Creating Your First Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students (Part 1)

Are you a high school student or career-seeker without a resume? While you might think that resumes are only for seasoned professionals, having a resume as early as high school can be a valuable tool for showcasing your skills and experiences.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating your first resume, and we’ll share how you can use Lightcast’s resume builder and your IndigoPathway results to make your resume shine!

1. Why a Resume Matters

A resume is your introduction to potential employers. It provides insights into your skills, talents, and experiences. Even if you don’t have any work experience yet, a resume allows you to highlight your achievements, both inside and outside the classroom.

2. Keep It to One Page

Your resume should be concise and to the point. Stick to one page to ensure that employers can quickly and easily learn about you and what you have to offer.

3. What to Include

Your resume should showcase your skills, work experience, volunteer experience, and your involvement in school or extracurricular activities.

4. Need Help Getting Started?

Creating descriptions for your experiences can be challenging, especially when you’re just starting. That’s where tools like Lightcast’s resume builder come in handy.

Note: It’s not free, but if you are looking for another option, ResumeNerd.com is a fantastic low-cost option.

5. Follow the Prompts

LightCast’s resume builder guides you through the steps and provides prompts to help you describe your skills and job-related experiences. Use their AI to help you fill out job duties and skills. Even if you aren’t sure what to say right now, choose multiple options that you can edit later.

6. Download Your Resume

Once you’ve filled it out, download your resume as a Word document. This will allow you to modify it or use the text in other resume templates.

7. Make It Look Great

To make your resume visually appealing, consider downloading a template from the web or download a free template from our partner Get Schooled.

Now you have a basic resume to get you started! Check out the second blog in this three part series to learn how you can use your IndigoPathway results to personalize your resume.

This blog post is a rebranded version of content originally published on Colorado Career Advising, now adapted and shared on IndigoPathway. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@indigopathway.com.