You're sitting there staring at a blinking cursor. It’s frustrating. You need a job at the local coffee shop or maybe a summer internship at a tech firm, but your "experience" section is basically a void. Most people think a high school student resume needs to look like a corporate executive’s CV, full of jargon and "synergy." Honestly? That is the quickest way to get your application tossed in the trash by a hiring manager who just wants to know if you can show up on time and not break the espresso machine.
It’s a weird paradox. You’re told you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. This is where most students panic and start inflating things. They turn "walked the neighbor’s dog" into "Canine Kinesis Consultant." Please, don’t do that. Recruiters see right through it.
The "Blank Page" Anxiety and What Really Matters
Let’s get real about what a recruiter is looking for when they see a teenager’s application. They aren't expecting you to have managed a team of twenty. They are looking for "soft skills"—which is just a fancy way of saying you aren't a jerk and you know how to talk to people. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers consistently rank communication skills and a strong work ethic way above technical "know-how" for entry-level roles.
Your high school school student resume isn't a history of what you've done; it's a trailer for what you can do.
Think about your life outside of the classroom. Do you play sports? That shows you can handle a schedule and work with a team. Did you help your younger siblings with their homework during the pandemic? That’s leadership and patience. If you’ve spent three years in the marching band, you have more discipline than half the adults I know. Use that.
Structure: Stop Making It So Symmetrical
Forget those rigid templates you see on Canva that have five perfectly sized boxes. Real life is messy. Your resume should be clean, sure, but it doesn't need to be a work of art. It needs to be readable.
Start with your contact info. Use a professional email. "SkaterBoy2009@gmail.com" was cool when you were ten, but now? Not so much. Stick to something boring like your name and a few numbers.
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The Objective Statement is Dead (Mostly)
Most career experts, including those at the Harvard Office of Career Services, suggest moving away from the "Objective" statement. It’s usually selfish. "I want a job to gain skills" tells the employer what they can do for you. Flip it. Use a "Summary" or just skip straight to your education.
If you do use a summary, keep it punchy. "Dedicated honors student with 2+ years of volunteer experience in animal shelters, seeking to apply customer service skills to a retail role." That’s it. Short. To the point.
Education: Your Biggest Asset
Since you’re still in school, this goes at the top. List your school, your expected graduation date, and your GPA—but only if it’s above a 3.0. If it’s lower, just leave it off. Nobody is going to call the principal to check unless you're applying for a high-level academic internship.
- Mention relevant coursework. If you're applying for a social media job, mention that digital media class.
- List awards. Honor roll? Perfect attendance? Mention it.
- Don't forget clubs. Being the treasurer of the Chess Club means you can handle money. That matters.
Experience Doesn't Have to Be a Paycheck
This is where people get hung up. You don't need a W-2 to have experience.
Volunteer work is the secret weapon of the high school student resume. If you spent your Saturday mornings at a food bank, you were essentially working a logistics job. You tracked inventory, dealt with "customers," and followed safety protocols. That is gold.
What about "odd jobs"?
Mowing lawns is a business. You set prices. You maintained equipment. You managed a schedule. If you did this for three neighbors all summer, you weren't just "mowing lawns." You were running a small-scale landscaping operation.
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Formatting the Bullet Points
Don't just list your chores. Use the "Action Verb + Task + Result" formula.
Instead of: "Cleaned tables."
Try: "Maintained a clean dining environment for 50+ daily customers, ensuring health code compliance and fast table turnover."
See the difference? One sounds like a chore. The other sounds like a job.
The Skills Section: Hard vs. Soft
Everyone puts "Microsoft Word" on their resume. It’s 2026. Everyone knows how to use Word. Unless you’re a macro-wizard in Excel, maybe leave the basic office suite off. Focus on things that actually set you apart.
Are you bilingual? That’s a massive plus in almost any industry. Do you know how to use TikTok or Instagram for business? Many small business owners are terrified of social media and would love a teenager who actually knows how to edit a Reel without making it look like a PowerPoint presentation.
Hard skills are things you can prove, like "Spanish Fluency" or "Python Programming." Soft skills are things like "Time Management" or "Conflict Resolution." Don't just list soft skills in a big cluster. Prove them in your experience section instead. Saying you're a "leader" is weak. Saying you "Captain of the Varsity Soccer team" is proof.
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Mistakes That Make You Look Like an Amateur
Typos. Seriously. One "their" instead of "there" can kill your chances. It shows you don't care about the details.
Also, keep it to one page. You are seventeen. You do not have enough life experience for a two-page resume. If it’s longer than one page, you’re either a prodigy or you’re including your middle school participation trophies. Cut the fluff.
Avoid using a "Skills Meter." You’ve seen them—those little bars that say you’re 80% good at Photoshop. What does that even mean? 80% of what? It’s a meaningless graphic that wastes space. Use words.
Real-World Example: The "No-Job" Resume
Imagine a student named Leo. Leo has never had a job. He plays baseball and helps his uncle fix cars on the weekend.
His high school student resume shouldn't be empty. He should list "Automotive Maintenance Assistant (Informal)" and describe how he organized tools, learned basic mechanical troubleshooting, and managed parts inventory. He should list "Varsity Baseball Player" and highlight the 15 hours of practice a week he balances with his schoolwork. That shows grit.
Actionable Steps to Get Started Right Now
Don't wait until the night before the application is due. Resumes are living documents.
- Brainstorm everything. Sit down with a piece of paper and write down every club, every volunteer hour, and every "side hustle" you've done in the last three years.
- Choose a clean layout. Use a standard font like Arial or Georgia. Size 10 or 12. No "fun" fonts.
- Write your first draft. Focus on those action verbs. Words like "Coordinated," "Developed," "Managed," and "Assisted" are your best friends.
- Get an adult to read it. Not just your mom—though she's great—but a teacher or a counselor. They’ve seen hundreds of these and can spot a "teenager-ism" from a mile away.
- Save it as a PDF. Never send a Word doc. Formatting breaks on different computers. A PDF stays exactly how you meant it to look.
The goal isn't to look perfect. The goal is to look prepared. When a manager looks at a high school student resume, they are betting on your potential. Show them that you take yourself seriously, and they’ll be much more likely to take a chance on you.
Keep it honest. Keep it short. Get it out there.