resume for first job at 16

Resume For a 16-Year-Old

In This Guide:

Sample resume template for a 16-year-old, resume formatting tips for a high-schooler, what to write instead of experience, key takeaways.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely a teenager looking for a job! It can be difficult to build a resume and find a job when you have little to no experience and are just entering the workforce. But don’t worry, this is a guide to help you find your way!

In this article, you’ll learn:

• how to build a professional resume;
• what to put on it when you have little experience ;
• and some examples to help you imagine what your resume could look like.

Below is a sample resume template to help guide you in building your own. Your resume should look something like this when you complete it:

Amanda Smith

Phone: 808-707-0404 Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amanda_smith05

I am a responsible and reliable sophomore striving for real-life work experience and a place to grow my familiarity and confidence in the workforce. I thrive in a team environment but also exemplify self-sufficiency on designated tasks. I hope to help a business be more successful through my determination and enthusiasm.

• Sophomore at Adams High School with As and Bs
• Taking Spanish, English, Calculus, World History, and Biology
• Reliable punctuality
• Excellent communication
• Time management
• Attention to detail

Hobbies and Interests

• Reading books of all kinds and expanding my horizons
• Hiking in nature to get back to my roots and experience the outdoors
• Watching documentaries to learn more about the world

Other Activities

• Weekly volunteering at animal shelters
• Part of a reading group for kindergarteners after school

Keep these tips in mind when making your resume. Following these guidelines ensures a professional and legible resume.

• Choose the best format Chronological formats are the easiest to write and easiest to understand.
• Adjust page margins to the appropriate length Make sure the margins aren’t too big or too small to avoid an awkward appearance.
• Choose a professional font Don’t go with Comic Sans or something funky, stick to Times New Roman or something simple.
• Keep it one page Keep it short and sweet so employers can easily digest it.
• Save as PDF Save as a PDF so your formatting stays the same across platforms.

Below are some suggestions for filling in your experience on your resume. Many teenagers don’t have loads of job experience, but you can supplement with the following subjects:

• Education Include bullets with classes, extracurricular activities, student memberships, studies, and anything relevant to your education.
• Hobbies and interests Anything that will showcase your relevant skills should go in this section.
• Actual skills Try to match the skills to the job description and draw from previous experience.
• Volunteering Mention any volunteering you have done to exemplify your enthusiasm and spirit.
• Extra sections Mention language skills, personal projects you’ve done, or other relevant activities.

Here are the key takeaways for 16-year-olds building a resume:

• Include anything that shows your positive character
• Highlight your relevant skills
• Express your enthusiasm for employment
• Display all contact information prominently
• Use a helpful resume builder

• Resume Guides

15 Tips to Create an Eye-Catching Resume That Gets You The Job (Including Templates)

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Teen resume examples & templates

Maybe you’re tired of having to beg your parents every time you want to buy something. Maybe you just have to have those expensive kicks. Maybe your college application is looking a little empty, or you just want to help out your family.

No matter your motivation, you’re ready to create a noteworthy teen resume – the first step into a future of creating documents that detail your professional personality, skills and work experience. What? You have no work experience? Never fear. Every person in the workforce has had a first job and many have created a resume based on other factors.

Resume.io is a powerful resource for job seekers including those new to the job hunt. We provide resume guides and resume examples for 250+ professions, backed up by an easy-to-use resume builder. Whether you have your heart set on an internship at your neighbor’s office or would be happy bagging groceries, our recommendations will help you get there.

This resume guide, along with the corresponding teen resume example will cover the following topics:

What are the best jobs for teens?

• How to write a teen resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a teen resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

If you’re hunting for your first job right now, you’re in luck! The worker shortage has created great demand for minimum-wage workers. In fact, the teen unemployment rate in 2021 was at its lowest since the 1950s, Business Insider reported.

Not only will you have a wider range of jobs from which to choose, but your pay rate is likely to be higher as employers try to attract workers.

The first job that comes to mind when many think about work for teens is fast food. That’s a fine way to enter the workforce, if that’s what you want, but a little imagination can lead you to a much wider range of job prospects.

Here are the highest paying jobs for teens and their median pay per hour.

Make sure you familiarize yourself with the minimum wage where you live and whether they apply to workers your age.

The positions above are typical first-time jobs, however, a little creativity can broaden that list significantly. Here are some other ideas for jobs that don’t require a high school diploma:

• Dog walker/pet sitter
• Web designer
• Office assistant
• Caddy at a golf course
• Landscaping

Don’t limit yourself to the typical. Search a job listing site for more ideas.

How to write a teen resume

All job applications contain the same information, although the style and format may vary a bit. A great CV, including your teen resume, should contain the following sections:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

The order of your teen resume sections will be different from a seasoned professional, but the goal is the same: Get that interview and then the job!

Applying online? Want to avoid ghosting?

If you’re looking for work at the local coffee shop, this may not apply, but if you want to work for a large company, you need to understand the Applicant Tracking System. When you upload your documents and fill in an online application, ATS software will be using algorithms that look for keywords and phrases to rank your teen resume.

This means, you need to adapt your resume for each different job.

To leap your first job-hunt hurdle, follow these steps:

• Check through the job listing and take note of the skills your prospective employer seeks.
• If you can legitimately say that you have those skills, make sure they appear in your resume.
• Double check the language to make sure you are repeating phrases exactly as they appear in the listing.

Don’t overdo it and maintain your unique voice even as you make sure to get in those keywords and phrases.

Choosing the best resume format for a teen

The key difference in a teen resume and the resume of a more experienced worker is just that: experience. If you’ve already held a job, great! But if not, that doesn’t mean your resume will be a big blank.

We typically recommend the reverse chronological order format in which you list jobs from most recent on back, but as a teen, you may not have had a paying job. You can still use this format, but bump your education section up above your employment history, or even your skills section if you have a stellar academic record or many relevant classes. 

The functional resume format is a better choice for teens because it emphasizes skills and attributes and downplays your work history. Employers who hire for entry-level positions are mostly looking for personality traits that will make you a good employee, also known as soft skills. (More on those later.)

Resume summary example: A short essay about you

Before you begin your job hunt (or your teen resume) ask yourself what your goal for working is. Do you simply want extra cash? Are you looking for experience you can use later? Or are you planning to go straight from high school into a career and want a jump start?  The summary of your teen resume gives you an opportunity to aim squarely at your goal. 

This key component of your teen resume consists of about four freeform sentences to introduce yourself, highlight your best attributes and achievements and tell why you want the job. Because your work history section will be short, you can expand this component and really let your personality shine.

Because this is an open format, you may need some guiding questions. Ask yourself: What will set me apart from the other teens who want this job? What positive words describe me best? Check out our summary resume example for more ideas on how to accomplish this. 

If this seems like an overwhelming task, take a look at some of our related education resume samples:

• Early Childhood Educator resume sample
• College Student resume sample
• Student resume sample
• Academic Librarian resume sample
• Health Educator resume sample
• ESL Teacher resume sample
• Tutor resume sample 
• Teacher Assistant resume sample 
• Substitute Teacher resume sample
• Middle School Teacher resume sample
• Elementary School Teacher resume sample
• College Professor resume sample
• Internship resume sample
• High School Teacher resume sample
• High School Student resume sample
• Academic Tutor resume sample 
• College Admissions resume sample
• Teacher resume sample
• Academic resume sample
• Education resume sample
• Research Assistant resume sample
• School Counselor resume sample
• Principal resume sample
• Special Education Teacher resume sample
• Camp Counselor resume sample 

Hardworking high school student seeking seasonal employment opportunities. Experienced in working in administrative and clerical settings. Excellent mathematical, writing and multitasking skills.

Employment history sample

Have you ever volunteered? Been an officer in a school or afterschool organization? Babysat or walked the neighbor’s dog? Then you have work experience for your employment history section!

Even if these jobs were short-term, they show that you can make a commitment and stick with it. Use the standard format of bullet items that each highlight an action you performed in your job. Begin your description with an action word that shows you’re a go-getter. Leave off phrases such as “I did” or “In this job, I.” Use the STAR method as a guide. Each item should include the situation, task, action and results.  

See the employment history resume sample below for ideas.

Try some of these action words: established, strengthened, accomplished, delivered, developed, volunteered, presented, designed, planned.

Dog Walker, Norwell, MA  June 2020 - Present 

• Successfully managed my own dog-walking business, serving 30+ clients in the Norwell area.
• Coordinated schedules with dog owners, making sure to respect pick-up and drop-off times.
• Worked with each dog to progress training goals.
• Ensured the safety and comfort of all dogs on walks.
• Followed owner directions in regards to dog habits and preferences.
• Respected leash laws and local ordinances around dog waste.
• Kept accurate records and communicated fees and charges to clients.

Camp Counselor at Winter Trails Day Camp, Marshfield, MA  June 2021 - September 2021 

• Led a group of 6-8 campers and ensured safety and happiness during the camp day.
• Planned and implemented fun and age-appropriate group activities that rotated on a weekly schedule.
• Helped campers to smoothly transition between locations.
• Collaborated with staff and other counselors to ensure goals were being met and camper satisfaction ratings remained high.
• Assisted in program areas such as swimming, hiking and arts and crafts as directed.

Teen CV skills example: You’ve got what it takes

Hiring managers filling entry-level positions don’t expect you to have a long list of career-specific skills on your CV. Mostly, what they want to know is whether you are reliable, trustworthy, can follow directions and communicate with others. These are the soft skills that make people good employees.

Certainly, if you have job-specific hard skills and they relate to the position you seek, list them! Our skills resume sample below can help.

Top 5 entry-level skills, according to LinkedIn :

• Leadership:  If you have been a team captain or an officer in a club, you have this attribute.
• Communication: We won’t go so far as to say that SnapChat qualifies, but if you can clearly share information, you can claim this skill.
• Problem-solving: If you excel at computer programming or have written a persuasive paper on fixing the world’s ills, that’s problem-solving. Real life examples count too!
• Work ethic: Do you get your schoolwork done? Do you take care of your responsibilities to the best of your ability? You’re good.
• Teamwork: Have you worked on a group project? Been on a sports or academic team? That counts.

Notice that these are all soft skills that you probably have even if you have not had a formal paying job.

• Fast Learner
• Computer Skills
• Ability to Work in a Team
• Adaptability
• Communication

Teen resume education example

Your academic career says most about you right now. In the education section you can list any classes you have taken that are related to the job you seek. If you have taken culinary arts, business classes or any other academic or vocational classes that show you can do the job, list them here. If you have space, you can even offer a short description of what you learned in the class.

High School Diploma, Norwell High School, Norwell  September 2020 - Present 

• Dedicated member of the debate team.

Resume layout and design: first impressions

We live in a visual world. That means the look of your teen resume carries weight. As a teen, you can get a bit more playful (depending on where you’re applying), but your goal is to get the interview, so make sure you keep it legible and professional. 

Try to fill one page without leaving huge margins or tons of white space. Write a longer summary or add details in other sections. 

If you have design skills, go for it! Or consider using a professionally-designed resume template to save time and ensure your resume looks as great as it sounds.

Key takeaways for a teen resume

• Yes, you’re a teen, but you have more skills and experience than you realize.
• The worker shortage has left teens in a great position to find a job.
• Make sure you personalize your resume for each different position to impress hiring managers and beat the ATS.
• You don’t have to do it all yourself. Check out our adaptable teen resume sample for more ideas on how to get started.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

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How to Get Your First Job (for Teens)

Last Updated: August 18, 2024 References

Job Openings

Job application.

This article was co-authored by Arda Ozdemir, MA . Arda Ozdemir is the Executive Coach and Founder of Rise 2 Realize, a nonprofit organization in Palo Alto, California that is dedicated to providing a practical roadmap toward one's full potential in their life and career. Arda is a Reiki Master, an Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner, and a certified HeartMath Trainer and Mentor. There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 316,248 times.

Applying for your first job is a rite of passage for many teenagers. Not only are they a great way to earn money, but they'll give you plenty of experience and work skills along the way. Once you've found a job that works with your school schedule, prepare a resume and cover letter for your potential employer. If you catch their eye, they'll invite you in for an interview to determine if you're the best fit. With lots of hard work and preparation, your first job is only one application away.

• Choose a job that does not exceed 15 hours a week for a balanced school schedule. [1] X Research source
• Most states (and countries) have limits for how many hours teens can work a week. [2] X Research source

• Take some time with your parents or a mentor to write a list of all your talents, and brainstorm ways you could translate them into job opportunities.
• You could also look for jobs fixing what you love. Computer geeks, for example, might look for computer repair jobs. [3] X Research source

• To start babysitting, start by asking parents' friends or older relatives. From there, you can build up experience as a good babysitter. [4] X Research source

• Some teens enjoy waitering/waitressing jobs as a way to make more money per hour thanks to tips. [6] X Research source

• If relevant, include education achievements like your GPA, any awards you've won, or projects you've completed.
• Remember to add your contact information (especially your email and phone number) so employers can contact you.

• Even if you've never been officially employed, you can add part time work (like babysitting or yard work) or community service experiences. [10] X Research source
• Never lie about experiences on your resume. Your potential employer will eventually find out, and this will most likely prevent you from getting the job (or keeping it if you already have it). Highlight what you have accomplished as honestly as possible. [11] X Research source

• Mold your skillset to traits companies look for. Instead of "loves to read," for example, you could put "strong reading comprehension." Hobbies won't catch an employer's eye, but profitable skills will.

• Download your resume and cover letter as a PDF file. PDF files are compatible with Macs and PCs and usually appear the same on both, so they are the most professional option.

• Make sure you meet age requirements, too. Certain stores only hire those who are at least 16 or 18. You'll make the most of your time applying to jobs you qualify for.

• Never use a relative as a reference. References for your first job application could be teachers, mentors, coaches, or other trusted adults who know your personal character.
• Have a friend or mentor read over your cover letter, too, to catch small mistakes.

• Ask before you deliver a resume in-person. Some employers strongly prefer a digital resume over a print copy. [12] X Research source

• Match the strengths you prepare to the company's needs. If you're applying for a catering job, for example, you could talk about baking lessons you took at your community center and how you earned your food handler's permit.
• You will likely get asked about your weaknesses as well. Turn your weaknesses into strengths to make a good impression. If you're shy, for example, you could say that you prefer to listen instead of talk but work hard to make your voice heard.

• How did you learn about the opening?
• Why do you want this job?
• Tell me about a time you disagreed with a decision. What did you do?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Out of all the other candidates, why should we hire you?

• Pick clothes you feel comfortable and confident in so you're nor squirming or self-conscious during the interview.
• When in doubt, email your interviewer to ask what appropriate dress attire is for their company. [18] X Research source

• If you're nervous before your interview, take steps to relax: go on a walk, try some breathing exercises, or listen to a song you love.
• Some applicants worry themselves to death because they feel they don't measure up to job requirements. Emphasize your strengths instead of your weaknesses: as long as you show quick learning potential, you have no reason to stress. [20] X Research source

• Avoid asking about your possible salary, how much time off you'll get, or when lunch breaks are.

Community Q&A

• If you have little leadership experience, volunteer. Community service can give you desirable skills and work experience, and you might find it a fulfilling opportunity. [21] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• When it comes to work or your high school education, always put education first. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Budget your money to avoid over-spending and to save money for after high school. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ http://education.seattlepi.com/afterschool-work-affect-school-performance-1747.html
• ↑ https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/028.htm
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/10/07/six-tips-for-turning-your-hobby-into-your-job/#703a51c93248
• ↑ https://www.care.com/c/stories/7232/7-tips-to-help-you-get-the-babysitting-job/
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/investopedia/2013/06/04/10-great-summer-jobs-for-teens/#4a64d8766e06
• ↑ https://thewaitressconfessions.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-being-a-waiter-waitress/
• ↑ http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0711/9-different-ways-to-find-a-new-job.aspx
• ↑ https://www.livecareer.com/resources/resumes/how-to/write/resume-tips-for-teenagers
• ↑ Archana Ramamoorthy, MS. Chief Technology Officer, Workday. Expert Interview. 14 March 2019.
• ↑ http://www.hloom.com/resumes/high-school-student-templates/
• ↑ http://www.businessinsider.com/things-not-to-put-on-your-resume-2016-5/#4-your-hobbies-4
• ↑ http://www.askamanager.org/2009/06/dropping-off-your-resume-in-person.html
• ↑ https://collegegrad.com/tough-interview-questions/what-is-your-greatest-strength
• ↑ https://selinc.com/company/careers/resume-interview/
• ↑ https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/27-most-commonly-asked-job-interviewers-questions-and-answers.html
• ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/careers/careers-blog/what-wear-job-interview-fashion-dress-impress
• ↑ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-tips-thatll-instantly-wipe-job-interview-anxiety/
• ↑ https://www.familyeducation.com/life/jobs-chores/10-great-volunteer-ideas-teens

About This Article

To get your first job as a teen, try asking your neighbors if they have any odd jobs you could do for them, like mowing their lawn or babysitting their kids. You can also apply at local restaurants to be a waiter or waitress since restaurants often hire teens. Plus, you'll earn lots of tips and get to work with other people your age! When you're applying to jobs, put together a resume that highlights your skills and achievements, like your GPA, previous volunteer experience, and any awards you've won in school. To learn how to ace interviews so you land your first job, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Top 20 Skills Statements for a 16-Year-Old’s Resume

When you are on the brink of professional life and want to obtain your first job, it is often difficult to convince a hiring manager that you are skilled enough to do the job.

But even without the benefit of experience, you can effectively highlight your skills in a number of areas.

Apart from soft skills such as the ability to work in a team environment, and knowledge of solving problems, you can highlight skills pertaining to the job that you are applying for.

For instance, if you are applying for an accountancy job, your calculation skills can be emphasized.

Resumes often do not have specific rules for jotting down your skills, as long as you don’t confuse them with job duties.

Placing soft, intangible skills in a 16-years-old resume will do wonders for your candidacy for the job.

If you want to see what these skills may be, refer to the skills list provided below:

16-Year-Old’s Resume Skills Examples

• Able to work in a team, and lead teams as necessary
• Special talent for resolving problems before they convert into crisis situations
• Skilled in communicating effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
• Knowledge of delegating tasks to individuals, based on their specific capacities
• Ability to negotiate terms with vendors and suppliers
• Solid decision-making skills, aimed at ensuring that work processes are timely managed
• Open-mindedness, with a solid ability to listen, and provide insight where needed
• Excellent analytic skills, coupled with exceptional organizational abilities
• Critical thinking to develop innovative solutions
• Able to maintain discipline within diverse situations
• Strong time-management skills, with a great ability to ensure that deadlines are constantly met
• Outstanding public speaking skills, along with a great ability to reach out to people from different walks of life
• Able to exercise diplomacy and fairness, in conflicting situations
• Empathetic and selfless individual, with a solid understanding of exercising compassion.
• Great attention to detail, allowing for thoroughness, and accuracy in work processes.
• Desire to learn new things, the ability to learn quickly, and skills in applying learned skills immediately
• Tolerant of change in uncertainty, while remaining in constant working mode
• Able to motivate others to work towards a common company goal
• Exceptional networking skills, with solid knowledge of performing communications and outreach work
• Solid business ethics, focused on following company protocols and procedures
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Here’s How to Write a Resume for Your Very First Job (Plus, an Example!)

So you’re applying to your first job and you’ve gotten to the portion of the job application that reads, “Upload resume here” or “Email your resume to...” Now what?

Don’t sweat it. Literally every single person who has ever submitted a resume started with a blank page at some point. They likely also had the same questions you might be thinking about right now: What exactly is a resume? How do I make a resume ? What information goes on one? How do I talk about my experience? What if I’ve never had a “real” job before? How long should it be ?

But don’t fret. With a few tips on what information to include (and how) and some simple formatting guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to writing a resume for your first job.

What Is a Resume?

Let’s start by setting the stage. A resume is a document that lists your education, experience, and skills with a focus on what’s important to the job you’re applying for. Your resume is your unique story, a staple in your job search tool kit, and a major component of most job applications you will submit. It’s a living document that continues to grow as your career does.

When it’s done right, your resume clearly and concisely tells a future employer what you can bring to a new role and company. In a job search, a resume is typically the first point of contact between you and the company you want to work for. And your first impression can determine whether or not you move on to the next step in the hiring process—usually an interview —so it’s worth putting in the time to make sure it’s a great one.

While resumes can come in all shapes and sizes—and as a recruiter, believe me, I have seen them all—there’s one thing effective, impactful resumes have in common. They tell your story in a digestible way that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them start to think, “Yes, I could see this person in this role. I'd like to learn more.”

What Goes on a Resume?

While every resume has different content based on your experience, skills, background, and education, most resumes have the same basic parts. Grouping the information on your resume into clearly defined sections helps the reader find the information they need to best assess your potential as a candidate.

Here are the basic sections to help you organize a resume for your first job:

Name and Contact Information

The top of every resume should clearly state your full name and the best contact information for the recruiter or hiring manager to get in touch with you, including an email address and phone number.

Your email should be simple and professional. Stick to your first, middle, and last name or initials and maybe some numbers if you’re having trouble finding a name-initial combo that works or isn’t already taken. Double-check that your voicemail is set up on the phone number you provide and the mailbox isn’t full. Also revisit the outgoing message: Is it clear that whoever calls you has reached the right person? Is the message something you would want your future employer to hear? Both the email and voicemail should be ones you actually check so you can respond to possible employers promptly.

Depending on what experience you have, what jobs you’re applying for, and what you want to share, you can also include your LinkedIn profile or the URL for an online portfolio or personal website in the header as well.

Read More: Here’s Exactly What Should Be Included in Your Resume’s Header

Resume Summary (Optional)

Right under your contact information, you can consider including a resume summary : a few sentences that clearly and concisely describe who you are as a candidate. This is where you can highlight things like your organization skills and drive, your passion for the industry you’re applying to, and some key skills. If you choose to include a resume summary, you should use strong adjectives and descriptors to best paint a picture for the reader.

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

On a resume, education can include high school, college degrees, certificates, and specialized programs. List what school or program you attended, the area of study and/or degree you got or will get, any honors or awards you received, and the year you completed or expect to complete your education.

If your education relates directly to the role you’re applying to, it can also make sense to include some of the courses you completed or a major project that shows you putting what you learned into action. For example, if you’re applying to do construction work, you might want to talk about the projects you completed and skills you learned in a woodshop or similar class.

Education can show up in a few different places on your resume depending on what you studied or are studying, how related it is to what you are applying to, and when it happened. If you’re still in school or have recently graduated, you should consider putting your education section just after your summary or contact information. If you’re more than a few years past completing your education, and it doesn’t directly relate to what you’re applying to, it can be included below your related experience section or sections.

Read More: How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume

Your past experience will take up the bulk of your resume. For most resumes, this means past jobs, so if you’re making a resume for your first “real” job, you might be worried about what to include. But jobs aren’t the only thing that count as experience. The goal of your resume is to include experiences that show your specific and unique perspective, skills, and the value you will bring to the new role—regardless of whether you were paid for them or if you did the work formally as part of an organization.

On your first resume, you should definitely include past jobs if you’ve had them, including things that aren’t in the industry you’re applying to and less formal paid experiences like babysitting or mowing lawns in your neighborhood. But your experience section can also talk about volunteering; school organizations, teams, and clubs; internships; class projects or capstone classes or projects; and any one-off special projects, gigs, or personal pursuits that relate to the types of roles you’re applying for.

For example, if you volunteered to support event planning for the fundraisers at a local nonprofit and you’re applying for a role that includes time management and meeting coordination, you should include that volunteer experience on your resume. Or if you’ve designed your family and friend’s event invitations with InDesign and are applying to a job where graphic design and design program experience is a plus, these experiences belong in this section! If you’re still stuck, think about your student groups, hobbies, and activities you’ve participated in. These likely require skills like organization, time management, and communication in addition to the skills required to participate, and these are experiences you can list on your resume.

If you have different types of experience to share, you can break them up under more than one section heading. Headers can include things like “Work Experience,” “Volunteer Experience,” or “Related Experience,” or be thematic like “Customer Service Experience,” “Event and Program Planning,” or “Leadership Experience.”

Start by figuring out what your most important experiences are for the job you’re applying for. To do this, thoroughly read the job description. Then, identify which of the experiences, skills, and qualities emphasized are ones you already have. It might help to make a resume outline or use a resume worksheet to write out everything in one place before making your actual resume. Then you can easily tailor your resume, or select what matters most, for each job you apply to.

Read More: What It Really Means to “Tailor Your Resume”

That’s what you include in your experience section—now let’s talk about how to include it. For each experience you should list your position, the organization you worked for (if applicable), and when you did the work. Under this, you should describe what you did, usually in bullet-point format.

One mistake I’ve seen from candidates is that they assume others just understand what a job they’ve had entails, which just isn’t the case. Your resume should very clearly spell out your past experience to show why it will make you successful in the role you are applying for. Most of the time that means you have to highlight transferable skills, which are useful in multiple settings and jobs but sometimes need translating to make their value clear. Make sure you’re explaining any jargon or industry-speak to help make the experience more relatable (unless you’re applying for a job in the same industry).

When thinking about how your experience is transferable, break down the nitty-gritty of what you did and how you could use those practices and skills in different settings. For example, don’t assume the hiring manager will guess why babysitting will help you be successful in an office setting. Say that when you were babysitting, you were managing kid’s schedules, coordinating activities, and communicating with other kids’ caretakers to organize transportation. Then you can explain how this translates to being able to navigate multiple priorities, manage calendars, communicate effectively with different people, and anticipate needs.

Make your bullet points impactful by stating actions and results. Actions are what you actually did and how; the results are what you achieved and what actually happened because of your actions. Wherever you can, add numbers and context to best highlight the impact of your experience. Bullet points should also lead with powerful, descriptive action verbs , and avoid first-person language.

For example, you might say:

• Coordinate with up to 10 external vendors to confirm and schedule delivery of supplies (using Calendly)

While your entire resume should show off your skills, you may also want to include a skills section. This can appear as a list or in bullet form and usually includes hard skills, technical skills, and language skills. This section can help when a recruiter is using software to scan your resume for keywords (more on that later) or when someone only has a short amount of time to read your resume and find your most important skills. So don’t be afraid to talk about a skill in your experience, education, or resume summary section and also list it in your skills section.

Hard skills can include things like project management, event planning, graphic design, calendar management, customer service, cashiering, or different driver’s licenses. Which ones are most important depend on the job you’re applying to, so make sure you’re looking at the job descriptions.

Technical skills can overlap with hard skills but generally refer to specific software, tools, systems, and coding languages you have experience with. For example, if you’re experienced in graphic design, you should note which specific programs you’ve used. Again, check the job description to see which technical skills you need for the job. A few examples of technical skills for your first job might include: Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint; G Suite; Slack or any other communication platforms; Asana, Trello, Airtable, or other project management tools; Adobe Photoshop; and Salesforce.

Language skills include any language you can speak, read, and/or write with reasonable fluency. Even if it’s not listed on the job description, noting what languages you speak (other than English) and at what level can be an advantage. For example, if you’re applying to a job where you need to interact with customers in an area where many people speak Spanish and you also speak Spanish, this will help you work more effectively and efficiently.

Even if a skill feels very basic to you, it can still be worth mentioning, especially if it’s in the job description. In my experience, one of the biggest challenges people face in crafting a resume, or in describing why their experience is important, is that they tend to devalue what they do every day because it becomes second nature.

Finally, stay away from listing skills just because they sound good. Instead, list only skills you actually have. If you can describe where you learned a skill and how you’ve used it in the past, you probably have enough experience with it to list on your resume.

How to Format Your Resume

Recruiters read lots of resumes and don’t always have a lot of time to spend on each one. So you want to ensure they can decipher your resume quickly and effectively. The following formatting guidelines and tips will help you achieve this.

Keep It to One Page

Since this is your first (or one of your first) jobs, your resume shouldn’t be more than one page . If your content is spilling onto a second page, ask yourself: Is all of this information important and necessary for the role I’m applying for? Am I describing my education and experience as concisely as possible?

On the flip side, don’t include filler to take up the whole page if you don’t have more experiences that actually add value to your resume.

Focus on Readability

You want to format your resume so it’s quick and easy to read—that using means bullet points, a healthy dose of white space (think how your eyes react to a large block of text), and clear headers to denote resume sections so the reader can scan and identify relevant information.

Design-heavy resumes have become more popular, and while a splash of color or simple design element can make your resume stand out in a stack, too much can be distracting and may not translate well to certain applicant tracking systems (ATS)—databases of job applications that employers can search to find the most promising candidates. This resume-scanning software has trouble finding and reading text on heavily designed documents, and you could lose out on being picked up by a keyword search, which is often the first review of a resume.

Read More: Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System & Into Human Hands

Capitalize on Valuable Real Estate

The top third of your resume is what the recruiter will see first, so you want to make sure the content on this part of the page makes them want to keep reading.

The very top should include your name and contact information. If you’re including a summary, that comes next. Then, you have a choice: You could lead with your education, your skills, or your most recent or most applicable experience. When deciding, think about what will best demonstrate how you’re a great fit for the role you’re applying to: Is your coursework the thing most aligned with the job? Or is it that volunteer work you’ve been doing? Or maybe it’s a combination of skills you’ve picked up in different ways.

Consider the Best Way to Organize Your Resume

The top of your resume is what a hiring manager will see first, but you also want to think about the best way to present your information overall. There are three main formats to consider:

• Chronological : The most common resume format, this is where you list your experience in reverse chronological order, separated by job or position, starting with the most recent (or current). In this format, your skills section would come after your experience.
• Functional : In this format, you would spend the bulk of your resume highlighting your most relevant skills followed by a brief section outlining your experiences. If you don’t have any past jobs, you may want to consider a functional resume since it has less of an emphasis on individual positions.
• Combination : Just like it sounds, this format combines both chronological and functional approach in which you highlight relevant skills at the top of your resume and then list your experience in reverse chronological order. This format can be beneficial if your most recent experience isn’t related to what you’re applying for.

Read More: Your Complete Guide to Resume Formats (and How to Pick the Best One for You!)

Be Consistent With Your Formatting

While there are no hard and fast rules about when to bold or italicize, what size the actual bullet points should be, or how many tabs you use, it is important to stay consistent in whatever you choose. If you decide to bold your job titles, make sure you do so throughout your resume. The same goes for any other formatting decision. This makes your resume more organized and easier to read.

Check Out This Sample Resume

So what does it all look like at the end? Here’s a sample resume to help you visualize how utilizing strong resume formatting for readability, including impactful resume sections, and thoughtfully and strategically describing your experience in concise bullets points can help you create a resume for your first job.

In this example combination resume, the person is applying for front desk coordinator positions in a medical office.

Download resume sample here

Before submitting your resume for your first job, the final step is to make sure you edit and proofread it. Reading your resume out loud and asking for some assistance from a second set of eyes can be helpful.

Now that you’ve made your first resume, it’ll only get easier. Remember that your resume is truly a living document and you’ll want to make a practice out of updating it and tailoring it to every job as your experience and career build. But you don’t have to start with a completely blank page ever again.

How to Apply the 10-Second Resume Rule [Tips for 2024]

No matter how much time you spend perfecting your resume, the truth is that it only takes a few seconds to make an impression.

And by a few, we mean less than ten seconds.

It’s a brutal reality, but it’s true - even the most qualified candidates can get overlooked if they don’t follow the ten-second resume rule.

But don't panic!

Ten seconds doesn’t seem like a lot of time but if you learn the ins and outs of the ten-second resume rule, you can make it work for you.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• What Is the Ten-Second Resume Rule?
• 5 Tips to Apply the Ten-Second Resume Rule
• 4 Crucial Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Ready to make every second count? Let's dive in!

What Is the 10-Second Resume Rule?

The ten-second rule is a concept you might have heard of during your job hunt .

The idea is that your resume needs to make an impression on a hiring manager in less than ten seconds if you want to get the job.

This is because hiring managers spend an average of six seconds skimming through your resume before deciding if it’s worth reading in detail.

You might be wondering how they could make a decision like that so quickly.

The thing is, most hiring managers these days are swarmed with hundreds of resumes per job opening. So, instead of going through piles of candidates in detail, they skim through every application and only read the resumes that grab their attention.

And your job is to do just that.

This is where the ten-second resume rule comes in - you need to make sure your resume stands out and shows the hiring manager what they want to see right away .

5 Tips to Apply the 10-Second Resume Rule

Now that you know what the ten-second resume rule is, let’s talk about how you can actually apply it to your resume.

We’ve divided the process into several tips you should keep in mind when creating your resume .

Let’s get started!

#1. Stick to One Page

When it comes to how long your resume should be , less is more.

Your resume only needs to give the hiring manager a concise snapshot of your professional life, not your whole life story. So, try to keep everything on a single page.

Hiring managers don't have time to flip through several pages to see if you have what it takes at a glance. 

In fact, if your resume is two pages or more, they’re likely to skip it altogether.

Making your resume one page also helps you prioritize your most relevant information and makes it easier for the hiring manager to easily find what they need.

The key here is not to overwhelm your resume with too many optional resume sections . Focus on the most important sections like your skills, work experience, and education. Include optional sections only if you have leftover space after listing all the essential information.

Also, try to use bullet points instead of paragraphs to describe your responsibilities and achievements. This makes your resume easier to skim and it helps you save space.

#2. Put the Sections in Order

The order of your resume sections can make or break that strong impression you’re going for.

First of all, your resume needs to be neat and easy to navigate. If you throw random information all over the document without a clear structure, the hiring manager isn’t going to bother looking for too long.

Put your contact information at the top of your resume, so that it’s the first thing the hiring manager sees. This way, if they decide to contact you after reading your resume, they can do so immediately.

Also, add a resume summary at the top of the resume. This brief paragraph that summarizes your top skills and experiences will be what the hiring manager sees before diving into the rest of your resume.

Next, add your work experience section. Make sure you list your jobs in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent position.

After that, you can add your skills section. Depending on the layout you’re using for your resume, this can be anywhere near your work experience. Just make sure it’s in the middle of the page, not pushed to the bottom.

Unless you’re a recent graduate , your education isn’t as crucial as the previous sections, so we recommend placing it toward the end of the page.

Finally, if you have space, you can add optional sections like certifications, volunteer work , or relevant projects. These should always come last.

Adding links to your contact information is a great way to catch a hiring manager’s attention. Try adding a link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio website!

#3. Tailor It to The Job Ad

Your resume is not a one-size-fits-all document.

If you want it to leave an impression on the hiring manager, it needs to really match the job you’re applying for.

Start by carefully reading the job description. Keep an eye out for any keywords and specific qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, make sure your resume highlights these exact qualities.

Every section of your resume should be tailored to the job you’re aiming for. For example, your skill section should focus on the most important skills for the job, not just any skills you have.

Your work experience should also be tailored to the job. Do this by focusing on your most recent and most relevant experiences. For most job seekers, this means highlighting your most notable achievements from the last 10-15 years.

If you have a ton of work experience, you can either briefly summarize some of those jobs or leave them out entirely if they're not directly related to the position you're applying for.

#4. Write a Strong Headline

One of the most crucial elements of the ten-second resume rule is having an eye-catching resume headline .

Your headline is a brief paragraph that sits at the top of your resume and gives the hiring manager an idea of what they can expect from you.

Usually, this is the first thing the hiring manager reads, right after your name, so your resume headline is your best bet at impressing them.

Depending on how experienced you are, your resume headline can be one of two things:

• Resume summary . This is ideal if you have relevant work experience. It's a two to three-sentence overview of your career that should include your job title, years of experience, a key achievement, and your most relevant skills for the job.
• Resume objective . This is recommended for recent graduates or career changers. It focuses on your professional goals, academic background, and relevant skills.

Your resume summary or objective immediately tells the hiring manager if you're a good fit and encourages them to read more about you.

To drive the point home, let’s look at an example of a resume summary for a copywriter:

#5. Use a Professional Template

If you want to nail the ten-second resume rule, your resume needs to look good at first glance.

A reader-friendly resume will catch the hiring manager's eye a lot faster than a plain black-and-white text document and will make them want to learn more about you, too.

However creating a visually appealing resume from scratch can be time-consuming.

First, you need to work on your resume’s layout . You might spend hours adjusting margins, tweaking font sizes, and trying to fit everything onto one page while keeping things neat.

Then, you have to consider how to customize your document. What colors and graphics should you use? You don’t want to overwhelm the hiring manager and overshadow your resume’s contents.

Thankfully, there’s a way that you can skip all that hassle and create a compelling resume.

Just try our free resume builder !

Novorésumé offers dozens of custom resume templates you can choose from and easily customize to make your application stand out.

The resume builder is intuitive and once you choose a pre-formatted template, all you need to do is fill in your information. You’ll be in and out in minutes!

Not sure yet? Take a look at how one of our resume templates compares to a regular text editor resume:

4 Mistakes to Avoid

The truth is that the ten-second rule goes both ways.

In the same way, your resume could grab a hiring manager’s attention in less than ten seconds, it could also jeopardize your chance of getting an interview if you’re not careful.

With that in mind, let’s look at four of the most common resume mistakes that could lead to your application getting tossed into the ‘No’ pile:

• Too much information. Overwhelming your resume with excessive details can make it difficult for hiring managers to identify your key qualifications at a glance. Stick to relevant, concise information that directly relates to the job you're applying for.
• Poor formatting . A cluttered, disorganized resume is likely to be discarded quickly. Make sure your resume has a clean layout with clear sections, consistent fonts, and appropriate use of white space to make it easily readable.
• Weak action verbs. Using passive or vague language can make your achievements seem less impressive. Replace phrases like "helped with" or "was responsible for" with strong action verbs like "implemented," "led," or "optimized" to make your accomplishments stand out.
• Grammatical errors. Neglecting to proofread your resume is one of the biggest mistakes you can make and it can quickly turn a hiring manager against you. In fact, nearly 80% of hiring managers will reject a resume because of typos or grammar mistakes.

Key Takeaways

And there you have it!

You're now ready to create a resume that makes those crucial ten seconds count.

Before you go, let’s just recap the most important points we've covered:

• Keep your resume brief and focus only on the most relevant information. Ideally, you don’t want your resume to exceed one page.
• Make sure you put your resume sections in the right order. Start with your contact information, followed by a resume headline, work experience, skills, education, and any optional information you have room for.
• Tailor your resume to the specific job. Rewrite your resume’s content to match the specific requirements of each position you're applying for and add keywords from the ad.
• Whether it's a resume summary or objective, a compelling resume headline should quickly showcase your value to potential employers and convince them to read more.
• Consider using a professional resume builder to save time. You can craft your resume in minutes and give it a polished look by choosing a well-designed resume template instead of starting from scratch.

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Interview Tips for Teens: How to Be First Job Ready

For teenagers, first jobs are a rite of passage. They’re also invaluable early work experience.

Besides earning your own money, having a summertime or after-school job can help you gain real-world experiences and develop job readiness skills. Communication, working in teams, problem-solving and time management are all transferable skills that can be learned in first jobs.

But to reach this milestone, you’ll have to cross one that can be a little intimidating: preparing for a job interview. You’ve updated your resume and started your job search when you finally arrive at that long-awaited moment: meeting with your potential employer.

A job interview is your chance to showcase what makes you stand out from other candidates. Taking time to prepare will help you calm any nerves, stay on topic and leave a great impression — all critical to getting a job offer.

Boys & Girls Club teens learn how to prepare for jobs through our life and workforce readiness programming . Boys & Girls Club of Central Ohio teens recently put their skills to the test through a “Rock the Mock Interview” event with Jimmy John’s Foundation , helping them prepare for first jobs and internships. Read on for tips on getting ready for the interview process, with some firsthand guidance from Club teens.

“Practicing doing a mock version is a great way to help prepare for future interviews, so that when it comes down to the real thing you know exactly what to say.”

– Randy R.

Preparing for an Interview

As the big day approaches, here are some things to remember:

• Know your story.  What makes you you ? Think about how your skills and passions align with the job you want. Be prepared to share why your background, strengths and motivation make you a strong fit for the company.
• Research the job.  Use Google or LinkedIn to learn more about the company and the person you’re meeting with. As much as possible, come prepared knowing their goals and focus areas. Be sure to go back and reread the job description you applied for. Have a list of questions ready to ask the hiring manager or interviewer.
• Practice.  As our Club teens recommend, practice is important. Use a list of common interview questions (we share some ideas below!) and think about your responses. Practice answering them with a friend, family member or mentor, or even to yourself in the mirror. Always ensure you answered the question fully without rambling off-topic.

Common First Job Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why are you interested in this role?
• What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
• What are your hobbies outside school and/or work?
• Do you prefer working by yourself or on a team?
• What achievement are you most proud of?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?

“I learned that dressing properly for an interview and having some confidence helps to go a long way!”

– Harlie D.

On Interview Day

It’s here! Now is the time to put all that practice into action. As you get ready, keep these tips in mind:

• Dress appropriately.  This is your first impression, and how you dress can show your interviewer how important the job is to you. As such, you’re better to aim for professional than err on the side of too casual. Collared shirts, blouses, dress slacks, skirts, dresses, blazers, suits and cardigans are all good choices.
• Arrive early.  Arriving on time shows your interviewer that you are a reliable employee. Do a drive-by of the location the day before and nail down directions using GPS in advance so you know exactly where to go. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early, factoring in any public transit, traffic or parking.
• Have what you need. Whether it’s copies of your resume or examples of some of your work (writing samples, etc.), be sure to bring what you need. This can also include basics like phone chargers or water bottles that help you feel connected and prepared for what the day brings.
• Silence your phone.  Give this opportunity your full attention and silence your phone, keeping it tucked away in a pocket or bag throughout the interview. Put any devices on focus or “do not disturb” mode so you’re not thrown off by notifications.
• Be aware of your body language.  Unconscious mannerisms, like fingernail biting, hair pulling or cracking knuckles, can surface when people are nervous. Strive to stay calm by sitting still, maintaining eye contact and focusing on the questions being asked. If you know you tend to do something when you’re nervous, have a plan for ensuring you avoid that during this time.
• Ask your own questions.  Asking questions at the end of the interview shows that you’ve taken time to research the company and highlights your interest and dedication. A great question to ask is about the hiring process and what to expect for next steps.

“A mock interview gave me an opportunity to practice dressing up and interviewing. I learned to just keep going even when you are nervous because your interviewer is just trying to get to know you. Being authentic is important because you want the position to be a good fit for them and for yourself too.”

– TeAndre W.

After the Interview

After the interview is done, it’s a good idea to follow up and apply what you’ve learned for next time:

• Learn from your experience.  The best interview practice is to interview! Ask for feedback and accept any feedback with grace, incorporating it into your interview prep for next time. 

Boys & Girls Clubs offer programs and resources that help teens explore their interests and passions, develop essential employability skills and gain real-world experience through internships, service learning and first jobs.

We know it’s hard to dream something you haven’t seen, which is why career exploration is key for young people to unlock potential career paths. Following their mock interview day with the Jimmy Johns Foundation, Central Ohio Club teens visited a local Jimmy John’s restaurant to understand the franchise restaurant industry. They took a kitchen tour and heard from staff, as well as peeked into the daily operations to better understand what it takes to work at, own and lead a restaurant.

Learn more about the Workforce Readiness programs that Boys & Girls Clubs provide and how you can help prepare today’s teens for lifelong success.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKFORCE READINESS

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More From Forbes

Top 10 resume trends in 2024: what you need to know to stand out.

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For most people, resume writing is a daunting task.

Job hunters wonder about how to improve their resume. Mary, a director at a large company, called for help with resume writing because she was losing her job. She said, “I’m sure my resume doesn’t represent me very well. I want it to be impressive, but I’m stumbling on how to create it. I hear people say they send out dozens of resumes with no response, which makes me very anxious. How must I differentiate myself to get an employer’s attention?”

For most people, resume writing is a daunting task. The stakes are high. Yet, you may be unaware of the current resume trends you need to consider. Here are the ten resume trends to understand to help you showcase your uniqueness and capabilities and stand out to an employer.

Self-Marketing. Self-analysis is essential to do before you start writing. Think of your resume as an advertisement trying to get an employer to buy the product, and that product is you. Outline what you are best at doing. Note your top strengths. What are relevant credentials and experience to emphasize? Identify your best accomplishments.

RESULTS. Employers hire you based on your previous achievements and the belief that you can repeat those if they hire you. Each work description must focus on sharing measurable results and outcomes. Be specific. Employers value concrete accomplishments. Emphasize if you made the company money, saved money, started something, made an innovation, or created a new tool, process, system, or program. Incorporate numbers and percentages into your bullet descriptions. Have your most impressive accomplishments and best experience near the top of the description.

Prioritize. Target what is most important to employers. Determine the key elements they seek and tailor your resume to their needs. To identify the key points to highlight, review several relevant job openings. Focus on the top three to five qualifications and duties they advertise for. Incorporate that information into your resume to demonstrate that you have what a potential employer values.

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Highlight. Showcase your success. Under your work history, you should use bullet points to create each statement. The most effective way to develop these is to use the formula: Actions = Results, noting what you did and its impact. For example, “Developed and executed a new email fundraising campaign, and the results increased donations by 21%.” Or state the dollar amount if that is impressive.

Keywords. Research the job description, paying close attention to the required skills and qualifications, and align your relevant skills accordingly. Identify the more critical tasks, such as project management or process improvement, and sprinkle these sparingly throughout the resume, especially in the work descriptions and in the summary section. Include any relevant industry terms, too. Don’t try to “keyword stuff” throughout the resume, as the ATS may reject your resume, and a recruiter may disregard it, viewing it as being too generic or lacking.

Action verbs. Under your work descriptions, start each sentence with an action verb. Use words highlighting the skill or accomplishments, such as Led, Drove, Analyzed, Designed, Originated, Implemented, Established, etc. Avoid repetition, and don’t use that same action verb to start a statement within a particular work description. Write the sentence in the past tense, even for your current position.

ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). ATS is a human resources software that works as an online database or a digital filing cabinet when you submit a job application. It’s not very sophisticated and requires search engine optimization. Avoid any creative resume style. Simple formatting is the key to getting through the system’s filters. Eliminate columns, tables, text boxes, headers, footers, graphics, color ink, or PDFs (unless specifically requested).

Qualifications. Employers hire someone with the skillset necessary to succeed in that advertised job. They want a person who is not underqualified or overqualified. Carefully evaluate the role before you hit “apply.” Assess your skills, education, and experience to ensure the job closely fits your background. Refrain from applying for a job if you don’t have 80% of the qualifications required.

Soft skills. These traits help show how you fit into the job role and match the company’s culture. Include appropriate ones to supplement your hard skills. The top soft skills employers value beyond excellent oral and written communication are collaboration, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.

Competencies. Employers find no value when you list a lot of competencies, such as project management, team leadership, results-driven, etc., in one section since you aren’t demonstrating exactly where you used these abilities. Avoid creating this section. Instead, inserting these competencies into the work history and summary of qualifications is much more effective. That way, you illustrate how you have that skill and apply it on the job.

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Resume Guidelines and Samples

Resume Samples

Purpose of resume (overview), resume header, education section of resume, experience section of resume, skills section of resume, resume checklist.

Download resume guidelines as a pdf List of resume action verb How to write effective resume bullets

How to have your resume reviewed

• 4 Resume Samples  (PDF format)  
• Sasha Cazenove
• Seona Bates
• Sierra Tower
• Sophie McAfee

Your resume is generally a one-page document that clearly presents your current and past experiences and accomplishments so that your reader can understand the unique value that you bring to the table. As you begin to draft your resume, consider the following. Your resume is:

• Your first opportunity to make an impression. Step back from the details to consider what story you want to communicate.
• Foremost, about the content and demonstrating your experiences. Begin by writing your resume in Google docs or Word, and avoid using templates that focus on form over content.
• A living document that you will tailor to specific positions and will evolve throughout your career.
• Not a laundry list of every experience; it is a carefully curated list of relevant experiences. 
• Easy to read. Consider font type and size, formatting, and a balance of text and white space.
• Shared with potential employers as a pdf document.

The header provides your full name and contact information (email address & telephone number). This section should not include personal information (e.g., sex, date of birth, marital status). Items that may be included in your header:

• Wellesley and/or home address: If you choose both, be sure to label each address accordingly. 
• Personal website, links to professional social media (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) 

If you are a current student or recent alumna, the education section should be just below the heading, with the most recent education listed first. Generally, you should not include your high school on your resume; however, first-year college students may include relevant high school experiences. Necessary information includes:

• Your institution and its location (City/Town and State) 
• Your degree (Bachelor of Arts), any major(s) and/or minor(s) 
• Expected graduation date. 
• Optional: Study abroad programs and institutions where you cross-registered for classes. 

In this section, provide details about your various experiences, highlighting accomplishments, learning outcomes, and transferable skills. “Experience” is broadly defined and can include full- or part-time work, summer jobs, internships, research, academic projects, campus leadership, volunteer opportunities, etc. Describe your experiences using strong, specific verbs, and emphasize the results and impact of your work. You can create separate and distinct Experience sections to highlight those positions or skills (e.g., Research, Leadership, Extracurricular, or Volunteer). 

• List experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent first). 
• Include name and location of the organization where this experience took place and the title of your role. 
• Include start and end date for your experience. If it is ongoing, list your end date as “Present.” 
• Describe your experience in accomplishment statements, using short phrases starting with a strong verb. Be specific and quantify your experiences whenever you can. 
• Create 2-5 accomplishment statements for each experience. 

This section provides an immediate view of the kinds of tasks you are ready to undertake. While you will want to be selective and only list relevant skills, these might range from technical skills, like expertise using a digital tool, to experience-based skills, like project management or database design. This section can also include certifications, languages, etc. In general, it’s best to avoid general skills like people skills, time management or critical thinking. As this section grows, you may divide it into several distinct skills sections, like Software Expertise, Language Skills, Teaching Skills, Design Skills, etc.

Is your resume... 

☐ Easy to read? 

☐ Simple, clean font (e.g. Times, Arial, Garamond) 

☐ 10 to 12 pt. font 

☐ 0.5 to 1 in. margins 

☐ Error free (grammar & spelling)? 

☐ Devoid of personal pronouns (I, me, my, we)? 

☐ Concise? 

☐ Reverse chronological? 

☐ Tailored to the type(s) of opportunities you are seeking?

Does your resume… 

☐ Effectively communicate your relevant skills and experience? 

☐ Effectively communicate your personal brand? 

☐ Use consistent formatting for dates, job accomplishments, etc.? 

☐ Display your strongest or most relevant qualifications near the top of the page or section? 

☐ Highlight all your related/transferable experience? 

☐ Utilize action verbs and results-oriented language to describe your experience?

☐  Display on the screen without formatting errors as a pdf attachment?

Related resources

I landed a job in venture capital at 24 after changing my career path twice. Here's how I got the coveted job with a varied résumé.

• Lucia Polverino landed a coveted role as a venture capital analyst in London in her early 20s.
• She said her experiences in PR and product management were instrumental in this transition.
• Polverino shared tips for Gen Zs to break into VC, using their existing skillsets.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Lucia Polverino, a 24-year-old analyst at a venture capital firm based in London. Business Insider has verified her employment. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I was always passionate about getting into the workplace as quickly as possible after university. After graduating, I dabbled in a career in public relations and product management before landing my role as a venture capital analyst — but my varied experiences helped me get to this point.

My first office job was a placement in my first year at university, where I studied for a degree in business administration. I worked at Piper Sandler, an American investment bank. I spent six months in their healthcare M&A division. It was a really good first formative experience, but it was challenging.

My next placement was in my third year of university. I worked at KKR in their private credit team. But because this happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to be proactive as we weren't in the office , and try to get my colleagues to give me more work to do. It was a really valuable experience.

After graduating, I was adamant I wanted to try something less corporate. My first job out of university was at a tech PR firm. I've always been interested in entrepreneurship, media, and communications. It was a 15-person team when I joined, which made for a startup-like environment — very entrepreneurial and dynamic. I worked with eight clients across AI, cyber security, e-commerce, and business-to-business sectors. That was an inflection point because it diverted my career toward the tech world.

I loved working with tech companies and startups, so after nine months, I decided to go in-house and work at a tech company. As a recent graduate, I was still eligible for roles targeted toward recent university graduates which provide a structured career path into a particular sector. I loved the sound of product management. You can work with a bunch of different teams, such as engineering, marketing, and UX; this was similar to the way I worked in PR with different clients. I was lucky enough to secure a grad job in the product team at ICIS, which is a data team within LexisNexis, a software company.

Related stories

My job in product management was instrumental in leading me to venture capital. I understood the key levers in a tech company that influence its growth. I've always liked wearing different hats, and these threads led me to join Playfair, a generalist VC fund.

I was so surprised at how relevant my PR experience was

I was so surprised at how relevant my PR experience was because so much of VC is investor relations. It's really important to form friendships with investors, not just transactional relationships. Equally, because I was working with tech companies in my PR role, it was easy to verbalize and justify why I loved tech companies and working with startups in my interview. It's really important for young people in interviews to bring in their past experiences and talk about how it will help them be good candidates.

For young people who want to apply to VC , it's really important to figure out the kind of fund you want to apply for. If your background is generalist and diverse, that kind of VC fund would likely suit you. But if you started your career with a technical background, you'd perhaps be suited to a deep tech fund. You should understand where you will add the most value.

Being a pandemic graduate also made me less worried about finding a linear career path and sticking to it for five years. During the pandemic, I thought, who knows what will happen in six months? Nothing was certain — it seemed like the pandemic would never end. This impacted my mindset, and I was more willing to take risks and figure out what I actually liked. I think it's also more of a Gen Z trend because we are more likely to job-hop than previous generations.

You don't need a background in investment banking to get into VC anymore

It may have been true in the past that you need an investment banking background to get into VC, but that's not the case anymore. I've met more people that don't come from banking than do. In my case, at a pre-seed fund, making a financial model from scratch would be less useful a skill to have.

VC is such a broad industry — and your experience will be shaped by what stage your fund invests in. The hiring managers usually like young people who have had startup experience, such as being an operator. I've also met so many people who come from software engineering and technical backgrounds and work at deep tech funds. I've also met a lot of people coming from NGO and charity backgrounds. This ultimately speaks to the sector you may want to specialize in once you get into VC.

You could also show you have an entrepreneurial mindset to some degree. My hiring managers loved that I had a fashion blog when I was at university and that I would reach out to brands to partner with for my videos. It's really important to show that you love entrepreneurship and working with founders.

Try to leverage recruiters if you can. At Playfair, we have a very transparent hiring process, and the fund markets the position as much as possible — but that's not the same for all VC funds. I found my job through a recruiter called JumpStart, and it's a very helpful avenue for younger grads.

Watch: New product launches are tough – a lesson learned early in her career by Gabrielle Wesley, CMO of Mars Wrigley North America

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