our resume is your first impression — a personal advertisement to potential employers. Think of it this way: you might have all the talent, knowledge, and skills for a job, but if your resume doesn’t grab a potential employer’s attention and showcase what you offer, you won’t get a chance to prove it. An outstanding resume won’t magically land you a job, but it will get you in the door for an interview, which is the crucial first step.
A great resume doesn’t merely list past experiences. It’s a highlight reel of your best achievements and contributions, whether they’re from work, school, or even your community. It also gives employers a glimpse of your personality by showcasing your hobbies, interests, and background. It’ll help you stand out as a real person — not just a name on a list.
One last thing. Your resume must be perfect. No typos. No grammatical errors. Nothing. If you can’t nail the details on your resume, how can an employer trust you to handle the details of the job?
WRITING YOUR RESUME
Your resume’s appearance matters — first impressions count. These five tips will help yours look sharp.
1. RESUME LENGTH
Your resume should be a single page that fits onto an 8 1⁄2 x 11” sheet of paper. While your resume will grow later in your career, keep it concise for now. Employers want a quick snapshot of your education, experience, skills, and interests — not a novel. Make every word count.
2. SHARING AND SAVING
Since you’ll update your resume frequently, use a template that’s easy to edit. It’ll save you time and hassle down the road. Save your file on your computer (and to the cloud so you can access it anywhere) because you’ll never know when you may need to make a quick correction. Also, save it as a Word or Google doc and as a PDF. When it’s time apply, share the PDF with the potential employer. While most jobs will ask you to apply online, you may find that you need hard copies of your resume. If so, keep it classic and professional using neutral colors like white, ivory, off-white, cream, or light gray. Don’t use plain printer paper, which is too flimsy. Opt for a heavier stock like 24 lb or 32 lb paper for a more substantial, polished feel.
3. FONT STYLE
Picking the best font is more important than you think. Employers spend just seconds scanning each resume, and you want yours to stand out. Choosing the right font can actually influence their perception of you! Ditch the default Times New Roman 12pt font and select one of the top five applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly options recommended by today’s experts: Candara, Cambria, Aptos, Calibri or Montserrat.
Candara
For a touch of subtle style, consider this font. It balances visual interest with readability, making it a good choice for resumes that aren’t overly text-heavy.
Cambria
Need a font that projects reliability and professionalism? This classic serif font is designed for clear on-screen reading, even at smaller sizes, and it’s ATS-friendly. Its balanced design makes it suitable for a range of resumes, including those used to apply for internships (it handles scientific and mathematical symbols well) and entry-level jobs.
Aptos
As the current default MS Office font, it’s a clean, modern sans-serif option with a neutral feel, so it’s adaptable for any industry. This versatile font offers good customization options with different styles for headings and body text.
WRITING YOUR RESUME (cont.)
Calibri
This modern sans-serif font is another popular choice. Its clean, professional look makes it easy to read and conveys a sense of authority. Available in different weights (light, bold, etc.), it’s adaptable for each resume section and a solid option for any type of job.
Montserrat
Want a modern font that makes you feel approachable? Choose this sans-serif font, often used in advertising and design, to portray a fresh, contemporary look. It’s clear, bold style makes it easy to read and a good choice for resumes in creative fields and people-focused industries.
4. FONT SIZE
Use font sizes strategically to highlight key information on your resume. While design plays a role, here are some general guidelines to get you started.
Your name — Make it prominent with a bold larger font size (36pt is good)
Section headings (e.g., Experience, Education, Community Service) — Use bold text of 12pt to 14pt to help these sections stand out
Descriptions and bullet points — Keep them concise and easy to read at 10 or 10.5pt font
5. FORMATTING DOS & DON’TS
To streamline the process of sorting through the dozens (or more) resumes they get, many employers start by using an ATS to scan resumes. Correctly-formatted resumes are more likely to make it through the first scan. Here are some tips for ATS-friendly scanning.
DO:
Use heading styles for section titles
Use standard capitalization (not all caps or all lowercase)
Use standard line spacing (1.5 or 2)
Stick with one or two font colors (black and gray or black and navy, for example)
Use one-inch margins for readability
Don’t underline text, use icons or graphics to represent skills, use tables, or use more than two different fonts.
RESUME SECTIONS
Organize your resume into sections that highlight your qualifications. Every high school student’s resume should include a section on:
Education
Experience
Skills
Depending on your background, you can add other sections as appropriate that further showcase who you are:
Community Service
Interests
HOW TO START
Every resume starts with a strong introduction. Like when you meet someone new, you always begin with your name. Display it prominently at the top of your resume — centered, left- or right-aligned based on the document’s overall design. Another absolute essential? Your phone number and email address so a prospective employer can contact you for an interview or job offer! Addresses are no longer necessary.
CHECK OUT THESE SAMPLE HEADERS:
JENNIFER SMITH
Jennifersmith98@gmail.com (508) 867-5309
RESUME SUMMARY
JENNIFER SMITH
Jennifersmith98@gmail.com | 508-867-5309
While objective statements used to be common (back when your parents were young professionals), resume summaries are preferred today. If you have limited work experience, use this section to focus on transferable skills from school, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work. Another option? Using this section as an “elevator pitch” to briefly introduce yourself in a sentence or two and share your goal/objective (e.g., what you’re looking for). Check out these examples.
For a job in retail sales:
Enthusiastic, motivated high school student seeking a part-time retail sales position where I can use my strong customer service skills and contribute to a positive shopping experience. Highly organized and detail-oriented high school student seeking a part-time retail position to develop my communication and sales talents while providing excellent customer service.
RESUME SECTIONS (cont.)
For a job as a restaurant host, hostess, or server:
Friendly and outgoing high school student seeking a part-time [host, hostess, server] position in a fast-paced restaurant environment. Eager to learn and contribute to a positive dining experience for customers.
Reliable and personable high school student seeking a part-time restaurant position. Possess excellent communication skills and a strong work ethic; eager to provide exceptional customer service.
For a job at an amusement park, community pool, or activity center:
Energetic, enthusiastic high school student seeking a part-time position at [company] where I can interact with the public and contribute to a fun, engaging atmosphere.
Motivated and responsible high school student with excellent communication and people skills eager to provide exceptional customer service
EDUCATION
Since you’re still a student, list your educational experience after your professional summary to put your academic strengths front and center for potential employers. Follow these guidelines when you write this section.
1. List your schools in reverse chronological order. The most important is your high school. If you’ve attended more than one school in the past three years, put your current school first.
2. Include your anticipated graduation date and diploma type. Add the month and year you’ll graduate — June 2025 or June 2026, for example. If you attend a charter school that awards special diplomas, like an IB diploma or honors diploma, you can specify that information, too. Are you dual-enrolled at community college or taking AP/IB courses? You can list them here, too.
3. If you have academic achievements, add an “Honors and Awards” or similar section. Here, you can highlight your GPA, membership in your school’s National Honor Society (NHS) chapter, academic awards, or other recognitions (like consecutive times you’ve made the honor roll/distinguished honor roll). Since schools may use different grading systems, list your GPA like this: 4.5/5.0 or 3.8/4.0, for example, so employers understand the context.
4. Include an activities subsection.
Employers are interested in your extracurriculars — sports, clubs, and other activities say a lot about your personality and interests. Whether you’re on the debate or robotics team, play varsity soccer, or participate in your school’s music program, these activities give insight into your skills and character. Are you the captain of the baseball team? Student council VP? Highlight your leadership roles in student organizations!
RESUME SECTIONS (cont.)
HERE’S HOW THE COMPLETE SECTION MIGHT LOOK:
Education
Whispering Pines High School, Tunbridge, VT
Anticipated graduation: June 2026
Classes:
• AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP French
Grade Point Average: 4.8/5.0
• Dual enrollment at Community College of Vermont (Digital Filmmaking, Introduction to Visual Communication, World Mythology)
Honors:
• Distinguished honor roll for six consecutive quarters
• Member of National Honor Society since 2024
Activities:
• Concert band, marching band, jazz band, orchestra (3 years)
• Student council (2 years)
• Robotics club (3 years)
• Film club (3 years)
• Yearbook (2 years)
EXPERIENCE
Your experience section is the resume’s heart — and where you get to shine. Don’t simply list your past jobs; showcase your achievements and what you accomplished. Follow these tips.
1. List jobs chronologically in reverse order from current or most recent to earliest.
2. Include the company’s official name, location (city & state only), your job title, and dates (month/year) of employment. For household positions, say “Smith Family” instead of the company name. If you are still working there, the dates should be “1/24 - Present” for example.
3. Add two or three bullet points explaining your responsibilities. Write verbs in present tense if you still work there and past tense if you don’t.
Always start sentences with an action verb. Avoid starting with weak linking verbs like “had,” “got,” “did.” Try to use more action verbs that show what you do/did and convey confidence, like “handled,” “improved,” “managed,” “designed,” or “led,” for example.
RESUME SECTIONS (cont.)
Strong: Organize and coordinate birthday parties for up to 10 children. (Or if this job has ended, say “Organized and coordinated...”)
Weak: Responsible for organizing and coordinating birthday parties for up to 10 children.
4. Don’t use first-person personal pronouns like “I,” “me,” or “we.” Start sentences with that strong action verb. You don’t need to say, “I organized...” or “I created...”
Also, in general, you don’t need to include articles like “a,” “an,” or “the.” It’s a quirk specific to resumes.
5. When possible, include accomplishments. Never begin a sentence with “Duties included...” or “Responsibilities included...” Instead, choose more descriptive verbs that paint a picture. If you are/ were really good at your job, show how.
Alternatively, if your contributions added a quantitative value, such as the amount of sales in a day, you can include a bullet point that shows what you achieved and how you accomplished it.
For example:
Increased party bookings by 10% by hanging fliers at local schools to advertise the company.
Helped improve store traffic flow by working with the team to rearrange layout.
(See how neither of these bullet points uses any articles? No need to say, “Helped improve the store traffic flow by working with the team to arrange the layout.”)
6. Lacking work experience? No problem. Highlighting your soft skills can show employers how you approach a job, even without a long, detailed resume. Think about your transferable skills — abilities you’ve gained in jobs/volunteering/school, etc., that apply across different roles. To identify yours, ask yourself:
Were you successful in previous positions (even if just volunteering or a summer job)? If so, why? What made you good at it?
Did you pick things up quickly? If you answer yes, it can show you’re a fast learner — a valuable asset to any employer.
Were you great with customers? A “yes” can show off your customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Were you always on time and reliable? If yes, then highlight your dependability and work ethic.
A word of caution: Don’t just list skills without context. Employers need to know what you actually did. If your main duty was waiting tables, describe those tasks, for example. Use transferable skills strategically, sprinkling one or two relevant skills throughout each job description. Don’t overload it. Most importantly, never claim a skill you can’t prove with evidence. Be prepared to give examples.
RESUME SECTIONS (cont.)
7. You can use a paragraph or bullet point format to describe your work experience — whatever makes sense for you. If you have a complicated job or one that’s hard to explain clearly, a paragraph might be the better choice. On the other hand, if you juggle many tasks, a bulleted list can help you organize and highlight each duty.
A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH TO WRITING YOUR JOB EXPERIENCE
Check out the following example. You can see how we’ve added specifics in each step to incorporate soft skills, highlight accomplishments, and refine the information so potential employers have a more detailed idea of what this person did.
STEP 1: Write the organization’s name, location, job title, and employment dates.
ELDERIC’S TREE FARM, Tunbridge, VT, 5/2023 - 2024
Laborer and Customer Service Representative
STEP 2: Explain what you did, in simple terms, at this job.
ELDERIC’S TREE FARM, Tunbridge, VT, 2023 - 2024
Laborer and Customer Service Representative
• Mowed the property
• Helped plant trees
• Helped trim and shape trees
• Answered customer phone calls
• Accepted payment, cut trees, carried and tied trees to customer cars
STEP 3: Elaborate on your job & employer, distilling your responsibilities into 2-3 bullet points.
ELDERIC’S TREE FARM, Tunbridge, VT, 2023 - 2024
Laborer and Customer Service Representative
• Helped family-owned business plant, prune, and grow trees.
• Mowed and trimmed regularly.
• Greeted and assisted customers, cut down trees, and tied them to cars.
RESUME SECTIONS (cont.)
STEP 4: Add quantitative details and professional terms to elaborate further.
ELDERIC’S TREE FARM, Tunbridge, VT, 2023 - 2024
Laborer and Customer Service Representative
• Helped family-owned business plant over 300 Balsam, Fraser, and Douglas fir and blue spruce trees annually.
• Ensured trees had adequate exposure to sunlight by mowing, pruning, and trimming regularly.
• Greeted and assisted customers, cut down approximately 200 trees per season, and safely secured them to car rooftops.
STEP 5 (OPTIONAL): Add a phrase or two of your transferable skills to capture your success in this job.
ELDERIC’S TREE FARM, Tunbridge, VT, 2023 - 2024
Laborer and Customer Service Representative
• Helped family-owned business plant over 300 Balsam, Fraser, and Douglas fir and blue spruce trees annually.
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail, ensuring trees had adequate exposure to sunlight by mowing, pruning and trimming regularly.
• Delivered exceptional customer service by greeting and assisting customers, cutting down approximately 200 trees per season, and safely securing them to car rooftops.
SKILLS
Include a skills section to showcase the specific abilities you’ve gained through classes, work, extracurriculars, and other experiences. This space is a quick way for someone to see if you’re right for the job.
Where you put this section is a judgment call based on the strength of your skills. If you’ve got a super strong skill set, put it between your Education and Experience sections. If you’re still building those skills, list them after the Experience section.
Every high school student should have some computer skills. Even if you’re unsure about other skills, include a “Computer Skills” section. Be honest about your abilities; don’t exaggerate, but don’t downplay them, either. Be truthful, but give yourself credit where credit is due. Try this:
Proficient: You have significant experience and can use software effectively, including advanced features. For example, if you’re an Excel wiz and have used its features like pivot tables and VLOOKUP, you’re proficient.
Familiar: You have a working knowledge of the software and can use its basic functions. For example, if you know Excel formulas, how to adjust columns and rows, and create charts, you’re familiar with it.
RESUME SECTIONS (cont.)
Basic: You’ve used the software briefly in the past, but your skills are limited. For example, you’ve created a spreadsheet or two in Excel, but that’s it. So listing it as “Exposure” or “Basic” is a safe bet.
Besides computer skills, think about other valuable skills you can include on your resume. Here are some other ideas:
Language skills: Being bilingual or multilingual is a huge asset. Clearly state your proficiency level — “Fluent in [language],” “Conversational in [language],” or “Proficient in reading and writing [language].”
Licenses and certifications: List any relevant licenses or certifications you have, such as a driver’s license, CPR/First Aid certification, or babysitting certification. These show you’ve taken initiative and have specific qualifications. HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW A SKILLS SECTION MIGHT LOOK:
Skills
• Computer skills: Proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, familiar with Windows 11 and Excel, exposure to HTML and Python
• Languages: Conversational in Spanish
• Certifications: CPR/First Aid certified
VOLUNTEER & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
If you volunteer within your community, don’t forget to include that service. Even if it wasn’t a formal job, it looks great on a resume. List the organization(s), your role (even if it was unofficial), and the dates you volunteered. Use action verbs to describe what you did, just like a job. For example, instead of “Helped at an animal shelter,” try “Fed animals, cleaned enclosures, and worked with feral kittens to accustom them to people.” Quantify your contributions when you can (e.g., “Volunteered 10+ hours per month.”) to show your initiative and responsibility. Also add your leadership roles.
RESUME SECTIONS (cont.)
INTERESTS & HOBBIES
Should you include interests on your resume? Well, it’s a bit of a debate. Some experts say you should only include directly relevant information like work experience, education, and skills. Others believe your hobbies and activities help paint a more complete picture of your personality and transferable skills, like time management, communication, initiative, and leadership.
Listing your interests can show you’re well-rounded and add a personal touch to your resume, making you more than a name on a page — which could increase your chances of landing an interview.
The key? Specificity! Instead of “reading,” try “contemporary short fiction.” Instead of “sports,” try “rock climbing” or “soccer.” Specific interests are more engaging and reveal more about you. Ideally, connect your interests to the type of job you’re applying for. If it’s a writing job, mention your love of reading specific genres and writing you do in your free time.
CHECK OUT THIS EXAMPLE:
Interests & Hobbies: Rock climbing, weight lifting, environmental conservation, and video editing
REFERENCES
There’s no need to include references on your resume. You can simply state, “References available upon request,” or provide references when a potential employer (or the company’s application form) asks for them. References should not be family members unless you worked in their business. They can be teachers, coaches, or clergy - adults who know you well.
Do reach out to potential references to ask for their permission to use them as such. Create a list with a heading that matches your resume. Information to provide includes:
Reference’s full name and title
Contact information — phone number and email address
The company they work for
Optional: Sometimes, you’ll be asked to include your relationship to this person and/or how long they’ve known you
FINAL THOUGHTS
Remember: Your resume is your personal statement. It reflects who you are, so make sure you’re proud of what it says. While you want to present your experiences and accomplishments in the best possible light, honesty is non-negotiable. Your GPA, dates, skills, and achievements should be accurate. Resist the temptation to fabricate or exaggerate.
Before sending it out, ask several people you trust to proofread it. Typos and grammatical errors will make a terrible first impression. Employers often toss resumes with errors, assuming a sloppy resume reflects sloppy work habits and thinking, “If this is their best, what can I expect?”
Creating a great resume takes time and effort, but it’s a worthwhile investment.
RESUME CHECKLIST
One page
The format is neat, attractive, easily readable, and consistent
Reviewed for grammar, mechanics, spelling & typos
No personal pronouns (I/me)
Includes up-to-date contact information
Includes an intro (summary/ objective statement)
Includes educational experience, accomplishments, classes (when relevant), clubs, extracurricular activities
Includes work experience section with company name, dates worked, job title, and description
Job descriptions don’t begin with phrases like “Responsibilities included...” or “Duties consisted of...” or anything similar
Verbs are powerful action verbs (e.g., handled, earned, mastered, led, managed) and not weak verbs (e.g., did, got, had, was)
Includes skills section with relevant skills
SAMPLE RESUMES
Jessica Smith
(617) 123-4567 | jessica@student com
EDUCATION
Somerville High School, Somerville, MA
High School Diploma (June 2025)
Relevant Coursework: Algebra, Biology, Chemistry, English, Literature, and Painting
Activities: Intramural Basketball, Glee Club, and Yearbook Committee
WORK EXPERIENCE
Old Navy
Sales Associate, June 2021-Present Everett, MA
● Communicate effectively when assisting customers in finding clothing for adults and children
● Serve as fitting room attendant, showing clients to rooms, finding appropriate sizes and styles for customers, and monitoring item count to reduce theft
● Use strong organizational skills when folding clothing, hanging items, and maintaining all visual displays according to company codes
Camp Sunshine
Camp Counselor, June-August 2019
Cambridge, MA
● Displayed outstanding degree of responsibility when supervising a group of 20 elementary school students during sports, arts, and educational activities
● Assisted Lead Counselor with curriculum development and monitoring safety
VOLUNTEER & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Somerville Elementary School
Tutor (2020-21 school year & 2021-22 school year)
Somerville, MA
● Worked one-on-one with first-grade students to improve their reading ability and retention
● Received extensive annual literacy training
Somerville High School
Freshman Class President (2018-2019)
Somerville, MA
● Displayed strong interpersonal skills when representing 345 freshmen during student government meetings and activities.
● Listened to classmates’ needs and issues; advocated for requests in a school-wide forum
SKILLS
Computer: Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Adobe Acrobat; and Internet research
Languages: Proficient in both oral and written Spanish
INTERESTS
Volleyball, ballet, teaching, current events, and working with children
SAMPLE RESUMES
John Adeyemi
johnadeyemi@student.com
617-555-1212
EDUCATION
Boston Latin Academy, Boston, MA, College Preparatory Curriculum (June 2026)
Honors: National Honor Society, Most Valuable Player Varsity Baseball 2024, Most Improved Soccer Player 2023
Activities: Yearbook (Editor), Varsity Baseball, Varsity Soccer, Debate Club, Amnesty International Club
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Sharper Eye Photography Club, Boston, MA June 2023 - Present Junior Member
Take and prepare photographs to present at club shows and in print publications. Attend lectures and workshops from guest artists.
Boys & Girls Club, Boston, MA May 2021-Present Keystone Leader
Mentor youth (ages 8-12), demonstrating healthy, safe decision-making. Develop projects and encourage participation to help youth develop self-confidence and awareness. Participate in extensive leadership training opportunities.
Nigerian Youth Organization, Dorchester, MA September 2019-Present Volunteer
Organize annual cookouts for member celebration and recruitment; plan and collaborate with other team members to plan and organize annual fundraiser. Facilitate meetings and workshops to educate the public about Nigerian culture.
SKILLS
Computer: Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat, and HTML
Languages: Intermediate Level French
Certifications: American Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and Scuba Diving
INTERESTS
Pottery, reading nonfiction, camping, poetry, and cooking
