Teen Resume Examples & Teenager Resume Template

Beginning a professional journey as a teenager is like stepping onto an uncharted path. You’ve got dreams and passions, but you lack the work experience that could accelerate your career growth.

Fear not. We’re here to guide you through the resume-writing entanglements so you can transform your first teen resume into a captivating story about potential and talent—even if it’s a teenager resume with no work experience

This guide will show you:

• How to write a resume for teens that lands interviews.
• Teen resume examples with no work experience.
• Tips for an impressive teen resume written by experts.
• Best resume templates for teens to help you get started.

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Need help with your teenager resume with no experience? Check these guides that can help you enter the job market: 

• College Application Resume
• College Student Resume
• Entry-Level Resume
• High School Graduate Resume
• High School Student Resume
• Internship Resume
• No Experience Resume
• Recent College Graduate Resume
• Student Resume

Teen Resume Example

Now, let's write a resume for teens that will get you the first job:

1. Organize All the Information with the Right Formatting

Preparing an impressive resume for teens takes much more than mentioning your school exploits and cool hobbies. Above all, it requires organizing the data in the right order, so your resume reads well and puts you in the best position to get the job. You’re not just a teenager; you’re a career-starting rock star.

Here are the key formatting tips before beginning with your teenager's resume:

• Set the right resume format. The reverse-chronological layout would be best if you have relevant experience, like internships or projects. Without such, start your resume with an education section.
• Pick one of the recommended resume fonts. The ideal font size for body text will be between 11–12pts, while your resume headings can be 2–4pts bigger. When writing a resume for the first time, navigating the worn trail is always best.
• Apply 1-inch margins for the entire document to maintain a polished appearance.
• Mind the right resume length by prioritizing the most relevant information for the job you are applying for.
• Organize your resume sections. Place a header followed by the resume objective, experience, education, skills, and additional information. With no single experience, list education first.
• Think about a suitable resume style. If you opt for a modern resume template, ensure it aligns with the industry you will work within.
• Consider the correct file type for your resume output. While recruiters generally prefer PDFs, ensure the job posting doesn’t state something else.

By applying these formatting practices, your teen resume will not only reflect your most prominent attributes but also showcase your professionalism and attention to detail.

Expert Hint: Besides the above formatting tips, consider adding a touch of personality to your resume. Whether it's a subtle use of color or a well-balanced font pairing, a dash of individuality can make your resume more appealing.

2. Write a Teen Resume Objective that Drops Jaws

How to lure employers into studying your resume for teens? With a strong resume objective. Get this right, and you conquered half the battle. If tempted to write a teen resume summary, just don’t—unless you already have some significant working experience under your belt.

Use:

1. One adjective (hard-working, energetic, enthusiastic).
2. Job title (internee, high school student, etc.).
3. How you’ll help (e.g., to support the company's commitment to eco-friendly technology).
4. Best 2–3 accomplishments (designed and executed a recycling awareness campaign, resulting in a 20% boost in recycling participation).

These resume objective templates for teens distinguish right from wrong:

Teen Resume: Examples of Objective Statements

Objective

Energetic high school student passionate about environmental sustainability, seeking a position at GreenTech Solutions. Looking to apply my strong research skills and innovative thinking to support the company's commitment to eco-friendly technology. Successfully designed and executed a recycling awareness campaign in the local community, resulting in a 20% boost in recycling participation.

Objective

High school student who can talk about environmental sustainability for hours. Besides strong research skills, I’m an innovative thinker who can support GreenTech Solutions with some outstanding ideas for growth. I am highly motivated and ready to sign an agreement immediately.

Can you spot the difference? It lies somewhere between clarity and precision. While the good example is specific and focused, the bad one is vague and uses a less professional tone. Just imagine you’re a recruiter and take your pick. Which one you choose?

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. Emphasize Your First Work Experience on Your Teen Resume Template

Don’t panic. We know you're writing a teenager's resume with no work experience. Recruiters know that as well. But the reality is, you’ve got work experience even if you have never had a paid job.

Here are some examples of work experience you can add to your teenager's resume for the first job:

• Part-time jobs: Mention any former part-time gigs. Teenagers tend to gain their first work experiences through retail or food service jobs. They help them develop sought-after skills like customer service, teamwork, and time management.

• Volunteer work: Demonstrate your commitment to community service or other social engagement. These might be charity events, social initiatives, supporting local foundations and organizations, and more.

• Freelance work: Did you take the initiative to develop your skills and talents? You may have completed an independent project or helped a small business, proving self-initiative and independence.

• Internships: Internship opportunities equip you with essential skills and knowledge for your future job. They expose you to a specific industry or field, allowing you to gain crucial insights and learn from experienced professionals.

• Extracurricular Activities: Extra activities like school clubs and sports teams contribute to sharpening your skills. They particularly emphasize your ability to make connections and collaborate with peers.

Don’t have even that experience for a resume for a teenager? Read the job offer twice. Then, identify the skills they want you to have. Finally, consider how you can prove you have those without a professional background.

Below, you’ll see teen resume examples with internship experience. It doesn’t mean it’s all in vain if you lack such. Just reflect on the moments in the past when you succeeded as a talented teenager and condense these highlights into the bullet points on your resume.

Teenage Resume: Examples of Relevant Experience

Experience

Intern

Eco Impact, Wilmington, CA

October 2023–February 2024

• Conducted in-depth research on sustainable practices and technologies and introduced a new waste reduction initiative.
• Played a pivotal role in developing educational materials on eco-friendly living, increasing community awareness by 25%.
• Collaborated with a dynamic team to organize and execute successful community events, strengthening a sense of environmental responsibility among participants.
• Cocreated social media campaigns that resulted in a 30% uptick in followers and grew environmental awareness in the online community.

Key Achievement:

• Designed and implemented a recycling awareness campaign, leading to a 20% growth in recycling participation in the local community.

Experience

Intern

October 2023 to February 2024

• Stayed informed on sustainable practices and technologies
• Introduced a new waste reduction initiative.
• Helped to prepare educational materials on eco-friendly living.
• Co-organized community events, educating on environmental responsibility.
• Cocreated social media campaigns that helped to grow the number of followers.

See the difference in the level of detail? A good example instructs how to write detailed descriptions and underscores the candidate’s impact using power words. The bad one lacks key achievements. Its laconic descriptions won’t prove the candidate’s involvement or initiative.

4. Craft Your Teen Resume Education Section Like It Was Yesterday

Alright, it's time for your secret weapon. As a teenager, your academic journey can give you extra points in the recruitment competition. Already threw a graduation cap? Write about it in your resume’s education section.

Check these teen resume examples:

Teenage Resume Examples—Education Section

Education

High School Diploma

Wilmington High School, Wilmington, CA

September 2019–June 2023

• Member of the Environmental Club
• Participated in community clean-up initiatives
• High Honor Roll for 2 consecutive years

Education

Wilmington High School 

2019–2023

• Swim team member

Swimming is excellent, but a recruiter won't connect the dots if you don’t delve into specifics. Recall concrete accomplishments, or think about skills the swimming enabled you to develop. What about dedication or determination?

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

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5. Showcase Your Teen Talent by Building a Strong Skills Section

Once done with the previous parts, you’ve already gotten some tedious work out of your head. But your teenager's resume isn’t just a list of grades and first job attempts. It’s also where your personality gets noticed.

The skills section is ideal for showcasing your most valuable traits that correspond with the job description. Here’s how to approach your teenager's resume skills list using expert teen resume examples:

Teenager Resume Examples—Skills

Skills

• Research and analysis
• Event planning
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Team collaboration
• Time management
• Adaptability and quick learning

Skills

• Good at analysis
• Likes event planning
• Communicates with others
• Sometimes likes to collaborate
• Learns pretty fast

The most noticeable difference between the two? The language. You won’t convince recruiters by using generic, everyday phrases. Instead, implement a solid narrative to highlight your level of proficiency as well as impeccable communication style.

As a teenager, you may feel like your skill set is limited, but focusing on transferable skills can open up new possibilities. Teenagers have the opportunity to cultivate a diverse array of valuable transferable skills across academics, work, and personal development.

These include excellent communication, problem-solving abilities, effective time management, adaptability, leadership qualities, and the capacity for collaboration. 

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. Add Some Extra Flair to Your Teenager's Resume With These Extra Sections

How to further expand on that personal story on a single sheet? Use extra resume sections to add value and turn a regular resume document into a powerful one.

Don’t have ideas for extra engagements you could include? Check this list one by one:

• Honors and Awards: Showcase your victories with pride, whether winning competitions or earning accolades.

• Activities: Mention some extra activities that fill your spare time but still relate to your desired role. 

• Associations: Tell about your memberships and other commitments contributing to your professional and personal development.

• Certifications: Stack up any certificates that will extra-proof your knowledge. Certificates show you’re already in an excellent position to kick off your career.

• Interests and Hobbies: Let your personal passions shine, especially if they align with the job. Developing eco-friendly DIY projects or reading about sustainable practices? Describe those for which you have a severe zeal.

These teenager resume templates show you how:

Teen Resume Examples—Additional Sections

Certifications

• Environmental Science Fundamentals, Coursera, 2023

Languages

• English—Native
• French—Intermediate

Interests

• Developing eco-friendly DIY projects
• Taking part in environmental hackathons
• Exploring sustainable practices for daily living

Additional Activities

• DIY projects done daily
• Pays attention to waste sorting

While the bad example won’t immediately remove you from the recruitment process, it will fail compared to the previous one. Don’t put yourself at risk of losing that job opportunity. Keep your resume entries focused and informative, so no one doubts your potential.

Expert Hint: Should you learn how to write a cover letter for teenage resumes? If you want to double your chance of getting hired, say 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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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

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

Looking for more tips on resume writing? Check proven tips to elevate your resume for teens.

Key Points

Here's how to write the perfect teen resume:

• Start with the teen resume template up top. It puts your first job milestones in a form that wows employers.
• Keep your teenager's resume formatting in check. Mind the right order of sections (depending on your background), pick a classy font, and strive for high readability.
• Whether it’s the work experience or education section, pack every bullet point in your resume for teen jobs with top 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 teenager resume with no experience? Not sure which achievements should you put on a resume for teens? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

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