Resume tips for high school students

Parents & guardians · Tips · Updated October 1, 2026 · LearnLife Editorial

How can parents help their child start a resume?

Starting with a resume template designed for high school students can simplify the process. Encourage your child to gather all important information first: contact details, education, extracurricular activities, volunteer roles, and any paid or unpaid jobs. Use a clean, easy-to-read format with sections clearly labeled. Begin with a brief objective statement that explains what kind of job or internship the student is seeking and what skills they bring. For example, “Motivated high school student eager to develop customer service skills through a part-time retail position.” This gives employers a quick idea of the candidate’s focus.

Check if your child’s resume is working by seeing if it looks organized and if each section clearly states relevant information. If they can explain their experience or skills confidently when asked, the resume is doing its job.

What should a high school student include if they have little or no job experience?

Parents can guide students to include volunteer work, extracurricular activities, school projects, and relevant coursework to show responsibility and skills. For example, leadership roles in clubs, participation in sports teams, or involvement in community service all demonstrate valuable traits like teamwork, commitment, and time management. Highlight specific tasks or achievements, like organizing a fundraiser or maintaining team statistics.

Encourage using strong action verbs such as “led,” “organized,” “assisted,” or “collaborated” to describe these experiences. This makes the resume sound more dynamic and professional.

To tell if this approach is effective, ask if the student feels proud of what they included and can describe how those experiences taught them skills useful for the job they want.

How do you highlight skills on a high school resume?

Focus on both hard skills (like computer proficiency, typing speed, or foreign language knowledge) and soft skills (like communication, punctuality, and problem-solving). Parents can help their child make a “Skills” section listing these clearly, using bullet points for easy reading.

For example:

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Basic Spanish conversation
• Strong communication skills
• Reliable and punctual

Match skills to the job description when possible. If applying for a cashier position, emphasizing customer service and math skills is useful.

Check effectiveness by reviewing if each skill listed relates directly to the job or internship. If the employer can see at a glance the student’s relevant abilities, the skills section is working well.

What’s the best way to format a high school resume?

Keep the layout simple with consistent font style and size, typically 10-12 point font. Use bold or italics sparingly to highlight section headers or important details. Avoid using photos or graphics, which can distract from content and are often not recommended.

Parents can help their child create sections in this order:

1. Contact Information
2. Objective Statement
3. Education
4. Experience (paid jobs, internships, volunteer)
5. Skills
6. Extracurricular Activities or Honors

Use bullet points under each experience to describe responsibilities and achievements. Keep the resume to one page.

You’ll know formatting is effective if the resume looks clean, easy to scan, and the most important information stands out quickly to a reader.

How can parents teach their child to tailor a resume for different jobs?

Show your child how to read job descriptions carefully and identify key skills or requirements employers want. Then, help them emphasize experiences and skills that match those needs more closely. For example, if a job asks for teamwork skills, your child’s participation in a group project or team sport should be featured prominently.

Encourage rewriting the objective statement and rearranging bullet points to highlight the most relevant items for each application. This customization increases the chances employers will see the student as a good fit.

To tell if tailoring is working, track if the student receives more interview invitations after customizing resumes for different positions.

What are some tips for writing a strong resume objective?

A resume objective should be specific, concise, and focused on what the student offers and wants to achieve. Parents can help write statements such as:

• “Enthusiastic high school student seeking a summer internship in retail to develop customer service skills.”
• “Dependable student with strong organizational abilities looking for part-time work in a library setting.”

Avoid vague statements like “Looking for a job to gain experience.” Instead, be clear about how the student can contribute and what they hope to learn.

The objective is effective if it clearly communicates the student’s goals and catches the attention of employers quickly.

How can parents assist with proofreading and finalizing the resume?

Proofreading is essential to catch typos, grammatical errors, and unclear phrases. Parents can read the resume aloud with their child to identify awkward wording. Using spell check tools and having another trusted adult review it can also help.

Ensure all dates and details are accurate and contact information is correct. Confirm the resume file is saved in a widely accepted format like PDF to preserve formatting.

You’ll know the resume is ready when no errors remain, the content is clear, and the student feels confident sharing it with employers.

How often should a high school student update their resume?

Encourage your child to review and update their resume regularly, ideally every few months or after completing new activities, jobs, or training. This keeps the document current and ready to submit when an opportunity arises.

Updating helps add new skills or experiences and remove outdated ones, making the resume stronger over time.

Parents can help by setting calendar reminders and asking their child to talk about recent accomplishments to include.

What are some ways to practice using the resume?

Help your child practice talking through their resume in mock interviews with family or friends. They can explain each experience, skill, or accomplishment, building confidence.

Encourage applying to various jobs or internships, even if not perfect opportunities, to gain real experience and understand employer expectations.

Seeing interview invitations or feedback from employers after submitting resumes shows the document is effective.

How can parents support their child emotionally during the resume process?

Creating a resume can feel overwhelming for teens. Parents should encourage patience, reminding their child that building a resume is a skill that improves with time. Celebrate small wins, like completing a draft or getting positive feedback.

Offer help without taking control and let them make decisions to boost independence.

If the process causes stress or low confidence, suggest talking to a school counselor or trusted adult.

By providing steady encouragement and practical help, parents can make resume-building a positive experience.

Frequently asked questions

What if my child doesn’t know what job they want yet?

Encourage them to focus on transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and reliability. These skills are valuable in many roles. They can also write a general objective stating they seek opportunities to develop work experience and new skills.

Should a high school resume include GPA or academic grades?

Including GPA is optional and depends on whether it is strong and relevant to the job. If your child’s GPA is high, it can be listed under education. If not, focus more on skills and experience.

How long should a high school resume be?

One page is ideal for high school students since they usually have limited experience. Keeping the resume concise makes it easier for employers to quickly review.

Can my child use a resume template from the internet?

Yes, templates designed for high school students can help with formatting and organization. Just ensure the template looks professional and is easy to read.

How can my child handle gaps in their work or volunteer experience?

Encourage them to include school activities, clubs, or projects to fill gaps and demonstrate skills. It’s normal for students to have limited experience, so emphasizing willingness to learn is key.