Why 2018 Is the Best Time for Teens To Get a Job

Now is the time to take advantage of the growing job market. As a teen, you have the chance to find a job that can teach you new skills and provide you with more opportunities in the future. Follow these seven tips as you consider which types of employment to pursue this year.

Remember, however, that while there are plenty of job openings out there, you need to put in some time and effort to give yourself the best odds of securing employment. Hiring managers want to see well-written, professional resumes from potential candidates. To impress employers with a knockout document, use the following resume writing tips for teens.

1. Use Standard Sections

Are you beginning the resume-writing process for the first time? You may not understand what qualifications to include in this important document, so follow these tips for teens. You need to discuss your proficiencies, education, accomplishments, and any work experience you have.

Divide this information into a minimum of four individual components:

• professional summary,
• skills,
• education,
• work experience section.

2. Keep Your Document Concise

Two-page resumes are popular in some industries. However, entry-level jobseekers should almost always create resumes of only one page. Additionally, it is crucial to use clear and succinct language instead of adding “fluff.”

These are particularly important tips for teens. At your age, you likely lack an extensive work history. You may feel tempted to add irrelevant information or filler words to make your document appear more substantial. Try to avoid this mistake. There is no reason for its length to exceed a single page.

3. Don't Forget Your Header

At the very top of your document, create an informative and attractive header. This part of your resume should prominently display your name. Write your first and last name, and exclude nicknames. Then provide your contact information. Present your address or your city and state, followed by a telephone number. List a professional email address, preferably one that includes your name.

4. Show Your Best Qualifications First

In most cases, hiring managers spend only a very small amount of timing reviewing each resume. One of the top tips for teens who want to impress employers is to choose the best format for the kind of quick glance that readers often give job applications. A good format will position your most appealing qualifications for the job in the top half of your document. This improves your chances of impressing prospective employers in that small amount of time they dedicate to their first review of your resume.

5. Point Out Your Accomplishments

Many employers prefer to see an extensive work history in a potential candidate. Because you likely do not have that, you need to find other ways to stand out. In your document, discuss accomplishments in your academics or previous extracurricular work. It is also acceptable to write about special recognition in sports, clubs, or volunteer work.

6. Use Action Verbs

As you describe those accomplishments and other qualifications, watch out for the common mistake of using weak and passive phrases. Your resume should paint an impressive picture in hiring managers’ minds. Use action verbs, such as “executed,” “designed,” or “achieved,” at the beginning of your descriptions. If you need additional tips for teens about which words to use in your document, look at this helpful list of 185 powerful verbs.

7. Structure With Bullet Points

Craft the sections of your resume with formatting techniques that help employers skim through your document efficiently. Bullet points break up your content and draw the eye. Use them to list your abilities in your skills section. It is a good idea to organize your descriptions in your work experience portion with bullets as well.