Resume for a 16-Year-Old: How to Create Your First Professional Resume

Getting your first job at 16 is an exciting milestone, but the application process can feel intimidating—especially when you need to create a resume and aren’t sure what to include. After all, most resume advice assumes you have years of work experience to showcase. How do you create a compelling resume when you’re just starting out?

The good news is that employers hiring teenagers understand you won’t have an extensive work history. They’re looking for potential, reliability, and the right attitude—qualities you absolutely can demonstrate on a resume. This comprehensive guide will walk you through creating a professional resume at 16, showing you exactly what to include, how to format it, and how to present yourself as a desirable candidate even without traditional work experience.

Understanding What Employers Want from Teen Applicants

Before writing your resume, it’s helpful to understand what employers are actually looking for when they hire 16-year-olds.

The Teen Hiring Mindset

Employers who hire teenagers know they’re not getting experienced professionals. When they review applications from 16-year-olds, they’re looking for:

Reliability: Will you show up on time for scheduled shifts? Can they count on you?

Trainability: Are you willing and able to learn new tasks? Do you take instruction well?

Basic people skills: Can you communicate appropriately with customers and coworkers?

Maturity for your age: Do you understand workplace expectations and behave professionally?

Legal availability: Are you legally permitted to work, and do your hours align with their needs?

Positive attitude: Will you approach the work with enthusiasm rather than reluctance?

Your resume should demonstrate these qualities through how you present yourself and what you choose to include.

Common Jobs for 16-Year-Olds

The jobs available to 16-year-olds typically include:

• Fast food and restaurant positions
• Retail and grocery store jobs
• Lifeguarding (with certification)
• Movie theater positions
• Recreation and amusement center roles
• Babysitting and childcare
• Lawn care and landscaping
• Camp counselor positions
• Tutoring

Each of these values slightly different qualities, but all appreciate maturity, responsibility, and willingness to work hard.

Essential Resume Sections for a 16-Year-Old

Your resume needs to include certain basic information while also making the most of what you have to offer.

Contact Information

Start with clear contact information at the top of your resume:

Your name: Use your full legal name, formatted prominently.

Phone number: Include a phone number where employers can reach you. Make sure your voicemail greeting sounds professional—no music, jokes, or overly casual messages.

Email address: Use a professional email address. If your current email is something like “[email protected],” create a new one for job searching that uses your actual name.

City and state: You don’t need your full address, but include your general location. This tells employers you’re local.

Avoid: Social media handles (unless specifically relevant), date of birth (age discrimination concerns—though it’s often obvious you’re 16), and parent contact information (unless specifically requested).

Objective or Summary Statement

For teenagers, a brief objective statement can be helpful because it immediately tells employers what you’re seeking and what you offer:

Good objective examples:

“Enthusiastic high school student seeking a part-time position at [Company Name] where I can provide excellent customer service while developing professional skills.”

“Responsible and hardworking student athlete looking for a retail position that allows me to contribute to a team environment while gaining valuable work experience.”

“Reliable sophomore with strong communication skills seeking a summer position in food service where I can learn quickly and contribute positively to the team.”

Keep it brief: Two sentences maximum. The objective should quickly convey what you want and why you’d be good at it.

Education

As a 16-year-old, your education section is one of your most important resume components:

Include:

• School name and location
• Expected graduation year
• GPA (if 3.0 or above)
• Relevant coursework (if applicable to the job)
• Academic honors or achievements

Example:

Lincoln High School, Springfield, IL
Expected Graduation: May 2027
GPA: 3.5/4.0
Relevant Coursework: Business Fundamentals, Communication Arts
Honors: Honor Roll (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Relevant Experience

Even without formal employment, you likely have experiences that demonstrate your capabilities:

Babysitting/Childcare: “Babysitter | Various Families | 2023-Present

• Provided responsible care for children ages 3-10
• Prepared meals, assisted with homework, and organized activities
• Maintained safety and followed parent instructions consistently”

Lawn Care/Yard Work: “Lawn Care Provider | Neighborhood Clients | Summer 2024

• Maintained yards for 5 regular clients, including mowing, edging, and weeding
• Managed own scheduling and communicated professionally with clients
• Received repeat business due to reliable, quality work”

Tutoring: “Peer Tutor | Lincoln High School | 2024-Present

• Help fellow students with algebra and geometry concepts
• Explain complex material in accessible ways
• Demonstrate patience and encouragement with struggling learners”

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer work shows initiative and responsibility:

Examples:

“Volunteer | Local Food Bank | Summer 2024

• Sorted and organized food donations for distribution
• Worked collaboratively with adult volunteers and staff
• Contributed 30+ hours over summer break”

“Youth Group Volunteer | First Community Church | 2023-Present

• Help organize activities for younger children during events
• Set up and clean up for weekly meetings
• Assist adult leaders with various tasks as needed”

Skills Section

Highlight skills relevant to typical teen jobs:

Customer Service Skills:

• Friendly and approachable demeanor
• Clear verbal communication
• Patience with difficult situations
• Ability to remain calm under pressure

Technical Skills:

• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, Google Suite)
• Point-of-sale systems (if you’ve used any)
• Social media proficiency
• Cash handling experience (if applicable)

Work-Related Skills:

• Time management
• Ability to follow instructions
• Quick learner
• Team collaboration
• Attention to detail

Language Skills:

• Bilingual abilities are valuable—list them!

Extracurricular Activities

Your activities demonstrate important qualities:

Sports: “Varsity Soccer Team | Lincoln High School | 2023-Present

• Demonstrate teamwork, discipline, and commitment
• Balance 15+ hours weekly of practice/games with academics
• Developed leadership skills as team captain (2025)”

Clubs and Organizations: “Student Council Representative | Lincoln High School | 2024-Present

• Represent sophomore class in student government
• Help plan school events and activities
• Collaborate with peers and faculty advisors”

Music/Arts: “Concert Band Member | Lincoln High School | 2023-Present

• Practice 5+ hours weekly, demonstrating dedication
• Perform at school and community events
• Work collaboratively with 60+ band members”

Certifications and Training

Include any relevant certifications:

• CPR/First Aid certification
• Lifeguard certification
• Food handler’s card
• Babysitting certification
• Any job-specific training

Awards and Honors

Recognition demonstrates achievement:

• Academic awards
• Athletic awards
• Scouting achievements (Eagle Scout, Gold Award)
• Competition wins
• Scholarship recognition

Formatting Your Teen Resume

Professional formatting makes your resume easy to read and creates a positive impression.

Length Guidelines

One page maximum: As a 16-year-old, you don’t need more than one page. In fact, trying to stretch to a full page when you don’t have enough content looks worse than a well-organized half page.

Font and Style Choices

Font: Use professional, readable fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Garamond. Size should be 10-12 points for body text, slightly larger for your name and section headers.

Margins: One-inch margins on all sides give your resume a clean, balanced look.

Consistency: Whatever formatting choices you make, apply them consistently throughout the document.

Organization Tips

Use clear section headers: Make it easy for employers to find information quickly.

Bullet points: Use bullet points rather than paragraphs for most content. They’re easier to scan quickly.

White space: Don’t cram everything together. Adequate spacing makes your resume more readable.

Reverse chronological order: Within each section, list most recent items first.

What to Do Without Any Experience

If you truly have no experience to list—no babysitting, no lawn care, no volunteering—you can still create an effective resume.

Emphasize Education

Expand your education section with:

• Relevant coursework
• Academic projects
• Class presentations or leadership
• Study skills and academic discipline

Highlight Activities

Detail your extracurricular involvement:

• Leadership roles in any capacity
• Time commitments demonstrating dedication
• Skills developed through participation
• Achievements within activities

Focus on Skills

Create a robust skills section covering:

• Technical abilities
• Soft skills with specific examples
• Language capabilities
• Any relevant talents

Include Personal Projects

Have you done anything independently that shows initiative?

• Started a small business (selling crafts, reselling items)
• Created content (YouTube, blog, art)
• Learned a skill independently
• Completed significant personal projects

Offer References

Strong references can compensate for limited experience:

• Teachers who can speak to your character
• Coaches who know your work ethic
• Religious leaders who’ve seen your responsibility
• Neighbors who’ve observed your reliability

Building an online presence can also help demonstrate your initiative and skills. Platforms like 0portfolio.com can help young professionals showcase projects and achievements even before gaining formal work experience.

Sample Resume for a 16-Year-Old

Here’s a complete example to guide your own resume:

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SARAH JOHNSON Springfield, IL | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected]

OBJECTIVE Responsible and friendly high school student seeking a part-time position at Target where I can provide excellent customer service while developing professional skills.

EDUCATION Lincoln High School, Springfield, IL Expected Graduation: May 2027 GPA: 3.6/4.0 Relevant Coursework: Business Fundamentals, Public Speaking Honors: Honor Roll (2023-2025)

EXPERIENCE Babysitter | Various Families | Springfield, IL | 2023-Present • Provide responsible care for children ages 4-11 for multiple neighborhood families • Plan and supervise activities, prepare meals, and assist with homework • Maintain excellent relationships with families, receiving repeat requests

Dog Walker | Neighborhood Clients | Springfield, IL | Summer 2024 • Walked dogs daily for 4 regular clients during summer break • Managed scheduling and communicated reliably with pet owners • Demonstrated responsibility and trustworthiness with clients’ homes and pets

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Youth Volunteer | Springfield Public Library | 2024-Present • Assist with children’s programs and summer reading activities • Help organize books and maintain library sections • Interact positively with library patrons of all ages

ACTIVITIES JV Volleyball Team | Lincoln High School | 2023-Present • Committed 15+ hours weekly to practices and games • Developed teamwork, discipline, and time management skills • Balanced athletics with maintaining strong academic performance

Spanish Club | Lincoln High School | 2024-Present • Participate in cultural activities and language practice • Help organize club events and community outreach

SKILLS • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills • Bilingual: English and Spanish (conversational) • Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Suite • Reliable, punctual, and quick learner • Cash handling experience from school fundraisers

CERTIFICATIONS • American Red Cross Babysitting Certification (2023) • CPR/First Aid Certified (Current)

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Tailoring Your Resume for Specific Jobs

Different jobs emphasize different qualities. Customize your resume for each application:

Fast Food/Restaurant Jobs

Emphasize:

• Customer service orientation
• Ability to work quickly
• Team collaboration
• Food handling certification (if you have it)
• Availability for various shifts

Retail Positions

Emphasize:

• Friendly, approachable personality
• Communication skills
• Organization abilities
• Cash handling experience
• Fashion or product knowledge (if relevant)

Lifeguard Positions

Emphasize:

• Lifeguard certification
• CPR/First Aid training
• Swimming abilities
• Responsibility and attentiveness
• Physical fitness

Tutoring/Childcare

Emphasize:

• Patience and communication
• Subject expertise
• Experience with children
• Responsibility and trustworthiness
• Babysitting certification

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Steer clear of these errors that can hurt your application:

Including Inappropriate Information

Don’t include:

• Social media handles (unless professionally relevant)
• Personal photos
• Political or religious affiliations (unless applying to related organizations)
• Controversial hobbies or interests
• References to age or birth date

Exaggerating or Lying

Be honest about your experience and abilities. Employers often verify information, and dishonesty can disqualify you or cause problems later.

Using Unprofessional Language

Write formally and professionally. Avoid:

• Slang or casual language
• Emoji or excessive punctuation
• Humor that might not translate well
• Text abbreviations

Making Formatting Mistakes

Avoid:

• Typos and grammatical errors
• Inconsistent formatting
• Unusual fonts or colors
• Cramped or cluttered layouts

Being Too Vague

Instead of “helped with stuff,” say specifically what you did: “organized supplies, assisted with setup, and helped manage registration.”

Getting Your Resume Reviewed

Before submitting your resume, have someone review it:

Ask Parents or Guardians

They can catch errors and provide perspective on professional norms.

Request Teacher Review

English teachers or career counselors can provide valuable feedback.

Use School Resources

Many high schools have career centers or counseling offices that help with resumes.

Ask a Working Adult

Someone who hires people or works in your target industry can provide practical insights.

After You Create Your Resume

Once your resume is ready:

Save Multiple Formats

Save your resume as both a Word document (for editing) and a PDF (for submitting). PDFs preserve formatting across different devices.

Name Your File Professionally

Use a clear file name like “Sarah_Johnson_Resume.pdf” rather than “resume_final_v3.pdf”

Keep Your Resume Updated

Update your resume whenever you gain new experience, skills, or achievements.

Prepare for Questions

Be ready to discuss everything on your resume in an interview. If you included it, you should be able to talk about it.

Conclusion

Creating your first resume at 16 might seem challenging, but it’s also an important skill that will serve you throughout your career. Focus on presenting yourself honestly and professionally, emphasizing the qualities that make you a desirable employee: reliability, positive attitude, willingness to learn, and any relevant experience you’ve gained through school, activities, or personal initiative.

Remember that employers hiring teenagers have realistic expectations. They’re not looking for extensive experience—they’re looking for young people who will show up on time, work hard, and contribute positively to their team. Your resume should demonstrate that you’re exactly that kind of person.

Take time to create a clean, professional resume that showcases your potential. Even if it feels like you don’t have much to include, presenting what you do have thoughtfully and professionally makes a strong impression. Your first job is the beginning of your work history, and a good resume helps you start that journey on the right foot.

Good luck with your job search!