Students & first jobs

First Job resume example

For a first job, show school, activities, volunteering and any informal work, and present them confidently. Availability and reliability matter as much as experience.

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Opens as an editable draft in your browser. Replace every detail with your own, never use a number you cannot explain in an interview.

First Job resume summary example

Friendly, organised high school junior looking for a first job in retail or food service. Available after school and weekends, experienced with customers through school events and pet-sitting, and quick to learn.

Notice the pattern: title and years of experience, then the strongest result with a number. See more in resume summary examples.

Experience bullet examples for a first job

  • Care for pets for 6 families while they travel: feeding, walks and updates
  • Trusted with house keys and alarm codes; regular repeat bookings
  • Take orders and handle cash at home games serving 300+ fans

Each bullet starts with an action verb and ends with a result. That is what separates an achievement from a job description.

Skills for a first job resume

Customer serviceCash handlingReliabilityTeamworkCommunicationTime managementResponsibilityGoogle DocsQuick learnerPositive attitude

Keywords that appear in first job job postings

Applicant tracking systems match your resume against the posting. These terms recur in real first job listings, use the ones that are true for you, in the posting’s own wording.

first jobcustomer servicereliableteamworkcash handlingcommunicationvolunteeravailabilityresponsiblequick learnerfriendlytime management

Paste a specific job description into the ATS resume checker to see exactly what your resume is missing.

Tips for writing a first job resume

  1. Volunteering and informal work count, describe them like jobs.
  2. Put your availability in the summary.
  3. Keep it to one simple page.

Questions

What skills should I put on a first job resume?

List the specific skills the job posting asks for that you genuinely have. For first job roles, common ones include Customer service, Cash handling, Reliability, Teamwork, Communication, Time management, Responsibility, Google Docs.

How long should a first job resume be?

One page for most candidates. Two pages only if you have many years of directly relevant experience and every line earns its place.

Can I use this first job resume example for free?

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