High School Student Resume Templates (+ Writing Tips)
Creating a resume as a high school student, whether for jobs, internships, or college, is key to early career development. We provide professional template selection and advice on highlighting skills and achievements, offering samples for guidance, even without formal experience.
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High school student resume templates examples
Let’s start by looking at resume samples for high school students for different scenarios. Do you have internship experience? Or do you need a resume for a high school student with no work experience? Part-time experience? We got you with our resume examples for high school students. These examples are part of our premium high school resume templates, created by design professionals to highlight what matters most in each scenario. Choose one to customize it in our Resume Builder, with the help of our step-by-step guide.
Example of a resume for high school student with no experience
This resume for a high school student highlights your career objective, summary of qualifications, skills and professional skills, above work history and education. Its main purpose is to show the hiring manager what you can do.
High school resume example with volunteer experience
This high school student resume template makes the “Professional Skills” section the main focus. The top three skills acquired from volunteer experience are featured along with details on what was accomplished for the organization by using those skills.
High school resume example with personal project experience
In this resume template for a high school student, the “Professional Skills” section is named “Relevant Skills.” It hihglights the skills learned from projects, showing that they have what it takes to do the job despite not having a professional background.
Resume for high school student with internship experience
This high school resume template features work experience and relevant skills from internships.
Resume for high school student with work experience
In this particular high school resume, the candidate has enough work experience to be organized so that the work history is front and center.
Resume for high school student with leadership experience
While the candidate in this high school resume template doesn’t have professional work experience, they highlight the leadership experience they have gained from high school club activities.
High school resume example with extracurricular activities
In this high school student resume template, the candidate writes their experience tutoring, as a secretary of their Government Club and as treasurer of their Women in STEM Club under work history.
Resume for high school student with customer service experience
A detailed relevant skills section and a work history section explaining the candidate efficiency make this a great resume for a high school student with experience in customer service.
Resume for high school student with food service experience
The candidate has at least two years of experience in this high school student resume template working in the food service industry and has written what she’s looking for in the career objective.
For hundreds of more resume examples you can use as inspiration, visit our resume examples section.
Download free high school student resume templates
Want to download and edit a resume on your own? Choose from the best free high school resume templates below. If you want to see the other types of free templates available, take a look at our professional resume templates, simple resume templates, creative resume templates and modern resume templates.
Remarkable
Make a statement with this free high school student resume template, which utilizes box graphics for headings and a prominent header space to showcase the job applicant’s name.
Strong
This high school student resume template is perfect to create a resume that conveys confidence with solid borders and bold fonts.
Structured
A minimalist design makes this a great resume template for a high school student who wants a pop of color while keeping it simple.
Contemporary
This two-column high school resume template allows you to organize your information easily.
Cool
With a prominent header and duotone columns, this design will make sure your high school resume template looks professional.
Deluxe
Sometimes, a straightforward resume template for a high school student is the way to go. This design makes for quick and easy navigation.
Check out our 5-Star Reviews
How to write a high school resume
Action verbs for your high school student resume template
Rather than just claiming you have a skill, feature examples of how you’ve used that skill, using action verbs to describe specific experiences where you used or acquired it. The result? A more effective resume.
You’ll mostly use action verbs in your “Summary of Qualifications,” “Professional Skills” and “Work History” sections. For example, note this high school student resume example. The highlighted words are action verbs that mark you as a proactive, energetic job applicant and strengthen each statement. As you can see, first-person pronouns (like “I,” “me” or “my”) are omitted.
Action verbs for a high school student resume template
- COMMUNICATING
- Addressed
- Arranged
- Corresponded
- Developed
- Directed
- Drafted
- Edited
- Enlisted
- Influenced
- Interpreted
- Participated
- Persuaded
- Presented
- Promoted
- Proposed
- Related
- Sold
- Spoke
- Translated
- Wrote
- CREATING
- Acted
- Conceived
- Conceptualized
- Created
- Customized
- Designed
- Developed
- Established
- Fashioned
- Illustrated
- Improved
- Initiated
- Originated
- Performed
- Planned
- Redesigned
- Reshaped
- Revitalized
- HELPING
- Assisted
- Clarified
- Coached
- Counseled
- Demonstrated
- Educated
- Guided
- Motivated
- Referred
- Supported
- Tutored
- MANAGING
- Accomplished
- Analyzed
- Attained
- Conducted
- Consolidated
- Contacted
- Coordinated
- Developed
- Directed
- Established
- Evaluated
- Exceeded
- Improved
- Initiated
- Organized
- Oversaw
- Planned
- Produced
- Scheduled
- RESEARCHING
- Collected
- Consulted
- Evaluated
- Examined
- Experimented
- Identified
- Inspected
- Investigated
- Obtained
- Reviewed
- Searched
- Summarized
- Surveyed
- TECHNICAL
- Assembled
- Built
- Calculated
- Computed
- Configured
- Determined
- Edited
- Enhanced
- Installed
- Maintained
- Operated
- Programmed
- Remodeled
- Solved
- Trained
- Upgraded
7 tips to perfect your high school resume
Use the job posting as your outline.
Employers will spell out what they’re looking for in a candidate and the requirements needed to get hired in the job description. Read it well and you’ll find exactly what you need to include in your resume for high school student, such as the top skills they want the candidate to have.
Make a list of your skills.
Before writing your high school student resume, list all the skills you possess and divide them into three categories: hard skills, soft skills and technical skills.
- Hard skills are tangible abilities learned through education, training or on the job and are job-specific. For example: sales, design, writing, social media marketing, language, presentation or project management.
- Soft skills are personality traits and habits that show how you approach a task. For example: attention to detail, problem-solving, self-motivation, time management and communication.
- A technical skill is the ability or knowledge needed to perform a job. For example: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom), Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs, Java or HTML5.
For more skill suggestions and tips, check out Top Skills to Put on a Resume.
Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for.
Customize your resume for each job application and employer by using the right keywords in your resume template for a high school student, based on specific phrases in the job description that highlight important skills and requirements.
Find resume examples to use as inspiration.
A high school student resume example is a great tool to understand the tone, language and formatting you should use. Look for professional examples similar to your situation, address the same job or belong to the same industry.
Only include relevant information.
Hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds reviewing resumes. Only highlight information relevant to the job posting.
Review and edit your resume with someone you trust.
Talk to your parents, guardian, teacher or guidance counselor and sit down with them to look over your high school student resume. Get their feedback and edit accordingly.
Make sure you have the permissions necessary to work.
Laws vary by state, but generally, minors need permission from their parents or legal guardian to work, and they must notify their school. Companies may also require the parent or guardian to sign a waiver, even if it’s a summer job.
Include a cover letter.
Write a high school cover letter in just 400 words. Use three paragraphs: first, introduce yourself and why you want to work there; second, explain how you’ve used or plan to use your skills, and finally, ask them to contact you. A cover letter will help you expand on your high school student resume.
Additional resources for your high school resume template
Choosing a resume template for high school students is only the first step. Here are some expert resources to write a perfect resume and cover letter:
- Best Resume Format in 2023: Choosing the right resume format is just as important as selecting the best high school resume template. Learn more about the chronological, functional and combination resume formats.
- 280+ Action Verbs for Resume Writing: Build a stronger high school resume with actions verbs.
- 100+ Resume Summary Examples: What’s the difference between a resume summary and an objective statement? Read to find out.
- How to Write a Resume: Learn how to write each section of your resume with step-by-step instructions and examples.
- Cover Letter Examples: Need inspiration to write a cover letter? We have over 200 cover letter examples for different jobs and industries.
- How to Write a Cover Letter: A cover letter is especially useful when you don’t have a lot of work experience. Introduce yourself and convince the employer to hire you.
- Cover Letter Templates: Find the perfect match for your high school student resume template.
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FAQ High School Resume
What is a high school student resume?
A high school resume is a snapshot of your skills, accomplishments and any work experience. You can include your internships, volunteer work, extracurricular activities and hobbies.
Why is a high school resume important?
A high school student resume is important because it serves many purposes.
A high school resume:
- Helps you apply to an after school job.
- Acts as an addition to your college application.
- Helps you get comfortable building a resume.
A resume can also help self-evaluate your high school career. For example, you can include non-honors and non-academic achievements in your resume, like spearheading a club, if you were recognized by peers and teachers, leadership role in extracurricular activities and more.
What should be included in a high school resume?
A high school student resume should include the same elements of a regular resume.
- Your name
- Current contact information
- Your education
- A resume objective
- A skills section
Because you are starting out, you can include other sections to highlight your skills.
- Work experience — If you have a formal job or gig, include them in your resume.
- Extracurricular activities — Member of an organization? Add them to your resume to showcase your interest and commitment.
- Volunteering
- Academic achievements
- Honors
- Certifications
It can be tempting to exaggerate your skills or accomplishments, yet it’s best to keep it honest. Include only those sections that apply to you.
How can I make my high school resume stand out?
A resume for a high school student can stand out when it shows a well-rounded person. Your academic achievements are important and so are your extracurriculars.
- Show how you pursue your interests — Creating a club or joining an organization can show your interests, commitment and discipline.
- Highlight your entrepreneurial spirit — Babysitting, mowing lawns, building websites, doing art commissions or anything else help showcase your willingness to learn on your own.
- Include your volunteering — Whether you stick with one cause or enjoy helping different organizations, add these activities to your resume.
Your resume should always be tailored to its application. An employer would want to know about your skills, while a college application benefits from knowing more about your extracurriculars.
How to write a high school resume?
Before you start writing your resume for a high school student, keep in mind what you’re creating it for and use that to tailor your resume. If it is for a job, use the job description and include keywords on your resume. If you’re creating it as an addition to your college application, include everything you can from your high school career.
- Include your contact information. Limit it to email and phone numbers. There is no need to include an address, city and state should suffice.
- Create a resume summary or objective.
- Use bullet points to include a list of soft and hard skills.
- Include certifications, like CPR, first aid or CompTIA A+.
- Include your employment experience, like:
- Part-time jobs
- Internships
- Volunteer Work
- Hobbies and Interests
You can follow our guide on how to write a resume with no experience to create each section.
How we reviewed this article
Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- Department of Labor. Age Requirements
- Finances Online 10 Current Resume Trends
- Teen Life High School Resume: Tips for Success
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High School Resume Templates
Nilda is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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