Teenager Resume Examples 

Leverage our expert guidance to craft an impressive resume for teenagers, even without prior work experience. Utilize teen resume examples and templates for optimal results.

Navigating adolescence is a unique experience. Teens aspiring to juggle jobs alongside their teenage life deserve recognition. Unfortunately, some recruiters equate “teenage” with “drama,” leading to dismissal of teenage resumes and ignoring applicants altogether.

Stay ahead of the curve. Connect with our teenager resume examples tailored for those without work experience and heed our guidance to craft a teen resume that stands out.

This guide covers:

– Teen resume examples surpassing the competition.
– Strategies for writing a teen resume that lands more interviews.
– Tips and examples for showcasing skills and achievements.
– Crafting a teenager resume sans work experience to secure any desired job.

Teen Resume Example

Antuan Wesley
High School Student
(555) 123-4567
[email protected]
linkedin.com/in/antuan.wesley

Objective

Technologically adept high school student passionate about problem-solving seeking a position at Protonix Enterprises. Looking to apply basic programming knowledge and excellent communication skills to help enhance the company’s software development process. Identified 5 bugs in the systems of Tech System, helping stabilize its systems. Did so by using a diligent QA testing procedure.

Experience

Intern
Tech Systems, Newark, NJ
June 2020–August 2020

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Assisted with troubleshooting and resolving software bugs.
• Collaborated with the team to brainstorm and implement solutions.
• Gained experience in programming languages such as Python and Java.
• Assisted in the preparation of progress reports.

Key Achievement:

• Identified 5 recurring bugs in the system, leading to a significant reduction in the number of system crashes.

Education

High School Diploma
Newark Tech High School, Newark, NJ
September 2018–Present

Relevant extracurricular activities

• Member of the school’s Computer Club
• Participated in Hackathons

Academic achievements

• High Honor Roll for 3 consecutive years

Skills

• Basic knowledge of Python and Java
• Problem-solving
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Ability to adapt and learn quickly
• Certifications
• Python for Everybody, Coursera, 2020

Languages

• English—Native
• Spanish—Intermediate

Interests

• Participating in coding challenges online.
• Creating simple applications for personal use.
• Playing chess to enhance problem-solving skills.

1.Develop a format for your teenage resume

Let me drop some truth bombs: our HR stats reveal that hiring managers give resumes a mere seven-second glance. Seven seconds! Barely enough time to skim your contact info. But if you know how to craft a teen resume, you can ace it.

First things first, understand this about resumes with no experience: hiring managers seek specific elements. Select a fitting resume format and organize your teen resume into key sections:

1. Contact Information
2. Resume Objective
3. Education
4. Work Experience
5. Skills
6. Additional Sections, such as:
– Awards, Compliments, Honors
– Training and Certifications
– Volunteer Experience
– Hobbies and Interests

Now, ensure your resume looks slick. Here’s how to format your teen resume template:

– Opt for popular resume fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Helvetica.
– Keep font size between 11–12 for content and 13–14 for headings.
– Use 1–1.15 line spacing for readability.
– Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.
– Utilize white space or lines to delineate sections.

You’ve got two options: use pre-designed teen resume templates or spend hours tweaking Word or G Docs for a polished layout.

2. Include your contact details on your teenage resume

Picture pouring your effort into crafting your teen resume, only to realize you forgot to include your email address and phone number. You’d want to brush it off, but truthfully, it’s a big deal.

Adding contact information to a resume is one of the simplest tasks in a job application. Assert your protagonist status with these steps:

Teen Resume Examples [Contact Info]
– Name: First and last
– Phone Number: Include just one
– Professional Email: Avoid unprofessional addresses like [email protected]. Opt for something more polished, such as [email protected].
– Social Media: LinkedIn, GitHub, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest? Choose one or two platforms that best showcase your suitability for the job. Exclude them if they’re solely for sharing memes.
– Personal Website: Do you have a portfolio? Contribute to a blog demonstrating your job-related knowledge? These are gold for a teen resume. Don’t hesitate to include them.

3.Craft a teenage resume objective or summary

“Make them say, ‘We MUST interview this one.’ Begin your teen resume with a bang by incorporating a resume profile, like an objective or a summary, to present yourself.

For teens, opt for a career objective—it’s your chance to showcase your strengths and emphasize your value for the job. Reserve a resume summary for those with prior work experience, as it highlights achievements in the workforce. In such instances, utilize professional resume summary examples tailored for young adults, spotlighting their initial work experiences.

Take a look at these contrasting teenage resume objective examples to gain insight:”

Teen Resume Examples [Resume Objective]
INCORRECT
Keen to break into waitstaff roles despite lacking experience, but eager to learn and work diligently. Hoping for a chance to join your team, so please consider hiring me. You won’t regret it.

This won’t cut it for landing a job. Employers prioritize what you can offer them, not your personal desires.

CORRECT
Diligent waiter aiming to leverage proven customer service abilities to elevate dining experiences at the Last Unicorn Restaurant. Recognized 5 times by management at Devin Shiro’s Country Club and St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen. Eagle Scout recipient. Awarded the Beacon of Hope Award.

This will impress the hiring manager. It showcases relevant experience and notable achievements, presenting a teen candidate who is hardworking and committed to delivering excellence.

But what if you’re crafting a teen resume with no work experience? Instead of focusing on past jobs, highlight skills and experiences from school, personal projects, interests, freelance work, and family life.

Consider this example for inexperienced candidates:

High School Teen Resume [Career Objective Example Without Experience]
CORRECT
Friendly high school student seeking a part-time waitstaff position. Enthusiastic about enhancing the dining experience at Rainy Day Comfort Food by recommending suitable menu items and providing attentive service in a pleasant ambiance. Avid home cook, winner of a school contest for best homemade chocolate chip cookies.

4. Write an Education Section That Gets Jobs

What’s your greatest asset as a teen with no experience? Nope, it’s not your collection of animated GIFs. It’s your education. Even if you’re not an overachiever with a degree to add to your resume at 16, or if you’re not particularly fond of school and don’t boast straight A’s.

The education section in a teen resume should include:

– School name: Simply replicate the name from the school’s official website or Google Maps.
– Graduation date or years of study: If you’re yet to finish school, include an expected graduation date.
– Key achievements: Have you won an international competition or a state contest? Highlight it!
– Extracurricular activities: Volunteering, event organization, holding leadership roles in school clubs—all demonstrate your engagement and value.
– Favorite classes: It may sound cheesy, but it’s better than nothing! Including relevant coursework on your resume indicates familiarity with the job you’re seeking.
– GPA: Only showcase your GPA if it’s impressive. If it’s below 3.5, feel free to omit it.

5. Demonstrate pertinent experience in your teenage resume

“But I don’t HAVE experience!” Of course not. You’re crafting a teen resume, typically for a 16-year-old with no prior experience.

However, strive to showcase some form of relevant background. The good news? It doesn’t necessarily have to be work-related!

Here’s what you can include on a teenage resume with no work experience:

– Volunteer work: Even if you haven’t participated in any, you can quickly find volunteer opportunities in your area to gain valuable experience (and expand your network!).

– Freelancing experience: You might underestimate odd jobs like babysitting, assisting your dad in their office, or mowing neighbors’ lawns. They count as valid experiences, so add them to your resume!

– Job shadowing: Did a graphic designer friend teach you Photoshop? Or did you spend a day observing your mom’s workplace operations? Include these shadowing experiences on your resume to impress recruiters!

– Extracurricular activities: Have you helped organize a local manga convention? Joined a book club to discuss books weekly? Highlight these activities on your resume.

– Personal projects: Running a popular Instagram account, setting up a successful Facebook fan page, managing a YouTube channel, or acquiring valuable skills in your spare time—all make impressive additions to your resume as personal projects.

Teenage Resume Examples [Experience]
CORRECT
Volunteer Food Server
Food Unites, Provincetown, MI
June–September 2021

– Managed food service in a bustling soup kitchen environment.
– Received commendations from management for undertaking various tasks.
– Assisted with food preparation as needed.
– Administered first-response medical aid to a patron in distress.

The first example from our teenage resume samples sets a high standard. Now, let’s steer clear of the following example, which doesn’t leverage experience effectively:

INCORRECT
Experience: None, aside from occasional babysitting. However, I’m known for my affable nature and strong work ethic.

Babysitting experience shouldn’t be downplayed. Treat it as any other job: quantify the hours spent, outline responsibilities, and highlight achievements.

6. Put Your Best Skills on a Teen Resume

Balancing a job alongside studies has its pros and cons, but you’ve chosen to proceed with your plan. Now, how can you persuade recruiters to hire you? One effective method is to demonstrate that you possess the skills they’re seeking.

Follow these steps to craft an impressive skills section for your teen resume:

1. Compile a comprehensive list of all your skills, encompassing both soft and hard skills.
2. Scrutinize the job advertisement and highlight keywords denoting the required knowledge and abilities.
3. Compare your own skills with the job prerequisites.
4. Curate a list of 5–8 skills that align with the job you’re applying for.

These two sample teen resumes exemplify the process:

Teen Resume [Skills]
INCORRECT
Skills: MS Office, strong work ethic, teamwork, customer service, organized, adaptable, friendly, honest, physically fit…

While these skills aren’t entirely wrong, they appear as a random assortment. It’s also preferable to list skills in bullet points.

CORRECT
– Banquet serving
– Table bussing
– Drink serving
– Friendly demeanor
– Communication
– Dependability

Now we’re talking! This appears more polished and relevant to a specific job, such as restaurant waiting.

Remember, you can also integrate your skills into other sections of your resume, like education and experience. For instance, mentioning your flexibility and reliability in helping neighbors with impromptu babysitting demonstrates valuable traits.

7. Add Extra Sections to a Teen Resume

You might not be into being extra in life, but showcasing your strengths on a resume is a smart move. It can help persuade the hiring manager that you’re the ideal candidate for the job.

Now that the essential sections of your resume are complete, consider adding supplementary information to reinforce your abilities and knowledge relevant to the job. Here’s what we suggest:

– Honors and Awards: Highlighting competition wins not only boosts your confidence but also demonstrates your proficiency. Showcase your accolades on your resume to leave a lasting impression on the hiring manager.

– Activities: Describe how your extracurricular activities relate to the job you’re applying for. For instance, if seeking a dishwasher position, emphasize your effectiveness in household chores.

– Associations: If you’re engaged in activities like coding or local artist clubs, mention them to showcase your additional skills and interests.

– Certifications: Enrolling in free online courses can equip you with valuable workplace skills and earn you certifications to feature on your resume.

– Interests and Hobbies: Mention hobbies relevant to the job you’re targeting. For instance, if aspiring to work as a shop assistant in a clothing store, emphasize your interest in fashion trends and reading about fashion designers.

– Publications: If your restaurant review got published in a local newspaper or your blog post was featured on a platform like Medium, include these publications on your resume to highlight your writing abilities.

These teen resume examples offer guidance:

Teen Resume Examples [Other Sections]
INCORRECT
Additional activities: Watching YouTube, Making memes

8.Ensure your teen resume is complemented by a cover letter

Hold on, aren’t cover letters relics from the era of rotary phones? That’s what some experts claim. But they’re referring to generic cover letters. No one needs a cover letter that simply says, “Here’s my resume.”

Is a cover letter necessary for a teenager’s debut job application? Absolutely. You want to pique the interest of the hiring committee and compel them to delve into your resume. A cover letter can achieve just that. Here’s how to compose one:

1. Address the hiring manager directly. If you can’t find their name, consider calling the establishment and asking.

2. Kick off your cover letter with your most notable achievement relevant to the job you’re pursuing.

3. Demonstrate your understanding of the job requirements and how you’re equipped to fulfill them.

4. Conclude your cover letter with an invitation for an interview and an offer to further discuss your qualifications.

Look, we get it. Most teenagers aren’t accustomed to drafting cover letters, and you might not be eager to tackle one either. However, crafting a cover letter will make your teenage resume stand out!

Take a cue from this sample cover letter for a teenager’s inaugural job application:

Earning my Eagle Scout Rank was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. Through this experience, I cultivated numerous qualities that I believe would translate well into a role as a waiter at the Last Unicorn Restaurant. I am diligent, committed, and adept at collaborating with my peers. My Eagle Scout Project, which involved providing meals for 40 homeless individuals, exemplifies…