High School Student Resume Guide for Canadians (2026)

If you're a Canadian high school student thinking about landing your first part-time job, you're not alone. According to Statistics Canada, about 2.2 million youth aged 15 to 19 were looking for work or already employed in 2024, with 40.4% holding down a job. Whether you want extra cash for a car, savings for college, or just some real-world experience, a strong resume is your ticket in the door. But here's the thing: most teens have never written one before, and that blank page can feel overwhelming.

The good news? You don't need years of professional experience to build a resume that gets noticed. You've already done more than you think. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating a high school student resume that actually works in the Canadian job market, even if you've never held a "real" job.

Why High School Students Need a Resume (Even With No Experience)

With roughly one in five teens who want to work unable to find a job, competition for entry-level positions is real. Walking into a Tim Hortons or a local grocery store and asking "are you hiring?" isn't enough anymore. Most employers, even for part-time roles, expect applicants to hand in a resume. It shows you're serious, organized, and ready to work.

Think of your resume as a first impression on paper. Even if the job posting doesn't specifically ask for one, bringing a resume sets you apart from other teens who show up empty-handed. It also gives the hiring manager something to refer back to after meeting dozens of applicants. You want to be the one they remember.

And here's something else to consider: writing a resume now is practice for the rest of your life. Every job you apply for, from summer positions to your post-graduation career, will require one. Starting in high school means you'll be comfortable with the process long before your peers catch up.

What to Include on Your Resume Instead of Work Experience

Don't have a "real" job to list? That's completely normal. Most high school students are in the same boat. The trick is recognizing that experience comes in many forms. Employers hiring teens aren't expecting a long list of professional roles. They want to see that you're responsible, willing to learn, and can show up on time.

Here's what you can include instead of traditional work experience:

• Volunteer work: Food bank shifts, community cleanups, church events, hospital volunteering, school fundraisers
• School clubs and extracurriculars: Student council, debate team, yearbook committee, drama productions, DECA, robotics club
• Sports teams: Varsity or recreational sports show teamwork, discipline, and time management
• Babysitting and pet sitting: These are real jobs that involve responsibility, scheduling, and trust
• Tutoring: Helping classmates or younger students demonstrates knowledge and patience
• Personal projects: Running a social media page, selling crafts online, starting a lawn care side hustle
• Courses and certifications: First Aid, Food Handler's Certificate, WHMIS, babysitting courses

Each of these experiences can be described using action words and specific details, just like a professional job would be. For example, instead of writing "babysitter," you could say "Supervised two children aged 4 and 7, prepared meals, and organized activities three evenings per week." See how much more impressive that sounds?

Step-by-Step: Building Your First Resume

Ready to build your first resume? Here's a simple, step-by-step process. Keep everything on one page. Use a clean font like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica in 10 to 12 point size. No fancy graphics, no colours, no photos. Let the content speak for itself.

Step 1: Start With Your Contact Information

Put your full name at the top in a larger font (14 to 16 point). Below that, include your city and province (no full home address needed), phone number, and a professional email address. If your email is something like "sk8erboi2009@gmail.com," create a new one using your first and last name.

Step 2: Write an Objective Statement

This is two to three sentences at the top of your resume that explain who you are and what you're looking for. We'll cover this in detail in a later section. For now, think of it as your elevator pitch.

Step 3: List Your Education

Include the name of your high school, your expected graduation year, and your grade. If you have a strong GPA or have earned honours or awards, add those too. Any relevant courses like business, tech, or foods class can also be mentioned.

Step 4: Add Your Experience (Paid or Not)

List each role with a title, organization name, location, and dates. Use two to four bullet points per entry describing what you did. Start each bullet with a strong action verb like "organized," "managed," "assisted," "coordinated," or "trained." Focus on what you accomplished, not just what you were assigned.

Step 5: Highlight Your Skills

Create a short skills section listing six to ten relevant abilities. Mix soft skills (communication, teamwork) with any hard skills you have (cash handling, Microsoft Office, social media). Be honest. Only include skills you can actually demonstrate.

Step 6: Proofread and Format

Read your resume out loud. Ask a parent, teacher, or school counsellor to review it. Check for spelling errors, inconsistent formatting, and awkward phrasing. Save the final version as a PDF so the layout doesn't shift when opened on different devices. For more detailed guidance, check out our full how to write a resume guide.

High School Student Resume Sample

Here's what a finished resume might look like for a Grade 11 student applying for a part-time retail or fast food position. Notice how the student uses volunteer work, school activities, and informal experience to fill the page.

Notice how every bullet point starts with an action verb and includes specific details. Numbers make your accomplishments feel concrete and real. Even without a single paid job, this resume tells an employer that Priya is responsible, active, and ready to work. Use this as a template and swap in your own experiences.

Skills That Employers Actually Want From High School Students

When a hiring manager at Shoppers Drug Mart or McDonald's reads your resume, they're not expecting you to know enterprise software or project management. They want to know you'll show up, work hard, and get along with the team. Soft skills are what set teen applicants apart. Here's what's at the top of every employer's list:

• Communication: Can you talk to customers politely? Can you ask questions when you don't understand something?
• Reliability: Will you show up for every shift on time? This matters more than almost anything else.
• Teamwork: Can you work with people of different ages and backgrounds? Most entry-level jobs involve shared responsibilities.
• Problem-solving: If something goes wrong, can you think on your feet instead of freezing up?
• Positive attitude: Are you willing to do tasks that aren't glamorous? A good attitude goes a long way with managers.
• Time management: Can you balance school, homework, and a job without one falling apart?
• Adaptability: Can you learn new tasks quickly and adjust when schedules or responsibilities change?

According to NACE's Job Outlook 2025 survey, nearly 90% of recruiters seek problem-solving ability and over 80% want strong teamwork skills. While that survey focuses on college grads, the same principles apply at every level. To learn more about what hiring managers are looking for, read our guide on qualities employers want.

How to Write a Strong Objective Statement

With competition this tight, the first line of your resume needs to grab attention. An objective statement is a two- to three-sentence summary at the very top that tells the employer who you are, what you're looking for, and what you bring to the table. For high school students, it replaces the "professional summary" that experienced workers use.

A strong objective statement hits three points: your current status (high school student, grade level), what kind of role you want, and one or two qualities that make you a good fit. Keep it short and specific. Avoid vague statements like "looking for a job where I can grow." That tells the employer nothing.

Here are some examples that work:

See the pattern? Each one is specific, confident, and tailored to a type of job. When you're applying to different positions, adjust the objective to match. A resume you send to a pet store should look slightly different from one you send to a clothing shop.

Where High School Students Can Find Jobs in Canada

Knowing where to look is half the battle. Many teens only think of the obvious places like fast food restaurants and grocery stores. While those are great options, there are actually dozens of places hiring high school students across Canada. Here are the best places to start your job search:

• Youth Job Board Canada: Our job board is built specifically for students and young Canadians looking for entry-level and part-time positions.
• Canada Summer Jobs: A federal wage subsidy program that creates positions for youth aged 15 to 30. Thousands of employers participate each summer.
• Retail stores: Grocery chains (Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro), clothing shops (Old Navy, H&M), and big box stores (Walmart, Canadian Tire) regularly hire teens.
• Restaurants and cafes: Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Subway, and local restaurants often hire students aged 15 and up.
• Recreational facilities: Community centres, swimming pools, and summer camps need lifeguards, camp counsellors, and front desk staff.
• Local businesses: Walk into small businesses in your neighbourhood with a printed resume. Independent shops, salons, and offices sometimes hire teens who show initiative.
• Government of Canada Job Bank: The federal Job Bank has a dedicated youth section with listings across every province.

Before you start applying, make sure you know the legal working age in your province. Rules vary from province to province. In Alberta, you can start working at 13, while in British Columbia, the general minimum is 16 with some exceptions for light work at 14. Ontario allows most jobs at 14, and Quebec has no set minimum age but requires parental consent for those under 14. For a complete breakdown of getting started, read our guide on how to get your first job.

Common Mistakes High School Students Make on Resumes

When the job market is this competitive, you can't afford easily avoidable errors. Here are the most common mistakes teens make on their resumes, and how to fix them:

1. Using an unprofessional email address. "coolgamer_xo@hotmail.com" won't impress anyone. Create a simple firstname.lastname@gmail.com address just for job applications.
2. Including a full home address. Your city and province are enough. Listing your full street address is a privacy risk and isn't necessary for a part-time application.
3. Writing "References available upon request." This takes up space and everyone knows it already. Leave it off entirely.
4. Going over one page. As a high school student, you don't need more than one page. If you're running long, cut the weakest content.
5. Using a generic resume for every job. Tailor your objective and skills to each position. A resume for a pet store job should highlight different things than one for a restaurant.
6. Forgetting to proofread. Spelling and grammar errors signal carelessness. Read your resume out loud, use spell check, and have someone else review it.
7. Listing duties instead of accomplishments. Don't write "responsible for stacking shelves." Write "organized and restocked inventory across 4 aisles during each volunteer shift."
8. Adding a photo. In Canada, resumes don't include photos. It's not expected and it takes up valuable space.
9. Using multiple fonts and colours. Stick to one clean font and black text. Creativity on a resume should come from your content, not your design.

Read through your resume one final time with fresh eyes. Better yet, wait a day and then review it. You'll catch things you missed the first time around.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put babysitting on my resume?

Absolutely. Babysitting is real work that involves responsibility, time management, safety awareness, and communication with clients (the parents). List it under your experience section with bullet points describing what you did. Include details like the number of children, their ages, and how often you worked. Employers recognize this as legitimate experience.

How long should a high school student resume be?

One page. Always one page. You're early in your career and that's perfectly fine. A single, well-organized page with targeted content is far more effective than two pages of filler. Hiring managers will appreciate that you've kept things concise and relevant.

Should I include my GPA on my resume?

If your GPA is strong (generally 80% or above), yes, include it. It shows academic discipline. If it's average or below, leave it off. No one will ask why it's not there, and it's better to focus on other strengths. You can also mention honours roll, academic awards, or specific courses that relate to the job.

What if I genuinely have nothing to put on my resume?

Start building experience now. Volunteer at a local food bank or community event, even for a single afternoon. Join a school club. Offer to tutor a neighbour's kid. Take a free online course through platforms like Coursera or Khan Academy. Within a few weeks, you'll have enough material for a solid resume. Everyone starts somewhere.

Do I need a cover letter too?

For most part-time teen jobs, a cover letter isn't required. However, if the job posting asks for one, or if you're applying to a competitive position, a brief three- to four-paragraph cover letter can help you stand out. Keep it simple: introduce yourself, explain why you're interested in the role, highlight one or two strengths, and thank them for their time.

Your first resume doesn't need to be perfect. It needs to be honest, clean, and specific enough to show an employer that you're worth an interview. Every working adult started right where you are now, staring at a blank page, wondering what to write. The fact that you're reading this guide means you're already a step ahead. Put in the effort, ask for feedback, and don't be afraid to apply even if you feel underqualified. You might surprise yourself. Start browsing opportunities on Youth Job Board Canada today and put that resume to work.