Resumes for High School Students

A resume tells prospective employers all about you, and why you would make a great
employee. It should focus on your strengths and accomplishments, education and
work experiences. The main purpose of a resume is to get a job interview.

PARTS OF A RESUME
1. Contact Information
Include name, address, phone number, email address. You only need to
list one phone number where you can best be reached, and/or a message
can be left.
2

Job Objective
Clearly state the job, or type of job for which you are applying. No need to
use a complete sentence. For example:

Position as an Office Assistant

Part-time sales job in a clothing store
WeekendlAfter School Job as Stockroom Helper

Entry level position in a veterinary office

2. Summary of Qualifications
Make a brief list (4 to 6 lines) of key points that a new employer would
want to know about you that show you are qualified for the job. Make sure
that every statement is related to your job objective, and is
supported by what you say in the rest of your resume. Limit each
statement to just one line. You may choose to include these key points:

How much experience you have- paid or unpaid- using skills that are
RELATED to your chosen field. Example: Six-months part-time
experience managing website tor non-profit organization.
Education or training related to your field Example: Excelled In
Computer Applications and Digital Imaging courses offered at
high school
Your best accomplishment that relates to, or supports your job
objective. Example: Won "Honorable Mention" at state Graphic
Design Innovation competition.
Your key skills, talents or special knowledge related to your job
objective. Example: Strong Interest and talent tor learning
computer design software.

 Something about your attitude toward working, or other personal

quality that would be appealing to your future employer. Example
Excellent communication and listening skills.

3. Education
High school students will put expected graduation date. Example:
Pacific Grove High School, Pacific Grove, CA, will graduate May,
2010

4. Work History
List any past work experience- paid or unpaid. Includes work for family
business, or work you have created for yourself such as pet-sitting, child
care, tutoring, etc. List your recent employment first.

5. Honors! Awards! Certifications! Skills, etc.

If you need to include information that didn't readily fit into any other
categories, or if want to highlight certain information to make sure it gets
noticed, feel free to make a special heading for it. For example, if you've
won a number of awards for something related to the job you are applying
for (music, sports, cooking, etc.), make a heading called "Awards"" or
"Professional Recognition." Or if you've gotten articles, stories or
photographs published in a local publication, you might want to have a
special heading called 'Publications."

AN EFFECTIVE RESUME:

Will use action verbs to describe accomplishments (for example, words such as
created, directed, established, provided, managed, developed, etc.)

Will stress specific accomplishments and quantify the outcomes. Example:

Maintained 98% accuracy in the cash drawer.
Will not use pronouns. Instead of saying, "I provided customer service to an
average of 60 customers on each of my shifts," simply state (in bullet form)
"Provided customer service to an average of 60 customers per shift."
Will not include salary requirements, references, or personal information such as
age, race, marital status, medical conditions, etc.
Will be free from spelling and grammatical errors,
Will be visually pleasing. While the content of your resume is the most important
element, if the design or format of your resume is so bad that employers can't get
to the content, then you have a problem. You want to use normal (readable) fonts
In normal sizes (generally 10-12 pt.). Keep page margins a healthy width and use
white space to avoid a crowded appearance.
Will be only one page in length - no longer

IDENTIFYING YOUR STRENGTHS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

People often minimize their own talents and abiiities. Make sure to include
these items, if they apply to you:

What computer programs are you skilled at using?

Are you fluent in any other languages?

What volunteer work have you done?

What are your extra-curricular activities? (Soccer Team, Youth Music Monterey,
Interact Club, etc.)
What school or community awards have you earned?
What special projects have you participated in at school? (Leadership activities,
senior project, etc.)

Having a hard time taking an objective look at yourself? Sometimes it can

be helpfui to take a look through the eyes of others that know you welL
For example:

What have your teachers complimented you on! recognized you for in your work?
What would your friends say are your best qualities?
What would your friends/neighbors/family miss about you jf you were to move far
away?
What are the things your friends or family always count on you for?
What difficulties or barriers have you overcome to get where you are now?
Think of a problem that came up that had other people stumped. but that YOU
were able to do something about to improve the situation. What did you do?
What does that say about your abilities?
Name six qualities or characteristics of other people that you most respect Or
admire. Which of those qualities are also true about you?

Marissa Valenti

~ctualwork

5500 Mar Del Vista Drive

Whittier, California, 90602
562-123-9876
Email: MarissaBce@aoLcom

history is limfted, Marissa found plenty

to say about her skills.

.JOB ORTECTIVE
Seeking a position as a part~tim.e CASHIER in a retail enviromnent.

SUMMARY
Responsible and reliable; will show up for work as promised.
Able to deal in a mature manner with problem solving.
Considerate of people of all ages and persorullity types.
Excellent communication and listening skills.
Quick and eager to learn; able to understand aud foHow through with directions.
Proven leadership skills.
Strong organizational abilities.
Capable of representlllg an employer professionally and intelligently.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Summers of 1996-98: MEDIA CENTER ASSISTANT
East Whittier Middle School, Whittier, CA
Assisted librarian in operation of library and media center:
Shelved books. Checked books inJoul.
Helped students locale books and materials, and operate computers.
Kept the media center organized.
1996-97

Tutor for Elementary students: community sen-ice, InLemJtional BJccalaureale

Program. assisting students with computers, printers, televisions, VCR's,

1995-96

Manager, Food Drive: in charge of all 6th grade classes (approx, 100 students).
Appointed because of proven responsibility, organizational skills, and ability
to resolve problems.

RELEVANTACCOMPLISHMENTS
1996-98
1998
1996-9&

"A" Honor Roll Student East Whittier Middle School, Whittier, CA

Recipient of: Challenge U Scholarship (General Mills) $2,000
Dain Raushcer Scholarship $10,000
Participant: national competition "MATH COUNTS", one of four team members.

Computer experience in Word Perfect, Internet

-Re,wme wrinen fIy Jolene Elliot and the Srudenf

Th~

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Re.lllme Worlibookfor High Schoo! SlIJdeniS fA Fill-in-tbc-BlIlllks Guide -- YaM Parker,

~)

200 I

KATHYQ. WAN

3334 Hillegass Avenue

Kathy chose a traditional

chronological layout, but rreely
combined both paid and unpaid
work experience.

Oakville, CA 94605
(510) 987-6543

OBJ~CTIV~

Peer Counselor with focus on developing a bridge for students of different culnrres.

SUMMARY
Top~notch

student experienced in dealing with a \\ide range of cultures.

Unique combination of expertise in working with the community and

with professional groups.

Dynamic leader and team-builder, consistently motivating others to succeed.

~XP~RIENCEANDACCOMPLISHMENTS

1 998-present

Assistant Counselor - CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS, Oakville:

- Plan and coordlnate peer counseling workshops for junior high
school students;
- CToss-eu\tural translation and io\crpretation for County MenIal Heallh,

and Department of Social Services~

- Counsel cro!>s-cultural girls between the ages of 12-19 fmrn the: New
American Girl!> Program;
- Recruit girls from different schools for the American Friends Program;
- Run two peer support groups for teens in the New American Girls Program.
1998-present

President - FUfURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF A11ERlCA,

Oakville High School Chapter.

1997-1998

Secretary - FUfURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF A11ERlCA,

OabiHe High School Chapter.

\ 997

Teacher's Assistant - OAKVILLE CHlLD CARE CENTER, Oakville:

- Cared for children between the ages of 5 months to 4 years old;
- Coordinated different types of art sessions.

EDUCATION
Oakville High. School, Oakville, CA; currently a Junior, GPA 4.0.

-Resume wrirtell by the siudenr--

27
The Resume Workbook/oT High School Students / A Fill-in-the-J3Jallks Guide - Yana Parker, !C12001

VALERIE BLAUER

comb~'~n0es

Valerie effectively
the specific evidence of her skills with
an appealing image of a valuable
leam member.

3056 Hillegass Avenue

Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 339-3022

Job Objective: Entry position in office sen'ices.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Enthusiastic, hardworking, and reliable.
Willing to learn and accept constructive criticislIl.
Highly motivated for career advancement.

Enjoy eontributing to a team effort.

Help create a pleasant, clean working environment.
Two years part-time experience in office work.

OFFICE EXPERIENCE
GENERAL OFFICE SKILLS
As office assistant:
- .Answered phones

- Fi(ed documents
- Typed correspondence

- Made appointJT1ents

- Proofread
- Ran errands

BUSINESS SKILLS

Entered orders into FileMaker d<'ltabase.

Made and tracked invoices, ensuring satisfaction and payment

Caleolated and handled payments by check and cash.
Filled customer orders for books and sofiware.

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE

Basic knowledge of Macintosh soft\\'are (FileMaker, Word).

Familiar with IBM softwarc (Word).

EMPLOYMENT mSTORY
J Q98-prescnt

OfficeAs~istant

1998-present
Summer 1998

Baby-sitter
Animal Care

Damn Good Resume Service, Oakland, CA

Witherall House. Oakland, CA
Children '$ Fairy Land, Oakland, CA

Cvolunleer job)

EDUCATION

Skyline High School, Oakland, CA, will graduate lnne 1998

- Resume "''''I''itlen by the sluJmt

26
The RcSWtl"- WOl"kbofJkjor High School S",d'-'nl,~ I A FiIJ-in-the-BlaHks GuiJe _. YaHa Parker, 2001

2B33 W. 24TH STREET, SW DELAND, FL 32720

PHONE 386-555-3080 oE-MAIL SUlIE.STUDENT@YAHOO.COM

SU Z I E STUDENT

OBJECTIVE

- - -_._._-- --------------_._- -

---'

---_...- --

. ----------

---'

--._~------

- --

Seeking part-time retail s-ales clerk/cuhier position

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
--C-;:;-~t~-;;~~-=t;;-~~-sed-;;if~tar;;:-;;-th proven

.-----

o
o

r::lient

se~i~es s'CkCUC,,=--

Energetic achiever and comn,unicator, with strong listening skills

Quick learner, eager to learn and follow directions
Excelhmt team player who thrives in teamwork situaflons

Responsible ond relioble, with record of professionalism

EDUCATION
---------------------_._---_._-_._----------~o

High J..hoo! Dip!llma, DeLand High SchoOl, DeLand, FL, expected May 2001

HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS

o--Ear~-;d DeLand High Ad~;~~--;;C--;;~ncii;~-A~-;"-dfor Acade~i,;E~celience_;2005-2606---
o

o

Earned Volusia County Superintendent's Scholar Award, 2005

Achieved Honor Roll, DeLand High, 2005-2006
Earned Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Performance in Math on FCAT, 2005
Earned Varsity Letter, DeLand High Sor::cer Team, 2004-2006
Earned President's Award for Educational Excellence, 2004

WORK HISTORY

Bag-g-e~~-P~bli.~:-:\;I~per M~~:k~;.r;-D-; La;d-, -'FL -S~-;-~-e--;:-2-006--------

- ---------- .-.--..- - - - - - - -

Prepared bagged groceries- to customer specificlltions

Assisted in loading groceries to customer vehicles

Secured shopping carts and other key supplies

Provided customer servir::e to average of 60 customers per shift

Babysirter, IN'{ieJ.r Boc:pinillg Jen/ia.r, DeLand, FL, 2001 to present

o

Maintain satisfied clienlele of 10 families-

Provide quality care for children aged newborn to 12 years

Manage aU aspects of business

COMMUNITY.- SERVICE
._-_...
o
o

--

SKILLS

- - - - - - - _.. _

_..

Supplied 80 communil)'-service hours at Woodland Towers retirement community, Jan. to

Feb. 2006
Donated more than 200 hours to DeLand Museum of Art, Fall 2005 and Spring, 2006
Contributed more than 150 volunteer hours to DeLand Museum Art Summer Camp,

Summer 2005

Customer relations, customer ~ervi[:e

Computer literate in both Windows and Macintosh platforms

Working k.nowledge of Spanish and Italian

List of ACTION WORm)

MANAGING

TECHNICAL

CLERICAL

COMl~IUI'HCATING

accompIislled
analyzed
attained
conducted
consolidated
contacted
coordinated
developed
directed
established
evaluated
exceeded
headed
improved
increased
initiated

assembled
built
calculated
computed
configured
designed
determined

approved
arranged
catalogued

addressed
arranged
convinced
corresponded
developed
directed
drafted
edited
enlisted
influenced
interpreted
negoriated
participated
persuaded
presented
promoted
proposed
related
secured
sold
spoke
tmnslated
wrote

devised
eliminated
enhanced
fabricated
installed
maintained
operated
overhauled
programmed
reduced
refmed
remodeled
repaired
retrieved
solved

organized
oversaw
planned
prioritized
produced
scheduled
strengthened
trimmed

trained
UPb'Taded

classified
collected
compared
compiled
completed
distributed

enlarged
implemented
inspected
monitored
operated
organized
prepared
processed
recorded
retrieved
screened
specified
sorted
tabulated
validated

RESEARCHING

TEACIDNG

HELPING

CREATING

collected
consulted

advised
clarified
coached
conmlUnicated
coordinated
corrected
developed
enabled
encouraged
evaluated
explained
guided
informed
initiated
illstructed
persuaded
set goals
trained

assisted
clarified
coached
counseled
demonstrated
educated
guided
motivated
re1\med
supported

aeted
conceived
ereated
customized
designed
developed
established
fashioned
illustrated
improved
initiated
introduced
invented
originated
perfomlCd
planned
redesigned
reshaped
revitalized
shaped

evaluated
examined
experimented
identified
inspected
interpreted

interviewed
i.nvcstigated
obtained
organized
reviewed
searched
swnmarizcd
sunreyed

Cirde tbe words you think may apply 10 your experience

and u~e ~oroe or them to begin your achievement one-lineri.

12
T"~

R"SlIme Jroriboo/r for High Schoof Studlmts i A Fill-jn-th~Blanb Guidb - Yana P~rker. (; 2001