Applying for a job can be extremely hard for high school students. Not only do you have to worry about meeting your potential employer face-to-face, but you also have to create a resume. Creating a resume is frustrating for anyone who is just starting out. You might be overwhelmed with the amount of information you have to include, or you might not even know what information you need to include. Going through this process doesn’t have to be hard. Creating a resume is actually easier than you think.

A resume is basically a list of skills and experiences to show an employer that you are perfect for the job. In your resume you should include what skills you have (language, computer, or any skill that relates to the job you want), your work/volunteer experience, any extracurricular activities, your education level, and your contact information. You should also include active verbs such as worked, taught, helped, served, etc. These words should be the first word in short phrases that detail your experience and skills. Using active verbs in this way will make you seem more dynamic.

If this still sounds overwhelming and complicated, then you can go online to find more help. Websites like thebalance.com and bigfuture.collegeboard.org have helpful tips and templates for high school students that need to form an eye catching resume. Both websites take you step-by-step through the resume writing process. In addition, The Balance has links to resume templates that will tell you what to include and where it should go. It also gives helpful tips like “keep it short” and “promote your attitude”.

After your resume is completed, you still have more work to do. Look over your resume multiple times to make sure you didn’t leave any mistakes and all the information is important. Ensure that your grammar and punctuation are correct and the font is uniform. Multiple websites recommend that you have other people review the resume too. Get as many opinions as you can to ensure that your resume is the best it could possibly be. Updating is also important. As you gain more experience and increase your skills, you should update your resume accordingly. The more experience you have, the better your chances are of getting the job.

Resumes are a crucial part of applying for a job. You don’t have to be frustrated while creating one. If you follow the steps and read the tips found on the websites, your resume writing experience will be better than most. What’s on your resume can either guarantee you a job or be the reason for your unemployment, so take it seriously. Use the websites, ask people for help, and make sure your resume is perfect. Here are the websites that you can visit:

https://www.thebalance.com/high-school-resume-examples-and-writing-tips-2063554

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/careers/how-to-create-your-resume