My list

Make your first student resume

Turn classes, projects, activities, work, and community responsibilities into a clear one-page resume.

01

Choose what counts

  1. Include education, relevant coursework, projects, activities, work, volunteering, skills, and selected awards.
  2. Family responsibilities, independent projects, and paid work can demonstrate reliability and initiative.
  3. Remove sections that are empty instead of filling the page with weak material.
02

Write stronger bullets

  1. Begin with an action verb and describe what you made, improved, organized, researched, or supported.
  2. Add scale when it is truthful: people served, hours contributed, funds raised, or tools used.
  3. Do not inflate titles, invent metrics, or list skills you could not discuss in an interview.
03

Final check

  1. Keep it to one page with consistent dates, spacing, and verb tense.
  2. Export a PDF and name it Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf.
  3. Ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted adult to check clarity and spelling.
Keep preparing

Ask for a recommendation

Give a teacher or mentor enough time and context to write a useful, specific recommendation.

Read the next guide