How to Write a Resume for Teens
As a teenager, getting your first job, internship, or volunteer position is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel intimidating - especially when it comes to writing a resume. If you haven’t written a resume before, you might be unsure where to start or how to highlight your skills and experiences. Even if you don’t have much work experience yet, you do have a lot of valuable qualities to offer a potential employer. By following the tips in this blog post, you can create a stand out resume that showcases your strengths and sets you up for success.
1. Start with the Basics: Contact Information
The first section of your resume is where employers will look for your contact details. Be sure to include:
Full name
Phone number
Professional email address (Avoid using nicknames or anything that might come across as unprofessional)
LinkedIn profile or personal website (If applicable)
Tip: If you don't have a LinkedIn profile or a personal website, that's okay as it's not a requirement for most roles.
2. Focus on Education
Since you might not have much work experience, your education section should be front and centre. Be sure to include:
Your high school’s name
Location (city, state)
Graduation or expected graduation date (Month, Year)
Relevant subjects (If applicable, especially if it relates to the job you're applying for)
Academic achievements (Grades or awards if applicable)
For example, you might include ‘Completed Units 3&4 of Specialist Mathematics and achieved a raw study score of 40 to be in the top 5% of the state.’
3. Use Extracurricular Activities and Volunteering
Teens often have valuable experience outside of traditional jobs. Whether you're involved in sports, clubs, community service, or any other extracurricular activities, these experiences are worth including on your resume. You can highlight how you’ve developed transferable skills through these activities, like teamwork, leadership and communication.
Use the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe your accomplishments. For example:
Situation: As the Sports Captain at [Secondary School Name], there was a need to boost engagement in interschool sports programs.
Task: The responsibility involved organising a school-wide sports tournament.
Action: This included coordinating with school staff for venue setup, recruiting team leaders, and promoting the event through newsletters and announcements.
Result: The tournament attracted over 200 students from Year 7 to Year 12 and resulted in an increase of 25% in interschool sports registrations.
This makes your contributions more tangible and impactful to employers.
4. Quantify Your Achievements
Numbers speak louder than words! Whether you’ve helped raise money for a school event, completed a large project, or volunteered at your local church, be sure to include quantifiable achievements whenever possible.
For example:
Managed social media for a school club, increasing followers by 30% in 6 months
Led a volunteer group that cleaned up local parks, completing 10 clean-up events in 3 months
Raised $1,500 for a charity during a school fundraiser
Quantifying your achievements shows that you take initiative and get results, even if you don’t have formal work experience yet.
5. Keep it ATS-Friendly
You may have heard of ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). These are tools that many employers use to screen resumes before they even reach a human. To make sure your resume is ATS-friendly, follow these guidelines:
Use standard fonts like Arial or Calibri (Avoid fancy fonts or images).
Stick to a simple, clean layout. Avoid using tables, multiple columns or text boxes.
Use keywords from the job description in your resume. Many ATS systems scan resumes for specific terms that match the role.
These tips ensure your resume makes it past the automated filters and into the hands of hiring managers. For more tips on how to optimise your resume for an ATS: check out this blog post: How To Optimise Your Resume For ATS — TLW Resume Services — TLW Resume Services
6. Formatting and Layout Tips
When it comes to writing a resume in Australia, less is more. A clean, easy-to-read layout is important, especially for someone with limited experience. Here are a few tips to keep your resume looking professional:
Keep it to one page. This is especially important for teens who are just starting their careers. Employers won’t expect a long resume so be concise and focus on the most relevant information to the role you are applying for.
Use bullet points to list your skills and achievements clearly.
Use headers to separate each section (e.g., Education, Skills, Work Experience/Extracurricular Activities, Volunteering, Referees).
Leave white space to ensure the resume doesn’t look overcrowded.
The goal is to highlight your strengths while making it easy for employers to read through your resume quickly.
7. Proofreading and Feedback
A resume is your first impression, so it’s important to proofread carefully before submitting it. Check for:
Spelling and grammar errors
Consistent formatting
Clear, concise language
If possible, ask a trusted adult (like a parent, teacher, or mentor) to review your resume and provide feedback. Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes can catch mistakes or offer helpful suggestions.
Need Help?
If you’re still feeling stuck or want expert help creating a resume that will stand out, TLW Resume Services can assist. Whether you're applying for your first job or an internship following secondary school, we can help you showcase your skills and experience (even if it’s limited) with confidence.
Contact TLW Resume Services today and let us help you get started on your career journey!
If you’re happy with how your resume is looking but are after some tips on how to go about finding your first job, check out this article by The Parents Website: Tips for teenagers on finding that first job