Everyone needs to start somewhere. While having previous work experience is great, smart companies shouldn’t write off those who don’t. Especially not teenagers. This begs an important question, though. How do you write a resume with no work experience? 

When it comes to writing your first resume, there are a lot more important things employers are looking for than whether or not you’ve been employed before. The resume is a tool that gives potential employers a succinct idea of who you are and what they can expect from you. 

A well-written, detailed resume that highlights your best qualities is going to go a long way for you, even if you have no actual work experience. If you can prove to an employer that you are someone motivated with strong integrity, the fact that you don’t have any work experience won’t harm your chances. In fact, it could even end up working in your favor. 

So, what should you include in your first resume? We’ve boiled it down to four essentials that every teen needs to add to their resume: education, experience (not work), skills, and a summary. We’ve also included a fifth bonus tip to help reduce resume writing stress. Let’s dive in!

Highlight Education 

Think of school almost like a job and consider what you’ve learned as relevant experience to be drawn upon when applying for jobs. Most companies are looking for teens with high school diplomas or higher. You can still apply for work if you’re in school, don’t worry. Here’s what you should include on your resume: 

• Relevant Coursework:

  Highlight the courses that match the job you are applying for. Most STEM fields will look for things like computer science and math skills. But don’t forget to include the fundamentals like English and writing to show that you are competent at written and verbal communication. 

• GPA/Honors:

  You can find your current GPA (Grade Point Average) on your latest report card. A high GPA of 3.5 or more will indicate to employers your willingness to work hard and that you have a good set of brains to boot. Including any honors you’ve received is also helpful. 

• Certifications:

  It is also important to share any kind of certifications you’ve obtained outside of school. For example, if you’ve completed CPR or First Aid courses, those are valuable skills. 

Remember, Experience is Work

You may not have had an official job, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t worked. You’ve had plenty of experiences in your life that showcase your interests and professionalism. Potential employers will find these extremely valuable. 

• Volunteering:

  Community involvement of any kind, whether it’s working at the senior center or doing community trash clean ups, will show employers your willingness to work with other people because to do the right thing. 

• Part-Time Work: 

  Part-time work doesn’t necessarily mean a part-time job, but it could include things like mowing neighbors lawns on the weekend, babysitting, or tutoring. These experiences showcase your skill set, which is important for employers. 

• Extracurriculars:

  This can include sports, clubs, student council, and etc. Any extracurricular that showcases leadership, teamwork, and skill development will serve you well on a resume. 

Got Skills?

Of course you do! Everyone does. Even if you’ve never worked a formal job, you definitely have a developed skill set that will serve you in the workforce. Hard and soft skills are things employers find useful to learn about your character and knowledge. 

Pro Tip: When looking at jobs you’re interested in, match the skills you list in your resume to the ones in the job description. Here are some commonly listed skills: 

• Communication
• Research
• Computer Skills
• Leadership
• Customer Service
• First Aid/CPR

Summarize Yourself

A one or two-sentence summary of yourself and your objective is a great way to show employers both your writing skills and your assets as a worker. The summary at the top of your resume is a great opportunity to prime an employer for the skills and education they’ll find in your resume. 

Here’s an example for someone looking to take on a job customer service: 

• High school graduate seeking a Customer Service position to put my exceptional organization and communication skills to work while helping me grow my skill set for a future career in customer relations. 

Personalize your summary based on the kind of job you’re applying for.

Bonus! Use a Template

Aside from its content, the most important part of a resume is its structure. Before an employer even reads a resume, they will look at its design to see if it’s crisp, clean, and professional. They will likely skip over anything that looks messy or patched together. So you’ll want to take some time and carefully choose your style. 

It’s also important to keep it simple because many companies use a resume reader to scan submissions and weed out ones that are irrelevant. Not to mention, simple formatting and fonts makes reading on a mobile device easier. For a sample resume and lots of additional tips, check out the free  Candidate Resources on our website.

At Masiello Employment Services, we know a thing or two about finding a job. We’ve been doing this for over 40 years. Even with minimal to no work experience, we can help you find a great position to start your career! If you’re looking to enter into the workforce, but don’t know where to start, give us a call at 603-358-1000 or visit masemp.com.