Creating a resume is one of the most important tasks you should learn in high school. Whether you’re asking your teacher for a recommendation or applying for a job, a stellar resume is the key to putting your best foot forward. Please use this page to help you draft and perfect your first resume. Note: Keeping  your resume current (up-to-date) is something you will have to do throughout your entire career.

Creating a Resume:

Step 1:

Take out a sheet of paper and brainstorm the following information:

1. Objective

   • What kind of position do you hope to gain with this resume?

   • Although this section is not always mandatory, it is important to consider why you need the resume in the first place.

2. Education

   • Where do you go to school?

   • What is your expected graduation date?

   • What is your current weighted/ unweighted GPA?

   • Any relevant classes that you want to highlight? (Place these in a separate section to make them stand out).

3. Leadership

   • Think of any instances where you have held a leadership position.

     • Club officer? Special Leadership role within the classroom? Start your own business? Apart of the Student Government Association? Captain of your sports team or competition squad?

   • Now give that leadership role a title and tell your audience (using specific language) what you did in that leadership position.

   • Include dates of beginning and ending if possible.

4. Employment

   • Brainstorm any official jobs you have held.

   • What was the company?

   • Where was the company located? (i.e.- city, state)

   • What was your position?

   • What did that position entail? (What did  you do?)

   • How long did you hold that position or are you currently still in it?

5. Community Service

   • Have you given back to your community by doing philanthropic activities?

     • 5K Walk to Raise Money for Cancer Prevention, Donate clothes to Camillus House, Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen, Canned food drive for your Church?

   • What is the specific name of the event?

   • When did the event occur?

   • Where was the event?

   • What was your role? (coordinator, participant, cheer squad?)

   • How many hours did you volunteer?

6. Skills

   • Languages

     • Are you bilingual? Multilingual? How many languages do you speak and are you fluent?

     • It is O.K. to say you have a working knowledge of a language. (i.e.- You know enough of the language to get by in a work environment, but you are not fluent like a native speaker.)

   • What computer skills do you possess?

     • Microsoft Suite Products (Word, Excel, etc.)?

     • Coding? (Be specific with which languages- Html, Java, C++)

     • Adobe Photoshop

     • It is important to think of everything you know. You are competing with individuals who are extremely tech savvy.

7. References

   • Choose three (3) individuals who know your work ethic and can vouch for you if an employer calls.

   • Reach out and ask these three people BEFORE you put them on your resume.

   • Take down their full name, title (position), contact number, email address.

   • You can either choose to put your references at the bottom of your resume or say “References available upon request.”

Check out this sheet with keywords on page two.

Writing a Resume with Key Words

Step 2:

Type up your resume.

1. Your header should be your name, address, professional email address, and best contact phone number.

2. Ensure that it is in order.

3. Use complete, clear, concise sentences.

4. Choose an organizational style that highlights your strengths and downplays your weaknesses.

5. Utilize keywords from the job application to draw the employer’s eyes to those skills.

Need Examples?

Adult Examples:

Lizek’s Resume

Stephens’ Resume

Step 3:

Write a cover letter.

1. A cover letter is to inform your employer what position you are applying for.

2. Sometimes your employer does not ask for a cover letter.

3. In case they do, it is vital that you know how to write one.

   1. Be sure to address it properly.

   2. Know who to address it to. (Do your research!)

   3. Be clear about which position you are applying for.

   4. Highlight reasons why you are the ideal candidate.

   5. Do NOT make it too long.

4. Need Examples?

Sample Resume Cover Letter

Step 4:

Proofread your resume at least five (5) times before you send it to a potential employer.

• Have your parents, teachers, friends, proofread your resume! Get as many eyes looking for errors as possible.

• It is a huge negative to have a typo on your resume.

Need more advice?

Take a look at these helpful articles.

“Top Recruiter Share 8 Things She Can Spot In a Resume”