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• Writing a 16-year-old's CV:...

Writing a 16-year-old's CV: tips & examples

10 min read · Updated on July 30, 2024

Even with little to no work experience, you can impress a hiring manager

If you're 16 years old and looking for a job, your CV is your secret weapon. Whether you want to land a Saturday job or an exciting apprenticeship, writing a stellar application will help you open doors and land that all-important role. But where do you start when you're new to CV writing ? In this guide, we take a look at how to write the perfect 16-year-old CV, plus some adaptable examples. 

Does a 16-year-old even need a CV?

If you want to land a job, the short answer is yes . Gaining experience at this stage of your life is a quick way to set yourself up for success. A bonus? You get to keep some extra pocket money, too.

Legally speaking, you can work part-time from the age of 13 in the United Kingdom. Some exceptions apply, however, if you're acting, modelling, or working in television. If you live in England, the law states that you remain in education or training until the age of 18. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you can enter the workforce and leave school at 16, depending on when your birthday falls.

Long story short, when you're 16 years old, plenty of work opportunities are already available to you, and securing one will likely require a CV. But before you start looking for roles, do your homework first. There are rules in place to protect working young people, so make sure that you understand your rights, including the hours that you can work legally, before deciding on taking a part-time or full-time job. 

7 tips for writing a 16-year-old's CV

Whether you're attempting to write your own CV at 16 years old or are about to write a CV for someone with no experience, you'll need to catch the hiring manager's attention quickly and effectively.

As a general rule, your CV length should be between one and two pages. If this is your first time applying for a job, yours will likely be only one page long. So how can you pack that page full of good stuff? Here's how:

1. Write a captivating personal statement 

Writing any standout CV when you're a 16-year-old entails convincing the recruiter or hiring manager that you have what it takes to succeed. You might be new to the world of work, but you have specific skills and qualifications just like anyone else – make sure to send this message right off the bat by crafting a winning personal statement .

The personal statement is a short paragraph that sits at the top of your CV. It's also your chance to speak directly to the hiring manager about why you want this specific job. While you don't have much space to play with here, try to include the following in your personal statement: 

• Your value . What value will you bring to the job? What skills or talents do you have? You can use a selection of action verbs to help you stand out from the crowd here.
• Industry knowledge . Do you want any job or do you want this job? Let the hiring manager know that it's the latter by highlighting any knowledge that you possess about their field. 
• Career goals. Yes, your career's just getting started, but where do you see it going? What plans do you have for the future? How does this job align with those long-term goals?
• Track record . How can you prove your worth to the employer? Highlight any impressive track record at school or any previous professional or volunteering work as part of your personal statement. Be sure to quantify this with statistics or numbers , wherever possible. 
• Availability . While this is the least exciting of the things that you may include here, it's especially important if you're applying for shift work. 

Remember to keep your personal statement short and punchy. The hiring manager doesn't have a wealth of time to read every CV that comes their way, so get straight to the point – you want to have them reading your CV from start to finish! 

2. Add your work experience (if you have any) 

Next up, detail your work experience . If you have none to speak of, don't panic. As with any young applicant, the hiring manager won't expect you to have loads of professional experience. 

When you simply lack the experience to fill your CV , consider using the functional CV format . This CV layout moves the “Work Experience” section down the document to front-load your relevant skills (including your more recent educational achievements) instead.  

If you do have some work experience , now's the time to shout about them. Use a reverse-chronological CV format , starting with your most recent work experience and working your way back. In a 16-year-old's CV, the work experience section generally covers the same typical elements:

• Company name . What was the business you worked for? The first thing that you need to list is its name. For example, you might simply put “Starbucks” here. 
• Location . Where was the company based? Don't expect the reader to know this just by looking at the name. Include either the town or city here. 
• Job title . What was your job title while there? For instance, you may have been a “Barista” or “Waiter.” Include that detail here. 
• Employment dates. How long were you with the company? You can include your dates of employment as follows: “Mmm Year,” such as “Oct 2020 - Jan 2022.”
• Your achievements . What did you do in the role, and what results did you get? Quantify your achievements here. For example, “Served 30+ satisfied customers per shift.”

One of the biggest mistakes that applicants commit when writing this section is being vague. A good CV should tell the reader exactly what experience you have and why it matters. Take the time to align your achievements with the demands of the job you're applying for. 

3. Detail your education and training

Whether you're still studying or have recently left school, you must include an "Education" section on your 16-year-old CV. Here's what to include: 

• Institution name . Indicate the name of your school or college. You might also want to put its location, although that's not always necessary. 
• Qualifications and grades . Specify your area of study as well as any acquired qualifications. You can also add your projected results here. 
• Dates of attendance . When did you attend this school or college? If you're still a student there, you should put “Month Year - Present” in this part of your CV, where “Month Year” is the time you began attending the school or college. 

If you've had any specific training that's relevant to the role you're applying for, go ahead and list them down in this section too. That day-course barista training while working at a café may just help highlight the technical skills needed for the job, not to mention showcase your commitment to continuous learning.

4. Focus on any transferable skills you have

When you're 16 and lack work experience, it's normal to worry about how you can convince the recruiter or hiring manager that you're right for the job. 

Showcasing the transferable skills you have on your CV can keep these worries at bay. Also called soft skills, these are non-job-specific skills that you may have picked up elsewhere – in previous roles or in school – which can almost always be applied to any industry.

Here are some examples of common, in-demand transferable skills that you can put into context on your 16-year-old CV:

Communication. This is a highly valuable skill if you're applying for a customer-facing role. Consider a time when you've used your communication skills to address or solve a problem.

• Organisation . Are you an organised person? How do you stay on top of your schedule? What methods do you use? Briefly detailing this sought-after skill on a CV can help  even a 16-year-old shine.
• Time management . Hiring managers want employees who are on time. If you have this skill under your belt, don't forget to add it to your CV. 
• Teamwork . In most jobs, it will be important to work as part of a team . Share how you've demonstrated this skill in a past role or project.

You don't simply want to cram these skills into your CV. See our guide on weaving soft skills into your application to instantly elevate your CV. 

5. Use additional CV sections 

If you have no work experience , there are other CV sections that you can include to further strengthen your application as a 16-year-old: 

Voluntary experience. Have any unpaid experiences worth sharing? Sometimes, adding a section on your voluntary experience , as it helps highlight your initiative and skills, can do wonders for your application. You should lay this out the same way you would your “Work Experience” section.  

• Hobbies and interests . There will be times when it makes sense to add a "Hobbies and Interests" section to your CV. Should you decide to include this, make sure to specify only those hobbies that are relevant to your target role.
• Clubs and organisations . Are you a member of a club or organisation? If you are, you may want to add these experiences to your CV. Being part of a club shows that you are no stranger to teamwork and that you have a good work ethic. 

Don't simply add sections for the sake of it. Always consider what the added section will tell the hiring manager about you and your application.   

6. Tailor your CV (and cover letter) to the job at hand 

So you've written a good CV, one that's tailored to every role you're going for. How else can you set yourself apart from other 16-year-old applicants? 

Writing an impactful cover letter may seem like additional work, but it can provide you with the extra leverage you need to get noticed. Review the job advert and see what the hiring manager has written there. Research about the business and make sure that your CV and cover letter clearly reflect your suitability for the role.

A simple trick that also goes a long way is including a selection of keywords, mentioned in the job advert, in your application documents. This can help increase your chances of getting your application past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) . But remember to be honest – use only those keywords, including required and desired qualifications, that apply to you.

7. Proofread your application documents

Once you've done all of the above, the final stage of the process is proofreading your CV and cover letter. Spelling mistakes or simple typos can easily get your application dismissed, so read… and then re-read your application before you send it. 

You can also ask someone you trust to read it for you, as having an extra pair of eyes can help you spot errors that might have slipped through the net. Additionally, you can use a spell-checker or a proofreading software to do this for you. 

CV examples for 16-year-olds

Looking for some inspiration? Take a look at these four 16-year-old's CV examples:

Apply with confidence

Writing a CV for a 16-year-old can be a challenge. However, there are plenty of ways to ensure that your application does its job. Follow our CV-writing tips, and you'll be off to a great start! 

Want to make sure that you've applied our tips correctly? Get a free CV review now and let TopCV's experts help you polish your application. 

Recommended reading: 

How to make a CV for your first job

How to write a CV for a school leaver (with template and example)

Mastering the first impression: how to make a lasting impact in job interviews

Related Articles:

How to address a cover letter: make the best impression

How to phrase “please find attached my CV”: dos & don'ts

Create a CV on your phone in 3 easy steps

See how your CV stacks up.

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• 16 year old

16 year old CV Examples & UK Templates

You may be young, but writing a 16-year-old’s CV doesn’t need to be tough. Youth unemployment is currently at a historically low level. That means things could be looking promising for you on your job search!

However, to bag a coveted first step on your work experience ladder, you’ll need a strong CV to get you there. As a 16-year-old, you’re unlikely to have a lot of professional experience under your belt. But with some help, you’ll be able to write a CV that gets you noticed in no time.

Luckily, we know a thing or two about writing a CV that stands out from the crowd. Resume.io has helped millions of job seekers to write top CVs, and our library of CV examples covers over 100 job titles.This CV guide, along with the corresponding CV example, will show you the way. We will cover the following topics:

What jobs can a 16-year-old do?

• How to write a 16-year-old’s CV (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a 16-year-old’s CV
• Advice on each section of your CV (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional CV layout and design hints.

While there are restrictions about when and where 16-year-olds can work, there are plenty of job opportunities for you to make some money. If you’re looking for a part-time job, you could try your hand at some informal work gigs such as babysitting or dog walking. If it feels like the right time for you to step into a more professional work environment, working as a retail sales assistant or even as a waiter could be great options. 

Apprenticeships can also be an excellent chance to learn a craft while getting paid. Plus, it’s an opportunity that’s open to 16-year-olds. However, regardless of the job you take on, there are specific laws in place that must be respected whether you’re 16 years old or even 17. 

If you’re still in full time education, then during term time you can only work a maximum of 12 hours a week. Those working hours must fall between 7am and 7pm and you cannot work for more than two hours on school days and Sundays. Saturdays are capped at eight hours. 

If you’re a16-year-old in full time education, then summer holidays are generally the best time to work your socks off. Outside of term time you’ll be allowed to work a maximum of 35 hours a week. 

The minimum wage set by the UK government currently sits at £5.28 per hour for 16-year-olds.

How to write a 16 year old’s CV

The very first step in writing a strong CV example is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:

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

Choosing the best CV format for a 16 year old

If you are brand new to the working world — which is to be expected for most 16 year olds — then you may want to consider a functional CV format. Should you already have some work experience, you could choose the reverse chronological format for your CV. This prioritises your previous work experience. 

Take a moment to consider what is the best CV format for you before you commit pen to paper. 

CV summary example

Even without a huge amount of professional experience, the CV summary is your first opportunity to write something about why the employer should take a chance on hiring you. You may be 16 years old, but you have something unique to offer an employer. 

To make a compelling CV summary, write three to four sentences that highlight your most desirable characteristics in line with the job you’re applying to. Look at the CV sample content below to see how you could approach this. 

You might also want to look for some more inspiration by checking out our:

• Apprentice CV example
• Sales assistant CV example
• Waiter CV example

Resourceful and dedicated High School student with excellent analytical skills and a demonstrated commitment to providing great customer service.

Employment history sample

As a 16-year-old who is new to the job market, consider any informal volunteering or extracurricular leadership positions you’ve held. Have you done some babysitting? These are all examples of how you can handle responsibility. You can use them to build your employment history section. 

If your work experience is unpaid, consider renaming this section the “previous experience” section. List your experience with the most recent at the top and work backwards. Include the name of the position, your employer, the dates the position was held, and its location. 

The CV sample content below will show you how to do this in practice.

Retail Assistant at Next Retail Ltd, Birmingham  July 2021 - Present 

• Assisted customers in locating products and provided information on product features.
• Maintained store appearance by organising shelves and displays.
• Collaborated to support inventory management and ensure smooth store operations.
• Acquired knowledge of Point of Sale (POS) systems.

In summer 2022 the youth unemployment rates fell to a historic low. Office of National Statistics data reported by the House of Commons Library showed 372,000 unemployed young people across the UK. This was the lowest recorded level since 1992 when records began.

CV skills example

Your skills section will be one of the most important parts of your CV. Remember to include transferable skills that you’ve picked up during your studies or from other experiences you’ve accumulated during your 16 years of life! 

Our CV sample content shows you how to build a strong bullet point list of your most sellable skills.

Soft skills vs hard skills

At 16 years old you may not yet have many technical skills — also known as hard skills — to help you on the job. However, you can lean into your soft skills such as organisation, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Digital Art
• Customer Service
• Retail Operations
• Inventory Management
• Point of Sale (POS)
• Product Knowledge
• Team Collaboration

16 year old’s CV education example

Here’s a CV section where most 16 year olds will have something to offer. In your education section, you can list your secondary school education. Write down the name of your school, its location, and the dates attended like in the CV sample content below. 

If you are still in full time education, you can simply write “[year you started the school] - Present”. Some 16 year olds have already completed some qualifications such as their GCSEs. If that’s you, don’t forget to highlight this alongside your grades!

North Birmingham Academy, Birmingham, UK  September 2021 - Present 

• Ambassador for Social Events

CV layout and design

As a 16-year-old, you’re probably still learning about all the ways you can grow into a great communicator. As well as how you write and speak, the way you present yourself is equally as important when communicating your professional worth. That is just as true for your CV’s presentation. 

So, don’t forget to share your CV document as a PDF with a clear layout, legible font choice, and a simple colour scheme. Your CV should not be longer than a single page since as a 16 year old you’re just starting out in the working world.

Key takeaways for a 16-year-old’s CV

• At just 16 years old you’re unlikely to have much professional experience. So, lean into volunteer or extracurricular experience to build a “previous experience” section.
• Consider using a functional CV format which leans into your skills.
• Highlight those soft skills to build a desirable profile as the most hirable 16-year-old your potential employer will hear from!

If you don’t feel confident designing your CV yourself, you can consider using one of our professionally designed CV templates .

Attractive CV templates at your fingertips

CVs & Résumés

• Jan 18, 2022

How to Write a CV/Résumé as a Teenager (with Example)

If you are a teen working on your first résumé, then use the following steps as your guide to create an impressive professional document.

Nikki Vivian

Careers Coach and Writer

Reviewed by Melina Theodorou

Whether you’re looking for a  summer job , a part-time gig or even a work placement, you’ll need to highlight your skills and educational achievements in a professional document.

If you are currently in the process of searching for your first job , then you probably haven’t had to write a résumé  before and are wondering where to start.

Your résumé is essential when filling in job applications and writing it doesn’t have to be difficult. Lucky for you, we’ve created this handy guide to help you build the perfect résumé as a teenager that will ensure you secure that position!

What to include

Résumés generally have the same key sections across the board, but there is room to tailor them if you have something you want to showcase specifically or if you don’t have anything to add in a section.

As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to include the following sections:

• Header: This will include your name, followed by your contact details. Include your address, (or at least the town or city), your phone number and email address. On a separate note, make sure the email address you add is professional – it should contain both your name and surname and should be free of nicknames and epithets (i.e., [email protected] ). It might be wise to set up a new professional email account dedicated just for your job search.
• Summary: The summary section is important because it is essentially your personal sales pitch and the first thing employers see. Here you need to introduce who you are, your most relevant skills and qualities and what you’re looking to do. Make it primarily about what you can offer, rather than what you hope to gain from the job.
• Education: Here you list your education in reverse chronological order. As a teenager, this section will contain your school and college, but you can also include any independent courses you’ve taken, such as online courses or workshops. You may also include grades if they are good.
• Skills: As a teenager, it’s likely you won’t have a great deal of professional experience, so this section is vital to show what you can do. Make sure to tailor your skills to the job you’re applying for. Use transferable skills such as communication skills and teamwork abilities, as well as some technical skills which are relevant to the role such as software applications and programming languages.
• Experience: When adding previous roles and relevant experience in the field, make sure to include specific achievements relating to your contributions, such as helping a teammate, or going above and beyond your role. This section must also be listed on reverse chronological order.
• Additional sections: You can include other sections if necessary and these can be whatever is appropriate for you. You might want to add a section detailing your language skills, awards you have earned, hobbies and interests , or even entrepreneurial projects.

How to organise your résumé

The way your CV or résumé is organised is important; it needs to make a good impression so it should be clearly presented, with defined sections, making it easy to read through quickly. At a glance, the reader needs to be able to grasp enough about you to decide whether it is worth reading in more detail.

So, a professional layout goes a long way. To achieve this, you must ensure there is plenty of white space and that the document is not too text heavy. Each section title should be labelled in bold or capitalised so that it stands out and consider using bullet points to organise the content under each section as they are more effective than paragraphs. Meanwhile, ensure the main text is black or grey to ensure readability, and stick to one font.

As someone who is taking their first career steps, your education is likely to be the most relevant and extensive section. You should always start with a professional summary, but you can follow this with your education , before adding the skills and experience sections.

That said, if you haven’t finished school or college, and your skills or experience are more relevant to the job, you can move education further down. Generally, your most recent and relevant offering should be prioritised and showcased first.   

Finally, you can include your references at the end, or include ‘References are available on request’ at the bottom of your résumé.

Tips for writing your résumé as a teenager

So, now that you know what to include and what structure you should use, it’s time to start putting together your CV. The following 10 tips will help you write a CV that will get you noticed:

1. Tailor your résumé to the role

It’s tempting to put everything you have ever done in your résumé but it’s better to include just relevant information. Consider everything you’ve achieved or currently do and think about how its relevance to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you are applying for a customer service role , you’ll want to highlight your communication skills, so make sure this is highlighted in your summary and under each section where you can demonstrate this skill.

2. Focus on what you can offer

Rather than thinking about what you hope to get out of the role, think about what you can offer and highlight this throughout your CV or résumé. This will be far more effective as, essentially, an employer wants someone who can do the job well and who can contribute to the role. Use your summary to clearly outline what it is you’re looking to do and make sure everything you write leads back to this point.

3. Pick a professional design

There are numerous templates on offer but make sure you pick one that is clear, easy to follow and well-designed. For someone with no experience, that is just starting out in their career, your first résumé  should stick to a design and format that complements your experience and makes your skills and education the focal point of the document.

4. Use a clear font

There are lots of fonts to choose from but it’s best to pick a one that is professional looking such as Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman. Of course, if you are applying for more creative roles, you can utilise a font style that might be more creative, but the priority here is for the text of your résumé to be intelligible to the reader, AKA your potential employer. With that said, the font size for the main body should be 11 or 12,  while the headings and subheadings should be in a larger size, in bold or caps.

5. Include unpaid work

For someone who may have little to no paid experience, it’s very important that you include any kind of roles you’ve held. You can include volunteer work, placements, internships, or anything that shows you have worked within the field you’re applying in such as helping out with a family business.

As a teen, this is very valuable work and will make you stand out from other applicants. Don’t shy away from including something just because you didn’t get paid for it and focus on your skills and the contributions you made within these opportunities.

6. Include sports and hobbies

If you have been part of a varsity team or have a sport or a hobby that you are committed to, these are great to include in your résumé. They show valuable transferable skills such as teamwork, dedication and goal setting and are highly valued by employers.

7. Mention courses and qualifications

In addition to your formal education, if you have learned a skill online or taken classes in-person, such as a first aid course, for example, you can add this to your résumé too, either in an additional section like ‘ Courses and Qualifications ’ or ‘Professional Development’ , or as part of your ‘Education’ section. Learning independently shows initiative and that you are committed to personal development, which is a great thing to highlight.

8. Include languages

If you are multilingual, this is something you should add in a section titled ‘ Languages ’. Having something extra like this will help you stand out, especially if you are targeting high-paying positions or a front-facing role where you will need to assist customers.

9. Write an accompanying cover letter

You may be asked to provide a cover letter as part of your application, but even if you’re not, it’s a good idea to include one within your application, as this will give you the opportunity to introduce yourself and highlight your suitability for the job.

You can use the cover letter to explain your reason for applying and to summarise your most relevant skills, education and experience before the employer gauges your résumé document, which could help you make a lasting impression.

10. Include references

Adding references allows the recruiter to validate your experience and professionalism. You can include teachers, placement supervisors, sports team coaches or anyone else who has worked with you in a professional capacity. Just make sure to speak with your potential references first, and give them a heads up before you add their contact information to your document.

Résumé example

Here is a great résumé example of a clear and professional teen résumé that you can use as a guide when creating your own.

A great résumé can be your ticket to landing your first job . It needs to clearly demonstrate your professionalism, as well as your skills, education and experience in a way that is tailored to the position you’re applying for.

Once you’re ready,  go out job hunting and wow the hiring managers with your professional skills. And don’t forget to keep a few spare copies on you to hand out when you’re out and about; you just never know when you’ll run into a perfect hiring opportunity!

Have you got any questions about your résumé? Share them with us in the comments section below!

This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally publicised on 30 November 2018.

Résumé Examples

Resume For a 16-Year-Old

In This Guide:

Sample resume template for a 16-year-old, resume formatting tips for a high-schooler, what to write instead of experience, key takeaways.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely a teenager looking for a job! It can be difficult to build a resume and find a job when you have little to no experience and are just entering the workforce. But don’t worry, this is a guide to help you find your way!

In this article, you’ll learn:

• how to build a professional resume;
• what to put on it when you have little experience ;
• and some examples to help you imagine what your resume could look like.

Below is a sample resume template to help guide you in building your own. Your resume should look something like this when you complete it:

Amanda Smith

Phone: 808-707-0404 Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amanda_smith05

I am a responsible and reliable sophomore striving for real-life work experience and a place to grow my familiarity and confidence in the workforce. I thrive in a team environment but also exemplify self-sufficiency on designated tasks. I hope to help a business be more successful through my determination and enthusiasm.

• Sophomore at Adams High School with As and Bs
• Taking Spanish, English, Calculus, World History, and Biology
• Reliable punctuality
• Excellent communication
• Time management
• Attention to detail

Hobbies and Interests

• Reading books of all kinds and expanding my horizons
• Hiking in nature to get back to my roots and experience the outdoors
• Watching documentaries to learn more about the world

Other Activities

• Weekly volunteering at animal shelters
• Part of a reading group for kindergarteners after school

Keep these tips in mind when making your resume. Following these guidelines ensures a professional and legible resume.

• Choose the best format Chronological formats are the easiest to write and easiest to understand.
• Adjust page margins to the appropriate length Make sure the margins aren’t too big or too small to avoid an awkward appearance.
• Choose a professional font Don’t go with Comic Sans or something funky, stick to Times New Roman or something simple.
• Keep it one page Keep it short and sweet so employers can easily digest it.
• Save as PDF Save as a PDF so your formatting stays the same across platforms.

Below are some suggestions for filling in your experience on your resume. Many teenagers don’t have loads of job experience, but you can supplement with the following subjects:

• Education Include bullets with classes, extracurricular activities, student memberships, studies, and anything relevant to your education.
• Hobbies and interests Anything that will showcase your relevant skills should go in this section.
• Actual skills Try to match the skills to the job description and draw from previous experience.
• Volunteering Mention any volunteering you have done to exemplify your enthusiasm and spirit.
• Extra sections Mention language skills, personal projects you’ve done, or other relevant activities.

Here are the key takeaways for 16-year-olds building a resume:

• Include anything that shows your positive character
• Highlight your relevant skills
• Express your enthusiasm for employment
• Display all contact information prominently
• Use a helpful resume builder

• Resume Guides

Can ChatGPT Write Your Resume? 10+ Prompts You Can Test Right Now

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Guide To Write CV: 7+ CV Example For 16 Year Olds

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Are you a 16 year old teen planning to take up a part-time job alongside your high school? Or are you someone who has left school and does not know how to write a CV without any experience to apply for teen jobs? The first thing, do not worry! We have got you covered.  

Before going into details on how to write a CV example for 16 year olds and looking for a job you must know creating a CV that stands out is essentially important. CV validates your credibility as a potential employee therefore maintaining the best CV format, including sections for education and skills on your CV are mandatory.

Let us now understand what exactly is a CV, how to make it using CV examples and templates, and what to include in your CV. 

What Is A CV?

A CV is an essential first step in finding a job. Employers can see more than just your past accomplishments. It displays your abilities to them. Consider it an introduction to one of the world’s most remarkable and employable individuals, and that is you. One of the finest methods to market yourself to employers is your CV.

It provides you with the chance to demonstrate to them in a page or two how qualified, skilled, driven, and prepared for work you are, as well as how you differ from the competition. It’s a fantastic option for job applicants who have a limited amount of work experience. You are free to use a CV template. A CV template helps you to maintain an accurate resume format and saves a lot of time. 

Recommended: Graduate CV Examples

Why Is It Crucial For You To Have A 16 Year Olds CV?

A CV submission demonstrates professionalism, planning, and tenacity. Most students need to be made aware that even with minimal employment experience, they have enough information for a teenager CV. For instance, in the CV for 16 year old examples, teenagers would list their volunteer work, interests, extracurricular activities, academic honours, and applicable course work. A CV for 16 year olds still at school in the UK can help demonstrate language skills if seeking a volunteer role.

How To Write A CV In The UK For A 16 Year Old?

If this is your first time writing a CV, don’t worry. Though it might seem daunting at first, there are many strategies you can use to make CV writing easier.

• Write your CV, keeping the job advert and description in mind. This will help you understand what to showcase that meets the employer’s requirements.
• Check out examples of CV format, CV templates with no experience, and written CVs to understand how and what other teen job seekers have mentioned in their first CVs. 
• Use a reverse-chronological education format when writing your teen CV. 
• It is always advisable to use the UK functional CV format for a 16-year-old CV who is applying for a job for the very first time.
• fill out your CV with all the relevant or additional skills. 
• Never cross the CV length beyond one page or a maximum of two when you’re writing a 16-year-old’s CV with zero to negligible work experience. In fact, this is advisable for people with work experience, as well. 
• To have a successful CV, constantly tailor it with a cover letter. This helps in explaining what your qualities are and how they will benefit your job role.
• Finally, proofreading your CV will help you correct all the errors. This makes it a perfect CV for all job hunts.

How To Write CV With CV Templates For Teens?

If a potential employer likes your CV, they might invite you to an interview. Your CV is your chance to persuade potential employers. It supports the claim that you’re a good fit for the position and that you match any claims you make. 

You must enter some information and personal data about yourself in a CV that is included in a CV template for 16 year olds, as mentioned below:

• Your Complete name
• Contact details: name, number, and email
• Personal statement or CV Summary
• Essential competencies
• Schooling: The location, duration, and academic results of your studies.
• You might provide the projected grades if you have not received your results.
• Working knowledge

CV Template for Teens

Examples Of CV For 16 Year Olds

If you are a teen studying and keen to do some part-time and fulltime jobs alongside, then you can apply for certain job roles listed below. 

CV Example 1: Dog Walker

CV Example 2: Shop Assistant

CV Example 3: Restaurant Service Person/Waiter

CV Example 4: Barista

CV Example 5: Pizza Express Staff

CV Example 6: Babysitter

CV Example 7: Shop Customer Service Assistant

How To Write A CV For 16 Year Olds With No Work Experience UK?

You’re about to write a resume with no job experience, which suggests… you haven’t had much experience writing a resume at all. But don’t worry—it’s much easier than you think. You need to follow the steps to create each section in the resume for your job application.

Here’s what to write on your CV for a 16-year-old with no professional experience for the first job:

• Add a header to your CV layout containing all your communication details.
• CV profile that speaks out your aim and career objectives.
• Put a few words summarising your skill sets.
• Add an education section to your CV.  Add the name of your school. Mention the date of joining, the subjects you study, and your grades on relevant subjects in your job description. 
• Add relevant non-paid or voluntary work, if any, that you need prior or still do to your CV with no experience. 
• Add a skill section and mention all your technical and transferable skills, as well.
• Always include a cover letter; it helps in making your CV with no experience more impactful. 

Know more on how to write a cover letter with no experience from our blog.In addition to these, include additional information about your language skills, hobbies, additional certifications, referrals, and testimonials.  

How To Write A Personal Statement For Your First Professional CV?

A CV personal statement summarises your career path. It also focuses on what you hope to give recruiters regarding your goals and achievements in one or two concise sentences. You can still discuss your abilities in the CV. Reading the parts below will teach you more about how to discuss talents in your initial CV.

A strong CV personal statement is packed with passion and details, not meaningless platitudes like “detail-oriented, timely, and trustworthy.” To draw the reader in, place it at the beginning of your CV. Concentrate on your most significant accomplishments pertinent to the position or that reflects maturity and a strong work ethic, such as achievements in sports or a hobby. You should also include a CV goal that outlines the value you can add to the organisation.

How Should You Do CV Formatting?

Your name will be listed first, accompanied by your contact information. Add your home and email addresses, as well as your phone number. Be sure to enter a professional email address. Creating a new official email address for your first job quest might be a good idea.

In this part, you can list your high school and college and any independent courses you’ve attended, including online programs or workshops. Your schooling is listed below in reverse chronological order. If your grades are reasonable, please mention them.

It is very important to highlight your school name, what subjects you study, your grade, and what are the co curricular activities you do in school in your CV Example for 16 Year Olds . As you have no previous job profile to discuss in your teen CV with no experience, it is necessary to show your academic knowledge and skills to build an interest to know more about you in your potential employer

Use technical talents pertinent to the position, such as software packages and computer languages, as well as transferable qualities like communication and collaborative ability. Ensure that the position you’re applying for matches your skills. Because you probably will have little practical experience as a teenager, you must demonstrate your abilities in this part.

Include anything that showcases your talents and skills. You can mention any volunteering work you did earlier or about assisting acquaintances in their business. You can also talk about productive social media activities like helping an influencer maintain his or her fan page. Add anything that speaks about your skills. 

Instead of discussing what you intend to get from the position, focus more on what you can provide. Here, you must briefly describe yourself, your top qualifications and talents, and the position you are seeking. The summary is crucial since it functions as your sales presentation and is what employers will notice first.

Supplementary Sections

You might include a section outlining your language abilities, the honours you have received, your interests and hobbies, or even your business endeavours. If additional sections are required, you can include them. The content of these sections should suit your needs.

Structure Your CV With The Job Title And Job Description

The HR must quickly determine whether it is worthwhile to read more about you and whether your candidature fits the job role. Your CV’s structure matters since it must leave a positive first impression. It should be well-organised with clearly defined parts that are simple to scan.

Since bullet points are more efficient than paragraphs for organising content under each area, use them under each section. Capitalise and bold each section title to make it stand out. To accomplish this, ensure the document has lots of white space and isn’t overly text-heavy.

Focus and highlight your most current achievement first. You can move education farther down the list if you haven’t completed high school or college and your abilities or experience are more applicable to the position.

Meanwhile, you can also explore how to create a CV for an internship here.

Helpful Advice For 16 Year Olds On How To Write A CV

Create an auxiliary cover letter.

Before the employer reviews your CV, you can use the cover letter to describe why you are applying and highlight your most important qualifications. This could help you leave a positive impression.

Select A Sophisticated Style

There are different CV templates all over the internet, but choose one that is clean, simple to use, and attractive. Your teenage day’s resume should adhere to a style and layout focusing on the education section of your CV. The following talents, skills, and work history (if any) should be in bullet points.

Use A Legible Font

The interviewer, who is also your potential employer, should be able to understand the text of your CV. There are many typefaces available, but selecting one with a professional appearance is ideal, such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman. Best CV templates will always maintain this rule and enough white spaces in the CV. To nail your CV, try our CV builder and follow our CV templates for students with no experience. 

Adapt Your CV To The Position

Write about everything you’ve done or are doing now and how it relates to the position you’re applying for. While it may be tempting, it is advisable only to include pertinent information on your CV rather than listing everything you’ve ever done. Go through some CV examples for students with no experience over the internet to have a precise idea of how to write a successful CV for teens. 

Mention Your Interests And Hobbies

It’s a good idea to mention on your CV that you played on a varsity team and are dedicated to your sport or pastime. They exhibit beneficial transferable qualities like cooperation, commitment, and goal setting, which employers enormously respect. Check out some example CVs for 16 year olds to learn how to add the hobby and extracurricular activity sections to your CV.

Specify Your Education And Experience

Self-managed learning demonstrates initiative and commitment to your improvement, which is a terrific quality to emphasise. You can add valuable skills you’ve acquired online or in-person classes you’ve taken, like a first job and aid course, to your CV in addition to your formal education section, either in a separate area called “Curriculum and Certifications” or “Career Development” or as a portion of your “Training” section and own skills.

Demonstrate Your Unpaid Work 

Include any experience demonstrating your previous work experience relevant to the industry in which you’re seeking your first part-time job. You can also put all your prior voluntary work experiences, even if they are not related to the industry, in the job advert. For example, assisting with a family-owned business, excellent customer service, voluntary work, postings, apprenticeships, and many more. Include any roles you’ve held if you have minimal to no paid employment, as this is quite significant.

Insert Citations

You can list professors, assignment managers, athletic team coaches, or anyone else who has collaborated with you professionally. The recruiter can verify your expertise and competence by asking for references. Before including their contact details in your application, interact with prospective referrals and let them know that you will be doing so. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hobby & interest mandatory in uk format cv.

Your job application will be strengthened, and you will be more likely to get an interview if you include your passions on your CV. It makes you stand out as a unique person and encourages the recruiter to consider you rather than just a resume of your prior career, presenting yourself as a whole person with a list of your previous employment.

How To Create An ATS-Friendly Resume?

To develop an ATS-friendly CV that will breeze through and wow the prospective employer, abide by these rules and guidelines.

• Apply for job positions for which you are qualified.
• Include the appropriate keywords.
• Make sure to contextualise your keywords.

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CV personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.

Your CV personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.

In this guide I have included 17 CV personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

CV templates 

17 CV personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.

Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)

Although this  graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

Build your CV now 

School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.

    Top tips for writing a CV personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.

School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate CV personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student CV personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship  CV personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

Graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarising some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their university placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your CV contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this CV is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your CV

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a CV personal statement?

Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.

We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• School/college Uni work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

CV personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

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