Helping Your Teen Craft Their First Resume: A Parent’s Guide 

Your child’s first job is an exciting step toward independence! Whether they want to earn extra money, gain valuable experience, or start saving for the future, creating a solid resume is the first significant move. But where should they start, especially if they haven’t had a job before? Don’t worry! This guide is here to help you support your teen in writing their first resume, even if their work experience is limited. 

Keep the Resume Neat and Professional 

A well-organized and professional-looking resume makes a great first impression. Your teen should keep their resume to one page and use a simple, readable font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at 12 points. A one-inch margin around the text will help keep everything neat. 

The resume should start with their contact information at the top. This includes their full name, phone number, email address, and home address. Make sure they use a professional email address that reflects their name. 

If they’re unsure where to begin, a résumé template can be helpful. 

Help Them Define Their Goals 

Following the contact information, it’s a good idea to include an objective statement. This brief paragraph should highlight their career goals and aspirations. The most effective objective statements are tailored to the specific job or opportunity your teen is applying for. For example, if they’re seeking an internship in marketing, they could mention their interest in gaining hands-on experience in the field. 

Help your teen dream big! If they have future goals or a dream job in mind, encourage them to include that in their objective statement. For example, if they’re applying for a customer service position, they might write, “Seeking a customer service role to use my communication skills and assist customers at (Company Name).” 

Highlighting Their Skills 

Your teen might think that without job experience, they don’t have much to put on a resume—but that’s not true! They’ve gained valuable skills through school, clubs, and volunteering. Help them think about what they’re good at and how those skills could be useful in a job. 

Some examples of skills they might include are: 

• Effective listening 

• Social media savvy 

• Writing 

• Artistic talents (painting, drawing, theater, music) 

• Cooking 

Encourage them to think about times they’ve used these skills, whether in a school project, volunteering, or a hobby they’re passionate about. 

Showcasing Their Education 

Education is a key part of their resume. Make sure they list their school(s) and the years they’ve attended. They should also include relevant coursework that demonstrates their knowledge and skills in specific areas. For example, if they’re applying for a business administration program, mentioning courses like economics, accounting, or entrepreneurship can show their commitment to learning and preparedness for future opportunities. 

Include Their Achievements 

Remind your teen to highlight any awards, scholarships, or recognitions they’ve earned in school. They should also include clubs, committees, or academic contests they have participated in. For example, if they’re applying for a tutoring job and have won an award for their English grades, they should mention it. 

Using Strong Action Words 

When describing their experiences, encourage your teen to use action words that show they took initiative. These words help employers see that they’re motivated and ready to contribute. Here are some action words they can use: 

• Observed 

• Organized 

• Assisted 

• Developed 

• Trained 

• Tutored 

• Researched 

For example, if they helped organize a school event, they could write, “Organized a school event for 100+ students, managing logistics, and coordinating volunteers.” 

Being Creative with Their Experience 

Even without formal job experience, there are plenty of ways your teen can showcase their skills and work ethic. Encourage them to include any part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer work they’ve completed. Even if the experience isn’t directly related to their desired field, it shows potential employers or educational institutions that they’ve gained valuable skills. 

Consider any experiences they’ve had, like babysitting, dog walking, helping with a home project, or organizing a club event—these all count! Including them on their resume demonstrates responsibility and teamwork. 

Encourage them to focus on tasks and responsibilities that demonstrate transferable skills like teamwork, problem-solving, customer service, or time management. Quantifying their achievements whenever possible (e.g., “Assisted in organizing an event attended by more than 200 people”) adds weight to their resume. 

Final Tips 

Before submitting their resume, remind your teen to carefully proofread it to catch any errors or typos. A polished resume leaves a strong impression on potential employers. It’s also a good idea to have someone else, like a teacher, counselor, or family member, review the resume to provide feedback and catch anything they might have missed. 

For additional support, encourage them to check out this video on résumé do’s and don’ts and this free webinar where K12’s career coaches share tips to make their résumé stand out. 

If your child is enrolled in a K12-powered high school with career and college prep programs, they can meet with a career coach to hone their interview skills, plan for college, craft a compelling résumé, and build future plans. 

Landing their first job can feel a bit overwhelming for your teen, but with a well-crafted resume, they’re already ahead of the game. Remind them to take their time, be honest about their skills and experiences, and not be afraid to show a little personality. This resume is their ticket to the beginning of their career journey!