Teenager Resume: Examples, Templates, and Tips

Employers might think you’re just another begging kid. But you’re different. You know it. They need to know it. And you can how show it with a perfect teen resume.

They won't ignore you. Not after you write a teenager resume by following this guide.

This guide will show you:

• Resume examples for teens that get respect.
• How to write a teen resume that lands more interviews.
• Tips for an impressive teenager resume with no work experience.
• Why you’ve got tons more teen resume achievements than you think.

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Need help with your teenager resume? Check these guides that can help you to enter the job market:

• Internship Resume
• No Experience Resume
• Student Resume

Looking for job-specific guides? See these: 

• General Resume That’s Not Generic
• Landscaping Resume
• McDonald's Resume
• Restaurant Resume
• Retail Resume
• Scholarship Resume
• Social Work Resume

Haven't found your job? Check our full list of professional resume examples.

Resume for Teens—Example You Can Copy and Use

 

Flawless. Resumes for teens like that stand miles above the rest. Now let's learn how to create a teenager resume that will get you your first job. 

1. Set Up the Proper Teen Resume Structure

You don't need a lot of experience on your teen resume to land your first job. Everybody has got to start somewhere, and the recruiters know that. All you need to do is show the recruiter you've got the skills and attitude. 

How? By crafting the best resume for teens in the way hiring managers want to see. Here is what to put on a resume for teens:

1. Contact information (resume header)
2. Resume objective
3. Education—break it into sections and responsibilities.
4. Experience—work, volunteering, job-shadowing.
5. Skills
6. Extracurricular activities —hobbies, honors, groups.

With these details, your teenager resume will shine. 

You should also use the right resume format for teenagers, so the manager knows you’re a catch. Get started with our proven resume templates or a Google Docs resume template. This way, you won't have to worry about proper formatting, as everything will be take, care of.

Expert Hint: If you’re writing a resume for teens, you’re already ahead of the curve. Kids with teen jobs are less likely to drop out of school.

2. Write a Teenage Resume Objective that Drops Jaws

How to get employers to read your resume for teens? With a strong resume objective.

Get this right, and you’ll solve half your problems (avoid writing a resume summary unless you already have some work experience under your belt).

Use:

1. One adjective (hard-working, dependable, fast-learning)

2. Job title + (barista, receptionist)

3. How you’ll help (provide an excellent service experience)

4. Best 2–3 accomplishments (commended 4x by management)

These resume examples for teens show right from wrong:

Teenager Resume Introduction Example

Efficient waiter, seeking to use strong work-ethic to provide excellent service at Applebee's Restaurant. As waiter at Fairlawn Golf Club, commended 3x for efficiency. As president of school yearbook committee, used solid teamwork and communication skills to deliver yearbook 10 days ahead of schedule.

Hard-working teen, looking for a job as a waiter. I haven’t worked any official table-waiting jobs yet but I’m a really fast learner and you can believe I’ll work very hard.

The first of those resume example for teens will make employers gawk. This candidate has a lot to offer even though they're just a teenager. On the other hand, the second example is as reassuring as wet toilet paper.

Expert Hint: Got writer’s block? Write your objective statement last. It’s easier to summarize when the rest of your resume for teens is in the bag.

3. Turn Your Teen Resume Education Into a Reason to Hire You

You’re not a clone. But if you put “high school” on your resume for teens like everybody else you’ll definitely look like one.

A resume for teens needs to stand out in this part. Especially when it's one of your strongest assets. Think about any possible key achievements or extracurricular activities from your school. 

Have you volunteered in school? Won a state contest? Some volunteering resume experience goes a long way. Don't be shy—brag about it! Let's see the two resume examples for teens in action: 

Teen Resume Education Sample

Education—Fairlawn High School 

2015–2018

President of School Yearbook Committee

• Used high-level teamwork skills to drive team to deliver yearbook 10 days ahead of schedule, with 15% fewer errors than previous 10 years.
• With strong work ethic finished layout when editor left due to health.

Fundraising Officer, Student Council

• Used organization skills to coordinate actions of 15 fundraisers.
• With solid communication skills, raised $2,500 more than former officer.

Varsity Swim Team Captain

• Boost team morale before meets.
• Lead team stretches 5x per week.
• Participate in rigorous pool practices 5x per week.

Additional School Activities

• Maintain GPA of 3.8.
• Excel on debate team.
• Studied abroad in Venezuela, Fall semester, 2018.

Education—Fairlawn High School 

2015–2018

• President of the school yearbook committee
• Varsity swim team captain
• GPA 3.8

That first teen resume example crushes it. The amount of professional experience it shows in just the education section is staggering. That's exactly how a resume for teenagers should look like.

The second example is fine, but unless this candidate has some work experience under their belt, their teenager resume will likely flop.

Expert Hint: Don’t have much teen resume work experience? Make your resume education section as long as you need to. List groups, clubs, projects, and competitions as if they were jobs.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

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4. Perfect Work Experience on Your Resume for Teens

I know you're writing a teenager resume with no work experience. Recruiters know that as well. But the reality is, you might have work experience. Even if you never had a paid job, there are other types of work experience you may got, for example:

• Part-time jobs
• Volunteer work
• Freelance work
• Internships
• Extracurricular Activities

Don’t have even that experience for a resume for teens? Think twice. Maybe you walked dogs in the past? Helped neighbors with some work? Even that will work on a resume for teenagers. You can also try and get some in a day or two by volunteering.

But there’s a trick:

1. Read the job offer.

2. Underline the skills.

3. Prove you’ve got them.

These resume examples for teens show how:

Job ad wants these skills: (1) serving food (2) restocking supplies (3) bussing tables.

Teen Resume Work Experience Example

Waiter
Fairlawn Golf Club
2017–2018

• (1) Served food at high-volume banquets 2x per month.
• (2) Restocked supplies on all shifts.
• (3) Bussed tables quickly.
• Commended 3x by manager for efficiency.

Volunteer Food Server
Fayette County Homeless Shelter
2016–2018

• Served 100+ diners in fast-paced soup kitchen 1x per month.
• Recognized by manager for doing tasks no-one else wanted.
• Supplied first-response medical care to diner who suffered a heart attack.

Waiter
Fairlawn Golf Club
2017–2018

• Served food 2x per month.
• Cleaned bathrooms.
• Also volunteered as food server at homeless shelter.

The first sample perfectly shows you how to target your experience section on a teen resume. It gives the employer exactly what they want to see.

5. Craft a Teen Resume Skills List

Here are the top skills employers love. List the few you can back up with evidence and your teenager resume will score some points.

1. Collaboration

2. Problem-solving

3. Decision-making

4. Communication

5. Planning

6. Analyzing data

7. Computer skills

8. Persuasion

9. Time management

10. Adaptability

11. Customer service

12. Creativity

13. Organization

14. Leadership skills

15. Attention to detail

Add job-specific skills for a resume too, like coding or stocking salad bars.

Expert Hint: Employers believe you can do what you’ve already done. The better your resume for teen jobs fits the job ad, the higher your chance of getting hired.

6. Hulk up Your Teenager Resume With These Extra Sections

Don’t settle. Show the hiring manager she has to hire you.

Prove you’re a diamond in the rough. Use extra resume sections to add more value on your teen resume for the first job. Pump up your resume for teens with:

• Activities
• Associations, Clubs
• Awards and Honors (Eagle Scout, etc.)
• Hobbies & Interests
• Known Languages
• Certifications
• Publications
• A short list of interests

These teen resume tempaltes show you how:

Teen Resume Bonus Sections

Additional Activities

• Volunteer dog walker, Seagrass Animal Shelter.
• Youth mentor, St. Augustine Parish.
• Help parents with housework 100+ hrs/year.
• Avid cyclist, maintain own gear.

Certification

• CPR and First Aid - American Red Cross

Carol Street Gaming Club

• Founded 7-member gaming club.
• Design and facilitate 200+ hours of gameplay.

Additional Activities

• Volunteer dog walker.
• I like riding my bike.

With bonus sections on a resume similar to that first sample you don't have to fear getting rejected from jobs over and over, but the second one will spark zero interest in the reader.

Expert Hint: Should you learn how to write a cover letter for teenage resumes? If you want to double your chance of getting hired, yes! Talk up your best accomplishments that fit the job.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

Here's how to write the perfect teen resume:

• Start with the teen resume template up top. It puts skills and achievements in a form that wows employers.
• Pack every bullet point in your resume for teen jobs with accomplishments that match the job offer.
• List special extras that prove you’ll dig in and do the work. Employers live for well-rounded workers.
• Send a teen cover letter. Stuff it with evidence you’ll do this job really well.

Got questions on how to write a great resume for teens jobs? Not sure what achievements to put on teen resumes? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

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