how to write a resume as a 14 year old

How to Write a First Job Resume for Teens

Even with no work experience, teens can still make an effective resume. See a sample teen resume.

How to Write a Resume for Teens

A well-written resume can be a key to success when looking for a first job or applying for a scholarship or competitive academic program. Even with no “real-world” work experience, you can still make an effective resume as a teen. Here are eight tips for writing a first-time resume or a first job resume as a teen. See a sample teen resume below.

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Know the Purpose

Identify the goal of the resume. A resume to get a job as a lifeguard has a different purpose than one for getting a philanthropic academic scholarship. Review the job description or qualifications and make a list of the essential requirements and preferred requirements.

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The essential requirements, or must-haves, are fixed or firm prerequisites such as: “Must have a clean driver’s license” if applying to be a delivery driver; or “Must have a GPA of 3.5” if applying for a specific academic program. These requirements are usually not flexible, and your resume should show that you meet them to be considered.

Preferred or ideal qualifications are nice to have, but may be flexible or could be satisfied a different way. A preferred qualification might be written as “Previous retail experience preferred” or “Applicants with volunteer work in social justice preferred.” If you have the preferred qualifications, be sure to include those qualifications. If you don’t have an exact preferred qualification but something similar, you can include it in your resume.

For example, while you may not have retail experience but have volunteered multiple times at the local thrift clothing store , that work can show you are interested in clothing and have some experience with a retail environment. The addition of similar experience is useful if it helps to make you more qualified than someone else who has no preferred or similar qualifications.

Choose a Simple Document Format

You can start with a blank document or use a resume template on Word or Google, but be sure to select one that is simple, without graphics, tables or other complex formatting styles. Often those templates do not load correctly or clearly into the Applicant Tracking Systems that are used as databases of candidates. Complex templates can also be difficult to update later. Most ATS do best with Word documents when submitted online via a posting portal.

Each resume section except for your contact information and your summary can have a title to separate it. You can use something as simple as: "Education, Experience, Skills" to designate each area. All caps, small caps, bold or just a little color and/or an underline can be effective ways to add some style to the section headings while still having a clean, easy to read appearance. A teen resume should almost always be one page, in 10-11 point font with standard page margins.

If emailing a resume, a PDF version works. If you're bringing it in-person, you can use anything that results in a professional and easy to read format on a clean, unfolded piece of white printer paper.

Professional Contact Information

In the body of the resume – not in a header – include your name as you would want it on a paycheck, your best contact phone number and a professional email address. This is not the time to use [email protected]. Instead, use an email address that is a combination of your first and last name or something else that is simple and professional. Be sure it is an email address that you check multiple times a day – including spam and clutter folders. You do not need to put in your full address, but having your city and state can be helpful if you are applying to a local neighborhood opportunity. For a more competitive or business-related opportunity, you can include a link to your LinkedIn profile, if you have one.

Summary or Objective Statement

Sometimes a resume may become separated from the pile of similar applicants. To ensure that the reader knows your target or goal in submitting a resume, include a statement of purpose. For example: “High school junior targeting a full-time summer job as a lifeguard. Able to start as of June 1 and available to work full time until Aug. 15. Can work part time during the school year.”

For many teenagers, your education is often your most significant accomplishment and qualification so far. List your school, your grade level and include additional information such as relevant classes. For example, you can list having an A in biology if you're applying to a biology program or your three years playing lacrosse if you are applying for a coaching job in your town's parks and recreation department. If you have a 3.0 GPA or above, you can include that too. You can also include any certifications or other training that is important for the role, such as CPR or a lifeguard certification.

Experience – whether it's paid, unpaid, part-time , full-time or on a volunteer basis – can do a lot to add to your credentials. Include any experience that shows you have done similar work, but also include any experience that shows you are reliable, trustworthy, hardworking or interested in the type of business or industry. To an employer, a candidate who has been hired or managed by someone else seems “less risky” than one who has never held responsibilities outside of the home or school. Some examples could be volunteering each week at the church nursery, watching your neighbor’s cats every time they go out of town or helping the drama teacher to set up and clean up after every performance at the high school.

Add Other Relevant Content

Some additional sections you can include are: skills , technology tools, awards/achievements, sports, clubs, hobbies and interests. The key here is to limit these to only things that will add value to your credentials. No need to include that you love playing Minecraft if you are not applying to a video game camp as a group leader, for example.

Review Your Work

Proof and edit online, print it out and proof it again. Then, ask a couple of other people – adults or people who have a vested interest in your resume representing you well – to review it too. You would much rather catch an error with a trusted contact than to miss out on an opportunity because of an autocorrect mistake.

When built correctly from the start, your resume can continue to evolve without much effort as you add more to your qualifications. See a sample teen resume below.

Sample Teen Resume

Robin Student

955.555.5555 | [email protected] | Danville, CA | linkedin.com/in/robinstudent

High school junior targeting a full-time summer job as a lifeguard. Able to start as of June 1 and available to work full time until Aug. 15. Can work part time during the school year.

• Washington High School, Class of 2022
• CPR and Lifeguard certification.

Experience:

• Swim team co-captain.
• Volunteer at Unity Church as a summer camp counselor.
• Babysitter for neighbor's toddlers.
• Can help others learn swimming techniques.
• Helpful and enthusiastic.
• Punctual and follows instructions.
• Girl Scouts.
• Community garden volunteer.

Tags: resumes , Applying , high school , teens , money , personal finance

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What should a 16-year-old put on a resume?

If you are a high school or a college student struggling to make your first teen resume, you're not alone.

Generally, resumes showcase a candidate's professional experiences and skills.

However, as are a teenager applying for their first job, the basics for building a resume are slightly different.

For instance, a teen resume has an objective section instead of a resume summary.

Read on to learn more about teen resumes and related FAQs like the following:

• What is a teen resume?
• What sections should you include in a teen resume?
• How to create the header of a teen resume?
• How to create the objective section of a teen resume?
• What skills should you add to a resume for teens?
• How to write the work experience section in a teen resume?
• How to add education experience on a teen resume?
• How can you add certifications on a teen resume?
• Which additional sections can you add to a teen resume?

What is a Teen Resume?

A teen resume is a page-long document that showcases the best of your academic achievements and skills.

Whether you're applying for your first-part time job or college interviews, and internships, having a resume supports your application as it makes it easier for recruiters to see all your information in one place.

A teen resume is different than a professional resume as it focuses on academic achievements, volunteer work, projects, and extracurricular activities rather than work experiences.

According to the relevance with the job profile you're targetting, you can include the following volunteer work experiences in teen resumes:

• Volunteer work at animal rescue shelters
• Art museums
• National parks
• Political campaigns
• Food pantries
• Retirement homes
• Habitat for humanity
• Organizations like Red Cross
• Local libraries and
• Community blood drives

Also read: How to write a resume with no experience?

What Sections to Include in a Teen Resume?

First things first, you must compile all your information in a single file to streamline the process of building a teen resume.

Once you have all the information in one place, you can pick and choose which information you want to include in your teen resume, based on the job description.

Ensure to present this information in different sections to increase the readability of your resume by giving it a crisp and professional look.

Listed below are the must-have sections in a teen resume:

• Personal Information
• Internship/Volunteer experience (if any)
• Awards and Achievements
• Certifications

Extracurricular Activities

• Additional Information

Also Read: What are the different sections to add to a resume? .

Teenage Resume Header

The header is the topmost part of your resume which is the first thing that the recruiters will see.

Your teen resume header must always be your full name in the largest font size of 14-16 points.

If you have a middle name, you can initialize it like so - Mary J. Blige

Ensure that you don't go with generic resume headers like "CV" or "Resume."

Recruiters already know that the document is a resume. What they don't know is who it belongs to.

Thus, it makes sense to write your name as the header of your teen resume.

Also Read: How to write a perfect resume header in 2022?

Teen Resume Personal Information

Right after the header, you must create a section for your personal information.

This section must include the following details:

A Reachable Phone Number

Ensure that it is a contact number on which you are available at all times.

Write your country's International Subscriber Dialing (ISD) code and a plus sign (+) before the number.

A Professional E-mail Id

E-mail addresses with names like '[email protected]' not only sound unprofessional but can also cost you your chances of getting shortlisted for the job.

So make sure that your e-mail address sounds professional. Preferably, one with your full name like [email protected]

Mention the city and state of your current location - not your hometown (if they are different).

Also, you don't need to provide details like your street address and zip code of your current location.

LinkedIn Profile Link

Provide a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile or an online portfolio if you have one.

In case you don't have a LinkedIn profile, consider making one as it can be beneficial for networking and finding job opportunities.

Profile Title

A profile title in your teen resume is the name of the profile you are applying for.

A few examples of profile titles that you can add to your teen resume are - industrial relations counselor, criminologist, dietician, etc.

Also, your profile title should be the second-largest text in your resume with a font size 12-14 points .

Also Read: How to write the contact information in resume in 2022?

Teen Resume Objective

Although the objective and key skills sections must be placed at the top part of your teen resume, it must be written only after writing the other sections so that you have a clear understanding of what your core skills and objective are.

When writing your objective section, don't write about your expectations from the company and the role.

Instead, write what you can provide to the organization as an ideal candidate.

Your objective statement must show how you could benefit the company with your skills and knowledge.

Highlight the skills that can fulfill the requirements of the role you're targetting and emphasize your proven track record of academic achievements.

Also Read: How to write a resume objective in 2022?

Key Skills for Teen Resume

The skills section of your teen resume must list the core skills that you possess in terms of the job description and requirements.

For instance, if you are applying for the job profile of an assistant, it must showcase skills like:

Remember to always refer to the requirements listed in the job description of the listing to understand which skills you must list in your resume (as long as it stands true to you).

The listed skills must be backed by your academic qualifications, volunteer or internship experiences, or academic projects that you've been a part of.

If you possess technical skills like proficiency in programming languages and familiarity with using specific tools or software, you can create a separate section under your key skills and list them.

Given below is a snapshot of the key skills and technical skills sections in a resume:

The following are some other examples of key skills that you can add to your teen resume according to your qualifications:

Also read: How to write a resume skills section?

Volunteer/Internship Work Section

Instead of a professional work experience section, your teen resume can have a volunteer or internship work experience section.

And depending on the relevance of it, you can either have the education section or this section before the other.

You can list your internship/volunteer experience using the reverse chronological format with the following details:

• Name of the Organization
• Location (city & state)
• Starting & completion dates
• Your designation
• The duties you performed

Also, here are some best practices you must follow to present your work experiences:

• Avoid writing in bulky paragraphs and use bullet points
• Begin your sentences with a power verb like managed, assisted, organized, etc. to create more impact with your one-liners
• Highlight the keywords in your bullet points
• Quantify your achievements and use figures whenever possible
• Use the cause-effect relationship to build your one-liners as shown in the following example:

Scheduled 10+ meetings every week by coordinating with clients and senior management to ensure smooth operations Assisted in making travel arrangements for 15+ clients who were traveling to the city on company business

Also Read: How to craft the perfect internship resume for college students in 2022?

Teen Resume Education Section

You need to leverage your fresh education to show your potential through your teen resume.

This section must present your college and high school qualifications along with some details about the coursework.

Write the name of the school/university, the name of the degree, along with the location and dates of enrollment & graduation.

If your GPA is higher than 3.5, you can mention that as well.

Also Read: How to write the education section of a resume in 2022?

Teen Resume Certifications

If you have taken up extra certification courses or training that is relevant to the job you're applying for, you can list them in this section.

Adding certifications to your teenage resume increases its value and helps you stand out from the crowd of applicants.

Provide the following details while listing your certifications:

• Name of the certification course
• Name of the certifying institution
• Dates of enrollment and graduation

Also Read: How to list certifications on a resume in 2022?

Additional Information for Teen Resume

Furthermore, to provide extra details about your academic experience and qualification, you can include additional sections like the following to your teen resume:

As teens don't have work experience to put on their resumes, you can list academic projects that you've been a part of.

Academic projects include the significant projects that you did in school or college.

To list your projects, use the format given below:

Name of the project | Dates of the project One line description of the project Projects objectives, your role, and the outcome of the project

Also Read: How to showcase projects on a resume in 2022?

Awards & Achievements

The awards and achievements section will include any major awards or certificates you received for exceptional academic performance or for participating in quizzes, sports, projects, etc., at the school or college level.

You can also include awards or recognition that you may have received for your volunteer work or internship.

Follow the given format to list your awards & achivements:

< Name of the Award > | < Reason for getting the award > | < Name of the awarding institution > | < Dates >

This section will mention all the extracurricular activities that you took part in at school or college.

It could be anything from being a part of the basketball team or leading the eco-club or becoming the captain of the soccer team.

Extracurricular activities showcase that you possess teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

If you speak multiple languages, list them in your teen resume as it can be an asset if you are planning to work in the service, tourism, and sales industries.

Also read: How to write an entry-level resume in 2022?

Key Takeaways

• You should start every point with a power verb in your teen resume internship/volunteer experience section
• Quantify your achievements wherever possible
• Use bullet points instead of bulky paragraphs in your teen resume
• The font size for your teen resume body should be between 10-12 points, as these font sizes are easily readable
• Use professional fonts like Ariel, Helvetica, and Tahoma to write your teen resume
• Ensure that your key skills match your work experience and the profile you're applying for
• Customize your teen resume according to the job description of the role you're applying for
• Write the objective and skills section after writing the other resume sections
• Your objective statement should focus on how you can benefit the organization with your skills and knowledge

If you want to build a stellar teen resume, use Hiration's resume builder which is powered by AI. You can also write to us at [email protected] .

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Resume Example for Teens + templates and tips

As a teen, looking for a job can be overwhelming, but it shouldn't be with a good teen resume.

All resume examples in this guide

Resume example for teens

Marry Jane 1245, West San Jose 734-394-5090 [email protected]

Professional Objective

A dedicated and responsible individual with an attention to detail. Multi-tasker who has handled various tasks while volunteering for an organization. Looking forward to building my skills and explore more by being an asset to the company.

Work Experience

Volunteer experience We Make Change, West San Jose (2018-2019)

• Organized donation drives that got 3x more donations than previous campaigns
• Collaborated with fellow volunteers and came up with creative solutions to tackle problems
• Used social media handles to reach out to more people for donations
• Set up new methods to carry out the functioning of the organization
• Communication skills
• Time management
• Multi-tasking skills
• Computer proficiency
• Detail-oriented

Academic Achievements

• Won the best presentation award
• Secured third in an art competition
• Head of sports club
• Team leader of group activity

Wonder high school, Ongoing

• GPA - 3.5/4
• English - Intermediate
• French - Basic

And by good, we don’t mean making it all fancy by adding your experiences to fit the job. Obviously, as a teen, you don't need to have all the experience in the world to land your first job. You may already have the skills required for the job; you just need to describe them in a way that pleases recruiters.

But don't worry about it! We're here to tell you just that with some tips, templates along with resume examples for teens (like you!) for you to land your first job and get your first paycheck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syandw29zEY&ab_channel=ResumeExample

Before we get into the writing tips to create your teen resume, let’s take a look at one of the teenage resume examples for teens below:

This is just one resume example for teens. If you want to see more, you can check out our other resume examples .

What to Put on a Resume for a Teenager

As a teenager, you don’t have to make your resume look like you’ve had all the experience to fit the job description. So, relax; we’ll show you how to write it outstandingly step by step.

You can add the following sections on your teen resume to attract employers:

• Contact Information
• Career Objective
• Volunteer Experience (Only if you’ve volunteered)
• Extracurriculars
• Achievements

Here, instead of a professional work experience section, you can either add your volunteering experience or anything you've done so far, be it babysitting, hosting a birthday party, or anything. It doesn't have to be about professional office jobs, so take it easy.

If you haven’t volunteered anywhere, you can sign up for one. But if there’s a time constraint, you can omit that section in your resume, and it’s totally okay! But you need to add your contact information at the very beginning.

Here are two quick writing tips for writing a good resume to help you:

The layout for a Teen Resume (and how to make It appealing)

The layout of a resume is how you align your text and use colors. You need to make it visually appealing, as that's what grabs the attention of anyone. Well, even recruiters' attention! We’ll help you make a good first impression with your resume layout here:

Resume for teens with pointers are easy to read, and it’s easy for recruiters to scan. Since recruiters don't spend much time reading every resume, having bullet points would be best for your future employers.

Don’t make the following mistakes:

• Adding sentences with more than two lines.
• Keeping the font size too small or too big.
• Not using numbers or numbering the lists wrong

Use subtle colors and standard font size so that it doesn’t strain the eyes of hiring managers. Don’t use flashy colors like red and neon as they may not look professional. Give attention to these little details to make them appealing.

A well-structured resume will make you stand out of the crowd.

The best resume example format

Formatting your teen resume is the next crucial step. There should be a flow in your resume for teens so that hiring managers don't have to take longer to look for relevant information. The three standard ways to structure your teen resume are as follows:

The best format for a teen is to go with chronological order, where you put your education details in the beginning.

Start with the Header

Let's jump into the basics of creating a teen resume now. It’ll be a great kickstart for your career with a good resume.

The header is the first line that your recruiter sees. Just like the way you clicked this article after reading the heading, your hiring managers will pick your teen resume if your heading is good.

A good & a bad header for teenagers

We’ve given here two resume examples for teens of an incorrect and a correct header to give you an idea.

I am Mary Jane, I live in Texas, I am a babysitter, and I'm looking for a job. My professional email address is [email protected]

As you can see in the resume examples for teens, the first header is unprofessional, and the email address is too. The second one is clear, and the professional email address looks formal too.

Another thing that most people get confused about while writing a resume is adding your photo or not. Well, the thing is, if it is mentioned in the job description, you need to addit. Otherwise, don't include it. Adding a photo can be a distraction and lead to discrimination which is why in the US and the UK, they reject your application right away if there's a photo in your resume.

About me: how to write a professional objective with no experience

This section is where you talk about yourself and your skills. You should not only add what you do but also add how you do it. It shows how you approach things and whether you're responsible enough to handle them independently or not. This example is perfect for teenagers to tell the hiring managers what they can without having work experience.

If you have any work experience like we mentioned earlier, you can add a professional summary instead of an objective. But, for now, you can stick to the objective to land your first job. To give you a clear picture of how a professional objective should be, here are two examples of the correct and the incorrect.

Responsible individual with attention to detail and people skills. Managed donation drives end-to-end smoothly and gathered 3x donations by actively marketing, participating, and involving everyone in the team.

Hardworking and people-centric individual who can take up marketing roles and be the best in them. I'm looking for a similar job in your company.

The incorrect one does not seem professional, and it just says you can take up marketing roles but nothing but what you have done previously to be best at it. However, the correct example shows your skills and the outcome of managing the drive, which is great.

It means you can take up any responsibility and produce better results. Keep it relevant to the job.

Experience (+ what to do if you have no experience)

You may have no experience or have little experience doing summer jobs . If you have done any, you can add it in this section. It's alright if you have no experience. You can add the little things you have done in your neighborhood and high school.

Likewise, you can add your hobbies and interests, extracurricular activities, babysitting experience, and volunteer work. Add what you did in your high school and focus on your cover letter.

Here is an example of a high school resume:

Resume Example of experience for teens

Volunteer Work

We Make Change Org, 2020

• Responsible for successful implementation of donation drives in and around the city.
• Increased donation by 5x in 3 months by reaching out to people on various social media platforms.
• Collaborated with other volunteers, brainstormed ways to help the needy, and came up with practical solutions.

Highlight your education

The next section of the resume for teens is your education. You should add the high school you're studying in, your GPA, graduation date, and coursework here. If you have taken up any other courses online or elsewhere, you can include them too.

How to include your education

In this resume example for teens, here is how you write your education details with your high school:

Mountain Academy

Meansville, GA - Ongoing

Skills: best allies of teens with no work experience

Introduce the skills section and include both your hard and soft skills. Here is an example of it in our resume for teens. You can fill in as many you wish:

• Creative Problem Solving
• Customer Service
• Multi-Task Management
• Cheerful and energetic
• Computer Literate
• Team collaboration
• Resolution-oriented
• Weekly Payroll
• Team Leadership
• Approachable
• Excellent time management
• Cold Calling

What are the most sought-after skills for teenagers?

You need to add your hard skills like the software programs you’ve used in your high school or out of your interest and the soft skills in your resume.

If you've participated in a debate competition or any group project in your high school as a high school student, you can add communication and leadership skills too. To give you an idea, you can fill in the following skills:

• Microsoft excel
• Microsoft word
• Graphic design
• Public speaking
• Computer skills
• Coding skills
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Positive outlook
• Perfect attendance record
• Dedicated team player
• Reliable and dependable
• Excellent multi-tasker
• Professional and mature

You should add skills relevant to the job you're applying to, as that's what the recruiters will be looking at. They try to map the skills to the job and see how well you can complete the assigned tasks. It's very important not to add skills that are not relevant for the job.

Additional Headings for your Accounts Manager Resume

In a student resume, you need to add a section with a few headings that we'll show you here. In this section, you need to add your interests, languages that you know, and the certifications that you have gained so far. As someone new to the field this section can give you an edge over others.

Say, for example, if you know multiple languages and you're applying for a customer support job, it will quickly catch the attention of recruiters, and you'll get a call for sure . So, this section is very important when you're writing a student's resume. We also have a resume template with this section where you can check out.

Computer skills and certifications

If you've worked on your high school projects or designed posters as a club member for fests, or if you have made a good presentation in your group project, then these are some of the skills that can be added. In our resume examples for teens, we’ll show you what to include.

It can be any software you've worked on. You can write you have photoshop skills, proficient in PowerPoint and Microsoft word or excel. Add them in this section to get a call from the recruiters. People who are hardworking are always preferred.

Here, you need to write about your interests and hobbies. Adding this section shows recruiters your interests beyond the job responsibilities and how you can contribute to the company with a broad range of skills.

Writing a resume is easy when you have a resume template with you. In this section, add all the languages that you know so far. Being multilingual is great in any workforce. It brings people together and helps you network with a wide range of people too in your career. So, this is a perfect addition to your resume if you know several languages.

Formation this section in the following way:

Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Photoshop, Microsoft excel

Blogging, child care, art, volunteer work

• English (Advanced)
• Spanish (Intermediate)

What other sections to include?

You can add references in a separate section after the additional section where you can ask the organization you've volunteered for referring to you. You can ask for references from all the places you've worked and add them in this section, so the hiring managers know how you work through them. You can write a great resume by adding this section. You can also write your accomplishments and certifications you’ve received or online courses you’ve done to make it more impressive.

After completing your resume, you can check out Job search sites (or job search engines) and start applying. You can also go through our resume template to finish writing your resume quickly.

Summary: Key Points for Writing a resume for teenagers (even without experience)

That’s about it! Now that you know how to create your resume, you should ensure it is not more than one page, and everything is to the point. Let’s take a quick recap here:

• Format your resume with professional colors and layouts
• Structure your resume in the chronological order
• Add a good resume objective
• Add your experience and the responsibilities held if you have volunteered
• Make use of resume templates to write impressive resumes
• Include both your hard and soft skills
• Write your achievements, languages are known, and certifications in the additional section.
• Don’t forget to add your contact information such as your phone number, email address, and social media handles (preferable LinkedIn)
• Add referrals in the end.

Write a Cover Letter that matches your resume perfectly

If you want to know how to write one, you can check out a few resume samples of cover letters.

Have a look at the Best online jobs for teens and some of our templates to craft a good professional resume.

FAQs about resumes for teens

Can a 14-year-old have a resume.

Yes, of course, a 14-year-old can have a resume. If you're looking for part-time jobs, you need to write a resume to attract the attention of the employers by keeping it relevant to the job. Writing resumes can be a challenging task initially, but we've given you some examples of resumes, sample resumes, and cover letters to help you out in this article.

What should a 14-year-old put on a resume?

A 14-year-old should put the relevant skills, education, contact details, volunteer experience, and others on a resume. You can check our resumes template to write one and our sample resumes and cover letters.

How does a 14-year-old make a resume?

You can create a resume using a resume builder where you just have to add your details and choose your template, and the resume builder will automatically make one for you. Whether you're applying for part-time or internships, you can add all the sections we've mentioned for the employers to know better about you.

What should a teenager include in a first job resume?

A teenager can include volunteer experience, babysitting experience, hard skills like computer proficiency and knowledge of different software, and soft skills in a professional resume. You need to keep it relevant to the job you’re applying to. Check out our sample resume and use our resume builder to create a great resume for you.

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What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

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How to Make a Resume for Teens With Examples

You’ve scoured the job postings, picked the best of the bunch, and now it’s “game on” for getting hired. But before hitting “apply,” the first step is to learn how to make a resume for teens. It’s an ultra-important document that makes the first impression on your employer, and it’s your ticket for putting your best foot forward.

From advice about what to include (or exclude!) to writing a resume with no work experience to resume examples for teens, we’ve got the scoop on how to write a resume.

View our favourite Resume Examples for Teens .

What is a resume?

A resume is a formal written document that outlines your qualifications, such as your education, skills, work experience, and any notable accomplishments.

“The purpose of a resume is to showcase your skills and experience and to convince a prospective employer that it is worth calling you in for a job interview,” says Sabrina McTaggart , a career coach for young adults based in Ottawa, Ontario.

Most employers require a resume to apply for a job and it’s typically two pages maximum. It’s often accompanied by a cover letter—a one-page letter of introduction that summarizes why you’re applying for the job and what makes you an ideal candidate. 

Learn more about Best Summer Jobs for Teens in Canada

What should be on a resume for a teenager?

A resume is your chance to shine to a prospective employer. But avoid listing all things you’ve ever accomplished in your life. Here’s what should make the cut:

1. Your contact information

Your contact information should be front and centre. Specifically, the heading at the top of the first page should contain your name, address, email address, website, LinkedIn URL, and phone number.

Tip: Now is the time to create a professional email address. [email protected] is appropriate for corresponding with your peeps, but not with hiring managers. It doesn’t have to be complicated: you can use your name ([email protected]) or create a generic address ([email protected]). 

2. Summary/objective

Consider this section to be the “Coles Notes” version of your entire resume. Write a bullet-point listicle that rounds up the reasons why you’re the prime candidate for the job: from your educational achievements to your mad computer skills to awards and accolades. For example:

• Entering fourth year of secondary school studies at Pleasantville High School.
• Five years of experience caregiving for children.
• Proficiency in Word, Adobe, and Excel software.
• First Aid and CPR Certified.
• Strong attention to detail, superior organizational and project management skills.
• Familiar with social media.
• Hold a valid Ontario driver’s licence.

3. Relevant experience

This section should be a snapshot of past and present experiences that demonstrate your ability to do the job. 

You should include:

• Job or position title
• Name of employer or organization
• Dates of employment or participation
• A summary of responsibilities and accomplishments (written as a bullet point list is acceptable).

“Briefly outline your relevant work experience and volunteer experience and what skills you developed in that work,” says McTaggart. “You can add any relevant extracurriculars that might make you a more attractive candidate, such as athletic accomplishments or music competitions.”

It’s standard to list your experiences in reverse chronological order (e.g., start with the most recent and work backwards) and only include what’s relevant and recent. A laundry list of everything you’ve ever done is TMI. Instead, highlight unique or noteworthy experiences that demonstrate your ability to handle the job. 

Tip: Show, don’t tell. You may have been elected to the student council (e.g., “Student Council Treasurer 2022-2023”), but it’s more impressive to share what you accomplished in that position (e.g., “Managed the council’s annual budget of $25,000 and fundraised an additional $10,000 to kickstart a Gender and Sexuality Alliance Network at school”).

Learn more: 14 best part-time jobs for teens .

What to put on a resume with no experience

’If you’ve never had a job, think outside the box. Did you house sit for your neighbour? Do you coach your younger sibling’s soccer team? Did you volunteer for a beach clean-up last summer? A hiring manager is looking to see examples of when you’ve acted responsibly, which could translate to on-the-job cred.

“Employers are aware that teens often have little formal work experience when they are hiring for student jobs and entry-level positions,” says McTaggart. “Consider how you might demonstrate that you have some useful skills, such as organizing, planning, writing, communication, and a strong work ethic.” She suggests including skills you learned while doing chores for neighbours and relatives, babysitting, dog-walking, or tutoring peers in school.

4. Education

List any past, current, and future educational achievements in reverse chronological order (most recent first and work backwards). This should be the shortest section on your resume and include: 

• The name of your school(s)
• Any diploma/degree in progress or attained
• Major/field of study
• Enrollment dates
• Expected graduation date
• GPA (if above 3.5)
• Any notable awards

If you’ve just graduated, list your high school, and if applicable, any post-secondary institution that you will attend next year.

If you’re still a student with limited job experience, you can put this section at the top of your resume. But if you’ve graduated and have ample work experience under your belt, your education is slightly less important and can be parked near the bottom.

Tip: “Include details about your education, including any awards such as Honour Roll or Dean’s List,” says McTaggart. Just keep it short and simple: “Graduated third in a class of 200 students, with a GPA of 3.8.”

5. Relevant skills

Showcase personal and professional skills that are relevant to the position and give concrete examples. For instance, if you’re applying to a summer camp, spelling out that you’re “First Aid and CPR certified” may give you a leg up over other candidates. If driving is an essential part of the job, mention that you have a valid driver’s licence (as well as list the licence class and how long you’ve held it). 

This is also the place to park any computer skills; fluency in languages; and certifications, licences, or professional courses that you’ve completed (or are currently completing). 

“Are you proficient with any software?” asks McTaggart. “Be sure to note, for example, if you can use document, spreadsheet or presentation software, and especially if you have any experience coding at any level.” 

Possible skills could include:

• Customer service
• French language
• Basic coding
• Video editing
• Photography
• Social media
• Communication skills
• Microsoft Office
• Fundraising
• Valid drivers licence

To understand what skills to include, study the job description. Does the position require using a computer? Are you handling cash? Will you be communicating with customers? Read between the lines and pick out the most important competencies for the job.

“For example, if you volunteered to help seniors with their technology in a retirement home, you have demonstrated strong communication skills, patience, and reliability,” says McTaggart.

Tip: Resist the urge to embellish your skills. Hiring managers often do background checks to confirm details. They may even request a copy of your purported credentials.

Read more: Job interview questions for teens with sample answers .

6. Awards and achievements

This is your chance to humblebrag about your awesomeness! List any scholarships, bursaries, awards, or achievements. These could be through school, the community, or extracurricular activities. If you’re applying for your first job, these seemingly small achievements can help your resume sparkle above the rest. 

7. References (optional)

While not mandatory, you can list up to three professional contacts who can speak to your character and/or professional experience. Always ask before listing a potential reference on your resume. No one likes surprises, and a courtesy “heads up” gives the person time to think about what to say. 

Learn more about How to prepare for your first job interview . 

Tips for writing a resume for teens

• Stick to one to two pages : If you exceed that length, you risk overloading the hiring manager with information. Less is more!
• Make a professional email address : “Avoid things like hunnybunny@hotmail,” says McTaggart.
• Make your resume visually appealing : “This does not mean getting fancy,” says McTaggart. “It simply means making good use of white space and avoiding dense blocks of text.” Also, be consistent with fonts and formatting.
• Keep it simple: A resume should be eye-catching but not gaudy. “Unless you are applying for a role where a lot of creativity is required, it is advisable to avoid flashy colours and fonts,” says McTaggart. “The key to a good resume is to make it readable and professional.”
• Think about what the employer wants : Then, customize your resume to fit those qualifications. “Put yourself in the shoes of your prospective employer: they want a teen who is reliable, punctual, has a good attitude, can follow instructions and communicate clearly,” says McTaggart.
• Study the job posting : It gives clues about what the employer wants in a job candidate, as well as keywords to include in your resume. It might also give intel on possible interview questions.
• Prove you’re a leader: “Leadership skills are highly regarded by employers,” says McTaggart. “If you have ever been captain of a team, coached the younger members of your basketball club or taken a leadership role in your school play, be sure to highlight this.
• Use “action” words to paint a picture . Use descriptive language to leverage your skills and experience, as well as what you’ve achieved. Instead of simply saying you “did a thing,” consider if you could use these verbs such as led, researched, created, managed, delivered, resolved, founded, developed, tracked, collaborated, grew, or promoted. The thesaurus is your BFF!
• Proofread: Your resume should be squeaky-clean before you hit send. Run a spelling and grammar check—ideally, twice. Read the resume out loud to catch any awkward sentences or to trim length. Get a friend or family member to proofread for typos too.
• Ready your references : “If you have done good work for someone, even if informally like babysitting or snow shovelling, consider asking them for a letter of reference,” says McTaggart. “You can then list these folks under your ‘References’ section.” She also recommends making the request in person and routinely after you finish a job. While few people do this, it’s a good habit that can pay off later.
• Minimize your digital footprint : Hiring managers typically do online searches for job candidates. If you’ve got a digital presence that you’d rather not share with a potential boss, switch your social media settings to private. 

Tip: Include a cover letter with your resume. Learn more about how to write a cover letter for students .

Resume Examples for Teens

Need some help crafting your perfect resume? We’ve got you! Here are some resume template for teens that can help:

Resume with no work experience for teens

A sample resume for a high school student with no job experience:

Resume with work experience for teens

A sample resume for a first-year university student with job experience:

Last word about how to make a resume for teens

If you’ve made it this far, you should be well-equipped to take on the task of creating a resume. Start by studying the job description and brainstorming what skills and experiences might be highly valued by the hiring manager. Using these pro tips, draft a resume that showcases your skills and uses concrete examples that are directly relevant to the position. Remember to have a friend or family member proofread it before you hit send.

One last piece of advice: avoid the pressure to be perfect. At this age and stage, no one expects you to have a jam-packed resume with fancy awards and job experience. Avoid “padding” your resume with complicated or overblown achievements.

“As a teen, you’re not applying for Senior Vice President roles!” says McTaggart. “Keep it simple.”

Download the Mydoh app to help your tweens and teens gain real-life experience managing their money. 

This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.

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Resume Writing For Teenagers

If you are a teen, this is probably the first time you are writing a resume. A resume is a document that highlights your skill set and experience for a specific job. If you are looking for a certain job, then you want to tailor the resume so that you can shine to a potential employer.If you want your resume to stand out from all the other resumes that an employer receives, then you need to think about making some subtle yet essential tweaks.   Throughout this page we will examine what teens can do with their resume to have the best chance of getting employed.

Resume Tips For Teenagers

In order to make your resume different from the other resumes, use your resume to tell a story. Even if you have limited experience, you can still make this happen. After all, people spend hard-earned money on movies or books that weave a good storyline. If you, yourself, can harness this kind of power, you will make it easier for a hiring manager to keep your name embedded in their mind.

Below are a number of tips to help you create a resume that will stand out among other teenagers.   We highly recommend you get our FREE Teen Job Survival Guide as it will help you better understand not just resume writing, but everything else when it comes to getting a job as a teenager.

Make Sure The Resume Looks Pretty

one of the most important thing with a resume is to make sure that it looks good for those who are viewing it.   While you could figure out a design yourself, one of the best tools we've found to help is MyPerfectResume which will let you create a resume absolutely free.

Use An Attention-grabbing Font

While most people use Calibri or Times New Roman on their resumes, make yours stand out by using a 14-point Georgia font – a type of print that is much more readable on a computer display. This seems like a really simple change, but doing that can make you stand out and increase the readability of your resume.   If you choose a font aside from Georgia, make sure that the font is easily readable and give it to your parents or someone older to read it.

Compose Your Resume into Three Main Sections

Compose your resume’s history so it has a beginning, middle and an end. Make your resume read as an adventure – one where you are the hero. Make the hiring manager feel like they are reading an interesting narrative – highlight your achievements during your academic career and in your extracurricular life. Share some of the internships or jobs you have held in the past if applicable. Make sure that your skills and experience are presented in a way will make your resume easy to remember.

Link Details about yourself to a Blog or Website

Make use of bold font.

The best way to create a readable resume is to bold the most important sections. Not only will it make the resume more readable, it will also demonstrate to a potential employer that you are proud about your accomplishments. If you are not sure what to highlight, ask yourself what areas you would bold if the hiring manager could only see 10% of your resume.

A Teenager General Resume Template

A good template to follow for a general resume with a teenager that has little experience would be as follows:

· Name of the applicant and contact information on top.

· Personal characteristics, objective for finding a job

· Educational background (include your GPA – if scholastically high)

· Related Jobs, Internships, or volunteering.

· Links to school projects and achievements on a blog or personal website

Create an Infographics Resume

You might also consider creating an infographics resume if you have some related job experience (paying and non-paying) under your belt. Creating this kind of graphic not only makes your resume stand out, it will also be much more interesting to scan and read. Hiring managers appreciate this, especially if they have to read a large amount of resumes each day. Tools for this are Visualize. me and Kinzaa. com .

Writing a Resume For Your First Job

If you have never written a resume before, then this is your opportunity to brag a little about yourself (and that's okay). While you don’t want to go overboard, you do want to make sure your resume reflects details about your abilities and skills that will clearly place you in the running as a top applicant.

Pretend You are Doing the Hiring

The key to writing a good resume is to make sure you tailor the document to the job for which you are seeking. Take the stance of the hiring manager. If you wanted to hire a candidate for a particular job, what would you like to see highlighted on his resume? If you don’t have direct job experience, then concentrate on the skills you have achieved during your academic career.

Highlight Your Knowledge and Skills

While you don’t get paid for participating in school, you certainly do build up experience and knowledge. It's also a time when you learn certain skills – skills that are related to communications, leadership and collaboration. Highlighting these attributes can show an employer your ability to handle certain job responsibilities. Therefore, when you are creating a resume, look at what you have achieved so far in your academic career and in your extracurricular activities. What have you learned and achieved? How can these experiences be used on the job to which you are applying?

What Information Should a Resume Have?

So, what goes into a resume?

· Name and contact information

· Education

· Experience

· Languages

· Honors and awards

· Activities

· References

As you can see from the above listing, your resume is designed to play up your strengths! Therefore, it is important for you to be aware of those strengths. If you include all of the information above when you write your resume, you'll have a pretty solid document to share.

Stand Out from the Rest

Definitively, strengths are the skills you develop. These skills may include computer or writing skills or the ability to listen, lead or communicate. What you need to do it emphasize your skills on your resume and that will separate you from other job candidates. That is why it is essential that you identify and confirm your abilities.

A Resume is a Job Marketing Tool

If you do set up a time for an interview, make sure you arrive a few minutes early, dress neatly and professionally, and are armed with information about the company to which you are applying. Your resume and your interview time is your chance to market your skills and abilities for a specific position. Remember, your resume is just the first step.   The real test comes in the interview itself.

Resume Format

The resume format refers to the way the copy on your resume is organized. You can select from a variety of styles. However, it is important to maintain consistency and clarity. Also, it is essential to keep the items on your resume in chronological order and nicely aligned. A resume should be simple to read and mistake-free. With that being said, before you submit it, make sure you have a parent or teacher look it over.

Resume formats can be set up in traditional or more creative styles. However, keep to the template you choose and do not get carried away. The primary function of a resume is to show an employer who you are and what you can do.

As mentioned previously, a great tool to use for resume building is at MyPerfectResume. com . Use this site to help you set up your resume so you come across in the best possible light. Your resume is you calling card for an interview.

Present Professional Contact Details

Make sure you create a good impression with the contact information you add to your resume. For example, your voicemail greeting should be professional and appropriate. You should not include a ring-back on your phone or give them a link to your Facebook account if you have a lot of questionable posts for everyone to see. Make sure the e-mail address you include is professional-looking too.   Don't give them something like [email protected], you will never get a call back.   It's not a bad idea to set up a separate email account specifically for your job search.

Highlight Your Education

Naturally, since you are writing a resume for your first job, you will mention your education. Highlight what you have learned by starting with your most recent schooling, but do not include any infromation about your middle school or earlier.   Employers only care about high school or GED and beyond.  

What to List under “Experience”

A very crucial part of any resume is the experience. This is the section where you can list activities that helped you to learn new skills. Activities can include anything from a volunteer project to a summer internship to a babysitting assignment.

Place the experiences in order either chronologically (to emphasize your progress) or functionally – showing your most relevant experiences first or by grouping similar experiences together. You can use whatever date format you wish in order to show the time you were at each place where some experience was gained. Just make sure you keep the date form consistent.

Describe Your Experiences

For each experience, describe your responsibilities or what you did specifically. If you still hold a certain job, use present verb forms. Use past tense verbs for jobs you no longer have. Always make sure you integrate action words in the resume. Some examples of action words include calculated, facilitated, achieved, administered, analysed, chaired, consolidated, drafted and enforced.

Writing a Resume With No Experience

If you're looking for a job with no solid job experience, there are still other things you can bring to the table. In this instance, you need to highlight your skills and education. For example, maybe you have taken a few photography courses or you are pretty good at working with Photoshop. Are you adept with social media or in getting the word out about certain events? This is where you begin if your experience is limited to your extracurricular activities or schooling.   Employers will be willing to give you a shot because you'll be cheaper than more experienced people and you'll probably work harder too!

What Should You Emphasize?

When you're formatting this kind of resume, you want to show off your special talents, or skills that will be helpful to your employer. You want to define those unique qualities that set you apart from the other applicants. That means listing computer programs that you know and use and to provide an assessment about your knowledge overall. Think outside the box here and consider the things you know really well.   If you're good at Powerpoint, list it!   Have experience with Photoshop?   List it!   Sometimes you may apply for one specific job and a person will want to hear more about the skills you listed as they could use you in another area of their business.

Are You Bilingual?

If you have language skills, then be sure to list them. This is the section of the resume where four years of Spanish lessons have finally paid off. However, make sure you are honest too. For instance, you may want to say you are fluent in Mandarin but one year of lessons will not be enough, especially if you are caught in a lie. A lot of jobs depend heavily on bilingual skills. Therefore, lying about your language ability can be embarrassing and can also get you fired.

Awards and Honors

If you are writing a resume that does not list much in the way of job experience, you can highlight any honors or awards you have received instead. Just list the award and the date of its receipt. No description is needed for the content, that's what the interview is for.

Activities Outside of School

Let employers know that you are active in pursuits outside of school. This shows that you are a well-rounded candidate. List the pertinent activities and your role in each pursuit. Activities might include coaching, working as a tutor, participating in telemarketing, volunteering, outdoor sales, sports, everything helps.

Adding References

You always need to have people back up your qualifications. Therefore, you will want to add a “References” section to your resume.

A reference is an individual who can testify and confirm that you are the right person for the job. Be sure to include this part to your resume if one or more people have agreed to serve in this capacity. A reference can be a former employer or supervisor, youth worker, teacher or coach.

Reference information should include the phone number, email address and the organization of the person. If you don’t feel comfortable including references on your resume, tell potential employers that you will offer names of references when required or when an offer is made.

Age Has Its Limitations

While a resume can help get you in the door of a company, employers also realize that younger workers are usually motivated and energetic. Workers of this age group are also usually eager to earn cash, especially if the job is a summer position or part-time. However, your age will also impact the types of jobs to which you can apply and what you'll be able to get.   Though you may not want to hear it, you need to have more experience being an employee in order to be considered for better jobs.   Or, you can try to bypass everything and work for yourself, but that isn't an easy road to go down.

What if You're Under 18 Years Old?

If you are under the age of 18, federal legislation does regulate the kind of work you can accept and do. Non-agricultural jobs require that applicants be at least 14 years old. Workers who are 14 and 15 years old cannot work more than three hours per day or 18 hours per week when school is in session. During the summer or on holidays, workers of this age group can work 40 hours per week, or 8 hours per day.

Employers Who Hire 16 and 17 Year Olds

Many restaurants and retailers will accept resumes from teens that are 16 and 17 years of age. Your first resume therefore may be directed to such teen-friendly employers as the following:

· JC Penney

· Kentucky Fried Chicken

· AMC Entertainment

· Boston Market

· Burger King

· Jiffy Lube (17 and older)

· Chick-fil-A

· Steak ‘n Shake (except supervisory position s and higher)

· Arby’s (crew members)

· Valvoline Oil Change (17 and older)

Just keep in mind that the various teen jobs can have varying age requirements.

Employment/Age Certificates

Some states require that you possess an employment/age certificate when submitting a resume or applying to jobs. You school’s guidance office may have the forms you need to apply, or may be able to direct you to where they can be obtained. You may also be able to check with the labor department in your state.

Check with the BBB

When applying to companies and writing a resume, make sure to check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) for complaints. Make sure any company to whom you apply is complying with both federal and state labor laws regarding teens in the workplace. Sometimes you'll be asked to work at a job for "commission only" or some other questionable payment structure and when this happens, feel free to say no thanks and move on.   Unfortunately, some employers will try to take advantage of you because of your age but if you're careful, you can avoid it all together.  

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Teen Resume Examples With Writing Tips

What to Include in Your Resume

• Tips for Writing a Resume for Teens
• Resume Example for a Teenager

More Resume Examples for Teens

If you’re a teenager looking for a part-time job, it’s probably time to write your  first resume . You may not need one to apply, but having a resume can help you get hired. What do you put on a resume when you don't have much, or any, work experience? How do you format a resume for a part-time job?

Due to your limited work experience, you’ll likely need to go beyond your job history, and include related coursework, school activities, and volunteer experience. It’s helpful to look at student and resume examples to get some ideas about what a good one contains. 

Learn about the best information in your resume, the best format to use, review examples, and get a template to use as a starting point for your own resume.

When you are writing a high school resume, it’s important to make sure you include all the pertinent information in an acceptable standard format. At a bare minimum, your resume should include your  contact information  along with your experience  and  education .

Beyond that, most sections are optional—you can include a  skills section  or  objective , but it's not required.  

Highlight academic accomplishments.  As a student, a lot of your experiences are in the classroom. Emphasize achievements like a high GPA or any academic awards.

Success in the classroom is a good indicator of success on the job, and hiring managers know this.

If you have taken courses related to the job you’re applying for, list those as well.

Emphasize extracurricular activities.  Since you likely have limited work experience, emphasize your non-work activities. These might include clubs, sports, babysitting, or volunteer work. All of these activities can show your skills and abilities.

Note any leadership experience.  Have you held a position in a club or student government, or been a captain on a sports team? Be sure to list this experience, as it highlights your leadership ability.

Tips for Writing a Resume for Teenagers

You want your resume to clearly show the employer what kind of employee you’ll be. You don’t want them to have to waste their time deciphering your experiences. Here's how to do that:  

Use a simple format and font.  Use a  resume template  to guide your writing. Looking at examples can help you decide what kind of content you should include, as well as how to format your resume.

Choose a simple, standard format. It should be easy to read and look like a professional document.

A font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri looks good and will make your information stand out to the hiring manager.

Think about what the employer wants.  Make sure to tailor your resume to fit your own experiences, and the requirements of the position you’re seeking. For example, if you are applying for a job as a camp counselor, highlight any experience you have working with children. If you are applying to be a waiter, emphasize experience in customer service, or working (or playing) on a team.

Use action words.  When describing your achievements, use  action words . Words like  led, researched, tutored,  and  created  emphasize the value of your experiences rather than just listing what you did.

Proofread and edit.  Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it. A clean, error-free resume will show you off as a polished candidate. Ask a friend or family member to read the resume for you as well. It can be tough to spot your own typos and grammatical errors.

Part-Time Job Resume Example for a Teenager

The following is a resume for a teenager seeking a part-time job or internship that involves working with children. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).

Part-Time Job Resume (Text Version)

Denise Applicant 777 Walnut Street • Philadelphia, PA 10036 • (444) 555-1212 • denise.applicant@email.com

CHILDCARE WORKER

Building positive learning outcomes and life skills with children and students

Hard-working, responsible student with experience taking care of young children. Key skills include:

• Spanish—intermediate level
• French—beginner level
• First Aid, CPR, AED certifications
• Adobe Photoshop & InDesign
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with children

PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

SMITH HOUSEHOLD,  Philadelphia, PA NANNY  (February 2022—Present) Plan, organize, and implement fun and educational activities for three children younger than 6.

BEACON PROGRAM,  Philadelphia, PA COUNSELOR  (Summer 2021) As co-leader for a group of 10 first-graders, implemented games designed to encourage creative problem-solving in science and engineering. Notable Accomplishment:

• Named “Counselor of the Week” twice for leadership skills.

MAPLE STREET CONVENIENCE STORE,  Philadelphia, PA CASHIER  (Summer 2020) Managed cash register, restocked shelves, and assisted customers with locating items. Notable Accomplishment:

• Awarded for “Best Customer Service,” June 2020.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

MAIN STREET HIGH SCHOOL , Philadelphia, PA Honor roll each semester, diploma expected 2021

Related Coursework & Activities

Early Childhood Development • Urban Education • Urban Education—Psychology • Urban Education—Instructional Leadership • Modeling Club • Fundraising chair, JROTC Drill Team • Vice president, Drama Club • Cheerleading

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Key Takeaways

• Your resume should include your contact information along with your experience and education.
• It’s fine to include extracurricular activities if you don’t have formal work experience.
• Tailor your resume to fit the requirements of the position you’re seeking.

Resume For a 16-Year-Old

Sample resume template for a 16-year-old

Resume formatting tips for a high-schooler, what to write instead of experience, key takeaways.

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

In this article, you’ll learn:

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

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

Amanda Smith

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

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

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

Hobbies and Interests

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

Other Activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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• CV and Cover Letter
• How to write a CV for a...

How to write a CV for a 16-year-old (with examples)

6 min read · Updated on October 25, 2022

There's a first time for everything, so make sure your first CV is a real corker!

The potential world of work experience - a scary prospect or something to relish? It needn't be a trial to get your first job CV shipshape, ready for a Saturday job or an exciting apprenticeship opportunity. We have all you need to know about how to write a CV for a 16 year old right here, right now. And with four CV examples for 16 year olds at the end of this article, you'll be well on your way to mastering the skill of putting together a comprehensive and informative teenager CV that highlights your skills and gets you noticed.

Can a 16-year-old even have a CV?

Of course. You've got your own experiences and skills to proclaim… and your pocket money just isn't enough any more for all the things you want to explore. Plus, securing a job at this stage in your life will teach you so many more new skills to add to your CV at a later date.

This is probably the first template for a CV that you've ever had to compile. But first, you want to make sure it's worth doing. A CV, or Curriculum Vitae to give its full name (which translates from the Latin as “course of life”), is a document that details a person's career and qualifications. Still  relevant today , a CV is generally required when applying for jobs.

If you live in England, it's required by law that you remain in some sort of  education or training until the age of 18. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you can enter the world of work from leaving school at 16, depending on when your birthday falls.

Grab their attention

What is it about TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat that appeals? They're engaging, informative, eye-catching, and fun to read. So let your new 16 year old CV be the same! Whoever's reading your CV is looking to be impressed and heartened by your efforts at creating an amazing teenager CV. So don't disappoint!

Choose a  fitting CV template for a 16 year old that is clear and clean with no tables or boxes, taking guidance from the CV examples for 16 year olds below. A one page CV is enough at this stage.

Then crack on with the personal profile, which sits under your contact details at the top of the page. This is often called the “Professional Profile”, but as you're likely to have little or no experience, it's best to title it as “Personal Profile”. Check out the profiles in the CV examples for 16 year olds that are included in this piece for inspiration, using them as a guide to hone your own profile with your key assets and attributes.

Next comes your education and qualifications. Not surprisingly, this is probably going to be your biggest selling point and thus, the most significant feature of your teenager CV. Keep it in list form, detailing grades of recent qualifications, such as GCSEs, the school, and year completed - or state “ongoing” if you're still in the process of taking them.

Shout out about your experience

If you do have some experience, whether that's two weeks work experience in an office or voluntary work at a local charity shop, then shout about it. Info on this should be placed under the education section. List the name of the company you worked for, your job title - even if it was Intern - and the dates. Then offer up bulleted points of your responsibilities , using active verbs and including any achievements, to set you up for  finding a part-time job .

How do I write a CV for a teenager with no experience?

Drafting a CV for a teenager with no experience can be overwhelming. Where do you start? What on earth can you put on a document designed to show off career and work experience when you have none? Don't worry, there are ways and means of creating a great CV for a teenager with no experience by approaching it from a different angle.

You'll have gained lots of skills from school and extracurricular activities without even knowing! You need to identify these, focus on them, and translate them to the page. What are you like in a team? Have you supervised others? Have you organised anything or solved problems? Perhaps you're a people person or have a knack for coming up with great ideas. Whatever key skills you focus on, you need to elaborate on the relevant ones and explain how these would be beneficial to the job in hand.

Think of the interests and hobbies you've done for a while. Have you undertaken something like a Duke of Edinburgh award or similar? These types of activities often involve organisation, team work, effective communication, and problem solving. Were you Prefect or Sports Captain at school? These show leadership capabilities as well as flexibility, time management, and collaboration. What about anything you've achieved under your own initiative that relates to the job you're gunning for? This can include research and reading, visits, and online courses, while proving you're ace at self management and also IT literate.

Check out the CV examples for 16 year olds below, especially the specifically-written CV for teenagers with no experience..

Applying for an apprenticeship?

How are your experiences, key skills, or knowledge going to benefit an apprenticeship? Tell them about things you've done outside your studies to further develop your knowledge. Try to think about things that not everyone else is doing, so that you stand out from the crowd.

CV examples for 16 year olds

Listed below are four CV examples for 16 year olds. These cover a range of options and styles. Note how two of the CV examples for 16 year olds are written in the first person, a more informal approach. The other two good CV examples for a first job are crafted in the more formal third person, a style adopted for most CVs. Depending on your character and personality, pick the teenage CV template that suits you the best.

Recommended reading:

What is a CV headline? (with examples)

• How to add volunteer work in a CV (with examples)
• How to write a graduate CV

Related Articles:

What File Format Is Best for Your CV? Pros + Cons

Best fonts to use for a CV (with examples)

Should you put your address on a CV (with examples)

See how your CV stacks up.

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