writing a resume for a 16 year old

Resume For a 16-Year-Old

Sample resume template for a 16-year-old

Resume formatting tips for a high-schooler, what to write instead of experience, key takeaways.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely a teenager looking for a job! It can be difficult to build a resume and find a job when you have little to no experience and are just entering the workforce. But don’t worry, this is a guide to help you find your way!

In this article, you’ll learn:

• how to build a professional resume;
• what to put on it when you have little experience ;
• and some examples to help you imagine what your resume could look like.

Below is a sample resume template to help guide you in building your own. Your resume should look something like this when you complete it:

Amanda Smith

Phone: 808-707-0404 Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amanda_smith05

I am a responsible and reliable sophomore striving for real-life work experience and a place to grow my familiarity and confidence in the workforce. I thrive in a team environment but also exemplify self-sufficiency on designated tasks. I hope to help a business be more successful through my determination and enthusiasm.

• Sophomore at Adams High School with As and Bs
• Taking Spanish, English, Calculus, World History, and Biology
• Reliable punctuality
• Excellent communication
• Time management
• Attention to detail

Hobbies and Interests

• Reading books of all kinds and expanding my horizons
• Hiking in nature to get back to my roots and experience the outdoors
• Watching documentaries to learn more about the world

Other Activities

• Weekly volunteering at animal shelters
• Part of a reading group for kindergarteners after school

Keep these tips in mind when making your resume. Following these guidelines ensures a professional and legible resume.

• Choose the best format Chronological formats are the easiest to write and easiest to understand.
• Adjust page margins to the appropriate length Make sure the margins aren’t too big or too small to avoid an awkward appearance.
• Choose a professional font Don’t go with Comic Sans or something funky, stick to Times New Roman or something simple.
• Keep it one page Keep it short and sweet so employers can easily digest it.
• Save as PDF Save as a PDF so your formatting stays the same across platforms.

Below are some suggestions for filling in your experience on your resume. Many teenagers don’t have loads of job experience, but you can supplement with the following subjects:

• Education Include bullets with classes, extracurricular activities, student memberships, studies, and anything relevant to your education.
• Hobbies and interests Anything that will showcase your relevant skills should go in this section.
• Actual skills Try to match the skills to the job description and draw from previous experience.
• Volunteering Mention any volunteering you have done to exemplify your enthusiasm and spirit.
• Extra sections Mention language skills, personal projects you’ve done, or other relevant activities.

Here are the key takeaways for 16-year-olds building a resume:

• Include anything that shows your positive character
• Highlight your relevant skills
• Express your enthusiasm for employment
• Display all contact information prominently
• Use a helpful resume builder

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How to Write a First Job Resume for Teens

Even with no work experience, teens can still make an effective resume. See a sample teen resume.

How to Write a Resume for Teens

A well-written resume can be a key to success when looking for a first job or applying for a scholarship or competitive academic program. Even with no “real-world” work experience, you can still make an effective resume as a teen. Here are eight tips for writing a first-time resume or a first job resume as a teen. See a sample teen resume below.

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Know the Purpose

Identify the goal of the resume. A resume to get a job as a lifeguard has a different purpose than one for getting a philanthropic academic scholarship. Review the job description or qualifications and make a list of the essential requirements and preferred requirements.

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The essential requirements, or must-haves, are fixed or firm prerequisites such as: “Must have a clean driver’s license” if applying to be a delivery driver; or “Must have a GPA of 3.5” if applying for a specific academic program. These requirements are usually not flexible, and your resume should show that you meet them to be considered.

Preferred or ideal qualifications are nice to have, but may be flexible or could be satisfied a different way. A preferred qualification might be written as “Previous retail experience preferred” or “Applicants with volunteer work in social justice preferred.” If you have the preferred qualifications, be sure to include those qualifications. If you don’t have an exact preferred qualification but something similar, you can include it in your resume.

For example, while you may not have retail experience but have volunteered multiple times at the local thrift clothing store , that work can show you are interested in clothing and have some experience with a retail environment. The addition of similar experience is useful if it helps to make you more qualified than someone else who has no preferred or similar qualifications.

Choose a Simple Document Format

You can start with a blank document or use a resume template on Word or Google, but be sure to select one that is simple, without graphics, tables or other complex formatting styles. Often those templates do not load correctly or clearly into the Applicant Tracking Systems that are used as databases of candidates. Complex templates can also be difficult to update later. Most ATS do best with Word documents when submitted online via a posting portal.

Each resume section except for your contact information and your summary can have a title to separate it. You can use something as simple as: "Education, Experience, Skills" to designate each area. All caps, small caps, bold or just a little color and/or an underline can be effective ways to add some style to the section headings while still having a clean, easy to read appearance. A teen resume should almost always be one page, in 10-11 point font with standard page margins.

If emailing a resume, a PDF version works. If you're bringing it in-person, you can use anything that results in a professional and easy to read format on a clean, unfolded piece of white printer paper.

Professional Contact Information

In the body of the resume – not in a header – include your name as you would want it on a paycheck, your best contact phone number and a professional email address. This is not the time to use [email protected]. Instead, use an email address that is a combination of your first and last name or something else that is simple and professional. Be sure it is an email address that you check multiple times a day – including spam and clutter folders. You do not need to put in your full address, but having your city and state can be helpful if you are applying to a local neighborhood opportunity. For a more competitive or business-related opportunity, you can include a link to your LinkedIn profile, if you have one.

Summary or Objective Statement

Sometimes a resume may become separated from the pile of similar applicants. To ensure that the reader knows your target or goal in submitting a resume, include a statement of purpose. For example: “High school junior targeting a full-time summer job as a lifeguard. Able to start as of June 1 and available to work full time until Aug. 15. Can work part time during the school year.”

For many teenagers, your education is often your most significant accomplishment and qualification so far. List your school, your grade level and include additional information such as relevant classes. For example, you can list having an A in biology if you're applying to a biology program or your three years playing lacrosse if you are applying for a coaching job in your town's parks and recreation department. If you have a 3.0 GPA or above, you can include that too. You can also include any certifications or other training that is important for the role, such as CPR or a lifeguard certification.

Experience – whether it's paid, unpaid, part-time , full-time or on a volunteer basis – can do a lot to add to your credentials. Include any experience that shows you have done similar work, but also include any experience that shows you are reliable, trustworthy, hardworking or interested in the type of business or industry. To an employer, a candidate who has been hired or managed by someone else seems “less risky” than one who has never held responsibilities outside of the home or school. Some examples could be volunteering each week at the church nursery, watching your neighbor’s cats every time they go out of town or helping the drama teacher to set up and clean up after every performance at the high school.

Add Other Relevant Content

Some additional sections you can include are: skills , technology tools, awards/achievements, sports, clubs, hobbies and interests. The key here is to limit these to only things that will add value to your credentials. No need to include that you love playing Minecraft if you are not applying to a video game camp as a group leader, for example.

Review Your Work

Proof and edit online, print it out and proof it again. Then, ask a couple of other people – adults or people who have a vested interest in your resume representing you well – to review it too. You would much rather catch an error with a trusted contact than to miss out on an opportunity because of an autocorrect mistake.

When built correctly from the start, your resume can continue to evolve without much effort as you add more to your qualifications. See a sample teen resume below.

Sample Teen Resume

Robin Student

955.555.5555 | [email protected] | Danville, CA | linkedin.com/in/robinstudent

High school junior targeting a full-time summer job as a lifeguard. Able to start as of June 1 and available to work full time until Aug. 15. Can work part time during the school year.

• Washington High School, Class of 2022
• CPR and Lifeguard certification.

Experience:

• Swim team co-captain.
• Volunteer at Unity Church as a summer camp counselor.
• Babysitter for neighbor's toddlers.
• Can help others learn swimming techniques.
• Helpful and enthusiastic.
• Punctual and follows instructions.
• Girl Scouts.
• Community garden volunteer.

Tags: resumes , Applying , high school , teens , money , personal finance

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How to make a resume for a 16-year-old.

Although teens typically do not have an extensive work history, those who are applying for internships or part-time jobs may be called upon to supply a resume. Creating a high school resume that highlights relevant coursework, extracurricular activities and volunteer work, as well as any employment history, will help a high school student impress prospective employers.

Organize Your Data

List your extracurricular activities, including clubs, organized sports, academic groups, and volunteering. Identify the activities in which you hold a leadership roles.

Summarize your involvement in organizations outside of school, such as scouting. Employers will be impressed by the commitment required to remain involved for many years and demonstrate upward progress.

Compile information about your special education or training. For example, list certifications in first aid or CPR, as well as any additional coursework you've completed outside of school.

Create the Resume

Begin the resume with your contact information: name, mailing address, telephone number and email address.

Add an "Objective" heading and summarize your desired position in one sentence.

Create a heading for education, and list the name of your high school, its address and your expected graduation date. List any classes that pertain to the job position (computer classes or math classes, for example), as well as any awards or recognition you have earned. Include your GPA only if it is at least 3.0.

Add a “Work Experience and Volunteering” heading next. Make a bullet-point list of your previous jobs and volunteer work. Includes the name of the employer, the dates of employment, and a summary of your responsibilities and achievements.

Position a “Qualification Summary” heading next. In a few short sentences, summarize your qualifications and explain how you meet the requirements of the job or internship.

Do not place references on a resume. Compile a list of references on a separate paper and furnish this to a prospective employer upon request.

Proofreading is important to writing an effective resume. Ask someone else to read your resume and look for errors before you submit it.

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Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting. Hatter has also had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon.

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• CV and Cover Letter
• How to write a CV for a...

How to write a CV for a 16-year-old (with examples)

6 min read · Updated on October 25, 2022

There's a first time for everything, so make sure your first CV is a real corker!

The potential world of work experience - a scary prospect or something to relish? It needn't be a trial to get your first job CV shipshape, ready for a Saturday job or an exciting apprenticeship opportunity. We have all you need to know about how to write a CV for a 16 year old right here, right now. And with four CV examples for 16 year olds at the end of this article, you'll be well on your way to mastering the skill of putting together a comprehensive and informative teenager CV that highlights your skills and gets you noticed.

Can a 16-year-old even have a CV?

Of course. You've got your own experiences and skills to proclaim… and your pocket money just isn't enough any more for all the things you want to explore. Plus, securing a job at this stage in your life will teach you so many more new skills to add to your CV at a later date.

This is probably the first template for a CV that you've ever had to compile. But first, you want to make sure it's worth doing. A CV, or Curriculum Vitae to give its full name (which translates from the Latin as “course of life”), is a document that details a person's career and qualifications. Still  relevant today , a CV is generally required when applying for jobs.

If you live in England, it's required by law that you remain in some sort of  education or training until the age of 18. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you can enter the world of work from leaving school at 16, depending on when your birthday falls.

Grab their attention

What is it about TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat that appeals? They're engaging, informative, eye-catching, and fun to read. So let your new 16 year old CV be the same! Whoever's reading your CV is looking to be impressed and heartened by your efforts at creating an amazing teenager CV. So don't disappoint!

Choose a  fitting CV template for a 16 year old that is clear and clean with no tables or boxes, taking guidance from the CV examples for 16 year olds below. A one page CV is enough at this stage.

Then crack on with the personal profile, which sits under your contact details at the top of the page. This is often called the “Professional Profile”, but as you're likely to have little or no experience, it's best to title it as “Personal Profile”. Check out the profiles in the CV examples for 16 year olds that are included in this piece for inspiration, using them as a guide to hone your own profile with your key assets and attributes.

Next comes your education and qualifications. Not surprisingly, this is probably going to be your biggest selling point and thus, the most significant feature of your teenager CV. Keep it in list form, detailing grades of recent qualifications, such as GCSEs, the school, and year completed - or state “ongoing” if you're still in the process of taking them.

Shout out about your experience

If you do have some experience, whether that's two weeks work experience in an office or voluntary work at a local charity shop, then shout about it. Info on this should be placed under the education section. List the name of the company you worked for, your job title - even if it was Intern - and the dates. Then offer up bulleted points of your responsibilities , using active verbs and including any achievements, to set you up for  finding a part-time job .

How do I write a CV for a teenager with no experience?

Drafting a CV for a teenager with no experience can be overwhelming. Where do you start? What on earth can you put on a document designed to show off career and work experience when you have none? Don't worry, there are ways and means of creating a great CV for a teenager with no experience by approaching it from a different angle.

You'll have gained lots of skills from school and extracurricular activities without even knowing! You need to identify these, focus on them, and translate them to the page. What are you like in a team? Have you supervised others? Have you organised anything or solved problems? Perhaps you're a people person or have a knack for coming up with great ideas. Whatever key skills you focus on, you need to elaborate on the relevant ones and explain how these would be beneficial to the job in hand.

Think of the interests and hobbies you've done for a while. Have you undertaken something like a Duke of Edinburgh award or similar? These types of activities often involve organisation, team work, effective communication, and problem solving. Were you Prefect or Sports Captain at school? These show leadership capabilities as well as flexibility, time management, and collaboration. What about anything you've achieved under your own initiative that relates to the job you're gunning for? This can include research and reading, visits, and online courses, while proving you're ace at self management and also IT literate.

Check out the CV examples for 16 year olds below, especially the specifically-written CV for teenagers with no experience..

Applying for an apprenticeship?

How are your experiences, key skills, or knowledge going to benefit an apprenticeship? Tell them about things you've done outside your studies to further develop your knowledge. Try to think about things that not everyone else is doing, so that you stand out from the crowd.

CV examples for 16 year olds

Listed below are four CV examples for 16 year olds. These cover a range of options and styles. Note how two of the CV examples for 16 year olds are written in the first person, a more informal approach. The other two good CV examples for a first job are crafted in the more formal third person, a style adopted for most CVs. Depending on your character and personality, pick the teenage CV template that suits you the best.

Recommended reading:

What is a CV headline? (with examples)

• How to add volunteer work in a CV (with examples)
• How to write a graduate CV

Related Articles:

What File Format Is Best for Your CV? Pros + Cons

Best fonts to use for a CV (with examples)

Should you put your address on a CV (with examples)

See how your CV stacks up.

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