Teen Resume: Examples, Templates & Tips

First things first — the employer has to know where to reach you to schedule an interview, right? That’s why you need to add your contact info to your header.

Here’s what companies generally expect to find at the top of your resume:

• Email address: Add an email address so employers can reach out online. Make sure you use a professional email address. Your school email is fine if you have one. If you set up your own, use your full name, like jane.doe@gmail.com.
• Phone Number: Include a phone number so employers can reach you. Double-check that your voicemail is professional and clearly states your name so whoever calls knows they reached the right person.
• Location: Depending on the job, you may want to add a location. Local jobs may want to know that you live nearby and could easily get to work. Generally, we recommend only including your city and state.
• LinkedIn: If you have a LinkedIn profile, add the link. While this is more common for college students and professionals, companies will be impressed to see you take the job hunt seriously.

Other than LinkedIn, you’ll want to leave off your other social media profiles. The one exception will be if you’re an active user who regularly posts content relevant to the job you’re applying to.

Also, before we move on from the topic, make sure to clean up your social media! Unprofessional posts, even if they aren’t easily publicly accessible, have cost real job opportunities.

One last thing — remember, as a teenager, you should let your parents or a guardian know that you’re sharing your contact information. In fact, they should probably be aware that you’re applying for jobs. Keep them in the loop as much as you can!

The next step is a fun one — resume design.

Picking a template is the fun part of making your resume.

I mean, all you have to do is look through a gallery and grab your favorite design, right?

Well, there’s more to it than that.

When choosing an appropriate design for a teen resume, here are some points you should keep in mind:

• Use a template: If you aren’t a designer and don’t know where to begin, just use a template. Free and paid templates are available on many websites and apps, including Resume Now.
• Keep it simple: Pick a professional template that is easy to read. You want the hiring manager to focus on your skills and experiences, not on a flashy design (unless you’re applying for a graphic designer role, in which case a creative resume is perfect).
• Pick a skills-focused format: A simple chronological resume is the format of choice for professionals. Most teens, however, don’t have work experience, making a skills-centered functional resume a better choice.
• Organize it effectively: The layout should clearly separate different sections, such as contact information, education, skills and work experience. This helps employers quickly find the information they’re looking for.

Ultimately, we understand the temptation to use fun fonts and colors. However, even though you’re a teen, it’s important to present yourself as mature and capable. Avoid using distracting fonts or colors. Stick with classic colors like black, navy, or gray for text, and avoid templates with designs that are over the top.

Ready to start writing? Let’s start with your resume profile.

There are two types of profiles: resume summaries and resume objectives.

Resume summaries are more common. These are a three- to five-sentence snapshot of the applicant. They usually highlight career achievements, which is why they’re better for job seekers who have experience.

The alternative is a much better option for teens: resume objectives. Objectives tell recruiters who you are and why you want to work for them. They’re less focused on accomplishments and more focused on goals.

For a teen, this is perfect! You may not have much work experience, so it’s a good idea to focus on your soft skills and personal qualities and the goals you’ve set forth for your first job.

Here’s an example of how you can combine enthusiasm and attributes to make a compelling one-paragraph pitch.

The statement above shows passion for the work, a positive attitude and readiness to learn.

Writing about your skills can be challenging, especially if you’ve never held a job.

But don’t let that hold you back. Any good resume for teens will be packed with skills.

You just have to broaden your thinking. To start making your list of skills, consider what you’ve done over the last couple of years. Did you handle inventory or customer service when you helped with the family business? Did you organize and plan school projects or participate in student council?

Also, what do you excel at? Think about the tasks you’re good at in school and consider the personal traits you’re known for. Researching a topic for a paper, taking detailed notes or solving math problems are all skills. Even having the ability to work through conflicts with your siblings or having friends come to you for help are all traits and experiences that speak to your unique skills.

After you make your list, check to see whether you have a balance of hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the specific, measurable abilities you have, whether they are computer skills like knowing a software program or technical skills like being able to operate machinery.

Soft skills are the interpersonal strengths that make someone a great employee and co-worker, like having leadership, empathy or impressive communication skills.

Check out these examples to consider adding to your resume.

Teenager resume–soft skills examples

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Responsibility

Teenager resume–hard skills examples

• Microsoft Office
• Multilingual
• Math
• First aid/CPR
• Driving

Considering you’ve spent so much of your life till now in a classroom, your education section is super important.

Start by listing your current (or most recent) level of education. If you’re still in high school, list the name of your school and your expected year of graduation, as well as any other details that might help your case!

Here’s what a good teen resume education section looks like:

Now, there’s a lot to consider beyond your education section. Here are a few sections we often see on teenager resumes and why each one is important:

• Volunteer work: Volunteering can be a wonderful addition to your resume. It shows you’re interested in contributing to the community and eager to build skills like teamwork and leadership.
• Extracurricular activities: Everything you do outside the classroom can be just as interesting to an employer as what happens inside. Clubs, sports teams, band, drama, student government and any other activities are opportunities to highlight your skills.
• Honors and awards: If you’ve received any recognitions — academic, athletic, artistic or something else — include these. They demonstrate a commitment that will impress employers.
• Certifications and courses: Include these if you’ve completed any relevant certifications or courses, like a first aid course or a coding boot camp. They show a devotion to learning.
• Languages: If you’re fluent or proficient in languages other than English, this is another fact to include on your resume. Multilingualism is a valuable skill in many workplaces.

Before submitting your resume, there’s one final step that might be the most important of all: proofreading.

Why is proofreading so critical? Well, even a small mistake can make an employer think you’re careless or lack attention to detail.

Imagine turning in a resume on which you’ve spelled your own name wrong. That happens to people all the time!

How do you combat this? We suggest going a step further than just proofreading. Yes, read your resume carefully multiple times, but then give it to your sharpest friend or family member. Getting a second — or even third — set of eyes on your document dramatically lowers the likelihood of a mistake.

OK, time to summarize what we’ve learned.