How To Write a Resume For a High School Student’s First Job (Examples & Template)

Looking for your first job as a high school student can feel a little overwhelming—especially when you’re asked to bring a resume and you’re not sure where to start. The good news is, even if you don’t have any job experience yet, you still have plenty to share. A well-written high schooler resume can help you stand out, show your strengths, and prove that you’re ready to take on responsibility.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to write a resume for high school student first job. We’ll walk through each section step-by-step, from your contact information to your skills and activities. You’ll also get helpful tips to make your resume clear, honest, and easy to read. Whether you’re applying at a local store, restaurant, or summer camp, this guide will help you build the confidence—and the resume—you need.

High schooler resume example (Word version)

Here’s an example of a high school resume for a student applying for their first job. It uses clear language and realistic details that could apply to many teens. View more resume examples by industry.

Download This Template

High school resume example (copy-paste)

Your Name
Phone Number | Email Address | City, State

Objective

Motivated high school student with strong communication and time management skills. Looking for a part-time position to gain hands-on experience while helping customers and working as part of a team.

Education

Lincoln High School — Chicago, IL
Expected Graduation: June 20XX
GPA: 3.4
Relevant Coursework: Personal Finance, Introduction to Business, Speech and Communication

Skills

• Friendly and professional with strong people skills
• Organized and able to follow directions
• Comfortable using Microsoft Word and Google Docs
• Speaks both English and Spanish
• Always on time and willing to learn

Experience

Dog Walker (Self-Employed)
20XX – Present, Chicago, IL

• Walked neighborhood dogs on weekends and after school
• Followed special care instructions and made sure pets stayed safe
• Managed weekly schedule and earned repeat clients

Community Center Volunteer – West Side Youth Center
June 20XX – August 20XX, Chicago, IL

• Helped set up for events and handed out flyers
• Guided younger kids through arts and crafts activities
• Cleaned up spaces and restocked supplies

Activities

• Member of school yearbook team (Photo Editor)
• Played on JV soccer team for two seasons
• Volunteer reader for elementary school literacy program

Awards

• Principal’s Award for Community Service (20XX)
• 2nd Place – School Science Fair (20XX)

Resume layout

Here are some free Google Docs resume templates that are great for high school students. These templates are fully editable in Google Docs—no extra software is needed. They also include guiding text on what to include in each section.

Start with a strong heading and contact information

When creating a high school resume, the first thing you need is a clear heading at the top of the page. This includes your full name and contact information so employers can reach you easily. You don’t need to add your full address—just your city and state are enough. Be sure to use an email address that sounds professional. Something like john.smith@email.com works much better than a nickname or joke email.

Also, double-check your phone number for any mistakes. A missed call could mean a missed chance. Make sure the font is easy to read and the layout is simple. Keep this section clean and straightforward so it makes a good first impression.

Do you include a title in your high schooler resume?

For a high school resume—especially for a first job—a professional title is optional. Most students don’t have a set job title yet, so it’s not required. However, if you want to include one, it can help give your resume more focus and show that you know what kind of job you’re looking for.

When to include a professional title:

• You’re applying for a specific type of job (like cashier, tutor, or receptionist).
• You want to show what kind of role you’re aiming for.
• You already have experience in a certain area (like babysitting or volunteering with kids).

Where to put it:

Place it under your name at the top of the resume. For example:

Emily Johnson
Student Seeking Part-Time Retail Position
(312) 555-0198 | emily.johnson02@email.com | Chicago, IL

A few example titles you can use:

• Student Interested in Customer Service
• High School Student Seeking Part-Time Job
• Aspiring Retail Associate
• Reliable Teen with Strong Work Ethic
• Entry-Level Worker Focused on Learning and Teamwork

Write a short but strong objective statement

Right after your contact details, include a short objective statement. This is your chance to show who you are and what kind of job you’re looking for. Think of it like a quick intro that tells employers why you’re applying and what makes you a good fit.

Since this is likely your first job, you don’t need to list past work experience here. Instead, focus on your interests, your attitude, and any strengths that would help in a work setting. For example, if you’re applying to a grocery store, you could say you’re a hardworking student looking to gain experience while helping customers. Keep it short—just one or two sentences.

Here’s a simple and clear example of an objective statement for a high school resume:

“Hardworking and dependable high school student looking for a part-time job to build work experience and learn new skills. Eager to contribute a positive attitude and strong work ethic to a team environment.”

Highlight your education

Your education is one of the most important parts of a resume for high school student applying for a first job. List your high school name, its location, and your expected graduation date. If you have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, go ahead and include it. You can also mention any honors or advanced classes like AP or honors courses.

Even though you may not have job experience yet, your education shows employers that you’re learning and growing. If you’ve taken part in any school programs that required extra effort or special skills, now’s the time to mention them.

Focus on your skills and strengths

In this section of your high schooler resume, you can really shine. Think about the skills you’ve learned in school, at home, or through activities. You don’t need job experience to have valuable skills. Employers want to know if you’re responsible, dependable, and able to work well with others.

Some good skills to include are:

• Good communication
• Time management
• Basic computer knowledge
• Willingness to learn
• Teamwork

Don’t just copy a list of skills from the internet. Think about your real strengths and how they could help in your first job. If you’re great at organizing your schoolwork or helping classmates with group projects, those are skills worth sharing.

Add any experience you have (even if it’s not a job)

You might not have a job history yet, but you probably have experience that still counts. A strong resume for high school student should include volunteer work, babysitting, yard work, or helping out at school or community events. These show that you’re responsible and have a good work ethic.

When you describe these experiences, focus on what you did and what you learned. Use action words like “helped,” “organized,” “created,” or “led” to show your role. Even if you only helped out at your church’s bake sale or walked your neighbor’s dog every weekend, it still shows that you know how to follow through and be dependable.

As a high schooler student, you might try something called a storytelling resume format.

List any activities or clubs

Activities and clubs help show what kind of person you are outside the classroom. On a high schooler resume, this section tells employers that you stay active, work with others, and take on responsibilities. You don’t need to be in a leadership role for these to matter. Just being part of something shows commitment.

If you’ve been on a sports team, played in the school band, joined a club like drama or robotics, or taken part in student council, mention it. Also include any positions you’ve held, like team captain or club secretary. These roles show leadership and dedication—qualities that matter when applying for your first job.

You can also mention activities outside of school. Maybe you help out with a family business, take care of younger siblings, or organize events at your community center. These are all worth sharing.

Share any awards or achievements

Adding awards to your resume for high school student gives your application an extra boost. These can be anything that shows you’ve worked hard, achieved something, or stood out in a positive way.

You don’t need to fill the section with a long list. Just include awards that are recent or show off something important. For example:

• Honor roll
• Student of the Month
• Attendance awards
• Special recognition from teachers or clubs

Even if the award seems small, it still shows that you’re focused and capable. Every detail like this helps build a strong high schooler resume for your first job.

Keep it simple, clean, and one page long

When you’re putting everything together, it’s important to keep your resume neat and easy to read. Use a basic font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, and make sure the text is large enough to read comfortably. Don’t try to squeeze in too much—one page is more than enough.

Use clear section headings and leave enough white space so the resume doesn’t look crowded. This helps hiring managers quickly scan the page and find what they’re looking for. Before you send your resume anywhere, save it as a PDF so the formatting stays the same when someone opens it.

A clean, well-organized high school resume shows that you care about the details and take your first job seriously.

Proofread and ask someone to review it

Before you send your resume, take time to proofread it. Read each section carefully to check for spelling or grammar mistakes. Reading it out loud can help you catch things you might miss when reading silently.

After that, ask someone you trust—like a parent, teacher, or friend—to look it over. A fresh pair of eyes can spot things you didn’t notice and may suggest ways to make your writing even clearer. A mistake-free resume makes a strong impression and shows that you put effort into your application.

Bonus tips to stand out

To make your high schooler resume even better, here are a few extra tips. First, consider writing a short cover letter. It’s a great way to explain why you’re interested in the job and give more background on your strengths. Keep it short and to the point, just like your resume.

Also, remember to update your resume as you gain more experience. If you get a new award, join a club, or start a part-time job, add it in. Your resume should grow as you do.

Most importantly, be honest. Don’t try to make your experience sound bigger than it is. Employers understand that this is your first job—they’re looking for someone who’s eager to learn, not someone who’s already done it all.