High School Student Resume Examples & First Job Guide

Looking at high school student resume examples is one of the most effective ways to understand what your first CV should look like. As a high school student, you may feel that you have nothing to put on a resume — but this guide will show you exactly how to build a compelling document that gets you hired, even without any paid work history. We will also answer the frequently asked question: should I include high school on resume?

Should I Include High School on Resume?

The answer to "should I include high school on resume" depends entirely on where you are in your educational journey:

• If you are currently in high school — Yes, absolutely include it. It is your most current and relevant credential. List your school name, expected graduation year, and GPA if it is 3.0 or above.
• If you are in college or university — Your high school is generally replaced by your college education. Exception: if you attended a prestigious or specialist high school that is well-known in your industry, it may be worth retaining.
• If you are a recent graduate with no college education — Include high school until you have sufficient work experience (typically 2–3 years) to fill a page without it.

High School Student Resume Examples: Section by Section

Contact Information

Include your full name, a professional-sounding email address (firstname.lastname@email.com, not cool.gamer99@email.com), your phone number, and your city and state. You do not need to include your full street address on a public resume.

Profile / Personal Statement

Write 2–3 sentences that describe who you are as a candidate: your strongest qualities, what you are studying, and what kind of role you are seeking. Keep it honest and specific.

Example: "Motivated and reliable high school senior with a 3.8 GPA and two years of volunteer experience in community events. Seeking a part-time customer service role where I can apply my communication skills and strong work ethic. Available evenings and weekends."

Education

For high school student resume examples, the education section is your primary credential. Include:

• School name and location (city, state)
• Grade level or expected graduation year
• GPA (include if 3.0 or higher)
• Relevant coursework (AP classes, vocational programmes, arts or STEM subjects related to your target role)
• Academic honours and awards

How to Write a Resume for Your First Job — The Experience Section

This is where most first-timers panic — but learning how to write a resume for your first job experience section is simpler than it seems. Include any of the following:

• Volunteer work — community service, charity events, school fundraisers
• Extracurricular roles — team captain, club officer, school council member
• Informal paid work — babysitting, lawn mowing, car washing, dog walking
• School projects — significant projects that demonstrate relevant skills
• Personal projects — an app you built, a YouTube channel you manage, a small business you run

For each entry, write one or two bullet points that describe what you did and the impact it had. Quantify wherever possible: number of people served, hours committed, money raised, followers gained.

Skills Section

Even without extensive work experience, you likely have a solid range of skills. Common entries for high school student resume examples skills sections:

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
• Social media platforms (specify which ones you manage proficiently)
• Customer service and communication
• Cash handling and POS systems (if applicable)
• First aid certification (if completed)
• Foreign languages (specify proficiency level)
• Driving licence (if applicable)

Full High School Student Resume Example

Jordan M. Casey | jordan.casey@email.com | (555) 000-1234 | Chicago, IL

Profile
Enthusiastic and dependable high school junior with a 3.7 GPA and two years of leadership experience through student council and volunteering. Seeking a part-time retail position where I can deliver excellent customer service and grow within a professional team. Available weekends and after 3:30 PM on school days.

Education
Lincoln High School, Chicago, IL | Expected Graduation: June 2026
GPA: 3.7 | Relevant Coursework: Business Studies, AP English Language
Awards: Academic Excellence Award 2024, Perfect Attendance 2023–2024

Experience
Student Council Vice President | Lincoln High School | Sept 2023–Present
• Coordinated 6 school events with attendance of 300+ students, managing a $2,000 budget
• Led weekly team meetings with 12 council members and presented updates to school administration

Volunteer | Lincoln Park Community Food Bank | Summer 2023 & 2024
• Sorted and distributed food parcels to 80+ families per session during summer programmes
• Received commendation from programme director for reliability and initiative

Skills
Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Customer Service, Cash Handling (experience from family business), Basic Spanish (conversational), Team Leadership