How To Create A Resume For A 16 Year Old

You're about to see some great resume examples for teens.

But first—

You know that rocket Elon Musk sent up?

The one with the cherry red Tesla roadster in it?

You're like that. About to take flight with style. About to shake the pillars of the Earth.

Between you and that bright future stands a door guardian called a hiring manager.

To get past her with flying colors, you'll need a teen resume that really works.

This guide will show you:

• Resume examples for teens better than 9 out of 10 others.
• How to write a resume for teens that gets more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on teen resumes.
• How to make resumes for teens with no experience and get any job you want.

Here's a resume template for teens made with our online resume builder tool.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It's fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Sample Teen Resume—See more templates and create your resume here.

Want more basic resume samples? Need advice to write the best student resume you can?

• Writing a Resume
• Resume Advice
• High School Student Resume
• High School Graduate Resume
• Resume Template for High School Student
• High School Diploma on Resume
• Resume for College Admissions
• College Student Resume
• Student Resume
• Resume for Part Time Job
• Entry Level Resume
• More Sample Resumes for 500+ Jobs

Are you looking for some job specific resume examples? Check:

• Babysitter Resume
• Daycare resume  Resume
• Dog Walker Resume
• Fast Food Resume
• General Resume
• Modeling Resume
• Restaurant Resume

You probably will need to write a cover letter so see: Cover Letter for High School Student

1

How to Get Started Writing Your Teen Resume

First the bad news.

Nobody really cares about your teenage resume.

Want proof? Hiring managers spend all of seven seconds glancing at most resumes, according to our HR statistics report.

Seven seconds!!?? That's hardly enough time to read your contact info!

Now the good news.

With the right resume for teens, you can turn that sliver into an interview.

How?

By understanding one thing:

Hiring managers look for very specific things in a resume for teens.

Give it to them fast with the right resume format for teenagers.

That means dividing your teen resume into the right sections.

What Should I Put on My Resume for My First Job?

Resume Template for Teens: What to Include

1. Contact Information
2. Resume Objective
3. Education
4. Work Experience (Don't worry if you haven't got it)
5. Skills
6. Other Sections like:
1. Awards, Compliments, Honors
2. Trainings and Certifications
3. Volunteer Experience
4. Hobbies and Interests

Let's put you behind the driver's seat so you can nail down every section of your resume for teens.

Pro Tip: Should you send a teenage resume PDF or Word Doc? Everyone says PDFs confuse the hiring software. Guess what? Modern PDFs are machine readable. As long as they're not forbidden by the job ad, go for it.

Want to dig deeper into resume formats? Getting your teen resume format right can send the perfect message to the manager: See our guide: Resume Formats: How to Format a Resume for Greatest Impact?

Now, that's a lot of work. But you can cut down on it by using—

Resume Templates for Teens

Using resume templates will half the work you'd have to put in. Just pick a template, follow our advice, and you'll have a perfect resume in no time!

Check out these resume templates for teenagers:

That's three. But there's more where that came from! The Zety resume builder features 20 templates that make great teen resumes. Simply pick a resume template and build a teen resume here.

2

How to Put Contact Information on a Resume for Teens

This is not your dad's teen resume.

Back before dialup, contact info on a resume was easy.

Let's break it down.

Resume Examples for Teens [Contact Info]

Name. First and last.

Phone Number. List just one.

Professional Email. No spongebobnopants127789@hotmail.com. Try something more pro-level like john.doe@gmail.com.

Social Media. LinkedIn, GitHub, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest? Just pick the one or two with the best evidence you fit the job. Don't include any if you use them to only share dank memes. We love 'em, employers don't.

Personal Website. Got a portfolio site? Write for a blog that shows you know the job? That's gold on a resume for teenagers. Add it.

Check the news. You'll find a story about someone who said the wrong thing on social media and lost her job. Supercharge and protect your online presence with our guides: How to Check Your Online Presence Before Recruiters Look You Up and How To Optimize Your LinkedIn Summary & Profile To Get Jobs

3

How to Write a Teen Resume Objective

"We MUST interview this one."

Start a resume for teens right, and you'll get that response.

Do it with a teenage resume objective.

But there's a way to do it right and wrong.

See these two very different resume examples for teens to get a clue.

Teen Resume Examples [Resume Objective]

Don't talk about what you want, like in this whiny teen resume example:

wrong
Enthusiastic waitstaff applicant with no experience yet but very willing to learn and work very hard. I could really use this job so please hire me. You won't be sorry.

Wow, right? Who brought Carl Grimes to the labor pool?

Instead, show how you can help. Add achievements, like this resume example for teenagers:

right
Hard-working waiter, seeking to use proven customer service skills to foster dining excellence at the Last Unicorn Restaurant. Commended 5x by management at Devin Shiro's Country Club and St. Ann's Soup Kitchen. Eagle Scout. Received Beacon of Hope Award.

Now we're talking. I'm not sure, but that just might be Peter Parker.

Achievements really sell a resume for teenagers. They offer what the manager wants: a hard-working teen who cares about doing a good job.

Pro Tip: Resumes for teens need short, sweet objective statements. Stick to 60 words. Need more space? Write a great teenage cover letter. Even with no experience, you can make one that gets interviews. We'll show you how later on.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building aprofessional resume template here for free.

When you're done, Zety's resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Need a walkthrough to write a great teenager resume objective? See our guide: 20+ Resume Objectives for Your Resume (Tips)

4

How to Write an Education Section that Gets Jobs

You really want that job.

It's not just money. It's freedom. Independence.

And you've earned it.

That's what all your school work and accomplishments have been about.

But now you've got to prove it on your teen resume.

That starts with your education section.

A resume for teens needs:

• Degree (If you've graduated)
• School Name
• Graduation Date

That's the bare bones. But you're up against 100+ applicants.

You need to offer more.

So, add afterburners to your high school graduate resume, with:

• Relevant coursework
• Favorite classes
• Key achievements
• Extracurricular activities

Let's see that work in two more resume examples for teens.

Teenage Resume Examples [Education]

What's wrong with this sample teen resume section?

wrong
Central Islip High School, NY 2014–2018 Completed all coursework so far GPA 3.3

Hey, look, it's Shoshanna Shapiro from Girls.

That high school resume example is generic.

You really need to list achievements. It's better if they fit the job.

right
Central Islip High School, NY 2014–2018 (Graduating in May) Excel on Debate Team. President of Yearbook Board. Varsity Track Team member.

Who's that, Aang from The Last Airbender?

Yet resume examples for teens like that aren't out of reach. It just takes a little head-scratching.

Pro Tip: Do you have to add your GPA? Only if it's impressive. If it's below 3.5, feel free to cut it. You can use the space for more impressive details in your teenage resume.

There's more to wowing the hiring manager with your education section. Want your teenager resume to turn some heads? Use our guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]

5

You Need Work Experience in a Resume for Teens

"But I don't HAVE experience!"

Of course you don't.

You're writing a teen resume. Everybody knows you haven't been the CEO of Microsoft for 15 years.

You need to showsome kind of experience on resumes for teens.

The good news?

You've already got it, or you can get it fast.

Just look:

Sample Teen Resume Experience

• Volunteer Work
• Part-Time Jobs
• Freelancing Experience
• Job Shadowing
• Extracurricular Activities
• Impressive Efforts

A resume for teens just has to prove you're not a slack-jawed couch-muffin.

So, have you walked dogs at the local shelter? Were you captain of the track team?

Maybe you just did yard work for your parents every Sunday? Even that can work on a teenager resume.

These resumes for teens examples light the way:

Resume Examples for Teens [Experience]

The first of our teenage resume samples blows the doors off:

right
Volunteer Food Server Served diners in a high-volume soup kitchen. Commended by management for taking on thankless duties. Pitched in with food prep when needed.  Provided first-response medical care to a diner who had passed out.

Wow, let's hire the vampire slayer, right? Yet not a glimmer of full-time job!

But please don't do it like the next of our example teen resumes with no work experience:

wrong
Experience: None yet since this would be my first job apart from babysitting but everybody says I'm really easy to get along with and I'll work hard.

Who wants to hire Joffrey Baratheon, right?

That is not how to put babysitting on a resume. You should list babysitting achievements that fit the job.

That's the only way to match the best of our resume examples for teens.

Which teleports us to our next section, on adding skills to a high school resume.

Pro Tip: Still don't have enough experience? Get some! Even a couple days of volunteer work are a solid teen resume builder that will supersize shrimpy resumes.

Want still more teenage resume samples? Need to know how to make a resume with no experience? See our guide: First Resume with No Work Experience Samples (A Step-by-Step Guide)

6

How to Put Skills on a Teen Resume

Let me ask you something.

If you were the hiring manager, who would you hire?

Picture it: You're at your desk. You've got a stack of 140 resumes for teens. They all claim to be the best choice for the job.

Then one says, "Look at these three impressive things I've done that prove my skills."

You need to be that applicant.

It's not rocket science.

First: Focus on the skills shown in the job ad.

Next: Show when you have used them.

These two example teen resumes show how.

Resume Examples for Teens: Skills

Meet Barry. He's applying for a job that wants customer service and a friendly attitude.

wrong
Skills: MS Office, strong work ethic, teamwork, customer service, organized, adaptable, friendly, honest, physically fit...

Oops. Barry buried his key skills. He hoped the manager would like the extra skills.

Trouble is, anyone can say they've got a lot of skills. A long skills list with no proof is like handing in a blank test sheet.

Don't be like Barry.

Be like Sherrie. Here's her teen resume example:

right
Served food to diners at busy banquets approximately once a month. Bussed tables. Served drinks. Commended 4x by management for friendliness.

Who wouldn't hire Hermione Granger. That resume for teens example will make the manager start mouth-breathing.

Is it really that easy?

No. The resume examples for teens above are very clear cut.

In the real world, the job ad might not come out and say what skills it wants.

So use your noggin.

If you're vying for a waitstaff job, show you've worked with people or helped others.

If you're looking for a job in a kitchen, show you've handled stress, collaborated, and obeyed instructions.

Teen Resume Skills List

What skills go best on a resume for teens?

Add job-specific skills like coding or graphic design. Soft skills transfer well to teenager jobs.

A recent study shows the skills employers love most:

Teenage Resume Skills

Skill	% of Respondents
Problem Solving	82.9%
Teamwork	82.9%
Communication (Written)	80.3%
Leadership	72.6%
Strong Work Ethic	68.4%
Analytical	67.5%
Communication (Verbal)	67.5%
Initiative	67.5%
Detail Oriented	64.1%
Adaptable	60.7%
Tech Skills	59.8%
Interpersonal Skills	54.7%
Computer Skills	48.7%
Organized	48.7%
Planning	39.3%
Creativity Skills	29.1%
Friendly	27.4%
Tactful	22.2%
Entrepreneurial	19.7%
Fluency in Foreign Language	4.3%

Great teen resume skills, right? Now don't believe them.

Wait, what?

If you're going for a job where 95% of the clients speak Chinese, Chinese fluency counts more than 4.3%.

Your job as an applicant? Prove you have the skills to do this job.

Pro Tip: Prove your hard skills too. If the job ad says "MS Office" and you've been using that since kindergarten, say so!

A good skills list is a must on any resume for teens. Want more options to make the hiring manager start looking for your contact info? See our guide: 30+ Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips)

7

The Secret Other Sections in Great Resumes for Teens

The manager doesn't want to hire a teen resume.

She wants to hire a person. Living. Breathing.

But she wants to hire one she wants to work with.

Be that applicant.

Prove it with special "other" sections on your resume for teens.

In other words, show more than just experience or education.

You Can Add These Sections to Resumes for Teens

• Honors and Awards
• Activities
• Associations
• Certifications
• Hobbies
• Interests
• Publications

These resume examples for teens provide a map:

Teen Resume Examples [Other Sections]

The next of our teenage resume samples is embarrassing:

wrong
Additional Activities Collecting Moss Filking

Hey, let's not hire Steve Urkel.

Instead, let's hire the guy who wrote this resume example for a teen:

right

Eagle Scout - Boy Scouts of America Achieved Eagle Rank in October of 2017 Eagle Scout Project: "Food for the Homeless" event fed 40 people Earned Salesmanship merit badge 2016 Award 2017 Received Beacon of Hope Award for exemplary community service Additional Activities Volunteer monthly to walk dogs at Islip Animal Shelter Avid kayaker, pay for and maintain my own gear Help parents with yard work approximately 150 hrs/yr Certification First Aid and CPR - American Red Cross

I'm pretty sure we got the Blue Power Ranger there.

With every one of those achievements, the manager's hiring gage is getting closer to the "Hire Now" zone.

Can't quite match those resume examples for teen jobs? You don't have to be a superhero.

Just use your best achievements.

Pro Tip: You don't have to list every activity. Keep your resume to one page, and just list things that fit the job.

Need to learn about all the other parts? Give this a read: Key Parts of a Resume

8

Cover Letter for a Teenager: Yes, You Need One

Wait, aren't cover letters for people who grew up with rotary phones?

That's what many experts say.

But they're talking about generic cover letters.

Nobody needs a cover letter for a teenager with no experience that just says, "Here's my resume."

You need to make the manager want to read your resume for teens.

So, use her name. Can't find it? You'll find great tips in this guide: How to Address a Cover Letter: Sample & Guide [20+ Examples]

Then, prove two things:

1. You understand the job needs.
2. You can fill those needs.

Listen, we get it. Most teenagers don't write cover letters. You don't want to either. But writing one will make your teenager resume stand out!

This (shortened) cover letter for teenager first jobs shows how.

Earning my Eagle Scout Rank was hard, but worth it. I developed several qualities I think would make me a great waiter at Last Unicorn Restaurant. I'm hard-working, dedicated, and I get along well with everyone I work with. My Eagle Scout Project fed 40 homeless people, along with...

That's a recent graduate of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, no doubt.

Last, end your cover letter with an offer.

Try something like: "I'd welcome the opportunity to tell you how I got the Beacon of Hope Award for exemplary community service."

Pro Tip: Most teens don't know to follow up on their job application. A nudge a few days after you send your teen resume and cover letter can put you on the map at the right time.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Need more detailed info to write the perfect teenage cover letter with no experience? This guide has your back: Writing a Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps (12+ Examples)

Key Takeaway

You've got a toolkit now to make the best resume for teens around. Remember these key steps to write the best teen resume that lands you the job fast:

• Write a teenage resume objective. Use a 60 word count and stuff it with accomplishments that fit the job.
• Lock your experience and education to the job offer with matching bullet points. See the resume examples for teens above for clues.
• Use special "other" sections to show you're more than just a resume for teens. Add certifications, hobbies, interests, and other goodies.
• Stand out from the crowd by writing a cover letter. Most don't do this, so you'll score some sweet brownie points!

When you are done, head on over to Jobs for Teens: 30 Best Teen Jobs and How to Find the ones Near You

Do you have questions on how to write a great resume for a teen? Not sure how to describe your skills or achievements? Give us a shout in the comments! Let's get you in that job.

How To Create A Resume For A 16 Year Old

Source: https://zety.com/blog/teen-resume-example

Posted by: ozunaparch2000.blogspot.com

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