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Table of contents

High School Resume Examples
High school student resume template [text version]
Should a high school student write a cover letter?
How to write a resume for a high school student
Add a cover letter
Key takeaways for a high school resume
Frequently asked questions from job seekers

For high school students, the idea of entering the job market can be scary, especially when you’re crafting a resume with little or no experience. You may be wondering, “How can I stand out?” or “Why would anyone hire me when I don’t have many skills or much experience?”

Don’t worry! You have more skills than you realize. The key is to package your abilities with an excellent resume.

But you may need guidance. This is where we can help.

Our comprehensive guide will show you:

Successful high school resume examples.
A copy-and-paste high school resume template.
How to write a resume when you’re in high school.
How to write a resume when this is your first job or you have no experience.
Whether you should write a cover letter.
Key takeaways from a high school resume.

Do you need to make your resume today? Check out our Resume Maker, where you’ll find resume examples and have your pick of industry-appropriate resume templates that have proven to help in the job hunt.

High School Resume Examples

High school student resume example

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What makes this a great high school resume sample?

Kicks it off with a resume objective
Starting with a clear objective tells employers what you’re looking for. You can express your career goals while showing employers what you can bring to the table.
Uses a skills-based resume format
Instead of the traditional work experience section, this functional resume format includes two extra sections focused on skills — “Professional Skills” and “Summary of Qualifications.”
Includes volunteer experience
To round out their application, this candidate included a community food drive and assisting senior citizens in a section covering volunteer work, a great addition to any resume.

Related Guides & Tips

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Should You Include Your High School Diploma on Your Resume?

High school student resume template [text version]

If you’re looking for something you can copy and paste, here’s a high school resume in text format.

Patricia Morris

Santa Clara, CA 95050 | 555-555-5555 | example@example.com

Career Objective

Results-oriented high school student passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and with a proven track record as a sales associate. With a GPA of 3.8 and a commitment to positively impacting the community, I am eager to contribute my abilities while gaining valuable professional experience in a sales-driven environment.

Summary of Qualifications

Organized and patient individual polished in handling customer complaints and replenishing stock.
Flexible and outgoing team player commended for demonstrating honesty and integrity with customers, team members and supervisors.
Strong worth ethic, adaptability and exceptional interpersonal skills.

Professional Skills

Effective Communication

Participated in weekly debates, honing persuasive communication and critical thinking skills in the high school’s Debate Club.
Won the regional competition and advanced to the state level by effectively presenting arguments and countering opponents.
Demonstrated exceptional articulation, logical reasoning and the ability to think on one’s feet.

Organizational Excellence

Managed rigorous tutor lessons and volunteering jobs while maintaining a GPA of 3.8.
Exhibited strong time management skills by balancing sports commitments, academic responsibilities and personal development.
Served as the high school’s soccer team captain, displaying leadership through effective communication and fostering team cohesion.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Completed coursework and personal projects utilizing Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Achieved a typing speed of 60 words per minute, ensuring efficient and accurate document creation and data entry.
Developed proficiency in formatting documents, creating spreadsheets and designing engaging presentations.

Volunteer Experience

Community Food Drive: Collected and sorted food donations, resulting in the distribution of 2,000 meals to underprivileged families.
Senior Center Assistance: Assisted with organizing activities and providing companionship to senior citizens, fostering a sense of community.

Work History

Sales Associate
Old Navy
Santa Clara, CA | June 2024 – September 2024

Tutor
Self-employed
Santa Clara, CA | June 2022 – May 2024

Education

High School Diploma
Santa Clara High School
Santa Clara, CA
Expected in June 2025

Should a high school student write a cover letter?

High school students should 100% write a cover letter.

When you apply for a job, there’s usually competition. The employer might have to sort through dozens, sometimes hundreds of resumes.

Imagine the hiring manager swimming in a sea of resumes. Wouldn’t you appreciate someone who threw you a life preserver by adding a cover letter to their application?

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s a whole list of reasons why writing a cover letter can be your secret weapon:

It gives you an edge over others who might have skipped the cover letter.
It’s your chance to explain why you and the company are the perfect match.
It’s a platform to let your personality shine and convey your enthusiasm for the job.
It’s the perfect space to address any elephants in the room, like a lack of relevant experience.

If you’re wondering how to write a cover letter, you’re not alone! We suggest reading some cover letter examples. When you’re ready to make one, our Cover Letter Generator will offer some written suggestions and cover letter designs that might match your resume.

Before we sign off, let’s do a quick recap of the key takeaways.

Select a well-designed resume template

Create your resume

How to write a resume for a high school student

So you’re ready to learn how to write a resume? We’ve got exactly what you need. A step-by-step guide that will increase your chances of landing a great job, fully customized for high school students.

By the way, for even more tips and practical advice, check out our teen resume guide.

Step 1

Choose the best format

There are three different ways to organize a resume, and these are called resume formats. Each format serves a different type of job seeker.

If you’re in high school, you probably don’t have much professional experience. For you, the functional resume format, or skills-based resume, would be the best choice. This layout plays down your work experience in favor of skills you might’ve picked up in school.

Here’s why a skills-based resume is perfect for high school students:

Your skills are emphasized.
You can downplay your work history.
Work experience is off to the side.

Yes, there are other ways to organize your resume — combination resume format and chronological resume format are the two most popular. You’ll get to know those when you’re more experienced.

Step 2

Select a template to showcase your personality

You know the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” Well, the opposite is true when it comes to your resume.

Your resume’s design is the first thing the hiring manager sees, so you want it to be good.

What does good mean to you? It could be a creative template that instantly grabs your eye with unique features or a modern design that’s cool and fresh. Perhaps you want to start off with a simple template focused on the basics.

No matter your style, there are a few rules for choosing a high school resume template:

Play it safe: While it may be tempting to go for the most vibrant design you can find, you never know if the employer will like it. Picking a more neutral design will guarantee your resume is considered professional.
Make sure there’s white space: As a high schooler, you don’t have much work experience, so you should choose a spacious design. At the same time, you don’t want your document to seem empty, so go with one that uses white space effectively.
Organization is key: When you’re looking for your first job, you should choose a template that is clean and easy to understand at a glance. Keep it simple and make sure you’re following all the formatting rules.

Consider checking out templates for Word or Google Docs if you’re confident you can make an excellent resume using either of those word processors.

Also, don’t forget to choose a resume font that’s clear and easy to read.

Okay, next up — it’s time to hone your objective statement.

Step 3

Write a great resume objective for a high school student

First thing’s first — you need a resume profile. A profile is an introduction that sits at the top of your resume. There are two types of profiles: a professional summary and a resume objective.

Here’s how each applies to a high school student:

Job seekers with workplace experience should go with a professional summary, which combines experience with skills and accomplishments to create a career overview.
Job seekers who are new to the workforce should choose a resume objective, which focuses on the applicant’s career goals and how they can contribute to the bottom line of the company.

Nearly all high school students or recent graduates would be wise to go with a resume objective. In a few years, when you have a work history, switch to a professional summary.

Resume objective example — high school student

As a hard-working high school graduate, I’d like to contribute strong communication skills and attention to detail to the desk clerk position at Ocean View Condominium. I aim to effectively manage the reception area, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic and maintaining compliance with building policies and fair housing regulations. My commitment to providing excellent service will enable me to assist in maintaining accurate records and upholding a welcoming environment for tenants and visitors. I am eager to apply my skills in a professional setting and gain valuable experience in property management.

Step 4

Focus on volunteer work and other unique experiences

As a high school student looking for a job, you can’t rely on your professional experience to power your resume. What do you do instead?

Here are alternatives to work experience that look great on your resume:

Extracurricular activities: Do you belong to any clubs, school groups or athletic programs? Add them to your resume!
Part-time or summer jobs: You don’t need to be full-time at your job for it to count as work experience. The time you spent working at the water park qualifies.
Online courses or certifications: Have you earned any certifications by taking online courses? Those show employers you’re willing to go the extra mile to learn new skills.
Academic achievements: Build out your education section with your GPA (if it’s a 3.5 or higher) and any other academic achievements (like advanced placement [AP] courses).

Ultimately, as a high schooler, education will play a huge role in your resume, so let’s tackle that next.

Step 5

Make your education section shine

When you have more experience in the classroom than in the workplace, your education section takes on greater importance.

That’s why you should make the most of it. First, you’ll want to list the basics like your high school diploma, the name of your school and your graduation or expected graduation date.

Then, there are other opportunities to give the section extra oomph. Consider adding:

GPA (if it’s above a 3.5)
Relevant coursework
Special projects
Academic achievements
Study abroad experiences
Certifications

Check out the following example for inspiration.

High school student education section sample

Education

Riverside High School, Jacksonville, FL
High School Diploma, Expected Graduation: June 2024
Cumulative GPA: 3.9/4.0
Relevant coursework: AP Calculus, AP Computer Science, Economics
Extracurriculars: Member of the Chess Club, Captain of the Debate Team

Certifications

Fundamentals of Digital Marketing, Google Digital Garage, 2025
First Aid and CPR Certified, American Red Cross, 2024

Step 6

Add skills throughout your high school resume

If your resume were a billboard, then your skills would be the content that engages the audience and gets them to buy your product.

When you first start your career, you may feel your billboard is a bit blank. But you probably have more to showcase than you realize. From internships to part-time jobs to relevant courses and projects, you have the skills employers want.

But the best resumes don’t simply list skills. The skills are added to your resume objective, work experience bullet points and across multiple skills sections.

Remember there are different types of skills. Here are the two main categories:

Soft skills are intangible qualities and interpersonal strengths. Whether you’re a natural-born leader, highly empathetic or happen to be an excellent speaker, these all count as valuable skills.
Hard skills are concrete, measurable abilities and knowledge. For example, maybe you’re a pro with Adobe Creative Suite, or you’re fluent in a foreign language. (Note: Technical and computer skills are subsets of hard skills.)

By the way, it’s not really a showdown — hard skills vs soft skills — they work together to create a compelling advertisement. So, make sure you add both types of skills throughout your resume.

Extra sections that belong on a high school resume

Student government
Student newspaper or yearbook
The arts, like drama club, dance or band
Math or science olympiad
Honor societies
Language club
Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts
Athletics, like football, basketball, soccer, tennis and track

Pro tip

Read the job listing closely and list all the skills you can identify. Those are probably keywords the employer entered into the applicant tracking system (ATS) to help them screen out candidates.

Step 7

Represent your extracurricular activities

When you think you’re done putting together your resume, there’s one last thing you must do — proofread!

Proofreading is important because simple grammar and spelling mistakes could cause a recruiter to toss your application. After all, you can’t write that you’re “detail-oriented” while you misspell several words or make obvious grammatical mistakes.

Sure, anyone can make a mistake — but you want to do everything you can to craft a mistake-free resume. How can you make sure your resume is perfect?

First, use spell check. Then, proofread your resume yourself. Finally, ask your most meticulous friends and family members to review it.

The bottom line: taking these precautions will improve your chances of getting an interview.

Writing a resume for your first job

Your first job probably won’t be your dream job, but that’s okay! You still want to put your best foot forward.

How do you do that?

Here are three tips for a high schooler writing a resume for a first job:

Highlight volunteer work: Any volunteering or summer work is super valuable. You can include those types of gigs in your “Work Experience” section.
Write a clear objective: When you don’t have a work track record, you should write an enthusiastic and specific objective statement explaining what you want to accomplish at the job to show them what you have to offer.
Focus on transferable skills: Without a doubt, you’ve picked up impressive skills through extracurricular activities. Many of those will transfer into a range of other jobs.

Writing a high school resume with some experience

Maybe you’ve got some professional experience you want to flex. That’s great! You’re one step closer to making a killer work experience section.

Here are three tips for a high schooler writing a resume with some experience:

Use bullet points to highlight work tasks: Bullet-point lists are easier to read than long paragraphs. It’s as simple as that!
Do more than list job duties: You can read someone’s job duties in a job listing. What makes you exceptional is the impact you had in each role. For example, rather than say you “served customers,” it would be better to say you “served X number of customers daily.”
Start with your most recent job: If you’ve held multiple jobs, you’ll want to list your most recent job first. Generally, the employer likes to see what you’ve done most recently because it’s fresher in your mind.

Pro tip

Don’t forget to proofread your resume before turning it in. We always suggest giving it to a friend or family member to review, too, to increase your chances of catching mistakes.

Add a cover letter

Cover letter example computer hardware engineer

Create your cover letter

Adding a high school student cover letter to your application can help you stand out. Why? Because it gives you extra space to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job.

Learning how to write a cover letter gives you the opportunity to persuade your potential employer by explaining why the experience and skills on your resume make you the perfect fit for their needs.

Applying for your dream position? Use your cover letter to express your enthusiasm for the company and the role. Study our cover letter examples to learn how to express your unique candidacy in a compelling way and how to format your cover letter for success.

Or, if you want a job-specific cover letter in a matter of minutes, use our professional Cover Letter Generator, which offers professionally written text suggestions for every section. Use the wording as-is or customize it to suit your needs.

Key takeaways for a high school resume

Shine a spotlight on your education

Who said you need job experience to make a great resume? Shift the focus to achievements from your schoolwork.
Talk about your ambitions

In your resume objective, be clear and straightforward about what you hope to achieve at the job you’re applying for. Show them you’re goal-oriented.
Tailor your resume to the job description

Your resume isn’t one-size-fits-all. Pay attention to the skills in the job listing of the role you want. These are the keywords that will get you noticed.
Use your secret weapon: extracurricular activities

Whether you’re on a sports team or edit the yearbook, don’t overlook the power of extracurricular activities. You’ve picked up more skills than you realize.
Impress them with a cover letter

At the beginning of your career, take the step of writing a cover letter. Employers always appreciate the extra effort.
Check, check and re-check your resume

You wouldn’t want your awesome resume trashed for a silly typo, right? The only way to avoid that fate is through proofreading.

Frequently asked questions from job seekers

Last Updated: January 01, 2025

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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.