How to Write a Resume for a Teenager’s First Job

A resume gives an employer a quick picture of what you can do and how to contact you. For a first job, you do not need a long work history: school responsibilities, clubs, personal projects, and volunteer roles can all show useful qualities. Before you start, find the job posting or write down the role’s main duties, then gather accurate details about your experience and contact information.

What You’ll Need

A copy of the job posting, or notes on the job’s tasks and requirements.
A document or word-processing app and a simple, readable template.
Your accurate contact details, school name, education dates, and expected graduation date if relevant.
Notes on activities, projects, volunteering, informal responsibilities, achievements, and skills you can support with examples.
A trusted adult, teacher, or counselor who can proofread the finished resume.

Step-by-Step

Read the job posting. Underline the duties and qualities the employer asks for, such as being dependable, helping customers, organizing items, or working as part of a team. Use these to decide what to emphasize, but do not claim a qualification you do not have.
Choose a simple layout. Start with a plain, one-page format and consistent headings. Use a readable font, clear spacing, and ordinary text rather than decorative graphics or complicated columns. Save a copy you can edit, then export or print it in the format the employer requests.
Add your name and contact information. Put your name prominently at the top, followed by a professional email address and a phone number where you can receive messages. Include your city and state if useful, but a full street address is generally unnecessary. Check that your voicemail greeting is appropriate and that you can respond to messages.
Write a short introduction if it adds value. A two- or three-line summary can state that you are a student seeking a particular type of first job and name two relevant strengths. For example, mention punctuality and experience helping with school events only if those statements are true. Skip vague claims such as “I am the perfect employee.”
List your education. Name your school, its location, and your current grade or expected graduation date when relevant. You can include a strong grade, relevant coursework, an award, or an academic project if it helps show a skill the job needs. Do not include every class or private school records.
Describe experience beyond paid jobs. Add relevant volunteering, clubs, team activities, family responsibilities, school projects, or personal projects. Give each entry a role or activity name and dates or a general time period you can verify. Describe what you did, rather than presenting an informal responsibility as paid employment.
Turn duties into specific bullet points. Start with an action verb, then explain the task and, where possible, what it supported. For example: “Organized supplies for a school event and helped the team prepare activity stations.” A specific, truthful description is more useful than a list of personality traits. Do not invent numbers, results, or responsibilities.
Choose relevant skills. Include practical abilities that match the role, such as clear communication, basic computer skills, organizing materials, or speaking another language. Be ready to explain where you used each skill. Avoid listing skills you have not practiced or calling yourself an expert without a solid basis.
Check details and tailor the final copy. Compare the resume with the posting and move the most relevant information higher. Correct spelling, dates, names, and contact details. Ask a trusted adult to review it, then make sure the document opens properly and is easy to read on screen or on paper.

Common Mistakes

Thinking no paid experience means nothing to include. School projects, volunteering, activities, and responsibilities can demonstrate useful skills when described honestly.
Using a generic list of traits. “Hard-working” is not as convincing as a brief example of completing a task or helping a group.
Adding information that is not true. Do not exaggerate dates, titles, achievements, skill levels, or work history. Employers may ask follow-up questions.
Making the page hard to scan. Dense paragraphs, tiny text, distracting colors, and elaborate designs can hide your most relevant information.
Including unnecessary personal details. A photo, full street address, birth date, or unrelated personal information usually does not help an employer assess your fit. Share sensitive information only through an appropriate, requested process.
Sending the wrong file or an unproofread copy. Follow the application instructions, check the attachment, and use a clear filename such as “FirstName_LastName_Resume.”

Tips

Use the job posting’s language naturally when it accurately describes your experience; do not simply copy a list of requirements.
Put your strongest, most relevant information near the top. A reader should be able to understand your main strengths at a glance.
Use short bullet points, consistent formatting, and action verbs such as “organized,” “helped,” “created,” or “maintained.”
Keep a general version as a starting point, then adjust the order and wording for each application.
Be prepared to discuss anything on the page. If you cannot explain a skill or example clearly, rewrite it or leave it out.
Ask a teacher, school counselor, librarian, or trusted adult for feedback, especially if you are unsure what counts as relevant experience.

Troubleshooting

If the page looks too empty: Add relevant school projects, volunteering, activities, or responsibilities, with clear examples of what you did. Do not add filler just to use the space; a concise resume is better than one padded with unrelated details.

If you have no obvious experience: Think about tasks you have completed for a class, team, community group, or household. Choose examples that show skills related to the job, and label them accurately. If nothing fits, focus on education, relevant skills, and genuine interest in learning.

If you are unsure whether a detail belongs: Ask whether it helps show you can do something the job needs. If it is private, unrelated, or difficult to explain, leave it out or ask a trusted adult for guidance.

If you do not hear back: Check that the application was submitted correctly and that your contact details are right. Follow any stated instructions about when or how to follow up; do not send repeated messages. Keep applying to suitable roles rather than assuming one unanswered application reflects your abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a teenager’s first resume be?

Usually one page is enough. Include relevant details, not every activity or class you have ever taken.

What can I put on a resume if I have never had a job?

Use relevant school projects, volunteering, clubs, team activities, personal projects, and responsibilities. Describe what you actually did and what skills it involved.

Should I include references on my resume?

Only include references if the employer asks for them. Otherwise, use the space for relevant experience and skills, and ask people before listing them as references.

Do I need a resume for an entry-level job?

Some employers accept applications without one, while others request a resume. Follow the posting’s instructions; a concise resume can make your strengths easy to see.

Should I include my age or a photo?

Usually not. Provide personal details only when an application specifically and appropriately requests them, and ask a trusted adult if you are uncertain.

What file format should I send?

Use the format requested by the employer. If none is specified, a PDF often preserves the layout, but check that the file opens and is readable before sending it.

Further reading: U.S. Department of Labor. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.