how to make a resume at 14

Crafting the Perfect Resume For Teens (Template & Expert Advice)

By Ammar Ahmed

Published: January 16, 2024

Teen Employment

Ammar Ahmed

Writer & Career Coach

Stepping into the job scene as a teenager might feel overwhelming, especially with little to no work history. If you’re drawing a blank on how to put together a resume for teens, you’re not alone. This article is here to help, offering simple tips and examples that’ll guide you in creating a resume that shines, even if it’s your first.

The Modern Job Market for Teens

Teenagers seeking jobs today face a different landscape than previous generations did. With the digital age in full swing, there’s a new playground that’s opened up.

Evolving Job Market

Today’s job market has seen a significant evolution. Gone are the days when teens were limited to jobs at local stores or summer camps. The digital revolution has ushered in opportunities in the form of remote work and participation in the gig economy. Whether it’s freelance writing , graphic design , or even virtual assistance, the horizon has expanded tremendously for teens.

Digital Presence & Resumes

Having an online presence is almost as crucial as having a well-crafted resume for teens. Just as a resume showcases your skills and achievements, online platforms, such as personal websites, LinkedIn profiles, and even certain social media accounts, act as an extension of this presentation. It’s where potential employers or educators can get a holistic view of who you are, both as a potential employee and as an individual.

Crafting a Professional Online Image

• Professional Profile & Headshot: Just as a resume needs to be polished, so does your online image. Start with a clear, professional headshot. This doesn’t necessarily require hiring a professional photographer; even a well-lit, high-quality photograph against a neutral background can work wonders.
• Bio/Summary: Draft a brief bio or summary focusing on your main interests, strengths, and future aspirations. This isn’t a space to be overly formal but be succinct and genuine. Let it reflect who you are and where you see yourself in the future.
• Engage with Relevant Companies: Identify and follow organizations or companies in fields you’re passionate about. This will not only keep you informed about the latest trends and job opportunities but will also demonstrate your genuine interest in that domain.
• Recommendations: As you build connections, don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations or endorsements, especially from individuals you’ve worked with or under whose guidance you’ve achieved something notable. These serve as testimonials, lending credibility to your skills and achievements.

To sum it up, today’s job market for teens is a blend of the traditional and the digital. By combining a well-prepared resume with a thoughtful online presence, teenagers can stand out and make their mark in this evolved job environment.

Teen Resume Template

Mapping out a resume for teens can feel like a maze, but with the right structure, it can be simplified. Here’s a tailored template to guide teenagers in creating a resume that captures attention:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary
• Work Experience
• Hobbies and Interests
• Achievements and Awards

1. Contact Information

Your contact details offer the first impression, even before face-to-face interactions.

• Name: Clearly state your full name. If common, include a middle initial, e.g., “James T. Kirk.”
• Phone Number: Provide a reliable contact, ensuring a professional voicemail greeting.
• Address: List your city and state, or a full address if comfortable.
• Email Address: Select a mature, straightforward email format, such as [email protected] . Avoid playful or quirky IDs.

This section is your gateway for potential opportunities, so it’s essential to appear polished and easily reachable.

2. Resume Summary

Your resume summary gives a quick overview of who you are and what you’ve achieved. Think of it as a brief snapshot of your abilities and goals.

• Introduction: Begin by identifying yourself. For instance, you might be a “committed high school junior” or a “tech-focused sophomore.”
• Your Achievements & Experiences: Reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far, even if it’s just within school or your local community. This can range from leading a successful school project to mastering a difficult subject or skill at home.
• Connect With Your Desired Role: Make sure that what you mention aligns with the job or position you’re aiming for. This shows that you understand what’s expected and that you’ve prepared yourself for it.
• State Your Goals: This is where you mention what you want to achieve, be it learning new skills, gaining work experience, or exploring a particular interest further.

Example Summaries:

“High school junior deeply involved in environmental projects. Successfully headed the school’s Earth Day event. Aiming to apply and grow these organizational skills in an environment-focused role.”

“Math-loving senior who’s excelled in advanced courses. Participated in school budgeting activities. Seeking an opportunity to further explore the world of finance and accounting.”

“Computer-savvy teen with experience in coding simple applications. Completed an online course in app development. Eager to contribute and enhance tech abilities in a related job setting.”

Your summary is essential. It’s the first main thing people read about you , so make sure it tells them about your strengths and how you want to use them in the future.

3. Education

Your education section shines a spotlight on your academic achievements and the courses you’ve taken that make you a fit for the job or opportunity you’re seeking.

• High School & Graduation Year: Start by stating the name of your high school and the year you’re set to graduate. This gives a clear picture of where you are in your academic journey.

“Springfield High School, Expected Graduation: 2026”

• Courses & Certifications: Here, highlight any courses that are relevant to the role you’re applying for. Also, if you’ve taken any additional certifications—like first aid or computer programming—this is the place to mention them.

“Relevant Courses: Advanced Math, Business Studies, Computer Programming Certification from XYZ Online”

• Achievements: Your academic accomplishments can be an asset, showcasing your dedication and hard work. Mention if you’ve consistently been on the honor roll, completed a standout project, or participated in any school-wide competitions.

“Achievements: Honor Roll for 3 consecutive years, Winner of the School Science Fair (2024), Lead Organizer for School’s Annual Charity Event.”

By neatly listing out these details in the education section of your resume for teens, you effectively communicate your academic foundation and the extra efforts you’ve put in during your school years.

4. Work Experience

The work experience section paints a picture of your real-world exposure, even if it seems minor or unrelated. Remember, every experience teaches something, whether it’s time management, responsibility, or teamwork.

• Part-time Jobs & Internships: Begin with any formal roles you’ve held. Include the job title, company or organization name, and the dates you worked there.

“Cashier, Green Grocer Shop, June 2022 – August 2022”

• Volunteer Roles: Volunteering can be as valuable as paid work. Mention any initiatives or community projects you’ve been a part of.

“Volunteer, Springfield Animal Shelter, September 2022 – December 2022”

• Extracurricular Activities: Being part of a school club, sports team, or drama group can showcase teamwork, dedication, and other valuable skills. Example: “Member, School Debate Team, 2021-2022”
• Job Shadowing: If you’ve spent a day or more observing a profession, it shows curiosity and a proactive approach. Example: “Shadowed, Springfield Town Hospital’s Pediatric Department, January 2023”
• Tasks & Odd Jobs: Babysitting , lawn mowing, or dog walking may seem mundane but highlight a sense of responsibility. Example: “Babysitter, neighborhood kids, various weekends 2022”

In crafting a resume for teens, the objective is to convey reliability, growth, and a willingness to learn. Your experiences, no matter how big or small, contribute to that image.

Skills are the tools in your toolkit that make you valuable in different settings, from the classroom to the workplace. As a teen, you might be surprised at the range of skills you’ve already developed.

• Foreign Language Proficiency: Being bilingual or even having basic knowledge of a second language can be a huge asset. Example: “Fluent in Spanish, Basic knowledge in French.”
• Basic Coding: In this digital age, understanding even the basics of coding can set you apart. Example: “Familiar with Python and HTML.”
• Graphic Design: If you’ve dabbled with design tools or taken a class, don’t hesitate to list it. Example: “Proficient with Adobe Illustrator.”
• Teamwork: Have you been part of group projects, sports teams, or clubs? This demonstrates your ability to work collaboratively. Example: “Experienced in collaborating with peers in school projects and sports teams.”
• Problem-Solving: This skill can be showcased through various instances, like finding a solution to a challenge during a school event. Example: “Handled scheduling conflicts during the school fest by creating a new event timetable.”
• Communication: Effective communication is crucial. This can be both written, like in essays, and verbal, like during class presentations.
• Example: “Gave multiple presentations in school and wrote articles for the school magazine.”

When creating a resume, it’s essential to recognize and present both hard and soft skills. These, combined with your education and experiences, form a comprehensive picture of what you bring to the table. To get a comprehensive understanding of what you can do in this section, review more examples of resume skill sections . 

6. Hobbies and Interests

Going beyond academics and work, the hobbies and interests section offers a unique window into who you are as an individual. It highlights your passions and showcases additional facets of your personality that might resonate with potential employers or institutions.

• Sports: Active involvement in sports indicates discipline, teamwork, and often, leadership skills.

“Varsity Basketball Player – Led the team as captain in 2022 and won the inter-school championship.”

• Music: Whether you play an instrument, sing, or even just appreciate certain genres, music can communicate dedication, creativity, and cultural awareness.

“Violinist – Played in the school orchestra for three years and performed in multiple concerts.”

• Arts: This could be anything from painting and drawing to drama. Artistic pursuits indicate creativity, patience, and a unique way of viewing the world.

“Drama Club Member – Acted in two school plays and helped with set design.”

• Crafts : Engaging in crafts suggests attention to detail, persistence, and sometimes, entrepreneurial spirit.

“Handmade Jewelry – Craft and sell necklaces and bracelets at local craft fairs.”

While this section might seem less formal, it’s integral to a holistic resume for teens. The activities you pursue in your free time can often provide valuable insights into your character, work ethic, and personal strengths. It allows potential employers or educators to see you as a well-rounded individual, not just a list of achievements.

7. Achievements and Awards

This section magnifies the moments where your dedication, skills, and efforts were recognized. It’s a testament to the hard work you’ve put into both your academic and extracurricular endeavors, helping to distinguish you from your peers.

• Academic Accomplishments: Recognition received for outstanding performance in school subjects or projects.

“Gold Medalist – Springfield High Math Olympiad 2022.”

• Extracurricular Recognition: Awards or commendations received outside of the regular curriculum but within the school environment.

“First Place – Schoolwide Poetry Slam 2023.”

• Competition Wins: Taking part in competitions, whether local, regional, or national, showcases your commitment and expertise in a specific field.

“Winner – Regional Science Fair 2023 for a project on sustainable energy.”

• Special Recognitions: These can be from outside of school, such as community awards or recognitions from workshops you’ve attended.

“Community Service Award – Recognized for 100+ volunteer hours at the Springfield Community Center in 2022.”

• Leadership Roles: If you’ve been entrusted with leadership positions, it’s worth mentioning as they underline qualities like responsibility, management, and guidance.

“Student Council President 2022-2023 – Led a team of 15 council members in organizing school events.”

In crafting a resume for teens, it’s vital to illuminate these achievements as they vouch for your capabilities and drive. They’re solid proof points of your dedication in various fields, making your application stand out. If you are still confused about how you should list your accomplishments, our guide will help you out!

8. References

References act as a bridge between you and potential employers or educational institutions. They vouch for your character, skills, and the authenticity of your accomplishments, providing an external voice that supports your claims.

• Character References: These individuals can speak about your personal qualities, work ethic, and attitude. They’ve seen you in action, whether in the classroom, in clubs, or during school events.

“Mr. John Doe, English Teacher , Springfield High. Witnessed my growth as a writer and communicator over two academic years.”

• Club Advisors and Coaches: If you’ve been active in extracurriculars, mentors from these activities can offer insights into your leadership, teamwork, and dedication.

“Ms. Jane Smith, Debate Club Advisor, Springfield High. Supervised and guided me during various inter-school debate competitions.”

• Professional References: For those who’ve dipped their toes into the work world, whether it’s a part-time job, an internship , or volunteering, references from these arenas are invaluable.

“Mrs. Emily Brown, Manager, GreenCafe. Oversaw my tasks during my summer job where I managed inventory and assisted customers.”

Always remember to ask for permission before listing someone as a reference . Inform them about the role or opportunity you’re applying for, so they’re prepared to give relevant insights if contacted.

In essence, a reference section complements the rest of the resume for teens. It doesn’t just vouch for what you’ve achieved but more importantly, how you’ve achieved it and the impact you’ve made. While it’s crucial to have a well-structured and informative resume, it’s equally important to show that you’re a passionate individual ready to grow and contribute. With this balanced approach, you’re sure to make a lasting impression.

How to Format a Teen Resume

Presenting your skills, experiences, and achievements in a structured and visually appealing manner is crucial. Here’s a guide on how to format a resume for teens, ensuring it stands out and leaves a lasting impression.

1. Functional Resume Format

A functional resume emphasizes skills and achievements over chronological work history. This format is ideal for teenagers as it allows you to spotlight your strengths and relevant experiences, even if you don’t have an extensive employment history.

Why It Works for Teens: The functional format is suited for those with minimal experience because it allows you to focus on your skills and potential. Instead of listing jobs in order, you’ll be showcasing qualities and achievements that make you a desirable candidate.

2.  Visually Appealing Layout

Your resume should be easy to read and navigate. A clean layout ensures the hiring manager or reviewer can easily spot essential information.

• Font & Size: Stick to professional fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, usually in sizes 11 or 12. These fonts are universally recognized and easy to read.
• Font Color: Always use a black font color. It’s classic, formal, and readable in both print and digital forms.
• Bullet Points: Use bullet points to list skills, experiences, or achievements. It helps in breaking up large chunks of text, making the document more scannable.
• Concise Professional Language: A resume for teens should be straightforward and to the point. Avoid jargon or overly complex terms.

3.  Page Margins and Length

When setting up your resume, use spaces (margins) of about 1 inch on all sides; this makes your page look clean and organized. For most resumes, especially for teens, sticking to a one-page resume is a good idea. It’s long enough to show off what you can do but short enough to keep the reader’s interest.

4. Save as PDF

Always save and send your resume as a PDF. This format ensures that the layout, fonts, and formatting remain consistent, no matter where or how it’s viewed. Moreover, a PDF is universally accessible and maintains the integrity of your document.

Formatting plays a significant role in ensuring that your resume isn’t just informative but also engaging. By following these guidelines, teens can present a resume that reflects professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine enthusiasm for the opportunities they seek.

Tips for Writing a Resume as a Teenager

Crafting a stellar resume as a teenager might seem challenging at first. However, by adopting a strategic approach and being attentive to details, you can create a resume that resonates with potential employers. Here are some vital tips to guide your resume-writing journey:

Read the Job Description Carefully

When you look at a job description, pay attention to specific words they use to describe the skills and experiences they’re looking for. These are called keywords. By including these keywords in your resume, you show potential employers that you’ve paid attention to what they want and that you might be a good fit.

Seek Feedback

It’s always a good idea to get a second pair of eyes on your resume. Talk to trusted adults, like teachers, family friends, or mentors, and ask them to look over your resume. They might give you helpful advice on making it better or point out things you missed.

Proofread for Errors and Clarity

Mistakes on a resume can make it look like you didn’t care enough to check your work. Before you send it off, read through it a few times. Look for spelling mistakes, grammar issues, and places where things might be confusing. This shows potential employers that you’re careful and pay attention to details.

Wrapping up, remember that lack of formal work experience doesn’t limit your opportunities. Many roles are perfectly tailored for teenagers. Interested in exploring further? Dive into our articles on summer jobs and internships for teens to kickstart your journey.

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What should a 16-year-old put on a resume?

If you are a high school or a college student struggling to make your first teen resume, you're not alone.

Generally, resumes showcase a candidate's professional experiences and skills.

However, as are a teenager applying for their first job, the basics for building a resume are slightly different.

For instance, a teen resume has an objective section instead of a resume summary.

Read on to learn more about teen resumes and related FAQs like the following:

• What is a teen resume?
• What sections should you include in a teen resume?
• How to create the header of a teen resume?
• How to create the objective section of a teen resume?
• What skills should you add to a resume for teens?
• How to write the work experience section in a teen resume?
• How to add education experience on a teen resume?
• How can you add certifications on a teen resume?
• Which additional sections can you add to a teen resume?

What is a Teen Resume?

A teen resume is a page-long document that showcases the best of your academic achievements and skills.

Whether you're applying for your first-part time job or college interviews, and internships, having a resume supports your application as it makes it easier for recruiters to see all your information in one place.

A teen resume is different than a professional resume as it focuses on academic achievements, volunteer work, projects, and extracurricular activities rather than work experiences.

According to the relevance with the job profile you're targetting, you can include the following volunteer work experiences in teen resumes:

• Volunteer work at animal rescue shelters
• Art museums
• National parks
• Political campaigns
• Food pantries
• Retirement homes
• Habitat for humanity
• Organizations like Red Cross
• Local libraries and
• Community blood drives

Also read: How to write a resume with no experience?

What Sections to Include in a Teen Resume?

First things first, you must compile all your information in a single file to streamline the process of building a teen resume.

Once you have all the information in one place, you can pick and choose which information you want to include in your teen resume, based on the job description.

Ensure to present this information in different sections to increase the readability of your resume by giving it a crisp and professional look.

Listed below are the must-have sections in a teen resume:

• Personal Information
• Internship/Volunteer experience (if any)
• Awards and Achievements
• Certifications

Extracurricular Activities

• Additional Information

Also Read: What are the different sections to add to a resume? .

Teenage Resume Header

The header is the topmost part of your resume which is the first thing that the recruiters will see.

Your teen resume header must always be your full name in the largest font size of 14-16 points.

If you have a middle name, you can initialize it like so - Mary J. Blige

Ensure that you don't go with generic resume headers like "CV" or "Resume."

Recruiters already know that the document is a resume. What they don't know is who it belongs to.

Thus, it makes sense to write your name as the header of your teen resume.

Also Read: How to write a perfect resume header in 2022?

Teen Resume Personal Information

Right after the header, you must create a section for your personal information.

This section must include the following details:

A Reachable Phone Number

Ensure that it is a contact number on which you are available at all times.

Write your country's International Subscriber Dialing (ISD) code and a plus sign (+) before the number.

A Professional E-mail Id

E-mail addresses with names like '[email protected]' not only sound unprofessional but can also cost you your chances of getting shortlisted for the job.

So make sure that your e-mail address sounds professional. Preferably, one with your full name like [email protected]

Mention the city and state of your current location - not your hometown (if they are different).

Also, you don't need to provide details like your street address and zip code of your current location.

LinkedIn Profile Link

Provide a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile or an online portfolio if you have one.

In case you don't have a LinkedIn profile, consider making one as it can be beneficial for networking and finding job opportunities.

Profile Title

A profile title in your teen resume is the name of the profile you are applying for.

A few examples of profile titles that you can add to your teen resume are - industrial relations counselor, criminologist, dietician, etc.

Also, your profile title should be the second-largest text in your resume with a font size 12-14 points .

Also Read: How to write the contact information in resume in 2022?

Teen Resume Objective

Although the objective and key skills sections must be placed at the top part of your teen resume, it must be written only after writing the other sections so that you have a clear understanding of what your core skills and objective are.

When writing your objective section, don't write about your expectations from the company and the role.

Instead, write what you can provide to the organization as an ideal candidate.

Your objective statement must show how you could benefit the company with your skills and knowledge.

Highlight the skills that can fulfill the requirements of the role you're targetting and emphasize your proven track record of academic achievements.

Also Read: How to write a resume objective in 2022?

Key Skills for Teen Resume

The skills section of your teen resume must list the core skills that you possess in terms of the job description and requirements.

For instance, if you are applying for the job profile of an assistant, it must showcase skills like:

Remember to always refer to the requirements listed in the job description of the listing to understand which skills you must list in your resume (as long as it stands true to you).

The listed skills must be backed by your academic qualifications, volunteer or internship experiences, or academic projects that you've been a part of.

If you possess technical skills like proficiency in programming languages and familiarity with using specific tools or software, you can create a separate section under your key skills and list them.

Given below is a snapshot of the key skills and technical skills sections in a resume:

The following are some other examples of key skills that you can add to your teen resume according to your qualifications:

Also read: How to write a resume skills section?

Volunteer/Internship Work Section

Instead of a professional work experience section, your teen resume can have a volunteer or internship work experience section.

And depending on the relevance of it, you can either have the education section or this section before the other.

You can list your internship/volunteer experience using the reverse chronological format with the following details:

• Name of the Organization
• Location (city & state)
• Starting & completion dates
• Your designation
• The duties you performed

Also, here are some best practices you must follow to present your work experiences:

• Avoid writing in bulky paragraphs and use bullet points
• Begin your sentences with a power verb like managed, assisted, organized, etc. to create more impact with your one-liners
• Highlight the keywords in your bullet points
• Quantify your achievements and use figures whenever possible
• Use the cause-effect relationship to build your one-liners as shown in the following example:

Scheduled 10+ meetings every week by coordinating with clients and senior management to ensure smooth operations Assisted in making travel arrangements for 15+ clients who were traveling to the city on company business

Also Read: How to craft the perfect internship resume for college students in 2022?

Teen Resume Education Section

You need to leverage your fresh education to show your potential through your teen resume.

This section must present your college and high school qualifications along with some details about the coursework.

Write the name of the school/university, the name of the degree, along with the location and dates of enrollment & graduation.

If your GPA is higher than 3.5, you can mention that as well.

Also Read: How to write the education section of a resume in 2022?

Teen Resume Certifications

If you have taken up extra certification courses or training that is relevant to the job you're applying for, you can list them in this section.

Adding certifications to your teenage resume increases its value and helps you stand out from the crowd of applicants.

Provide the following details while listing your certifications:

• Name of the certification course
• Name of the certifying institution
• Dates of enrollment and graduation

Also Read: How to list certifications on a resume in 2022?

Additional Information for Teen Resume

Furthermore, to provide extra details about your academic experience and qualification, you can include additional sections like the following to your teen resume:

As teens don't have work experience to put on their resumes, you can list academic projects that you've been a part of.

Academic projects include the significant projects that you did in school or college.

To list your projects, use the format given below:

Name of the project | Dates of the project One line description of the project Projects objectives, your role, and the outcome of the project

Also Read: How to showcase projects on a resume in 2022?

Awards & Achievements

The awards and achievements section will include any major awards or certificates you received for exceptional academic performance or for participating in quizzes, sports, projects, etc., at the school or college level.

You can also include awards or recognition that you may have received for your volunteer work or internship.

Follow the given format to list your awards & achivements:

< Name of the Award > | < Reason for getting the award > | < Name of the awarding institution > | < Dates >

This section will mention all the extracurricular activities that you took part in at school or college.

It could be anything from being a part of the basketball team or leading the eco-club or becoming the captain of the soccer team.

Extracurricular activities showcase that you possess teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

If you speak multiple languages, list them in your teen resume as it can be an asset if you are planning to work in the service, tourism, and sales industries.

Also read: How to write an entry-level resume in 2022?

Key Takeaways

• You should start every point with a power verb in your teen resume internship/volunteer experience section
• Quantify your achievements wherever possible
• Use bullet points instead of bulky paragraphs in your teen resume
• The font size for your teen resume body should be between 10-12 points, as these font sizes are easily readable
• Use professional fonts like Ariel, Helvetica, and Tahoma to write your teen resume
• Ensure that your key skills match your work experience and the profile you're applying for
• Customize your teen resume according to the job description of the role you're applying for
• Write the objective and skills section after writing the other resume sections
• Your objective statement should focus on how you can benefit the organization with your skills and knowledge

If you want to build a stellar teen resume, use Hiration's resume builder which is powered by AI. You can also write to us at [email protected] .

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CVs & Résumés

• Jan 18, 2022

How to Write a CV/Résumé as a Teenager (with Example)

If you are a teen working on your first résumé, then use the following steps as your guide to create an impressive professional document.

Nikki Vivian

Careers Coach and Writer

Reviewed by Melina Theodorou

Whether you’re looking for a  summer job , a part-time gig or even a work placement, you’ll need to highlight your skills and educational achievements in a professional document.

If you are currently in the process of searching for your first job , then you probably haven’t had to write a résumé  before and are wondering where to start.

Your résumé is essential when filling in job applications and writing it doesn’t have to be difficult. Lucky for you, we’ve created this handy guide to help you build the perfect résumé as a teenager that will ensure you secure that position!

What to include

Résumés generally have the same key sections across the board, but there is room to tailor them if you have something you want to showcase specifically or if you don’t have anything to add in a section.

As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to include the following sections:

• Header: This will include your name, followed by your contact details. Include your address, (or at least the town or city), your phone number and email address. On a separate note, make sure the email address you add is professional – it should contain both your name and surname and should be free of nicknames and epithets (i.e., [email protected] ). It might be wise to set up a new professional email account dedicated just for your job search.
• Summary: The summary section is important because it is essentially your personal sales pitch and the first thing employers see. Here you need to introduce who you are, your most relevant skills and qualities and what you’re looking to do. Make it primarily about what you can offer, rather than what you hope to gain from the job.
• Education: Here you list your education in reverse chronological order. As a teenager, this section will contain your school and college, but you can also include any independent courses you’ve taken, such as online courses or workshops. You may also include grades if they are good.
• Skills: As a teenager, it’s likely you won’t have a great deal of professional experience, so this section is vital to show what you can do. Make sure to tailor your skills to the job you’re applying for. Use transferable skills such as communication skills and teamwork abilities, as well as some technical skills which are relevant to the role such as software applications and programming languages.
• Experience: When adding previous roles and relevant experience in the field, make sure to include specific achievements relating to your contributions, such as helping a teammate, or going above and beyond your role. This section must also be listed on reverse chronological order.
• Additional sections: You can include other sections if necessary and these can be whatever is appropriate for you. You might want to add a section detailing your language skills, awards you have earned, hobbies and interests , or even entrepreneurial projects.

How to organise your résumé

The way your CV or résumé is organised is important; it needs to make a good impression so it should be clearly presented, with defined sections, making it easy to read through quickly. At a glance, the reader needs to be able to grasp enough about you to decide whether it is worth reading in more detail.

So, a professional layout goes a long way. To achieve this, you must ensure there is plenty of white space and that the document is not too text heavy. Each section title should be labelled in bold or capitalised so that it stands out and consider using bullet points to organise the content under each section as they are more effective than paragraphs. Meanwhile, ensure the main text is black or grey to ensure readability, and stick to one font.

As someone who is taking their first career steps, your education is likely to be the most relevant and extensive section. You should always start with a professional summary, but you can follow this with your education , before adding the skills and experience sections.

That said, if you haven’t finished school or college, and your skills or experience are more relevant to the job, you can move education further down. Generally, your most recent and relevant offering should be prioritised and showcased first.   

Finally, you can include your references at the end, or include ‘References are available on request’ at the bottom of your résumé.

Tips for writing your résumé as a teenager

So, now that you know what to include and what structure you should use, it’s time to start putting together your CV. The following 10 tips will help you write a CV that will get you noticed:

1. Tailor your résumé to the role

It’s tempting to put everything you have ever done in your résumé but it’s better to include just relevant information. Consider everything you’ve achieved or currently do and think about how its relevance to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you are applying for a customer service role , you’ll want to highlight your communication skills, so make sure this is highlighted in your summary and under each section where you can demonstrate this skill.

2. Focus on what you can offer

Rather than thinking about what you hope to get out of the role, think about what you can offer and highlight this throughout your CV or résumé. This will be far more effective as, essentially, an employer wants someone who can do the job well and who can contribute to the role. Use your summary to clearly outline what it is you’re looking to do and make sure everything you write leads back to this point.

3. Pick a professional design

There are numerous templates on offer but make sure you pick one that is clear, easy to follow and well-designed. For someone with no experience, that is just starting out in their career, your first résumé  should stick to a design and format that complements your experience and makes your skills and education the focal point of the document.

4. Use a clear font

There are lots of fonts to choose from but it’s best to pick a one that is professional looking such as Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman. Of course, if you are applying for more creative roles, you can utilise a font style that might be more creative, but the priority here is for the text of your résumé to be intelligible to the reader, AKA your potential employer. With that said, the font size for the main body should be 11 or 12,  while the headings and subheadings should be in a larger size, in bold or caps.

5. Include unpaid work

For someone who may have little to no paid experience, it’s very important that you include any kind of roles you’ve held. You can include volunteer work, placements, internships, or anything that shows you have worked within the field you’re applying in such as helping out with a family business.

As a teen, this is very valuable work and will make you stand out from other applicants. Don’t shy away from including something just because you didn’t get paid for it and focus on your skills and the contributions you made within these opportunities.

6. Include sports and hobbies

If you have been part of a varsity team or have a sport or a hobby that you are committed to, these are great to include in your résumé. They show valuable transferable skills such as teamwork, dedication and goal setting and are highly valued by employers.

7. Mention courses and qualifications

In addition to your formal education, if you have learned a skill online or taken classes in-person, such as a first aid course, for example, you can add this to your résumé too, either in an additional section like ‘ Courses and Qualifications ’ or ‘Professional Development’ , or as part of your ‘Education’ section. Learning independently shows initiative and that you are committed to personal development, which is a great thing to highlight.

8. Include languages

If you are multilingual, this is something you should add in a section titled ‘ Languages ’. Having something extra like this will help you stand out, especially if you are targeting high-paying positions or a front-facing role where you will need to assist customers.

9. Write an accompanying cover letter

You may be asked to provide a cover letter as part of your application, but even if you’re not, it’s a good idea to include one within your application, as this will give you the opportunity to introduce yourself and highlight your suitability for the job.

You can use the cover letter to explain your reason for applying and to summarise your most relevant skills, education and experience before the employer gauges your résumé document, which could help you make a lasting impression.

10. Include references

Adding references allows the recruiter to validate your experience and professionalism. You can include teachers, placement supervisors, sports team coaches or anyone else who has worked with you in a professional capacity. Just make sure to speak with your potential references first, and give them a heads up before you add their contact information to your document.

Résumé example

Here is a great résumé example of a clear and professional teen résumé that you can use as a guide when creating your own.

A great résumé can be your ticket to landing your first job . It needs to clearly demonstrate your professionalism, as well as your skills, education and experience in a way that is tailored to the position you’re applying for.

Once you’re ready,  go out job hunting and wow the hiring managers with your professional skills. And don’t forget to keep a few spare copies on you to hand out when you’re out and about; you just never know when you’ll run into a perfect hiring opportunity!

Have you got any questions about your résumé? Share them with us in the comments section below!

This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally publicised on 30 November 2018.

Résumé Examples

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How to Create a Resume for a Teenager

Last Updated: June 3, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM . Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 237,024 times.

Seeking employment can be an exciting but anxious time for a teen, especially if it's a teenager's first job. If you are a teenager beginning to apply for a part time or seasonal job, or if you're helping a teenager, you may have to be creative about listing job experience to potential employers.

Beginning A Resume

• Make choices about how to outline your experience. Resumes usually list your job titles followed by explanations of your tasks. You can use short paragraphs or bullet points to explain experience, but you should keep the method you use consistent throughout. If you explain your duties for one job in paragraph form, all your job duties should be listed that way. [1] X Research source
• Certain parts of a resume will be in bold or italics to draw attention to a job title, school, or work place. Make sure any choices you make about highlighting words are consistent. For example, say you choose to list one of your jobs like this: Server, Emma's Grill. For the remainder of your resume, you should have your job titles in bold and the name of your workplaces in italics.
• Font size and spacing should also be unified throughout. For example, you can always use size 12 font to list a job title, and size 10 for your place of work and job descriptions.

• All resumes should include a heading at the top that includes your name and basic contact information. The text here should be bigger than the other text on the page.
• Resume fonts should be professional in appearance and easy to read. Overly flashy, cursive fonts are a bad idea for resumes. Stick to fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgie, Times New Roman, and other easy to read, formal fonts. [3] X Research source
• Color can be used lightly in a resume and may help yours stand out. You can add color to headings like "Experience," "Education," and "Additional Skills." However, the color should be darker shades of primary colors like deep blues and purples. Avoid difficult to read shades, like yellows, or flashy, neon colors like lime greens and hot pinks.
• Some resumes, especially if you work in a creative field, may use more creative formatting. Browsing creative resumes on Pinterest and Flickr can give you ideas of a unique format. However, you should strive to keep your resume readable and professional above anything else. Also, as a teen you may be lacking experience and a potential employer may look more harshly on a creatively designed resume as they may see it as a way to hide a small work history. [4] X Research source

• Include your name, which should be written in larger print than other parts of the resume. You want your name to be somewhere at the top of the page, serving as a header above the other text. [5] X Research source
• Below your name, include your address, home phone number, and e-mail address. Use a professional sounding e-mail, that uses your full name instead of a nickname or something informal. You should also make sure any voice mail greetings you have on your phone are professional in case you miss a call regarding a job. [6] X Research source

• An objective should come in the form of a 2 to 3 line paragraph that states what you want to do professional and why you would be good at it. [7] X Research source
• Try to be as specific as possible. Avoid statements like, "My goal is to obtain a position in my chosen field. I want to use my skills and education to further my experience. I am a hard worker." This does not really tell your employer anything specific about you. Ask yourself, "What are my specific skills? What can I bring to this position?" As the more specific the better, it's a good idea to quickly rewrite your objective for each job you apply to, catering it to that employer's specific wants and needs. [8] X Research source
• For example, say you've always been interested in politics and are trying to get a summer internship with a political campaign. A good objective for that job would be something like, "I am a longtime campaign volunteer with 3 years of experience with campaign work. I am looking to break into a political career path by furthering my experience with fundraising, advertising, and general campaign management." [9] X Research source

Adding Your Skillset

• Start with your most recent school and work your way back. However, you should not go all the way back to elementary school. Just list your college, if you're enrolled, and your high school education. [10] X Research source
• If you've accrued any honors during high school or college, it's a good idea to list them. Things like the honors roll, honors college, or Dean's list speak to a strong work ethic. If you have a particularly high GPA, you might want to list that too. [11] X Research source

• List formal or informal volunteer work, babysitting , or any gardening, dog walking, or other chores you may have done for relatives or neighbors for money. Even if these are not highly formal jobs that require a large skill set, the fact you performed them on a somewhat regular basis speaks to a strong work ethic and good time management skills. [12] X Research source
• Low wage, part time jobs may not seem like much, but mentioning things like waitressing or retail work can look good if you highlight how such jobs helped you with interpersonal communication. Focus on how you talked to and assisted customers and the vast amount of information you had to manage.

• Online, you can find lists of resume buzzwords that will help up your chances of getting the job you want. Things like classified, analyzed, facilitated, collected, assessed, calculated, trained, and designed are just a small example of the kinds of words that look great on a resume.
• Using buzzwords can make jobs seem impressive and emphasize the transferable skills you gained from basic labor jobs. If you waitress on the weekend in high school, a good bullet point for your job description might be "Interacted politely with multiple customers on a nightly basis, maintaining a positive public image for the business."
• Specifics are also important. Employers love it when tasks are quantified. Say you're a junior in high school and spent the summer tutoring middle school students in math. Instead of saying "Tutored students each week," can be worded in a more impressive manner and in a way that quantifies your work. For example, "Tutored a rotating group of 6 to 7 students on a bi-weekly basis, conveying concepts of basic algebra and geometry in an age-appropriate manner." [13] X Research source

• If you've ever won any contests or excelled in an extracurricular activity, this would be a great thing to add in a resume. [14] X Research source
• Being the captain of a team, playing a sport, having a band, or operating a blog with appropriate content are all things that are impressive to employers as they show a capacity for leadership and initiative. [15] X Research source
• If you're a college student, list any scholarships you received. Putting emphasis on high grades and good study skills shows that you're a hard worker and would apply yourself to a job if hired. [16] X Research source

Setting Yourself Apart

• References should be people who can speak to your skill set. Choose teachers, former bosses, people you've worked with volunteering, coaches, music instructors, or even a family friend who's known you for a long time. [17] X Research source
• You should avoid listing friends or relatives, as this can look unprofessional. [18] X Research source

• Focus on your academic achievements. If you have not had a lot of practical experience but where a high achiever in terms of grades and test scores, this may impress an employer. [19] X Research source
• Are you proficient with any software? Many college or high school courses cover softwares that may be important for certain jobs. If you're proficient in something like Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, list that here. [20] X Research source
• If you speak a second language, this can also impress employers. Even just having conversational skills in Spanish or French due to high school courses can look good on a resume. [21] X Research source

Expert Q&A

• When you create a resume for a teenager, some companies prefer that you fill in application forms on their website, or include email attachments or electronic files. Follow each employer's specific instructions. Thanks Helpful 22 Not Helpful 6
• Writing a resume for a teen should be a cooperative process. If you're an adult trying to help, get your teenager involved to help develop the independence needed in a competitive job market. Thanks Helpful 20 Not Helpful 8
• Include reputable references that are not members of the immediate family. Letters of recommendation from teachers, previous employers, and public officials could impress potential employers. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 8

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/Teen_Resume_Guide_tcm3-31427.pdf
• ↑ http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5331-best-resume-fonts.html
• ↑ https://www.livecareer.com/resources/resumes/how-to/write/resume-tips-for-teenagers
• ↑ http://theinterviewguys.com/objective-for-resume/
• ↑ http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/courses/study-tips/resume-writing-tips-for-teens/

About This Article

To create a resume as a teenager, list any kind of volunteering or work you've done in the past, even if it wasn't a formal or official job. For example, you can include your volunteer work at school, your babysitting gig, or chores you've done for your neighbors. You can also include things like a high GPA or being on the Dean's list to make up for your minimal educational experience. Whatever you include, just try to emphasize that you're reliable and good at time management since that's what most employers are looking for. To learn how to format your resume, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Build a Resume for Teenagers

Highlight Academic Achievements

Feature your extracurricular activities, showcase volunteerism experience, teenager resume samples.

Contrary to popular belief, it can be beneficial for a teenager to craft a resume during high school , even if they lack any real work experience. This document can be used to pursue additional education opportunities and programs prior to college or grant you a competitive edge while applying for your first job. However, the challenge in building a resume for an aspiring professional at the high school level, is identifying the appropriate content to include. Below, you’ll find expert tips to help you craft an accomplishment-driven resume and jump-start your career.

Even at the high school level, a candidate can make a strong impression by highlighting their academic achievements on the resume. This can include grade point averages, coursework, awards, or even research papers that the applicant is proud of. Employers value candidates that take pride in their work. Because a high school student likely won’t have any professional experience to demonstrate this, they’ll need to showcase their work ethic using examples from their education.

Another way to build out resume content for a teenager’s resume is by featuring extracurricular activities and student organizations you’ve been involved in. This could be a sport, an academic club, or another type of student activity that showcases your dedication and leadership skills.

These are traits that any organization will find valuable and can make all the difference in whether or not the applicant receives an interview. Many employers will likely have some bias regarding the reliability of hiring a teenager with no work experience. By showcasing extracurricular activities, you’ll be making a case for why they should take a chance on you.

Even limited volunteer experience can enhance the impact of a teenager’s resume. Public service says much about who the candidate is, both as a person and as a professional, which can help to compensate for lack of work history. By providing specific examples of your volunteer work, you’ll be branding yourself as the type of high character candidate the organization is looking for. This can sometimes make all the difference during the application process.

When creating your first resume , you should reflect on what you’ve accomplished in your academic career and personal life. Even an independent project can be valuable if it speaks to the type of professional you aspire to become. Everyone needs to start somewhere. To secure your first opportunity, you’ll need to tell a compelling story using what you’ve learned in the early stages of your life. Below, you’ll find three teenager resume examples to guide you as you take the first step in beginning your career:

Teenager Resume Sample 1

First impressions are as important on the resume as they are during your initial interview. Hiring managers have limited time to read every document they receive in-depth, so you’ll need to grab their attention early to demonstrate that your application is worth spending more time on. Creating a professional summary at the top of your document can help set the tone for your resume and showcase that you have the skills to succeed in the program or job you’re applying to. This example is effective because it draws attention to the candidate’s interpersonal and leadership skills instead of any actual work experience:

A High School Student with entry-level experience, specializing in communication, leadership, organization, and quantitative analysis. A strong background of serving as a leader for the Brooklyn High School basketball team and providing support to fellow athletes. Adept at collaborating effectively in team-based environments to achieve goals and objectives.

Teenager Resume Sample 2

Academic achievements, student organizations, and extracurricular activities can all serve as potential foundations for the content of your resume. Showing that you’ve been involved in your school will help draw attention to your work ethic and personal drive. In the example below, the job seeker incorporates a mix of academic projects and extracurricular pursuits to paint a fuller picture of who they are as an aspiring professional:

Academic Experience

• Achieved a 3.8 GPA over the course of three academic years, received honor roll recognition, and served as a member of the National Honor Society
• Completed AP English and AP History courses with semester grades of 90% and 92% and achieved qualifying marks for college credit during the final examination
• Participated as a member of the North Philadelphia High School track team and competed in over 20+ competitions within the school district

Teenager Resume Sample 3

Employers and academic programs are drawn to candidates with a history of public service. As a high school student, it’s important to emphasize your volunteer experience and community involvement as much as possible because this can help separate you from other applicants. Whether you volunteered a few weekends at a soup kitchen or helped organize a charity event at your school, you should provide insights into these experiences and how they helped you grow as a person. In the example below, the candidate features a number of different volunteerism projects they were involved in with their high school and local community:

Volunteerism Experience

San Francisco High School, San Francisco, CA

September 2019 – May 2021

• Coordinated with a team of 15+ students and two faculty members to plan, organize, and execute the annual blood drive at the San Francisco High School, which included distributing and gathering medical forms to ensure medical eligibility for blood donations
• Volunteered at the West Line Youth Basketball Camp in 2020, supported coaches in managing drills and distributing lunches, and provided mentorship to child athletes
• Provided support for the annual Toys for Tots holiday drive, which included working with a team of students to perform outreach activities to secure donations

Before submitting your application, you should proofread your document carefully for any misspellings or grammatical errors. The person reviewing your resume will want to see your attention to detail. Even a minor mistake can sometimes brand the applicant negatively if it’s glaring enough. You should also save your document as a PDF file to ensure that the formatting remains consistent across all operating systems and devices.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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How to Make a Resume for Teens With Examples

You’ve scoured the job postings, picked the best of the bunch, and now it’s “game on” for getting hired. But before hitting “apply,” the first step is to learn how to make a resume for teens. It’s an ultra-important document that makes the first impression on your employer, and it’s your ticket for putting your best foot forward.

From advice about what to include (or exclude!) to writing a resume with no work experience to resume examples for teens, we’ve got the scoop on how to write a resume.

View our favourite Resume Examples for Teens .

What is a resume?

A resume is a formal written document that outlines your qualifications, such as your education, skills, work experience, and any notable accomplishments.

“The purpose of a resume is to showcase your skills and experience and to convince a prospective employer that it is worth calling you in for a job interview,” says Sabrina McTaggart , a career coach for young adults based in Ottawa, Ontario.

Most employers require a resume to apply for a job and it’s typically two pages maximum. It’s often accompanied by a cover letter—a one-page letter of introduction that summarizes why you’re applying for the job and what makes you an ideal candidate. 

Learn more about Best Summer Jobs for Teens in Canada

What should be on a resume for a teenager?

A resume is your chance to shine to a prospective employer. But avoid listing all things you’ve ever accomplished in your life. Here’s what should make the cut:

1. Your contact information

Your contact information should be front and centre. Specifically, the heading at the top of the first page should contain your name, address, email address, website, LinkedIn URL, and phone number.

Tip: Now is the time to create a professional email address. [email protected] is appropriate for corresponding with your peeps, but not with hiring managers. It doesn’t have to be complicated: you can use your name ([email protected]) or create a generic address ([email protected]). 

2. Summary/objective

Consider this section to be the “Coles Notes” version of your entire resume. Write a bullet-point listicle that rounds up the reasons why you’re the prime candidate for the job: from your educational achievements to your mad computer skills to awards and accolades. For example:

• Entering fourth year of secondary school studies at Pleasantville High School.
• Five years of experience caregiving for children.
• Proficiency in Word, Adobe, and Excel software.
• First Aid and CPR Certified.
• Strong attention to detail, superior organizational and project management skills.
• Familiar with social media.
• Hold a valid Ontario driver’s licence.

3. Relevant experience

This section should be a snapshot of past and present experiences that demonstrate your ability to do the job. 

You should include:

• Job or position title
• Name of employer or organization
• Dates of employment or participation
• A summary of responsibilities and accomplishments (written as a bullet point list is acceptable).

“Briefly outline your relevant work experience and volunteer experience and what skills you developed in that work,” says McTaggart. “You can add any relevant extracurriculars that might make you a more attractive candidate, such as athletic accomplishments or music competitions.”

It’s standard to list your experiences in reverse chronological order (e.g., start with the most recent and work backwards) and only include what’s relevant and recent. A laundry list of everything you’ve ever done is TMI. Instead, highlight unique or noteworthy experiences that demonstrate your ability to handle the job. 

Tip: Show, don’t tell. You may have been elected to the student council (e.g., “Student Council Treasurer 2022-2023”), but it’s more impressive to share what you accomplished in that position (e.g., “Managed the council’s annual budget of $25,000 and fundraised an additional $10,000 to kickstart a Gender and Sexuality Alliance Network at school”).

Learn more: 14 best part-time jobs for teens .

What to put on a resume with no experience

’If you’ve never had a job, think outside the box. Did you house sit for your neighbour? Do you coach your younger sibling’s soccer team? Did you volunteer for a beach clean-up last summer? A hiring manager is looking to see examples of when you’ve acted responsibly, which could translate to on-the-job cred.

“Employers are aware that teens often have little formal work experience when they are hiring for student jobs and entry-level positions,” says McTaggart. “Consider how you might demonstrate that you have some useful skills, such as organizing, planning, writing, communication, and a strong work ethic.” She suggests including skills you learned while doing chores for neighbours and relatives, babysitting, dog-walking, or tutoring peers in school.

4. Education

List any past, current, and future educational achievements in reverse chronological order (most recent first and work backwards). This should be the shortest section on your resume and include: 

• The name of your school(s)
• Any diploma/degree in progress or attained
• Major/field of study
• Enrollment dates
• Expected graduation date
• GPA (if above 3.5)
• Any notable awards

If you’ve just graduated, list your high school, and if applicable, any post-secondary institution that you will attend next year.

If you’re still a student with limited job experience, you can put this section at the top of your resume. But if you’ve graduated and have ample work experience under your belt, your education is slightly less important and can be parked near the bottom.

Tip: “Include details about your education, including any awards such as Honour Roll or Dean’s List,” says McTaggart. Just keep it short and simple: “Graduated third in a class of 200 students, with a GPA of 3.8.”

5. Relevant skills

Showcase personal and professional skills that are relevant to the position and give concrete examples. For instance, if you’re applying to a summer camp, spelling out that you’re “First Aid and CPR certified” may give you a leg up over other candidates. If driving is an essential part of the job, mention that you have a valid driver’s licence (as well as list the licence class and how long you’ve held it). 

This is also the place to park any computer skills; fluency in languages; and certifications, licences, or professional courses that you’ve completed (or are currently completing). 

“Are you proficient with any software?” asks McTaggart. “Be sure to note, for example, if you can use document, spreadsheet or presentation software, and especially if you have any experience coding at any level.” 

Possible skills could include:

• Customer service
• French language
• Basic coding
• Video editing
• Photography
• Social media
• Communication skills
• Microsoft Office
• Fundraising
• Valid drivers licence

To understand what skills to include, study the job description. Does the position require using a computer? Are you handling cash? Will you be communicating with customers? Read between the lines and pick out the most important competencies for the job.

“For example, if you volunteered to help seniors with their technology in a retirement home, you have demonstrated strong communication skills, patience, and reliability,” says McTaggart.

Tip: Resist the urge to embellish your skills. Hiring managers often do background checks to confirm details. They may even request a copy of your purported credentials.

Read more: Job interview questions for teens with sample answers .

6. Awards and achievements

This is your chance to humblebrag about your awesomeness! List any scholarships, bursaries, awards, or achievements. These could be through school, the community, or extracurricular activities. If you’re applying for your first job, these seemingly small achievements can help your resume sparkle above the rest. 

7. References (optional)

While not mandatory, you can list up to three professional contacts who can speak to your character and/or professional experience. Always ask before listing a potential reference on your resume. No one likes surprises, and a courtesy “heads up” gives the person time to think about what to say. 

Learn more about How to prepare for your first job interview . 

Tips for writing a resume for teens

• Stick to one to two pages : If you exceed that length, you risk overloading the hiring manager with information. Less is more!
• Make a professional email address : “Avoid things like hunnybunny@hotmail,” says McTaggart.
• Make your resume visually appealing : “This does not mean getting fancy,” says McTaggart. “It simply means making good use of white space and avoiding dense blocks of text.” Also, be consistent with fonts and formatting.
• Keep it simple: A resume should be eye-catching but not gaudy. “Unless you are applying for a role where a lot of creativity is required, it is advisable to avoid flashy colours and fonts,” says McTaggart. “The key to a good resume is to make it readable and professional.”
• Think about what the employer wants : Then, customize your resume to fit those qualifications. “Put yourself in the shoes of your prospective employer: they want a teen who is reliable, punctual, has a good attitude, can follow instructions and communicate clearly,” says McTaggart.
• Study the job posting : It gives clues about what the employer wants in a job candidate, as well as keywords to include in your resume. It might also give intel on possible interview questions.
• Prove you’re a leader: “Leadership skills are highly regarded by employers,” says McTaggart. “If you have ever been captain of a team, coached the younger members of your basketball club or taken a leadership role in your school play, be sure to highlight this.
• Use “action” words to paint a picture . Use descriptive language to leverage your skills and experience, as well as what you’ve achieved. Instead of simply saying you “did a thing,” consider if you could use these verbs such as led, researched, created, managed, delivered, resolved, founded, developed, tracked, collaborated, grew, or promoted. The thesaurus is your BFF!
• Proofread: Your resume should be squeaky-clean before you hit send. Run a spelling and grammar check—ideally, twice. Read the resume out loud to catch any awkward sentences or to trim length. Get a friend or family member to proofread for typos too.
• Ready your references : “If you have done good work for someone, even if informally like babysitting or snow shovelling, consider asking them for a letter of reference,” says McTaggart. “You can then list these folks under your ‘References’ section.” She also recommends making the request in person and routinely after you finish a job. While few people do this, it’s a good habit that can pay off later.
• Minimize your digital footprint : Hiring managers typically do online searches for job candidates. If you’ve got a digital presence that you’d rather not share with a potential boss, switch your social media settings to private. 

Tip: Include a cover letter with your resume. Learn more about how to write a cover letter for students .

Resume Examples for Teens

Need some help crafting your perfect resume? We’ve got you! Here are some resume template for teens that can help:

Resume with no work experience for teens

A sample resume for a high school student with no job experience:

Resume with work experience for teens

A sample resume for a first-year university student with job experience:

Last word about how to make a resume for teens

If you’ve made it this far, you should be well-equipped to take on the task of creating a resume. Start by studying the job description and brainstorming what skills and experiences might be highly valued by the hiring manager. Using these pro tips, draft a resume that showcases your skills and uses concrete examples that are directly relevant to the position. Remember to have a friend or family member proofread it before you hit send.

One last piece of advice: avoid the pressure to be perfect. At this age and stage, no one expects you to have a jam-packed resume with fancy awards and job experience. Avoid “padding” your resume with complicated or overblown achievements.

“As a teen, you’re not applying for Senior Vice President roles!” says McTaggart. “Keep it simple.”

Download the Mydoh app to help your tweens and teens gain real-life experience managing their money. 

This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.

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Jobs for 14- and 15-year-olds: examples + advice

What sort of jobs are near me for 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds?

In-person jobs for 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds, remote jobs for 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds, fast-food chains and restaurants, grocery stores, entertainment .

You’re only 14 years old, but want to earn some extra money. Maybe you want to help out your family or save for a big ticket item like a car. After all, you’ll soon be eligible for a driver's license. It’s great to have goals! 

Good news: There are plenty of jobs for 14-year-olds, whatever your motivation. But you also need to be aware that there are limitations. Child labor laws designed specifically to protect teens aged 14 and 15 may restrict how much and what hours you work.

Luckily, this blog will break it down. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• The number of hours 14-year olds and 15-year-olds are allowed to work
• The best types of jobs for teens
• What companies hire 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds
• Tips for getting your first job

How much are 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds allowed to work?

In the U.S., the Fair Labor Standards Act separates work into agricultural and nonagricultural categories, and the rules differ between those two. This law defines how much 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds are allowed to work.

Here are the limitations on work for minors 14 and 15 years old:

• No manufacturing, mining or hazardous work
• No more than three hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, eight hours on a non-school day, or 40 hours in a non-school week
• No working before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., except in the summer (defined as June 1 through Labor Day), when teens in your age group may work until 9 p.m.
• Students in a Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) may work up to 23 hours in school weeks and three hours on school days (including during school hours)
• Students in a work-study program work during school hours.

State regulations vary. For a complete list, go to the U.S. Department of Labor and choose your state.

What sort of work can 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds do?

If you have a theatrical side, you’re in luck! People of any age may perform in radio, TV, movie or theater. Depending on your view, this next bit may be good or bad: Your parents can have you work in their small business (as long as it does not fall into the above forbidden categories).

If you’re looking for work now, you’re also in luck! Many entry-level positions are going unfilled and employers are beginning to sweeten the pot to attract job seekers. That means you may have more options and better working conditions.

For even more ideas, check out our comprehensive blog on jobs for teens .

So are there really jobs for 14-year-olds?

The very short answer is yes! We may be past the days when youths rode their bikes with a pile of newspapers to throw onto porches, but there are plenty of other opportunities out there. 

For one, teens your age may work in agriculture after school hours as long as the job is not dangerous. If you like the outdoors and don’t mind hard work, this may be for you. But many other environments are out there.

If you have a theatrical side, you’re in luck! People of any age may perform in radio, TV, movie or theater. 

Depending on your view, this next bit may be good or bad: Your parents can have you work in their small business (as long as it does not fall into the legally forbidden categories noted above).

If you’re looking for work right now in any number of fields, you’re also in luck! Many entry-level positions are going unfilled and employers are beginning to sweeten the pot to attract job seekers. That might mean more options and better working conditions than ever for young teens.

For some jobs, you won’t even have to leave your room! But, let’s start with those jobs you have to arrive on-time for and learn to function in a business environment.

You probably know about the classics: non-official work such as mowing lawns, shoveling snow, pet-sitting or dog walking, and babysitting. But you may not think this work counts as "regular," so if you want or need to earn a set amount of income, these may not be the best choices. On the other hand, these entrepreneurial jobs show off your can-do spirit and can lead to greater opportunities.

If you want to get experience working with a team or in a structured work environment, many people start their working careers in fast food or other service industries such as coffeehouses, movie theaters or supermarkets.

It has long been a job search rule that experienced professionals should not put hobbies and interests on resumes. However, as work/life boundaries shift, employers are increasingly interested in the broader aspects of a candidate’s personality. Time for a rethink.

If you’re an ace programmer, 3D modeler or have other complex computer skills, you’ll have no trouble finding work. Maybe you’re already selling your apps online or are mixing the audio for your friends’ band. These skills can earn you cash. Here’s a more complete list of computer-based jobs.

Our guide to the top 10 remote jobs will offer more ideas, although not all are teen-oriented.

Like to share your opinion? Did you know you can get paid to review songs online? Or fill out surveys (some sites have a minimum age above 15)? What about watching ads ? 

Blogging, vlogging and freelance writing are also open to teens. But be aware that these jobs require a lot of marketing plus a healthy helping of luck.

Do you have a professional phone voice? A few companies, including U-Haul, will hire 14-year-olds as customer service representatives. Detail-oriented? Data entry may be a great starting point for you. 

Consider all your talents. Are you acing algebra? You can tutor other students. Do you handcraft gifts for friends and family? Etsy may be your ticket. Are you known for your pithy sayings or graphic design skills? Check out CafePress . Creativity will lead you to other jobs you can get as a 14-year-old that will take advantage of your hobbies and talents and may lead to career opportunities.

What companies hire 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds?

The top companies that hire 14-year-olds and 15-year-old are, not surprisingly, those that rely on unskilled labor and a short on-the-job training session. These employers understand that most likely you are not looking for a career, but simply an afterschool job. However, if you choose to stick with them through your high school years, many also offer opportunities for advancement.

If you want to get out of the house, plenty of large companies will give you a chance. Check your state’s regulations and the locations near you for more specific information. For example, in Montana — but only in Montana —   Starbucks hires 14-year-olds.

• Baskin-Robbins
• Ben and Jerry’s
• Boston Market
• Burger King
• Chick-Fil-A
• Dairy Queen
• Rita’s Italian Ice
• Giant Eagle
• King Soopers
• Stop & Shop
• Wegmans (minimum age 15)

Many supermarket positions are entry-level so they only require the skills you already possess. Including a cover letter with your job application is vital to highlight the transferable skills and personality traits that hiring managers are looking for. The advice in this writing guide is illustrated with adaptable wording from a supermarket cover letter example.

AMC Theaters hires teens under 16, but you may also want to check into the other entertainment options in your community. Here are some ideas:

• Bowling alleys
• Indoor skydiving
• Indoor water parks
• Rock climbing

If you are unsure which job suits you the best, have a look at our Top 12 Career Aptitude Tests. . 

Summer jobs for 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds

If school is your priority, but you want to earn extra cash in the summer, amusement parks are a great option. Six Flags hires young teens. Your local YMCA or park district are other seasonal employers who rely on teens for a variety of jobs including landscaping, maintenance, reception, concession worker and, of course, camp counselor. Check out your local day camps as well.

You may become American Red Cross certified as a lifeguard if you are 15 or older by the end of your training session.

Not interested in working with young campers? What about these ideas?:

• Caddying at a golf course
• Landscaping
• Care for plants at a nursery
• Clean pools
• Work at the zoo

How much do jobs for a 14-year-old or 15-year-old pay?

Companies that hire teens are required to pay them the minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is $7.25, but many states and municipalities have a higher minimum wage. However, companies may pay as little as $4.25 for the first 90 calendar days that you are employed.

Exceptions exist for full-time students, student learners, apprentices, and workers with disabilities, so be sure to check with your locality.

Interviewing is stressful. Preparation and practice are the best ways to get yourself ready for the big day. This interview guide helps you to walk into that interview with the best chance of getting a positive result.

How to get your first job as a 14-year-old or 15-year-old

What about jobs for a 14-year-old without experience? If you’re applying online, or even if you are walking into businesses cold and asking about work, you will need to describe your work experience and who you are. You will look a lot more impressive if you have a resume. But how do you do that when you have never had a job? 

Check out our advice on how to write a resume with no experience ! Then, take it a step further with our how-to guide on cover letter writing for your first job.

First impressions matter, so if you apply for a job in-person, make sure you dress appropriately and adopt a professional tone.

Key takeaways:

• There are plenty of jobs for 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds, although their hours are limited by both federal and state laws.
• Certain companies are known for hiring young teens and are prepared to teach you on-the-job skills.
• Don’t forget to consider your own skills and interests — there’s a job for everyone!

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

Your resume is arguably the most valuable piece of paper for your career. But this document can be daunting for many. Maybe you’re not sure how to fit in all your information onto one page. Maybe you’re not sure about the right way to format and write your resume. Maybe you don’t even know what the heck a resume is!

Whatever your concern, we’ll break down everything you need to know about making the perfect resume, from scratch.

What Is a Resume?

What are employers looking for in a resume.

• Pick Your Format
• Start With Your Basic Information
• Add in Your Work Experience
• Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience
• Don’t Forget Your Education
• Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests
• Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)
• Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)
• Edit and Refine It

What Are Some Examples of a Good Resume?

A resume is a summary of your career, whether yours is just getting started or has been going on for years. Coming in at around one page in length (two only under specific circumstances), it showcases the jobs you’ve held and currently hold, the responsibilities you’ve taken on, the skills you’ve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table as an employee. Together, those things make it super easy for any hiring manager to see your qualifications and fit for a role.

For all the work you may put into writing one, hiring managers actually spend very little time—mere seconds in many cases—looking at your resume. But despite this sad fact, it’s safe to say that creating a great resume (rather than hastily throwing one together) still matters.

“If you miss the mark, your resume may never be read. Even worse, you might be removed from the applicant pool by a computer before a human even knows you exist,” says Muse career coach Heather Yurovsky , founder of Shatter & Shine. So you want to get it right because, as she explains, isn’t the goal to “spend less time looking for a job and more time in a role you love?”

You might be wondering if you can lean on your LinkedIn profile instead of writing a resume. The answer, sadly, is no. Most hiring managers still expect you to submit a resume, even if they also look at your LinkedIn. Even if you don’t need a resume for a job you’re applying for now, you’re going to need one at some point in your career—they’re not anywhere close to going out of style. So it’s best to always have one at the ready should an opportunity pop up.

And although LinkedIn has plenty of benefits, a resume has one clear advantage: While your LinkedIn is usually a broader picture of your career trajectory, your resume gives you the opportunity to tailor your career story to a specific role or company (more on that later).

Oh, and you’ve probably heard of something called a CV? It’s slightly different from a resume , and usually more common with academics and job seekers outside the U.S.

Hiring managers look for three things on your resume, “What did you do? Why did you do it? And what was the result?” says Muse career coach Martin McGovern , owner of Career Therapy. “If you can answer all three of these questions in...your resume bullet points, you’re going to be on the right track.”

Clear, easy-to-understand language is key. “The truth is that most resumes make no sense. They are stuffed with jargon, they are too technical, and they are filled with redundancies. Try to read a resume that isn’t yours and you will quickly realize that it feels like an alien wrote it,” McGovern adds. Put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter who has no idea how your role works—how can you make your resume accessible to them?

The hiring manager also cares about more than just you and you alone—they care about you in relation to them. “Hiring managers want to see if a candidate matches the requirements” of the role they’re hiring for, Yurovsky explains. “Your resume should paint this picture so the hiring manager not only knows what day-to-day responsibilities you can handle, but why you, above other[s], bring value to their organization.”

How Do You Write a Resume?

Whether you’re someone who’s never written a resume in your life, or you need a nice, thorough refresher on the process of creating one, follow these steps to go from a blank page to a complete—and dare I say beautiful—document.

Related: This Free Worksheet Makes It Easy to Create (or Update) Your Resume

1. Pick Your Format

Before you start typing one single thing, you have to decide what you want the overall resume to look like.

Resume builders can be helpful for this step—they’ll take all your basic information and organize it for you, eliminating some of the legwork. You can also use a pre-made outline, such as one of these free Google Docs templates .

But it’s often safest to start with a clean slate all on your own and eventually upgrade to a more advanced layout. (If you'd still like a place to write all the relevant information before you get started, check out our resume outline .) This allows you to course correct, edit and re-edit, and choose a resume format that best fits your particular situation (after all, not everyone has a career trajectory that’s easy to compartmentalize).

In general, you’re most likely to cover and/or include sections on the following:

• Your work experience
• Your non-work experience, including professional organizations, community involvement, or side projects
• Your education and certifications
• Your skills (specifically hard skills) and interests

So how do you format and organize all of that information?

By far the most common (and safest, if you’re not sure which route to take) option is reverse chronological order . This means you organize your experiences from most recent to least recent. So your work experiences would go above your education, and your current role would go above previous roles you’ve held. This of course has its exceptions—maybe you went back to grad school between jobs, or your most recent role is irrelevant to the job you’re applying for. So the whole page may not be exactly in reverse chronological order depending on your situation. It’s just a guideline.

There’s also something called a functional or skills-based resume . This is used pretty rarely, mainly with career changers and those with limited or complicated work histories. It gets its name because it’s primarily about listing your skills rather than experiences, and showcases them above your work history and education.

You can also opt for a combination resume , which is a mix between a reverse chronological resume and skills-based resume. It highlights your skills at the top, but allows just as much room below to cover your job and school experience.

Use caution when choosing these two formats: “Combo and skills-based [resumes] can be hard to follow, because [they force] the reader to hunt for connections between your skills and experience, and [don’t] provide the full context of your work,” says Muse Career Coach Angela Smith , founder of Loft Consulting. “I’ve also heard a lot of recruiters say that they automatically discount skill-based resumes because they feel the candidate is trying to hide something. I don’t necessarily believe that, but I think it’s important for job-seekers to know that perception is out there.”

2. Start With Your Basic Information

Your contact information should always go at the top of your resume. In this header you’ll want to include anything that could be helpful for a recruiter to get in touch with you. Usually, this means adding in:

• Your full name (preferably the name you use across the web)
• Your phone number
• Your personal email address

You might also choose to include other basic information, such as your LinkedIn or personal website URL, your GitHub (for technical roles), your social media profiles (if relevant to the job), or your address. If you’re looking to move for a job, you may choose to leave out your address or write “open to relocating” to better your chances of getting an interview.

The key is to make this part as clear as possible. If a hiring manager can’t reach you, there’s no point in perfecting the rest of your resume.

3. Add in Your Work Experience

This section will most likely be the bulk of your resume. Even if you’re changing careers, employers still want to see where you’ve worked, what you’ve done, and the impact of that work to get a sense of your background and expertise.

Your “Work Experience” might be one entire category, or you might choose to break it up into “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience” to highlight the jobs that are most important for hiring managers to focus on. Either way, you’ll almost always want to have your most recent experience at the top and your older experience down below.

Within your work experience, you’ll want to include each official job title, the company (and possibly its location), and the years you worked there. Below that, you’ll add in two to four bullet points explaining what you did in that job, the skills you built and exercised, the tools you used, and the results of what you did. If you accomplished a lot during your time there, focus on the responsibilities that made the most impact or you’re the most proud of, as well as the ones that best align you with the job you’re applying for (more on that in the following sections). It’s key here to list, if relevant, quantitative as well as qualitative accomplishments.

For example, you might write:

Associate Accountant, Finances and Co., Ann Arbor, MI September 2017 – Present

• Manage billing and invoicing for more than 50 clients, ensuring the deadlines and needs of our enterprise partners, including Big Company and Super Star Org, are met
• Collaborate closely with sales, account management, and project management teams on project setup, maintenance, and invoice management
• Assist in the streamlining of invoicing guidelines and procedures through documentation and the implementation of new software, resulting in an average two-week decrease in total time spent per client

Your resume bullets should be in past tense if you’re referring to past jobs and present tense if you’re talking about your current roles. In addition, your bullets should always start with a strong action verb that best describes what you did. And if you have examples of your work, consider hyperlinking them here as well.

If you have a ton of experience and this category is starting to run long (read: over one page), consider kicking out your oldest jobs unless they’re super relevant to the job you’re applying for, or extra impressive for your field.

Not sure where to start? “It’s helpful to do a brain dump and create a document that has everything and anything you consider as experience or an achievement,” says Yurovsky. From there, she explains, you can start to whittle down what is and isn’t important. And you can refer to this document later if you ever decide to update your resume for a specific role.

Need more specific advice on listing your work experience on your resume? Check out these additional resources:

• When you’ve held multiple jobs at the same company: 2 Jobs, 1 Company: How to Show Multiple Positions on Your Resume
• When you’re not sure what your accomplishments are or how to explain them: Resume Revamp: How to Turn Your Duties Into Accomplishments
• When you want to spruce up a boring or insignificant job: How to Make Your Most Boring Jobs Sound More Interesting on Your Resume
• When you’re considering fudging a job title: The Answer to “Can I Change My Job Title on My Resume to Make It More Accurate?”
• When you’ve had a bunch of short-term gigs: How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume

4. Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience

Anything you’ve done that’s not work experience—your side gig, volunteer work, special projects—can be hosted under clearly-labeled sections (“Volunteer Experience” or “Activities,” for example). Depending on how robust your work experience is, these things may be worth including, particularly if they’ve helped you level up your skill set or better align you with your dream job. Plus, they make you look that much more well-rounded, passionate, and hardworking.

If you’re a recent grad, you might also build out a section for on-campus activities, such as clubs, organizations, or leadership experience. This can be a great supplement if you’re lacking in the jobs department. You can frame these just as you would professional jobs—including your title, the organization’s name, and bullets describing what your role was and what you accomplished.

Read More: This Is Exactly How to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume

5. Don’t Forget Your Education

If you’re still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year (for folks less up to about a decade out of school), major, and degree. Brand-new grads might also write in their GPA, honors and awards, study abroad, thesis, or other notable achievements. But keep this section super simple, as you don’t want it to take up too much space over your work experience.

It’s possible you have unique education experience, such as taking an online course or certification. If you did this specifically as a way to boost yourself within your industry, definitely include it. Again, list everything more or less reverse chronologically—so a grad school degree would go above an undergrad degree, and a more recent relevant online course would go above that.

Learn more about the ins and outs of listing your education on your resume:

• How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume
• How to List Online Courses on Your Resume the Right Way (Because Yes, There Is a Wrong Way)

6. Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests

The skills section of a resume gets a bad rap, but it’s just as important as the rest of the stuff you include. It’s a quick list a recruiter can scan to see if your skill set aligns with what they’re hiring for. And it’s super ATS-friendly (ATS stands for “applicant tracking system,” the robot that in some cases reads your resume before a human does) because it allows you to add in keywords the machine is scanning for.

Usually this section goes at the bottom of your resume, but in special cases—such as a skills-based resume or when someone’s switching fields—you may place it further up.

What exactly do you throw in here? You’ll want to list any hard skills and applications you’re familiar with (Photoshop, SEO, JavaScript, to name a few examples), and, if relevant, your level of expertise. Avoid including soft skills here, like time management or public speaking—save those for your bullet points instead.

Be strategic when filling in your skills. Don’t list things you actually couldn’t do at a high competence level (I’m looking at those of you who say you’re “great” at Excel), and maybe nix skills that are completely irrelevant to the job you want. For example, you may not even need to include Excel if you’re applying for say, a design position, unless it’s listed as a job requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking, I’m a really good volleyball player, but that’s not a “skill,” right? No, it’s not, but it is a hobby. Adding in a hobby section at the bottom of your resume is underrated, and frequently a smart choice. It can be a great conversation starter with a hiring manager, and it can show that you’re a good culture fit—or a culture add—for the company. Also, it’s just a nice way to add in some of your personality. So tack on a bullet point listing out some of your interests, such as hiking, rowing, or crafting (no more than five to seven work-appropriate verbs), and you’re all set here.

7. Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)

You may have heard of a resume summary statement . They’re not super common, but they can be useful to include near the top of your resume if you’re looking to add clarity or context to your resume. If you’re a career changer, you might find a summary statement helpful in explaining your leap and tying your experience to your new path. Or if you’re a more experienced professional, you can use a summary statement to highlight a theme that brings your career trajectory together.

Overall, you probably won’t need a summary statement if your career is pretty linear and your bullet points do a great job of emphasizing what you have to offer in terms of skills and experience. But if you think it makes sense to include one, “Take the time to think about what the person reading your summary wants to know before you write it,” says McGovern. “Good summaries explain why you do what you do and how it can help. For instance: Merging a background in ABC, I help companies improve XYZ through 123. Summaries shouldn’t be any more complicated than that.”

So, taking McGovern’s example, you might say:

Merging a background in social media marketing and PR with seven years in the consumer tech space, I help companies improve their internal and external communication and brand awareness through data-driven, quality content and strategies that align with the modern trends of the space.

Yurovsky adds that “you don’t want your summary statement to be a dense paragraph with too much information. You want it to be easy to read, concise, and memorable. Almost like a tagline.”

Read More: 3 Resume Summary Examples That’ll Make Writing Your Own Easier

8. Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)

Once you have your resume written out—you’ve broken down your work experience, tagged on some activities and additional experiences, and listed out your skills—it’s important to go back to the job description (or multiple job descriptions, if you’re applying to several similar jobs) and make sure that what your resume says matches up with the kind of candidate the employers are looking for. In other words, tailor it .

Let’s explain further. You’ll want to begin by tackling the ATS . This means combing the job description to see if individual words and phrases line up. What skills are they asking for, and have you listed them (so long as you actually have them)? What words are they using to describe their ideal hire, and do you use similar language in your resume?

Next, take a bird’s-eye view. If you were the hiring manager for the role, where on your resume would your eyes be drawn to? And what would you be looking for? Whatever you think will be most important for the recruiter, make sure it’s near the top of your resume, or otherwise emphasized.

Finally, dig into the role and responsibilities of the job. Does your resume reflect similar experience? If not, is there a way you can spin it so that it’s clear you’re capable of doing the job (and doing it well)?

These articles can help you if the word “tailoring” makes you start to sweat:

• What It Really Means to “Tailor Your Resume”
• Your Guide to Making Unrelated Experience Look Relevant on Your Resume
• A Cool Trick: How to Spin 1 Resume Bullet 5 Different Ways

9. Edit and Refine It

Please, please don’t just write your resume and shoot it out without giving it a second glance. Hiring managers may not spend hours browsing it, but if there’s one thing that sticks out more than anything else it’s a glaring typo.

The best approach? Write a rough draft, then leave and come back to it later with fresh eyes to give it an edit.

Cover the basics: Is your contact information correct and updated? Are you using the right verb tenses? Does everything look consistent and accurate in terms of spelling and grammar?

Then do some cutting if your resume’s quite long. It’s no longer a hard-and-fast rule that all resumes must be only one page—but consider it a smart guideline for most applicants, especially if you've got less than 10 years work experience. The exception is if you’re very senior or very established in your career; in this scenario, a two-page resume isn’t completely out of the question. Everyone else, read this article for advice on how to cut your resume down.

Formatting-wise, it’s key to consider a couple things. First, what font are you using , and is it legible (for a human and a robot)? When in doubt, go with one of these simple, but sleek, options: Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, or Helvetica.

Second, are you going to save it as a Word document or PDF ? Neither option is wrong, although a PDF helps ensure that your formatting is maintained, no matter what type of computer the hiring manager uses to open the document.

Third, is your resume formatted in a way that it’s skimmable? If it’s feeling crowded or overrun with words, read this: 12 Tiny Changes That Make Your Resume Easy for Recruiters to Skim .

Once you’ve given it a few good looks, it may be worth sending it to a friend or colleague (or even a career coach ) to get a second opinion. Don’t just have them edit it for spelling and grammar—they should dig into your bullets and offer feedback on whether or not your resume is showing you in the best possible light (it’s smart to also send them the job description for something to compare it to).

Here’s the thing: Your resume won’t ever look exactly like someone else’s, nor should it. How you choose to format it, organize your information, and talk about specific experiences depends not just on your career path, but on your field, the job you’re applying for, the company that job is at, and more.

So there isn’t a universal way to do a resume. But there are common themes. To give you some context as to how yours might turn out, here are three examples of different kinds of resumes.

The Most Popular: A Reverse Chronological Resume

As previously mentioned, a reverse chronological resume is preferred by many coaches and HR experts, mainly because it’s super readable. When everything’s in a clear order, it’s easy to skim and even easier to draw lines between experiences.

Who it’s good for: Just about everyone—from students applying to internships all the way up to senior-level executives (with an optional resume summary statement)

Download an Example Chronological Resume for a Software Engineer

The Unorthodox Route: A Functional or Skills-Based Resume

Rather than listing out your experience in reverse chronological order, a functional or skills-based resume has bullet points that reflect how each of your skills is demonstrated by the work you’ve done over the course of your career. At the bottom, you’ll include everything else, such as your education, job history, professional achievements, community involvement, and other technical skills. This is a good option if you have a somewhat all-over-the-place work history and want to tie everything together neatly.

Who it’s good for: Career changers whose work experiences may not appear to be relevant and people with an abundance of temporary jobs or gaps in their work histories.

Download an Example Functional Resume for a Project Manager

The Creative Angle: An Infographic Resume or Resume Website

This resume type is characterized by how it’s formatted visually. You may choose a reverse chronological order or skills-based style to organize your information, but also use graphics, colors, unique fonts, and even multimedia elements to help that information pop. Keep in mind that any creative resume is still likely subject to an ATS—and certain elements may be unreadable by a robot. So consider going this route only if you know a human will be reading your resume (and that said human might enjoy it).

Who it’s good for: People applying to creative roles (designers, editors, writers, marketers, video producers, for example), startups, or fun companies, or to jobs where a creative resume is encouraged, if not required.

Download an Example Infographic Resume for a Designer

Not a designer but want your resume to look just as pretty as this example? Check out these articles:

• 5 Sites to Create an Awesome Infographic Resume (Even if You’re the Least Creative Person Ever)
• How to Build a Resume Website That Will Impress Every Hiring Manager Who Sees It
• 5 Digital Tools That Will Make Your Resume Infinitely More Beautiful

Your resume is a living, breathing document. So while you won’t go through this whole process every time you apply for a job, you should be thinking about all these things as you go to update your resume for your next career step. You might decide later on to switch up the order, or remove or add things, or even get creative and try out a whole new format. If you’re not getting the calls back you expect, you may decide to scrap it and start over —and that’s totally OK.

Regardless of where this piece of paper goes and how it grows, when you give it the care and attention it deserves, you set yourself up for success. And you’ll make it that much more likely that you’ll land an interview and get the chance to prove to the hiring manager—over the phone or in person—what you’ve got to offer.

How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide

For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.

If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.

So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that gets you an interview straight up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume, including:

• The 8 Essential Steps to Writing a Resume
• 11+ Exclusive Resume Tips to Up Your Resume Game
• 27+ Real-Life Resume Examples for Different Professions

….and more!

So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
• Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
• Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
• Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
• Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
• Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
• Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
• Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

• Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
• Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
• Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

• Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
• Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
• Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
• Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
• Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

• Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
• Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
• Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

• Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
• LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
• Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
• Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
• Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
• Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Your job title and years of experience.
• A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
• Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

• Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
• Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
• Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

• Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
• Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
• Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
• Generated leads through cold-calling
• Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

• Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
• Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
• Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

• Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
• Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
• Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

• In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
• Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
• In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

• No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
• Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
• Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

• Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
• Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
• Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
• Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

• Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
• University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
• Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
• Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
• GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
• Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
• Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
• Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

• If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
• You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
• If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
• Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
• Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
• Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

• Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
• Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

• Agile Methodology
• SCRUM Framework
• Waterfall Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Risk Management

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
• Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
• A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
• Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

• Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
• Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
• Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
• Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

• Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

• Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
• Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
• Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
• Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
• Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
• Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
• Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
• Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
• Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
• Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
• Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
• Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
• Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Bartender Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

• Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
• Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
• Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
• Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

• Open MS Word
• Click “file” from the menu bar 
• Select “new”
• Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

• Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
• Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
• Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
• Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
• Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

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How To Write a Resume for Your First Job

Imagine yourself stumbling across your dream job listing. You’re reading through the responsibilities and job tasks and you find yourself getting more and more excited as the list goes on. Then, it’s time to apply. But you have no real-world job experience. You’re just a student! How will you ever write a resume for your first job when you haven’t had one yet?

Knowing how to write a resume for your first job does not come naturally. In fact, it feels like a daunting task. If you have little applicable experience yet, or you’re just entering the workforce, how can you prove you’re the right fit for the position? 

Resumes are an excellent way to tout your knowledge, training and (if applicable) skills in the field. You can create an attractive resume highlighting your candidacy without any direct experience or prior work history.

We’ll show you how to write a resume for your first job so you can kick off your work experience with preparedness and confidence.

• Do you need a resume?
• What should you put on a resume?

Crafting a resume with no experience

Finalizing your first job resume, quick guide: write your first resume in 6 steps, do you need a resume for your first job.

While a resume may not be required to apply for your first job, it is highly recommended that you do so, and it will undoubtedly set you apart from the other applicants. A resume reflects your professionalism and commitment to the job application process. It showcases your knowledge, skills, training and prior experience in an easy-to-digest and relatively standard format, making it easy for potential employers to decipher between candidates to choose the best person for the job.

Even for entry-level positions, when many applicants don’t have a prior work history, sharing a resume will give you a competitive edge when written persuasively.

The role of a resume in job applications

A resume plays an important role when applying for jobs. It serves as an introduction to potential employers and those in the company who will decide whether or not to move forward with your application. It also provides a summary of what you bring to the table for those who will be interviewing you during the application process.

The resume is essential for showcasing your skills. A well-crafted and persuasive resume can highlight your achievements and knowledge, even if you have limited work experience in the field you’re applying to. Because your resume is the first contact point between you and a potential employer, it’s crucial to understand how to write a resume for your first job – and how to write it well.

What should you put on a resume for your first job?

There are a few things every resume must include – and those are some of the most essential details.

Contact information

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include the most important part of your resume – sharing your contact information. Start by listing your full name, phone number, email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Without your contact information, potential employers will have a hard time contacting you, which can prevent you from getting an interview.

Why share a link to your LinkedIn profile ? LinkedIn is now an essential part of the job search market. It serves as a shareable resume in addition to showcasing your network. Employers can see if you have any professionals in common from work or personal life, which may help build your credibility as a candidate.

Be sure to act professionally on LinkedIn. Share relevant news and insights to highlight your interest and knowledge of an industry, but be wary of getting too personal or engaging in inappropriate dialogue. Behave on LinkedIn as you would in an office setting with colleagues.

Educational background and achievements

Start by listing your educational information, such as schools attended, graduation dates and relevant academic achievements or awards. Include your major and minor, field of study and GPA. If you were enrolled in courses, projects or study abroad programs relevant to the job, include details to show your knowledge and interests.

Skills section

While you likely have some combination of hard and soft skills, a skills section will showcase the hard skills you’ve learned to prepare you for the job. Soft skills are best to be included in the bullet points to describe your accomplishments in your experience section.

• Hard skills include specific technical skills you’ve learned along the way. For example, computer proficiency, language skills, lab skills or specific training or certifications.
• Soft skills , or human skills, include job aspects that apply to many (if not all) job roles. These include communication, teamwork and problem-solving. If you’re particularly adept in any of these, showcase them and be prepared to share real examples of these skills in action.

Extracurricular activities and volunteer work

Employers look for candidates who go the extra mile to be involved in extracurricular activities. This demonstrates your commitment to becoming a well-rounded human being. Highlight clubs, sports or volunteer activities that you were involved in, especially emphasizing leadership roles or particular responsibilities you had in these activities. This extracurricular activity showcases your ability to multi-task, prioritize time and develop skills and interests.

Example Resume & Writing Guide

See a real-life example of a strong resume, including tips for gathering your own persuasive experience and skills using our Resume Writing Guide !

As a young adult or new graduate, you may wonder how to write a resume for your first job with no real-world experience. Don’t fear – there have been many in your shoes before you!

What does a resume look like for a first job?

Your resume should be straightforward with a clean and concise design. It should be easy to read with a simple flow highlighting information from most important to nice-to-have details. Do not go overboard with design details, fonts or graphics. 

Furman recommends that you use Microsoft Word to build your resume as it can be easier to make changes to a Word document than it is to change a template. However, you can use free resume builder tools online to build your resume in standard formats.

• Myperfectresume.com
• Resumenerd.com

Using strong action words and job-specific keywords in your resume for your first job will significantly impact you. Describe experiences and achievements using strong action verbs, such as:

• Collaborated
• Volunteered

What to put on a resume with no experience?

You can learn how to write a resume for your first job that impresses potential employers, even without relevant work experience, by emphasizing relevant coursework. Doing this demonstrates skills learned in a classroom or group project setting. Highlight personal or academic projects showcasing your abilities, such as experiences where you took the lead as a group or team leader.

Before submitting your first job resume, review and edit the document for mistakes or improvements.

Proofreading and editing

Attention to detail is critical to potential employers. Check your resume for typos and grammatical errors. Mistakes on your resume may eliminate you as a candidate, especially if grammatical adeptness or attention to detail is essential to the job.

Similarly, ensure a consistent design throughout your resume. Stick to one format, using one legible font and minimal design details. A professional resume appearance can set you apart from other applicants’ resumes that may appear messy or disorganized.

Seeking feedback

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from friends, mentors or even career services at schools or community centers. A peer review from your fellow students, teachers or mentors can provide invaluable input on skills you may be forgetting, plus the extra set of eyes can help detect errors and typos.

Career services at your school or library also serve as an excellent third-party validation and review resource. Furman’s Malone Center for Career Engagement offers in-depth career preparation services for students, such as resume and cover letter assistance , career fairs and networking , personalized advice from advisors and interview prep – just to name a few.

Webinar: Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch

Watch the free Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch webinar for an in-depth look at creating your resume and preparing a pitch to potential employers straight from a Furman career advisor.

Now, do you feel ready and excited to write a resume for your first job? We hope you jotted down notes specific to your experience as you read through the post, but in case you didn’t, writing your resume can be simplified to these simple steps.

• Start with your contact information , including full name, phone number and email address. Consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile.
• List your education experience , including relevant projects, courses and extracurricular activities.
• List both hard skills and soft skills relevant to the job.
• Explain your roles and responsibilities in your projects and extracurricular activities, especially those where you acted in a leadership capacity, using strong action verbs.
• Proofread and gather feedback.

If this is your first time writing a resume for your first job, approach the process with confidence and positivity. Your attitude will shine through the resume, so stay positive!

The perspectives and thoughts shared in the Furman Blog belong solely to the author and may not align with the official stance or policies of Furman University. All referenced sources were accurate as of the date of publication.

What Is the Purpose of a Cover Letter? (And How to Write One)

How to study abroad: a full guide for students, what can you do with a chemistry degree.

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8 million are in student loan forbearance under Biden's SAVE plan. Are you one of them?

Did you wake up to an email on Friday stating your student loans are in forbearance? If so, you are one of eight million Americans.

Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) Plan are currently in forbearance. How long the forbearance goes on remains to be determined.

The student loan relief program, introduced by President Joe Biden's administration in 2023, is now in court where it is being contested. At the end of July, an administrative stay was granted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit in St. Louis at the request of Missouri and six other Republican led states, per The Tennessean . As a result, the plan has been blocked from continuing.

Here's what to know about the forbearance and the legal battle over SAVE.

What is student loan forbearance?

Student loan forbearance is a temporary postponement or reduction of your student loan payments due to financial difficulty. During this temporary period, you may still make smaller payments toward your loan. Borrowers typically need to apply to receive forbearance. However, the Biden administration has chosen to freeze payments for all SAVE borrowers as the legal battle over the plan continue.

“Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan will be placed in an interest-free forbearance while our administration continues to vigorously defend the SAVE plan in court,” Miguel Cardona, the secretary of education, said in a statement in July. “The Department will be providing regular updates to borrowers affected by these rulings in the coming days.”

Fast facts about the SAVE student loan plan

∎ SAVE is an IDR (Income Driven Repayment) Plan that bases your monthly payment on your income and family size. It replaced the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan. Borrowers who were on the REPAYE plan will automatically get the benefits of the SAVE plan.

∎ The plan lowers payments for almost all borrowers compared to other IDR plans. Payments are based on a smaller portion of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

∎ It has interest benefit: If you make your full monthly payment but it is not enough to cover monthly interest accrued, the government covers the rest of the interest accrued that month. This prevents your balance growing due to unpaid interest.

∎ Borrowers in the plan who originally borrowed $12,000 or less will be granted forgiveness after as few as 10 years.

∎ In the summer of 2024, more elements of SAVE will go into effect, further lowering payments for borrowers with undergraduate loans.

Why is the SAVE plan in court?

When the SAVE plan was first implemented by the Biden administration in 2023, it was met with criticism and pushback from Republicans. Part of the plan was blocked in June by two federal judges in Kansas and Missouri. In July, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and seven state attorneys requested the 8th Circuit to block the plan in its entirety, according to The Tennessean.

For Bailey, the ruling was a win for the Constitution. On the social media platform X , he said, "Congress never gave Biden the authority to saddle working Americans with half-a-trillion dollars in other people's debt."

🚨BREAKING: The Court has granted our motion to BLOCK Joe Biden’s illegal student loan plan. Congress never gave Biden the authority to saddle working Americans with half-a-trillion dollars in other people's debt. A huge win for the Constitution. — Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) June 24, 2024

When will I need to begin paying my student loans?

Currently, there is no set date for when the student loan forbearance will end or when borrowers will resume payment on student loans.

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at [email protected] .

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10 expert-recommended online resume writing services to use in 2024.

In the mix of college assignments and perhaps your 9-to-5, piecing together an attractive resume for employers can be a difficult feat.

Not only is this one-pager the bread and butter of what will lead to a first-round interview (fingers crossed!), but it’s an excellent portrayal of your skillset, employment history and unique skills that help a company’s HR department gauge if you’re the right fit.

Let’s cut to the chase — more specifically, let’s answer the question, “ How can I make my application stand out? ” One of the most influential steps is, without a doubt, rendering your resume to tip-top shape. And fortunately, there are some of the best online resume services like TopResume and Resumble out there to help.

Best Overall: TopResume

Best budget: resume companion, best optimization for applicant tracking systems: resumeble.

• Best Customizable : Brand Resumes
• Best with Career Consulting: Top Stack Resumes
• Best for Quick Hiring : ZipJob
• Best One-on-One Collaboration : Upwork
• Best for Cover Letters : ResumeSpice
• Best Budget : Craft Resumes

Whether you’re a senior in college applying for your first full-time job or you’ve been in the biz for years and are looking to segue into a different role, we rounded up the top online resume writing services you can use to help get your application in tip-top shape. Plus, we’ve enlisted Shannon Conklin, director of career and leadership development at The College of New Jersey to help!

Hop to her picks below or check out our FAQ for more details on things to look for when picking the right resume builder for you.

• Packages with unlimited resume revisions
• Free resume review
• 60-day interview guarantee
• Several customers who wrote reviews on Trustpilot mention having poor communication with their resume writers

TopResume is a beloved favorite — and for a good reason. It has four different packages depending on your career goals, some of which include unlimited revisions, a LinkedIn makeover, a cover letter and two interview prep sessions.

“TopResume continues to be a solid option,” Conklin shared. “It has strong descriptions, where the website and interface are easy to navigate to understand its process, its three packages, as well as testimonials.”

She also loves TopResume’s FAQ section, coupled with the various packages, that make its process clear and timeline. “There is also plenty of mention about AI and ATS technology,” she added. “If you need a resume quickly, one that accounts for technology, and a budget of only about $150, it looks like this service would be one to strongly consider.”

With TopResume, you’ll also get a 60-day interview guarantee. If you don’t get twice as many interviews, the platform will rewrite your resume for free. It’s pretty top tier, to say the least, and is a minimal investment for those hoping to find free resume-writing services.

• Self-directed service
• Template-based
• Must renew a subscription to edit resume in the future

“Resume Companion is a clean website with a clear message — build a resume quickly!” Conklin highlighted. “It offers templates, examples and advice on how to craft a resume, as well as a cover letter, as a self-directed service within about 15-minutes.”

What’s more, the service also makes it clear it offers a variety of templates based on industries and functions. “This can really help if you are trying to transition to a new field or your resume needs to be updated to reflect the latest in your industry,” she added.

With Resume Companion, you’ll be able to build your resume step by step, from selecting a professional template to answering a few simple questions to have your experience and skills added directly to your digital file. Namely, if you’re not much of a writer, you’ll appreciate its pre-written work experience bullet points to craft your resume in minutes and then apply away.

Not to mention, it’s only $8 a month, so if you want a one-and-done service, this one’s your best bet. Keep in mind that you will have to renew your subscription to edit in the future, but it’s a great budget-friendly option to pursue if you don’t want to be completely in the dark.

• 4-day turnover on resume drafts
• Three free revisions with standard resume package
• Only the premium resume package includes a job guarantee

Resumeble is not only has a fun name, but it includes a resume and cover letter in its baseline package. If you’d like to upgrade, you can receive a LinkedIn write-up, a second resume version, thank you and follow-up notes and cold emails to recruiters.

“Have you applied to dozens of jobs, only to never get through?” Conklin questioned. “If this resonates because your resume is not optimized for ATS platforms, Resumeble might be the choice for you. Mention of ‘ATS,’ as well as their outcomes and ROI, are weaved throughout its site.”

Conklin told The Post that she’s seen many clients apply to dozens and dozens of companies, only to be vetted out due to ATS. “When that happens, I often advise networking to complement a revised, ATS-optimized resume.” she tipped off. “This brings me to one other noteworthy element to their various packages, they support your full professional profile; resume to LinkedIn to recruiter communication support.”

For those who want to spend less than $200 for online resume writing services, this all-in-one option is fairly priced, making it one of the best affordable resume writing services. If you’re only looking to refresh your LinkedIn, you’ll just pay a one-time $99 fee. For just your resume, it’s a one-time purchase of $129 for the service.

Best Customizable: BrandResumes

• Has a self pace job search course
• Helpful step by step resume building guide
• Some customers who reviewed the service on Trustpilot report time delays in receiving their resume

BrandResumes made the cut as one of our top choices for online resume services for a few reasons: it’s one of the platforms best for ATS keyword optimization and formatting for interviews, LinkedIn branding and a customizable interface. If you buy the deluxe package, you’ll have your resume distributed across the 60 top job boards (including industry-specific ones), so you’ll spend less time applying.

“Learning the fundamentals of resume writing is a skill that will carry you throughout your career, and BrandResumes offers courses and resources to accomplish just that,” Conklin highlighted. “Once you understand how to format a strong bullet point, or the style you find reflects your story and values, you can start crafting various resumes to appeal to different audiences and fields.”

BrandResumes also offers resources to launch your own resume writing business — a tool that can be valuable for career experts seeking professional resume writing services. “If you’re seeking to dig into how to revamp your resume, or you find yourself (like many in HR or career services) consistently asked to help a friend or family member with their materials, this service will align with your goals,” she added.

Best with Career Consulting: TopStack Resume

• Pay only after you’re satisfied with the resume
• According to TopStack Resume’s site, resume complete takes up to 2 weeks

TopStack Resume is a force to be reckoned with in the career development sphere. Notably, it’s one of the only services that provides career consulting. So, in addition to resume and cover letter formatting, you have the option to partake in one-on-one sessions with a career advisor.

“Five steps is all you need to follow for your resume review by TopStack,” Conklin put it simply. “The simplicity of this service and the range of offerings (from a resume for $139 to career consulting for its Premium Package ) can be valuable for any job seeker or career explorer.”

Moreover, if you find yourself in need of more career support, maybe you’re changing fields or returning to work after time off, this is a strong contender. “Be mindful of your budget and timeline, so you take full advantage of a career consultant; a solid service should focus on the process, as much as a strong career outcome,” she added.

Plus, TopStack Resume is unique in that it has a team of well-qualified writers to ensure your one-pager is the best it can be. At a fair price point, you can always upgrade to add on more benefits in the future.

Best for Quick Hiring: ZipJob

• Fairly priced for the quality and swiftness of deliverables
• Optimizes for ATS so you’ll have better odds of visibility before your resume lands in human hands
• May be more difficult to ask for revisions if need be, due to the service’s robust turnaround time and automation

While no resume writing service can guarantee you landing your dream job, ZipJob has a unique offering in one of its packages that makes it a standout from the rest.

Ideal for candidates who are rapidly seeking their next role in a flash, ZipJob combines expert resume writers with the exact same tech employers to optimize your one-pager. The kicker? Its most popular plan, Fast Track, includes a professionally written resume, ATS optimization and direct writer messaging — but that’s not all.

Impressively, the Fast Track package for $189 also includes a cover letter and a 60-day interview guarantee. That’s how confident ZipJob is that you’ll get hired, and get hired quickly.

For $299, its Premium package includes a LinkedIn profile update to help maximize your chances and expedited delivery for super speed. If you want swiftness but don’t wish to compromise the quality of your application, you won’t have to worry with ZipJob.

Best One-on-One Collaboration: Upwork

• Several projects to choose from with unique writing strengths you may desire
• Typically budget-friendly
• Some options will have your resume written in only one business day
• Price points vary and quality of work varies depending on which project provider you select, so take caution and read reviews before working with a given person

Individual-driven platforms like Upwork allow you to shop around for a resume writing service that matches your specific needs and budget. Similar to platforms like Skillshare where talented, qualified creators host a course offering or a service, Upwork allows you to select from a variety of different projects where you’ll have one-on-one attention. Consider it akin to being matched with an online counselor.

Generally budget-friendly, most of Upwork’s providers only take one business day to deliver. The majority of providers also have thousands of positive, near-five-star reviews, so it’s surely a service to consider.

The one downside to Upwork is that quality of work may differ slightly, though that’s a given with its platform structure. This differs from some other services like TopResume where the company at large has its own writing structure, so it’s just something to take note of. However, for its affordability and speed, it’s a great dip into the pool of resume writing and related services, without spending more on a professional-grade platform.

Best for Cover Letters: ResumeSpice

• The baseline package offers a lot more than competitors, including phone consult, optimized draft and two edits
• Cover and thank-you letters are added to packages at an additional charge

ResumeSpice is ready to add that much-needed spice to your resume. It doesn’t just provide three different package options, but it specifically tells you which one would work best for you. For example, if you have no more than two years in the workforce, you should select its baseline package ($449). This package includes a phone consultation, an eye-catching resume format, keyword optimization, a personalized draft, two rounds of revisions based on your feedback and finalized versions in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats.

“Solid service is evident across ResumeSpice, and its focus on Executive Resume stands out from others,” Conklin pinpointed. “If you find yourself wanting to get to that next level in your career, you really do need to consider an executive coach with an eye towards that goal for your materials.”

You might, for example, realize you have decades of experience and are unsure where to start to consolidate — Conklin offered. “This is one of the most frequent concerns when making this transition, and a third party like ResumeSpice can be an invaluable resource and sounding board,” she added. “Finally, its site is clear in terms of turnaround, which shows they value your time and manage expectations — a positive sign on what you can expect service-wise.”

ResumeSpice offers other à la carte services, too, including cover letter help, LinkedIn profile revamping, interview preparation and career coaching.

Best Budget: Craft Resumes

• Unlimited revisions
• 5 day delivery
• Some reviewers mention time delays

Craft Resumes has an engaging, user-friendly interface that makes resume-building a fun, less stressful process. With ATS keyword optimization and a dedicated writer on your resume, rest assured that it will be in a healthy state to pass along to recruiters and job posters.

“Craft Resumes cleary focus on the ‘craft’ and design of writing resumes, where a distinguishing factor that caught my eye is their unlimited evaluation ‘at any reason’ for four days,” Conklin said, recommending the service. “This is valuable for job or graduate school seekers and career explorers, as you’ll likely have questions once you find an opportunity of interest.”

Similar to other services here, there is a one-on-one aspect that can be quite valuable, especially if you have the time. “There are also a variety of services and prices, not just resume writing,” she noted. “This is helpful for you budget, and evolving needs. Often times once you get a resume underway you start to realize that you’ll want other materials to be updated and aligned with your personal brand.”

For its most popular package, The Basic, you’ll have access to a single writer and unlimited revisions (which is a score compared to some other services on this list), strong and optimized words, unique formatting and a cover letter to increase your chances of landing an interview. However, Craft Resumes has other great packages worth exploring.

Best Resume Writing: Let’s Eat, Grandma Resume Service

• Consultation included with every package
• Executive Concierge Service that includes 10 days of unlimited revisions
• Quality writers and customer service, based off reviews
• No academic CVs or federal resumes

Humorous name aside, resume service Let’s Eat, Grandma has a laser focus on punctuation (as you can tell because nobody intends to write that they’d like to eat their grandmother on a professional document) — as well as resume formatting. What’s great about this platform, specifically, is its vast packages, ranging from drafting your resume to offering cover letters and networking services to help boost your career trajectory.

“Let’s Eat, Grandma hones in immediately on its ‘custom-tailored’ approach,” Conklin said. “While every resume review should be tailored to account for your story (as mentioned above), it’s clear this is a value of this service. Client outcomes are also front and center, where a mix of employers and schools are listed; this is notable if continuing education is a goal of yours.”

With four packages available, and FAQs on the homepage highlighting its range (i.e. academic, federal government and more), Conklin appreciates how it’s clear that this service is distinguishing itself from others, especially given the range of specialty materials they can help you create. 

What’s more, you’ll be assisted by a team of highly skilled writers who create targeted documents to help boost your chances of getting an interview. They’ll also speak to your unique strengths — and, therefore, amplify them on your resume — to tie your entire professional portfolio of experience together. They also have a package tailored for executives, making the platform a solid option for those needing executive resume writing services.

Which resume service is best?

The golden question, right? This depends mostly on your career goals. A range of services are available, and many are now even offered through LinkedIn. 

“When considering a resume service, it is important to consider the extent of guidance you are seeking,” Conklin, who has 15 years of experience in higher education — told The Post.

“Are you overhauling your resume? Are you transitioning industries and need to consider a different format or approach? What are your financial resources to pay for one, or should you explore services offered from your alma mater or current institution if you are a current or graduate of higher education?,” she questioned.

You’ll also want to consider the resume services’ reputation, Conklin suggested: Are there reviews or endorsements of a service, especially if you are paying for one? What is the background, and is the resume service aligned with your industry of interest? 

Is it worth paying for a resume service?

“It depends on the service and one’s circumstances as to whether it is ‘worth’ paying for the service,” Conklin said. “There are very reputable services out there, especially for more experienced career seekers. If you’re transitioning to a new field, or you are seeking to move to a senior or executive level, it could definitely be worth the cost.”

As a preliminary step, Conklin advised to really make sure you are an informed consumer when considering a resume service, and if you should pay or if you have a network or connections you can leverage for advice first. 

How much does it cost to have someone write your resume?

“When an individual pays for a resume service, there may be a flat rate, or it is calculated on an hourly rate and requires at least two sessions,” Conklin explained. “For example, it could cost $150 for a single session.”

However, there are resume services that can significantly exceed that rate and are part of a package that might include a quick return and other support, from LinkedIn to interview coaching, that is over $600, she highlights.

What to include on your resume, according to an expert

“Your story is the focus of your resume, and it is critical to be honest and reflect on how you want to tell that, ultimately,” Conklin noted. “The order also depends on the stage of your career (early, mid, senior, executive) and the industry you are seeking.”

In academia, for example, you’ll see a curriculum vitae (CV) that is pages long to reflect one’s research, publications, and roles held. In financial services, you would have a one-page resume until you have significant work experience. Or, in the creative fields, you may have a one-page resume and then an online portfolio or website that exhibits your work to complement your resume, she explains.

“No matter the field you are pursuing, you always want to make sure you list your experiences in reverse chronological order, you include your education/training, think of the keywords and skills (and make sure those are prominently displayed and included), and also think of what is most relevant,” she listed. “The most relevant should be at the top.”

It is also key to consider Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), automated review systems that scan resumes as part of an organization’s vetting process. “The format could align or cause issues with an ATS system,” Conklin added. “This is why it’s important to do your research, leverage any connections you have to gain insights into a field and their preferred format and get advice on keywords, skills and experiences to include.”

“If you do your homework, you should find clues to answer the questions above and guide your resume writing approach,” Conklin shared.

How we chose resume services

At Post Wanted, here’s what we keep in mind when researching and hand-selecting resume services:

• Customization : The best online resume services offer tailored resumes with personalized resume writing, in contrast to generic templates you can find for free.
• Consultation : Some services offer a one-on-one consultation with your writer so they can scope out your specific attributes, career highlights and other aspects to your curriculum vitae you want to spotlight.
• Comprehensive Packages : In addition to resumes, some services offer cover letters, LinkedIn profile optimization and career coaching. To some, this is worth the investment, though it may come with a higher price tag.
• ATS Optimization : A great benefit to online resume services is the focus on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), as human recruiters typically use this software use these screening systems before it lands in their hands.
• Turnaround Time : For some, there’s no time to be wasted when it comes to hunting for a new job. Looking at flexibility and speed is important; some services offer rush options for individuals who need a complete and optimized resume quickly.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance . We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products , and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

Hunting for a headline-worthy haul?  Keep shopping with Post Wanted .

• INNOVATION FESTIVAL
• Capital One

08-09-2024 HOW TO BE A SUCCESS AT EVERYTHING

How I wrote a book in 15 minutes a day

Every first novel started as an unpublished writer’s wild idea. Here’s how to make yours a reality.

[Photo: Stas Knop /Pexels]

BY  Julia Dahl 4 minute read

The first time I tried to write a novel I was 23. I had all the time in the world. I was a full-time graduate student. I lived alone, I had no children, and it took me three years to finish a draft.

Five years later, I tried again. I was working full-time as a reporter and I lived with my boyfriend, but we had no kids. This time, it took me five years.

All that time, my technique, if you could call it that, was the same: set up my laptop at a coffee shop or a library or at my desk at home, and “write.” But, as New York Times best-selling author Meghan O’Rourke recently tweeted : “It’s really important to have at least three hours to write every day so you can spend the first two hours squirming and checking the internet and daydreaming before getting down to it.”

Touché. I thought I needed hours with nothing to do but write. But even with all those hours, I didn’t produce much. So I started applying for retreats and residencies , thinking maybe I needed long stretches—days, weeks—to do nothing but write.

I wrote three novels that way. Fits of progress followed by long lulls of nothing. And then I had a child.

Suddenly, there were no long stretches.

I struggled. I had to figure out a way to fold my writing back into my life, but my life had changed so dramatically I wasn’t sure how. I turned in my fourth novel two years past the deadline. I had an idea for another, but no idea how I’d actually get it gone.

And then, my friend, author Laura McHugh, told me she’d started doing “writing sprints.” I don’t have all day, she told me, but I can commit to one hour.

Frankly, an hour felt impossible, but I liked the idea of a sprint. I turned off my Wi-Fi, silenced my ringer, put on some noise-canceling headphones, and for 15 minutes, I wrote. I didn’t produce a lot, but it was more than I’d done the day before. More than I’d done in a month. I did the same thing the next day, and the next. And less than two years later, I had a solid draft.

Words add up

There is nothing magic about 15 minutes—and yet there is. We all waste 15 minutes every day scrolling on our phones. Probably more, but definitely 15. And in 15 minutes, if you can write 100 words, you can have a full-length draft of a novel in two years. (One hundred words times 365 days times two years is 73,000 words, which most editors will tell you is on the shorter end of average novel length.) You’ll also probably start enjoying those 15 minutes; what you accomplished will help carry you through the day. And sometimes those 15 minutes will turn into longer sessions.

Will what you write be ready to publish? No. First drafts never are. Part of the 15 minute technique is to give yourself permission to write badly. You’ll fix it later. But here’s the key: There is no published novel without a finished first draft. What if two years ago you’d decided to write 15 minutes a day? You’d have hundreds of pages to polish into something publishable.

Training your brain

But more than the words on the page—which add up!—the genius of the 15 daily minutes is that the real secret to writing a novel, or achieving any long-term artistic goal, is time spent thinking about the thing you’re creating. You can’t write a novel without hours and hours spent considering the world you’re building, the people you’re creating, the problems they’ll encounter, and the route it will take for them to get to the end of their journey.

To do all that, you need to spend a lot of time walking around with the novel in your brain. Spending even just 15 minutes each day “with” your novel means that it will always be present in your mind. Nurture that presence when you aren’t writing. Cut down on podcasts when you’re walking or driving. Give yourself quiet. Tell yourself: I’m going to think about the next scene I need to write while I go through this car wash, or walk to the grocery store, or wait for my son’s lacrosse practice to end. 

Keep a notebook with you to jot down plot ideas and snippets of dialogue. Or, use your phone to dictate messages to yourself, though your phone can be very dangerous as a distraction, so beware. 

How to find your 15 minutes

It’ll be different for everyone. You can’t get me out of bed one minute before I need to be awake, so mornings are out for me. And once I’ve put my son to bed, I’m pretty wiped. It’s certainly not my most creative time. So I do my 15 minutes in the middle of the day. 

I coach novelists who do their 15 minutes after their morning workout, or after they’ve dropped their kids off from school, or right before bed. I know writers who write at work on their lunch break. All that matters is the time; the where and when can change as your life does.

Give yourself permission

Let me tell you a secret: Most writers—even those with books in your favorite bookstore, reviewed by the big papers—don’t make enough money off their writing to pay all their bills. The same is true of all other artists: musicians, painters, actors, dancers. Does that make their work less legitimate? If you write, you’re a writer. Own it.

Another thing to remember is that every novel you pick up (and every song you listen to, every performance you attend) started as somebody’s wild idea. It exists only because its creator decided to spend unpaid time working on it. Little by little, the wild idea turns into something real.

Apply to the Most Innovative Companies Awards and be recognized as an organization driving the world forward through innovation. Early-rate deadline: Friday, August 23.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julia Dahl is the author of five novels including I Dreamed of Falling , out this September from Minotaur Books. She teaches journalism at NYU and provides private coaching and creative writing classes online .   More

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How to Prepare Resume for Freshers: Tips and Templates

Quick Summary

• The process of learning how to prepare resumes for freshers can start by writing a professional summary highlighting your education and skills. Then, you can list your education, internships, and projects. Finally, you can add relevant tools, languages, and achievements to complete your resume tailored to your dream job.
• Highlight your achievements and showcase your interests by mentioning relevant hobbies or activities that demonstrate your skills.
• By tailoring the job description and quantifying achievements to showcase impact, we can create resume for freshers. Integrate relevant keywords to pass ATS screenings and start with a compelling summary that highlights credentials and career goals.

Table of Contents

How to prepare resumes for freshers:  aiming for success.

As a fresher, crafting a standout resume for freshers is vital to landing your dream job. If you are wondering “How to prepare resume for freshers”, then be assured that you have come to the right place. Writing a resume with no formal work experience means emphasising other aspects of your life that’ll showcase your skills and passions, like your education and involvement in activities like extracurriculars or volunteering.

A professional summary, education, skills, work experience, and extracurricular activities are included in the resume for freshers. Tailor each section to the job you’re applying for to make a strong impression.

If you follow the tips, you’ll increase your chances of moving on to the interview stage of the hiring process and landing the job of your dreams. The resume is a very subjective thing and it can be changed according to the user’s needs.

But one thing you need to keep in mind is the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) system. Most companies or industries pass your resume through the ATS scanner, where most resumes get rejected. In this article, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to create a resume for freshers that grabs the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

How to prepare resumes for freshers

Making your fresher resume stand out is essential when you’re just starting your career and may not have much work experience. Here are the steps for how to write resume for fresher:

Steps to create a resume from scratch

Here are some steps to help you create an impressive fresher resume, including contact information, Objective, Education, Experience, Skills, Achievements, Interests, and Declaration.

• Choose the Right Resume Format: Consider using a combination or functional resume format instead of a traditional chronological one. This allows you to highlight your skills, education, and relevant coursework at the forefront. Use a simple, professional font (e.g., Arial, Calibri) and a consistent formatting style throughout.
• Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile to ensure recruiters can easily reach you.
• Strong Resume Objective: Begin your resume with a well-crafted objective or summary statement. Mention your career goals, key skills, and what you bring to the table.
• Highlight Education: Emphasize your educational qualifications, including your degree, university, GPA (if it’s strong), and any relevant coursework or academic achievements.
• Include Relevant Projects and Internships: If you have completed internships, projects, or part-time jobs related to your field, highlight them in a separate section. Describe your responsibilities, accomplishments, and the skills you gained.
• Showcase Relevant Skills: List skills that are directly related to the job you’re applying for. This could include technical skills, language proficiency, or soft skills like communication and teamwork.
• Quantify Your Achievements: Whenever possible, use quantifiable data to showcase your accomplishments. For example, “Increased website traffic by 30% through social media marketing.
• Include Relevant Certifications: If you have earned any relevant certifications or completed online courses, list them in a dedicated section.
• Proofread Thoroughly: Eliminate typos, grammar errors, and formatting issues. Consider asking a friend or mentor to review your resume as well.
• Declaration: A statement declaring the authenticity of the information provided, followed by your signature and date, to reinforce your credibility and honesty.

Tips for organizing and formatting the resume

• Add a Personal Touch: Mention any hobbies or interests that are relevant to the job or reflect your personality positively. This can help humanise your resume.
• Keep it Concise: A one-page resume is typically sufficient for most entry-level positions. Be concise and focus on the most relevant information.
• Use Action Verbs: Start bullet points with strong action verbs to make your accomplishments more dynamic. Words like “achieved,” “implemented,” “managed,” and “designed” can be effective.
• Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each job application. Carefully read the job description and align your skills and experiences with the requirements of the position.

Fresher Resume Format for Job Interview

• Best formats for fresher resumes

The ideal fresher resume format for job interview is a chronological resume. This format gives hiring managers a clear overview of their educational background and relevant experience by listing each position, starting with their most recently held positions at the top.

Follow this simple format when you create a resume for freshers:

• Contact information
• Resume Introduction
• Relevant experience
• Additional resume sections (projects, hobbies, interests, extracurricular activities, etc.)
• Chronological vs. Functional vs. Hybrid Formats

Here are the popular resume formatting styles – chronological, functional, and hybrid – and discover when each is the most appropriate choice.

• The Chronological Resume: The chronological resume is your go-to format if you have a consistent work history with clear career progression. It’s ideal for those who want to highlight their stability and steady climb up the career ladder. Your work history is listed in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backwards. T
• The Functional Resume: Opt for the functional format when you want to emphasize your skills and qualifications over your work history. This format is perfect if you have employment gaps, are changing careers, or have diverse skills.
• The Hybrid Resume: When to Use: The hybrid (or combination) resume combines elements of both chronological and functional formats. It’s an excellent choice if you want to showcase your skills while providing a clear work history (ex, a recent graduate whose coursework and extracurriculars are related to your desired career path but not work history).
• Tips for choosing the right format for specific job types.

Consider your unique circumstances, career goals, and the job you’re applying for when choosing the format that best suits your needs. Whether you opt for the clarity of the chronological format, the skill-focused functional format, or the balanced approach of the hybrid format, remember that your resume is your professional story choose the format that tells it best.

Resume Heading and Summary for Fresher

Examples of effective resume headings.

A good resume heading and summary for fresher, helps to build a positive impression of the candidate and increases your chances of getting your resume profile noticed by the recruiter. Here are some examples that may help one write a resume title for freshers.

• Dynamic and Motivated Graduate in Electrical Engineering Seeking Entry-Level Job Position
• Results-Driven Recent Civil Engineering Graduate Seeking to Make a Career in the Construction Industry.
• Eager and Enthusiastic Fresher Seeking to Kickstart Career in Customer Service.
• Passionate and Detail-Oriented Entry-Level Professional with BTech in Chemical Engineering
• Ambitious and Dedicated Fresh Graduate with Strong Communication and Analytical Skills
• Self-motivated and Fast-Learning Graduate Seeking a Challenging Position
• Creative and Innovative Graduate Ready to Make an Impact in Digital Marketing
• How to Write a Compelling Summary Statement

A summary statement is your first chance to tell the recruiter why you’re the best fit for the job. It summarises your top achievements and skills relevant to the target job.

• Use resume summary examples for inspiration and guidance when crafting your own.
• Keep your professional summary for a resume short. It should never be longer than five sentences.
• Tailor each resume summary statement to your target job by using keywords and phrases from the job description.
• A professional summary should follow this formula: [Descriptive word] [your job title] [Experience level] [Work experience] [Skills] [Achievement].

Example : Recent computer science graduate with a solid foundation in software development and a passion for problem-solving. Experienced in Python, Java, and web technologies. Seeking an entry-level software engineering position to leverage technical skills and contribute to innovative projects. Highly motivated, quick learner, and eager to work in a collaborative environment to develop cutting-edge solutions.

Professional Summary In Resume for Freshers

Importance of a professional summary.

You want to grab the recruiter’s attention from the get-go. You’ll make their life a bit easier by immediately telling them who you are. The thing is, recruiters are busy people. They go through dozens, sometimes hundreds, of resumes before they can find a few qualified candidates. At first, recruiters will skim resumes in search of specific keywords and phrases that align with what the company is searching for.

That’s why you want to include the best resume summary you can come up with because a good summary section consists of nothing but these juicy bite-size phrases and keywords that a recruiter can spot at a glance. In short, a professional summary in resume for freshersallows you to turn a recruiter’s time limitation into an advantage.

• How to write an effective summary

A good professional summary should compel an employer to read the next section of your resume.  If it manages to do that, then it has accomplished its purpose. There are a few tips and tricks you can use to craft an impressive resume summary.

• In the first bullet point, write your professional title.
• Pick the 3-4 most impressive parts of your resume and reword them into snappy bullet points.
• Translate each achievement into numbers. Each bullet point should contain at least one piece of quantifiable data. Use percentages, numbers, or impressive sales figures.
• Sum up what you have to offer. Instead of saying what you want, keep in mind what they want. Make clear what values you can bring to the company. Look for common threads in your work history and skills that most apply to the job.

Example summaries for different fields.

• Profile summary for Marketing freshers: Seeking an entry-level position in Marketing where I can utilize my superior understanding of the domain gained during the Master’s.
• Profile Summary for Data Analyst Resume Fresher:  A highly skilled, competent, and diligent individual is seeking an opportunity to establish a career as a Data Analyst. Certified with a Diploma in Data Analytics from ABC University.
• Profile summary for Banking freshers: Looking to secure an entry-level position in a progressive financial organization providing ample opportunities to freshers.
• Resume Summary Example for Sales Freshers: A dedicated and reliable individual seeking an opportunity for a Sales Executive.

Achievements in Resume for Fresher

What to include in the achievements section..

Crafting a compelling resume involves more than just listing achievements; it requires effective communication skills and presentation. Follow these steps to write achievements in resume for fresherthat stand out:

• Academic Excellence
• Internship Contributions
• Extracurricular Achievements
• Skill Development
• Volunteer Experience
• Coding Competitions

Examples of Achievements for Freshers

For freshers entering the job market, showcasing achievements can be challenging but not impossible. While you may lack extensive work experience, there are still numerous ways to highlight your skills and accomplishments.

Consider including achievements such as:

Tips for quantifying achievements

• Use Action Verbs: Begin each Achievement in resume for fresher with a strong action verb to convey a sense of accomplishment. For example, “Implemented,” “Led,” “Achieved,” or “Improved.”
• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with specific numbers or percentages. This adds credibility and provides a clear understanding of your impact.
• Be Specific and Concise: Clearly articulate what you accomplished concisely. Avoid vague statements and focus on the key details that highlight your contribution.
• Use the STAR Method: Structure your achievements using the STAR method to provide context and showcase your problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Interests in Resume for Freshers

How to list interests related to the job:.

When listinginterest in resume for freshers, choose ones that exhibit talents or attributes relevant to the job you’re looking for. Tailor your hobbies to demonstrate affinity with the company’s culture or the job’s needs.

Examples of Interests That Can Increase Value

• Tech Jobs: Tech jobs include coding personal projects, participating in hackathons, and contributing to open-source software.
• Marketing Roles: Marketing roles include blogging about industry trends, graphic design, and social media management.
• Finance Positions: Finance positions include stock market analysis, financial modelling, and reading financial news.

Tips to Make the Interests Section Stand Out

• Be specific: Instead of using broad terms like “reading,” use “reading financial blogs” or “reading technology journals.
• Show Involvement: Highlight any active participation, such as “organizing community tech meetups” or “volunteering as a financial literacy coach.
• Connect to Skills: Choose interests that reinforce skills mentioned in your resume, showing a well-rounded and passionate candidate.

Skills in Resume for Freshers

When crafting your skills section as a fresher, focus on highlighting key abilities that align with the job description and demonstrate your readiness for the role. Carefully review the job posting and identify the skills and qualifications the employer is seeking. Tailor your skills section to reflect these requirements, emphasising your strongest capabilities. Incorporate industry-specific keywords and buzzwords from the job description. For example, if the role requires proficiency in Python programming or customer relationship management (CRM), make sure these keywords are prominently featured. 

Include Measurable Achievements to Showcase Skill Proficiency. Where possible, quantify your skills with measurable achievements. For instance, mention completing a project that improved efficiency by a certain percentage or receiving recognition for outstanding teamwork. Organize your skills in a clear and structured manner. Consider categorizing them into technical skills (e.g., programming languages, software proficiency) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork). This makes it easier for recruiters to assess your qualifications quickly.

• Technical Skills: Proficient in Python, Java, and SQL. Familiar with HTML/CSS for web development.
• Soft Skills: Strong communication skills demonstrated through leadership roles in student organizations. Proven ability to work effectively in teams, as evidenced by successful group projects.

Declaration for Resume for Freshers

Purpose of the declaration section.

The declaration section serves the purpose of confirming the veracity of the data you submitted on your resume. It supports your candidacy’s honesty and integrity.

Examples of Standard Declarations

Here are the examples of declaration for resume for freshers :

• “I hereby declare that all of the information furnished above is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.”
• “I certify that the details provided in this resume are accurate and complete.”

When and How to Include a Declaration on a Resume

Place the declaration just before your signature at the very end of your resume. It should be succinct and direct, highlighting your dedication to integrity and openness.

Mastering Your First Resume: A Fresh Graduate’s Guide to Standing Out

Students who want to stand out in the job market must learn how to prepare resumes for freshers . By creating a resume for freshers, you can significantly improve your chances of standing out from the competition by tailoring your resume to the job description, showcasing pertinent skills and experiences, highlighting academic successes and extracurricular activities, optimising for keywords and ATS, and using an eye-catching design. With these tactics, you’ll have no trouble being hired as a fresher for your ideal career.

This blog post has provided you with valuable tips and strategies for creating a winning resume that sets you apart from other candidates. From crafting a compelling summary to showcasing relevant skills and experiences, we have covered everything you need to know about preparing a resume for freshers to create an impressive resume that increases your chances of landing your dream job.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

What should a fresher include in their resume.

The resume of a fresher should include contact details, a career objective or summary statement, education details, pertinent courses or projects, skills, internships or part-time work, achievements (such as academic awards or certifications), and optional extracurricular activities that highlight relevant skills or personal traits.

How can I make my fresher resume stand out?

Display your education prominently to emphasis your readiness for the job. On resumes with no experience, especially student resumes with no experience, highlight relevant coursework, academic awards, honors, scholarships, or participation in study abroad programs in this section.

Are there any free resume templates available for freshers?

Yes, there are plenty of resume designs to choose from, like simple resume templates and modern resume templates. Each resume template is fully customizable in Microsoft Word, so you can personalize each design element and add your text.

What is the best format for a fresher resume?

The chronological CV format is the most common and widely accepted. It lists your work experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job or internship. This format is suitable for freshers who have relevant work experience to showcase.

How important is a declaration in a fresher’s resume?

Declaration in the Resume is necessary to confirm that the provided information given by the candidate is correct and accurate. Here are the reasons why a declaration is required in a resume: It works as a catalyst to prove and verify the authenticity of the information given in a resume, thus preventing misconception, confusion, and fraud in the recruitment process. This is important for your referral as it gives your reference a chance to prove that all the details mentioned on your resume are entirely true.

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• How to Make a Resume

Creating a standout resume might seem daunting, but it’s your key to landing that dream job. Your resume is more than just a list of jobs; it’s your personal marketing tool that highlights your skills, experiences, and achievements in a way that attracts potential employers. Nowadays it’s everyone’s concern how to make a resume that is ATS friendly and reflects your skills and knowledge.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to build a resume that gets noticed by hiring managers and recruiters. We’ll cover resume templates , effective resume formats , and tips for writing powerful resume bullet points. Building your resume is crucial for different job applications, how to highlight your professional experience and the best ways to list your education and certifications.

Table of Content

What is a Resume

Why a resume is important.

Before, moving on to how to write a resume even if you’re a fresher and have no experience, let us understand what is resume and why it is important.

A resume is a concise document that summarizes your skills , experiences , and achievements to showcase your qualifications for a job. Understanding resume writing how to is essential for creating a compelling resume that stands out. When learning how a resume is written, it’s important to focus on formatting, clarity, and relevance. Effective resume writing involves choosing the right structure, highlighting your most significant accomplishments , and tailoring the content to the job you’re applying for. By mastering how to write a resume, you can create a powerful tool that captures the attention of potential employers and helps you advance in your career.

If you want paychecks, you’ve to sell yourself first and a resume is that one tool or document that lists out your features and USPs that will help you to sell yourself in the job market. Within one or two pages, a resume convinces recruiters if they want to call you for a job interview or not. (That much power your resume holds)

So, if you want to bag your first interview or want to interview at your dream company or for a dream job role , it’s very important for you to write a strong and power-packed resume with correct keywords and relevant skills that will persuade recruiters to hit “I want to interview you” button. 

How to Make a Resume (Full Guide)

Choose your desired resume format.

• Reverse chronological resume format
• Functional or Skilled Focused resume format
• Hybrid Format
• Dos and Don’ts of Resume Layout 
• What resume format is best for ATS

Most people have two options when it comes to getting an interview call – A++ top-tier level resume or an “I know someone here” referral. No matter which group you belong to, it’s important to up your resume game and understands the strategies that are used to land an interview from your dream company within a week, if not days. Before you dive into the resume-building process, you have to decide on the right resume format that will take you up the ladder. If you’ve already decided to write your resume on a text editor like MS Word, it’s highly recommended you should keep your HANDS OFF from them. 

Formatting your resume on a basic text editor will not waste your time but also your effort. We recommend that you should use a resume builder tool like GeeksforGeeks Online Resume Builde r – Free. Our resume builder is fast, simple, and free to use. Moving onto resume formats that you can use to format your resume. 

There are three types of resume formats: reverse chronological, functional or skills-based, and hybrid. You should choose the format that suits the type of job you are applying for and your level of experience.

Types of Resume Formats

1) Reverse chronological Resume Format – This highlights your career advancement and emphasizes the relevant job experience. It’s an absolute fan favorite of recruiters. However, it doesn’t show your skills much so if you’re someone with highly relevant job experience, you can opt for this resume format.

Reverse chronological Resume Format

2) Functional/skills-based Resume Format – Are you a fresher with no job experience? Opt for a functional or skill-based resume format if you have skills to brag about but no relevant work experience. 

Functional/skills-based Resume Format

3) Hybrid Resume Format – Now, this resume format is preferred by most recruiters and loved by job seekers with diverse skillsets and job experience. It combines the best elements of both reverse chronological and functional resume format and provides space for the right keyword. 

If you’re wondering which resume format is best for ATS, go for the reverse chronological resume format. When it comes to resume layout, you need to mind these tips while formatting your resumes:

• Page Count: Keep your resume to one page. Max 2 if you’ve 7+ of experience and it’s relevant to your job role. Recruiters get 1000+ resumes every day and it gets tough to go through resumes with more than 2 pages. 
• Heading Tag: If you’re choosing an H1 tag or an H2 tag to write your headlines in your resume, then ensure that all headlines have the same tag.
• White space: Keep enough white space in your resume. Negative space is needed to make your resume look professional.
• PDF or Word: Download your resume as a PDF document as it can be read by most ATS. If the job description mentions that you need to send the doc file as a .doc, then send your resume like that as old ATS can’t read PDF files.

 Add your contact information

The most important and overlooked section of your resume is the contact information section which is right under your name. Even if you write everything correctly but haven’t provided your contact details, HRs can’t reach out to you even if they want to contact you. Ensure that everything on your contact information is up to date and triple-check the details if needed. 

Things that you should include are: 

• First Name / Last Name – Mention the name that is provided on your social security card or if you’re in India, it should match the name that’s provided on your PAN card or Aadhaar card.
• Phone Number – Only provide the phone number that is reachable.
• Email Address – Don’t provide an unprotected email address. Your email address should be like this: “[email protected]”. Avoid providing email addresses like [email protected], [email protected]
• Location – Your residential address should be the same as the one where you stay or relocated.
• Social Media URLs – If you’re a software developer, mention your Github profile. If you’re a designer, then Behance profile and if you’re a writer, provide your personal blog that showcases your abilities. Don’t forget to include your LinkedIn account as most recruiters go through LinkedIn to see your online presence. 

Write a Resume Headline that Can Stand You Out From the Crowd

A resume headline is a short, one-line statement that conveys who you are as a candidate. It is important to write a headline that grabs the recruiter’s attention and encourages them to read your qualifications in more depth. Your resume headline is often the first thing recruiters read so impress them within seconds by writing a short and concise headline. Keep it relevant to your job skills and make sure that you put the right keywords that are relevant to the job posting .

Some resume headlines examples for you to check out:

• Goal-Oriented Senior Accountant with 6+ Years of Accounting Experience in XYZ Company.
• Successful Manager of Dozens of Online Marketing Campaigns
• Award-Winning Video Editor Skilled in Web Design and Video Editing
• Detail-Oriented History Student with Curatorial Experience

Include a professional summary

The first impression is your last impression. This phrase stands true to date. An effective resume introduction can make or break you no matter what type of job you’re applying for. Your summary or objective can give the opportunity to impress the recruiter so carefully write your resume summary/objective. Don’t know where to write a resume summary or objective? We got you covered.

A resume summary is a 2-3 sentence summary of your working experience. Unless you’re a recent college grad or changing careers, you should use a resume summary in almost any scenario.

On the other hand, a resume objective implies the goal of your resume. It conveys why you want to work in that particular field and the motivation behind it. When writing a resume summary, include an objective of 2-3 lines. If you’re changing your career or have no significant work experience, make sure to write a resume objective.

Add your work experience

• If you’re a fresher, keep the education section at the top, and if you’re an experienced person or did work in FAANG companies or big coming, then put work experience at the top.
• If you’re a backend intern, make sure you’re writing the designation as a software engineering intern. 
• Make sure you’re covering up your tasks in 2-3 points.

Now we’re down to the most important part of the resume – work experience . If an add sells a product with just a few words, your resume does the same with you by selling you on the basis of your past work experience and achievements. Learning to write this section is a bit tough but once you master writing the perfect work experience section, 80% work is done here and after this you will know how to write and resume. So, let’s see how to list your work experience: Your work experience should be written in reverse chronological order as ATS can scan reverse chronological resume format easily.

It should be something like this:

Job title | Company Name | Date of employment 

Accomplishments & Achievements

• Job title: Keep it on top of your resume so that recruiters can easily see what position you’re applying for.
• Company name: Mention the company you are working in or working for.
• Date of employment: Mention the timeframe of your employment in all the companies you worked for. Ensure that format is like this – dd/mm/yyyy. It is important to mention as ATS parses it only then.
• Accomplishments and achievements: This is where you mention your core achievements that will in turn bag you – your dream job. List your achievements or responsibilities according to your job role.
• If you’re a fresher, keep the education section at the top and if you’re an intern or worked in FAANG companies or big companies, then make sure to put the work experience section at the top.
• If you’re a backend intern, instead of writing your job title as “Backend Intern”, write it as a “Software Engineering Intern”. You should always write the job title mentioned in the job description.
• Don’t write 10-15 points covering your job responsibilities. Recruiters don’t have the time to go through all of the responsibilities. Keep it to 2-3 points max.
• Mention achievements in terms of how exactly you helped the company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on. Numbers play a big role when it comes to convincing your future employers what exactly you achieved.

Mention your Soft and Hard Skills

Now that you mastered writing your work experience section, it’s time to dive into your skills section. There’re 2 types of skills:

• Soft Skills: These are your personal skills like social skills, communication skills, personal traits, career attributes, leadership, critical thinking, and management.
• Hard/Technical Skills: Hard Skills are measurable skills that you can measure like how proficient you’re in that particular skill. The use of technical skills frequently requires specialized tools and the technologies needed to use them.

A good resume should cover both. However, it’s highly advisable that you should mention those skills in which you’re fluent and not just at a beginner level. To know more about how to list your key technical skills, read our article 7 Key Technical Skills to List on Your Resume in 2022 .

Once you list your hard skills with your experience level, double-check your skills section and remove any skill you feel you’re not confident in and don’t LIE even if your life depends on it. Lying about skills can get you in serious trouble later on and can get you blacklisted too.

Include your education

The next section is all about your educational background, achievements, and projects. We’ll keep it short and concise for you. List your educational background in this way:

• Program Name. E.g.: “MBA in Marketing”
• University Name. E.g.: “Mumbai University”
• Years Attended. E.g.: “06/2019-05/2021”
• (Optional) CGPA. E.g.: “CGPA: 8”
• (Optional) Academic achievements. If you have written any interesting papers or excelled in any courses, do describe them.

Let’s move on to some tips that will help you perfect your educational background, achievement, and project section:

• Only keep the last 2 educational qualifications or examinations you’ve given.
• Only add those projects which are relevant to your job opening – projects which have more number of features.
• Projects to list- API-based projects, Portfolio-based projects, and Full-stack projects.
• Add as many numbers as you can while listing achievements – add your highest ranking in CP or the highest number of problems you solved on GeeksforGeeks or XYZ. 
• Don’t add intra-college achievements as it put forth a negative impression on recruiters.
• Don’t add “President of the xxx club” if you’re applying for tech roles. 

Mention Other Sections (Optional)

All the sections we’ve covered are must-haves but there are a few more sections that are optional and don’t hold much significance. These are like booster sections that can give you an extra wow effect.

The following sections can be added to your resume:

• Languages – If you’re multilingual and can be handy with different languages, do mention that in your resume. However, avoid mentioning language that you’re not proficient in as it can get you in trouble later on if you’re not able to help your colleagues when they require your help with the said language.
• Hobbies and Interests – Have extra space in your resume? Add up your hobbies and interests. It shows how you’re as an individual.
• Volunteering Experiences – Some studies show that volunteering has a greater impact on hiring. It shows that you’re an empathetic person by nature and can be loyal to the company. 
• Courses, Certifications, and Awards – Do you have any certifications or awards that can show you off and is relevant to the job position you applied for? Note them down in the resume as it shows your expertise in the said field.

Customize Your Resume According to the Job Posting

We’re almost at the end of the article. It’s time to format your resume in such a way that ATS can scan your resume smoothly. To understand the term ATS better , you should know ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System . It is software used to manage the entire application process for employers. This system compiles, scans, and ranks all of the applications.

According to a survey done, 98% of Fortune companies are using ATS to scan their resumes. ATS segments resume into various sections: Work Experience , Education, Skills , etc. Next, it looks for precise keywords and qualifications to see if you fit the job description. So it’s important to tailor your resume as per the job description and for how to resume writing. Resumes that don’t comply with the basic requirements are automatically discarded. A job candidate’s resume is ranked based on its relevance (the best resume appears at the top of the recruiter’s pipeline).

Proofread Your Resume With Correct Formatting

Now that you’re done with your resume writing task, it’s time to do the most important task – Proofread your resume. Here’s the checklist we’ve for you:

• Resume fonts – Stick to Ubuntu, Roboto, Overpass, or traditional fonts like Helvetica, Garamond, or Georgia. Your font should be 10-11 and don’t ever go with Comic Sans (only if you want to look like a joker)
• Check tenses – Describe the current work you are doing in the present tense, and use the past tense to describe jobs from the past.
• Resume action words – Use resume action words like “Chaired”, “Controlled”, “Executed”

Also Read: Free Online Resume Builder By GeeksforGeeks – Create Your Resume Now! 10 steps to write an Effective Resume Resume Building – Resources and Tips

In conclusion, learning how to write a resume resume is a crucial step in advancing your career and landing your desired job. Start by selecting a clean and professional format , then focus on highlighting your key skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Tailor each section to the job you’re applying for, ensuring that your qualifications align with the employer’s needs. Building your resume is very beneficial for you so remember to use clear and concise language, and proofread your resume to eliminate any errors. By following these steps, you can create a resume that effectively showcases your strengths and sets you apart from other candidates, increasing your chances of success in the job market.

How to Build a Resume – FAQs

How can i write resume.

You can write your resume by following the methods given above or you can also use any resume templates that will help you a lot.

How to Resume Writing?

Resume writing can be done by some of the points given below: Choose the Right Format Start with a Strong Header Craft a Compelling Summary or Objective Detail Your Work Experience

How can I write a simple resume?

To write a simple resume, use a clean format with clear headings. Include your contact information, a brief summary, your work experience, education, and relevant skills. Keep it concise and focused on your most important qualifications.

How to write a resume for a job?

To write a resume for a job, tailor it to the specific position by highlighting relevant experience and skills. Start with your contact details, followed by a strong summary, detailed work history, education, and a skills section. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements where possible.

What are the 7 basic steps to writing a resume?

Here are the basic steps: Choose the Right Format Start with a Strong Header Write a Compelling Summary Detail Your Work Experience Highlight Your Skills Include Your Education Proofread and Edit

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Republicans have leveled inaccurate or misleading attacks on Mr. Walz’s response to protests in the summer of 2020, his positions on immigration and his role in the redesign of Minnesota’s flag.

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Since Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota was announced as the Democratic nominee for vice president, the Trump campaign and its allies have gone on the attack.

Mr. Walz, a former teacher and football coach from Nebraska who served in the National Guard, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and then as Minnesota’s governor in 2018. His branding of former President Donald J. Trump as “weird” this year caught on among Democrats and helped catapult him into the national spotlight and to the top of Vice President Kamala Harris’s list of potential running mates.

The Republican accusations, which include questions over his military service , seem intended at undercutting a re-energized campaign after President Biden stepped aside and Ms. Harris emerged as his replacement at the top of the ticket. Mr. Trump and his allies have criticized, sometimes inaccurately, Mr. Walz’s handling of protests in his state, his immigration policies, his comments about a ladder factory and the redesign of his state’s flag.

Here’s a fact check of some claims.

What Was Said

“Because if we remember the rioting in the summer of 2020, Tim Walz was the guy who let rioters burn down Minneapolis.” — Senator JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican nominee for vice president, during a rally on Wednesday in Philadelphia

This is exaggerated. Mr. Walz has faced criticism for not quickly activating the National Guard to quell civil unrest in Minneapolis in the summer of 2020 after the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. But claims that he did not respond at all, or that the city burned down, are hyperbolic.

Mr. Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020, and demonstrators took to the streets the next day . The protests intensified, with some vandalizing vehicles and setting fires. More than 700 state troopers and officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ mobile response team were deployed on May 26 to help the city’s police officers, according to a 2022 independent assessment by the state’s Department of Public Safety of the response to the unrest.

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