The hardest part about getting your first job isn't the interview. It's figuring out how to write a first resume when you have no "real" experience.

Most advice online is for professionals, not for a 16-year-old applying to Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, or the local coffee shop. This guide will show you exactly how to build a powerful teen resume in Canada that highlights the skills you already have. Well, focus on what managers actually want to see from a first resume with no experience.

The 5 DOS: What to Include

DO 1: Put Your Contact Info First This sounds simple, but it's the first thing a manager looks for. Make sure your full name is in a larger font at the top. Include your phone number (and make sure you have a professional voicemail greeting, not just music) and a professional-sounding email address. This is crucial: an email like https://www.google.com/search?q=skaterboi123hotmail.com won't impress anyone. Create a free one like https://www.google.com/search?q=firstname.lastnamegmail.com.

For your location, you don't need your full street address. In Canada, just "City, Province", like "Toronto, ON", is perfect.

DO 2 Write a Short "Objective" or "Summary" This is a 1- to 2-sentence "elevator pitch" at the top of your resume. It tells the manager who you are and what you want. A simple formula works best:

"Adjective and adjective high school student seeking a type of job position at Company Name where I can apply my skill 1 and skill 2 to help the team succeed."

For example: "A reliable and friendly high school student seeking a part-time retail position where I can apply my strong communication skills and passion for customer service."

DO 3 Highlight "Experience" Even if It's Not a "Job". This is the most important part of a high school student's resume. Most teens think they have no experience. You do.

You just need to rename the "Work Experience" section to "Experience" or "Relevant Experience". Now, list all the valuable things you do:

Volunteer Work: e.g., Food Bank Volunteer, Animal Shelter Assistant School Projects Clubs: e.g., Lead, Yearbook Committee Member, Robotics Team Side Gigs: e.g., Babysitting, Lawn Mowing, Dog Walking

The key is to describe them like a real job. Instead of "Babysat kids", try "Provided responsible care for two children ages 4 and 7." Instead of "Volunteered at food bank," try "Sorted and packaged over 500 lbs of donations for community distribution."

DO 4: Create a Dedicated "Skills" Section Managers know you're new; they want to know if you're teachable. A skills section is the best way to show them. Split it into two parts:

Hard Skills: These are teachable skills. Examples include Microsoft You're including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Google Suite Docs, Sheets, Canva, FoodSafe Certificate, First Aid/CPR, R, or any languages you speak.

Soft Skills: This is what managers are hiring for. Include words like 'reliable', 'punctual', 'teamwork', 'collaboration', 'communication', 'problem-solving', and 'quick learner'. 

DO 5: List Your Education Correctly This one is simple. List your high school, your city and province, and your expected graduation date.

Mapleview Secondary School Barrie, ON Ontario Secondary School Diploma In Progress Expected Graduation: June 2027

If you have good grades, you can add "Honour Roll Student" as a bullet point underneath.

The 5 DON'Ts: What to Avoid

DONT 1. Dont Lie or Exaggerate It's DON'T 1. It's tempting to say you're "fluent" in French when you just passed Grade 10 Core French, but don't do it. You will be asked about it. It's always better to be honest than to be caught in a lie on your first job resume.

DONT 2: Dont Use Weird Fonts or Crazy Colours Your resume needs to look professional and be easy to read in five seconds. Stick to one simple font like Calibri or Arial in size 1012. Use black text on a white background.

DONT 3. Dont Forget to Proofread Typos are the fastest way to get your resume thrown out. Read it out loud, use a spellchecker, and then ask a parent or teacher to read it over for you.

DONT 4. Dont Make it Longer Than One Page As a student, your resume should never be longer than one page. Be concise.

DONT 5: : Dont Include Personal Information or a Photo This is a Canadian standard. Do NOT include a photo of yourself, your date of birth, or your Social Insurance Number (SIN). This is for your privacy and to prevent discrimination.

Your Free Canadian Resume Template

To make it even easier, we've created a ready-to-use resume template for a high school student. It's already formatted and waiting for you.

Conclusion

Your resume is your ticket to an interview. By focusing on your skills and non-traditional experience, you're showing a manager that you are reliable, teachable, and ready to work.

Now that your first resume is done, check out our next article: How to Write a Cover Letter for a First Job.

Whats the number one thing youre proud to put on your new resume Let us know in the comments.