How to Write a High School Student Resume - And Why You Should Have One


If you're still in school, chances are you've given little if any thought to writing your resume. You may think you don't need one, or perhaps you know you do, but haven't a clue how to write one. But having a resume, even while you're still in school, can prove extremely beneficial, whether you're applying for a part time job or filling out a college application.
Potential employers and college recruiters are interested in seeing a summary of what you've accomplished to this point, including your academic achievements, special talents and abilities, and personal experiences. It doesn't have to be fancy, but there are certain elements every resume should include.
Heading
At the top of the resume you should list your personal contact information, including name and address (both permanent and email) and a permanent telephone number where you can be reached. If necessary, create a new email address if your current one doesn't come across as being very professional. You won't be taken seriously if you're asking a prospective employer to reach you at luvs2party[at]whatever.com.

Objective
Your objective is simply the reason you're submitting your resume. If it's accompanying a job application, your objective may be "To obtain a part time position in sales". If you're sending your resume with college applications, change your objective to suit each school you're submitting to. Your objective then may read "To receive a business degree from State University".
Education
As you might guess, this section outlines the education you've received so far. It should include all the schools you've attended and your GPA. It's recommended by some experts to list GPAs that are above 3.0. In this section you can also include any special honors or awards you've received or extracurricular activities you're involved in.
Experience
In a high school student resume, this section may not be necessary, depending on whether or not you have any relevant experience to list. If you've had a part time job in the past, certainly list it here, and include the position you held, the name of the company you worked for, where it was located, the dates you worked, and a brief description of your job responsibilities. If you have no previous work history, you can list projects you worked on in school that taught you special skills. If, like many high school students, you have no jobs or school projects that can be listed here, you can omit this section and focus on the education section instead.
Additional Information
Use this section for anything you want the employer or college recruiter to know about you that doesn't really fit in any other section of the resume. This is where you would list any volunteer work you've done or community services performed as well as any other special talents you possess, like speaking a second language.
References
The final section of your high school student resume is for personal or business references. It's recommended to check first with the people you want to use as references to make sure they don't mind if you give out their name and phone number. You don't have to list them on your resume; you can simply state 'References are available on request.' References should generally be people who know you well, are not related to you, and are willing to speak on your behalf about what a good person you are.
By having a high school student resume, you'll put yourself ahead of many of your peers when it comes to being favorably noticed by employers and college recruiters. It shows a certain maturity and professionalism that will make your application stand out from the crowd.
Having a resume allows you to begin the process of networking with potential employers and other adults who will help you transition from high school into college or the job force. Want to learn how to make the most of your college and career decisions? Win a free copy of our college and career planning guide or check out our Test Drive Your Future Gap Year Scholarships.
Beth and Jim Hood are the authors of Test Drive Your Future, High School Student and Grad Edition: Your Step by Step Guide to Choosing the Perfect Career and founders of the Test Drive Your Future™ Gap Year Scholarship. Beth writes as the GPS Gal on Girlzone.com, hosting interviews with professional women and students and answering questions from teens about their future career choices. The authors live in Hawaii.

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