While studying in school, a teen is not considerate enough to build a resume. They are all tangled up with the recent hits of puberty and school.
With no actual job experience, how can they format a resume for a teenagerโs first job? Although it might seem like a lot of work, if you are a determined and hard-working teen, you can build the perfect resume for the teenagerโs first job that hiring managers are searching for.
Sadly, despite doing their best, teens frequently donโt get it from recruiters, who believe that โteenage dramaโ keeps them alive. But you need to keep your game sharp!
Eventually, you must start with the job search and create a resume. However, if you are familiar with tips, tricks, keywords, and the format for preparing a resume, it becomes easier for you to find a job matching your profile.
Are you struggling to build a resume for a teenagerโs first job? You need not worry!
Here, we have got you covered. You will get the best tips and tricks for building a perfect resume for a teenagerโs first job.
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1. How To Format A Resume For a Teenagers First Job?
Keep the following in mind: โ
Read the Job Description before actually getting down to writing a resume for a teenagerโs first job. Since it will serve as a guide for what to include and you can use the keywords to draw attention to your most essential qualifications, you can lay out your resume according to the job requirements.
Always format your resume in Reverse Chronological Order, i.e., start with the latest qualification or achievement, followed by the past degrees and experiences.
1. Best Format For A Resume For a Teenagerโs First Job:
Contact Details
[First Name] [Last Name]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]
[Portfolio Link] or [Site Link]
Professional Summary
[Write 30-60 words to highlight your experiences, relevant skills, education, or certifications and achievements]
Education
[Degree], [Major] | [Expected date of graduation]
[Name of high school], [Date of Graduation or expected date of graduation]
(List any relevant courses you have completed)
Work Experience
(For the most recent role, list five bullet points documenting the relevant experience. For previous roles, list three.)
Skills
Option 1
[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]
Option 2
[Category]: [Skill 1] | [Skill 2] | [Skill 3] | [Skill 4] | [Skill 5]
[Category]: [Skill 1] | [Skill 2] | [Skill 3] | [Skill 4] | [Skill 5]
Optional [Certification Name], [Host organization] | [Year completed or expiration date]
Optional [Volunteer Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]
- (Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + outcome or quantified results.
- [Task 1]
- [Task 2]
- [Task 3]
[Volunteer Title] | [Period/dates of the job]
[Company Name] | [City]
- (Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + outcome or quantified results.
- [Task 1]
- [Task 2]
Awards and achievements (optional)
(list awards or other achievements you have earned in this section)
Hobbies and interests (optional)
(mention any of your relevant hobbies and interests here)
2. Section-Wise Writing Tips For Formatting A Teen Resume:
Since it will be a resume for a teenagerโs first job; the following tips will help you develop an outstanding resume: โ
Mention proper Contact Detail: your Name, address, phone number, and email address. However, ensure that you have a professional email address and include your Name. Refrain from adding irrelevant and extremely personal information, such as age, street address, names of family members, etc.
You can also include information about any websites or online portfolios (if any) on your resume if they contain relevant information. Include yourย social media accounts,ย such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or any others that reflect your suitability for the position.
While writing a Resume Objective, or Professional Summary, make sure you add your skills, work history, achievements, and job interests. Always begin with an adjective, such as dedicated, enthusiastic, self-motivated, people-oriented, hard-working, etc.
Note: Be precise and do not exaggerate your resume objective, or you might get in trouble.
In theย Education Section of your resume, mention your high schoolโs Name, address (you do not need to name the street), years of study or graduation date, GPA, and other educational activities (if applicable). Use a reverse chronological order for the education section as well.
Add Work History to your resume, even if you have worked part-time. Describe the tasks given to you and your achievements in doing those tasks. Start with an adjective to describe your successes at work. If you are creating a resume for a teenagerโs first job, i.e., if you donโt have any experience, remove the section entirely, but be careful not to fill in extreme positions and responsibilities.
The most important section to include on your resume is the Skills Section. You can add all the skills under one heading or divide them into soft and hard skills. Remember only to add relevant ones to your resume.
Make a separate section for Awards and Achievements. You may add both educational and personal achievements in extracurricular activities.
Mention the Hobbies and Relevant Interests that you possess. Remember not to brag while writing about your hobbies or interests. It will help you describe yourself outside the educational domain.
1. Resume For Teenager First Job (Example): โ
Olivia Bernal
Frey Mont, San Francisco | 415-454-798 | oliviabernal@email.com
High School Student
A dedicated high school senior with a strong academic record and proven managerial skills is seeking a part-time administrative job that will allow her to put her organizational and time management abilities intoย use.
Education:
School of the Arts High School| 2019- Present
Senior| 4.0 GPA
Work Experience:
Marthaโs Dog Walker | February 2019 โ present
- Collect dogs on a regular schedule and give them exercise and stimulation following the ownersโ instructions
- Observe guidelines for handling and caring for all dogs
- Be explicit when communicating with dog owners, providing details about each dog via text, email, and, as necessary, in person.
- Maintaining correct time records and every week, collect payments from clients.
- Word-of-mouth alone increased my clientele by 40% in the first three months.
The States Basketball Club, Basketball Team Member | May 2108 โ present
- Regular practicing and participation in regional and State tournaments
- Contributed to the teamโs nine most recent wins and the universityโs current standing in the regional table.
Skills:
- Management skills
- Self Motivated
- Leadership skills
- Teamwork
- Communication skills
Achievements:
Fundraising Officer, Student Council
- Coordinated 115 fundraising events using organizational abilities
- Raised $3,200 more than the last officer with strong communication
School Basketball Club Captain
- Boosting team spirit before competitions
- Led the team in 14 interschool tournaments
- Engaged in tough ball drills]
2. Other Sections To Add To Your Resume Template:
If you have done any Volunteer work, mention it under the Volunteer Experience Section. Describe your tasks briefly and properly with adjectives, such as successfully, dedicatedly, etc. It will make you stand out among other school-going teens and impress hiring managers.
e.g., Eagle Scout
Girls Scouts of America
January 2019โPresent
- Earned Eagle Rank, October 2021
- Successfully fed 40 people at the โFood for the Homeless eventโ as part of an Eagle Scout project]
You can also add a Certifications Section to your resume.
e.g., CPR CertifiedโAmerican Red Cross, April 2018 โ February 2020
If you were a part of any group projects or worked on any personal projects, include them in the Personal Projects Section.
e.g., Founded an 11-member dance group.
- Managed and facilitated dance training for 150+ hours.
If you have learned languages other than your native language, list them in the Languages Section. Also, mention the proficiency level.
e.g., Spanish, spoken
Many questions may arise in a teenโs mind while developing a resume for a teenagerโs first job.
What if a teen does not have such over-the-top achievements or any strong work history of writing about on their resume? What should they include in such a case? Why would any hiring manager be interested in hiring them? Should they go for an entry-level job or an associate position? Whether a part-time job or a full time suits them? How will they create a resume for a teenagerโs first job?
Your questions will all be answered here.
3. Developing A Strong Resume For Teenager First Job:
Not every teen must have worked during school, but they can still develop a strong resume if they have a strong work ethic, abilities, and dedication.
They must ensure that the job they seek aligns with their work experience and achievements. For instance, they could not directly apply for an associate position without work experience, start applying for entry-level jobs, and collect relevant experience.
Since it will be a resume for a teenagerโs first job, try to include the following:
1. Cover Letter:
Cover letters are job application letters that focus entirely on your experience and skills as they relate to the position youโre looking for. It usually has three to four paragraphs that showcase your qualifications for the job youโre looking for, including your achievements, experiences, and skills.
It can be a Referral Cover Letter where you may ask your professors to prepare a letter including your achievements, ethics, and other relevant skills. During the job process, a referral might make you stand out.
Or, it may be a Letter of Interest showing your willingness to work with the company. A company may look out for competent candidates despite any openings. This cover letter expresses your interest in associating with the hiring manager.
A Value Proposition Letter on your part might also prove fruitful since it shows what makes you special, highlighting your skills, achievements, and the value you can provide to the company.
Cover letters are advantageous since it is a resume for a teenagerโs first job. Since they narrow down your best qualities, having cover letters and a resume can make you stand above the crowd.
2. Resume Header:
Add your Contact details properly in the resume header. Mention your: Name, Profile (high school student, student, waiter, architecture student), Address, Phone number (optional), and e-mail address (make a professional email address). Also, add your social media accounts, such as LinkedIn, and Twitter, where you share professional information.
3. Teenage Resume Objective:
For the Objective Statement, include relevant skills, academic and extracurricular achievements, and interests. Keep it brief, up to 30 words, and quantify your achievements. for example, โSelf-driven high school student seeking to use a solid work ethic to offer excellent services at ABC Inc.โ Extremely organized with good writing skills. As president of the school debate team, I used solid teamwork and communication skills to lead the team and win ten debating competitions.โ
If you are building a resume for a teenagerโs first job, you can skip the work experience part. But do not include irrelevant work.
4. Education Section:
Mention the last two educational qualifications in reverse chronological order if you have outstanding grades. Apart from that, it would be best to mention your GPA. Include your high schoolโs Name, address (city), and graduation date; alternatively, if you are still in high school, write St. Williams High School| Dallas| 2020 โ Present, or 2020 โ Ongoing.
5. Key Skills:
Do not forget to mention your skills; theyย are crucial to highlight your achievements and personality traits. Try to divide it into two sections, i.e., Soft Skills and Hard Skills.
6. Highlight Achievements:
List as many achievements as you can. Now, if you do not possess any great achievement, mention the Name of any school club that you have been a part of and your contribution there, or mention a course that you have taken up during high school or any awards that you have earned.
7. Volunteer Work:
Although it is common for teenagers to have little to no professional work experience, they must create a resume for the teenagerโs first job. However, you might have earned useful experience volunteering at your school or community. Thus, you need to mention: The Organization Name, your Position Title, The Period of Volunteering, and a Brief Description of the kind of Tasks you did should all be listed in bullet points.
8. Additional Activities, Hobbies, Or Interests:
Additional activities and relevant interests show your suitability for the job you are applying for.
Sample Resume For Teenager First Job:
Ellen Hofstadter
High School Student
Kingston, New York | ellenhofstader@email.com | 297 -455-6685
Enthusiastic and self-motivated high school student looking for a part-time tutoring job to use her strong management and communication skills to provide the best services possible. As president of the school debate team, won 7 inter-school debate competitions and coordinated the team for 500+ hours.
Education:
Rondout Valley School | Accord
2019 โ Present
4.8 GPA | Deanโs List 2020
Key Skills:
- Time Management
- Teamwork
- Dedicated
- Goal Oriented
- Communication skills
- Adaptability
Achievements:
President of School Debate Club
- Used high-level teamwork and strong work ethic to drive the team to deliver speeches at intra-school and inter-school level debate competitions
- With strong dedication alone won 7 inter-school competitions and 5 round team tables
Tutored at St. Martinโs Childrenโs Care Centre for 370+ hours
Helped parents with housework 100+ hours/year
Volunteer Work:
- Volunteer dog walker, Hollywood Dog Rescue
Certification:
- Certified public bookkeeper (CPB) certification
Although you might lack relevant work experience to put on your resume, with strong achievements and an academic background, you can still come up with the best resume for a teenagerโs first job and impress hiring managers.
You need the right resume format, keywords, and precise tricks to ace an interview, and you are all set to make a great first impression on the recruiters!
Whether you are applying for an entry-level job, a half-time job, an internship, or any other associate job, there are various ways you can format your resume.
4. Resume For Teenager First Job (Examples):
There is not just one, but several other ways to build teen resumes. So, letโs have a look at various teen resume examples:
1. High School Resume Example For College Admission:
Lucas Parry
High School Graduate
Camptown Road, Chicago, USA | (720) 447-3749 | plucas@email.com
linkedIn.com/in/lucasparry
lucaswrites.com
Passionate and responsible recent high school grad seeking a writing career. A psychology enthusiast with hands-on web content development, eager to put two years of high school reporting experience and understanding of A.P. English and Writing Comp to use at XYZ Inc.
Education:
Lincoln Park High School | N Orchard St, Chicago
2019-2022
B.A. English/Language Arts | 5.0 GPA
Course Work:
Child and public counseling
Hard Skills:
- Content Writing
- Analytical Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Managerial skills
- Presentation Skills
- Counseling
Soft Skills:
- Dedicated
- Goal Oriented
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
- Creative/Critical Thinking
- Teamwork
Achievements:
Head of Content Writing for School Magazine:
- Successfully wrote school activity reports for monthly and annual school magazine publications.
- Gained badge for the most committed team member of the Year 2021.
Team Member of the School Mental Health Awareness Club:
- Actively helped in 7 outreach awareness programs hosted by the club
- Named Star Student of the Month twice in three months
- Maintained records and reports of the awareness campaigns
NHS Member 2020-21
Additional Activities:
- Team Member at City Basketball Club, 2018-present
- Dancing
Languages:
Spanish, spoken
Note: Back up your resume with a cover letter. It will make you look willing and interested in working with the company and increase your chance of getting hired for the job you seek.
2. Internship Resume Example:
Lucas Parry
High School Graduate
Camptown Road, Chicago, USA | (720) 447-3749 | plucas@email.com
linkedIn.com/in/lucasparry
lucaswrites.com
Passionate and responsible English Major seeking to leverage excellent written and verbal communication skills to succeed as an Intern at XYZ Inc. A psychology enthusiast with hands-on web content development, eager to put two years of high school reporting experience and understanding of A.P. English and Writing Comp.
Education:
Lincoln Park High School | N Orchard St, Chicago
2019-2022
B.A. English/Language Arts | 5.0 GPA
Course Work:
Child and public counseling
Key Skills:
- Dedicated
- SEO Writing
- Goal Oriented
- Microsoft Office
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
- Managerial skills
- Creative/Critical Thinking
- Counseling
- Teamwork
Achievements:
Head of Content Writing for School Magazine:
- Successfully wrote school activity reports for monthly and annual school magazine publications.
- Gained badge for the most committed team member of the Year 2021.
Team Member of the School Mental Health Awareness Club:
- Actively helped in 7 outreach awareness programs hosted by the club
- Named Star Student of the Month twice in three months
- Maintained records and reports of the awareness campaigns
NHS Member 2020-21
Additional Activities:
- Team Member at City Basketball Club, 2018-present
- Dancing
Languages:
Spanish, spoken
3. Temporary Job Resume Example:
Lucas Parry
High School Graduate
Camptown Road, Chicago, USA | (720) 447-3749 | plucas@email.com
linkedIn.com/in/lucasparry
lucaswrites.com
Passionate and responsible recent high school grad seeking a writing career. A psychology enthusiast is eager to put two years of high school reporting experience and understanding of A.P. English and Writing Comp to use at XYZ Inc.
Education:
Lincoln Park High School | N Orchard St, Chicago
2019-2022
B.A. English/Language Arts | 5.0 GPA
Course Work:
Child and public counseling
Hard Skills:
- SEO Writing
- Analytical Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Managerial skills
- Presentation Skills
- Counseling
Soft Skills:
- Dedicated
- Goal Oriented
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
- Creative/Critical Thinking
- Teamwork
Achievements:
Head of Content Writing for School Magazine:
- Successfully wrote school activity reports for monthly and annual school magazine publications.
- Gained badge for the most committed team member of the Year 2021.
Team Member of the School Mental Health Awareness Club:
- Actively helped in 7 outreach awareness programs hosted by the club
- Named Star Student of the Month twice in three months
- Maintained records and reports of the awareness campaigns
NHS Member 2020-21
Personal Projects:
- Created a 5-member team to develop and edit content for the college website using SEO and M.S. Office.
- Maintained reports of the work
- Regulated theย team for 350+ hours.
Additional Activities:
- Team Member at City Basketball Club, 2018-present
- Dancing
Languages:
Spanish, spoken
4. Entry-Level Resume Example:
Lucas Parry
High School Graduate
Camptown Road, Chicago, USA | (720) 447-3749 | plucas@email.com
linkedIn.com/in/lucasparry
lucaswrites.com
Seeking to use proven managerial, SEO, and report writing skills to meet business needs at XYZ Inc. Passionate and responsible content writer. A psychology enthusiast with two years of high school reporting experience and an understanding of A.P. English and Writing Comp.
Education:
Lincoln Park High School | N Orchard St, Chicago
2019-2022
B.A. English/Language Arts | 5.0 GPA
Course Work:
Child and public counseling
Hard Skills:
- Writing Skills
- Analytical Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Managerial Skills
- Presentation Skills
- Counseling
Soft Skills:
- Dedicated
- Goal Oriented
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
- Creative/Critical Thinking
- Teamwork
Achievements:
Head of Content Writing for School Magazine:
- Successfully wrote school activity reports for monthly and annual school magazine publications.
- Gained badge for the most committed team member of the Year 2021.
Team Member of the School Mental Health Awareness Club:
- Actively helped in 7 outreach awareness programs hosted by the club
- Named Star Student of the Month twice in three months
- Maintained records and reports of the awareness campaigns
NHS Member 2020-21
Personal Projects:
- Founded a 5-member team to develop and edit content for the college website using SEO and M.S. Office.
- Maintained reports of the work
- Regulated theย team for 350+ hours.
Additional Activities:
- Team Member at City Basketball Club, 2018-present
- Dancing
Languages:
Spanish, spoken
In the above examples, it is noticed that, though the rest of the structure of the resume remains the same, you need to alter the career objective according to the job you will apply for. Also, you will need to add, remove or alter some sections from your resume as per the job requirements.
5. Key Takeaways:
Since it will be a resume for a teenagerโs first job, you have to be careful while going through the following points: โ
Always have a look at the job description. It will give you a better understanding of the qualities required for the work, the companyโs environment, and the expected salary.
Make sure you have teen cover letters prepared for various jobs and internships (if you have no prior work experience). Since it will be a resume for a teenagerโs first job, cover letters will help you highlight your best achievements during high school and make a good impression on recruiters.
Writing a teen resume objective is a must. Please include as many relevant accomplishments as possible in the 60-word limit, i.e., keep it brief.
Use as many bullet points as possible to list your sections. Your resume will look systematic and organized.
Do not make any grammatical errors on your resume. It may come out as carelessness on your part.
Since you are inexperienced with work culture, practice job shadowing, i.e., observing your team leaders and collogues at work to get a better understanding of work-life management. Learn from them and grow.
Rather than simply listing your accomplishments and experiences, quantify them by including the number of hours you worked and the number of achievements, awards, and honors youโve received.
Since it will be a resume for a teenagerโs first job, you can use resume builder sites with in-built templates; search for sample resumes, and choose a template that defines your current position. Writing a resume for a teenagerโs first job will lighten your load.
It is your resume, build it at your convenience and turn it into a great resume, and you are ready with a resume that will make you stand out of the crowd.
So, anyone who wants to create a resume for a teenagerโs first job and get placed on their first attempt only needs a pen and paper with them; note down what exactly they aim for. Look for examples, keywords, and various resume layouts; select the one that matches your needs and the demands of the hiring managers.
Remember, you will find it hard to create a resume for a teenagerโs first job until you are dedicated and determined to put your efforts into it.
It is a great way to make an exhilarating first impression on potential recruiters, and you are all set to grab your first job!
Last Updated on by ritukhare
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