If you’re searching for a sample resume for teenagers, you might be feeling nervous about writing your first resume. What if I told you that writing a resume for your first job is way less painful than getting a shot at the doctor’s office? It might even be less painful than listening to your parents tell you repeatedly to clean your room. Now it doesn’t sound so bad, right?
Here’s something else that might make you feel less anxious: you don’t actually need to have work experience to write a beginner resume. There are so many things you can list on your resume besides jobs. Things like volunteering, skills, training, classes, certifications, awards, clubs and activities, to name just a few.
Your Future Starts Here
Keep scrolling to check out our sample resume for teenagers (first job) so you can see exactly what your resume can look like:
Sample resume for teenagers
Why this sample resume for teenagers works
- It’s targeted to a specific field. Don’t write a generic resume and send it out to 100 places. Trust me. This method is efficient but it does not work!
- Education and extra-curriculars are featured. These items should be front and center on a student resume.
- Volunteer experience is listed. Even if you worked for free, it still counts as work experience and should be listed on your resume!
- This resume is achievement-focused. Rather than just listing generic job functions (which most candidates do), this resume lists specific accomplishments that make the candidate stand out from the crowd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you’ve seen a strong sample resume for teenagers (first job), here are some common questions and answers regarding writing your first resume:
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How do you write a simple resume for a first job?
Don’t overthink it! Keep your resume to one page. Don’t use too many graphics or things like bold and italics. The focus of your resume should be what makes you shine and why you are qualified for the job. That said, you also want a resume style that’s clean and polished.
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Do 14-year-olds need a resume?
It depends. If you are seeking more of an unofficial job like babysitting and you already know the person who wants to hire you, than you don’t need a resume. However, having a polished, targeted, and well-written resume can never hurt you!
If you are applying for a more formal job, like at a fast-food restaurant, then you will most likely get asked to submit a resume.
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How can I make my sample resume for teenagers stand out?
To make your sample resume for teenagers pop, focus on using clear, concise language. Show, don’t tell. For example, instead of writing “excellent communication skills,” show how you communicate by writing something like “Utilized empathy and listening skills to quickly and diplomatically resolve customer issues.”
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How do I write a resume for my first high school student with no experience?
I’m sure you mean, how do I help my high school student write their first resume. Because obviously you don’t want to write your kid’s resume for them (ahem, hint hint).
I’ve worked with high school and college students and I see how much parents want to be involved in helping their child write their first resume. You can help your child by teaching them how to do it themselves. For example, have them read this blog post and other posts about how to write a resume. Next, have them write a first draft completely on their own.
Lastly, show them how to use grammar tools like spell check. At this point you can look over their document and give them some pointers. It’s also okay to have them use some form of AI. But a word of caution about these tools: use them sparingly and just as a way to get general ideas.
