Entering the job or internship market as a high school student can be intimidating. Plus, writing your first resume can feel overwhelming. Fear not, because free resume builders for high school students are here to help!
These platforms allow students to create professional-looking resumes with no prior experience needed.
Easy-to-use, ATS (Applicant Tracking System)- friendly layouts and modern designs make these the best resumes for showcasing academic accomplishments, extracurriculars, and volunteer work.
Below, I’ve outlined the best free resume builder tools specifically designed for high school students, along with some helpful tips and tricks.
Resume Builder For High School Students Free
Without any further ado, let’s get into the free tools that will help you in your future.
1. Canva: Drag-And-Drop Simplicity
Canva is one of the best design platforms offering many resume templates for high school students.
It is even easy to use with the drag-and-drop interface. In fact, you can also easily customize your resume to fit your style and taste.
- You will need no design skills to work through the application features.
- A large selection of free, professionally designed templates will appeal to many users.
- Allows creative resumes with color and layout variations.
Resume Tips: Use templates that balance creativity and professionalism. The design should not overpower the content of your resume since the purpose is to present your conceptual skills and experiences clearly.
2. Zety: ATS-Friendly Templates
Among the free resume builders for high school students!
Zety provides templates that will get through the ATS, which is important if you apply to larger corporations.
ATS is an applicant tracking system that could get some of them to use this software to filter resumes. So, your resume needs to be ATS scannable.
Do not worry! With Zety, your resume comes out already ATS approved. They also provide real-time tips as you build your resume, so you do not doubt what’s expected.
Why It’s Great for High School Students:
- Provides ATS-compliant templates.
- Gives you comments for each part as you are writing it.
- You get the resume free when finished.
Resume Tips: Avoid overly creative designs if you apply to corporations or internships with strict ATS systems. Stick to clean, simple formats that highlight key information.
3. Resume.com: The All-Rounder
If you’re looking for a free online resume builder for high school students without experience creating one, we’ve got you covered!
These templates are downloadable and easy to use, so you can spend more time doing what you love. The best part is that each download comes with expert advice on creating an effective high school resume.
- It’s free, and there’s no charge at any time.
- Simple interface, perfect for beginners.
- Real-time previews as you type so you can see exactly what your resume will look like.
Resume Tips: The first section of your resume should introduce you to the reader positively and enthusiastically. If you are a high school student, this is usually not an issue, and you can move on to the next section.
4. Kickresume: Customization With Real-Time Tips
Kickresume is a resume builder that enables you to create, edit, and share your resume. All in one!
It also offers customization resources with pre-written real-time tips and samples. For people who have never created a resume, this application also has them covered.
Yes, you will get a quarter of a million resumes for inspiration.
Why It’s Great for High School Students:
- Customizable templates with real-time suggestions.
- Access to templates for various fields.
- Free option but only with access to basic tools.
Resume Tips: List your extracurricular activities and volunteer experiences. These are valuable when you don’t have much job experience. Tailor them to reflect relevant skills like leadership or teamwork.
5. VisualCV: Portfolio And Resume Combo
Want to send a CV alongside the cover letter? This free resume builder for high school students is the one for you!
VisualCV allows students to build a resume/portfolio hybrid, which is great for creative fields like design or media. You can craft a PDF visual resume or build a portfolio from scratch.
- Ideal for students with creative projects or personal websites.
- A free version is available and has basic features.
- Resume meets portfolio all in one place.
Resume Tips: If you’re applying to creative fields, use VisualCV to share your school projects or other work outside of class. You can even include a link to your website or portfolio.
6. Indeed Resume Builder: Built For Job Seekers
While primarily a job search engine, indeed also provides its users with a resume-builder tool. Plus, it is very helpful for high school and college students.
In fact, their resources are simple to use. Once you are done creating your resume, you can also apply for jobs with just a click of the mouse through the same application.
- Why It’s Great for High School Students:
- Quick and easy interface.
Resume Tips: Use the resume builder to make a resume with a foundation for jobs.
8. Novoresume: Professional Templates With Extras
Novoresume offers premium and free resume templates. However, you do not need to pay for the advanced features if you are new to resume-making.
Because whatever you need as a student, you don’t need to pay to get access to good-looking ATS-compliant templates.
Why It’s Great for High School Students:
- ATS-optimized, modern templates.
- Step-by-step instructions on what to include.
- The free version contains all the important features.
Resume Tips: Be sure to add in any special skills you have, such as being good with software (i.e. Microsoft Office, Adobe Suite). High schoolers usually forget this section and it’ll make you different from others applying.
8. ResumeGenius: Step-by-Step Guide
ResumeGenius will walk you step-by-step through the resume creation process. Therefore, ensuring you do not miss anything when creating your first resume is particularly useful.
Because It’s Awesome for High Schoolers:
- Simple step-by-step.
- Pre-written bullet points you can customize.
- ATS-friendly templates.
Resume Tips: If you’re having trouble writing your experience or skills section, ResumeGenius has many pre-written examples. This can help you tailor your resume. In fact, it’s particularly helpful if you don’t know what to write.
9. MyPerfectResume – Pre-Written Examples
For starters, MyPerfectResume, a free resume builder for high school students has one of the largest pools of pre-written examples on the internet.
If you don’t know how to put your skills or experience into words, it gives you ideas by sending lists of phrases everyone uses. However, do not overdo it because it will make your resume sound too cliche!
Why It’s Great for High School Students:
- Offers examples you could use right away.
- Possibility to easily alter the patterns.
- Download resumes in several formats.
Resume Tips: Use their examples as a starting point, but always personalize them to reflect your ideas and experience. Even if you’re using a sample, ensure it’s for the same reason as your intended role.
Enhance Template – For All the Fancy Resume
If you are one of those who wants their resume to look close to perfect, then this is for you!
Enhanced templates are visually appealing without compromising professionalism.
You’ll get basic templates as a free user, but they are more than enough for a student entering the professional arena.
Why It’s Great for High School Students:
- Free templates that have basic features.
- Drag-and-drop sections.
- Customizable layouts that are still professional.
Resume Tips: Choose a design that reflects your personality but doesn’t distract from your qualifications. Avoid overly complex designs that may be hard to read.
How To Make The Most Of Your Resume Builder Tools
Now that you know what the best free resume builder for high school students, here are a few additional resume tips to perfect it
- Proofread Everything: Even if the tool says they do this, never use something without doing manual proofreading. You don’t want a typo in what could have been the perfect resume.
- Tailor Your Resume: Make sure that every resume you send out has specific information relevant to the employer you’re targeting. Highlight skills and experiences most applicable to the position for which you’re applying.
- Keep it Concise: Generally, employers and intern coordinators prefer a one-page resume. This is usually enough space to include all necessary information. Only include the most important things employers need to know about you, and don’t include “fluff” or irrelevant information.
- Use Action Verbs: Try to begin each bullet point in your experience section with an action verb. Leading with passive language dilutes the impact of your achievement.
- Emphasize Soft Skills: Soft skills, like leadership or problem-solving, can make a big difference in any role. Be sure to emphasize these as well.
Happy Job Hunting!
It might seem like a lot of work to create a resume, but with the right tools and helpful tips, it’s not as tough as you think.
If you’re applying for part-time jobs, internships, or scholarships, these great free resume-builder apps will guide you through creating an awesome resume!
In fact, high schoolers can do it all themselves — for free!
Just make sure to tweak each resume for each job or opportunity to make yourself stand out!
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