient), French (Conversational)
- Public speaking (if you've done presentations, debate, theater)
- Writing (if you write for school paper, blog, etc.)
- Active listening (if you tutor, volunteer with kids/elderly)
- Team leadership (sports captain, club president)
- Project management (organized events, fundraisers)
- Mentoring (tutored younger students, trained new employees)
- Critical thinking (debate team, academic competitions)
- Creativity (art, music, creative writing)
- Adaptability (handled changing schedules, new situations)
- Time management (balanced school, work, activities)
- Reliability (perfect attendance, always on time)
- Initiative (started projects, volunteered for extra tasks)
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Photoshop, HTML/CSS, Python
Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Proficient)
Soft Skills: Leadership, Public Speaking, Time Management, Problem-Solving
Skills: Customer Service, Microsoft Office, Bilingual (English/Spanish), Team Leadership, Social Media Management, Time Management
- Academic awards (Honor Roll, Dean's List, Academic Excellence)
- Athletic achievements (MVP, All-Conference, Team Captain)
- Competition wins (Science Fair, Debate Tournament, Art Contest)
- Community recognition (Volunteer of the Year, Youth Leadership Award)
- Scholarships or grants received
Awards & Honors:
• Honor Roll, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
• Regional Science Fair, 2nd Place (2024)
• Volunteer of the Month, Springfield Animal Shelter (March 2024)
• Academic Excellence Award in Mathematics (2023)
- Leadership positions (President, Vice President, Captain)
- Long-term commitments (2+ years)
- Activities relevant to the job
- Unique or interesting hobbies
Activities:
• Drama Club, Lead Actor in "Romeo and Juliet" (2023-2024)
• Environmental Club, Secretary (2022-Present)
• Varsity Tennis Team (2021-Present)
• Youth Group Leader, St. Mary's Church (2023-Present)
- CPR/First Aid certification
- Food Handler's License
- Lifeguard certification
- Microsoft Office Specialist
- Google Analytics certification
- Any industry-specific training
Certifications:
• CPR and First Aid Certified, American Red Cross (Valid through 2025)
• Food Handler's License, Illinois Department of Health (2024)
• Microsoft Office Specialist - Excel (2024)
ALEX MARTINEZ
(555) 123-4567 | alex.martinez@email.com | Chicago, IL
OBJECTIVE
Motivated high school student seeking part-time retail position to develop customer service skills while maintaining academic excellence.
EDUCATION
Lincoln High School, Chicago, IL
Expected Graduation: June 2025
GPA: 3.6/4.0
Relevant Coursework: Business Management, Public Speaking
EXPERIENCE
Volunteer Cashier | St. Paul's Food Pantry | Sept 2023 - Present | Chicago, IL
• Assist 50+ families weekly with food selection and checkout process
• Maintain accurate inventory records and restock shelves efficiently
• Provide friendly customer service to diverse community members
• Train new volunteers on proper food handling and safety procedures
Soccer Team Captain | Lincoln High School | Aug 2022 - Present | Chicago, IL
• Lead team of 20 players through practices and games
• Organize team fundraising events, raising $1,500 for new equipment
• Maintain 3.6 GPA while practicing 12 hours per week during season
• Mentor younger players on teamwork and sportsmanship
Babysitter | Various Families | June 2022 - Present | Chicago, IL
• Provide childcare for children ages 3-12 on weekends and evenings
• Plan educational activities and help with homework
• Prepare meals and maintain safe, clean environment
• Communicate regularly with parents about children's activities and behavior
SKILLS
Technical: Microsoft Office, Cash Register Operation, Social Media Management
Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Conversational)
Soft Skills: Customer Service, Leadership, Time Management, Problem-Solving
ACTIVITIES & AWARDS
• Varsity Soccer Team, Captain (2023-2024)
• Honor Roll (Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
• Volunteer of the Month, St. Paul's Food Pantry (January 2024)
SARAH CHEN
(555) 987-6543 | sarah.chen@email.com | San Francisco, CA
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahchen2025
OBJECTIVE
Dedicated student with strong STEM background seeking summer internship in technology to apply programming skills and gain industry experience.
EDUCATION
Mission High School, San Francisco, CA
Expected Graduation: June 2025
GPA: 3.9/4.0
Relevant Coursework: AP Computer Science, AP Calculus, AP Physics, Business Management
Academic Honors: Honor Roll (2022-2024), National Honor Society Member
EXPERIENCE
Programming Tutor | Code.org After-School Program | Jan 2024 - Present | San Francisco, CA
• Teach basic programming concepts to 15 middle school students weekly
• Develop lesson plans for Scratch and Python programming languages
• Improved student coding assessment scores by average of 30%
• Collaborate with teachers to integrate coding into math curriculum
Student Government Treasurer | Mission High School | Aug 2023 - Present | San Francisco, CA
• Manage $8,000 annual budget for student activities and events
• Present monthly financial reports to 1,200+ students and faculty
• Organized successful fundraising campaign raising $3,000 for new library computers
• Coordinate with school administration on budget approvals and expense tracking
Research Assistant | UCSF Youth Science Program | Summer 2023 | San Francisco, CA
• Assisted graduate students with data collection for cancer research project
• Learned laboratory safety procedures and basic research techniques
• Presented research findings to 50+ program participants and mentors
• Maintained detailed lab notebooks and organized research materials
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Programming: Python, Java, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Scratch
Software: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Adobe Photoshop, Git/GitHub
Data Analysis: Excel, Google Analytics, Basic SQL
Other: 3D Printing, Arduino Programming, Website Development
PROJECTS
• Personal Finance App: Developed Python application to track student expenses (2024)
• School Website Redesign: Led team of 4 students to redesign school club webpage (2023)
• Environmental Data Analysis: Analyzed local air quality data for science fair project (2023)
AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS
• Regional Science Fair, 1st Place in Computer Science (2024)
• Google Analytics Individual Qualification (2024)
• AP Scholar Award (2023)
• Microsoft Office Specialist - Excel Expert (2023)
ACTIVITIES
• Robotics Club, Programming Team Leader (2022-Present)
• Math Tutoring Club, Founder and President (2023-Present)
• Environmental Club, Vice President (2022-Present)
- Customer service experience (even if it's just helping classmates)
- Communication skills
- Reliability and punctuality
- Ability to handle money/transactions
- Teamwork
• Assisted 50+ customers daily with product selection, demonstrating strong communication and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Teamwork and communication
- Food safety knowledge (if you have it)
- Multitasking abilities
- Customer service skills
• Managed multiple tasks simultaneously during busy periods while maintaining quality and safety standards
- Subject matter expertise
- Patience and communication skills
- Ability to explain complex concepts simply
- Experience working with kids/teens
- Reliability
• Improved student test scores by 25% through personalized teaching methods and patient one-on-one instruction
- Programming languages and technical skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Project experience
- Continuous learning mindset
- Attention to detail
• Developed mobile app using Python that solved real-world problem, demonstrating programming skills and innovative thinking
- Don't say you're "fluent" in Spanish if you can barely order tacos
- Don't claim you "managed" something if you just helped out
- Don't make up volunteer hours or inflate your GPA
- Your height, weight, or photo (unless you're applying to be a model)
- Elementary school achievements
- Every single club you joined for one meeting
- Personal information like relationship status
- "Helped with" instead of "Assisted" or "Supported"
- "Did stuff" instead of specific actions
- "Good at" instead of "Proficient in" or "Experienced with"
- "Tutored students" vs. "Tutored 15 students weekly"
- "Raised money" vs. "Raised $2,000 for new equipment"
- "Improved performance" vs. "Improved test scores by 20%"
- Stick to 1-2 professional fonts
- Use black text on white background
- Save the rainbow colors for your art projects
- If you bold one job title, bold them all
- Use the same date format throughout
- Keep bullet points consistent
- Don't cram everything together
- Don't spread it out so much it looks empty
- Use consistent spacing between sections
- Spell-check is your friend, but don't rely on it completely
- Read your resume out loud
- Have someone else proofread it
- "Utilized" instead of "used"
- "Facilitated" when you just "helped"
- Big words don't make you sound smarter if you use them wrong
- One page. Period. End of discussion.
- If you can't fit it on one page, you're including too much
- "Seeking a challenging position" (everyone says this)
- "To gain experience" (obviously)
- "Looking for growth opportunities" (too vague)
- Every job, volunteer gig, or responsibility you've had
- All your classes, especially ones related to the job you want
- Sports, clubs, activities (even if you quit after a month)
- Awards, honors, good grades
- Skills you have (even if you learned them on YouTube)
- Projects you've worked on
- Times you helped people or solved problems
- Required skills (these MUST be on your resume if you have them)
- Preferred qualifications (nice to have)
- Keywords they use repeatedly
- The vibe of the company (formal vs. casual)
- Does this relate to the job I want?
- Does this show a skill the employer wants?
- Does this make me look responsible/capable/awesome?
- Is this recent enough to matter?
- Header (name, contact info)
- Education (school, GPA if good, relevant classes)
- Experience (start with your strongest experience)
- Skills (match these to the job posting)
- Additional sections (awards, activities, etc.)
- Spelling and grammar (read it out loud)
- Consistent formatting
- One page length
- Professional email address
- Keywords from the job posting
- Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
- Avoid tables, text boxes, or graphics
- Use standard section headings ("Experience," not "My Amazing Journey")
- Save as both .docx and .pdf (some systems prefer one over the other)
- Use exact phrases from the job posting
- Include both acronyms and full terms (e.g., "CPR" and "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation")
- Don't keyword stuff—make it natural
- Make your Instagram private or clean
- Check your Facebook for anything embarrassing
- LinkedIn is becoming important even for high schoolers
- GitHub for coding projects
- Behance for design work
- Personal website for writing samples
- YouTube for video projects
- 3-5 of your best pieces
- Brief description of each project
- What skills it demonstrates
- Link to it from your resume
- Clean, professional design
- Easy navigation
- Mobile-friendly
- Fast loading times
- Local food banks or soup kitchens
- Animal shelters
- Hospitals (usually need to be 16+)
- Libraries
- Community centers
- Religious organizations
- Environmental cleanup groups
- Tutoring programs
- Start a club at school
- Organize a fundraiser
- Captain a sports team
- Lead a group project
- Mentor younger students
- Organize community service projects
- Learn coding (free resources: Codecademy, Khan Academy, YouTube)
- Get certified in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
- Learn photo/video editing
- Take online courses (Coursera, edX have free options)
- Join debate team (communication)
- Play team sports (teamwork)
- Take on group projects (collaboration)
- Start a blog or YouTube channel (creativity, consistency)
- Talk to your teachers about career interests
- Attend community events
- Join professional organizations that accept students
- Connect with family friends in your field of interest
- Use LinkedIn (seriously, it's not just for adults)
- Finish a semester (new grades, classes)
- Complete a project or activity
- Get a new job or volunteer position
- Learn a new skill
- Receive an award or recognition
- At the end of each school year
- Before applying for summer jobs
- Before college application season
- When changing career directions
- General resume (for most applications)
- Job-specific versions (tailored to specific positions)
- College application version (emphasizes academics and leadership)
- Scholarship application version (highlights achievements and community service)
- You have more experience than you think
- Focus on skills and potential, not just job titles
- Tailor each resume to the specific opportunity
- Keep it simple, clean, and one page
- Update it regularly as you grow
- Brain dump all your experiences
- Choose a clean, simple format
- Write strong bullet points that show impact
- Get someone to proofread it
- Apply for that job/internship/opportunity
- Jobs Near Me for Students - Find age-appropriate work opportunities in your area
- How to Choose College Major - Explore career paths and plan your future
- Time Management for Students Guide - Balance work, school, and life effectively
- Study Schedule Template Perfect Plan - Organize your academic responsibilities
- Note Taking Strategies Guide - Improve your learning and retention
- Student Aid Gov Navigation Guide - Navigate federal financial aid resources
- Emergency Financial Aid for Students - Find help when money gets tight
- Step Up for Students Florida Scholarship Guide - Florida-specific scholarship opportunities