High school student resume with no work experience
Two things to note about this resume sample for high school students:
- Volunteer experience, although unpaid, still counts as work experience and can be included in your work experience category on your high school resume.
- Other types of experience like part-time jobs, contract jobs (short-term or seasonal jobs) also count as work experience.
Watch our video about how to create your high school resume – a step-by-step guide:
Sample resume for college applications
Download our high school student resume & cover letter template today — Designed for easy customization.
Use the included writing prompts from The Career Counter’s professional resume writers to shape your resume to reflect academic and extracurricular achievements.
High school resume template – MS Word
The nice thing about using our high school resume template is that you can just plug in your own information and you have a professional, clean resume. You’re ready to apply for your first job!
High school student resume summary examples
In crafting a resume, the summary serves as a brief highlight reel of your skills and experiences tailored to the job you’re applying for. Here are a few examples.
Customer Service Role
“Friendly and communicative high school junior passionate about delivering exceptional customer service. Eager to apply problem-solving skills and positive attitude as Sales Associate at [Company Name] to create individualized and welcoming shopping experience.”
Your Future Starts Here
Internship in a Professional Setting
“Ambitious high school senior with strong organizational and research skills, seeking an internship at [Company Name] to gain hands-on experience in [Industry/Field]. Enthusiastic about applying academic knowledge of and experience with research and technical writing to help raise awareness about injustice in non-profit sector.”
Part-Time Job in Food Service
“Reliable and efficient high school student aiming to leverage teamwork and time management skills gained from experience leading class projects and participating in extra-curricular activities as part-time crew member at [Restaurant Name]. Committed to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, customer service, and food safety.”
Volunteer Position
“Compassionate and dedicated high school sophomore looking for volunteer position with [Organization Name] to support [cause or service provided by the organization]. Excited to leverage leadership and interpersonal communication skills to make positive impact in community and work toward fostering greater environmental sustainability.”
Technology or IT Role
“Tech-savvy high school junior interested in technology and computer science, seeking part-time position at [Company Name] to leverage passion for and knowledge of software development and troubleshooting. Eager to contribute technical skills and learn from experienced professionals in dynamic tech environment.”
Creative Position or Internship
“Creative and detail-oriented high school senior with strong passion for graphic design, seeking an internship at [Company Name] to apply skills in Adobe Creative Suite and gain practical experience in professional design setting. Excited to collaborate on projects and contribute fresh ideas to team at {Company Name}.”
Tutoring or Educational Role
“Patient and articulate high school student with strong academic achievements in [Subject(s)], seeking part-time tutoring position at [Institution or Service] to help students improve overall subject comprehension and academic performance. Committed to creating engaging learning experiences and fostering positive and supportive study environment.”
High school student resume objective examples
Including an objective on your resume allows you to succinctly outline your career goals, professional aspirations, tailored to the specific role you are seeking. This provides employers with insight into your motivations and how you are an ideal candidate for the position. For example:
Customer Service Role
“Energetic high school student with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, eager to enhance the customer experience at [Company Name].”
Office Assistant Position
“Organized and detail-oriented high school student aiming to support efficient operation of [Company Name] as an Office Assistant.
Retail Sales Associate
“Motivated high school student with passion for fashion and retail, seeking to contribute to the sales team at [Company Name] by offering exceptional customer service and eye for visual merchandising.”
Tech Support or IT Role
“Technologically adept high school student with strong knack for problem-solving, looking to contribute technical skills and patience to Tech Support team at [Company Name].”
Marketing Internship
“Creative and data-driven high school student interested in digital marketing, aiming to contribute innovative ideas and analytical skills to marketing team at [Company Name].”
Environmental or Green Initiative Volunteer
“Environmentally conscious high school student seeking to leverage passion for environmental awareness coupled with fundraising experience to support sustainability efforts at [Company Name or Organization].”
Hospitality and Event Planning Role
“Outgoing and detail-oriented high school student with passion for creating memorable experiences, looking to support event planning team at [Company Name].
What are some high school resume skills examples?
Including high school skills on your resume can be helpful if you’re early in your career or have limited or no work experience. Here are some examples of high school skills that can make your resume stand out:
Academic Achievements
Highlight any high grades, honor roll mentions, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses you’ve completed.
Leadership Skills
Mention any leadership roles you’ve held, such as being the captain of a sports team, president or treasurer of a club, or organizer of a school event.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Discuss instances where you worked on group projects, participated in team sports, or collaborated with others for school events, demonstrating your ability to work well with others.
Communication Skills
Highlight experiences where you demonstrated strong verbal or written communication skills, such as debate club participation, theater roles, or contributions to the school newspaper.
Problem-solving and Critical Thinking
Mention any scenarios where you had to solve complex problems or think critically, such as in mathematics competitions, science fairs, or coding hackathons.
Time Management and Organization
Provide examples of how you’ve effectively managed your time and stayed organized, especially if you balanced school with extracurricular activities, a part-time job, or volunteer work.
Technical Skills
Include any computer skills you have, such as proficiency in Microsoft Office, basic coding languages (HTML/CSS, Python), or graphic design software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator).
Volunteer Work and Community Service
Highlight any volunteer work or community service you’ve done, as it shows your willingness to contribute and work for the benefit of others.
Language Skills
If you’re fluent in languages other than English or have taken several years of a foreign language in high school, be sure to list these skills.
Soft Skills
Soft skills like adaptability, creativity, and emotional intelligence are increasingly valued by employers. Reflect on your high school experiences to find examples that demonstrate these qualities.
When listing these skills on your resume, try to provide specific examples or achievements that demonstrate each skill. For example, rather than writing “excellent communication skills,” write something like “Delivered over 30 presentations to groups of 100+ students and faculty as debate club chair.”
Giving an example of how you have used a skill can help potential employers better understand your capabilities and how they relate to the job you’re applying for.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What should be included in a resume sample for high school students?
A high school student resume can include many categories besides work experience. The typical headings to include in your high school resume are: personal contact information, a summary or objective statement, education details, including relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, and any relevant part-time work or volunteer experience.
-
How long should a resume sample for high school students be?
It is recommended to keep a high school student resume concise and limit it to one page. Focus on highlighting the most relevant information and experiences that showcase your skills and accomplishments.
-
Are there any specific formatting guidelines for a high school student resume?
When formatting a high school student resume, use a clean and professional layout. Choose a legible font, use bullet points to organize information, and maintain consistent formatting throughout the document. It’s also important to proofread for any grammatical or spelling errors before submitting.
