High School Student Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Diving into the job market straight out of high school, or even while still juggling classes, might seem scary, but it's ripe with opportunities. Engaging in work early in life equips you with invaluable experience, secures industry positions, and builds a professional network.

It’s about more than a paycheck—it’s learning to manage life and work with youthful adaptability. And you don’t have to be a wonder child!

Take it from Aleks, our Head of Product, who started working at Enhancv when he was still in high school:

Let this guide be your compass, helping you chart a course to a high school resume as compelling as your future.

Let’s see how it all plays out with a resume sample.

High school student resume sample

It’s only natural a teen resume will look a bit different than a standard one. While it still contains several of the main components, in this document, experience is measured differently. Consider including examples such as leadership roles in clubs, achievements like awards in competitions, or a capstone project.

Take a look at the example below. You can use it as a template and fill in your own info. Or, create a new one with the Enhancv resume builder!

Jumping from a sample to the real deal, let’s talk about how to format your resume like a pro.

How to format a high school student resume

If you’re applying for a job for the first time, you probably need some advice on how to write a resume.

Try to tackle this task step by step:

Step 1: Resume format and designs

At first, you might feel the urge to blend right in using the most popular resume format you see while searching online. However, keep in mind the functional resume format, which focuses on your skills and achievements over practical experience, is the best for a teen drafting their first application.

Choose a modern resume template to show you’re bringing novelty, and:

• Highlight your experience with a one-page resume. When it comes to length, less is more, especially if you’re just starting out.
• Keep margins between 0.5” and 1 for better readability. Our resume builder lets you adjust the margin size with a quick swipe of the slider.
• A single-column layout works great for people with limited or no experience. It allows you to present minimal content on the page in a way that looks substantial.
• Incorporate some color into your resume, potentially matching the colors of the company you’re applying to. Use easily readable fonts like Rubik or Lato, sized 10-12 pt.

Step 2: Top sections

Since your high school resume doesn't need to follow a standard format, you can organize the resume sections more flexibly. This allows you to include unique sections that might not typically appear on standard resumes and order those in the way that makes most sense for your experience.

However, ensure you still cover essential elements, such as:

• Personal information
• Objective statement
• Skills
• Education
• Experience or activities

We’ll review each of these below.

Step 3: Resume header

A well-structured resume header will make your resume look polished and professional.

Here’s the contact information you should include:

• Your name: first name and surname are enough.
• A title: you can get creative here. If you’re up for it, put something that grabs attention, like Visionary Scholar, Tech Wizard or Code Conqueror. Use your creativity to make your resume stand out.
• Professional email address: skip the “swiftie@email.com”. It’s best if you create a new one, such as firstname.lastname@email.com.
• Physical address: as a teen or a recent high school graduate, you’re probably considering workplaces close to where you live. Recruiters prefer to hire local candidates, so it’s a win-win!
• Phone number: while you might relish in exchanging voice messages, phone calls are still very much a thing in the professional world.

Finally, to be sure if a photo is needed or not, check with the specific job ad requirements.

Worried about inaccuracies or typos? Try our free AI resume checker to make sure your resume is ready to go!

Now that we’ve got the format figured out, let’s dive into beefing up your resume with some solid experience.

How to write your high school student resume experience

When putting together your teen resume, let's redefine what “experience” means. It's not just about jobs—it's a broad term for the different things you did. Even if you haven't been formally employed, it doesn't mean you're short on stories to impress potential employers with.

Here’s what you can list in your experience section:

In fact, your experience entry could consist of several smaller sections. Use different resume headings, such as “Volunteer work”, “Projects”, etc., to separate information neatly.

Let’s take a look at a real job posting you can apply to with just your high school diploma.

We’ve bolded the parts we’ll target in an example experience entry below:

Create a targeted experience section

One of the best job hunt strategies to adopt early on is to tailor your resume specifically to each job posting. Include keywords from the job description in your application to immediately signal recruiters what a great fit you are.

We know you might feel like you’ve got to list everything you’ve got. Try to stay focused and keep your resume relevant to the position.

Take a look at this experience entry that targets the job ad above:

The resume effectively displays the candidate's impact with quantifiable successes. It highlights key responsibilities and leadership initiatives, such as leading a tech club and organizing workshops.

From listing experience to making it pop, let's learn how to quantify your achievements and make them count

Quantifying your experience

When you highlight your accomplishments, make sure you enhance them with measurable results. It makes your resume more engaging — visually and in terms of content.

Here are some ways to put numbers on your resume:

• Emphsize specific academic achievements.
• Mention measurable results from projects.
• Quantify involvement in extracurricular activities.
• Detail part-time job responsibilities.
• Show the direct impact of your volunteer efforts.

High school student resume objective

One of the first things recruiters scan your resume for will be your profile statement. It sits at the top of your document and gives essential information about what you can do, what you’re hoping to achieve, and why you want a job at the particular company you’re applying to.

For entry-level candidates, a resume objective is best. Here’s what to keep in mind when creating yours:

• Align with the employer's needs, focusing on job requirements and matching your skills accordingly.
• Include a succinct overview (up to 3 sentences) of your career goals, key skills from past experiences, and a value proposition that aligns with the company's mission and goals.
• Use action verbs and power words to strengthen your application.

Take a look at a well-written high school resume objective:

Now, let’s pivot to mixing the right hard and soft skills to really make your resume sing.

Skills on a high school resume

In a functional resume, position your skills section just below the header. Skills are usually separated into hard and soft. Hard skills encompass your specific knowledge, such as different types of software, programming languages, or blogging platforms.

Key hard skills for a teen can include:

Soft skills are the ones you create and sustain relationships with. The best part about them is you develop them your entire life through interactions with others. So, you don’t need specific professional experience to gain them.

Take your pick from our suggestions:

After skills, we’re schooling you on how to list your education and certifications to impress.

How to list your education and certifications on your resume

If you’re thinking, “Are people going to take me seriously with just a high school diploma?,” don’t panic. Any education listed will give recruiters an accurate representation of where you’re at right now, and what they can expect from you in terms of availability and experience.

Take a look at this example:

This entry’seffective because it:

• Lists essential details like the degree, institution, and dates clearly and comprehensively.
• Shows a strong GPA, advanced coursework, and honors to highlight academic achievements.
• Provides a focused snapshot of educational accomplishments without unnecessary verbosity.

Certifications on your resume

Adding certifications and training to your resume is a smart way to catch the eye of employers, scholarship committees, or whoever else you want to impress. It’s like saying, “Hey, look what I can do!” without having to get a degree.

There are tons of free courses out there you can take from the comfort of your home. You can still be proactive, even if you’re on a pocket-money budget! Try platforms like Coursera, edX, Khan Academy, and Udemy. Some of the courses might have a fee for obtaining a certification, but even listing you’ve taken a course would be sufficient on a teen resume.

Consider adding some of these:

Finally, let’s jazz up your resume with some additional sections that showcase your unique flair.

Additional sections for a high school student resume

Your teen resume already stands out from the rest, but you can make it even more impressive with a few optional sections:

• It’s a big plus to speak more than one language, especially if you're looking for a role where you’ll interact with people from different backgrounds.
• Including your hobbies or interests gives potential employers a glimpse into who you are outside of school and if you’re good fit for their team.
• Show your dedication and excellence by listing any awards you’ve received.
• Consider adding a portfolio or a personal website to show your projects.

Bonus: Why not create an additional section such as “Top 5 reasons to hire me”? This is a strategic way to present yourself as an ideal candidate by emphasizing your strengths and the unique contributions you can make. You can easily structure and customize this section with the Enhancv builder:

In conclusion

Imagine this guide as a compass for your resume journey, pointing you in the right direction as you navigate the path from high school achievements to a top-notch resume. With each step, you'll learn how to shape your experiences into something that guides recruiters straight to you.