Resume checklist for high school students

Teachers & homeschoolers · Checklist · Updated October 1, 2026 · LearnLife Editorial

When should high school students use this resume checklist?

High school students should use this checklist whenever they plan to apply for jobs, internships, volunteer roles, college programs, or scholarships. Teachers and homeschooling parents can introduce it during career readiness lessons, writing workshops, or individual coaching sessions. Using the checklist before starting a resume and before submitting it ensures all relevant information is included and properly formatted. For example, a student applying for a community volunteer position can begin gathering their experiences weeks in advance, making the writing process smoother.

In addition to preparing for applications, this checklist is useful as an instructional tool to foster career skills such as organization, professionalism, and self-presentation. Teachers can design assignments around each checklist stage, while parents can schedule regular reviews to help students add new skills or experiences. Reviewing and updating resumes multiple times throughout high school builds confidence and helps students recognize how to present their evolving achievements effectively.

What are the key stages of creating a resume for high school students?

Creating a resume involves several essential stages:

• Preparation: Collect all personal details, education records, and a comprehensive list of experiences, including paid work, volunteer efforts, clubs, awards, and skills. Preparing everything first prevents missing important details.
• Content Creation: Decide which sections to include based on the resume’s purpose. Typically, these are contact info, an objective or summary, education, experience, skills, and activities. Write clear, concise bullet points describing roles and accomplishments.
• Formatting: Select a clean, readable layout with consistent fonts, margins, and bullet designs to make the resume professional and easy to scan.
• Review and Edit: Carefully proofread to correct spelling or grammar mistakes and improve clarity. Getting feedback from teachers, parents, or mentors helps refine the resume further.
• Ongoing Updates: Regularly add new experiences or skills and adjust content to keep the resume current and relevant.

Each stage builds on the last. After gathering details in preparation, students draft clear bullet points with action verbs and measurable results. Then, applying a neat format enhances readability. Finally, thorough review and updates ensure the resume remains polished and accurate.

What should the preparation stage include?

Preparation is the foundation of a strong resume. Students and educators should focus on these steps:

• Gather Contact Information: Ensure the student’s full name, phone number (with a professional voicemail greeting), email address (preferably a variation of first and last name), and mailing address are ready. For example, use an email like [email protected] rather than a nickname or unprofessional handle.
• Collect Education Details: Write down the school name, expected graduation date, GPA if it is a strength, and any relevant coursework or academic honors.
• List Experiences: Compile jobs, internships, volunteer positions, clubs, sports, leadership roles, or certifications. Include dates, locations, and supervisor names when possible.
• Identify Skills: Note computer programs, languages, communication abilities, teamwork, problem-solving, or other skills learned.
• Clarify Resume Purpose: Define the resume’s goal, such as applying for a part-time retail job, a summer internship, or college admission. This focus guides what to highlight.

For example, a student applying to a youth leadership program might list their role as class president, volunteer tutoring, and public speaking experiences. Teachers can provide worksheets to help students organize this information. This thorough preparation avoids missing key points and provides a clear foundation for writing effective content.

What content must be included in a high school student’s resume?

A solid high school resume typically includes these sections with clear, focused content:

• Contact Information: At the top, write the student’s full name, phone number, professional email, and mailing address. This ensures easy contact.
• Objective or Summary Statement: A brief, customized statement highlighting the student’s goals and the value they bring. For example, “Responsible high school sophomore seeking a cashier position to develop customer service skills and contribute a positive attitude.”
• Education: List the school name, expected graduation date, GPA (if strong), relevant coursework, and academic awards.
• Experience: Include paid jobs, internships, volunteer work, or leadership roles. Use bullet points starting with action verbs to describe responsibilities and achievements. For example:
• “Managed inventory for school store, maintaining accurate records and increasing sales.”
• “Led a community cleanup event, organizing 15 volunteers and coordinating supplies.”
• Skills: Include both hard skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Spanish language) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork).
• Activities and Awards: Mention clubs, sports, music, student government, and honors earned.

Teachers and parents should encourage students to tailor each section based on the opportunity. For example, emphasize leadership and organization for a camp counselor application or technical skills for an internship in IT. This approach highlights relevant strengths.

How should high school students format their resumes?

Formatting affects how easily the resume can be read and how professional it appears. Follow these guidelines:

• Font and Size: Use simple fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at size 10-12 for clarity.
• Margins and Spacing: Keep margins about 1 inch and add consistent spacing between sections and bullet points to avoid clutter.
• Section Headings: Use bold or slightly larger font for headings such as Education, Experience, and Skills to organize the resume visually.
• Bullet Points: Use short, action-focused bullets rather than paragraphs. Start each with a strong verb like “Organized,” “Assisted,” or “Tutored.”
• Length: Keep the resume limited to one page, focusing on the most relevant information.
• Avoid Photos and Graphics: Do not add photos, fancy fonts, or decorations; these can distract or be rejected by applicant tracking systems.

For example, an experience entry might read:

Volunteer, Local Food Bank — Hometown, USA Summer

• Sorted and packaged food donations for 100+ families weekly
• Assisted in coordinating distribution schedules with a team

Teachers can share sample templates or worksheets that apply these tips. Reviewing good examples helps students understand professional presentation.

What items do students often skip or overlook?

Some important resume elements are commonly missed but add value:

• Quantifying Achievements: Instead of “Helped with fundraising,” write “Raised $200 through a bake sale.” Numbers clearly show the impact.
• Customizing the Objective: Using the same generic objective for all applications misses a chance to connect with each employer.
• Listing Soft Skills: Students often list only technical skills but forget teamwork, communication, reliability, and problem-solving, which employers seek.
• Proofreading Thoroughly: Spelling and grammar errors can make a resume seem careless. Reading aloud or using grammar tools helps catch mistakes.
• Including Volunteer and Extracurricular Activities: These show initiative and character, especially when paid work experience is limited.
• Adding a References Statement (Optional): Including “References available upon request” can be helpful if space allows, although it is not required.

Teachers and parents can create checklists focused on these commonly missed details. Peer reviews and editing checklists improve thoroughness and polish.

How can teachers and parents help students keep their resumes up to date?

Maintaining an up-to-date resume is a useful lifelong skill. Adults can support students by:

• Scheduling Regular Reviews: Set quarterly or semester check-ins to add new experiences or remove outdated details.
• Encouraging a Resume Journal: Have students keep a running list of activities, awards, and skills as they happen so nothing is forgotten.
• Practicing Editing Skills: Each update is an opportunity to improve wording and formatting.
• Reviewing Before Applications: Always tailor the resume and check it carefully before submitting.
• Saving Multiple Versions: Keep a master resume and customize copies for different job types or programs.

For example, after a new volunteer experience, a student could update their resume immediately with details such as role, dates, and responsibilities. This ongoing habit reduces stress and helps students present the most current and relevant information.

Frequently asked questions

How should a student write a resume objective?

Keep it brief and specific to the job or opportunity. For example: “Motivated high school junior seeking part-time retail position to develop customer service and teamwork skills.” Tailor it for each application to show genuine interest.

What if a student has no paid work experience?

Highlight volunteer work, school projects, leadership roles, and skills developed through extracurricular activities. These show responsibility and initiative even without paid jobs.

Can students use resume templates?

Yes. Templates help organize information and apply consistent formatting but should be personalized so the resume reflects the student’s unique experiences.

Should a high school resume include GPA?

Include GPA if it is strong (for example, above 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) and relevant to the opportunity. If the GPA is lower, focus on other strengths like skills and experiences.

How long should a high school student’s resume be?

One page is ideal. Focus on the most relevant and recent information to keep the resume concise and easy to read.

Are photos appropriate on a student resume?

Generally, no. Photos are not standard in U.S. resumes and can lead to bias or rejection. Only include a photo if specifically requested.