High School Resume with No Experience (Templates)
A high school resume with no experience is your introduction to the professional world, presenting your skills, school projects, and potential. In 2025, even without work history, crafting an ATS-friendly, clear, and achievement-focused resume can get you noticed by hiring managers and internship coordinators.
| What to Include (At a Glance) |
|---|
| Strong summary or objective statement |
| Relevant coursework or academic projects |
| Transferable skills like communication and teamwork |
| Volunteer work, extracurricular activities |
| Basic certifications or online course completions |
What Hiring Managers Look For at This Stage
Hiring managers understand high school students might lack formal work experience. They look for indicators of:
- Responsibility and reliability
- Communication and teamwork skills
- Willingness to learn and adapt
- Involvement in school or community activities
- Any relevant technical or soft skills
Choose a Simple Format
- Use reverse-chronological or functional format focusing on skills.
- Keep fonts readable and layout uncluttered.
- Avoid graphics or tables that ATS might not parse correctly.
- Use clear section headers: Objective, Education, Skills, Projects, Activities.
What to Include (Projects, Coursework, Skills)
- Relevant school projects showing initiative or technical skills.
- Coursework related to the job or internship (e.g., computer science, business).
- Skills such as Microsoft Office, customer service, leadership, or languages.
- Volunteer work or clubs that demonstrate responsibility and teamwork.
- Basic certifications like CPR, Adobe Certified Associate, or coding bootcamps.
Examples You Can Copy
Example Summary
Motivated high school student eager to gain retail experience. Strong communicator with teamwork and problem-solving skills developed through school projects and volunteer work.
Example Projects
- Science Fair Project: Designed and presented a model demonstrating renewable energy, winning school award.
- Business Club: Organized fundraising events raising over $1,000 for local charity.
Example Skills
- Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Customer Service
- Team Collaboration
- Spanish (Conversational)
How to Tailor to Postings
- Highlight skills mentioned in the job description.
- Use keywords from the posting naturally in your objective and skills sections.
- Emphasize any specific software or technical skills required.
- Adjust your project and activities descriptions for relevance.
ATS Basics for Entry-Level Resumes
- Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman.
- Avoid headers/footers and images.
- Submit in PDF or DOCX format as requested.
- Use simple bullet points and consistent formatting.
- Include keywords relevant to the job and skills.
Templates & Checklist
| High School Resume Checklist |
|---|
| Clear and concise objective or summary |
| Education section with relevant coursework |
| Skills section with both hard and soft skills |
| Projects and extracurricular activities included |
| Volunteer or community service listed |
| ATS-friendly formatting and keywords |
Fill-in-the-Blank Objective Template:
“[Adjective] high school student seeking [type of position] to utilize [skills] and contribute to [company or organization]. Eager to learn and grow professionally.”
FAQ
Q: Can I apply without work experience?
A: Yes, focus on transferable skills, projects, and volunteer work.
Q: Should I include a photo?
A: Generally, no—avoid adding photos unless requested.
Q: How long should a high school resume be?
A: Ideally one page, focusing on quality over quantity.
Q: Can I list hobbies?
A: Only if they relate to skills or the job environment.
