Start with evidence you already have
A first resume is not expected to contain years of employment. Its purpose is to show that you can learn, communicate and contribute to the role. Think about school projects, sport, caring responsibilities, community activities, volunteering and informal work. Identify what you actually did rather than using impressive labels. Organising equipment for a team might demonstrate preparation and reliability. Helping run a school event could show customer service or teamwork. You do not need to include private details about family circumstances to describe a relevant responsibility.
Make the important information easy to find
Use a clear name, a suitable email address and a phone number you can answer or check. Include your general location if relevant, but think carefully before publishing a full home address online. Organise the page with headings such as education, experience, skills and availability. A short introduction can explain the type of role you are seeking and one or two strengths supported elsewhere in the resume. Avoid filling space with decorative graphics that make the text difficult to read. Employers need to locate the useful details quickly.
Write examples instead of empty adjectives
Almost anyone can claim to be hardworking or a team player. Add a concrete action that supports the claim. “Prepared materials and tracked orders for a school market stall” says more than “excellent organisation skills.” If you have results you can accurately describe, include them, but do not invent numbers. Use ordinary verbs such as organised, assisted, checked and explained. Be precise about your role in a group project so the employer can understand what you personally contributed. Honest detail is more persuasive than a long list of generic strengths.
Adapt the resume to the job
Read the advertisement and identify the tasks, availability and skills it requests. Move the most relevant evidence higher on the page and remove material that does not help. For a retail role, communicating with customers and handling practical tasks may matter more than listing every school subject. For a junior technical role, a personal project may be relevant if you can explain what you built and learned. Match your language to the role without copying claims you cannot support. Save versions with clear names so you do not accidentally send an old application to a different employer.
Ask referees before naming them
A referee should know enough about your work or conduct to give a useful account. A teacher, coach, volunteer supervisor or previous employer may be suitable. Ask permission and tell them what kind of role you are applying for. Confirm their preferred contact details and whether they are comfortable being listed. Do not distribute someone’s number without consent. If an application allows referees to be supplied later, that can protect their details until needed. Keep them updated when an employer is likely to call so the request does not arrive unexpectedly.
Check accuracy and protect your information
Read the document aloud and ask someone reliable to check it for unclear sentences and spelling. Test that the file opens and has a sensible filename. Keep copies of the advertisement and what you submitted. You generally do not need to put identity document numbers, banking details or sensitive health information on a resume. Be wary if an unknown recruiter asks for those details before establishing a legitimate hiring process. Your first resume will improve as you gain experience. Send a clear, truthful version rather than delaying indefinitely while trying to make it look perfect. If your contact number has voicemail, make sure the greeting is clear and there is room for a new message.
Sources & further reading
These independent resources provide further information. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement of Youth Health.