Searching and finding work are meaningful times for teens, especially if this is their first job. If you're a teenager looking for part-time or seasonal work, or you're helping a teenager, it's a good idea to use creativity in crafting work experience for your resume.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Starting a Resume
Step 1. Consistently format your resume
The resume must have a solid format. You as a teenager are certainly not experienced with resume formats. Whatever choice you make, make sure the format of the resume you create is consistent throughout.
- Decide how to summarize the experience. A resume usually lists work experience accompanied by an explanation. You can use short paragraphs or bullet points to describe your work experience, but make sure the method you choose is consistent throughout your resume. If you describe job assignments in paragraphs, it means that all of your work should be described in that way.
- Certain parts of the resume need to be bold or italic to attract attention. Again, make sure you keep your resume consistent. For example, let's say you write a job like this: Waiter, See you friend. As a reminder of your resume, write the name of the job in bold, and the name of the workplace in italics.
- The font size and spacing should also be uniform throughout the resume. For example, you can use font size 12 for job names, and size 10 for workplace names and job descriptions.
Step 2. Make sure your resume is only one page long
Usually, a resume should not go over a single page of paper. Sometimes, people who have changed jobs have long resumes, but you as a teenager don't have much work experience so one page of paper is enough.
Step 3. Choose a format
You need to choose a resume format. Resumes are designed in many different ways and there are no fixed rules for making them. However, all of your options should allow the company representative to be able to read your resume easily.
- All resumes should have a title at the top that includes your name and contact information. The text here must be larger than the rest of the text on the resume.
- The resume font should look professional and easy to read. Avoid overly flashy and cursive fonts for your resume. Use fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgie, Times New Roman, and other formal, easy-to-read fonts.
- You can use a little color for your resume to make it stand out a bit. You can color in titles such as "Work Experience," "Education," and "Additional Skills." However, you should only use dark primary colors like navy and purple. Don't use hard-to-read colors like yellow, or neon colors like lime green and bright pink.
- Some resumes, especially if you are applying for a creative job, may use a creative format as well. Try searching for creative resumes on Pinterest and Flickr for inspiration. However, a resume should still be easy to read and professional. In addition, because you are a teenager with no work experience, the employee selector may rate creatively designed resumes more harshly because they feel the format will hide minimal work history.
Step 4. Include contact information
All resumes must include basic contact information. Make sure you include the following information near the top of your resume:
- Include the name, which is in large font compared to the rest of the text. Place your name near the top of the page as a title above the rest of the text.
- Below your name, include your address, landline number, and email address. Use a professional-looking email address (full name, rather than a nickname or other informal name). It's also a good idea to make sure your voicemail greeting sounds professional in case you miss a call from your employer.
Step 5. Include a goal
Even if goals are no longer popular on resumes, it's a good idea for those of you as a teenager to include a few sentences about career goals.
- The goal should be a 2-3 line paragraph, explaining your goals for the job and why you deserve it.
- Try to be very specific. Avoid statements like, “My goal is to get a position in the field I want. I want to use my skills and education to increase my experience. I am a hardworker." It doesn't tell employee selectors anything special about you. Ask yourself, “What are my special skills?” What can I apply in this position?” It would be great if you explained it very specifically. It's a good idea to rewrite your goals for each job application so that they match the specific wants and needs of the employee selector.
- For example, say you are interested in politics and want to intern at a political party during the holidays. An example of a good explanation of objectives is something like this, “I have been a party volunteer for a long time with three years of experience in party work. I am looking for opportunities in a political career by gaining more experience in fundraising, advertising and general party management.”
Part 2 of 3: Adding Skill Sets
Step 1. Include your education level
High school students certainly have a high school education level. Include a section that tells your level of education at the top of your resume.
- Start with the latest education and work your way back. However, you do not need to include up to elementary education. Just list your college (if studying) and your high school.
- If you earned an honors student degree during high school or college, list it. Achievements such as exemplary students, outstanding students, and the like reflect a strong work ethic. If you get a high IP or GPA score, include it.
Step 2. Add work experience creatively
Often, youth do not have a real job or work experience is very limited. However, There are ways to creatively present work experience to demonstrate a strong skill set even if your work experience is limited.
- List formal or informal volunteer work, babysitting, or gardening work, walking the dog, or other errands you've done for a relative or neighbor and get paid on your resume. While this is not a formal job that requires a large skill set, the fact that you do it every day reflects a strong work ethic and good time management skills.
- A low-paying part-time job may seem like a small amount, but mention a waitress or retail job you've had and reveal how useful it was in building your communication skills. Focus on how to interact and help customers and the amount of information to manage.
Step 3. Choose your words wisely
Take advantage of "buzzwords" when listing past jobs. Keywords are words that are used on a resume to make the work experience look awesome and attract the interest of the employee selector.
- You can search the internet for keywords to help you find the job you want. Words like classified, analyzed, facilitated, graded, calculated, trained, and designed can make your resume look better.
- Use keywords to make the job look memorable and emphasize the skills gained from these casual jobs. If you worked as a waitress when you were in middle/high school, your job description could be something like, “Interact politely with various customers to maintain a positive image of the business towards society.”
- Specifics are also important. Employee selectors love it when applicants quantify past work. Say you are a middle school student and spend the holidays as a math teacher. Instead of writing “Teach students every week,” you can phrase it more impressively and quantify your work. For example, “Teach a group of 6-7 students once per fortnight, conveying basic concepts of algebra and geometry in a way junior high school students can understand.”
Step 4. List specific skills or achievements
Even if your actual work experience is minimal, you can increase the appeal of your resume by highlighting non-employment information in your “Achievements” list.
- If you've won contests or excelled in certain extracurriculars, it's a good idea to list them on your resume.
- Becoming a team captain, being involved in a sporting competition, owning a music group, or running a blog with appropriate content can attract employee selectors because it demonstrates initiative and leadership.
- If you are a student, list any scholarships you have received. Emphasize high grades and good study skills to show that you are a hard worker and want to work if accepted.
Part 3 of 3: Attracting Employers
Step 1. Get two references
References are great to include on a teenager's resume. Because you lack experience, other people's recommendations regarding your work ethic are important in creating an attention-grabbing resume.
- References should be from people who understand your skill set. Try choosing a teacher, former boss, fellow volunteer, coach, music instructor, or even a family friend who has known you for a long time.
- You shouldn't include recommendations from friends or relatives as it will appear unprofessional.
Step 2. Emphasize your work ethic
Even if you lack experience, there are ways to emphasize your work ethic. New hire selectors may be reluctant to accept inexperienced people, but there is still a chance if you present yourself as a hard worker.
- Focus on your academic achievements. If you have no work experience but excel in class and test scores, the employee selector may be impressed.
- Are you proficient in using certain software? Many colleges or high schools teach software that is essential for a particular job. If you are fluent in a program such as Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, list it on your resume.
- Proficiency in languages other than Indonesian will also impress employee selectors. Even if you can only speak English or Japanese in conversation, this can add value to your resume.
Step 3. Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
A good resume should not have misspellings or grammar. Make sure you check your resume carefully. Ask others to also check your resume for missed mistakes. Sometimes, after working on a document for a long time, even obvious mistakes can be missed.
Step 4. Customize resumes for other jobs
You may not submit the same resume for every job application. Try to match the resume with the position applied for. If you are applying for a casual job, emphasize work experience such as working as a waitress or gardener. If you are applying for an internship, shift the focus to volunteer experience, academic achievements, and relevant work practices.
Tips
- When you're creating a resume for teens, some employers prefer that you apply via a form on their website, or include an attachment or email file. Follow the instructions of the new employee selector.
- Include respected references from people who are not direct family members. Letters of recommendation from teachers, past employees, and public officials can attract new recruits.
- Writing a resume for teens is a cooperative process. If you are an adult looking to help a teenager, develop his or her independence to face the competitive job market.
