Writing a Fifteen-Year-Old's Resume

Lisa Finn reports:

"The Fair Labor Standards Act sets 14 as the golden age for employment. Helping your 15-year-old craft an appropriate, well-thought-out resume...can make all the difference in capturing that coveted job...Center the teen’s name at the top of the resume in a font that's larger and bolder than the rest of the information on the resume. His contact information should follow either centered under his name or aligned to the left. It should include his full name and the school he attends. A teenager's street address is not needed; the city and state is acceptable. Include an [email] address rather than his cell phone number because you don’t want an unfamiliar adult having access to a teen’s phone...By providing just an email address, you’ll have a written record of information if you need documentation for any reason. If you feel an email address isn’t enough, include a parent’s or other trusted adult’s phone number for contact...If your teenager has a job or previous work experience, include this information in a section titled 'Experience' under her contact information. Indicate the name of the employer, the dates worked, the job title and duties. If no jobs exist, there are ways to transfer life skills and experiences into valuable, useful skills in the workplace...You should also include academic and [extracurricular] achievements and awards in a section titled 'Achievements and Abilities.' List everything from winning the school spelling competition, to membership on the student council, to sports-associated trophies and medals. If the teen made the honor roll during elementary school and one year into high school, you should note that in this section, too...In a section titled 'Extracurricular Activities,' highlight the teen’s activities...noting the dates of participation. Include any clubs and positions the teen held in the community and at school. If he helped organize a food drive for a religious organization, you should note it, as this kind of involvement shows dedication, a willingness to help others and compassion for the world at large. If your child is a three-sport athlete, this shows reliability...In addition, include any skill that pertains to a desired job, such as computer skills for a research assistant position...Eye-catching prose stands out on a resume. Express achievements by using action-driven words such as 'formed,' [']initiated,' 'improved' and 'arranged.' Finally, make sure the resume is free of grammar and spelling errors."