How to Write a Resume for a Part-Time Job | Guide for 2025

Is a Resume Necessary for a Part-Time Job?

Yes, you absolutely need a resume for any part-time job you apply for, even the ones that seem "casual."

Even part-time positions at supermarkets, cafes, or your local restaurant require resumes. As an essential part of the job application package, not submitting one is a huge red flag.

Plus, many part-time positions now use online application platforms that specifically ask for your resume, so you literally can't complete the application without one.

That being said, there are a few exceptions. These are typically jobs you get through personal connections, such as:

• Babysitting for your neighbors
• Helping a relative with their small business
• Working for a family friend

But even then, having a resume shows initiative and professionalism.

Keep in mind that part-time jobs are often stepping stones to better opportunities down the line. For example, a sales associate who impresses their manager with a polished resume might get promoted to a supervisor position faster once they go full-time.

Part-Time Job Resume Example

That’s a great example of a student resume for a part-time job at a bakery.

Let’s break down what it does right:

• Reverse-chronological format. This format still works well even without work experience because the candidate’s most recent and relevant activities, like education and extracurriculars, take center stage.
• Relevant contact details. The resume includes only the essentials, such as full name, city, phone number, and email address, and links to relevant public profiles like a baking-themed personal blog.
• Engaging resume objective. The candidate uses this space to show personality and enthusiasm for the role, proving why they’re perfect for the job.
• Bullet points for clarity. Key achievements and responsibilities are listed as bullet points to keep the resume easy to skim and visually appealing.
• Smart use of extracurriculars. With no formal work experience, the resume leans on extracurricular activities and volunteering to showcase transferable skills.
• Leveraged optional sections. Adding hobbies, interests, and a language section helps round out the candidate’s profile and make them more memorable, especially for a customer-facing job.
• Efficient use of space. Rather than leaving unused white space, the candidate fills the page with optional sections, such as languages and hobbies, giving more insight into their personality and strengths.

7 Steps to Write a Resume for a Part-Time Job

You know what a great part-time resume looks like, so now it’s time to write your own!

Get started by following these steps:

#1. Choose the Best Format

Every great resume needs a strong foundation, and your part-time job resume is no different.

You can pick from three different resume formats to get started:

• Reverse-chronological (also called the chronological format)
• Functional (also called skill-based format)
• Combination (a mix of the chronological and functional formats)

For 99% of part-time job applications, we recommend choosing the reverse-chronological format for your resume. This is the most popular format worldwide, so it’s what hiring managers expect to see.

Most importantly, this format highlights your most recent work experience, education, and achievements, keeping your resume relevant.

Here's what the reverse-chronological resume format looks like:

#2. Adjust Your Layout

Once your resume’s format is all set, you have to perfect your resume’s layout.

Here’s how to make sure your part-time job resume is professional and reader-friendly:

• Set the margins. The margins on your resume should be one inch on all sides to keep things tidy. Anything above or below that will make your resume look empty or cluttered.
• Adjust the line spacing. The line spacing also affects whether your resume looks neat or messy. Use the standard 1.0 spacing between text and 1.15 after subheadings and section titles.
• Pick a professional font. Always choose a font that's easy to read and professional but not overused. So, Comic Sans and Times New Roman aren’t a good choice here. Go for Roboto, Lora, or Ubuntu instead.
• Fit it on one page. The perfect part-time job resume is one page long, so make sure yours doesn't spill over to page two. This is especially important since hiring managers scan resumes quickly.
• Export it as a PDF. Unless specified otherwise by the employer, always save and send your resume as a PDF. That way, you can be sure that your resume won't change regardless of what device or operating system the hiring manager opens it on.

Or Use a Professional Resume Template

You’re looking for a part-time job, but creating your resume from scratch can feel like full-time work.

You have to build the entire layout, including tweaking the margins and line spacing, trying out different font styles and sizes, and all while keeping everything on a single, neat page.

Why not skip all this hassle and go straight to filling out your resume’s contents?

Just use any of our professional free resume templates.

Each template is designed in close collaboration with HR experts, which guarantees that your part-time job resume will be ATS-friendly, professional, and visually striking.

Here’s how one of our templates compares to a standard text editor template:

#3. Add Your Contact Information

You can complete the contact information section quickly, but you have to get it absolutely right.

Here’s what to include:

• Full Name. (E.g., Jordan Reyes)
• Job Title. Use a title or phrase that reflects the position you want. For example, “Part-Time Retail Associate” or “Customer Service Assistant.”
• Phone Number. Include your area code and country code if you’re applying internationally.
• Email Address. Use a professional email address, ideally some variation of your first and last name. Avoid nicknames or anything quirky and unprofessional. (e.g., jordan.reyes@gmail.com is good but jordantheviking@yahoo.com is not.)
• Relevant Online Links (Optional). This can be a LinkedIn profile, a portfolio site, or even a social media page related to your interests or skills, as long as it adds value.
• Location. Your city and state (or country) are enough. If you are open to relocation or remote work, state this clearly in your contact information, resume summary, or cover letter.

So far, so good, right?

The key is to make sure everything here is accurate. That means no typos in your name, phone number, or email.

Employers want candidates who pay attention to detail and can follow basic professional standards. Not to mention that if you don’t get this section right, the hiring manager might not be able to contact you at all. 

Let’s look at some examples:

#4. Write a Compelling Resume Headline

Your resume’s headline, whether it’s a summary or an objective, is your first chance to catch the hiring manager’s eye. Just like a storefront window that invites customers inside, your headline should make them want to learn more about you.

This short, three- to four-sentence paragraph, placed at the top of your resume, gives a quick snapshot of who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you’re a strong fit for the role. It’s your opportunity to stand out and encourage the reader to keep going.

There are two main approaches depending on your experience level:

• Resume Summary. If you have some work experience, use a summary to highlight your key skills, accomplishments, and what you’ve done in previous roles that are relevant to the job.
• Resume Objective. If you’re new to the workforce, a student, or changing careers, an objective lets you focus on your goals, strengths, and any relevant education or volunteer work.

In practice:

Even if you don’t have formal work experience, a well-crafted resume objective can highlight your potential and enthusiasm, and make hiring managers excited to meet you.

#5. List Work Experience

We’ve come to the most important section of any resume – the work experience section.

This is the first thing hiring managers read after your header, so it can make or break your job application.

Here’s how to format this section correctly:

• Use reverse-chronological order. List your most recent experience first and go backward from there.
• Use accurate job titles. Be clear about the roles you’ve had, and avoid exaggerations or buzzwords.
• Include employer details. Provide the company or organization’s name and location. If it’s not well-known, add a brief description to give some context.
• Specify employment dates. Use a consistent mm/yyyy format for all your roles to clearly show when you worked there.
• Highlight responsibilities and achievements. Use bullet points to describe your daily tasks and any accomplishments. For recent roles, include up to six points, but older roles can have as few as two or three.

Those are the basics, but if you want your experience to really stand out, it’s worth going the extra mile.

To rise above other applicants competing for the same position, try these tips:

• Focus on achievements. Set yourself apart with your accomplishments. This way, the employer will see how you made a difference or improved a process.
• Include numbers. Quantifying your impact gives you credibility. Include figures like how many customers you helped, sales you contributed to, or time you saved.
• Tailor your experience to the job. Read the job description and highlight the skills and achievements most relevant to what the employer wants.
• Use strong action verbs. Replace vague phrases like “responsible for” or “worked on” with powerful verbs like “coordinated,” “led,” “improved,” or “organized” to create a more dynamic and confident impression.

Let’s see an example for a stay-at-home parent returning to work:

What If I Don’t Have Work Experience?

As important as this section is, it’s going to look very different depending on your professional level.

If you’re jumping back into the workforce after a pause, you could even turn your employment gap into a place to highlight new skills and experiences. 

But if you’re a first-time job seeker, like a high school student, you can swap this section out and instead highlight volunteering, academic projects, and extracurricular activities, showing your potential and work ethic.

Instead of paid jobs, list:

• Volunteer roles (e.g., food bank helper, event assistant)
• School projects that show responsibility, leadership, or relevant skills
• Extracurricular activities that highlight teamwork, organization, or commitment

Let’s look at an example:

#6. Mention Your Education

Depending on your level of experience, education may not be the most important part of your resume.

If you already have relevant work experience, keep your education section brief and focused on your most recent qualifications. Hiring managers generally care more about what you’ve done on the job, your skills, and your accomplishments.

Here’s how to list your education clearly:

• Degree or Diploma Name. (e.g., High School Diploma, Associate Degree in Business Administration)
• School or Institution Name. (e.g., Lincoln High School, State Community College)
• Location (optional). (e.g., Minneapolis, MN)
• Dates Attended. Use a consistent mm/yyyy format to keep things uniform. (e.g., 08/2018 – 06/2022)

However, if you’re a recent graduate or still in school, you might also want to add relevant coursework, projects, or academic achievements that relate to the job you’re applying for. This can help demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm, especially if you lack work experience.

Here’s an example:

#7. Emphasize Your Skills

Your skills section is one of the most important parts of your resume. It shows potential employers exactly what you can do, be it specific technical know-how or strong personal qualities like teamwork and communication skills.

That said, you don’t need to list every skill you have. Focus on the skills most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a retail associate position, listing your experience with customer service and cash registers is more important than your Photoshop skills.

Follow these tips for a strong skills section:

• Match the employer’s needs. Carefully read the job posting and highlight the skills they’re looking for. Include those you have in your resume and give examples of how you’ve used them in your work experience or other sections.
• Keep your skills current. Industries and job requirements change over time. Make sure your skills reflect any new tools, technologies, or best practices relevant to your field.
• Separate hard and soft skills. List your technical or job-specific skills (hard skills) separately from interpersonal or personal qualities (soft skills). This helps hiring managers quickly find what they need.

Let’s look at an example:

8 Tips for Your Part-Time Job Resume

Before you hit “send” on your resume, take a few extra minutes to make your application as strong and effective as possible.

These simple tips can increase your chances of standing out and landing the part-time job you’re after:

1. Keep it concise and easy to scan. Hiring managers don’t have a lot of time to spare. Use bullet points, clear section headings, and white space to highlight your most important skills and experiences.
2. Clearly state your availability. Include your preferred work schedule right in your contact info or summary. Something like “Available evenings and weekends” helps employers know upfront if your schedule matches their needs.
3. Customize each application. Part-time jobs can be very different from one another. Whether it’s retail, food service, tutoring, or remote work, tailor your resume to reflect the specific skills and qualities the job ad is looking for.
4. Make your resume ATS-friendly. Most employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to filter resumes before the hiring manager even sees them. Use standard headings, incorporate keywords from the job description, and save your resume as a PDF to breeze through the ATS.
5. Proofread carefully. Mistakes in spelling or grammar can leave a poor impression. Read your resume out loud, run spell-check, and ask a friend or family member to review it with you before submitting.
6. Add extra sections. Optional sections are a great way to make up for a lack of work experience. Volunteer work, school projects, extracurricular activities, and relevant hobbies all demonstrate initiative and skills employers appreciate.
7. Include a cover letter. Even for part-time positions, a short, focused cover letter can show professionalism and enthusiasm. Use it to explain why you want this specific job and why you’re the perfect fit for it.
8. Be ready for quick interviews. Part-time interviews often happen on short notice or even on the spot. Prepare by researching the company and practicing how you’ll explain why you want part-time work and how you’ll contribute.

Plug & Play Part-Time Job Resume Template

Not sure where to start your resume? No worries!

Just copy and paste our free part-time job resume template and swap the blanks for your information.

FAQs About Part-Time Job Resumes

Do you still have questions about writing a resume for a part-time job? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below.

Key Takeaways

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of our guide.

Now, before you go and land that perfect part-time job, let’s quickly recap what we discussed so far:

• Even casual positions at cafes, retail stores, and restaurants expect professional applications that include resumes, so you absolutely need to write one.
• Stick to a one-page resume with professional formatting, like one-inch margins and readable fonts, and export it as a PDF unless specified otherwise.
• Never write "no experience" on your resume, even if it’s an application for your first job. Instead, highlight volunteer work, school projects, extracurricular activities, and transferable skills from other areas of your life.
• Tailor each application for every job you’re applying to. Incorporate keywords from the job description and emphasize the most relevant skills and experiences you have.
• State your availability or preferred schedule clearly. You can sneak this into your contact information section or resume summary by adding something like "Available evenings and weekends."