How To Create A Teenage Resume

Teen Resume Template Examples

Here are two resume examples for teens. The first sample was written by a teenage job seeker with a bit of relevant work experience. The second one features casual babysitting experience but no formal experience on the job.

Example Template #1 (volunteer experience)

A sample of a teen resume

Example Template #2 (babysitting experience)

A resume example for teens

How to Make a Resume for Teens

Whether you're writing a resume for your very first job or a part-time gig, a great resume helps you stand out to employers.

But for teenagers just entering the workforce, writing a strong resume with no work experience can seem difficult.

To make it easy, we'll show you exactly what to put on your resume to ensure you have the best chances of getting called in for an interview.

1. Add your contact information

Add your contact information to your resume header so employers know how to reach you. In the contact section of your resume, always include your:

Name
Phone number
Professional email address

If you don't already have a professional email address, now is the best time to set one up. You'll need it when sending out resumes in the future, as well as for college applications.

Additionally, including social media on your teen resume can help you highlight specific skills relevant to the job. In this case, social media profiles could serve the same purpose as a portfolio.

For instance, if you're writing a graphic design resume, including an Instagram page that features your design work gives employers a better sense of what you can do. However, avoid including any social media handles that don't include professional work, such as your Snapchat or Tik Tok accounts.

2. Write a Compelling Teen Resume Objective

Your resume objective serves as a brief introduction to your background, and summarizes any skills and qualifications that you'd like to highlight. Ultimately, a compelling resume objective is the best opportunity for an entry-level candidate to explain why they're a good fit for the job opening.

Here's how to write a compelling teen resume objective:

- Don't use first-person pronouns
- State your career goals
- Keep it short and concise
- Include relevant skills picked up during formative years

Still not sure what this looks like in action? Here's a successful teen resume objective from a real candidate:

Teen Resume Objective

"Responsible and ambitious student (3.8/4.0 GPA) with excellent time management. Seeking to apply my customer service abilities and project/event planning skills to the Business Development summer internship at your company. Possess proven communication skills and strong work ethic that will aid your company in meeting its milestones."

An effective teen resume objective leverages the work-related skills you've picked up throughout your life. That's because if you don't have work experience, employers must look for other things (like your skills) to see if you can handle the job.

3. Fill Out an Experience Section

If you have any work experience, be sure to include it in this section. If you don't, you can fill this section with any other experiences that show employers you possess the right skills for the role.

On a resume for teenagers with no experience, you can fill your work experience with:

Extracurricular activities
Job shadowing
Volunteer work
Coursework
Babysitting
Hobbies on a resume

If you're writing a college freshman resume, you can also include details about your time in school, such as involvement in clubs and the relevant coursework you completed. For instance, if you're applying for a hotel front desk position, you can mention the skills you developed while studying hospitality in school.

4. Showcase Your Skills

If you're like most teenagers, you probably don't have much work experience to list on your resume. That's where a strong resume skills section comes into play.

It's still possible to write a great high school resume as long as you can highlight hard and soft skills.

Here's a list of transferable skills that work great for teen resumes:

Leadership skills
Time management
Organizational skills
Teamwork
Attention to detail
Communication skills (written and oral)

A great way to emphasize your skills is providing an example. For instance, stating that you've never handed in an assignment late shows employers that you have strong time management skills. You could also talk about how you've collaborated with your classmates on a group assignment to demonstrate teamwork skills.

5. Make Sure You Fill the Page

With barely any job experience, filling up the entire page may seem challenging at first. However, you can add in your academic achievements, certifications, extracurricular activities, involvement in clubs, or even your hobbies and interests.

For example, you can include any honors or awards received in the education section of your resume. Academic achievements can be a good reflection of your work ethic.

6. Proofread

Finally, always double check (or even triple check) your resume for mistakes. You might be tempted to send in your resume as soon as you complete it, but read it over a couple times. Scan through it very thoroughly to make sure there aren't any typos or outdated information.

Additionally, consider getting a second opinion from your friends, family, or even a teacher about your resume. Have them read it to see if there's anything that can be improved, or if there were any mistakes you missed.

Whether you're writing your first resume for a job or you're a resume writing professional, it's always a good idea to have an experienced set of eyes review your application. Regardless of how minor a mistake is, sending in a resume and cover letter with typos will hurt your chances of getting an interview.

Conrad Benz

Written by Conrad Benz

Conrad Benz is a Digital Media Specialist & Resume Expert at Resume Genius, where he helps countless job-seekers craft standout resumes and launch their careers. His... more