Mastering the Parts of a Resume: A Guide for High School Students

As a high school student preparing for your first job, internship, or college application, creating a resume might feel overwhelming. What should you include? How do you organize it? A resume is a snapshot of your skills, experiences, and qualifications, and it’s essential to get it right. In this guide, we’ll break down the essential parts of a resume to help you create a professional and compelling document that stands out. Whether you’re applying for a part-time job or building a resume for college, understanding the key sections will give you the confidence to present yourself effectively. Let’s dive into the main components!

1. Contact Information: Your First Impression

Your contact information is the first thing anyone reading your resume will see. It’s essential that this section is clear, accurate, and professional. Make sure your contact details are easy to find and free from any errors.

What to Include:

• Full Name: This should be your legal name or the name you typically go by in professional settings.
• Phone Number: Always double-check for accuracy. Ensure it’s a number you use regularly.
• Email Address: Use a professional email, preferably with your name. Avoid using informal or playful emails like “skaterguy123@gmail.com.”
• LinkedIn Profile (Optional): If you have a LinkedIn profile, include the link. This can add professionalism and provide more details about your experiences.
• Address (Optional): In some cases, it’s best to omit your full address, especially if you’re applying for jobs online. Simply including your city and state can suffice.

Example:

John Doe
123 Main St., Springfield, IL
(555) 123-4567
johndoe@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/johndoe

2. Resume Objective or Summary: Setting the Tone

Your resume objective or summary is a brief section that tells the reader who you are and what you’re looking to achieve. This is especially important if you’re a high school student with limited work experience. Keep it concise and focused, ideally around 2-3 sentences.

Resume Objective Example:

“Motivated high school senior with a passion for technology and coding, seeking an internship where I can apply my skills in web development and learn more about software engineering.”

If you have more experience, you might opt for a resume summary instead, which highlights your achievements and skills in place of career goals.

Key Tips:

• Be specific about what you’re looking for (e.g., internship, part-time job, etc.).
• Mention key skills or passions you have.
• Keep it short but impactful.

3. Education: Highlighting Your Academic Achievements

As a high school student, your education section will likely be front and center on your resume. This is where you showcase your academic background and any relevant coursework or achievements.

What to Include:

• School Name: Your high school’s full name.
• Location: City and state of your school.
• Graduation Date: If you’re still in school, you can include your expected graduation date (e.g., “Expected Graduation: June 2024”).
• GPA (Optional): Include if your GPA is strong, typically 3.5 or higher.
• Relevant Coursework (Optional): List courses that are directly relevant to the job or internship you’re applying for (e.g., AP Computer Science).

Example:

Springfield High School, Springfield, IL
Expected Graduation: June 2024
GPA: 3.8
Relevant Coursework: AP Computer Science, Honors English

Pro Tip:

If you’ve taken any online courses or certifications (like coding bootcamps, graphic design courses, etc.), include them here to show your initiative and dedication to learning.

4. Work Experience: Showcasing Your Skills

If you’ve had a part-time job, internship, or any other type of work experience, this is the section where you can highlight it. Even if your work experience isn’t directly related to the job you’re applying for, focus on the skills you gained that can be transferable, like customer service or time management.

What to Include:

• Job Title: The position you held (e.g., “Cashier” or “Camp Counselor”).
• Company Name: Where you worked.
• Location: The city and state where you worked.
• Dates of Employment: The months and years you worked (e.g., June 2022 – August 2022).
• Key Responsibilities: Use bullet points to describe your duties. Start each bullet with an action verb (e.g., “Assisted customers with purchases” or “Maintained inventory records”).
• Accomplishments: If applicable, include any achievements, such as “Increased sales by 15%” or “Handled 50+ customer transactions daily.”

Example:

Cashier – Springfield Grocery, Springfield, IL
June 2022 – August 2022
– Assisted customers with purchases and returns.
– Managed daily cash flow, ensuring accuracy in transactions.
– Provided excellent customer service, handling 50+ transactions per shift.

Pro Tip:

If you don’t have formal work experience, consider including volunteer work, school projects, or extracurricular activities that demonstrate responsibility and leadership. For example, if you led a school club, that shows leadership skills!

5. Skills: Highlighting What You Bring to the Table

The skills section is where you can list your abilities that are relevant to the job or internship you’re applying for. Think about both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (personal attributes).

Examples of Hard Skills:

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Basic HTML and CSS coding
• Graphic Design (Photoshop, Canva)
• Public Speaking

Examples of Soft Skills:

• Time Management
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Problem Solving
• Communication Skills

Pro Tip: Tailor your skills section to the job you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a tech internship, prioritize listing your coding skills. If you’re applying to work in retail, emphasize customer service and communication skills.

6. Extracurricular Activities: Showcasing Your Involvement

In this section, you can include any clubs, sports, or organizations you’re involved in at school or in your community. These activities highlight your leadership, teamwork, and time management skills.

What to Include:

• Activity Name: The club, organization, or team you participated in.
• Role: If you held a leadership position, mention it (e.g., “President of Debate Club”).
• Dates: When you participated (e.g., “September 2020 – Present”).
• Responsibilities or Achievements: Mention any notable contributions or responsibilities (e.g., “Organized weekly meetings and led debates on current events”).

Example:

President, Debate Club
Springfield High School, Springfield, IL
September 2020 – Present
– Led weekly debates on various topics, fostering critical thinking among members.
– Organized annual school-wide debate competition, increasing participation by 30%.

Transform Your Resume Today!

 

Now that you understand the essential parts of a resume, it’s time to start building one of your own! Remember to tailor each section to the job or internship you’re applying for, and don’t be afraid to highlight your unique skills, experiences, and achievements—even if they come from school or volunteer activities. A great resume can open many doors, so take your time crafting it and be proud of what you’ve accomplished so far. Ready to learn more? Check out our guide on