10 hot resume tips

Creating a resume, especially if it's your first, can be tough. We'll answer the top 10 questions teens ask about resumes.

1. So... what is a resume anyway?
A resume is a list of your past work experience and skills. Your goal is to impress the hiring manager enough to give you an interview. Think of it as an advertisement for yourself.

2. How do I know what to put in my resume?
The essentials are: your name, address, phone number, email, education and relevant work experience. The key word is relevant. Don't mention every babysitting job and basketball trophy you've ever gotten. Think about what the employer wants to see and focus on just those things. Your resume should fit on one page.

3. What if I'm still working on my high school or college degree?
You can say something like:

Currently a junior at Idlewild High School

Bachelor of Arts in English anticipated June 2011

4. What if I never had any "real" paid jobs to include?
Even odd jobs are real jobs! Include them and give yourself a job title.
For example:

Child care provider, self-employed
Landscaping services (self-employed)

Be sure to add "Customer references available on request" and be prepared to provide contact information for people you worked for. First ask your references if it's okay to give out their phone number!

5. What if I don't have any work experience?
If you're applying for your first job, think about other relevant experience you may have. Have you ever volunteered for an organization? Helped out at your church? Watched your neighbors' pets while they were on vacation? Anything that shows you're responsible, motivated and hard-working.

6. No, seriously. I don't have anything to put on my resume. What do I do?
First, don't make anything up. That's just shady and you're going to get caught. The best way to get some quick experience is to do volunteer work. Pick an organization you're interested in that will let you develop some career-related skills. For instance, nonprofits are always looking for help in the office with answering phones and updating computer records.

7. What information do I include for each job?
Resume formats vary, but you should always include the position you held, name of employer, location of employer, and dates of employment. Like this:
Server
Crab House, Baltimore, Md.
January 2008-June 2009

Also list your job responsibilities and accomplishments, especially things you were in charge of. But be brief; don't write a book! Here's an example:

Provided excellent customer service in a fast-paced restaurant environment
Oversaw prep work for busy weekend dinner shift
Trained and mentored new hires

8. What if I got fired from my last job?
There's no need to mention it on the resume. Just be prepared to explain when you get to the interview. (And when that happens, don't talk trash about your old boss. Just say you didn't see eye-to-eye with the management.)

9. Do I need an objective on my resume?
Many people head their resume with a career objective that talks about their professional goals. Do teen job seekers need an objective? No. They really aren't necessary when you're applying for entry-level jobs. You can, however, use that space to say a little about yourself.

10. Do I need to print my resume on fancy paper?
Plain white paper will do. No colored inks or crazy fonts! Too much "creativity" gets you noticed - and sent straight to the "No" pile.

Take a look at this sample resume for teens.