high school resume skills examples with no experience

10 High School Student No Experience Resume Summary Examples

Stepping into the world of work can be thrilling and nerve-wracking all at once, especially for high school students without any job experience.

Crafting a resume might seem like a challenge, but it’s your ticket to landing that first exciting opportunity.

This guide aims to ease your worries and arm you with powerful examples to create a standout resume summary.

We’ve lined up ten excellent examples that highlight your unique talents and eagerness to contribute, all without the need for formal job experience.

Dive into these crafted samples and find the spark to create a resume that shines bright with your potential.

These examples are your starting blocks to not just write a resume but to launch your journey into a bright professional future.

Top 10 High School Student No Experience Resume Summary Examples

How to Write a High School Student Resume Summary With No Experience?

1. start with a strong opening.

Begin your summary by stating your name and highlighting your enthusiasm, motivation, or positive traits that make you stand out. For example, “Proactive and resourceful high school student with a positive attitude and a willingness to take on new challenges.”

2. Focus on transferable skills

Since you don’t have formal work experience, emphasize the skills and abilities you’ve gained through your education, extracurricular activities, volunteering, or personal projects. Highlight skills such as problem-solving, communication, teamwork, time management, leadership, or organization.

3. Tailor it to the job

Research the job or industry you’re applying for and customize your summary accordingly. Identify the key qualities or requirements sought by employers and align your skills and traits with them. This shows that you understand the job and are a good fit for the role.

4. Highlight academic achievements

If you have excelled academically, mention any honors, awards, or relevant coursework that demonstrate your commitment and competence. This can include your GPA, relevant classes, projects, or academic clubs.

5. Emphasize extracurricular activities

Showcase your involvement in clubs, sports teams, community service, or leadership roles. Highlight any achievements or responsibilities that demonstrate your ability to work in a team, manage projects, or take on additional responsibilities.

6. Demonstrate motivation and willingness to learn

Highlight your eagerness to gain experience, learn new skills, and contribute to a team or organization. Employers value individuals who are motivated, adaptable, and open to growth.

7. Keep it concise and focused

Keep your summary brief and to the point, ideally within 3-4 sentences. Remember to use action words and be specific about your accomplishments or responsibilities.

8. Personalize it

Make your summary unique by incorporating your own experiences, interests, or passions. This will help you stand out and provide a glimpse into your personality.

These 10 high school student resume summary examples are excellent resources to help you create a compelling summary that highlights your skills and potential despite having no prior work experience. Implement these tips and make a strong impression on employers, increasing your chances of securing your desired job opportunity.

• 10 High School Student Resume Objective Examples
• High School Student Cover Letter Template and Example
• Recommendation Letter for High School Student Entering College
• Top 2 High School Student Resume Samples

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20 High School Student Resume Examples Created for 2024

High School Student Resume

• High School Student Resumes by Experience
• High School Student Resumes by Role

High school is one of the best times of your life, but it can also be one of the most difficult when looking for your first or second job. You’ve got to fill out applications, prep for interviews, and write your resume.

Using ChatGPT for resumes  is a cool idea, but can still feel daunting and overwhelming. We’ve all been there, and what you really need is a free AI resume builder and solid student cover letters to get you on your way.

We’ve analyzed countless high school resumes to discover  what would get students job interviews in 2024 . While you may want to start with a simple  resume outline , keep reading to find 20 high school resume samples (plus writing tips) that are jam-packed with essential techniques and tricks.

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• If you choose to use a template, make sure you adjust the  resume’s formatting  so that your text is big enough to read with one-inch margins on the side.
• However, you should write your bullet points like you would for a job. Highlight any responsibilities and accomplishments relevant to the job you’re applying for now.
• For example, if you’re looking for a job in sales, emphasize your ability to work in groups and create a good customer experience.

High School Student No Experience Resume

• If you don’t have work history, include projects and volunteer work instead. Treat them like a job and write bullet points according to your responsibilities.
• Make sure you start every bullet point with active verbs, and always double-check for typos. You’ve got this!
• Include your unique skills, your desired position, and the company you hope to work for to make your objective stand out from the rest!

Beginner High School Student Resume

• But here’s the deal, schools won’t provide funds like candy—so convey why exactly you need a scholarship using the career objective. In Morwenna’s case, her pursuit of gaining knowledge to make societal changes is a compelling argument that no school can ignore. Basically, make them think, “We need this future reformer in our school.”

High School Internship Resume

• You ideally want key industry-proof skills that can work in any internship such as Google Sheets, Adobe Lightroom, and Todoist. These also become a testament to not just your super-fast learning ability but also your tech-savviness with current software!

First Job High School Student Resume

• To remedy that problem, add a  skills section on your resume  to give hiring managers an important overview of your strengths.
• To really highlight your abilities, incorporate the same skills in your work experience, too. Demonstrate how you used your skills to better your workplace, and you can’t go wrong!
• Adding stylistic elements like color and different fonts can help you show a bit of your personality (and make your resume more fun to read). 

Experienced High School Student Resume

• Remember, your resume is a highlight reel, so you need to include what’s most important (like your achievements and relevant metrics). 
• You can adjust your layout, font sizes, and margins, but keep it easy to read. 
• Use a bit of color and some fun fonts, provided it still looks professional. You’ve got this!

High School Senior Resume

• This statement must align with the potential employer’s needs, proving you understand the job requirements and have gone the extra mile to address doubts about your capabilities. As for experiences that might have prepared you for the job, workshops and volunteering programs you’ve participated in are prominent candidates.

Out of High School Resume

• Leisure activities range from soccer, hiking, drawing and sketching, robotics, and photography to journalism. But how do they fit in the picture? Well, a penchant for drawing and sketching could reflect creativity and an eye for detail, while journalism stints could hint at strong communication and critical thinking.

High School Graduate Resume

• Right from the first line of the career objective, you can see the candidate’s passion and willingness to work in this field. Notice how Serai’s love for photography is clearly backed by a previous project for a school newspaper.
• These details will be perfect when Serai’s ready for the AI cover letter generator to bring her application to perfection.

High School Diploma Resume

• In the education section of your high school diploma resume, include your diploma, the school’s name, and your start and end date. Add some useful software skills to the mix to secure your seat in any undergraduate program.

Recent High School Graduate Resume

• Begin with clearing which stream and degree you want to pursue. Next, follow suit with your mission and what you hope to gain by completing the program. Try some more personalization by linking your career goal with the college’s agenda.

High School Student Scholarship Resume

• Your high school student scholarship resume should vividly show your positive contributions to noble causes, such as offering ADLs to seniors, and emphasize your impact on society.

High School Student College Application Resume

• Ensure your high school student college application resume shows your practical and classwork achievements that emphasize your grand vision to make a positive contribution to society.

High School Student for College Resume

• Before hitting “submit,” always  check your resume  for typos and other minor errors. It’s amazing what you can miss during your first few reviews.
• A good GPA can demonstrate, at least in part, your willingness to work hard. We’d recommend including your GPA only if it’s above 3.5, but anything above a 3 is a good average.

High School Student for Customer Service Resume

• Including projects, volunteer work, or club memberships is a great way to add value to your resume.
• Your resume should focus on your abilities and other activities you’ve engaged in that will show your value.
• Read the responsibilities and qualifications to look for key skills and tasks. Then, incorporate some of those skills and responsibilities into your high school student customer service resume.

High School Student Internship Resume

• For example, if the job description lists responsibilities like writing and analyzing data, include “written communication” and “data analysis” in your skills section.
• One easy way to customize your resume is by focusing your  resume skills  on things that apply to the internship. 
• Make sure you keep your resume professional and to the point. You don’t want to include anything too personal about your beliefs, religion, politics, or personal information.
• For example, you can list “volunteering at local church,” but avoid saying “fasting every weekend.” It doesn’t show off relevant skills and is a bit too forward for a resume.

High School Student Office Worker Resume

• Good projects include anything that demonstrates your leadership abilities or desire for knowledge. Senior projects, personal blogs, or even being on a sports team are all good examples to include!
• Add work experience directly under your contact information and name, then add any relevant projects if you’re low on space. 
• While there are plenty of  resume writing tips , your resume should be as unique as you. Don’t get so caught up in what you think you “should” do that your resume is bland and cookie-cutter. 

High School Student Sales Resume

• Numbers demonstrate your value, and they’re useful tools for the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) software that hiring managers use to sort through job applicants.
• Trust us, and incorporate metrics into at least 80% of your bullet points!
• For example, you know that different  resume templates  can change your resume’s appearance, but different templates can also stretch or streamline your content. 
• Mess with multiple templates to see what your content will look like—you may find a template that allows for more room, or one that allows you to highlight your skills better.

High School Student Athlete  Resume

• Think of a time you proved you were the MVP on your team—Did you lead your team to a championship? Perhaps you made the game-winning shot in a crucial, nail-biting game?

High School Student Music Resume

• When you include hobbies like songwriting or your interest in classical music in your high school student music resume , it conveys to your recruiter that you’re super dedicated and passionate about your craft.
• You can also include hobbies that are different, too. For example, if you enjoy experimenting with new recipes from around the world, that can show you’re ready to give new genres a whirl or that you understand that music—while art—is still supposed to be fun and adventuresome.

Related resume guides

• Entry Level

How to Write a High School Resume (Template and Examples Included!)

As a student trying to land your first job , you've probably heard how important it is to have a good resume . But writing a strong high school resume isn't always easy when you have little to no work experience .

It’s not always easy—but it is possible.

The secret is to leverage any professional-like experience (such as community or volunteer services) you've gained, plus your skills and academic accomplishments. Since you're likely applying for entry-level jobs , most recruiters won't expect a huge professional background but will look for a good set of skills and strengths .

In this article, we'll cover how to write a high school student resume, and provide practical tips and examples of what to write in each section. Plus, you'll get two templates that you can easily adapt to make your own.

Why is a high school resume important?

A well-crafted high school resume can set the stage for your future career experiences. Even if you have no formal work experience, recruiters still want to see your skills, education, and potential certifications laid out on paper.

Writing a resume also helps you organize your achievements, identify your strengths, and lessons you learned from past experiences, such as extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and AP courses.

Though your resume might be short—which is normal for a high schooler—a thoughtful and tailored presentation can make your application stand out. Especially considering that you're likely to be competing with other high school students, so your chances might be higher than you'd think. Get that resume out there! Browse open jobs on The Muse and find work that’s right for you »

How to write a high school student resume in 6 steps

Resumes are all about presenting your qualifications strategically and authentically to grab the recruiter's attention and land an interview . Here's how to write one as a high school student:

1. Start with your contact information

Needles to say, your resume should have your contact information so the recruiter can identify it and contact you to schedule an interview. It's the first section of the resume and should be placed at the top of the page.

Follow this structure:

Name: [Full Name]

Address: [City, State]

Phone: [Phone Number]

Email: [Email Address]

Media (optional): [Linkedin and/or Portfolio link]

2. Write a resume summary or objective

A resume summary is a short statement that highlights your top skills, qualifications, and aspirations for a specific job in two to three sentences. This section is placed right below your contact information.

Though it's optional, a resume summary helps showcase who you are—especially if you don't have much work experience and would benefit from highlighting skills and positive traits. It should be brief and to the point.

Similarly, the objective statement also has two to three sentences in which you highlight your qualifications and directly state your interest in that position and why. Though it's considered outdated, an objective statement is still welcomed by some recruiters if it is well-crafted.

High school student resume summary examples:

“Driven high school student with a passion for software development and a proven track record in coding and robotics competitions. Skilled in HTML, Java, and C with certifications in data analysis and project management.”

“Ambitious high school student with strong communication skills and proven leadership skills in extracurricular activities. Skilled in advanced Excel, Figma, and fluent Spanish.”

High school student resume objective example:

“Detail-oriented high school student with a passion for design and proven experience creating visual content for social media platforms. Seeking opportunities to leverage design skills in a dynamic internship setting.”

3. List your education

This section should be the first thing the hiring manager sees after the summary because “it shows them what you’re looking for—an internship , a part-time job , or a full-time job—after graduation,” says career coach and speaker Anne Ryan .

Here, you should add your current or completed academic background. Ryan also says that if you are dual-enrolled in a college program (especially ones where you may receive an associate degree as well as your high school diploma), you might want to add that in this section as well.

Adding your high school GPA can also be a good move. It'll help you stand out if your score is high—3.5 or above for high school students—and show hiring managers you did well in classes, showing commitment and effort.

Here's an example:

High School Diploma

New York Preparatory High School

New York, NY

Graduation date: November 2024

Below high school, you could add some other extra classes you’ve taken that are relevant to the application, “but you may want to put AP classes and awards further down the page to direct more attention to your experience section,” Ryan says.

4. List your relevant experiences

Next section is the experience section . As a high school student, it's likely that you had few professional experiences in life, but there are multiple activities that can count as experience in this context. For example:

• Extracurricular activities
• Community service
• Personal projects
• Volunteer work
• Programs or applications you manage
• Academic clubs you’ve been part of
• Part-time jobs
• Internships

You don't need to include all of that in your resume. Instead, pick the experiences that are relevant for the job. For instance, if you're applying for a sales position, an experience in volunteer work where you've dealt with the public is more relevant than being the organizer of a book club.

The idea is to show hiring managers how you could fit a position based on what you did and achieved in all these experiences. These experiences should be listed in two to four bullet points , always highlighting key actions and potential accomplishments.

For example:

Food Bank Volunteer

May 2022 – July 2024

• Stocked shelves and maintained inventory in order to reduce waste
• Organized my team's shift and tasks to improve our productivity

Note: You may find examples of resumes with volunteer experience and other experiences in separate sections. That's also correct and OK to do if you think it'll improve readability.

5. Create a skills section

The skills section demonstrates what abilities you have that makes you qualified for the job. You can add both hard skills (technical knowledge and the certifications you have to perform that job) and soft skills (the way you behave and interact with others when working).

Think about tasks or projects you've done in the past that required some of the skills you'll also use in the job you're applying for. For instance, organizing a charity event requires planning, teamwork, and leadership, which are valuable skills in any professional context.

High school student resume skills examples:

• Content writing
• Written and verbal communication
• Software development
• Social media management
• Translation
• Transcribing
• Planning and organizing
• Image editing
• Video editing

6. List your relevant certifications

Finally, the certifications section , which is the last one in your high school resume. This section usually is written with bullet points showcasing each certification and the year you achieved it.

Remember that you don't need to list every single certification you have, but only the ones that are relevant to the job you want. For example, if you're applying for a social media management internship, a creative writing and digital marketing certification is more relevant than a coding certificate in this context.

Here's an how this section should look like:

Certifications

• Creative Writing Masterclass Certification - AlphaCom (2024)
• Digital Marketing Certificate - HubSpot Academy (2024)
• Content Management - HubSpot Academy (2023)

Note: If you don't have many certifications or skills, you can combine those sections into one. Some resume templates also have an “Awards & Honors” section after skills and certifications. If you have earned relevant academic awards and honors, you can and should use this section.

Extra high school resume writing advice

Here, we'll cover formatting and tricks that can make your resume stand out from the bunch. Check it out:

Use keywords to match the job description

If you're applying for a job online , you'll come across descriptions that list tasks, skills, and essential information about the company, and keywords that appear repeatedly are likely important to recruiters.

Incorporating relevant keywords into your resume not only demonstrates alignment with the job but also helps applicant tracking systems (ATSs)—which recruiters use to filter candidates—select your resume.

However, don’t stuff your resume with keywords that don't make sense. Instead, pick out the ones that match your own experiences, certifications, and skills, and naturally add them in sections where it makes sense. For internships and entry-level jobs, you're not expected to meet every requirement, so be honest and strategic when selecting relevant keywords.

(Need help with that? Here's how to pick resume keywords that'll get your job application past the ATS .)

Use action verbs and quantifiers

As the name implies, action verbs are verbs that express an action that can be mental or physical. Basically, they describe and express something that you did or are currently doing. In resume writing, action verbs are a powerful way to express your involvement in an activity or project.

Examples of action verbs

• Collaborated
• Implemented

On the other hand, quantifiers are anything you can measure within your tasks and results that demonstrate the impact of your work, the scope it had, and the frequency of the activities. Together, action verbs and quantifiers are a great way to demonstrate your qualities and skills as a professional.

For instance, you could write:

• Worked for four months as a barista, serving more than 100 clients per evening
• Participated in my school's green committee team and organized 10 activities during the school year
• Developed and organized a book donation campaign for my local library and received 150+ donations

Choose a simple format for your resume

When it comes to formatting, keep your resume as simple as possible. A simple format makes your resume much easier to read and easily scannable for ATS. By simple formatting, we mean standard fonts, such as Arial or Times New Roman, and regular size, like 11 or 12.

Be consistent and stick to the chosen format throughout the entire resume. Avoid overly complex designs with colors, images, or fancy fonts that can hinder readability and ATS compatibility.

As former Google VP of People Operations Lazlo Bock said on LinkedIn, “unless you're applying for a job such as a designer or an artist, your focus should be on making your resume clean and legible.”

Finally, save your resume in Word and PDF and send in the format asked by the recruiter in the job listing. Although the standard is PDF, because it can't be edited and keeps the integrity of the file, some companies prefer Word.

Proofread, proofread, proofread

Always double check your resume to ensure there are no grammatical errors or typos. Instead of immediately sending it to a recruiter, review it a couple of minutes after writing and/or ask for a friend or family member to proofread it for you.

Tools like Grammarly , Google Docs, and even Chat-GPT can also help you refine your text, trim words that aren’t needed, and point out grammatical errors and typos you missed.

High school resume examples

Here are two high school resume examples that you can use as a reference when crafting yours.

Example #1: Resume for high school student with volunteer experience

[email protected]

(917) 274-7398

linkedin.com/in/jenadams

Proactive high school student with volunteer and leadership experiences in content writing, news reporting, event planification, and team collaboration. Eager to start a communications career in a local setting while finishing studies.

Holy Trinity Diocesan High School

Hicksville, NY

Sep 2022 – Present

Graduation date: Jun 2025

EXPERIENCES

Book Club President

Jun 2023 – Present

• Managed reading materials for monthly reading sessions for +20 students, expanding the club from 8 to 22 students in a year.
• Promoted analytic reading among teenagers through games and educational contests, which led to 10 books read in a school year.
• Contacted 2 local bookstores to organize book club special events within their stores.

Co-Editor-in-Chief (Volunteer)

Holy Trinity Newspaper

Feb 2023 – May 2024

• Joined as a freshman staff writer and was promoted to Co-Editor-in-Chief in sophomore year
• Delegated articles about school events, creative pieces, & editing tasks to a diverse staff of 25+ students
• Designed print layouts with Adobe Pagemaker & wrote monthly editorials about current world events

CERTIFICATIONS & SKILLS

Google Workspace

Adobe Suite

Example #2: Resume for high school student with work experience

CHRISTIAN WOLF

[email protected]

(555) 274-8248

Santo Domingo High School

Weekend Receptionist

Fresno Art Museum

Ago 2023 – Present

• Answered & transferred over 25 calls per day quickly & accurately to on-duty staff.
• Greeted over 50 visitors per day and responded to questions about scheduling & events.
• Collaborated with the HR team distributing +15 internal mail campaigns using specialized project management and CRM softwares.

Bishop’s Altar Server (Volunteer)

St. John's Cathedral

Downtown Fresno

Sep 2021 – May 2023

• Worked in teams of seven highly trained servers during liturgical prayer (services, weddings, & funerals).
• Trained +5 new volunteers over the course of 4 months to assist high demand in a fast paced environment.

Languages: English (native) | Spanish (beginner)

Office skills: Google Workspace (advanced), Microsoft Excel (intermediate)

Social media: HootSuite (beginner), Mailchimp (beginner)

CERTIFICATIONS

Inbound Sales Certificate - HubSpot Academy (2023)

Email Marketing Certificate - MailChimp (2024)

AWARDS & HONORS

Month Employee: Fresno Art Museum (2024)

Gold medal: CIF State Swimming Championships (2022)

High school resume template

Ready to make yours? Here are two resume templates for high school students you can edit including your own experiences. Don't be afraid to make the necessary changes to better showcase your skills, accomplishments, and education.

Template #1: High school student resume with no work experience

Resume Summary (optional): 1-2 sentences paragraph about your skills, interests, and motivations for the job.

High School Name

City, State

Graduation Date: [Month, Year]

GPA: [3.5 or above]

• Skill 3 (you can add more, but don’t over do it.)
• Certification 1
• Certification 2
• Certification 3

AWARDS & HONORS (optional; if it’s career or academic-related, the better)

• Title of Achievement 1
• Title of Achievement 2
• Title of Achievement 3

Template #2: Resume template for high school students with volunteering experience

Address: [Address]

Resume Summary: 1-2 sentences paragraph about your skills, interests, and motivations for the job.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Volunteer Position, Organization Name

Dates of service: [Month, Year] – [Month, Year or present]

• Responsibility 1 (use action verbs and quantifiers)
• Responsibility 2

Resume Skills for High School Students With Examples

• Skills & Keywords
• Salary & Benefits
• Letters & Emails
• Job Listings
• Job Interviews
• Cover Letters
• Career Advice
• Work-From-Home Jobs
• Internships
• Skills High School Students Have

Top Skills in Resumes for Students

Match your skills to the job, how to include skills in your resume, sample high school student resume, how talk about skills at an interview.

When you are applying for jobs, employers want to see what skills you have even if you don’t have paid work experience. What kinds of skills can you include on your resume if you’re a high school student?

Here are examples of the different types of skills in resumes for students you should mention, as well as in cover letters and job interviews. You’ll also find tips on how to include these abilities in your job materials.

Types of Skills High School Students Have

Skills in resumes for students can be those that you have learned in school, during extracurricular activities, in sports, and when volunteering. For example, if you have played football, soccer, basketball, or other sports, you have teamwork skills. Were you the captain? You have  leadership skills .

Have you taken a computer class or taught yourself how to use software programs? You have computer skills.

Almost everyone has some level of communication skills. If you can carry on a conversation, present in class, or write a paper for school, you are communicating.

When you have successfully juggled personal activities and schoolwork, you’re flexible and dependable. Did you work on a group project? You have collaboration skills. Do you babysit or mow a neighbor’s lawn? You are reliable and dependable.

Below are five skills that almost every high school student has, and that almost every employer is looking for. You’ll also find related keyword phrases that you can use in your resume and cover letter.

Communication

Communication is a skill that refers to your ability to both convey information to others and to listen. This includes oral and written communication skills.

Every student has some experience developing their communication skills. Have you given any class speeches or presentations? Then you have improved your oral communication skills. Have you taken any courses involving writing? Ditto. Employers are always looking for employees with strong written and oral communication skills, so be sure to emphasize your communication experiences.

• Customer service
• Good listener
• Guest services
• Presentation
• Verbal communication

Dependability/Responsible

Employers seek teenagers who are mature and whom they can rely on to show up on time and get the job done. Emphasize your responsible nature. Have there been times when you were given additional responsibilities (in work, school, or even sports) due to your dependable character? Include examples of these in your job application.

• Follow instructions
• Hard-working
• Multitasking
• Punctual, reliable, responsible.

Quick Learner

Employers typically don’t expect high school students to know all the skills they need for a job right away. However, they will expect you to pick up new ones quickly. Emphasize times in the past when you picked up on a new skill or technique with ease.

• Enthusiastic
• Fast worker
• Learn quickly
• Willing to learn

Many jobs for high school students involve working on a team, whether as part of the waitstaff for a restaurant or as a co-counselor at a summer camp. Include in your resume examples of times that you worked well as part of a team, such as a sports team, club, or music group.

• Cheerfulness
• Collaboration
• Interpersonal
• Positive attitude

Employers are always happy to hire employees who are good with technology. Luckily, many high school students have that skill set. If you have any experience (either in school or through extracurricular activities) working on particular computer programs, or doing any other technology-related activities, include these top skills in resumes for students in yours.

If you have a lot of these experiences, you might even create a “ Technology Skills ” section on your resume.

• Microsoft Office
• Social media

Make a list of what you have done in all your school and non-school activities, along with the skills you have learned or used in each of those roles. Include those that are the closest match for what the company is seeking on your resume.

For example, if you’re applying for a job in a retail store, the hiring manager will be interested in knowing that you are dependable, reliable, accurate, and have interpersonal and communication skills.

For a part-time job where the schedule varies, you will need to be flexible and able to work a variety of different hours.

A good way to find the skills you need for a job is to review the job requirements listed in the job posting. In many cases, it will be easy to determine what skills you need to be considered for the job.

For example, here’s a description for McDonald’s crew jobs:

We're looking for hard-working, enthusiastic individuals who want to be a part of a winning team. If you enjoy working with people and love to learn new things, we want to meet you. We offer flexible schedules and the opportunity to advance within our restaurants.

Here are some of the skills you need to work at Starbucks:

• Ability to learn quickly.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and request clarification when needed.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to build relationships.

Domino's Pizza is seeking:

• Qualified customer service reps with personality and people skills.

You will find the required skills and qualifications listed in the job posting for most jobs listed online. If they aren’t listed, review the requirements for similar jobs to help generate a list of applicable skills. Highlight the skills that are the closest match to the job on your resume.

Your resume can include more than paid employment, so the best way to include your skills is to list your academic, school, and extracurricular activities on your resume. Include the skills you have in the description of the position or activity, or in an “Interest/Skills” section at the bottom of your resume. For example:

Manatee High School Arts and Crafts Club , Manatee, Florida

Vice President

• Recruited club members using school newspaper, website, Facebook, Twitter, and school Clubs Day.
• Composed a weekly email newsletter to club members.
• Designed and led weekly arts and crafts activities for 15 club members.

Interests and Skills

• Hometown Soccer League
• After-School Program Tutor
• Proficient in Spanish

This is an example of how to include skills in resumes for students. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Sample High School Student Resume (Text Version)

Leslie Lerner 7312 Owens Avenue Cleveland, OH 44109 Cell: (123) 555-5555 llerner@email.com

Qualifications

Deeply responsible and dependable high school student positioned to excel in a Summer Camp Counselor role requiring enthusiasm, creativity, teamwork, and a dedication to student welfare and success.

• Sports / Athletics : Experienced in coaching and teaching the basics of basketball, swimming, and volleyball to children ages 5 through 13. Hold current First Aid, CPR, and Lifeguard certifications.
• Communication and Teamwork : Engaging interpersonal skills in working with students to identify their strengths and challenges, motivate participation, and create positive learning environments.
• Event Coordination : Display effective organizational and leadership skills in coordinating fundraising events, sports tournaments, and games.
• Additional Skills : Quick learner, proactively observing processes to swiftly gain mastery of new skills and techniques. Technical proficiencies include MS Office Suite and social media.

Lincoln West High School, Cleveland, OH; 3.89 GPA Honor Roll, National Honor Society, Captain, Girls Basketball Team; Band; Student Body Secretary; Beta Club; Jingle Bell Run Volunteer; Student Math Mentor

Experience Highlights

Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH Athletics Volunteer , September 2019 to Present Serve as volunteer coach for boys’ and girls’ youth basketball and volleyball teams. Demonstrate gameplay and ball handling techniques, assign positions, and communicate with parents / caregivers. Officiate as needed at basketball games.

• Helped to organize and publicize well-attended seasonal tournaments.
• Suggested and implemented outreach program at public schools to attract new program participants.

Arthritis Foundation, Cleveland, OH Jingle Bell Run Volunteer , Fall 2017 and 2019 Enthusiastically recruited over 100 fellow high school students to participate in annual 5K race fundraising event through both personal interactions and use of fundraising webpage.

• Independently raised over $500 each year of participation.
• Set up and manned registration and refreshment tables on race day.

Clark Recreation Center, Cleveland, OH Swim Instructor / Life Guard , Summer 2019 Taught basic swimming skills to children ages 5 through 13. Created fun swimming games and exercises; evaluated and conveyed student progress to parents.

Here are  resume writing tips for high school students  to use to be sure you have included all your relevant skills.

You might also include some of your skills and examples of times you demonstrated them in your  cover letter .

You may not be able to work all the skills you have into your resume, but keep a list of your top five related to the job for which you are applying in mind when you interview. You'll be able to mention them when you're answering interview questions about why you're qualified for the job.

Try to work those skills into the conversation. The closer a match you are to the job requirements, the better your chance of getting hired.

• Cashier: Job Description, Resume, Cover Letter, Skills
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High School No Experience Resume Examples and Templates

This page provides you with High School (No Experience) resume samples to use to create your own resume with our easy-to-use resume builder . Below you'll find our how-to section that will guide you through each section of a High School (No Experience) resume.

If you’re a high school student stressed about writing your first ever resume, don’t worry – it’s not just you! When you’re young and inexperienced, resumes can seem like a serious challenge. All you want is to land your first ever part-time job – but how do you fill all that space, when you’re totally new to the world of work?

Don’t give up hope! You probably have more relevant experience than you think, even if it isn’t directly related to work. As a high school student, employers will expect you to include things like club activities, school-based responsibilities, and even volunteering work on your high school resume.

To give you a head start, we’ve written up a helpful guide to writing your first ever resume. We’ve put together examples of what a good resume should look like, hints on what to do (and what not to do) when writing, and advice on what to expect from the job application process – including some tips you may not get from your school’s careers counselor. Read on, and you’ll be sending out your first resume in no time!

How to Write Your High School No Experience Resume

As a high school student with no work experience, it’s unlikely that youve never had to write a resume before. Don’t let it scare you – it’s not as complicated as you might expect! In general, most resumes will contain the following sections:

• A summary and/or objective
• A record of your past work experience
• A list of your qualifications, certifications, and licenses
• A list of your relevant skills

Your resume needs to show a hiring manager two things, especially when you have no previous work experience. The first is that you have relevant qualifications for the role you want – whether that’s an academic qualification in a relevant field, or just some relevant experience that may not have anything to do with work. The second is that you have the skills that will allow you to excel in the role.

This means that it’s okay if you don’t have much to fill out your experience section. As a high school student, new to the workforce, you won’t be expected to bring any real professional experience to the table. The more important thing is how you present yourself in your resume – which means calling attention to the skills, qualifications and experience that you do have, so hiring managers know why they should give you the opportunity you want.

We’ll cover each section of your resume one by one, so you can build it one step at a time.

The Best Format for a High School No Experience Resume

Before you actually write your resume, you’ll need to choose the right layout! The format of your resume dictates what hiring managers will notice first when they see your job application. The right format will draw their attention to your best qualities, and draw it away from the areas where you know you aren’t as strong as you would like.

This is something to keep in mind when you choose your professionally-designed resume template from our selection. As you won’t have any previous work experience, you will benefit from choosing a format that will highlight your skills instead. That way, recruiters can see what you bring to the table, rather than what you don’t!

Remember, this is only your first resume – when you have more work experience behind you, you’ll be able to create a brand new resume for future job applications. After you’ve built up a stronger work history, you will benefit from choosing a resume format that balances your skills and qualifications with your work experience. When that time comes, our resume guides for a wide range of different industries will help you make the best and smartest choices!

• Applicant Tracking Systems

Some companies use an applicant tracking system (or ATS) to sort through the job applications they receive for each open position. ATS software filters resumes based on keywords (usually taken from the job description) to help weed out resumes that are generic, not qualified for the role, or otherwise unsuitable to progress to the interview stages. This is really useful for hiring managers – it allows them to speed up the hiring process, which saves them a lot of time.

But for candidates, it isn’t such good news! If your resume doesn’t get through the ATS software’s filtering system, it is likely to be rejected before a human gets to see it at all. That can be upsetting, especially if you’ve put a lot of time and effort into your resume.

You can boost your chances of getting through the ATS software by paying close attention to the requirements of the job description. Wherever possible, you should use the exact words used in the job description when describing your skills: for instance, if a job description asks for ‘high levels of personal organization,’ use that exact phrase when writing about your experience of balancing multiple AP classes at school. Treat the job description as your guide, and you can maximize your chances of success.

ATS software can sometimes get confused by complex resume formatting. But don’t panic – all of VisualCV’s resume templates are designed to make your resume easy for ATS software to read. That means you don’t have to worry about the software being confused by the format of your resume – you can focus on your resume’s content, instead.

How to Write a Summary for Your High School No Experience Resume

Most resumes open with a summary, which means it’s the first thing most recruiters will see when they pick up your resume. A summary is meant to give recruiters a short, clear description of your best qualities. The key to a good summary is keeping it brief – think about the three main reasons why you are qualified for the job you want, and write them down in three sentences or less.

It’s important to remember that your summary should be specific to the role you’re applying for. You can’t get away with reusing the same summary for multiple applications! Recruiters will notice, and it will affect your chances of getting hired.

Since you’re applying for your first ever job, you can’t talk about your past work experience in your summary. However, you can bring up your educational background, your skills, your best qualities, and any relevant non-work experience you have. Later in your career, you can use your summary to lay out your career journey so far, so recruiters can easily see where you’re coming from and what you bring.

• 3 High School No Experience Summary Examples:
• Junior year student at William McKinley High, achieving a 3.5 GPA. Student editor of the school magazine, with experience of teamwork and project management. A fast learner with a strong work ethic.
• Senior year high school student maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Active member of the school field hockey team, bringing my drive to succeed and my passion for teamwork to everything I do.
• Current student at West High School, maintaining a 3.6 GPA. Three years of volunteer experience at a local animal shelter. I deliver great customer service, compassion and care in all areas of my life.
• How Not to Write a High School No Experience Resume Summary

You might be tempted to use your summary as a second cover letter – a longer piece of writing telling the story of why you want the job you’re aiming for. In fact, this is the number one thing you shouldn’t do when writing your summary!

A summary needs to be clear and to-the-point, focused on what you can offer your employer. You need to keep it focused, professional, and short. If you want to talk more about yourself, you can do that in your cover letter instead – your resume simply doesn’t have the space to accommodate it.

We know that summaries can be tough to pin down. Some recruiters don’t think you need a summary at all – in fact, opinion is divided – so don’t feel too bad if you’re having a hard time! Leave it out for now, and think about coming back to it later on.

• For the past three years, I have worked as a volunteer at the Soft Paws Animal Shelter, cleaning the animals’ environments and providing enrichment activities. I believe this history of taking responsibility for my surroundings will give me a head start in the role of Part-Time Janitor, as I already know the best cleaning and sanitation techniques.

Do You Need a Resume Objective?

By now, you should be pretty clear on what a summary is – but what about your resume objective?

When you’re just starting out on your career journey, an objective is a great way to give hiring managers more information about your long-term plans. Your objective should be a one-sentence statement about where you want to work or what you want to do in the future. While it might sound obvious, you do need to make sure that your objective is relevant in some way to the role you’re applying for!

You won’t always need a resume objective. They’re much less useful when you already have an extensive work history, because your career so far can tell a hiring manager a lot about your long-term goals. But when you’re applying for a first job, most recruiters agree that an objective is a smart thing to include.

• High School No Experience Resume Objective Example:
• Current student at William McKinley High, hoping to build experience in the food service industry.

How to Describe Your Experience on Your High School No Experience Resume

We know you don’t have any previous experience of holding down a paid job – after all, this is your first ever resume! But you almost certainly have more relevant experience than you think you do. Here are just a few things you might be able to include in this section of your resume:

• High school clubs and extracurriculars
• Sporting activities
• Volunteering experience
• Work experience placements
• Relevant hobbies and achievements

As long as you can use the experience to show how it has prepared you for the role you want, you can include it! Try taking the time to list all of the skills you have used or learned during your non-work experience. Then you can include any experience where those skills match up with the skills listed on the job description.

Remember, you don’t have to add everything you’ve ever done to your resume! If you’ve participated in a lot of extracurriculars, be selective about which ones you include. On the flip side, if you don’t have much experience, don’t lie to pad it out – you will probably get caught, and it will throw up some serious red flags for any recruiter or hiring manager.

• Describe Your Experience Effectively

Each ‘item’ of experience on your resume should come with a bullet-pointed list of things you achieved while doing it. But as you’ll see in the example we’ve provided, it’s not always that straightforward! Every bullet point should prove that you have a skill or quality listed in the job description.

That’s why you should do your best to write about what you actually achieved – not just about the basics of what you did every day. Instead of ‘cleaned floors,’ try ‘maintained a clean and sanitary work environment in accordance with health and safety guidelines.’ Doesn’t that sound more professional?

Generally, hiring managers want to see evidence that you were able to succeed in your previous work. If you can show the results you achieved by completing each task, hiring managers will be more likely to believe that you can get those results again in a future job.

Do: Volunteer, Soft Paws Animal Shelter | 2019-21

• Provided a clean and sanitary environment for employees and animals by participating in a regular cleaning rota
• Delivered great customer service and well-researched advice to members of the public looking to rescue a pet
• Participated in a volunteer dog-walking and play rota, delivering enrichment and stimulation to animals in the shelter’s care
• How Not to Describe Your Experience

You should never write a simple list of the tasks you completed! Without any context, a basic list of responsibilities assigned to you won’t tell a hiring manager anything. They won’t have any reason to believe that you did a good job when you carried out those tasks, or that you might do them just as well in a new job.

The most important thing about writing a resume is showing hiring managers that you have the skills to succeed. Be explicit about those skills and how you have applied them in the past! You can’t afford to assume that they will make those connections without your input.

Don’t: Volunteer, Soft Paws Animal Shelter | 2019-21

• Cleaned work areas
• Greeted the public
• Walked dogs

How to List Skills on Your High School No Experience Resume

Your resume’s skills section is a list of your skills – specifically the ones that will help you in the role you’re applying for. You can refer to the job description to find out what those skills are! Most of the time, job descriptions include a list of qualities that applicants should have, so use that as a guide for this section.

It will help to know the difference between ‘hard skills’ and ‘soft skills.’ Hard skills are the practical skills you’ll use in your role – like the use of particular tools or equipment, or the ability to use a certain software package. If you don’t have all the hard skills necessary for the role you want, don’t give up – you can let hiring managers know, either in your cover letter or as part of your skills section, that you’re keen to learn on the job.

Meanwhile, you definitely have some relevant soft skills already! We’ll cover those in more detail in the next section.

For general information about skills on your resume, check out our resume skills guide here!

Important Soft Skills for Your High School No Experience Resume

Soft skills are the skills you rely on in every aspect of your professional life. Skills like communication, organization and attention to detail are vital in almost every line of work, and will help you navigate a new job more easily. When you don’t have any past work experience, a good list of soft skills can show an employer that you have the tools to succeed.

Whatever the nature of the job you’re applying for, certain soft skills are always useful. Here are some of the most important soft skills to include on your high school no experience resume!

• Communication

Can you share information clearly and appropriately in person, in writing, and over the phone? Communication is absolutely critical in most jobs. Being able to communicate well will bolster your customer service skills, as well as your ability to work effectively as part of a team.

• Organization

You might get away with disorganization in high school, but the world of work is a lot less forgiving. You’ll need to be able to balance your various obligations, show up on time, and look put-together. If you can show that you’re an organized person, you’ll stand a better chance of landing almost any job!

• Willingness to Learn

For high school students looking for their first job, this one is vital – you’re likely to need more on-the-job training than more experienced candidates, after all. Being willing to absorb and adapt to new information is an important skill that will stand you in good stead with hiring managers!

There are very few jobs that will let you work independently of a larger team. Having a job means getting on effectively with people from all backgrounds, regardless of whether or not you actually like them. Teamwork also means taking on your fair share of responsibilities in partnership with the rest of your team.

Final Thoughts

Writing your first resume can be an intimidating prospect, especially when you’re young and inexperienced. But we’ve given you all the tools you will need to write a well-constructed resume, regardless of your experience level. Remember, it’s not about what you don’t have – it’s about how you present what you do have!

Copyright © 2024 Workstory Inc.

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High School Resume - How-To Guide for 2024 [11+ Samples]

Whether you’re preparing your college application, applying for an internship, or looking for a part-time job, you’ll notice that every single place is asking for your resume. 

You sit down, work on your resume for an hour, trying to come up with what you can include.

And all you end up with is the name of the high school you’re attending.

“What gives?” you wonder.

“What else can I add to my resume, when I have zero work experience?”

That’s a more than valid concern and it’s exactly what we’re going to discuss in this article! 

We’re going to tell you exactly what to write so that your resume is as convincing as any other (even with zero work experience). 

• What to include in a high school resume
• 4 Free high school templates you can use
• A real-life high school resume example
• FAQ on high school resumes

Let’s start with the question you’ve been repeatedly asking yourself:

What to Include in My High School Resume?

At the end of the day, resumes are about showing an employer that you are the right person for the job. 

You want to show you’re a competent, passionate, and responsible individual, with the right skills to get the job done.

Well, work experience isn’t the only way to convince recruiters of that. 

Instead, you can focus on the following sections:

• #1. Contact Information - This is where you write down your personal and contact information (no surprise there) like first and last name, phone number, e-mail address, or links to other profiles.
• #2. Resume Objective - In 3-4 sentences, you should be able to describe your career goals and aspirations as well as list your skills.
• #3. Education - As you probably guessed, this is where you list your education history and relevant certifications.
• #4. Extracurricular Activities - These include participation in high school clubs, competitive events, and volunteer work.
• #5. Projects & Gigs - You can mention relevant projects you have participated in, as well as any internships.
• #6. Work Experience (optional) - If you don’t have any work experience, you can mention apprenticeships or volunteer work instead.
• #7. Languages - Language skills are always a plus for your application.
• #8. Hobbies & Interests - These offer some insight into your personality and can show that you’re passionate and interested in the industry.

As you can see, there’s a lot that can go into your resume to make up for the missing work experience. 

Now, we’ll dive into each of these sections in detail and teach you how to do each of them right!

So, let’s start with:

#1. Contact Information

The contact information isn’t too hard to pull off.

Here’s what you need to include here:

• First and Last Name
• Phone Number
• Email Address

Make sure to use a professional email address , something like: [email protected]. Using your middle school [email protected] account will not leave the right impression. 

#2. Resume Objective

A resume objective is a 3-4 sentence statement of your skills, achievements, and career goals . 

Think of it as a short summary of why you’re applying for this specific position and why you’d be a good candidate for it.

You should try your best to link this summary to the role you are applying for. 

For example, if you’re applying for a position as a sales associate, you should make a point of your good social skills, proficiency in math, and teamwork skills.

Let’s have a look at a concrete example of a resume objective for this case:

Hard-working, responsible high school student looking to contribute a positive and collaborative attitude in the retail field. Math-oriented individual with good attention to detail.

#3. Education

In a typical resume, this comes after the work experience section. 

For a high school resume, though, you’d want to do it the other way around, since you want to put more focus on your academic achievements.

This section will most probably consist of only one entry: your high school education. 

Here’s how you can format your education section:

• Name of the Degree
• Name of the Institution
• Years Attended
• GPA (if above 3.5)
• Honors (if applicable)
• Relevant Courses

High School Diploma (Honor Roll)

AB High School

09/2015 - 06/2019

• Relevant courses: AP Calculus, Statistics, Leadership

#4. Extracurricular Activities

Now, this section could be one of your biggest selling points. 

Even if you have a not-so-special GPA, extracurriculars can turn your resume around. These activities are typically school-related, like participation in clubs or student societies. 

Involvement in such, especially in leadership positions like club president or team captain, shows you are sociable and active in your pursuits. 

When listing your extracurricular activities, you should format each entry like this:

Student Body Treasurer

Student Government, AB High School

• Managed the student council’s funds and expenses, kept financial records, and worked with the president and vice president to create budgets and allot funds for clubs and events.
• Participated in organizing student activities like dances, spirit weeks, community service, and fundraising movements and assemblies.

#5. Projects & Gigs

Here you can mention (or even link to) any independent projects you’ve worked on - something you’ve done on the side, unrelated to academics. 

This could be a personal project, small business or startup, side-gig, blog, etc.

Such activities add a lot of value to your resume. They show you’re a self-starter and that’s a quality that’s very much appreciated in any role and industry.

Neighborhood Book Club 

2019 - Present

• Founded a local book club, initially for my friends, and later for all the teenagers of my neighborhood.
• Prepared a monthly book calendar for the club, combining trending, relevant, and classic books.
• Organized weekly meetings to discuss the progress on the books and our thoughts upon finishing them.

#6. Work Experience (Optional)

If you have some work experience, awesome! Here’s how you’d format it on your high school resume:

• Company Name
• Dates Employed
• Achievements & Responsibilities

Sandwich Artist

Joe’s Sandwich Emporium

06/2020 - 09/2020

• Prepared several types of sandwiches for customers.
• Promoted new products on the menu directly to customers.
• Worked with the cash register.
• Interacted with dozens of customers on a daily basis.

If you don’t have any work experience, though, worry not! You can always replace it with another “Other” section.

Volunteer work, for example, is another great addition to your resume. If you also have any informal work experiences like babysitting or dog walking, you should include them in the section. 

Even if you didn’t get a paycheck out of that work, such experiences show you are skilled and reliable. 

For example, an entry for volunteering experience can look like this:

Educational Team Member

Save the Children

2018 - Present

• Assisted in giving weekly art history and drawing lessons to children at the local orphanage
• Helped organize visits at local museums and art galleries

#7. Language skills

Are you bilingual or can speak another language apart from your native one?

Make sure to mention it on your high school resume!

Wherever you might be applying, you can rest assured that they’re going to appreciate your language skills.

Even if you’re applying for a job in the service or retail industry, proficiency in an extra language or two is going to give you an advantage over other applicants, especially if you write your CEFR level , and can back up the claim in conversation.

Who knows when some foreign customers will come in and your knowledge will come in handy!

With that scenario in mind:

Be mindful not to exaggerate your skills, as lying on your resume can only get you in trouble.

#8. Hobbies & Interests

It might feel like you’re just filling up some space, but actually, the hobbies and interests you list on a resume can be significant, especially if you don’t have a lot of extracurriculars or work experience.

You need something to hint as to who you are as a person and employee, and listing hobbies and interests will do that for you. 

They also show that you are an engaged individual and well-rounded applicant. 

However, you should be selective with what you mention here. 

Listing 6+ hobbies will end up having the opposite effect - it will look like you’re just throwing in some random words, hoping some of them will be impressive. 

A good strategy is to look for hints on the job ad i.e. if they are looking for a team player, mentioning a team sport as one of your hobbies is a great idea. 

Keep in mind, though, that you should also avoid hobbies that don’t add to your profile as a candidate.

E.g.: your gaming hobby doesn't make you a better candidate for the role of a sales manager.

4 Free High School Resume Templates

So we’re all done with theory at this point. 

There’s one thing left for you to do: sit down and start preparing your resume. 

To help you with that, we’ve gathered 4 free resume templates , perfect for a high school resume. 

All you have to do is pick the ones you like best & get started with your resume!

#1. Simple Resume Template

This versatile template works for all kinds of applicants - from those with plenty to those with zero work experience. 

The neutral colors emphasize information over flashiness and the structure is easy to follow.

#2. Professional Resume Template

This next template is an all-time favorite of ours. 

Unlike the first template, the Professional one is formatted into two columns. It’s simple, yet stands out with its blue accent color (which you can change into any color you like). 

#3. Modern Resume Template

The Modern template adds something more to the traditional resume look. There is a faded design in the background and some of the sections are boxed by large brackets.

It’s a template that stands out without being too loud or wild. 

#4. Creative Resume Template

If you’re applying for a position in a creative field (marketing, design, etc.), this is the template for you. 

It uses accent colors and has a bold header that makes a statement. 

High School Resume Example

As important as picking the right template is, the content of the resume is what’s going to seal the deal. 

Here’s one example of a high school student resume, so you can get a clearer idea of what it should look like!

High School Resume FAQ

If you still have some questions regarding your high school resume, check out the FAQ and our answers below:

1. How can I write a high school resume with no work experience?

As a high school student, it’s more than normal for you to have no work experience. This shouldn’t scare you. 

There’s a lot of activities you can add to your resume that can substitute work experience.

Extracurricular activities, like participation in school clubs, projects, and gigs, are a great indicator of your skills and personality. Any informal work experiences should also be mentioned.

As long as you are showing the recruiter that you are capable of doing the job, your resume will be just fine without a work experience section.

2. How long should a high school resume be?

When it comes to high school resumes, the answer is undebatable: one page. 

A 2018 eye-tracking study showed that recruiters spend about 7 seconds skimming a resume before deciding whether to discard it or not. 

A 2-page resume will be simply excessive. 

Heck, even if you’re a professional with 10 years of work experience, we’d still recommend sticking to 1 page.

For more on resume length best practices, check out our article.

3. What’s the best way to make a high school resume?

An important and time-consuming part of making a resume is getting the formatting right. 

This means meticulously editing a Word or Google doc in order to get the right typeface, font size , line spacing, margins, etc.

What we’re getting at here is, if you’re making your resume manually, it can take you hours…

And then you make a tiny change on your layout, and your resume starts spilling into the second page!

Want to save time and effort?

Just use a resume builder ! The formatting is done for you, and all YOU have to do is fill in the resume!

Key Takeaways

That pretty much covers all you need to know about writing a high school no-experience resume . 

Quite simple and doable, right?

Finally, here’s a recap of what you should keep in mind when writing your high school resume:

• Instead of work experience, talk about extracurriculars like school clubs, personal projects, or gigs.
• Use sections like education, hobbies & interests, and languages to emphasize your skills and give an idea of your personality.
• Grab the recruiter’s attention with a concise resume objective that clearly highlights your top skills and career goals.
• Keep your resume at a maximum of 1 page.

And finally, good luck with your job search!

Related Resume Examples

• No Experience Resume
• Internship Resume
• College Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• Students and Graduates Resume
• Teacher Resume

Suggested readings:

• The Complete Guide to Remote Work [W/ Tips & Tricks]
• 101+ Achievements to List On Your Resume [In 2024]
• The Ultimate Guide to Job Hunt - Land Your Next Job in 2024

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High School Student resume examples & templates

Include your contact information

Make use of a summary, outline your work experience or extracurriculars, include the relevant key skills that make you a great employee, detail your education & relevant certifications, pick the right resume layout and design for a high school student resume, great first jobs, high school student resume, text only.

Congratulations! You've decided to take your first steps toward getting a job. Chances are this is your first high school student resume. You may not realize it, but you already have some accomplishments and achievements that will make your high school student resume shine. 

This high school student resume example and writing guide will show you how to capitalize on your experience, skills and knowledge even if you've never held a "real" job!

Resume guide for a high school student resume

Landing your first job can feel daunting, but Resume.io is here to help. Even if you're just starting out, our collection of 350+ resume examples and writing guides (like the one you are reading), along with professional resume templates, a resume builder tool and expert advice, can help you craft the perfect resume with ease.

This writing guide, along with the corresponding high school resume examples, will show you how to capitalize on your experience, skills , and knowledge even if you've never held a "real" job! These are the topics we'll cover.

How to write a high school student resume

Choosing the right resume format for a high school student.

• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the entry-level market looks like, and what salary you can expect

Let’s get started! 

Lack of work experience need not stop you from creating an impressive high school student resume! Generally, it should be structured to include the following key sections: 

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

We’ll be taking a closer look at each of these resume components after covering some general considerations.

Optimize your high school student resume!

Employers receive hundreds of high school resumes for each open position. They don’t have time to look through them all, so they use ATS software to do the initial sorting. That's why most employers now use applicant tracking systems (ATS). 

This means you have to know how these algorithm-based systems work and how to get your high school resume past the digital filter. Employers program the software to screen for certain skills and attributes reflected in keywords and phrases. 

The ATS scans resumes on that basis, and then scores and ranks them. Your resume will only make the cut if it is in the top-ranking range. 

Unless you already have some work experience, the most commonly used chronological format may not be suitable for structuring your high school student resume. 

It’s the most straightforward way for job candidates to organize their experience and qualifications below employer headings and dates, in order from most recent to earliest.

But for high school students or recent graduates with little or nothing to list in a traditional employment history section, other resume formats can be ideal. The format you choose should depend on the type of job and industry, and how best to present yourself as an ideal match. 

In cases where specialized knowledge and skills, and possibly extracurricular activities, are relevant to prospective employers, a functional resume may be your best bet. It offers greater flexibility to emphasize your most relevant strengths up front in a section labelled “Experience.” 

A hybrid, or combination, resume format offers even more versatility. You can integrate chronological and functional elements in the most applicable manner, and perhaps even put your education section higher up on the page to emphasize your school interests and accomplishments. 

Let us do the hard work for you! 

Check out the many resume templates in our resume builder and choose the format that best suits your situation. We have a wide variety available as resume examples .

A distinctive resume header sets you apart from other candidates by ensuring your resume gets noticed for the right reasons. An eye-pleasing design will make it inviting to read, while also readily identifying who your resume belongs to and how you can be reached for an interview. Here's what yours needs to include: 

• Full name & title. Simply include your first and last name, along with the role for which you are applying. Tailor this each time.
• Professional email address. Employers won't think highly of an address like [email protected] . Your best bet is the golden standard format of first name (or initials) + last name: [email protected] or [email protected] .
• Phone number. Include a number where you can be reached. You can also include when you are available at the given number.
• Location. You don't need to include your full address. However, you should highlight your location — i.e. your state and city.
• LinkedIn. Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is active and highlights your expertise. If that is the case, you can include it on your high school student resume.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth. This move could lead to age discrimination .
• Personal details. Relationship status, social security number, passport number , etc.

Mary Smith  Barista  [email protected] 0811 992 1182 New York, New York

High School Student  [email protected] 0811 992 1182 Apartment 22, Victoria Building, New York In a relationship.

Describing yourself can be tough, but don't hold back. You have many of the qualities employers want. Here's where your personality can shine. 

The 2-3 sentence resume summary (also known as the profile or personal statement ) is the first section, directly under your contact information. It allows you to exhibit a bit of personality while you explain the qualities that will make you a great employee. 

Here are some sample questions to ask yourself when writing your summary:

• What makes me a good student, friend, teammate, family member?
• Which of my skills or personal qualities have helped me in school? Am I organized, creative, responsible?
• What activities, projects, and interests could I describe that translate into job skills?

You can find an adaptable high school student resume examples summary below:

Resourceful and dedicated high school student with excellent analytical skills and a demonstrated commitment to learning. Strong organizational abilities with proven success managing multiple academic projects . Well-rounded and professional team player dedicated to continuing academic pursuits at a collegiate level.

Driven and proactive high school student with top-notch time management and organizational skills. Previous experience working with CareKittens charity as a volunteer over two summers. Committed to supporting important causes, furthering education, and learning while on the job.

Before you give up on the work history section, don't forget that your high school experience includes a wealth of opportunities to draw from. 

Give yourself credit for jobs you've done for classes or community service points as a high school student. All positions of responsibility count! Maybe you have had a paying job. If so, that's great! Here are some examples to consider: 

• Voluntary experience. Whether you have volunteered at a charity or helped out at an event, now is the time to shout about it. Focus on your transferable skills here.
• Part-time jobs. Did you have a part-time job during high school? If so, you should include it as part of your work experience. You may have worked in a store, in a restaurant, or even babysat for the neighbors.
• Teams and clubs. If you don't have any work experience but are part of a sports team or club, you should add this here. Being a team-player is considered to be a high-level skill, and so it's an easy way to wow the hiring manager.

Jobs or work experiences to consider listing

Any volunteer work or projects for social or community groups are a great addition to your high school student resume, whether in the past or continuing now. 

List each item in your experience section as any other job applicant would in the conventional employment history format —  in reverse chronological order. That means you start with the current or most recent listing and work backward to the earliest, by date.

Look for job referrals! Ask friends who already have a job where you're interested in working for a referral. Some companies have referral programs that reward current employees when their referral is hired. Employers like referrals, because they eliminate some of the unknowns of hiring. Few people would recommend a person they did not think could do the job.

Here is an example of an experience listing suitable for a high school student resume.

Sales Associate at B&B Booksllers, New York  September 2022 - Present 

• Feed animals and made sure they had access to fresh water at all times.
• Answer customer questions and reported issues in person or by phone.
• Help customers select products that best fit the needs of their pet.
• Keep the selling floor clean and maintained neat and orderly product displays.
• Maintain accurate work logs.
• Recognize for my reliability and zero absence work record.

How to write a high school student resume with no experience

Let's say you have no direct work experience on your resume . One way to approach this conundrum is to focus on either voluntary experience or your extracurriculars.  As a high school student, you may be putting a lot of time and effort into extracurricular activities that demonstrate your commitment to showing up and participating. These may be especially relevant if they illustrate an interest related to the job you are applying for. 

Creating a master list of your extracurricular activities is a worthwhile exercise in its own right. It can reinforce your choices of which skills and personal attributes to highlight in other resume sections. It may also clarify the type of job you want, and lead you to consider targeting your job search to a field that fits your extracurricular interests. 

Any master list — be it for skills, activities or jobs — can be useful for your own reference and convenience. It’s a visual tool that highlights what you are looking for at a glance, then makes it easy to cherry-pick the most appropriate resume samples for your current resume version.

If you are a go-getter who participates in multiple activities outside of school and work, perhaps associated with accomplishments , consider adding a separate resume section for extracurricular activities. 

These show your talents, determination, and time-management skills. This is another way to inject a little personality into your resume. 

Science Honor Society, Callaway High School, Jackson  2019 - Present  National Honors Society, Callaway High School, Jackson  2019 - Present  Participated in several volunteer activities, including:

• Built a house for Habitat for Humanity
• Collected supplies Stewpot Community Services
• Organized food drive & fundraiser for Cascades Humane Society   

Volunteer, Cascades Humane Society Jackson  Aug 2019 - Aug 2020 

• Performed various administrative and clerical tasks as needed.
• Served as a support for the entire office staff.
• Monitored & observed animals for signs of illness & reported symptoms to superiors.
• Created online pet profiles for potential adopters.
• Collected and recorded adoption fees.

Employers willing to hire inexperienced workers are looking for signs of responsibility, initiative, and desire to learn.  What you do need are soft skills, also known as interpersonal, social or people skills. Examples include communication — including listening, courtesy and ability to take direction — as well as dependability, punctuality and being well-organized. 

Of course, hard skills have a place on your resume too. these are pragmatic skills necessary or valuable for certain jobs, tools or programs or sciences. Examples for a high school student might include computer programming or child care expertise. 

With ATS likely to be scanning your high school student resume (unless you are applying to work for an individual or at a very small company, you need to know what keywords will help get your resume in the hands of hiring managers.  Respondents to a Society for Human Resource Management survey ranked these as the most important skills for entry-level employees:

• Dependability and reliability (think being at work on time or fulfilling promises) — a whopping 97% said these were a must!
• Integrity — 87%.
• Respect (towards clients and co-workers) — 84%.
• Teamwork — 83%.

You probably have all of these skills to one degree or another. So, make sure you list them on your high school student resume. 

Check out a high school student resume skills sample below.

• Excellent Customer Service Skills
• Strong Organizational Skills
• Advanced Computer System Skills

Think of it this way: your career right now is your experience as a high school student. It's probably more important than your employment history if you have any work experience at all, so treat the education section of your high school student resume as a higher priority. 

Expand on your high school "career" achievements and focuses, starting with a list of classes that are relevant to the job you seek. Looking to work with children? Highlight your early childhood education class. Here are some examples of relevant certificates: 

• Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) : If you undertook this certificate while in high school, you don't want to leave it out. It shows that you have digital media skills, which is a real asset if you are applying for jobs within the creative fields.
• Certified Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) : Most hiring managers will expect you to be confident using Microsoft Office. However, if you happen to have this certificate, you can show that you are a cut above the rest.
• Google IT Support Professional Certificate: Interested in a career in IT? You might find that having this Google-certified qualification gives you the gravitas you need.
• Food Safety Certification : Hospitality roles are highly popular among high school students and graduates. If you want to show that you are serious about this role, you should let the hiring manager know that you have a Food Safety Certificate.
• Language proficiency: Speaking a second language is always going to be a valuable skill. Let the hiring manager know if you can and provide details of your certificates.

Also, mention any accolades and honors, or even your grade point average (SAT/ACT/GPA Scores) if they shine. Should your scores be high, you can elevate your resume above the competition. You can also use the education section to describe projects you are proud of and how they reflect your skills.

Choose a structure that works for you! Your resume sections do not have to be in the same order as they are listed in this high school student resume sample. Put the section you think is most important and impressive first and go from there. Just remember, the summary must remain at the top. 

High Honors, Callaway High School Jackson  Aug 2019 - Present 

• Academic High Honor Roll 2015 - 2017
• Presidential Award for Academic Excellence 2016

Are you itching to show off your artistic bent here? You may be tempted to try standing out from the crowd with a strikingly colorful high school student CV design. 

But unless you are applying for a graphic design job or other position in a creative field, it's in your best interest to keep the look of your resume simple, streamlined, and polished. Strive for a first impression that's as legible and inviting to read as it is eye-catching.

Simple doesn't rule out creative choices when it comes to the layout, design, and formatting of your high school student CV.

Why use a template?

Unless you've already developed a great eye for graphic design and the computer skills to match, a resume template may be your best bet to create an eye-pleasing resume without much difficulty.

Resume.io offers four categories of resume templates, any of them suitable for a high school student to personalize for a professional and beautiful result. Start by choosing one of these style categories before drilling down to select the right layout: simple, professional, modern or creative. 

One benefit of using a resume template is that you can avoid formatting errors that make your resume look sloppy or incomplete. Using the Resume.io builder tool makes every step of creating your resume a breeze. 

Don't lose your hard work!  If you are cutting and pasting your resume into a computer program, first save it as a text file to eliminate odd formatting marks.

Personalization

As emphasized already, the rule of thumb for resume layout, design and formatting is: keep it clean and organized! Working with one of our templates and the builder tool takes away any guesswork. Yet, you still have room to make your high school student resume stylishly unique. 

Contrary to popular wisdom, Times New Roman is not the only professional-looking font that will serve you well. Try Garamond, Georgia, Helvetica, Cambria, or Calibri. 

If your resume template of choice uses a color, feel free to change it. But resist any urge to add more color. One small splash is all you need. And don't use a color other than black for your text. The rule of thumb for layouts is: keep it clean and organized!

Job market and outlook

Many high school students ask themselves, "How will I get a job without experience?" Guess what: Everybody who is now working started out in a first job without having any employment history. You have to start somewhere. A little time and research can be all it takes to find a job that adds to your skills list while putting some money in your pocket!

You have already made the decision to look for work. Now, with Resume.io's collection of tools at your fingertips, we'll walk you through everything you need in the first steps to success. It all starts with getting your foot in the door. 

More than half of young people have jobs! 

Thinking of getting a first job? You're not alone. As of July 2023, 55% of people aged between 16 and 24 had jobs. Often enough, these roles are part-time and fit around the young person's studies. Look for a flexible option that suits your schedule.

Being in demand means you have choices. Your first job probably won't be the job of your dreams, but you can target work that will lead you in the right direction for your future. This can apply in almost any type of work that high school students are typically hired to do.

About one-quarter of working teens have jobs in food preparation or service, according to BLS data. And there is plenty of room to be selective and forward-looking in this industry. Even if you end up at a fast food restaurant, you can choose which one it is. 

With a little research, you can pick a company that offers management training, flexible hours or other benefits that appeal to you. More than 10% of working high school students have jobs in these fields:

• Sales and sales support
• Office and administrative support
• Personal care and service.

This does not mean you are restricted to these industries, but they are examples of areas you're likely to be qualified for. 

Resourceful and dedicated High School student with excellent analytical skills and a demonstrated commitment to providing great customer service. Strong organizational abilities with proven successes managing multiple academic projects and volunteering events. Well-rounded and professional team player dedicated to continuing academic pursuits at a collegiate level.

Employment history

Key takeaways for a high school student resume

An effective high school student resume can make finding your first job much easier. So, what are you waiting for? Employers understand your lack of experience and instead are interested in the soft skills you are likely to have.Highlight these soft skills, along with any hard (practical) skills you have, in the summary section of your high school student resume.

It doesn't end there. You should also use keywords that automated screening software will likely scan and score for. Remember, education has been your “career” up until now, so leverage your school experience when writing this section of your resume.

Use our resume builder to browse simple resume samples, then personalize the template that speaks to you. Make sure your resume writing is error-free and looks amazing.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

• High School Student with No Experience Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on High School Student with No Experience Resumes:

• Assisting with basic administrative tasks such as filing, photocopying, and organizing documents
• Answering phones and directing calls to the appropriate staff members
• Helping to set up and prepare for school events, such as assemblies, sports events, and dances
• Assisting teachers with classroom preparation, such as setting up equipment or distributing materials to students
• Participating in peer tutoring or mentoring programs to support fellow students
• Assisting in the school library with shelving books and helping students find resources
• Helping with the maintenance of school grounds, including light cleaning or gardening tasks
• Supporting the school's technology team with basic IT tasks, such as troubleshooting computer issues for students or staff
• Working with the school's nutrition staff to distribute lunches or organize the cafeteria during meal times
• Contributing to the school's newsletter or website by writing articles or taking photographs
• Assisting with inventory management, such as tracking school supplies or sports equipment
• Participating in community service projects organized by the school or associated clubs

Speed up your writing process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to. Try it for free.

High School Student with No Experience Resume Example:

• Streamlined the administrative process by organizing over 1,000 student records and documents, resulting in a 30% improvement in retrieval time for the school staff.
• Coordinated and executed setup for 15+ school events, contributing to a 20% increase in student participation and community engagement.
• Implemented a peer tutoring schedule that matched 40 students with tutors, enhancing academic support and contributing to a 10% rise in average test scores.
• Assisted in the school library by cataloging over 500 books and resources, improving the book retrieval system efficiency by 25%.
• Supported the IT team in resolving 100+ student and staff computer issues, increasing the overall technology uptime by 15%.
• Contributed to the school's newsletter with 10+ articles and photographs, leading to a 35% increase in readership among the student body.
• Organizational Skills
• Event Planning and Coordination
• Peer Tutoring and Academic Support
• Library Cataloging and Resource Management
• Technical Support and IT Troubleshooting
• Written Communication and Journalism
• Photography
• Volunteerism and Community Service
• Inventory Management
• Time Management
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Problem-Solving
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability
• Data Entry and Record Keeping

Top Skills & Keywords for High School Student with No Experience Resumes:

Hard skills.

• Organization
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Computer Literacy
• Research Skills
• Mathematics
• Writing Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Customer Service

Soft Skills

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Time Management and Organization
• Leadership and Initiative
• Positive Attitude and Enthusiasm
• Resilience and Perseverance
• Self-Motivation and Drive
• Learning Agility and Curiosity
• Professionalism and Work Ethic

Resume Action Verbs for High School Student with No Experiences:

• Participated
• Collaborated
• Contributed
• Demonstrated
• Volunteered

Build a High School Student with No Experience Resume with AI

Resume FAQs for High School Student with No Experiences:

How long should i make my high school student with no experience resume, what is the best way to format a high school student with no experience resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a high school student with no experience resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a high school student with no experience, compare your high school student with no experience resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the High School Student with No Experience job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for High School Student with No Experiences:

High school student first job, high school graduate, high school senior, student teacher, beginner teacher assistant, substitute teacher with no experience.

High School Student Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples
• Resume Text Examples

How To Write a High School Student Resume

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

High School Student Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Brenda Martin (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Tampa, FL 33601 | www.linkedin.com/example

Reliable high school student with strong recent sales experience at a major clothing retailer. Committed to providing positive service experiences to new and returning customers. Motivated and adaptable to new work schedules, challenges, and conditions.

• Creative problem-solving
• Customer service and relations
• Inventory monitoring and control
• POS systems
• Product sales and merchandising

Work Experience

Sales Associate, XYZ Clothing, Tampa, FL | May 2022 to September 2022

• Provided high-quality service to new and repeat customers of this popular clothing store
• Greeted and directed store visitors to their desired apparel section
• Assisted customers with sizing and product choices
• Efficiently operated cash register to process order payments
• Tagged and displayed incoming merchandise and performed markdowns on previous season styles
• Maintained a clean and tidy work area at all points

Highlight :

• Won “Employee of the Month” in August 2022 for outstanding customer service

Assistant, Paw Plus Pet Shop, Tampa, FL | June 2021 to September 2021

• Gained a strong foundation in customer service, helping visitors find their desired products
• Stocked shelves and maintained inventory
• Worked the cash register and helped other retail associates as needed

Candidate: Diploma, Tampa High School, Tampa, FL | expected June 2025

Michelle Hamilton (111) 123-4567 | [email protected] | Sacramento, CA 94248 | www.linkedin.com/example

High school student with recent volunteer work at a veterinary clinic. Naturally curious and motivated to learn about new health care procedures and equipment. Passionate about supporting the health and well-being of all types of animals.

• Data gathering and entry
• Filing and documentation
• Microsoft Word, Excel
• Task prioritization
• Team collaboration
• Veterinary procedures and equipment

Volunteer Experience

Sacramento Veterinary Clinic , Sacramento, CA | August 2021 to Present

• Assist veterinarians and staff with various daily tasks such as animal feeding, walking, and cage cleaning
• Facilitate phone, mail, and email communications with pet owners
• File and maintain information on over 150 clients and their pets
• Help maintain an adequate inventory of pet medications
• Refill paper towels and other exam room essentials as needed

Candidate: College Prep Diploma, Sacramento High School, Sacramento, CA | expected June 2024

High School Honors & Activities

Member, Debate Team | August 2022 to Present

• Collaborate closely on a 10-person team to form and organize compelling debate arguments

Attendee, National Honors Society Conference | May 2022

Aliya Jackson (111) 123-4567 | [email protected] | Sacramento, CA 94248 | www.linkedin.com/example

High school student with recent formal experience helping care for toddlers. Dedicated to providing children with fun, educational indoor and outdoor activities. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.

Childcare Provider, Sacramento, CA | January 2021 to August 2022

• Assisted and collaborated with parents of two children, ages 4 and 6
• Created engaging, educational indoor and outdoor activities for each child
• Organized and cleaned the play area regularly
• Provided meals and snacks and assisted with nap times
• Candidate: Diploma, Texas Preparatory School, Austin, TX | expected June 2023
• 3.9 GPA and perfect attendance record to date
• Taking advanced core curriculum classes in math, science, and language arts for college credit
• Voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by the student body in 2022

High School Athletics

Member, Volleyball Team | August 2021 to present

• Won “Most Valuable Player” for the Spring 2022 season
• Demonstrated strong teamwork and adaptability in a high-pressure setting

Fluency in Spanish

If you’re a high school student searching for a job, having a well-crafted resume can help you find potential opportunities. But you may be unsure where to start, especially if you’ve never written your resume. How do you present your education when it’s still underway? And how do you get interviews with little or no work experience?

These concerns shouldn’t keep you from writing a great resume for high school jobs. Chances are, even at a young age, you have experiences you can translate into strong resume content. The trick is focusing on the relevant skills like foreign languages, writing, or leading groups you’ve gained through work, educational, and volunteer experiences. Read on for tips and examples that will help focus your high school resume.

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications

In a brief paragraph, your profile summary should describe your top three to five qualifications for your target high school job. You may think this resume section isn’t necessary for young job seekers and entry-level positions. Yet, at every career level, the profile section improves your resume by focusing the hiring manager’s attention on whatever makes you a great fit.

If you’ve worked before, you may want to base your profile points on that job experience. But you could also base them on your high school experience or other activities. It just depends on what’s relevant to the role you’re pursuing. For instance, maybe you have volunteer experience that overlaps strongly with your target job duties. Or you’ve excelled in an AP class at school that relates to your goal. Maybe you have advanced skills in a foreign language and would like to use those in a work setting. Whatever your top qualifications, feature them in the profile, and you’ll ensure your resume makes a great first impression.

Profile Example 1

Profile example 2, 2. add a pertinent experience section.

Your resume’s experience section should center on your relevant duties, skills, and highlights. By focusing on your relevant background (whether in or outside high school), you can give hiring managers a clear view of how you fit their needs.

You don’t need directly related work experience (or any experience) to draft a solid high school resume. But you must brainstorm how you’ve applied yourself in other ways and write how those experiences helped prepare you for the job you’re seeking. This may sound tricky, but you can use details about your high school activities, volunteering, or any other area of your life so far.

Below is a list of experience areas you might develop for your high school resume:

• Community service
• High school athletics
• High school clubs and societies
• Hobbies and interests
• Internships
• Leadership experience
• Personal accomplishments
• Research experience
• Summer camps or coursework
• Travel or study abroad experience
• Volunteer experience
• Work experience

For each of the above areas you have experience in, take 10 minutes or so to brainstorm answers to these questions:

1. What were your primary roles, duties, or focus areas? 2. What are you most proud of about this experience? 3. What general skill areas did you develop (e.g., teamwork, efficiency, customer service)?

Next, determine which of your answers overlap with the key skills required for the job you’re now pursuing. Include on your resume anything that overlaps and leave out anything that doesn’t. With this approach, you can show the most relevant aspects of your life and give hiring managers a better sense of the skills you offer. For instance, say you’re applying to be a pizza delivery driver. In citing any high school sports on your resume for this job, you could focus on the relevant skills you gained, such as teamwork or adaptability.

Work Experience Example

Volunteer experience example.

Sacramento Veterinary Clinic, Sacramento, CA | August 2021 to present

High School Athletics Experience Example

• Won “Most Valuable Player” for Spring 2022 season

3. Include your high school education and certifications

You may wonder how (or whether) to give education details when you’re still working toward your diploma. It’s actually pretty simple – see below for a template you can use to accurately show your in-progress high school education and a template for any certifications you’d like to add as well. Note that optional template areas appear in [brackets].

• Candidate: Diploma, High School Name, City, ST | expected graduation date
• [academic awards or distinctions]

Certification

• Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]
• Service Excellence Certificate, VCU Advanced Solutions | 2023

4. List key skills and proficiencies

Include a “key skills” section to help further focus your resume on your relevant background. For many high schoolers (especially those with limited work experience), this section should include “soft skills” like problem-solving and collaboration. But also feel free to add specific software programs you’ve used, or other technical skills you’ll need in your target job. Below are some common key skills for high school resumes:

How To Pick the Best High School Student Resume Template

A clear and straightforward resume template is usually best for high school students. Opt for a visual design that lets the hiring manager quickly review your most relevant information. Use a simple resume font , and avoid any template that has an overly colorful or elaborate design.

Frequently Asked Questions: High School Student Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for high school student resumes -.

One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by using a good mix of action verbs in your experience section. The following verbs list will help you brainstorm and capture the various ways you’ve applied yourself so far:

How do you align your high school student resume with a job posting? -

As of 2021, more than 36% (or 6 million) of U.S. teens held jobs for at least part of the summer season. This was the highest rate of summer employment for teenagers since 2008.

You can get more interviews for high school jobs if you tailor your resume to each application. Look at the job post text and highlight words or phrases that are repeated, emphasized, or otherwise seem important. Compare these highlighted phrases against the language you’re using in your resume, particularly the profile and key skills sections. Then, look for ways to align your resume language with the job post (while not copying phrases or misrepresenting your background).

For example, if the employer is looking for someone collaborative, you can name that aspect of your experience with a profile line as simple as “Thrive in team-oriented work settings.” Or say the organization has many non-English speaking customers. You could highlight your foreign language skills both in your profile and as a separate section farther down the document. With adjustments like these, you can make your resume more relevant to each new opportunity.

What is the best high school student resume format? -

In nearly all cases, use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your relevant skills and experience. It’s also simplest for you to modify based on your job goals.

With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your experience section(s) and an intro section. (This combination of experience and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a profile summary and key skills section, but you may also include an awards or career highlights section.

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To increase your chances of an interview, write a strong cover letter. The key to an effective letter is customizing it based on each job opening. Read our high school cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our student and internship cover letter guides.

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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Internship Resume Examples and Templates

Student Resume Examples and Templates

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4 Examples: Impressive Resume with No Work Experience for Students

By Status.net Editorial Team on November 8, 2023 — 8 minutes to read

• Key Components of a Professional Resume Part 1
• Resume Formatting Tips and Tricks Part 2
• Example Resume for High School Students Part 3
• Example Resume for College Students Part 4
• Tailoring Your Resume Part 5

Part 1 Key Components of a Professional Resume

Contact details.

Start your resume by providing your full name, phone number, and email address. This ensures potential employers can easily contact you. A professional email address (for example, [email protected] ) is recommended. Keep your address and other personal details out of your resume.

Career Objective

As someone with no work experience, your career objective should focus on your abilities and motivation to succeed in the position you’re applying for. State your goal and highlight relevant skills you possess. Be genuine about your enthusiasm and commitment to work hard and learn.

Here, you’ll showcase your transferable skills, demonstrating how they’re applicable even without formal work experience. Group your skills into categories (such as communication, technical, and project management) and provide examples of how you acquired and applied those skills in school, extracurricular activities, or personal projects.

Education Details

Outline your educational background, including the school name, degree or diploma obtained, and graduation date. If your GPA is impressive, consider listing it. Describe relevant coursework, projects, and achievements that demonstrate your competence and abilities related to the job you’re applying for.

Volunteer Work

Showcase any volunteer work you’ve done, describing your role, the organization, and the dates when you volunteered. Focus on the tasks you performed and the skills you gained during this time. Volunteering demonstrates your willingness to learn, commitment, and eagerness to contribute to a cause.

Certifications and Training

Lastly, list any relevant certifications, training, or workshops you’ve attended. These demonstrate your dedication to continuous learning and professional development. Public speaking workshops, leadership programs, or certificates in technical skills, for example, can be valuable additions to your resume.

Related: How to Email a Resume to an Employer (Examples)

Part 2 Resume Formatting Tips and Tricks

The importance of consistency.

Consistency is key when formatting your resume. Choose one font and stick with it throughout the entire document. Make sure your headings, subheadings, and body text are all the same size and style. This will give your resume a polished and professional look.

Making Use of Bullet Points

Bullet points are a great way to break up your text and highlight important information. When listing your skills, education, or other relevant information, consider using bullet points to make the content easier to digest. Not only do they help add structure to your resume, but they also draw the reader’s attention to essential details.

Including Action Verbs

Start each bullet point or description in your resume with a strong action verb. This will show potential employers that you are proactive and capable of achieving results. Examples of powerful action verbs include “managed,” “created,” “implemented,” and “optimized.” Using these types of verbs will give your resume a more dynamic and engaging feel.

Limiting Resume to One Page

Keep your resume concise and limit it to one page. This ensures all your relevant information can be easily scanned by hiring managers. Be selective about the information you include, focusing on your most significant achievements and skills that relate to the position you’re applying for. A well-organized, one-page resume is often more impactful than a long, detailed document.

Resume with No Work Experience: Templates and Examples

When creating your resume with no work experience, templates can save you time and help you focus on showcasing your strengths.

Part 3 Example Resume for High School Students

[Your Name] [Contact Information]

Objective : Motivated high school student aiming to apply strong work ethic and teamwork abilities to a part-time retail position.

Education : [High School Name], [City, State] (Expected) Graduation Date: [Month, Year] GPA: [Number]

Skills: – Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) – Detail-oriented and organized – Bilingual (English and Spanish)

Experience:

Volunteer, [Local Organization], [City, State], [Duration] – Assisted with organizing and executing community events – Collaborated with other volunteers to improve team efficiency

Participated in the [School Club/Project], [High School Name] – Contributed to successful projects and events – Enhanced leadership and teamwork abilities

Activities:

– [High School Club], Member – [Sport], Varsity team – [Volunteer Organization], Regular participant

Objective: Motivated high school student seeking a part-time [position] role at [Company Name] where I can apply my strong work ethic and dedication to learning new skills.

• Expected graduation: [Month Year]
• GPA: [X.XX/4.0]
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Able to work independently or in a team

Activities & Honors:

• [Student Club/Organization], [Position/Role], [Year]-[Year]
• [Community Service/Volunteer Experience], [Organization], [Hours/Date Range]

Remember to fill in your information and customize the template for the job you’re applying for. This example puts emphasis on education and focuses on the skills and activities that showcase your abilities as a high school student with no work experience.

Part 4 Example Resume for College Students

Objective : Driven college student with strong analytical skills seeking a data analysis internship to apply coursework and gain hands-on experience.

Education : [University Name], [City, State] (Expected) Graduation Date: [Month, Year] Degree : [Bachelor’s or Associate’s] in [Major] GPA: [Number] Relevant Coursework: [List relevant courses]

– Proficient in Python, R, and SQL – Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities – Excellent written and verbal communication – Familiarity with basic statistical concepts

Experience :

Research Assistant, [University Name], [City, State], [Semester, Year] – Collaborated with a faculty member on a research project – Gathered, organized, and analyzed data using statistical software

Title: [Project name] – Developed a [project description] using [tools or programming languages] – Presented findings at [relevant event or conference]

Extracurricular Activities:

– [University Club], Member – [Volunteer Organization], Regular participant

Objective: Driven college student pursuing a [Major] degree at [University Name] seeking an internship in the [Industry] field to expand my knowledge and gain real-world experience.

• [Major], Expected graduation: [Month Year]

Relevant Coursework:

• Proficient in [Programming Language/Software]
• Strong research and analytical abilities
• Effective time management skills

Projects & Volunteer Work:

• Brief description of the project and your role.
• [Volunteer Opportunity], [Organization], [Hours/Date Range]

Make sure to customize this template, focusing on skills and experiences relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Part 5 Tailoring Your Resume

• When applying for a specific job, be sure to demonstrate how your strengths, abilities, and past experiences, even if they are not directly related to the job, can benefit the company. Read the job description and requirements thoroughly; carefully study which skills, keywords, or requirements stand out. Then, make sure to integrate them into your resume.
• For example, suppose the job description emphasizes good communication skills. In that case, you can mention any relevant experience that contributes to your communication skills, such as group projects, being part of a club, or participating in volunteer work where you had to interact with others. Don’t forget to highlight interpersonal skills like teamwork and leadership, as they are often essential in every workplace.
• When it comes to organizing your resume, consider using functional or combination formats, as these tend to place more emphasis on your skills rather than work experience. At the top of your resume, include a strong objective statement or a summary that highlights your career aspirations and the applicable abilities you possess. Use this statement to communicate your enthusiasm and dedication to potential employers.
• Using action verbs or phrases can also help bring your resume to life. As you describe your skills, achievements, or educational experiences, consider using words like “achieved,” “managed,” “created,” or “implemented.” These verbs convey a sense of accomplishment and initiative, which will surely impress your potential employer.
• Lastly, don’t be afraid to showcase your accomplishments outside of traditional work settings. Include any accomplishments that demonstrate your resourcefulness and skills, such as completed projects, awards, or certifications. Make sure to highlight any volunteer work or internships, as these can showcase your dedication and willingness to learn in real-world situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i create an impressive resume without work experience.

To create an impressive resume without work experience, focus on your relevant skills, education, projects, volunteer activities, and personal interests. You can also emphasize your achievements in these areas, showing how they make you a good candidate. Use a clean and professional template that highlights your strengths and keeps the reader engaged.

What should I include in my first resume as a college or high school student?

As a college or high school student, your first resume should include the following sections:

• Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and mailing address.
• Resume Objective: Write a brief statement about your goals and the value you can bring to a potential employer.
• Education: List your most recent educational experiences and degrees, and any relevant coursework.
• Skills: List relevant hard and soft skills you possess, such as computer programming, public speaking, or leadership.
• Experience: Include any unpaid experiences like internships, volunteer work, or school projects.
• Extracurricular Activities: Mention clubs, sports, or organizations you participate in and any leadership roles you’ve held.

What skills and achievements can I highlight on my resume without any job history?

To highlight skills and achievements without job history, consider the following:

• Academic achievements: Include high GPA, academic awards, or being on the honor roll.
• Volunteer work: List any relevant community service and the impact you had.
• Projects: Mention school or personal projects that demonstrate your skills and abilities.
• Certifications: Add any certifications you’ve earned, such as first aid, coding, or foreign languages.
• Skills: Showcase both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for

What are some tips for writing a resume summary when I don’t have any work experience?

When writing a resume summary without work experience, focus on your skills, education, and other experiences that highlight your strengths and potential to excel in the position. Emphasize your professional attributes like dedication, adaptability, or problem-solving abilities. Tailor your summary to the specific job you’re applying for, incorporating keywords from the job posting. Keep it concise (2-3 sentences) and focused on what you can offer to the employer.

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