5 resume tips for high school students

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16 High School Student Resume Examples Created for 2024

High School Student Resume

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

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

Using ChatGPT for resumes  is a cool idea, but can still feel daunting and overwhelming. We’ve all been there, and up until now, there hasn’t been a good resource for high schoolers to help  craft compelling resumes or student cover letters .

We’ve analyzed countless high school resumes to discover  what would get students job interviews in 2024 . While you may want to start with a simple  resume outline , keep reading to find 16 high school resume samples (plus writing tips) that are jam-packed with essential techniques and tricks.

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

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

High School Student No Experience Resume

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

First Job High School Student Resume

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

Experienced High School Student Resume

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

High School Senior Resume

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

Out of High School Resume

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

High School Graduate Resume

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

High School Student Scholarship Resume

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

High School Student College Application Resume

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

High School Student for College Resume

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

High School Student for Customer Service Resume

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

High School Student Internship Resume

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

High School Student Office Worker Resume

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

High School Student Sales Resume

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

High School Student Athlete  Resume

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

High School Student Music Resume

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

Related resume guides

• Entry Level

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

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

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

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

“What gives?” you wonder.

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

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

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

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

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

What to Include in My High School Resume?

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

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

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

Instead, you can focus on the following sections:

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

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

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

So, let’s start with:

#1. Contact Information

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

Here’s what you need to include here:

• First and Last Name
• Phone Number
• Email Address

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

#2. Resume Objective

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

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

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

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

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

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

#3. Education

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

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

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

Here’s how you can format your education section:

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

High School Diploma (Honor Roll)

AB High School

09/2015 - 06/2019

• Relevant courses: AP Calculus, Statistics, Leadership

#4. Extracurricular Activities

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

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

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

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

Student Body Treasurer

Student Government, AB High School

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

#5. Projects & Gigs

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

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

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

Neighborhood Book Club 

2019 - Present

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

#6. Work Experience (Optional)

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

• Company Name
• Dates Employed
• Achievements & Responsibilities

Sandwich Artist

Joe’s Sandwich Emporium

06/2020 - 09/2020

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

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

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

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

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

Educational Team Member

Save the Children

2018 - Present

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

#7. Language skills

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

Make sure to mention it on your high school resume!

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

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

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

With that scenario in mind:

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

#8. Hobbies & Interests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 Free High School Resume Templates

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

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

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

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

#1. Simple Resume Template

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

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

#2. Professional Resume Template

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

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

#3. Modern Resume Template

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

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

#4. Creative Resume Template

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

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

High School Resume Example

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

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

High School Resume FAQ

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. How long should a high school resume be?

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

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

A 2-page resume will be simply excessive. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Want to save time and effort?

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

Key Takeaways

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

Quite simple and doable, right?

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

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

And finally, good luck with your job search!

Related Resume Examples

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

Suggested readings:

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

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21 Ways High School Students Can Improve Their Resumes

📑 the importance of resumes.

What can a solid 😤 resume do for you?

• Helps you land a job or opportunity of your dreams
• Builds your personal/professional brand
• Acts as a signal as to why you're the best person for a job or project

What are the key 🔑 sections to have in a resume?

• Contact information (name, email, phone, address, LinkedIn, personal website)
• Work experience
• Awards, accolades, and certifications/licenses
• Skills and languages

Do you have any good templates 📑 to use?

• Once you reach the bottom of this webpage, you can create as many Fiveable-approved resume templates as you'd like with the click of a button!

Learn more about resumes with this guide on resumes and their importance .

☀️ General Resume Tips

Improve the overall feel of your resume!

You have less than a minute to show why you're the best applicant. Hone into what's important about your background and skillset.

2. Research, research, research.

Your materials should be tailored specifically to the company you're applying for. It'll show that you took time to research, understand problems the company is tackling, and why you're a value-add.

3. Keep your contact info professional.

Avoid email addresses that you may have created when you were 10 or using school emails. Create a personal Gmail account instead.

4. Don't include a headshot.

This is an easy way to prevent being discriminated against in case someone is having a bad day. It happens, especially to those who belong to historically underrepresented communities.

5. Always, always, always have someone review your resume.

If your friend in high school doesn't approve, chances are a hiring manager wouldn't, either. They might catch things that you may never notice.

💼 Work Experience and Community Service Section

Show your ability to solve problems and the impact you've made in previous roles!

1. List previous jobs that are relevant to the role you're applying for.

If you have no relevant experience, frame other responsibilities in a way that shows you're the best person for this role at this specific company. Think about transferrable skills.

2. Back up your work responsibilities with numbers.

While it's good to know what you did at previous jobs, what's more important is the impact that you made through what you were given. "I grew our TikTok following by 800% in 6 months and weekly engagement by 300% week-over-week." is much better than "Managed company TikTok channel." Quantify your achievements.

3. Avoid overcomplicating or using too much jargon.

Any number of people can look at your resume at different levels in the organization. You want to be powerfully concise and make sure anyone can get through your file with ease.

4. Use action verbs, and check for grammar/spelling.  

Make sure that you're able to communicate all of the hard work that you've done in a clear and concise way. Just googling 'resume action verbs' and inserting them in descriptions can help a resume reader understand at a glance what kind of work you're doing.

🏆 Education & Awards Section

How does your education play into your 'story'?

1. Avoid including your GPA.

Your GPA won't matter much outside of high school. Plus, it makes you look pretentious. It's all about experience these days—your score isn't what defines your value in the workplace.

2. Show off awards and accolades.

Flaunt your accomplishments. They are a clear symbol of your hard work and achievements, and they tell a better story than any random number would.

3. If you studied abroad, include it!  

Any experience that takes you beyond your comfort zone should be highlighted. It shows guts and a desire to take on new challenges.

🖼 Layout & Design Tips

Resume design is important, but not in the ways you might think. Check out the tips below, as well as 6 tips for polishing your resume .

1. Hierarchy and order matter.  

Show the most important information first, such as your work experience and relevant skills. Sort your experience in reverse chronological order, i.e your most recent experience should be listed first.

2. Don't use fancy fonts or colors.

The person reading your resume may have trouble reading it and may toss it aside if it's messy. Automatic resume filtering systems will also have trouble analyzing fancy font and colors, which may even result in your resume never being read by a real person. Avoid risking opportunities due to an inaccessible resume!

3. Avoid stuffing your resume.

You don't want to be that person with a million things on their resume in a 6px font size.

4. Stick with layouts that optimize for readability.

Avoid having too many columns or unnecessary sections, especially if you're applying for more traditional roles (e.g law or accounting).

5. Keep your resume to one page. Seriously.

Ain't nobody got time for anything longer than that—especially for a student! Limiting yourself to one page forces you to be concise and only keep the most core things you want to showcase!

💾 Files & Storage Tips

1. Track your job application submissions in a main spreadsheet.

Keep tabs on what jobs you applied to—it'll make it easier for you to follow up on. It'll also help you determine whether you applied to a company already or not. Some other fields include salary/wage, location, company name, company description, hiring manager, hiring manager contact info, application status, reflections & notes, to name a few.

2. PDF resumes only.  

Avoid .docx, .jpg/png/gif, or any other file type that requires a specific app to open it. Fake file types beware: this isn’t a school assignment you’re late on submitting and you need to buy some time with. Chances are any file incompatibility will hamper your chances of landing a gig.

3. Include your first name & last initial in the file title along with the company name & role.

This not only shows some basic organizational abilities, but it'll also make it easier for the person to know exactly who you are before even opening the file. And it'll help if you forget to include your name on your resume for any reason.

4. Create different iterations of your resume for different roles and don't overwrite old ones.

One size does not fit all, nor will one resume work with all companies. Put in the effort to craft winning resumes and you'll see the improvement over time.

👇 Create Your Own Resume

Check out these high school resume templates and college resume template .

Guide Outline

Related content, 11 tips for early action and early decision, summer opportunities to improve your college applications, 5 resources to help you explore potential career paths, how to contact admissions officers, 6 tips for college students to expand your network, how to improve your linkedin profile to help your internship chances.

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It may sound like a piece of cake when one talks about making a high school resume, but it's not easy to make and we understand that.

That's why experts at Hiration have penned down this article for all those high school students who want to make a high school student resume. In this article, we've described our method of making a resume for high school student in 3 easy stages which are further broken down into 10 even easier steps.

Given below is complete high school resume sample for you to see and get greater clarity on how a nicely-written high school student resume looks like:

• Sterilized bottles and toys used for feeding and playing with the baby on a daily basis
• Supervised the baby in the absence of the parents while ensuring fulfillment of all nutritional needs
• Accompanied and assisted the parents on weekend outings for taking care of the baby
• Conducted room cleanliness checks, processed maintenance requests and managed merchandise transaction
• Managed miscellaneous requests and maintained the cash register while ensuring the shelves are stocked
• Solved customer queries and informed them about the policies and procedures of the bookstore
• Top 2 percentile of class
• Certified Video Editor | Micro Industries | Dallas, US | Apr '19 - Jun '19
• Packed, labelled and stacked vegetables , fruits and cans to be given to the victims affected in Detroit Typhoon
• Performed as part of a band for the event 'Voyage' held for physically impaired children
• Secured 1st position in the ' English Debate Competition '18 ' out of 5 participants
• Achieved 2nd position in the ' Inter-school AdMad Competition '18 ' out of a total of 10 groups

Just read this article to know how to make a high school student resume in 10 easy steps and by the end of this article, you'll be thanking us for making the process of making a high school resume so easy-breezy for you.

After you're done reading this article, you'll know:

• How to write a high school student resume for college
• The correct way to write your key skills section
• The proper format for writing your high school resume header
• What all personal information to provide
• How to customize your profile title

... All to make a high school student resume that will get you your desired part-time job & admission in your dream college!

If you want the summary for a high school resume, then here it is:

• Make objective section & not summary section since you are a high school graduate
• Write each skill using a bullet and then bold the whole Key Skills section
• Include a Part-Time Experience section if you've done any part-time job previously
• If you've done any certification, then make a Certifications section
• Make a Volunteering Experience section if you've volunteered for any social cause

Also, you can go for Hiration's Online Resume Builder to make the process of making the resume for high school student simpler as our Online Resume Builder comes with pre-arranged high school student resume sections.

If you still plan on making your high school resume by yourself, then just read this article and follow the process given in it to make a resume for high school student that looks like it has been made by a high school resume expert.

Along with this, observe the high school student resume samples and high school resume examples given after every step to get more clarity on how each section is supposed to look after its been made.

In addition to this, you can get your high school resume reviewed for free by industry experts at Hiration once you're done making your high school student resume to check your high school resumes spacing.

Marva Collins once said, "Success doesn't come to you, you go get it."

Similarly, to get admission in your desired college or to get that perfect part-time job, you'll need to take the first step and make a high school student resume as people at your dream company or college won't come asking you to work at their place or take admission in their college.

By reading this article, you'll get to know exactly you're supposed to make a high school resume that will lead you to get those prestigious interviews at your dream company or college.

To make your resume for high school student using the above-given design template use Hiration's Online Resume Builder, where you'll get 25+ more designs to choose from to make your high school student resume.

Here is a list of what you will learn in this blog:

What is a High School Resume & why do you need it?

A resume for high school student comprises of all the voluntary work that one has done and the skills which one has which enables a recruiter or college admissions person to decide if one is skilled and experienced enough to be called up for an interview.

The present trend which is being followed to hire a person for a part-time job or to give someone admission in the college, people first ask to see a person's resume. Having a high school student resume increases your chances of getting a part-time job or admission in a college by multi-folds.

Having a resume for high school student reflects to the recruiters of the part-time jobs that you have professionalism in you and it conveys to the admissions professional that you are ambitious enough to make a bright career for yourself.

Now let's talk about the salary which you are supposed to get while working part-time.

Now you must be thinking:

How are your part-time job's salary and high school student resume connected to each other?

Since your high school resume will have all the previous volunteer work you did and your other extra-curricular activities and achievements, it will help the recruiter to get an idea of how skilled you are and then he/she will decide your salary accordingly.

So, now do you understand how important it is to have a good resume for high school student?

How to write a High School Resume?

Know that writing a high school student resume is no nuclear science.

In order to write an on-point resume for high school student, all you've to do is to follow the steps given in this article and you'll be able to make an impactful high school student resume in a short while.

Moreover, make sure you read the ' KEY TAKEAWAYS ' section given at the end of this high school resume for small hacks which will make it impossible for the recruiter and the admissions people to not take notice of.

In addition to this, you can opt for Hiration's Online Resume Builder to make your resume for high school student as here you'll get a ready to use content template for your high school resume. Also, this is an editable content template in which you can change the content according to your own experience.

This content template is written by select high school student resume experts for you.

So go and make your resume for high school student at Hiration's Online Resume Builder just in a matter of seconds.

High School Resume Sections

• Personal Information
• Part-Time Experience
• Certifications
• Volunteering Experience
• Extracurricular Achievements

Stages Of Writing A High School Resume

The resume for high school student will be made in the below given three stages:

• Master High School Resume : Starting off the high school student resume by making the master resume for high school student is the proprietary method of Hiration.

The master high school student resume not only helps in making your present high school resume, but it also is a lot of help when you'll need to update your present resume for high school student in the future.

In the master high school resume stage, all you need to do is to dump the information related to the above-given sections in a single document.

The primary idea behind making a master high school student resume is just to compile all the information related to your resume for high school student at a single place so that you don't have to go looking here and there for information when you make your final high school student resume.

Also, it has often been seen that if people just jump to make their final high school resume they often forget to write some of the most important things which they have done during their tenure in a company.

Further, when making your final resume for high school student, the master high school resume will work as a rough outline of your final high school student resume. So, when you'll sit to make your final resume for high school student, all that'll be left for you to do is to tweak the information in the master high school student resume a little.

Once you're done compiling the information in the master high school resume, start off with making the part-time experience section.

Hiration Pro-Tip : Before starting off with making your part-time experience section, make sure to save a copy of your master resume for high school student. This copy will help you update your high school resume in the future.

• First Draft High School Student Resume : In the first draft resume for high school student, you've to make the below-given sections:
• Final High School Student Resume : Now in the final high school resume stage, three things are left to do.
• Make the Key Skills section
• Compose the Objective section
• Highlight and bold important phrase, numbers, and words

Now let us get into the details of writing each section.

High School Resume Part Time Experience Section

For students who have prior experience of doing a part-time job, this section is gonna take them a long way ahead when it comes to qualifying as many part-time job interviews and college admission interviews.

Framing Point In Your High School Resume Professional Experience Section

After writing the above-given information, the next thing to do is to frame the points in the part-time experience section. When people make their high school student resumes part-time experience section, they only write what they did and are not able to explain what was the impact of the duties which they performed on the business.

That's when the cause-effect method comes into role. Let us explain with the help of college student resume examples, how to frame your high school resume points using the cause-effect method.

Sterilized bottles and toys Supervised the baby in the absence of the parents Accompanied & assisted the parents on weekend outings

Example 1 points are written without using the cause-effect method, hence, they are not providing the complete information.

Sterilized bottles and toys used for feeding and playing with the baby Supervised the baby in the absence of the parents while ensuring fulfillment of all nutritional needs Accompanied & assisted the parents on weekend outings for taking care of the baby

Now, see the difference in the points written in example 1 and the points written in example 2. The points in example 2 provide complete information around what the person was doing and why he/she did that.

Highlighting/Bolding Your Points In Your High School Part Time Experience Section

Bolding or highlighting basically helps in increasing the readability of the high school resume points.

Let us see with the help of an example how.

Example 1 points do not have bolding done in them which helps in increasing the readability of the resume for high school student points. Thus, there are chances that the recruiter or the admissions people can miss out on important information.

Example 2 points have important words and phrases highlighted in them. By doing so, the recruiters won't have to read the whole of your high school resume points as just by reading the highlighted words they'll get to know what you did in your part-time job.

Hiration Pro Tip : Start all your high school student resume points with a power verb and also make sure that your points don't breach the limit of one line.

Take a glimpse at the below-given resume for high school student sample to get a better idea of how to make your professional experience section:

Composing Your High School Resume Header

Next step is to make your high school resume header. High school student resume header goes at the very top of your high school resume. A high school student resume header is essentially made up of your name.

The header should be written between the font size of 14 to 16 points making it the largest text in your high school resume.

If you have a middle name then just write the first initial of your middle name followed by a full-stop. For example: 'Joseph R. Kipling'.

When writing your name, make sure the spacing in your name is correct. Give a single space between your first name and your last name. And in case of a middle name, give a single space after the first name and then after the full-stop given after the initial of your middle name.

Observe the sample given below to see how to make your high school resume header:

Furthermore, you can opt for Hiration's Online Resume Builder to make your resume for high school student as our Online Resume Builder uses a fixed font type and size to write the header. All you have to do is to go and write your name. That's it!

So come and make your high school resume at Hiration's Online Resume Builder Today!

High School Resume Personal Information Section

As you can get an idea of what you're supposed to include from the name of the section itself, you need to know what all personal information you need to write and what not to write.

The information you need to provide in this section is your personal mobile number, personal e-mail address and your current location of residence. There is no need to provide personal information such as your date of birth, gender, religion, marital status, etc.

• Personal Mobile Number : While writing the personal mobile number in your high school resume, you need to write it in a proper format. The number will be written on the left-hand side of the resume for high school student.

First, write the ISD code of your country and then put a plus sign (+) before it. Give a single space after writing the ISD code and then write the first five digits of your mobile number, then give another single space and after that write the last five digits of your mobile number.

• Personal E-mail Address : The e-mail address which you'll write in your high school resume needs to have a professional name. For example: '[email protected]'.

It is important that the name of your e-mail address looks professional because if it isn't appropriate to write in a high school student resume, it will give out a negative impact on the recruiter.

Along with this, the personal e-mail address will be written at the center, right next to the personal mobile number.

• Current Location of Residence : In case of living out of your hometown, you're supposed to write the name of the city in which you are living currently and not the one which is your hometown.

The current location of your residence will be written next to the personal e-mail address on the right-hand corner. Do not write the complete address, just write the city name followed by the ISO code of the country.

Just writing the city and the ISO code of the country is enough for the recruiter to know if you'll need to relocate in case you join the company.

Look at the example given below to get a better understanding of how to make your personal information section:

Customizing The High School Resume Profile Title

Next in line is the profile title of the high school student resume.

A profile title helps the recruiters to understand the level of your proficiency. Also, it is your duty to make the recruiter's job easier, and he shouldn't have to go through the whole of your high school resume to figure out what your profile title is.

So, that is why it is very important to include a profile title in your resume for high school student.

Use the font size between 14-16 points to write your profile title. The profile title is supposed to be the biggest text in the whole of your high school resume.

When writing your profile title make sure you write 'High School Graduate' as your profile title and nothing as.

Do not write any other professional titles which might be related to your dream job or profile as it will just give out wrong information to the recruiter because you're just a high school graduate and nowhere near to being a professional right now.

Look at the sample given below to get more clarity around how to customize your high school resume profile title:

In addition to this, you can go for Hiration's Free Resume Reviewing Service, where high school student resume experts will do a free review of your high school resume to check your high school student resumes length.

High School Resume: Education Section

The second most important section in a high school student resume is that of education. Since you don't have any prior professional experience as you're just a high school graduate, the education section will play a major role in deciding whether you should be hired for a part-time job or get admission in the college.

See the sample given below to get a better understanding of how to make your education section:

Moreover, you can make your resume for high school student at Hiration's Online Resume Builder where you'll also get the option of one-click design change.

So, go and make your student resume at Hiration's Online Resume Builder Now!

High School Resume: Certifications

Next comes the certifications section. Including certifications in your resume for high school student is a great way to increase the value of your high school resume as well as your chances of getting a part-time job or admission in a good college.

These certifications can be Medical Administrative Assistant Certification, Financial Literacy Certification, Video Editing Certification, etc.

To make your certifications section,, use the format given below:

{Name of certification} | {Affiliating Institution} | {Location} | {Date} (month & year)

Have a glance at the high school resume sample given below to get a better understanding of how to make your certification section:

Composing Your High School Volunteering Experience Section

This step involves making the volunteering experience section in which you'll provide information around any of the social works in which you have volunteered.

This could be volunteering to raise money for the local Red Cross, volunteering in the National Youth Service Day, volunteering to knit blankets to be donated to the homeless, etc.

Adding this section can help you in great ways to get your first or next part-time job as it will demonstrate you've got a little experience of working before as well, even if it was as a volunteer.

Also, the volunteering section will help you in getting into your favorite college as many colleges see it as a plus point if the candidate applying for the admission has done some volunteering work for the social causes.

Have a glance at the sample given below to get greater clarity on how to make your volunteering experience section:

Making The High School Resume Extracurricular Achievements Section

Next step is to make the extracurricular achievements section of your high school student resume. In this section, you're supposed to write your major achievements during your high school years.

These can be any of the sports events in which you or your team scored a high position or any academic competitions where you secured a high position.

But do not include any awards or recognition like that of 'Best Holiday Homework' or 'Best Student', etc. because let's just face it, it's just immature to add such things in a high school resume and they don't really prove any of the major skills which you have.

So, avoid writing such things completely.

Take a glimpse at the resume for high school student example given below to get more clarity around how to make your extracurricular achievements section:

High School Resume Key Sections

High school resume skills section.

Key skills section is the next section which you need to make.

For a high school student resume with no work experience, there is a proper format you need to follow when making your key skills section.

• Use a bullet before writing each skill. For example:
• Team Player
• Communication
• Presentation
• Time Management

And so forth.

• Ensure that your key skills don't exceed the limit of one line.
• Bold whole of the key skills section after you've finished making your key skills section.

Another place from where you should include key skills in your high school student resume is the job description. Every job description has a section in which the recruiter has given required for that specific position. So, if you possess any of those skills, then make sure you include them in your resume for high school student.

Also, if you know how to use tools like MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, etc., then you can make a sub-header of 'Technical Skills' within the Key Skills section and then write all these skills under that sub-heading.

Notice the sample given below to see how to write you Key Skills section:

In addition to this, you can opt for Hiration's Online Resume Builder to make your high school student resume.

In our Online Resume Builder, you'll also get the option to add bar graphs, pie charts, etc. to demonstrate your skills.

So, what are you waiting for? Make your high school resume at Hiration's Online Resume Builder Now!

Personalizing High School Resume Objective Section

The last thing to do in your high school resume is to make your objective section. For high school student resume with no work experience, you need to frame your sentences in such a way that they explain how you can use your skills to benefit the company for which you're gonna be working part-time.

Only make an objective section and do not try to make a summary section as a summary section serves the purpose of those people who have 3+ years of work experience.

Notice the high school student resume sample given below to get more clarity on how to make the objective section:

High School Resume Template/Template PDF

If you choose to make your high school student resume at Hiration's Online Resume Builder you'll get a ready to use high school resume content template which you can edit according to your own experience as well as 25+ design templates.

Hiration's Online Resume Builder also provides you with the option to download unlimited PDFs of your resume for high school student.

If you select Hiration's Online Resume Builder to make your high school resume, you'll also get the below-given options that will make your high school student resume making better by multiple folds:

• A Sharable Link
• 1 Click Design Change
• Live Resume Editor
• Option To Save Unlimited Resumes

So, make your high school resume at Hiration's Online Resume Builder Today!

High School Resume Template Microsoft Word

If you decide to get your high school resume reviewed by going for Hiration's Professional Resume Reviewing Service, our select industry experts will do a review of your resume for high school student on the below given parameters as well as you will get 2 free professional Microsoft Word high school resume templates to use for your high school student resume.

• Relevant Key Skills
• Complete Consistency
• Reliability (Achievements and skills backed up with relevant resume for high school student examples)
• Readability to Pass the 10 Second Test
• ATS Compliance
• Compliance with Industry Norms
• Recruiter Friendly
• Global Compatibility
• Performance Assessment (How well a candidate has performed to get shortlisted)
• Conversion Scope

So, go for Hiration's Professional Resume Reviewing Service Now!

Key Takeaways

• Do not put headers like that of 'Mobile no.', 'E-mail' or 'Location' when providing this information in your personal information section. Just simply write the information without these headers.
• Ensure that you haven't written anything in your high school resume in a paragraph form except for your objective section. Wherever you've written paragraphs, reduce them to one-liner main points or sub-points.
• If you've done a part-time job before, then write a one-line company description including approximate revenue, no. of employees, geographic presence, etc.
• Bold all the relevant achievements and keywords throughout your high school student resume, except for the objective and key skills section, but do not overdo it.
• Ensure that all your high school resume points begin with a power verb. Do not use weak words like 'worked/working' and instead use power verbs. To know more about power verbs, visit our article on Power Verbs Here .
• Do not put full-stops anywhere in your high school student resume except the objective section as the points in a high school resume aren't complete English sentences.
• Ensure that your resume for high school student is either of 1 page or 2 pages. A high school resume is never 1.5 or 1.75 in length. If you're using the second page, then ensure that you reach the end of the second page.
• Do not write the objective section in bullet points. An objective section is written in a paragraph form, not exceeding the limit of 3-4 lines.
• While making your certification section, you can also include the course modules you completed while pursuing that certification.
• In case you've completed any projects as part of the certifications in particular or any major academic projects in general, then make a separate projects section and write the objective of that project and your key achievement related to that project.

Go to Hiration resume builder and create a professional resume for yourself. Additionally, reach out to us at [email protected] and you can get 24/7 professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

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15 Impressive Resume Examples for High School Students

Put your best foot forward.

Many professionals struggle to write a strong resume, even after years in the workforce. It’s not surprising, therefore, that it’s even harder for those with limited work experience. That’s why we put together this list of resume examples for high school students. They need it!

According to a Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics , teens are experiencing the highest employment rate since 2008. In May 2022, 5.5 million U.S. teens ages 16 to 19 held jobs, and by summer 2023, analysts predict “that the share of 16- to 19-year-olds working this season will rise to 33.6 percent, from 32.7 percent last year.” Use these templates, which are perfect for students applying f or jobs, college admissions, or scholarships, to edge out the competition!

What To Include on High School Students’ Resumes

When you don’t have years of work experience to showcase, what should you include on your resume? Here are some ways to put your best foot forward.

• Highlight academic strengths.
• Mention extracurricular activities including clubs, sports, and volunteerism.
• List any honors, awards, or other achievements.
• Emphasize leadership experience.
• Share projects or gigs, including any internships.
• Include a “Skills” section and list computer skills, soft skills, or language skills.
• If your hobbies and/or interests are relevant to a job, include those as well. 

Resume Examples for High School Students

High school student resume templates and examples.

These helpful resume templates and examples are perfect for high school students trying to land their first job or internship. This resource shares tips on how to make a great impression. 

Resume with no experience: first job examples

Trying to land a job with no work experience? No problem! This template offers an ideal resume for high school student applicants who are entering the workforce for the first time.  

Resume for a part-time job

For students looking for a part-time job, their high school resume needs to reflect their availability. This sample offers guidance for creating a resume that sends the right message. 

Experienced high school student resume

Multiple work experience examples should be listed on an experienced high school student resume, so you might need to change the layout to make everything fit nicely.

McDonald’s resume

While this resume specifically highlights McDonald’s, it could easily be modified for any fast-food chain. The important thing is that students’ work history includes customer service and interpersonal skills and the ability to take orders, prepare food, accept payments, keep a restaurant clean, and more. 

Customer service resume

Hiring supervisors are aware of and anticipate the fact that you may not have much work experience as a high school student, but this template will help tailor your resume to the demands specified in the customer service job description.

Camp counselor resume

If you’ve ever worked as a camp counselor (or similar leadership role), you likely have a well-rounded set of skills. This resource provides tips and examples of how to list your achievements and abilities in a way to stand out above the competition. 

High school student sales resume

Writing a high school student sales resume can be challenging, especially if you have little professional experience. One solid strategy is having numbers on your side. This great template will help you get started!

Athlete resume

Depending on the student, athletics can make up a huge part of their high school experience. Should athletics be mentioned on a resume? If it’s relevant to the job or if a student was a stand-out athlete, gained leadership skills, or was recognized for their great attitude and/or outstanding abilities, this guide will show you how to include it.

High school graduate resume

Once students graduate, they’ll either be continuing their education or heading into the workforce (or both!). This great, straightforward high school resume is perfect when applying for their first real job. 

College resume for high school students

The future is bright, which is why high school students need to focus on creating a college admissions resume that will really make an impression. These tips and samples offer clear guidance on how to make a college application truly shine. 

High school student office worker resume

It’s alright if a high school office worker resume isn’t packed with noteworthy achievements. Instead, list any project that highlights your leadership qualities or relevant skills you’ve acquired along the way!

Scholarship resume

You already know that college tuition is expensive. There are plenty of scholarships out there, but the competition is fierce. This high school resume template focuses on academic achievements while highlighting skills, professional experience, and career objectives to help students stand out from the crowd. 

High school student music resume

Of course you want to highlight any musical work you’ve done, whether it’s in school or professionally. Also highlight lessons, achievements, and interests that showcase your love and passion for music. This template will give you a good idea of where to begin!

Internship resume

It can be tough to find a decent internship as a college student, which is why high school students should start looking before they graduate. These types of jobs might not come with a paycheck, but the rewards are immeasurable in terms of experience. This template offers tips for writing a strong resume for an internship position. 

Do you have more great resume examples for high school students? Share them in the comments below.

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Resume tips for high school students

by Molly Hornbuckle | Aug 25, 2022 | Blog

Hiring managers spend an average of just six to seven seconds looking at a resume . That makes it super difficult to stand out from dozens of other candidates. And it can be even more difficult if you’re just coming out of high school and are competing with more seasoned folks. Never fear, I’ve compiled resume tips for high school students to help you make an impact.

Whether you’re in a career and technical education (CTE) program and have earned skills to show off or not, use these resume tips and templates to create a compelling resume that wows prospective employers.

In this post, I help you gain confidence in building or updating your resume by breaking down:

• What a resume is and why you need one
• How to structure your resume
• What to include in your resume

What to leave off your resume as a high school student and beyond

When to update your resume.

Plus, I offer free template resources to give you a head start on creating your resume.

What is a resume and why do students need one?

Resumes are your way to show potential employers what you have to offer and why they should interview you for the role. A resume is your summary of qualifications. It’s also the information you can use to populate a profile on LinkedIn and other job sites. Think of a resume as:

An ice breaker Your resume gives potential employers a bird’s-eye view of who you are, the experience you offer, and what you want to do. It also offers a perfect conversation starter and reference material for interviews.

An advertisement and your brand Your resume is your way to “sell” yourself. Sounds strange. But you want to show yourself as both unique and memorable and equipped to check off most or all of the employer’s needed skills. Think of it as a living document and a way to show a potential employer the benefits you bring to the table.

A fact sheet Your resume should be focused, clear and concise. It’s typically the only document you leave with a potential employer. And it’s what most hiring managers (and applicant tracking systems ) use to compare you to other applicants.

For high school students, competition can be tough. You may be competing with candidates who have more experience as you try and enter the workforce or secure an internship. A good resume is the first step in outcompeting rivals for the role.

Now that you know what and why, let’s look at tips to create or update your resume so you stand out.

Options for structuring your resume

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for a resume.

Every hiring manager looks for something different. And applicant tracking systems robotically assess resumes to determine which get tossed or passed on.

Whether you’re a high school student or not, here are some common ways to approach how you structure your resume.

Chronologically

A chronological structure lists your work history as a timeline, starting with your current job and moving backward in time. Chronological resumes are ideal for situations where your work history aligns with the position you’re applying for.

Functionally

A functional structure focuses on sharing your skills and strengths. Functional resumes are great for high school students who don’t have a lot of work history. They also work well when you have gaps in your work history, are entering or re-entering the workforce, have frequently changed jobs, want to change careers, or don’t exactly fit the mold for the job.

Combination

A combination of a chronological and functional structure blends your skills and strengths with your work history. Combination resumes show how the skills you have apply to the job you’re applying for, rather than focusing solely on specific work history.

Once you decide which approach to take, it’s time to get started. Most resumes fit on one page, and it can feel like a daunting task to summarize your experience in such a short format. But it is possible.

To start, boil your resume down to four main elements.

Resume summary, profile, or objective

Every resume should include a summary or objective, usually kept to 1 to 4 sentences — like a long Tweet. A resume summary or profile gives the hiring manager quick, concise insights into your qualifications and why you’re a good fit for the role. A resume objective focuses on communicating your career goals.

If you’ve taken YouScience ® Aptitude & Career Discovery , you have access to a wealth of positive aptitude-specific language you can use in your resume profile/summary or objective. Take some time to review your results before crafting your resume and gather statements from your “ Describing you ” section.

Describing you” language for a YouScience user’s Idea Generation aptitude .

Using “Describing you” words and statements on your resume

“Describing you” in Aptitude & Career Discovery includes both individual terms that describe you and aptitude-specific statements. Those terms can be great keywords when they align with the description of the role you’re applying for.

Spoiler alert: Applicant tracking systems look at specific terms in a resume as part of the review process. Having the right keywords can get you past them. Look for words in the job description that match the “Terms that Describe You” words in Aptitude & Career Discovery, and sprinkle a few in your resume.

As far as the aptitude-specific statements, let’s say a student named Ted’s aptitude results show that he’s a sequential thinker, and one of his “Describing you” statements reads, “Others rely on me to explain how systems work. I see the big picture.”

He could use this in his resume profile/summary as “Ted uses organizational skills to develop systems that can be easily explained and utilized by others.” Or if he were writing a resume objective , he could include, “I want to use my strong organization skills to help plan and execute projects.”

If you don’t yet have work experience, the “Describing you” section can write your resume for you by letting you outline your innate talents to the hiring manager.

Writing a resume can be tough, but the “Describing you” language can make it a lot easier.

Knowledge and skills

What you’ve been learning in the classroom, especially if you’re a CTE student, applies to what employers want and need. And it’s important to take time to highlight the skills you’ve developed.

You can include a mixture of soft skills —things like dependability, communication and teamwork—and hard skills, or the skills necessary to accomplish a specific job on your resume. Use the job description as your guide for what to include.

If you’ve earned an industry-recognized certification from YouScience ® , the back of your certificate is full of information to help you describe what you can do and what you know.

The standards listed there represent the technical knowledge you gained during the course. You can use these statements as sentence starters. For example, the Business Management certification exam proves you “analyzed and understood the importance of financial information.” On your resume, you could say “Capable of analyzing financial information and understanding its importance to business operations.”

You can also opt to simply include a list of your skills or use a scale to show your experience in each skill.

Work experience

When including your work experience, focus on any full-time, part-time, self-employment, volunteer, and internship experiences you have under your belt. Start with your most important and/or relevant experience and work your way down and be honest and concise.

And, even if you don’t have any formal work experience, you likely have knowledge and understanding that’s relevant to the job at hand.

Perhaps you’re applying for your first job as a customer service representative for a department store and you passed the Customer Service certification exam in school. You can highlight the projects and training you went through in the course as “relevant” experience for the role.

If you have volunteer positions or other types of unpaid, charitable work experience that are relevant to the position, include those in their own section or incorporate them into your knowledge and skills.

If you moved the neighbor’s lawn one summer, include that. You can also give yourself a leg up by having your neighbor write you a letter of recommendation, which is a great substitute for work with longer work experience.

According to a Gallup poll, only 9% of business leaders believe that the school a candidate earns a degree from is “very important” when making hiring decisions. Employers instead focus on the knowledge you have in your field (84%) and the experience you’ve gained in your field (79%) when making hiring decisions.

Most resumes break educational experience down into three elements:

• Your major or program
• Your school
• Your anticipated graduation date (whether high school or college)

Education is one where CTE courses give high school students an advantage. If you’ve taken CTE courses, include any industry-recognized certifications you earned in school on your resume. Also, include focused areas of study you’re pursuing that relate to your desired job. You can even list applicable academic achievements — such as research papers, awards, or your GPA—to help paint a better picture of your education and abilities.

Contact information

Include how the employer can contact you. Do include email, phone, and city, state, and ZIP code but don’t include your full home address. Leaving out your home address protects you, especially if you post your resume on an online job board.

It’s important to highlight some of the resume “no-no’s” here too. So, as you work on your resume, kick these four things to the curb!

Exaggerations

According to Monster’s 2021 The Future of Work survey, around 85% of recruiters reported that they believe candidates exaggerate their experience and skills on their resumes. A good rule of thumb is to “beef it up, but never make it up.”

Unnecessary personal information

Don’t include your home address, age, weight, sex, religion, political affiliation, marital status, religiously-based volunteer activities, and so on. Keep your resume focused on what you bring to the table for the job, not your personal life.

Typos, grammatical errors, mistakes

Always proofread your resume. Always. Use an editing software or tool to check for obvious errors. It’s also a good idea to step away from the document and come back with a fresh set of eyes later or enlist the help of a friend or teacher.

Unprofessional email addresses

You’re applying for a job, so keep it professional. If you’re still using an email address like [email protected]—it’s time to do yourself a favor and open a new account using a more professional address, like [email protected] or [email protected].

In an ideal world, you want to update your resume for each job you’re applying for. That lets you highlight the experience, knowledge, and skills relevant to that job. But who really has the time for that?

Instead, focus on making updates:

• Before starting to look for a new job or type of role.
• After graduating from a college, university, or technical program.
• After earning a certification or other credential.
• When your position changes (for example, due to a promotion or added responsibilities).

By keeping these milestones in mind, your resume will be ready to hit the next hiring manager’s inbox—and make an impression—in no time!

Resume templates for students

You’ve got the tips, now you need the templates.

There are tons of free online resources that let you easily build a resume. I’ve gathered a few of them below with my recommendations on which templates to use. And which to not use.

Remember: Your resume is a professional representation of you. Employers care more about the information within the resume than the design itself. It’s easy to get swept away by the pretty colors and graphics, but some employers frown on highly stylized resume designs, and so do applicant tracking systems.

Microsoft Word templates

There are plenty of free templates available for Microsoft Word users . I recommend starting with one of the following designs:

• Basic modern resume
• Balanced resume
• Simple resume
• Columns resume

Avoid using the Infographic, Blue sky, and Contemporary photo resume templates. They’re simply not professional enough.

Google Doc templates

Did you create your professional email address using Gmail? Well, you’re in luck! Your account gives you access to Google Docs. Explore the template gallery to choose a resume design you like.

The templates are simpler than the ones Microsoft Word offers. Meaning they’re perfect for your first resume, and there are no designs that I recommend avoiding.

Hloom templates

There are hundreds of resume templates available for free on Hloom’s website. Their online builder tool makes it easier to create your resume—particularly if it’s your first one—by walking you through the information to include.

I suggest avoiding the Creative and Contemporary templates.

Resume Genius templates

Like Hloom, Resume Genius offers hundreds of resume templates and a resume builder tool . There are templates available by category—such as transportation and logistics, information technology, and accounting and finance—and even resume templates designed for students and recent graduates .

The templates in Resume Genius are kept simple. They even include tips of their own to guide you to build the best resume possible.

Best of luck and happy resume-building

As you get ready to get out there and find a role, whether as a job, an internship, or apprenticeship , we wish you luck. It may seem daunting at first, but you can do it.

College tour season is about to kick off. Here are 10 tips from college tour guides to have a successful campus visit.

• As spring starts, colleges nationwide will welcome parents and students to tour their campuses. 
• College tour guides want people to arrive on time, ask the right questions, and have fun.
• They also recommend students take the tours on their own, without their parents.

Spring break is right around the corner, and for many high-school students and their parents, that means many will be hitting the road to tour colleges around the country.

To make the most of your visit, Business Insider spoke with college students and tour guides. They know the campuses like the backs of their hands, and they know how to walk backward.

Here are the dos and don'ts of college tours from student guides .

1. Get there with no time to spare, but don't be late.

You won't get points for arriving early, so try to arrive on time. But if you do happen to arrive late , there's no need to worry.

"If something comes up and you are late, ask your guide what you missed once the tour finishes," Skyler Kawecki-Muonio, a senior at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, told BI. "They will happily fill you in."

2. Dress to impress, but don't sacrifice comfort.

It's important to look nice, but you don't have to don a jacket and tie. Tour-goers should put their best foot forward with a sturdy pair of walking shoes , and don't forget to dress for the weather.

"At Fairleigh Dickinson, tours go out rain or shine, so make sure to wear clothes that will keep you warm," Emily Bone, a junior at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, said .

3. Don't forget to sign in, but skip the résumé .

Most schools have a check-in desk where you'll receive a campus map and other literature. But don't bother furnishing schools with your portfolio.

"Students can leave their résumés at home," Henry Millar, a senior at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, said. "Tour guides generally do not have any sway in the admissions process whatsoever, so feel free to save the paper."

4. Pay attention on the tour, but do it solo if possible.

Some schools offer to let parents and kids take separate tours, which has advantages.

"Get excited about your child's potential future in college, but give them some space to see what they think of that school on their own," Nathan Weisbrod, a junior at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, told BI.

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Students can comfortably ask questions without a parent present and compare notes afterward .

5. Ask all your questions, but avoid personal interrogations.

This is the time to inquire about any aspect of campus life , and don't feel shy about speaking up.

"Tour guides love getting questions because it allows us to cater the tour, especially in small groups, toward the needs and interests of the families on that specific tour," Halle Spataro, a senior at Bucknell University, said.

But some topics are off-limits, so don't ask your tour guide about their SAT scores , ACT scores , or what they wrote about in their essay .

6. Speak up, but let the student take the lead.

Parents may be tempted to raise their hands again and again, but this tour is about the student, so there should be space to let them shine.

"Try to take the back seat — or the passenger seat — but refrain from driving all of your child's interactions," Julian Jacklin, a junior at Reed College in Oregon, said. "Students who feel they can own that experience usually ask the most questions and engage with the tour more."

7. Say thanks, but don't leave with questions unanswered.

Maybe your guide didn't hear you, or your kid was reluctant to speak up. You can still get the information you want before leaving.

"There's a lot of information students are getting that day and a lot of excitement with being in a new place, which can make people forget to ask certain questions," Lorenzo Mars, a junior at Pepperdine University in California, said.

Therefore, get your tour guide's email address so that you can follow up .

8. You may know exactly what school is right but keep an open mind.

Don't be surprised if a city-living kid is suddenly intrigued by a small-town setting.

"The college search and college experience are all about getting to know yourself better and growing, so on a tour, students have to trust themselves and their judgment of the 'world' they've just stepped into," Thomas Elias, a senior at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, said .

9. Take in as much as possible, but remember to have fun.

Sure, preparing for the next four years can be scary and stressful. But it's also an exciting milestone, so enjoy the ride.

"These tours serve as great opportunities to learn more about colleges — along with their cities, culture, and people," Connor Gee, a sophomore at the University of Mississippi, said. "Have fun with it!"

10. Weigh the pros and cons of the school, but don't stop there.

Your tour may be over, but you can still learn other ways to immerse yourself in college life .

"See if the school offers additional experiences, like eating in the cafeteria or attending a class," Emily Balda, a senior at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, said. "Consider it 'food for thought.'"

Watch: What new Citadel military college "knobs" go through on day one at the controversial school

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Former Cy-Fair ISD teacher pleads guilty after 5-year-old boy with special needs dragged by ankle over 100 feet

Child reportedly suffered from carpet burns.

Brittany Taylor , Senior Digital Content Producer

Rilwan Balogun , Reporter

HOUSTON – A former Cy-Fair Independent School District teacher has pleaded guilty to injuring a kindergarten student with special needs after reportedly dragging him by his ankle down the school’s hallways in September of 2022, according to court documents.

Amber Hall was charged with injury to a child from the incident at Tipps Elementary School.

• Cy-Fair ISD 5th grader with special needs says teacher abused him multiple times

What happened

On Sept. 6, 2022, a 5-year-old boy, enrolled in an Early Childhood Special Education class, was in the school gymnasium when he became upset and left the gym after he opted not to participate in a game other students were playing, charging documents read.

Hall reportedly followed the boy and found him lying on the floor, kicking, screaming and cursing. She grabbed him by the ankles and pulled him on his back down the hallways, documents read.

Surveillance video showed Hall dragging the child by the ankles on tiled and carpet floorings until she reached the Life Skills Classroom where she was seen knocking on the teacher’s door. That teacher came out of her classroom and picked up the child by his underarm area.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW:

According to charging documents, video showed the child was dragged approximately 143.5 feet.

• Stay-at-home mother faces jail time after arrest warrant issued for unreturned books at Grimes County library

Extent of injuries

Records show the 5-year-old boy was seen by a school nurse the same day he was dragged. The nurse documented abrasion injuries to his bottom left shoulder blade area that were consistent with carpet burns. The boy was later seen by medical personnel at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, who also documented the injuries as carpet burns that hurt to the touch.

The child’s mother, Nicole Graves, who was also employed as a third-grade math teacher at Tipps Elementary, said when she picked her son up from school, he told her not to touch his back because the teacher “broke his back.” When she asked what happened, he told her, “teacher grabbed my foot.”

• College will cost up to $95,000 this fall. Schools say it’s OK, financial aid can numb sticker shock

Graves said she didn’t understand until she watched the surveillance video.

“I’m right here in the building and I’m not protecting him from something like this,” Graves said.

Suspect pleads guilty

On Sept. 13, Hall met with investigators at the Cy-Fair Police Department. She reportedly told them that she was not CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) trained on how to appropriately address situations that call for physical contact with a student and was looking for someone CPI trained to assist her, and that is why she was dragging the child down the hallways.

On Aug. 2, Hall pled guilty to injury to a child, a 3rd-degree felony, and waived the right of trial by jury. Prosecutor will recommend her punishment.

Child’s mother fired after other incidents at school

Graves said she’s just now speaking to KPRC 2 reporter Rilwan Balogun about the incident to help parents be more aware of what’s taking place at schools. She’s been employed at Cy-Fair ISD for 10 years until last year when she said she was fired from Tipps Elementary.

Graves, a mother of two, said she was aware of her son’s struggle with his behavior as he has a history of running away, being overwhelmed and tantrums. She said he has a speech impairment and struggles to communicate, which contributes to his actions.

The school had a behavior plan for Grave’s son and told her to not “intervene” when it came to handling his tantrums.

On the day of the incident, Graves said she didn’t have details on what happened to her son and was told by the school that he was “mishandled” and it would be taken care of. It wasn’t until she got home when she saw her son’s injuries.

She said the incident was investigated quickly by the district, law enforcement and CPS and then handed to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office where charges were filed.

Although she was upset, Graves said Hall’s was placed in a classroom unequipped with proper training on how to handle students like her son.

“To be honest, as angry as I am about what happened to my son, I feel sorry for her too because she was not trained,” Graves said. “She didn’t know how to handle students in my son’s shoes.”

After the September incident, she said there were dozens of other incidents with school employees that involved her son.

According to Graves, the child was restrained at least 40 times and even witnessed one of the incidents in December 2022 -- which involved the assistant principal. She said her son was on the floor, kicking and his foot made contact with the assistant principal.

The assistant principal reportedly grabbed him by his ankles, pulled him towards her, lifted him up and eventually put her knee in his back, according to Graves.

She said her son eventually vomited in the classroom from the incident as she tried to calm him down.

In May 2023, Graves said there was another incident of employees restraining her son and when she tried to interact and get to him, she said she was blocked by the principle.

During this incident, the district reported that Graves threatened the principle, stating that she pushed and grabbed the principle and told them “we can fight.”

Graves denied the allegations.

She said that she did not touch anyone and was being blocked by the principle from getting to her son. Graves reportedly told the principle “I will fight if I have to” but touched no one as she was being blocked access to her child. She was eventually able to get to her son and calmed him down and let him cry.

Graves said she was informed the incident was under investigation but had no inkling that she would be fired until the end of the school year.

Now, Graves said her children had to leave Tipps Elementary as she was no longer allowed to be near the campus.

When KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun reached out to Cy-Fair ISD for comment they shared the employment history of both Hall and Graves.

“Amber Nikea Hall was employed as a paraprofessional in CFISD beginning August 8, 2022. She was placed on administrative leave on September 6, 2022, and investigated for an allegation of inappropriate physical mistreatment of a student. She resigned effective September 21, 2022,” the district spokesperson said. “Nicole Graves resigned effective December 10, 2023.”

Graves denies resigning from the district. Responding to Balogun’s text, she sent a copy of her termination letter.

“...the Board voted to terminate your employment with the District effective immediately,” the December 2023 letter reads. “Regardless of your decision to appeal, your paid administrative leave ends as of today.”

KPRC 2 reporter Rilwan Balogun will speak with Graves after she was fired from the school following the incident.

Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Brittany taylor.

Award-winning journalist, mother, YouTuber, social media guru, millennial, mentor, storyteller, University of Houston alumna and Houston-native.

Rilwan Balogun

Highest-ranked person in suspended cases investigation works in chief troy finner's office, 3 men wanted in connection with 'targeted' gas station shooting, spencer solves it: zelle accounts drained, ask amy: steps to take if you have a dispute with a business.