Writing your first-ever professional resume is a challenge.
How do you sell yourself to an employer, when you don't (yet) have any experience in the field?
  • Examine life experience and academic achievements to show that you'll be an asset to the company, despite the fact that you don't have any related job titles to show off at this stage in your career.
  • Include jobs like babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, and shoveling snow.
  • Include volunteer experience, school achievements, sports, and clubs and organizations you belong to.

Types of Skills High School Students Have
​Your resume can include skills that you have learned in school, in extracurricular activities, in sports, and in volunteering. For example, if you have played football, soccer, basketball, or other sports, you have teamwork skills. Were you the captain? You have leadership skills.

Have you taken a computer class or taught yourself how to use software programs? You have computer skills. Almost everyone has some level of communication skills. If you can carry on a conversation, present in class or write a paper for school, you are communicating.

When you have successfully juggled personal activities and schoolwork, you’re flexible and dependable. Did you work on a group project? You have collaboration skills. 

Do you babysit or mow a neighbor’s lawn? You are reliable and dependable.
Top Five High School Student Skills
Five skills that almost every high school student has, and that almost every employer is looking for.
  • Communication Skills
  • Dependable / Responsible
  • Quick Learner
  • Teamwork
  • Technology Skills​
Communication Skills
Communication is a skill that refers to your ability to both convey information to others, and listen. This skill includes oral and written communication.
Every student has some experience developing his or her communication skills. 
Employers are always looking for employees with strong written and oral communication skills, so be sure to emphasize your communication experiences.
Dependable / Responsible
​Employers are looking for teenagers who are mature, and whom they can rely on to show up on time and get the job done. Emphasize your responsible nature.
Have there been times when you were given additional responsibilities (in work, school, or even sports) due to your dependable character? Include examples of these.
Quick Learner
Employers typically don’t expect high school students to know all the skills they need for a job right away. However, they will expect you to pick up new skills quickly. Emphasize times in the past that you picked up on a new skill or technique with ease.
Teamwork
Many jobs for high school students involve working on a team, whether as part of the wait staff for a restaurant or as a co-counselor at a summer camp.
Include in your resume examples of times that you worked well as part of a team, such as a sports team, club, or music group.
Technology Skills
People are always looking for employees who are good with technology, and luckily, many high school students have that skill. If you have any experience (either in school or through extracurricular activities) working on particular computer programs, or doing any other technology-related activities, include these. If you have a lot of these experiences, you might even create a “Technology Skills” section on your resume.

Here’s a list of basic skills you can include when writing your resume.