Come to VA’s Career Center and see Mrs. Vargas if you need assistance!
RESUME TIPS FOR
HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS
Begin sentences with a positive power verb
A key factor in writing your résumé is to use strong action verbs to make positive statements describing your
accomplishments, level of responsibility, and effectiveness. You want the reader to be able to visualize the
contribution you will make in the position you are seeking. Use the past tense of the verb if you have finished
the position.
Administrative Skills
approved
collected
generated
operated
purchased
arranged
compiled
implemented
organized
recorded
catalogued
dispatched
inspected
prepared
retrieved
classified
executed
monitored
processed
screened
Communication Skills
addressed developed
formulated
moderated
publicized
arbitrated directed
influenced
motivated
reconciled
arranged drafted
authored
edited
Interpreted
lectured
negotiated
persuaded
recruited
spoke
corresponded enlisted
mediated
promoted
Creative Skills
acted developed
founded
integrated
performed
conceptualized directed
illustrated
introduced
planned
created established
innovated
invented
revitalized
designed fashioned
instituted
originated
Shaped
Financial Skills
Administered appraised
budgeted
developed
marketed
allocated audited
calculated
forecasted
planned
analyzed balanced
computed
managed
Helping Skills
assessed coached
diagnosed
facilitated
referred
assisted counseled
educated
familiarized
rehabilitated
clarified demonstrated
expedited
guided
represented
Management Skills
administered conducted
developed
increased
produced
analyzed consolidated
directed
organized
recommended
assigned contracted
evaluated
oversaw
reviewed
attained coordinated
executed
planned
scheduled
chaired delegated
improved
prioritized
Research Skills
clarified diagnosed
extracted
interpreted
organized
collected evaluated
identified
interviewed
reviewed
critiqued examined
inspected
investigated
summarized
Teaching Skills
adapted communicated
encouraged
guided
persuaded
advised coordinated
evaluated
informed
set goals
clarified developed
explained
initiated
stimulated
coached enabled
facilitated
instructed
Technical Skills
assembled computed
engineered
operated
remodeled
built designed
fabricated
overhauled
repaired
calculated devised
maintained
programmed
Solved
VA Career Center
RESUME WRITING WORKSHEET
VA students and Internship students please use this worksheet to help you construct various sections of
your résumé. Do you have little or no work experience? Are you thinking about taking the internship
class? Do you seldom get involved in extracurricular activities? Do you plan to go to work or soon apply
for college? Will you be applying for scholarships?
You can use your resume to:
• Give to College Counselor, Coach, Teacher, Principal so they can understand your
background if they are writing you a Letter of Recommendation
• Applying for summer programs
• College admissions essay
• Include your resume with your scholarship
•
Use your resume to help get an internship
•
Take your resume when attending College Fairs at your school
When you create your resume, you will learn you have more skills that you think. The resume is your
resume and is unique from other students. It can help you express yourself! Think of it as a way to
organize your education, experience, accomplishments and skills.
Let’s Get Started!
Guide
You Try It – Résumé Worksheet
(Review examples attached)
Heading: Personal Information:
List your full name, city, state, zip phone number and email address.
(No nicknames and please use a professional email)
Objective: (Optional) you can add Profile followed by Skills Summary
A good career objective is essential. It should indicate what sort of job or internship you are seeking, and
what experience/skills you have to offer. You should be specific enough to indicate that you have a
specific position in mind. You can change your career objective for each job / internship you are applying
for.
What kind of employment do you want? Internship? Full-time, part-time? Summer job?
What type of position do you want? Customer services, sales, medical, mechanical
Is there a particular industry you want to work in? Retail, hospitality, healthcare, etc.
Profile: A brief summary of skills, experiences, and goals specific to the job.
Skills Summary: This is the first section an employer wants to see.
List skills: Computer, creativity, communication, languages, leadership, volunteer, sports, work, activities.
Education: List Virtual Academy High School, Folsom Lake College
List the name of your school, city and state and graduation date.
__________________________________________________________________
Relevant High School Studies
AP classes, technical writing; advanced composition; debate; video production; computer classes;
web software, graphics, photoshop, adobe, etc. GPA if higher than 3.0
Academic awards/certificates, internship
Work Experience: You can use summer activities
List the years you were there, job title, employer’s name, city and state location
__________________________________________________________________________ ____________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
List your job duties under each employer
Volunteer Experience
Brainstorm your Resume
Use this to begin brainstorming ideas to add to your resume. How can you combine your strong and not-as-
strong categories to highlight your strengths?
Be honest!
Tailor your resume to focus on its purpose. Keep in mind that scholarship resumes typically highlight community
service, internship, and leadership. Employment resumes typically highlight job skills and evidence of
responsibility.
Academic Achievements / AP Courses
Extracurricular
Leadership Roles
Offices Held
Clubs
Athletics
Community Service
Internship/Volunteer
Church-affiliated Service
Hobbies/Interests
Scouting
Special Skills/Certificates
Awards/Special Honors
Other
SAMPLE OF A HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP RESUME
http://www.fastweb.com/career-planning/articles/quick-two-
minute-resume-changes
Alison Sarah Rogers
777 Rogers Lane, Columbia, MD 21045, 410-444-3333 E-mail: alisons111@net.com
OBJECTIVE
Seeking an Internship in Administration and Office-Information Technology
SUMMARY OF SKILLS
Clerical: File maintenance, mail management
Computers: MS applications, Microsoft Word, data entry, Internet
Organization: Follow through on details, event planning and coordination
Communications: Telephone, customer services, team leadership
Personality: Friendly, quick learner, dependable, hard worker
EDUCATION
Virtual Academy at Shenandoah High School, El Dorado, CA, graduate May 2014
Activities:
Honors:
Courses:
GPA: if above 3.0
WORK EXPERIENCE
Various jobs as child care provider, house and pet sitter, house cleaning, wedding planner’s assistant, and office
assistant.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Facility Maintenance—Volunteer worker on church and community beautification days. Member of team to provide
lawn and garden landscaping and cleanup.
Special events organizer—Volunteer coordinator for birthday and anniversary celebrations. Plan activities, schedule
other volunteers, and organize events. Coordinated several events with more than 100 people in attendance.
OUTSIDE INTEREST
Youth group activities
Youth choir
SAMPLE OF A STUDENT APPLYING FOR COLLEGE
SAMPLE OF A STUDENT LOOKING FOR A JOB OR INTERNSHIP
STUDENT APPLYING FOR A JOB OR SUMMER INTERNSHIP
PERRY JAMESON
1515 Stanley Drive #62
Hometown, KS 66202
perry.jameson@dbplanet.com
(913) 555-1938
RESUME PROFILE
Outstanding student with experience in print and online journalism seeks opportunity to continuing learning
while working with a communications, public relations, or publishing firm through a part-time job or summer
internship.
EDUCATION
Completed three years at Hometown High School
Graduating, May 26th, 2018
3.85. Top 5% of class
EXPERIENCE
Newspaper Staff Member, Hometown High School
Aug 2012
-
present.
Features editor of campus newspaper, responsible for award-winning design.
Aug 2009 -Aug 2012.
Researched information for news articles using library and Web sources.
Composed and edited informational articles, columns, editorials, and advertising copy.
Yearbook Committee Member, Hometown High School
Aug 2012
-
present.
Editor-in-chief of yearbook staff. Leader of design and publication teams from
initial layout through finished product.
Aug 2009-Aug 2012.
Yearbook staff member. Experience taking photographs, designing layout, and
writing captions and sidebars.
RELEVANT HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES
Technical writing; advanced composition; debate; video production; computer classes providing knowledge of
word processing, desktop publishing, and web software.
HONORS, AWARDS, AND MEMBERSHIPS
U.S. Media Association Scholarship recipient
Scholarship based on academic achievement, community service, and campus participation and leadership in
high school communications projects and studies.
2011 Best High School Newspaper Design winner
Central State Regional Communications Contest, sponsored by the Communications Department, State
University.
President of high school chapter of Future Communicators of America (FCA)
, 2011 - present
Member, 20 IO - present.
Treasurer of National Honor Society
, 2011- present
COVER LETTER TIPS
Use the same format as your resume for your cover letter.
Cover letters are just as important as your resume. It allows you to
explain why you are a good fit for the position. Attach the cover letter
to your resume. Use the same font and paper. Always address the
cover letter to the appropriate individual within in the company.
THANK YOU LETTER
TIPS
Use the same format as your resume.
Thank-you letters should be sent to each panelist within twelve hours.
You can also have handwritten cards available and leave with someone
at the front desk after your interview. It should emphasize your
background and reference your interview about the meeting.
Reference Page
Use the same format as your resume for your reference page.
References should not be parents, family, friends or peers.
References can include advisors, principals, coaches, mentors, employers or anyone in a
professional position who can speak about your characters, skills and work ethic.
References are people you have worked with, volunteered or interned for. Faculty, current or
former supervisors
Before listing someone as a reference, make sure you ask them first. Provide your references with
a copy of your resume and information about the position you are seeking. For a letter of
recommendation for college, include a one-page summary of any achievements or skills and a
statement of your future goals.
Example!
Professional References
Mr. Boss Man
Supervisor
Intel
[email protected]
530-999-8888
Mr. Music Man
Owner/Internship Supervisor
Musical Delights
[email protected]
530-999-9999
Prepared by Mrs. Vargas, VA Career Center