How to Make a High School Resume, even without Experience
Writing your first resume can feel strange, especially as a high schooler!
You look at a template and see sections for “professional experience,” “qualifications,” and “achievements.”
Well, I’m in high school. What am I supposed to put here?
The good news is that you probably have more experience than you realize.
A high school resume can show your education, activities, projects, volunteering, leadership, skills, awards, and responsibilities.
You might use a high school resume when applying for:
A first job
An internship
A volunteer position
A summer program
A scholarship
A leadership role
A research opportunity
An academic program
This guide explains what to include, how to describe your experiences, and how to create a clear one-page resume.
What Should a High School Resume Look Like?
A strong high school resume should usually be:
One page
Easy to scan
Written in a readable font
Organized with clear headings
Focused on relevant experiences
Saved as a PDF before being submitted
What Should You Put on a High School Resume?
Most high school resumes can include:
Contact Information
Education
Experience
Activities and Leadership
Projects
Skills
Awards and Honors
You do not need every section. Choose the sections that best explain your background.
You can also change the order depending on the opportunity. For example, if you have never held a job but have completed several strong projects, place Projects above Experience.
1. Contact Information
Place your contact information at the top of the page.
Include:
Your full name
City and state
Professional email address
Phone number
LinkedIn profile or portfolio, if it is complete
You usually do not need to include:
Your full street address
Your age
Your date of birth
A photograph
Personal social-media accounts
Example
Maya Chen
Reading, Pennsylvania
maya.chen@email.com | 555-555-5555
linkedin.com/in/mayachen
Use an email address based on your name whenever possible.
2. Education
Since you are a student, education should usually appear near the top.
Include:
Your high school
City and state
Expected graduation date
GPA, if you choose to include it
Relevant coursework, when helpful
Example
Central High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Expected Graduation: June 2027
GPA: 3.9/4.0 unweighted
Relevant Coursework: AP Biology, AP Computer Science A, Honors Chemistry, Statistics
You do not need to list every class you have taken. Choose courses related to the opportunity.
3. Experience
“Experience” does not only mean a formal job.
You can include:
Part-time jobs
Babysitting
Pet sitting
Lawn care
Tutoring
Family-business responsibilities
Camp counseling
Volunteering
Internships
Freelance work
Community service
For each experience, include your role, organization, dates, and two or three bullets describing what you did.
Weak description
Volunteer, Food Drive
Helped at food drive
Worked with other people
Stronger description
Volunteer, Community Food Drive
Sorted and packaged donated food for distribution to more than 100 local families.
Coordinated with a team of eight volunteers to organize supplies and prepare pickup stations.
Greeted community members and answered questions during distribution.
The stronger version explains the student’s actions, responsibilities, and contribution.
What if You Have Never Had a Job?
That is completely normal.
Do not leave the resume blank, and do not invent experience.
Instead, include:
Clubs
Sports
Music groups
School projects
Volunteer work
Tutoring
Family responsibilities
Personal projects
Competitions
Summer programs
Independent learning
A student who has never had a paid job may still have experience with teamwork, communication, leadership, creativity, and problem-solving.
4. Activities and Leadership
Activities can demonstrate skills that are useful in many settings.
You might include:
Student government
Athletics
Orchestra, band, choir, or theater
Robotics
Science Olympiad
Debate
Cultural organizations
School newspaper
Service clubs
Academic teams
Community groups
You do not need an official leadership title for an activity to count.
Example
Varsity Tennis Team, Central High School
September 2024–Present
Attend four practices and up to two competitions each week during the season.
Support newer players by explaining drills and helping them prepare for matches.
Balance athletic responsibilities with a full academic course load.
Leadership example
Secretary, Environmental Club
September 2025–Present
Record meeting notes and communicate upcoming events to more than 30 members.
Helped organize a campus cleanup involving 45 student volunteers.
Created digital sign-up forms and tracked attendance for club activities.
5. Projects
Projects are especially helpful for students with limited job experience.
You can include:
A coding project
A science-fair investigation
An engineering build
A website
An art portfolio
A research paper
A data-analysis project
A school presentation
A community initiative
A video or podcast series
For each project, explain:
What you were trying to accomplish
What you personally did
What tools or skills you used
What you created, discovered, or learned
Example
Personal Budgeting App
Independent Project | March 2026
Built a basic budgeting program in Python that categorizes expenses and calculates monthly spending.
Tested the program using sample financial data and corrected errors in user input.
Designed instructions to make the program understandable to first-time users.
Example
Local Water-Quality Investigation
AP Environmental Science | October–December 2025
Collected water samples from four local sites and measured pH, nitrate levels, and turbidity.
Organized results in Google Sheets and created graphs comparing the locations.
Presented conclusions and limitations in a ten-minute class presentation.
6. Skills
Your skills section should contain abilities you can genuinely explain or demonstrate.
Technology
Google Workspace
Microsoft Office
Canva
Adobe Photoshop
Video editing
Social-media management
Coding and Data
Python
Java
HTML/CSS
Excel
Google Sheets
Data visualization
Communication
Public speaking
Tutoring
Writing
Translation
Customer service
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Lifeguarding
Food safety
Technical certifications
Example
Skills: Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, Canva, basic Python, video editing
Languages: English; conversational Mandarin Chinese
Certification: American Red Cross CPR/AED
Avoid vague claims such as “hardworking,” “smart,” or “good leader.” Use your experience bullets to demonstrate those qualities.
7. Awards and Honors
Include awards that provide meaningful information.
Examples include:
Honor roll
Departmental awards
Music or athletic recognition
Competition awards
Academic distinctions
Community-service recognition
Scholarships
Example
Honors
National Honor Society, 2025–Present
First Place, Regional Science Fair, 2025
School Mathematics Department Award, 2024
Focus on recent and meaningful recognition!
How to Write Better Resume Bullets
A helpful formula is:
Action verb + what you did + how you did it + result or purpose
Instead of:
Helped younger students with math.
Try:
Tutored three middle-school students in algebra and geometry through weekly one-on-one sessions.
Instead of:
Was part of student council.
Try:
Helped plan four school events by coordinating volunteers, creating announcements, and organizing supplies.
Useful action verbs include:
Analyzed
Built
Coordinated
Created
Designed
Developed
Edited
Led
Managed
Organized
Presented
Programmed
Researched
Supported
Taught
Tested
Trained
Tutored
Volunteered
Wrote
Sample High School Resume
The student below is fictional, but the format can be adapted for jobs, internships, volunteer roles, and student programs.
MAYA CHEN
Reading, Pennsylvania
555-555-5555 | maya.chen@email.com
linkedin.com/in/mayachen
EDUCATION
Central High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Expected Graduation: June 2027
GPA: 3.9/4.0 unweighted
Relevant Coursework: AP Biology, AP Computer Science A, Honors Chemistry, Statistics
EXPERIENCE
Peer Tutor, Central High School
September 2025–Present
Tutor two middle-school students in algebra and biology through weekly individual sessions.
Create review sheets and practice questions based on each student’s needs.
Communicate progress and upcoming goals with students and families.
Volunteer, Reading Community Library
June 2025–Present
Organize returned books and prepare materials for weekly children’s programs.
Assist visitors with locating resources and using library computers.
Helped coordinate a summer reading event attended by more than 60 children and family members.
PROJECTS
Personal Budgeting App
Independent Project | March 2026
Built a basic Python program that categorizes expenses and calculates monthly spending.
Tested sample inputs, identified errors, and revised the program for easier use.
Wrote a short user guide explaining the program’s main features.
Water-Quality Investigation
AP Environmental Science | November 2025
Collected and compared pH and nitrate measurements from four local water sources.
Organized results in Google Sheets and created graphs showing differences among sites.
Presented findings and project limitations to a class of 22 students.
ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP
Secretary, Environmental Club
September 2025–Present
Record meeting notes and send announcements to more than 30 members.
Help organize campus cleanups, recycling drives, and guest-speaker events.
Created online registration forms and tracked volunteer participation.
Junior Varsity Tennis Team
August 2024–Present
Participate in regular practices, matches, and team conditioning.
Welcome new athletes and help explain drills and team procedures.
Balance athletic commitments with advanced academic coursework.
SKILLS
Technology: Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, Canva, basic Python
Communication: Tutoring, public speaking, event support
Languages: English; conversational Mandarin Chinese
HONORS
National Honor Society, 2025–Present
Central High School Science Department Award, 2025
Honor Roll, 2023–Present
Blank High School Resume Template
Copy the structure below into Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
YOUR FULL NAME
City, State
Phone | Professional Email
LinkedIn or Portfolio, optional
EDUCATION
High School Name, City, State
Expected Graduation: Month Year
GPA: Optional
Relevant Coursework: Course, Course, Course
EXPERIENCE
Role, Organization
Month Year–Present
Begin with an action verb and describe what you did.
Include a result, number, responsibility, or skill when possible.
Focus on your own contribution.
Role, Organization
Month Year–Month Year
Describe your responsibilities clearly.
Include volunteer, family, freelance, or informal work when relevant.
PROJECTS
Project Name
Month Year
Explain what you created, investigated, or solved.
Name the tools or methods you used.
Describe the result or what you learned.
ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP
Role or Member, Organization
Month Year–Present
Describe your participation and responsibilities.
Mention events, initiatives, or contributions.
SKILLS
Technology:
Programming or Data:
Languages:
Certifications:
HONORS
Award, year
Award, year
High School Resume Formatting Tips
Use:
A readable font such as Arial, Calibri, Aptos, Georgia, or Times New Roman
Approximately 10.5- to 12-point body text
Slightly larger section headings
Consistent spacing
Standard margins
A single-column layout
Avoid:
Skill-rating bars
Photographs
Decorative icons
Large blocks of color
Several columns
Long paragraphs
Tiny text
Excessive graphics
Resumés should look readable and professional.
How Long Should a High School Resume Be?
For most high school students, one page is enough.
You do not need to fill every inch of the page. A clear resume with meaningful information is better than one filled with weak or repetitive details.
If your resume is too long, it may be because of:
Overly long descriptions
Irrelevant experiences/coursework
Should You Change Your Resume for Different Opportunities?
Maybe.
You can use the same basic document, but perhaps change the order and emphasis.
For a Part-Time Job
Emphasize:
Reliability
Customer service
Communication
Teamwork
Responsibility
For an Internship or Academic Program
Emphasize:
Coursework
Projects
Technical skills
Academic interests
Problem-solving
Initiative
For a Volunteer Position
Emphasize:
Service
Dependability
Leadership
Communication
Community involvement
Tailoring does not mean changing the truth. It means emphasizing the most relevant information.
How Should You Save the File?
Export the finished resume as a PDF.
Open the PDF afterward and check that:
Nothing moved onto a second page
Bullets are aligned
Dates are correct
Links work
There are no spelling errors
Use a professional file name:
FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf
Example:
Maya_Chen_Resume.pdf
Common High School Resume Mistakes
Listing Activities Without Explaining Them
“Member of robotics club” does not show what you contributed.
Add a bullet explaining what you built, organized, learned, or supported.
Exaggerating Skills
Do not claim advanced coding, design, laboratory, or language ability unless you can demonstrate it.
Including Every Accomplishment
Your resume is not a complete record of your life. Choose information that supports the opportunity.
Using Vague Descriptions
Replace “helped with events” with the event, your responsibility, and the outcome.
Forgetting Informal Experience
Babysitting, tutoring, family responsibilities, personal projects, and community involvement can all demonstrate useful skills.
Making It Too Decorative
A resume should be easy to read quickly. Complicated designs can distract from your information.
Skipping Proofreading
Ask a teacher, counselor, parent, mentor, or trusted friend to review your resume before you submit it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I put on a resume if I have no work experience?
Use education, activities, volunteering, projects, tutoring, family responsibilities, skills, awards, and independent learning.
Should a high school student include a GPA?
It is optional unless the application requests it. Include it when it helps demonstrate your academic preparation.
Can I include middle-school activities?
Usually, focus on high-school experiences. Include an earlier experience only if it is unusually important or relevant.
Should I include references?
Do not list references directly on the resume unless they are requested.
Should I include my photograph?
A photograph is generally unnecessary for a standard resume in the United States.
Can I use the same resume for every application?
Use the same basic document, but adjust its order and emphasis for different opportunities.
What if my resume does not fill the entire page?
That is okay. Do not add filler just to make the page look full.
Final Resume Checklist
Before sending your resume, check:
Is it one page?
Is my contact information correct?
Does my email address look professional?
Is my graduation date accurate?
Did I include activities, projects, or volunteering if I lack job experience?
Do my bullets explain what I personally did?
Did I use strong action verbs?
Are my dates and formatting consistent?
Are all my listed skills honest?
Did I tailor it to the opportunity?
Did someone proofread it?
Did I save and reopen the PDF?
Is the file name professional?
Your first resume does not need to make you look like an experienced adult.
It should show that you are a capable student who has learned, contributed, taken responsibility, and begun building useful skills.
Start with what you have. Describe it clearly. Improve the document as you gain new experiences.
Continue Exploring
Looking for opportunities to use your new resume?
Read How to Get a Research Internship as a High School Student, or explore STEM Stories interviews to hear how students, researchers, engineers, and professionals began building their own paths.
