A Formula For A Good Teen Resume: It's A Must!


If you're a teen looking for a job, you may feel a great deal of insecurity over the fact that your experience is so limited. You may have already filled out dozens of applications with nary a response. This can be quite discouraging. You've certainly heard the expression, 'you've got just one chance to make a good first impression'. When you show up in response to an ad, the very last thing you want to do is fill out their standard application. Unless you know the employer, it's unlikely your application will stand out. Standard applications do not give you a chance to point out your strengths. A resume does.

You might show up with a thoroughly professional appearance, which earns you zero points when you leave your application with a disinterested clerk. You must have a resume! A resume stands out from the rest of the crowd. Your professional approach is evident on your nicely printed resume and will gain attention.

Teen resumes are a bit more difficult to put together, usually due to a lack of work experience. On the other, you don't have mountains of material to present, so it's less time consuming. Just as with your appearance, the presentation of teen resumes means everything in a teen job market. Let's see how to lay out and construct a good teen resume.

If you can afford it, invest in a box of resume paper. It'll run about $5 and helps make your resume look polished. If not, choose a good quality of typing paper. Printer paper also works.

Use your word processor's resume templates. They are easy to work with and you don't have to deal with tabs and margins. Choose a traditional, serif font, such as Times New Roman. Serif fonts are easiest to read and Times New Roman is a standard business font.

At the top of your resume, center your name, in a slightly larger (perhaps 2 points) font size. Below, each on a separate line, list your home address and city with zip, your telephone number and email address. Make it as easy as possible for prospective employers to contact you!

Now we come to the most difficult part of a teen resume: experience! Remember, you're still a teen. Prospective employers don't expect years of experience. However, while not having lots of experience won't disqualify you, you want to include as much experience as you can muster. If you've done babysitting for Mrs. Jones over a three year period, absolutely include this data. This tells an employer that you are reliable and can accept responsibility. Include any volunteer work, from tending animals at the animal shelter to lifeguarding in the summer. List everything you've done, beginning with the most recent and working backwards. Describe your duties concisely and truthfully.

Following your experience is the place for education. List your school. If you have a good GPA, or have served as class President, don't fail to mention these accolades, great additions for teen resumes.

While adults do not usually include references on their resume, teen resumes benefit from such inclusions. Ask permission before using someone as a reference, as they may get a few calls!

Now that you've got a professional looking teen resume, there's nothing else to be said, except to dress for success!