High School Student Resume Example

A high school student's resume is short, and that is fine. Managers hiring teens for part-time jobs, summer programs and first internships are not expecting work history. They want to know that you are responsible, that you can work the hours you say you can, and that you are friendly with customers. Your school activities, sports, volunteering and any babysitting or yard work can show all of that if you describe them clearly.

The Sample resume below is for a sixteen-year-old applying for weekend jobs at a grocery store and a movie theater. It has a two-sentence summary, a short list of experience with specific details (hours, responsibilities, results), school and activities, and a line about availability, which is often the deciding factor for part-time roles.

Keep it to one page, ask a teacher or coach if you can list them as a reference, and bring a printed copy when you apply in person. If you have already finished school and are applying for full-time work, the no experience example fits better, and the server example shows what a first restaurant job looks like on the page.

Updated . The person and employers in this Sample resume are fictional.

Sample resume: high school student

Liam Donnelly

High School Junior, Available Weekends and Summer

Dublin, OHliam.donnelly@example.com(614) 555-0119

Summary

Responsible high school junior with a 3.4 GPA, looking for a part-time job on weekends and full-time in the summer. Experienced with customers from volunteering at the school concession stand and running a small lawn care business in my neighborhood.

Experience

Lawn Care (Self-Employed), Neighborhood clients

– Present

Dublin, OH

  • Mow lawns and rake leaves for eight neighbors every week from April to November.
  • Schedule jobs, keep track of payments and earned enough to buy my own equipment.
Concession Stand Volunteer, Scioto Ridge High School Athletic Boosters

– Present

Dublin, OH

  • Serve food and handle cash at home football and basketball games, often for crowds of over a thousand.
  • Help set up before games and count the cash box with a parent volunteer at the end.
Summer Camp Junior Counselor, Scioto Ridge Community Recreation Center

–

Dublin, OH

  • Helped lead games and crafts for a group of twelve campers aged six to eight.
  • Supervised campers during pickup and made sure each one left with an approved adult.

Education

High School Diploma (expected)

Scioto Ridge High School, Dublin, OH

GPA 3.4. Varsity cross country. National Honor Society applicant.

Skills

  • Customer service
  • Cash handling
  • Scheduling
  • Working with children
  • Teamwork
  • Basic Spanish
  • Google Docs and Sheets

Certifications

  • CPR and First Aid, American Red Cross,

Start yours from this example

Bring your own resume or start blank, then tailor it to each posting in about two minutes.

Use this example

Templates for the high school student resume

All templates

Three versions of the summary and bullets

The same situation at three stages: a summary and three bullets for each.

Starting point

Little to show yet beyond school and everyday life

Friendly high school freshman looking for a first summer job, with experience helping at school events and at home.

  • Helped run the bake sale for the school band.
  • Walk and feed a neighbor's dogs when they travel.
  • Play on the junior varsity soccer team.

Some experience

A job, project or role that fits the target

High school junior with a part-time job and school activities, looking for more hours on weekends.

  • Work eight hours a week as a busser at a family restaurant.
  • Volunteer at the public library's summer reading program.
  • Maintain a B average while working and playing a sport.

Strong position

Several relevant roles or results to lead with

High school senior with two years of part-time work and leadership roles, looking for a summer internship or full-time summer job.

  • Promoted to shift lead at an ice cream shop after one year.
  • Serve as captain of the debate team.
  • Completed a summer course in introductory business at the local community college.

Skills to put on the high school student resume

Hard skills

Cash handling
Many teen jobs involve a register, and any experience with money helps.
Customer service
Stores, restaurants and theaters want teens who are polite and helpful.
CPR and first aid
Camps, pools and childcare jobs often require or prefer it.
Basic computer skills
Many jobs use online schedules and training.
Languages
Even basic skills in another language help with some customers.

Soft skills

Responsibility
Managers need teens they can trust to be on time and follow rules.
Friendliness
Customer-facing jobs depend on a positive attitude.
Teamwork
Sports, clubs and group projects show you work well with others.
Time management
Balancing school, activities and work proves you can handle a schedule.

Mistakes that cost first interviews

  1. Thinking you have nothing to list

    Babysitting, lawn care, volunteering, sports and clubs all count. Describe what you did and for how long.

  2. Leaving out availability

    Part-time managers schedule around school hours. Say which days and seasons you can work.

  3. Using a nickname email

    Create a simple email address with your name for job applications.

  4. Adding too much

    Keep it to one page with the most useful details. Managers of part-time jobs read quickly.

  5. Listing references without asking

    Ask a teacher, coach or supervisor first, and tell them what job you are applying for.

Questions about the high school student resume

What should a high school student put on a resume?

A short summary, any work or volunteer experience, school activities and sports, skills, education and your availability.

Do I need a resume for my first job?

Many part-time jobs only need an application, but a resume makes you look prepared and helps you stand out.

Should I include my GPA?

Include it if it is good, since it shows responsibility. Leave it off if it is low; your activities can speak for you instead.

How old do you have to be to get a job?

Rules vary by state and type of work. In many places teens can start part-time work at fourteen or sixteen, with limits on hours during the school year.

Should I include babysitting or lawn care?

Yes. They show responsibility, reliability and people skills. Say how long you did them and for how many families or clients.

What if I can only work a few hours a week?

Say so honestly in your summary, such as available Saturdays and two weekday evenings. Many managers are glad to hire a reliable teen for a small, steady schedule, especially before busy seasons.

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