For High School Students • No Experience Required

High School Resume Examples That Actually Work

Get real resume examples for high school students applying to college, jobs, or internships—even with zero work experience.

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What to Put on a High School Resume (When You Have "Nothing")

You have more to share than you think. Here's what colleges and employers actually want to see:

Academics & Coursework

GPA (if 3.0+)
Relevant classes (AP, Honors, advanced courses)
Academic awards or honor roll
Test scores (SAT/ACT if strong)

Clubs & Activities

School clubs (debate, robotics, newspaper)
Sports teams (varsity, JV, captain roles)
Student government
Band, choir, drama, art programs

Volunteer Work

Community service hours
Church/religious group volunteering
Tutoring younger students
Animal shelter, food bank, cleanup events

Work & Leadership

Part-time jobs (babysitting, lawn care, retail)
Internships or job shadows
Family business help
Leadership roles in ANY capacity

💡Pro Tip: Reframe "Nothing" Into Experience

Instead of: "I just babysit my siblings"

Write: "Childcare Provider - Supervised 2 children ages 4-8, prepared meals, assisted with homework, managed schedules"

Even informal experience counts when you describe it professionally!

Example #1: High School Resume for College Applications

SARAH JOHNSON

(555) 123-4567 • sarah.johnson@email.com • Seattle, WA

EDUCATION

Lincoln High School, Seattle, WA

Expected Graduation: June 2025

• GPA: 3.8/4.0 (Honor Roll all semesters)
• Relevant Coursework: AP Calculus, AP English Literature, Honors Chemistry, Computer Science
• SAT: 1350 (Math: 700, Reading: 650)

ACTIVITIES & LEADERSHIP

Debate Team, Vice President

September 2022 – Present

• Led team of 15 students to regional championships, placing 2nd in Lincoln-Douglas debate
• Organized weekly practice sessions and coordinated tournament logistics
• Mentored 5 freshman debaters on research and argumentation skills

National Honor Society, Member

September 2023 – Present

• Completed 60+ hours of community service including tutoring and food bank volunteering
• Participated in peer tutoring program for math and English

Varsity Soccer Team

August 2021 – Present

• Starting midfielder for 3 seasons, team captain senior year
• Helped team reach district semifinals 2023

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Seattle Children's Hospital, Youth Volunteer

June 2023 – August 2024

• Assisted nursing staff with patient activities and family support services
• Organized recreational activities for pediatric patients ages 5-12
• Completed 120+ volunteer hours over summer programs

SKILLS & AWARDS

• Technical: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Basic Python, Adobe Photoshop
• Languages: English (native), Spanish (conversational)
• Awards: AP Scholar, Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Gold), Soccer All-Conference Team

✅ What Makes This Resume Strong:

Shows leadership: Vice President role, team captain, mentoring experience
Quantifies achievements: "60+ hours," "120+ volunteer hours," specific scores
Demonstrates consistency: Multi-year commitments to activities
Highlights impact: What she accomplished, not just what she did

Example #2: High School Resume for First Job

MARCUS WILLIAMS

(555) 987-6543 • marcus.w@email.com • Austin, TX

OBJECTIVE

Responsible and energetic high school student seeking part-time retail position. Strong communication skills, proven ability to work with diverse teams, and eager to provide excellent customer service.

EDUCATION

Austin High School, Austin, TX

Expected Graduation: May 2026

• GPA: 3.4/4.0
• Perfect Attendance Award (2023, 2024)

EXPERIENCE

Neighborhood Lawn Care, Owner/Operator

May 2023 – Present

• Provide lawn mowing, edging, and yard maintenance for 8 regular clients
• Manage scheduling, pricing, and customer communications independently
• Maintain equipment and ensure high-quality service resulting in 100% customer retention
• Earn $150-200/week during peak season

Family Childcare Assistant

August 2022 – April 2023

• Supervised younger siblings (ages 6 and 9) after school 3-4 days/week
• Prepared snacks, helped with homework, organized activities
• Demonstrated responsibility, time management, and problem-solving skills

ACTIVITIES

• Basketball Team, JV (2023-2024)
• Technology Club, Member (2023-Present)
• Community Service: Austin Food Bank volunteer (20 hours)

SKILLS

• Cash handling and basic math skills
• Reliable transportation (valid driver's license)
• Microsoft Office, Google Docs
• Excellent communication and teamwork
• Available evenings and weekends

✅ What Makes This Resume Work for Retail/Service Jobs:

Clear objective: States exactly what job he wants
Reframes informal work: Lawn care and babysitting become "business owner" and "childcare"
Shows reliability: Perfect attendance, customer retention, regular clients
Practical skills: License, availability, cash handling—what retail needs

5 High School Resume Mistakes to Avoid

1. Writing 'No Experience'

❌ The Mistake:

Leaving experience section blank or writing 'N/A'

✅ The Fix:

Reframe informal work: babysitting, lawn care, family business help, volunteer work ALL count as experience

2. Making It Too Long

❌ The Mistake:

Creating a 2-3 page resume with excessive detail

✅ The Fix:

Keep it to 1 page. You're in high school—colleges and employers expect brevity, not a novel

3. Using Unprofessional Email

❌ The Mistake:

Email: partygirl2007@hotmail.com or xXcoolkid420Xx@gmail.com

✅ The Fix:

Create a professional email: firstname.lastname@gmail.com or firstinitiallastname@gmail.com

4. Listing Every Single Thing

❌ The Mistake:

Including every club you joined for 2 weeks, every book you read, every class you took

✅ The Fix:

Focus on activities you were committed to for 6+ months or had meaningful involvement in

5. Forgetting Contact Info

❌ The Mistake:

No phone number or wrong email address

✅ The Fix:

Triple-check: phone, email, city/state. Make it easy for them to contact you

High School Resume FAQ

How long should a high school resume be?▼

Always 1 page. You're in high school—colleges and employers expect a concise, 1-page resume. Don't try to stretch it to 2 pages with excessive spacing or fluff. Focus on your strongest 4-6 activities, jobs, or experiences. Quality over quantity.

Should I include my GPA if it's below 3.0?▼

If your GPA is below 3.0, leave it off. You're not required to include GPA on a resume. Instead, highlight other strengths: "Honor Roll 2 semesters," relevant coursework, or improvements over time ("3.6 GPA junior year" if it's higher than your cumulative). Focus on what you're good at.

What if I really have NO experience?▼

You have more than you think. Consider:

School projects where you took a leadership role
Any club meetings you attended regularly
Helping family with tasks (landscaping, childcare, errands)
Online courses or self-taught skills (YouTube tutorials count!)
Church, temple, or community group involvement

Still nothing? Volunteer for 1-2 organizations this month. Even 10-20 hours gives you something to write about.

Should I include an objective or summary?▼

For jobs: Yes, brief objective. "Responsible high school student seeking part-time retail position to develop customer service skills."

For college apps: Skip it. Your application essay and activities list already explain your goals. Don't waste resume space.

Can I use a resume template?▼

Yes, but keep it simple. Avoid fancy designs with colors, borders, or columns—colleges and companies often use software that can't read creative layouts. Stick to clean, single-column templates with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman). A simple template from Google Docs or Word is fine.

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