Resume for Summer Job: Guide to Landing Your Next Summer Job

Having a summer job is a cool thing though the summer is hot. Summer jobs are not just about earning money, but also about gaining experience and building confidence. Nevertheless, landing your dream summer job requires an attention grabbing resume for summer job.

It’s not just you. Your friends, colleagues, adults, students, everyone is trying for the best paid summer jobs. Other candidates might have previous experience, or professional skills than you do, making it challenging for you to land your dream job this summer.

Unless you want to be sat at home bored all summer, you need to create a professional resume to land you the job.

There is only one way to beat the competition and grab your next best opportunity. That is by writing a perfect student resume.

In this guide, you will learn the easy steps necessary to prepare impressive summer job resumes that would place you in the top 5% of candidates regardless of your level of experience.

Further, we will give you the pro tips to come up with perfect resume examples for your next summer job.

There are so many job openings as cashiers, waiters and waitresses, retail sales, childcare, and customer service every summer as these businesses are getting ready to accommodate the summer traffic.

Over 60% of all summer jobs are for cashiers and waiters according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The average salary for an employee in McDonald’s is $10 (Payscale.com).

With the minimum entry barriers for these jobs, more people are applying, making them competitive. Therefore, your resume will be a critical part of your summer employment.

How to make a Summer Job Resume

Writing a resume for a summer job is an organized task like working in a restaurant or completing your high school project report.

Start with these general guidelines:

• Your resume should be no more than one page
• Pick the most important keywords from the job posting
• Keep your writing brief and to the point
• Identify your strengths and prioritize them
• Follow a standard structure and layout

Summer recruitments make the hiring managers’ life difficult. On average, a hiring manager spends only around 5-10 seconds on a student resume.

How do they do that?

It is simple. They know exactly what to look for in a resume. From their first impression, they recognize the right resumes that should be shortlisted for an interview.

The right layout and the structure play a key role here.

The layout of the Summer Job Resume

The layout is the first step in writing a resume. The rest is about filling in the information. This is the layout we recommend for summer jobs.

• Name and contact information on the header
• Professional Summary/ Objective summary
• Work experience (if any)
• Education
• Skills
• Additional sections (skills certifications, languages, interests)

You can use this layout to create your own summer job resume template or try one of our ready-made templates here. You can create a stunning summer job resume using our resume builder.

The structure of the Summer Job Resume

There are three types of standard resume structures.

• Functional (skills)
• Reverse Chronological (traditional)
• Hybrid (combination resume)

For a summer job resume, we recommend using a reverse chronological structure if you have previous experience for the job you apply for. In this, your most recent experience will be listed first and the rest will be listed backwards.

However, if you are applying for a summer job as your first job, you may even write a functional resume or a combination resume for that matter.

You should prioritize the skills section of a functional resume and align your experience and expertise with each skill. If you want to learn more information about different resume formats and choose one, read this resume formatting guide.

Start with the Header of the Summer Job Resume

In your summer resume header, you should include your name and contact information. Contact information is vital in any resume. This is the only place they look into if they want to contact you for an initial phone interview or to ask you to come over for an interview.

Therefore, double check your header before hitting the send button.

Example of a header / Example of a bad header for Summer Job

CORRECT

Emilia Stones

emalistones@gmail.com

+1 256 89 56 97

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emalir

INCORRECT

Emilia Stones

emalilove@gmail.com

+1 256 89 56 97

101, main street, apt 76,

Washington DC

USA

While writing your resume header for the next summer job, keep these points in mind:

• Start the header with your name and job title
• Use a professional looking email
• State a direct phone line to contact you. A mobile number preferred
• Put the link to your Linkedin account

Is a photo required in the Summer Job Resume?

Unless there is a specific reference to attaching a photo in the job advertisement, you will not be required to attach one. In most cases, organizations do not request a photograph.

The majority of US companies strictly prohibit the attachment of a photo to a resume on grounds of discrimination.

Therefore, it is best to avoid including a photo on your resume.

Professional summary for Summer Job

This is an important part of your summer job resume especially if you do not have much industry experience. Consider this as the text version of your sales pitch to the hiring manager.

Writing a professional summary of a resume is always challenging. A professional summary or objective summary for a summer job would be super challenging. Because your objective could be just to earn an extra buck for this summer.

There is a right way and a wrong way to write a summary for your summer job resume. Check these out:

INCORRECT

A student reading for bachelor’s looking to join a restaurant to earn an extra income for this summer

CORRECT

An experienced, organized, and flexible student with a strong focus on customer service and impressive time management skills looking forward to working in the restaurant industry. Completed dining etiquette course in the high school in 2020.

Although your first statement is more accurate as you intend to earn an extra income in the summer, that is an incorrect statement for a resume. Your recruiter wants the ideal candidate who is passionate about the position.

Work Experience in the Summer Job Resume

Your work history is the easiest way to put yourself ahead of the other applicants as for most of the candidates, this would be their first job. However, if you have worked in different jobs in previous years, that could be quite an advantage.

We will also show you how to write your experience section even if you have no working experience. Sounds strange right?

Writing the experience section is an art. It is not about what you have actually done. It is more about how you write them and how you define them in the resume.

Describe your professional experiences on your Summer Job Resume

You can use the following guidelines to describe your professional experience on your resume:

• Exemplify your accomplishments with numbers
• Your experiences should be listed in reverse chronological order
• Give more space to the latest or more relevant experience
• Comply with the job description

Examples of professional experiences for Junior Summer Job

INCORRECT

April 2019 to Nov 2019

JKH Pizzeria

Waitress

• Served customers well
• Taking phone calls and processing orders
• Provide guests with information about the offers
• Arranged restaurant tables and seated guests
• Carried out routine cleanups

CORRECT

April 2019 to Nov 2019

JKH Pizzeria

Waitress

• Taking more than 10 dining reservations per day over the phone
• Increased customer satisfaction by 20%
• Created social media promotional campaigns
• Scored 98% for menu knowledge
• Maintained great communication with the kitchen staff
• Worked together with JKH Pizzeria's staff and management to create an inviting atmosphere

In the case of an application for a summer job with little or no previous work experience, you should tailor your studies and other activities to match the requirements of the job posting.

Examples of work experience for a Senior Summer Job

INCORRECT

April 2019 to Nov 2020

MAX Burgers

• Guests seating arrangements
• Inspecting routines
• Handling cash registry
• Answered telephone calls
• Booked reservations
• Handled customer complaints

CORRECT

April 2019 to Nov 2020

MAX Burgers

• Handled the cash registry with responsibility
• Managed the computer system for taking down orders from customers
• Managed the capacity for the dining room with proper planning
• Contributed to a 20% increase in customer satisfaction and a 4.6/5 Google review score
• Reduced the lead time by training the junior staff on the food menu

If you have previous experience in summer jobs, you have a great chance of getting shortlisted. Highlight your achievements in the job and use numbers to emphasize them.

Education in the Summer Job Resume

Sometimes, to apply for a summer job, all you have is your education qualifications.

There is no defined set of qualifications for most jobs. However, depending on the company and the job position, the recruiter might expect a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree in any field.

Should you start with education or work experience for a Summer Job Resume?

If you are applying as a beginner with no previous experience, you may start with your education.

Nonetheless, your previous experience has more impact on the hiring manager's decision. Therefore, if you possess any experience related to the position you apply for, give it priority.

How to properly list your education in a Summer Job Resume?

Your education credentials should be presented in a consistent format. Our recommendations are in the following bullet points:

• Institution name and the degree
• Years of study
• Observations and learnings
• Academic achievements

Example of the education section of a Summer Job Resume

Skills to put in the Summer Job Resume

Regardless of the level of experience you possess, your skills section would be a vital part of your summer job resume.

According to career experts, most candidates make the mistake of listing generic skills in this section. Since most candidates do this the wrong way, this is your chance to make your resume stand out from the crowd. Go through the job advertisement to find out the relevant skills employers are looking for.

What are the main skills sought for in a Summer Job Resume?

There are two types of skills: soft skills and hard skills. You should list a mix of soft and hard skills on your resume. IT or computer skills can also be considered important for many jobs.

Soft Skills

• Communication skills
• Customer service skills
• Leadership skills
• Time management
• Listening skill
• Interpersonal skills
• High energy
• Teamwork
• Organized
• Attention to detail
• Flexibility
• Business intelligence

Hard Skills and IT skills: Easy to measure (specific)

• Greeting guests
• Typing speed
• Cleaning
• Technical skills
• Cash handling
• POS system maintenance
• Cleaning tables
• Taking phone calls
• Microsoft Excel
• General mobile and desktop application handling
• CRM system entry
• Adobe illustrator

What skills for a Junior Summer Job?

In the skills section, juniors should emphasize more operational skills. You should show your energy and enthusiasm for work by being a doer.

• Time management
• Teamwork
• Listening skill
• Interpersonal skills
• High energy
• POS system entries
• Greeting guests
• Cash handling

What skills for a qualified Senior Summer Job?

It is important for a senior to mention a mix of operational and managerial skills relevant to the position. Typically, a senior is someone who engages in work with a lot of energy and also assists their junior colleagues in completing their work in a timely and accurate manner.

• High energy
• Business intelligence
• Teamwork
• Work ethics
• People management
• Flexibility
• Taking professional phone calls
• Handling customer inquiries
• Microsoft excel

Additional Headings for your Summer Job Resume

The additional headings are a great way to display your best performance to a recruiter in a more visible fashion. This would be a positive surprise for the recruiter.

You can use this section to stand out from those boring resumes and be among the top 5% of the resumes that employers love.

Computer skills and certifications in a Summer Job Resume

Depending on the position you apply for and the industry, there will be different skills certifications.

For example, if you are applying for a position in a restaurant, there are certifications in customer service, hospitality management, and sales.

Most universities and institutions offer these courses. The best thing is some of these can be obtained online and some are even FREE.

Having relevant skill certifications would dramatically improve your resume.

The following IT and computer skill certificates would also be valuable additions:

• Microsoft Office Certification course
• Google Digital Garage

Interests in a Summer Job Resume

Having an interest section on your resume can add value if you do not have much field experience. When scanning your resume, the recruiter will look for interests aligned with the job requirements.

Languages in a Summer Job Resume

For your summer job resume, your language skills will come in handy. Read the job description carefully and identify the context of the position. For example, if you are applying for a restaurant that gets customers speaking different languages, you have a great chance of getting the job.

Summary: Key Points for Writing a Perfect Summer Job Resume

• Include your name and contact information in your heading
• Compose a powerful career objective or a professional summary
• Describe in detail what you have accomplished in your previous jobs
• Showcase your education in a consistent format
• Organize your skills section using a mix of soft skills and hard skills
• Take advantage of the additional headings on your resume to make it stand out
• Do a spell check before sending the resume

Write a Cover Letter That Goes With Your Summer Job Resume

Include a cover letter tailored to each position you apply for. The cover letter is your sales pitch to the employer.

State why you would be a great fit for the company and provide them with examples of how your experience and expertise would profit them this summer.

Check out our cover letter section of our website for guidance on writing a perfect cover letter.

Frequently Asked Questions for a Summer Job Resume

How do I write a summer job resume?

A summer job resume consists of the following headings:

• Name and contact information on the header
• Professional Summary/ Objective summary
• Work experience (if any)
• Education
• Skills
• Additional sections (skills certifications, languages, interests)

Check out our ready-made resume templates to make the process much easier.

​​Do I need a resume for a summer job?

Like for many other jobs, summer jobs need resumes. There is high competition for summer jobs from candidates with different levels of experience, skills, and expertise. Therefore, writing a compelling summer job resume is vital.

How do I write a resume with no job experience?

If you are writing a resume with no job experience, you should highlight your other strengths.

For example, if you have a good academic background, you could highlight that on your resume.

However, it is not recommended to keep your experience section blank even if you have no prior experience. Read the job advertisement and pick the keywords they expect in your experience section. Write about the relevant projects, volunteer work, and other school activities you have carried out in your school using those keywords.