High schooler resume – With examples

Whether you are still in high school or just getting ready to graduate, it’s never too early to start working on your resume. A high schooler resume will give you the advantage when it comes to applying for jobs or college opportunities. This page will show you tips on how to prepare a resume for high school graduate students.

Elements of a high school resume

There are several components that you’ll want to include on a resume for high school student. These are as follows:

Identifying information

When writing your resume, be sure to include your contact information, so the recipient can contact you. Include your name, address, phone number, email address, and any other links to profile information you want to add.

Resume objective

Your resume objective only needs to be a few sentences that explains why you would be a good fit for the job. Make sure the statement is linked to the job position that you’re applying to. You can highlight skills you have that would be necessary for the job.

Example: Responsible, dedicated high school student with a strong work ethic looking to make a positive contribution in retail sales. Math-oriented person with good attention to detail.

General skills

List your hard and soft skills. Examples of hard skills include:

Writing ability
Communication skills
Proficiency in math
Accounting ability
Spanish proficient

Some examples of soft skills are:

Reliable
Leadership ability
Good listener
Collaborative
Prompt
Team player
Positive attitude

Educational skills and academic achievements

Your educational attainments may be the highlight of your resume. So, it’s critical that you list everything pertinent to your education. This includes the following:

Highest degree you earned (in a high school graduate’s case, it would be the high school diploma).
Place where you attended school.
Grade point average (GPA) if it is remarkable (above 3.5)
Honors or certifications (if applicable)
Special classes

Extracurricular activities and hobbies

Some students may not be able to boast about a great GPA, but they do have plenty of extracurricular activities to highlight. These usually pertain to school-related activities but aren’t limited to that. These can show the recipient more details about your other interests, skills, and initiative.

A high schooler resume with a mediocre educational section can shine with the extracurricular activities they’ve participated in. Some of these may include:

Afterschool clubs
Sports
Yearbook staff
Leadership position
Volunteering

If you have a hobby that is directly related to the job position, then it’s appropriate to list it. If not, don’t write down random hobbies. In other words, make sure they’re relevant.

Work experience

Not every high schooler has work experience, but if you do, you want to put that on your resume. Any type of work experience will be beneficial to list—even if you think it’s a small job—and is helpful to boost your resume.

Be sure to emphasize your duties at work and/or anything else notable (i.e., was promoted to next level position in six months, etc.).

How to write a high school resume

When writing your high school resume, you can follow these tips for best results:

Develop an outline

It helps your resume to flow better if you create an outline first. An outline will keep the resume succinct.

Assess your background/present situation

During the outline process, gather all the information from your background. You can make a list of special achievements, certificates, extracurricular activities, and relevant educational activities. Write down your work history if you have one.

Use action words

When you’re describing your educational activities or work experience, be sure to use action words instead of just listing the items.

Highlight important skills

Highlight your most important skills. If you have limited space, just point out the talents and abilities related to the job.

Proofread your document

Once you’ve completed your resume, take a short break. Then go back over it, looking for errors. Check for spelling errors, formatting issues, incorrect information, and grammatical errors. After all the hard work you’ve put into the resume, the last thing you want is any type of mistake to spoil it.

Formatting a high schooler resume

People use different resume format styles, but a single column will probably work best for a high school resume. Use a bold font header for each section of the resume and bullet points to highlight skills, job tasks, and so on.

Using a plain font is best, so it’s easy to read. Usually, Time New Roman, size 11 or 12 is suggested.

Resume for high school students – Examples

The following is a simple high school resume example:

Jane Doe
102 Sharpe Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116
(651) 555-1111 * [email protected]

Dedicated, personable, and friendly high school senior with a strong work ethic. Committed to excellent customer service and professionalism. Reliable and willing to go the extra mile.

Education

Westland Park Senior High School, class of 2022 (3.8 GPA)

National Honor Society (2019-present)
Relevant courses: Public speaking, Communications, Leadership

Experience

St. Paul Public Library—Downtown Branch (June 2020-present)

Managed library database for checked-out materials.
Organized card catalog, incorporating materials appropriately.
Coordinated Story Time and Arts & Crafts for toddler and teen days.

Extracurricular Activities

Drama Club (2020-present)
Yearbook president (2021-present)
Guitar lessons (7 years)
Volunteered for homeless shelter (junior and senior years)
Helped Habitat for Humanity (contributed 100 hours throughout high school)
Collected food for the St. Paul Pantry (40 hours).
Spoke at the Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Awards

Honor Roll, eight semesters
Outstanding French Student, 2004
Volunteer of the Year, 2005

Skills

Communication skills
Computer software proficiency (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
Fluent in Spanish
Dependable
Strong leadership skills
Work well in teams
Values timeliness
Enthusiasm

Developing your resume while you’re still in high school is a great way to stay one step ahead of your peers in the job market. You’ll be ready when it’s time to send in the job applications.