First resume for a high school student’s summer job
A first resume for a summer job, babysitting or a weekend job: the template highlights your grade, activities and availability. It's ready in ten minutes.
For a first job, nobody expects a work history. The person hiring, often a store owner, restaurant manager or camp director, wants someone responsible, polite, available and motivated. Your resume should show that in half a page to a page, with concrete details: your studies, what you do outside class, and when you’re available.
The sections of a high school student resume
The header: first and last name, city, phone, a professional email address.
The title: “High School Junior, summer job June to August”.
The summary: two sentences about you and the type of job you want.
Experience: babysitting, volunteering, helping at a family business, odd jobs.
Education: your grade, school and GPA if it’s strong.
Skills and languages.
Interests: sports, music, involvement, with a specific detail.
Everything that counts as experience
Activity
What it shows
Regular babysitting
Responsibility, reliability
Job shadowing or school internship
Exposure to the working world
Helping at a family business
Customer contact, punctuality
Student council
Listening, public speaking
Team sports
Perseverance, team spirit
Volunteering
Commitment, independence
An example summary
“High school junior, responsible and comfortable with the public, looking for a summer job in food service, retail or at a summer camp. Available June 10 to August 20.”
Availability, the most important information
For a summer job, the employer needs to know exactly when you’re free. Give precise dates, and if you’re under 18, keep in mind that work hours and certain tasks are limited for minors. An employer will appreciate that you know the rules.
Where to drop off your resume
At stores, restaurants and pools near you, in person.
At summer camps and recreation centers in your area.
At farms and orchards for seasonal harvest work.
On seasonal job sites and through your school’s counseling office.
Your email address and phone
One detail matters a lot on a first resume: your email address. Create a simple one with your first and last name rather than a nickname. Also make sure your voicemail is set up with a clear greeting: an employer who reaches a full mailbox often moves on to the next candidate. Finally, keep your phone close in the days after you drop off resumes: summer employers call back fast.
Prepare for the interview
For a summer job, the interview often lasts ten to fifteen minutes. Prepare a simple introduction: your grade, what you enjoy doing, why this job interests you and your availability dates. Arrive on time, in clean clothes, with a printed copy of your resume.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a summer job?
Under US federal law, teens can work from age 14 in many jobs, with limits on hours and tasks until 16. State rules vary, and some states require a work permit for minors.
What should I put on a high school student resume?
Your grade and school, babysitting or odd jobs, volunteering, your regular activities, your languages and, above all, your availability.
Should I add a photo to my first resume?
No. In the US, resumes don't include photos.
When should I look for a summer job?
From early spring. Many seasonal employers hire between March and May for the summer.
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