Resume for a Teenager With No Experience

You can write a strong resume for a teenager with no formal work experience. Your first resume does not need a long work history. It needs to show what you have done, what you can do, and why you are ready for the opportunity.

School activities, volunteer work, projects, sports, tutoring, babysitting, certifications, and other responsibilities can all provide useful evidence. Employers may also look for communication, reliability, teamwork, organization, responsibility, and a willingness to learn.

Can a Teenager Make a Resume With No Work Experience?

Yes. A teenager can create a resume without having held a formal job.

Your resume can focus on the experience you already have instead of an employment history. A resume with no experience can still include school activities, volunteer work, projects, skills, and other relevant responsibilities. 

This can include:

• Education and relevant coursework
• Volunteer experience
• Extracurricular activities
• School and personal projects
• Leadership responsibilities
• Certifications and training
• Awards and achievements
• Relevant skills
• Informal work such as babysitting or tutoring

The key is to explain what you actually did. For example, being a member of a school club shows involvement. Organizing a club event shows a specific responsibility.

No work experience does not mean no experience.

What Should a Teenager Put on a Resume With No Experience?

A first resume should contain only sections that give an employer useful information about you.

A simple structure can include:

1. Name and contact information
2. Summary or objective, when useful
3. Education
4. Skills
5. Relevant experience, volunteer work, or activities
6. Projects
7. Certifications or training
8. Awards and achievements

You do not need to fill every section. If you have no certifications, leave that section out. If you have no volunteer work, focus on school, projects, activities, and skills.

Keep the resume to one page. A teenager with limited experience rarely needs more space.

Keep Your Contact Information Private

Use your name, a professional email address, phone number, and general location such as your city and state.

Do not add your Social Security number, date of birth, or other sensitive information. A full home address is also unnecessary on a public-facing resume.

If you create an email address for job applications, use a simple format based on your name. Avoid usernames that sound unprofessional.

How to Write a Teen Resume Summary or Objective

A short objective can help when you have little formal experience. It should quickly explain who you are, what opportunity you want, and what you can contribute.

Keep it specific to the position.

For a Retail Job

High school student with strong communication and organization skills seeking a part-time retail position. Experienced in team activities and volunteer events, with a strong interest in helping customers.

For a Summer Internship

High school junior interested in environmental science and seeking a summer internship to apply research and teamwork skills. Completed a school project on local water quality and presented the findings to classmates.

For a Restaurant Job

Responsible high school student seeking a part-time restaurant position. Brings strong teamwork, communication, and organization skills developed through school activities and community volunteering.

Avoid vague statements such as:

Hardworking teenager looking for a job to gain experience.

Your objective should give the employer a reason to keep reading.

How to Present Your Education

When you have limited work experience, education can take a prominent place on your resume. High school resume guidance commonly recommends highlighting education, relevant coursework, academic achievements, and other qualifications when professional experience is limited.

Include:

• School name
• City and state, when useful
• Expected graduation date
• Relevant coursework
• GPA, when it strengthens your application
• Academic honors

You do not need to include your GPA simply because you have one. A strong GPA can support an application, especially for internships or academic programs. If your GPA does not add value, you can leave it out.

For example:

Lincoln High School — Austin, TX Expected Graduation: May 2028 GPA: 3.8/4.0 Relevant Coursework: Introduction to Computer Science, Algebra II Honor Roll: 2025–2026

Only include coursework that connects to the opportunity. A computer science course can help for a technology internship, while a marketing class may be more useful for a business-related opportunity.

What Can Count as Experience for a Teenager?

Your experience does not have to come from a payroll job.

Think about your responsibilities at school, in your community, at home, or through personal projects. Career guidance for first-time applicants also recommends using education, activities, volunteering, and other experiences to demonstrate transferable skills.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer work can show responsibility, communication, teamwork, and initiative.

Instead of writing:

Volunteer at food bank.

Write:

Sorted donated food and helped prepare weekly boxes for local families. Worked with other volunteers to organize supplies and complete tasks on schedule.

School Projects

School projects can demonstrate research, communication, organization, and technical skills.

For example:

Researched renewable energy sources for a science project and presented findings to a class of 25 students.

The project gives you something specific to discuss. It also shows how you used a skill.

Extracurricular Activities

Sports, clubs, academic groups, student organizations, and other activities can provide useful evidence.

Do not simply list membership.

Instead of:

Member, Student Council

Try:

Helped plan a school fundraiser and communicated event details to students and teachers.

Your responsibility matters more than the title alone.

Leadership

Leadership can come from many places.

You might have:

• Served as a team captain
• Organized a club activity
• Coordinated a fundraiser
• Helped train new members
• Led a group project
• Mentored younger students

Only describe leadership when you actually had responsibility for people, tasks, or decisions.

Informal Responsibilities

Babysitting, tutoring, helping with a family business, lawn care, pet care, or similar work can count when it is relevant to the position.

For example:

Provided regular childcare for two children, planned age-appropriate activities, prepared snacks, and maintained a consistent schedule.

That gives an employer evidence of responsibility and planning without pretending that babysitting was a corporate job.

Personal Projects

Personal projects can help you demonstrate skills that do not appear elsewhere.

Examples include:

• Building a website
• Creating videos
• Coding a small application
• Running a school-related social media page
• Designing graphics
• Writing a blog
• Creating artwork
• Starting a small business project

For example:

Created a five-page website using HTML and CSS to showcase photography projects.

This gives the employer a clear picture of what you actually did.

How to Turn School Activities Into Resume Evidence

An activity becomes more useful when you explain the responsibility behind it.

Use this simple approach:

Activity → Responsibility → Skill

For example:

Weak:

Soccer team member.

Stronger:

Attended regular practices and competitions while balancing a full academic schedule and working with teammates toward team goals.

This can demonstrate commitment, teamwork, and time management.

Do not turn every activity into a corporate achievement. A teenager’s resume should sound credible and match the person’s actual experience.

How to Show Skills on a Teen Resume

List skills that you can support with real examples. 

These skills can matter when you are applying for your first job. The U.S. Department of Labor identifies communication, leadership, decision-making, and other employability skills as part of career preparation for young people through its Career Preparation & Work-Based Learning Experiences guidance. 

Technical Skills

Depending on your experience, these may include:

• Microsoft Office
• Google Workspace
• Canva
• Basic coding
• Video editing
• Social media platforms
• Graphic design
• Point-of-sale software

Only list software or tools you have actually used.

Transferable Skills

Common transferable skills include:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Organization
• Time management
• Customer service
• Problem-solving
• Leadership
• Research
• Planning

Avoid creating a huge list of skills without evidence.

For example, if you list communication, show where you used it through a project, activity, volunteer role, tutoring job, or other experience.

How to Match Your Resume to the Job

Do not use one resume for every job application. Review each job posting, note the qualities and duties the employer is seeking, and highlight the parts of your own experience that genuinely relate to those needs. Current first-resume guidance also recommends using relevant keywords from job postings and tailoring your skills and examples to each application.

For example, a retail posting may mention:

• Customer service
• Communication
• Organization
• Teamwork

If you have volunteered at a school event where you helped visitors and organized supplies, you can highlight those responsibilities.

Do not copy job-posting language to claim a skill you do not have. Include a keyword only if it genuinely reflects something you have done or a skill you actually have.

For online applications, keep the design simple, use clear section headings, and avoid unnecessary graphics or complicated layouts. A clean format also makes the resume easier to read.

How to Adjust Your Resume for Different First Jobs

The same teenager can emphasize different skills for different opportunities. Teen employment is a real part of the U.S. labor market, especially during the summer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in July 2026, 53.8% of young people ages 16 to 24 were employed. The 2026 Summer Youth Labor Force News Release provides the latest employment data for this age group. 

Retail

Focus on:

• Customer service
• Communication
• Organization
• Teamwork
• Reliability

School events, volunteer activities, and team responsibilities can provide evidence for these skills.

Restaurant or Food Service

Highlight:

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Organization
• Cleanliness
• Reliability
• Ability to work in a busy environment

Only mention food handling or similar skills if you have relevant training or experience.

Babysitting

Emphasize:

• Responsibility
• Planning
• Communication
• Patience
• Time management

Describe the actual duties you handled.

Internship

Give more space to:

• Education
• Relevant coursework
• School projects
• Personal projects
• Technical skills
• Research
• Academic achievements

Connect your strongest examples to the internship requirements.

Tutoring

Highlight:

• Subject knowledge
• Communication
• Patience
• Organization
• Planning

For example, if you regularly help younger students with math, describe the subjects and responsibilities involved.

First Resume Example for a Teenager With No Experience

Here is a realistic example for a high school student applying for a part-time retail position. For more examples of resumes for students at different experience levels, see these student resume examples. 

Maya Carter Austin, TX | 512-555-0184 | mayacarter@email.comObjectiveHigh school junior seeking a part-time retail position where I can use my communication, organization, and teamwork skills. Experienced in school events, community volunteering, and collaborative projects.EducationLincoln High School — Austin, TX Expected Graduation: May 2028 GPA: 3.7/4.0 Honor Roll: 2025–2026SkillsCustomer communicationTeamworkOrganizationTime managementGoogle WorkspaceCanvaVolunteer ExperienceCommunity Food Pantry — Austin, TX Volunteer | June 2026–PresentSort donated items and prepare food boxes for community distribution.Work with volunteers to organize supplies and complete weekly tasks.Help visitors find the correct distribution area.School ActivitiesStudent Council — Lincoln High School Member | 2025–PresentHelped organize a school fundraiser and prepare event materials.Shared event information with students and helped coordinate setup.School ProjectEnvironmental Science ProjectResearched local recycling practices and compared results from three community programs.Created a presentation and explained findings to classmates.

This example does not pretend that Maya has formal retail experience. Instead, it shows evidence of skills that may be relevant to a retail role.

Simple Teen Resume Template

Use the sections that fit your background.

FULL NAME City, State | Phone | Professional EmailOBJECTIVE State the opportunity you want and mention two or three relevant strengths.EDUCATION School Name — City, State Expected Graduation: Month Year GPA: X.X/4.0, if useful Relevant Coursework: Course 1, Course 2 Honors: Award or recognitionSKILLSRelevant skillRelevant skillTechnical skillTechnical skillRELEVANT EXPERIENCE / VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE / ACTIVITIESOrganization or Activity — Role Month Year–PresentDescribe what you did.Mention a relevant responsibility.Show the skill connected to the experience.PROJECTSProject NameExplain what you created, researched, organized, or completed.Mention relevant tools or skills.AWARDS / CERTIFICATIONSAward, certification, or training

Only keep sections that contain useful information. A shorter resume with relevant details is better than a longer resume filled with unrelated activities.

First-Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Your first resume does not need to be perfect, but avoid mistakes that make your background harder to understand. Keep your information relevant, accurate, and easy to read.

Saying You Have No Experience

Formal employment is only one part of your background. Mention schoolwork, volunteering, activities, projects, or responsibilities that demonstrate what you can do.

Making It Too Long

A short resume is fine when you have limited work history. Keep the strongest details and remove information that does not support your application.

Using a Casual Email

Your email address is part of the contact information an employer sees. Use a simple address based on your name instead of nicknames, jokes, or unusual wording.

Listing Every Activity

Skip activities that have little connection to the position. Give priority to clubs, sports, events, or other experiences that demonstrate relevant abilities or responsibilities.

Listing Unsupported Skills

Only mention abilities that you can back up with something from your background. Refer to a project, class, activity, or volunteer role where you had a chance to practice each skill.

Using One Resume

Different jobs may require different skills or experiences from you. Adjust the details you highlight so they match the position you are applying for.

Adding Private Details

An employer only needs basic contact information to reach you about your application. Leave out your Social Security number, date of birth, and full home address.

Using a Complex Design

Your resume should make important information easy to find. Use clear headings, readable text, consistent spacing, and a simple layout.

Writing Long Paragraphs

Large blocks of text can make your resume difficult to scan. Use short bullet points to explain your responsibilities, skills, or accomplishments.

Skipping Proofreading

Small errors in spelling, grammar, dates, or contact details can hurt your application. Review your resume carefully and ask a trusted adult to check it before you submit it.

Using Artificial Language

Your resume should sound natural and reflect your real experience. Avoid exaggerated claims and vague buzzwords that do not clearly explain what you have done.

To Conclude!

Your first resume should match the experience you actually have. Focus on your education, activities, projects, skills, and responsibilities instead of trying to make your background appear more extensive.

Choose details that connect to the position and explain your role honestly. Keep the information relevant, clear, and easy for an employer to review.

FAQs

Is a Resume Required for My First Job as a Teenager?

A resume is not required for every first job, particularly when an employer accepts informal applications. Having one prepared can still help you organize your education, skills, activities, and previous responsibilities.

Do I need an Objective Statement on My Resume?

An objective can briefly tell an employer what kind of role you want and what you can bring to it. This can be useful when you have limited employment history and want to highlight relevant strengths.

What Should I Put on My Resume If I Have Never Had a Job?

Look beyond paid employment when deciding what belongs on your resume. Your education, activities, projects, volunteering, awards, certifications, leadership, tutoring, or babysitting can all help demonstrate your abilities.

What Should a 16-Year-Old Put on a Resume With No Experience?

Begin with your school information and then add skills, activities, projects, volunteer work, awards, certifications, and responsibilities that support your application. Give priority to details that relate to the job.

How Long Should a Teenager’s Resume Be?

If you have little or no formal work history, one page will usually give you enough room. Use that space for information that helps the employer understand your abilities and background.

Should a Teenager Include Their GPA?

A GPA can be worth adding when it shows strong academic performance or is requested by an employer or program. Otherwise, you can use that space for information that better supports your application.

What If I Do Not Have Any Skills to List on My Resume?

Your skills may already appear in things you do every day. Consider class projects, sports, clubs, volunteering, household responsibilities, or other activities that have helped you build communication, teamwork, organization, or time-management abilities.

Can Babysitting Count as Experience?

Babysitting can be useful resume experience when you describe the responsibilities involved. You might mention supervising children, planning activities, preparing meals, or keeping track of schedules.

Should a Teenager Include References on a Resume?

References generally do not need to appear on the resume unless the employer specifically requests them. Keep a separate list ready and ask each reference for permission before sharing their contact information.