High School Student Resume Examples

Entering the job market right after high school, or even while still in class, can feel intimidating, but it also comes with real opportunities. Starting work early helps you gain valuable experience, build a professional network, and secure a place in the industry.

It’s about more than earning a paycheck. It’s also a chance to learn how to balance life and work while making the most of your adaptability at a young age. And you don’t have to be a wonder child.

Take it from Aleks, our Head of Product, who started working at Echocv while he was still in high school:

Let this guide be your compass as you chart a path to a high school resume that is as compelling as your future.

Let’s see how it all comes together in a resume sample.

High school student resume sample

It’s natural for a teen resume to look a little different from a standard one. While it still includes many of the main components, experience is presented differently. Consider highlighting leadership roles in clubs, achievements such as competition awards, or a capstone project.

Review the example below and use it as a template for your own information, or create a new one with the Echocv resume builder.

Jumping from a sample to the real deal, let’s talk about how to format your resume like a pro.

How to format a high school student resume

If you’re applying for a job for the first time, you probably need some advice on how to write a resume.

Try to tackle this task step by step:

Step 1: Resume format and designs

At first, you might feel tempted to use the most popular resume format you find online. However, the functional resume format, which emphasizes your skills and achievements over practical experience, is often the best choice for a teen creating a first job application.

Choose a modern resume template to show a fresh approach, and keep these formatting tips in mind:

• Use a one-page resume. When it comes to length, less is more, especially when you’re just starting out.
• Keep margins between 0.5” and 1 for better readability. Our resume builder lets you adjust margin size with a quick swipe of the slider.
• Use a single-column layout if you have limited or no experience. It helps minimal content look clean and substantial on the page.
• Add some color to your resume, potentially matching the company you’re applying to. Choose easy-to-read fonts like Rubik or Lato in 10–12 pt.

Step 2: Top sections

Since your high school resume doesn’t need to follow a rigid standard format, you can organize your resume sections more flexibly. You can also include unique sections that may not appear on a standard resume and arrange them in the order that best fits your experience.

However, make sure you still include these essential elements:

• Personal information
• Objective statement
• Skills
• Education
• Experience or activities

We’ll review each of these below.

Step 3: Resume header

A well-structured resume header makes your resume look polished and professional.

Here’s the contact information you should include:

• Your name: first name and surname are enough.
• A title: you can get creative here. If you want to grab attention, try something like Visionary Scholar, Tech Wizard, or Code Conqueror. Use your creativity to make your resume stand out.
• Professional email address: skip “swiftie@email.com.” It’s better to create a new one, such as firstname.lastname@email.com.
• Physical address: as a teen or recent high school graduate, you’re probably applying to places close to where you live. Recruiters often prefer local candidates, so this can work in your favor.
• Phone number: while voice messages may be common, phone calls are still part of the professional world.

Also think about the market’s preferences—a Canadian resume, for instance, could have a different layout.

Finally, to confirm whether a photo is needed or not, check the specific requirements in the job ad.

Worried about inaccuracies or typos? Try our free AI resume checker to make sure your resume is ready to go.

Now that the format is set, it’s time to strengthen your resume with relevant experience.

How to write your high school student resume experience

When building your teen resume, think of “experience” more broadly. It does not only mean paid jobs—it includes the different activities and responsibilities you have taken on. Even if you have never had formal employment, you can still share examples that help impress potential employers.

Here’s what you can include in your experience section:

Your experience section can include several smaller parts. Use different resume headings, such as “Volunteer work” and “Projects,” to organize the information clearly.

Now let’s look at a real job posting you can apply for with just a high school diploma.

Below, we’ve bolded the parts we’ll target in the example experience entry.

Create a targeted experience section

One of the best job search strategies is to tailor your resume to each job posting. Include keywords from the job description in your application to quickly show recruiters that you are a strong match.

It may feel tempting to list everything you can do, but it is better to stay focused and keep your resume relevant to the role.

Take a look at this experience entry tailored to the job ad above:

The resume effectively shows the candidate’s impact through quantifiable achievements. It also highlights important responsibilities and leadership initiatives, such as leading a tech club and organizing workshops.

To make your experience stand out, show your accomplishments with clear, measurable results.

Quantifying your experience

When you highlight your accomplishments, strengthen them with measurable results. This makes your resume more engaging both visually and in substance.

Here are some ways to put numbers on your resume:

• Emphasize specific academic achievements.
• Mention measurable results from projects.
• Quantify your involvement in extracurricular activities.
• Detail part-time job responsibilities.
• Show the direct impact of your volunteer efforts.

High school student resume objective

One of the first things recruiters scan for is your profile statement. It appears at the top of your resume and summarizes what you can do, what you hope to achieve, and why you want to work for the company.

For entry-level candidates, a resume objective is often the best choice. Keep these points in mind when writing yours:

• Align it with the employer’s needs by focusing on job requirements and matching your skills to them.
• Include a concise overview, up to 3 sentences, covering your career goals, key skills from past experiences, and the value you can bring in line with the company’s mission and goals.
• Use action verbs and power words to strengthen your application.

Take a look at a well-written high school resume objective:

Next, focus on combining the right hard and soft skills to make your resume stand out.

Skills on a high school resume

In a functional resume, place your skills section just below the header. Skills are usually divided into hard and soft skills. Hard skills include specific knowledge, such as software, programming languages, or blogging platforms.

Key hard skills for a teen can include:

Soft skills help you build and maintain relationships. You develop them throughout your life through interactions with other people, so you do not need specific professional experience to acquire them.

Take your pick from our suggestions:

After skills, here’s how to list your education and certifications in a way that makes a strong impression.

How to list your education and certifications on your resume

If you’re thinking, “Are people going to take me seriously with just a high school diploma?,” don’t panic. Listing any education helps recruiters understand where you are right now and what they can expect from you in terms of availability and experience.

Take a look at this example:

This entry is effective because it:

• Lists essential details like the degree, institution, and dates clearly and comprehensively.
• Shows a strong GPA, advanced coursework, and honors to highlight academic achievements.
• Provides a focused snapshot of educational accomplishments without unnecessary verbosity.

Certifications on your resume

Adding certifications and training to your resume is a smart way to catch the attention of employers, scholarship committees, or anyone else you want to impress. It’s a way to show what you can do without needing a degree.

There are plenty of free courses you can take from home, so you can still be proactive even on a pocket-money budget. Try platforms like Coursera, edX, Khan Academy, and Udemy. Some courses may charge a fee to get a certification, but even listing that you completed a course can be enough for a teen resume.

Consider adding some of these:

Finally, add a few extra sections to your resume to highlight what makes you unique.

Additional sections for a high school student resume

Your teen resume may already stand out, but these optional sections can make it even stronger:

• Speaking more than one language is a strong advantage, especially for roles where you’ll interact with people from different backgrounds.
• Adding your hobbies or interests gives employers a better sense of who you are outside of school and whether you’d be a good fit for their team.
• List any awards you’ve received to show your dedication and achievements.
• Consider adding a portfolio or a personal website to showcase your projects.

Bonus: You can also create a section called Top 5 reasons to hire me. This is a strategic way to present yourself as an ideal candidate by highlighting your strengths and the unique value you can bring. You can easily structure and customize this section with the Echocv builder.

In conclusion

Think of this guide as a compass for your resume journey, helping you turn your high school achievements into a strong resume. Step by step, you can shape your experiences in a way that helps recruiters find you more easily.