You're about to apply for your first job, and suddenly you need something you've never made before—a resume that actually works. The problem? Most resume advice assumes you've already held jobs, managed teams, or built a career, none of which applies when you're still finishing high school.
Writing a high school resume means focusing on your education, activities, and volunteer work instead of traditional employment history, then organizing everything on one page that shows employers you're capable, responsible, and ready to work. This guide walks you through choosing the right format, highlighting your strengths, and turning your school experiences into the kind of professional accomplishments that get you hired.
Step 1: Choose The Right High School Resume Format
Your resume format is basically the layout that decides how employers read your information. When you're starting out with little or no work history, picking the right format makes a real difference in how your experience comes across.
Three main formats exist, and each one works better for different situations depending on what you've done so far.
Chronological Format
The chronological format lists your experiences by date, with the most recent stuff first. This format works well when you've held part-time jobs, done volunteer work consistently, or stuck with activities over time. Employers can see your growth and track your commitment, which matters when you're proving you're reliable.
Functional Format
The functional format puts your skills front and center instead of dates and job titles. When you haven't held formal jobs yet, this format lets you highlight what you can actually do—things like leadership, organization, or communication. Most high school students starting from scratch find this format helpful because it shows abilities you've built through school projects, clubs, and activities.
Combination Format
The combination format mixes both approaches by putting a skills section at the top, then adding a short work history below. You might pick this option if you've had one or two jobs but also want to show off specific abilities from extracurriculars or volunteer work. Think of it as getting the best of both worlds.
Step 2: Add Contact Information That Looks Professional
Your contact section sits at the very top and tells employers how to reach you. Getting these details right matters more than you'd think, since one typo could mean missing an interview call.
Email, Phone, and City
Start with your full name in bigger text at the top. On the next line, add your phone number and email address. Your email needs to look professional—something like firstname.lastname@email.com works better than a nickname or random numbers. Include your city and state, but skip your full street address for privacy. Here's what it looks like: "Alex Martinez | (555) 987-6543 | alex.martinez@email.com | Vancouver, BC"
Optional LinkedIn or Portfolio
Add a LinkedIn profile or online portfolio link only if you've actually built one and kept it updated. An incomplete or messy social media presence does more harm than good, so when in doubt, leave it out. The content has to be relevant to the jobs you're applying for and look polished.
File Naming Tips
When you save your resume, use a clear file name like "AlexMartinez_Resume.pdf" so employers can find it easily. This small detail helps when they're looking through dozens of applications. Always save as a PDF to keep your formatting intact across different computers and programs.
Step 3: Write A Short Career Objective For Your First Job
A career objective is a two to three sentence statement at the top of your resume that tells employers what you want and what you offer. Think of it as your introduction—the first thing they read that sets the tone for everything else.
Your objective mentions your grade level, the type of job you're after, and one or two relevant skills or qualities. For example: "Organized Grade 11 student with strong communication skills looking for a retail position to provide excellent customer service and learn about business operations." Notice how this shows you've thought about contributing, not just what you'll gain.
Tweaking your objective for each application makes a difference. Applying to a tutoring center? Emphasize academic strengths and patience. Going for a restaurant job? Highlight teamwork and reliability. Small adjustments show you've actually thought about why you fit their specific role.
Step 4: Showcase Education And Key Academics Up Front
Your education section carries serious weight when you're still in high school. This is where you prove you're a dedicated student who takes learning seriously.
GPA And Relevant Courses
Include your GPA if it's 3.5 or higher—anything lower might not help your case, especially since GPA screening has fallen 35% since 2019. Students working to achieve all 90s build the academic excellence that stands out on applications. Below your GPA, list courses that connect to the job you want:
- Applying to a tech store? Mention computer science or technology classes
- Looking for a summer camp position? List psychology or child development courses
- Seeking retail work? Include business or marketing classes
Academic Honors
Academic honors show you can meet high standards and follow through on commitments. List honor roll achievements, dean's list recognition, or academic awards with specific names and dates. Write it like this: "Honor Roll, Fall 2024" or "Principal's Award for Academic Excellence, March 2024."
Upcoming Graduation Date
Employers want to know when you'll be available and for how long. Include your expected graduation date in a clear format like "Expected Graduation: June 2026" or "Currently Grade 11, Graduating 2026." This helps them understand your timeline and plan accordingly.
Step 5: Turn Activities And Volunteer Work Into Experience
The work you've done outside of paid jobs still counts as real experience. Clubs, sports, volunteer work, and even helping family members have taught you abilities that employers actually care about.
Sports And Clubs
Playing sports or joining clubs demonstrates time management, teamwork, and dedication. When you list these activities, focus on what you actually did rather than just saying you were a member:
Community Service
Volunteer experience proves you'll work hard even without a paycheck, which tells employers something important about your character. Describe what you did and the impact you made: "Volunteered 40 hours at local food bank, organized donation drives, helped serve 200+ families monthly." Adding numbers makes your contributions concrete instead of vague.
Peer Tutoring And School Projects
Helping classmates with homework, working on group presentations, or leading team projects builds teaching and collaboration skills. Frame these experiences professionally: "Peer tutor for Algebra II, helped 5 students improve grades by one letter grade average" or "Led team of 4 students in science fair project that won honorable mention at district competition."
Building skills that make your resume stand out takes practice and guidance. Connect with a tutor who can help you excel academically and develop the abilities employers value.
Step 6: Highlight Skills Employers Want From High Schoolers
Your skills section gives employers a quick snapshot of what you bring to the job, separate from where you learned it. Splitting your skills into soft skills and hard skills helps them see both your personal qualities and your technical know-how.
Transferable Soft Skills
Soft skills are personal qualities that work across different jobs and situations, with 94% of hiring managers prioritizing critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Common examples include:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Time management
- Reliability
Think about real situations where you've shown these abilities. Maybe you've settled conflicts between group members, met tight deadlines while juggling homework and activities, or shown up consistently for commitments. List 4-6 soft skills you can honestly back up with examples if someone asks in an interview.
Job Ready Hard Skills
Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities you can prove you know. For high school students, common hard skills include:
- Typing speed: Like "55 WPM" (words per minute)
- Software: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Creative Suite
- Languages: Spanish (conversational), French (fluent)
- Technical: Basic HTML/CSS, video editing
- Certifications: CPR certified, Food Handler's Permit
Only list hard skills you actually have—employers might test you or ask you to demonstrate them.
Step 7: Finish With Awards, Certifications, And Extras
The final sections let you show additional achievements that make you stand out. These details round out your profile and give employers more reasons to call you.
Awards And Scholarships
Recognition from teachers, coaches, or community groups shows that others have noticed your hard work. List academic awards, athletic achievements, music or arts honors, or community service recognition. Include the specific award name and year: "Perfect Attendance Award, 2023-2024" or "Student of the Month, March 2024."
Certifications And Credentials
Certifications prove you've completed formal training in specific areas, which can put you ahead of other applicants—hiring managers view graduates with industry credentials as 71% more prepared. Common certifications for high school students include:
- First Aid and CPR
- Food Handler's Permit
- Lifeguard Certification
- Workplace Safety Training
- Microsoft Office Specialist
List the certification name, who issued it, and when you earned it or when it expires.
Languages And Interests
Speaking multiple languages is increasingly valuable to employers, so list any additional languages with your skill level (conversational, fluent, or native). You can also add a brief interests section if your hobbies connect to the job—mentioning photography when applying to a camera store, or listing cooking for restaurant work. Keep this section short and relevant.
High School Resume Examples For Jobs, Scholarships, And University
Seeing complete examples helps you understand how all the pieces fit together. Here are two sample resumes showing different experience levels.
Example 1: First-Time Job Seeker
Maria Gonzalez | (555) 234-5678 | mgonzalez@email.com | Toronto, ON
Objective: Motivated Grade 11 student with strong organizational skills seeking part-time retail position to provide customer service and learn business operations
Education: Austin High School, Expected Graduation June 2026, GPA 3.7
Activities: Volleyball Team (3 years), Student Council Secretary (1 year), recorded meeting minutes and managed event schedules
Volunteer Work: Local animal shelter (50+ hours), organized supply donations and assisted with adoption events
Skills: Bilingual (English/Spanish), Microsoft Office, Reliable transportation
Example 2: Student With Some Work Experience
James Chen | (555) 345-6789 | jchen@email.com | Vancouver, BC
Objective: Dependable Grade 12 student with customer service experience seeking position in food service industry
Education: Roosevelt High School, Expected Graduation June 2025, GPA 3.5
Work Experience:
Camp Counselor, Summer 2024
• Supervised groups of 15 children ages 6-10
• Organized daily activities and maintained safety protocols
• Received positive feedback from 20+ parents
Activities: Math Club President, organized weekly tutoring sessions for underclassmen, improved club participation by 30%
Skills: Food Handler's Permit, First Aid certified, Strong communication, Team leadership
What To Put On A High School Resume When You Have No Paid Work
Not having a traditional job doesn't mean you lack valuable experience—you've just built your skills differently, and 89% of hiring managers believe experience matters more than formal education anyway. The trick is recognizing that school projects, family responsibilities, and unpaid activities have taught you real workplace abilities.
Think about projects where you took initiative or showed leadership, even informally. Maybe you organized your school's food drive, managed your family's social media for their small business, or taught yourself graphic design to create club posters. Each of these developed skills like project management, digital literacy, or creative problem-solving.
Babysitting younger siblings regularly teaches responsibility and multitasking. Helping a grandparent with technology builds patience and communication. Even running a successful YouTube channel or blog demonstrates content creation, consistency, and audience engagement. Frame these experiences professionally by describing what you did and what you learned.
What Should A High School Resume Look Like In 2025
Modern high school resumes follow clean, simple formatting that makes them easy to read. Your resume fits on one page with consistent margins, typically 0.5 to 1 inch on all sides.
Pick a readable font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in 10-12 point size for regular text. Your name can be bigger—14 to 16 points—to stand out at the top. Use bold text for section headers and important details, but skip colors, graphics, or fancy formatting that can confuse both human readers and computer scanning systems.
Organize information with clear section headers like Contact Information, Objective, Education, Experience, and Skills. Use consistent spacing between sections. Start bullet points with action verbs and keep the same structure—if one bullet begins with "Organized," others work better with similar verbs like "Managed" or "Coordinated."
Simple High School Resume Template To Copy And Fill
[YOUR FULL NAME]
[Phone Number] | [Email Address] | [City, State]
OBJECTIVE
[One sentence about your grade level and strengths] seeking [type of position] where I can [what you offer and want to learn].
EDUCATION
[School Name], [City, State]
Expected Graduation: [Month Year]
GPA: [Only if 3.5 or higher]
Relevant Coursework: [List 3-4 courses related to job]
Honors: [Academic recognition if any]
EXPERIENCE
[Activity/Job Title], [Dates]
• [Action verb] + [what you did] + [result or impact]
• [Action verb] + [what you did] + [result or impact]
[Second Activity/Job Title], [Dates]
• [Action verb] + [what you did] + [result or impact]
• [Action verb] + [what you did] + [result or impact]
SKILLS
[Skill 1] | [Skill 2] | [Skill 3]
[Skill 4] | [Skill 5] | [Skill 6]
ADDITIONAL
Awards: [Recognition with dates]
Certifications: [Relevant certificates]
Languages: [Additional languages with proficiency]
Copy this template into Word or Google Docs, then swap out the bracketed sections with your own information. The structure is ready—you just personalize the content.
Build Your Next Resume And Boost Your Confidence With TutorLyft
Writing a strong resume is just one piece of building your future. The skills you develop now—strong writing, clear communication, critical thinking—will serve you in high school, college, and your career.
At TutorLyft, we connect students with tutors who understand what it takes to succeed. Whether you're working to improve your grades in tough courses, preparing for standardized tests, or developing the writing and thinking skills that make resumes shine, our tutors provide personalized support matched to your goals. Get started today and build the academic foundation that powers everything else.
