Résume or Bio? The Ultimate Guide for Young Entrepreneurs in 2025
Are you a young entrepreneur or gig worker and wondering about your resume? How young is too young to start building one? Should it even be a resume or more of a biography? This guide will walk you through the best approach based on your age, helping you steer your voyage in the exciting world of publicizing your skills and experience.
Table of Contents
Ages up to 15: Building Blocks of a Professional Presence
Ages 15-18: From Resume to Portfolio
Ages 19-22: The Formal Resume Takes Center Stage
Cleaning Up Your Social Media: A Must-Do
Conclusion: Your Journey to Professional Success Starts Now
Ages Up to 15: Building Blocks
Kids under 15 years old can compile a “functional,” skills-based document. Infographic pages showing skill charts and awards or an online website portfolio to build off of and show progression. These can be a good start for teaching appropriate presence online for school, extracurricular activities, and work. Add school experiences and achievements instead of a traditional resume. Here are some activities and elements to include-
Volunteer Work: Detail any volunteer experiences with organizations, including the organization's name, the type of work performed, and the duration of involvement. Include any specific projects they contributed to, highlighting skills learned and the impact on the community.
Educational Achievements: List any awards or recognitions received at school, such as honor roll, spelling bee titles, field day, county fair, or science fair accolades. Mention participation in clubs, like Boy or Girl Scouts, sports teams, or extracurricular activities. Describe roles taken, responsibilities held, and key takeaways.
Skill Development: Identify skills acquired through hobbies or interests, like smartphones or PC, digital tools used in school, music lessons, sports, coding, or art classes. Provide examples of projects or performances. If applicable, highlight certifications achieved, such as swimming lessons or First Aid training.
Personal Projects: Document any individual or group projects completed, such as community clean-ups, bake sales for charity, or homemade crafts for fundraisers. Provide descriptions and outcomes.
References: Consider including letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, or community leaders who can speak to the child's character and contributions.
Creative Elements: Incorporate creative components like brief reflective writings, photos of projects, or artwork. This adds a personal touch and demonstrates creativity.
Future Goals: Write a short statement about interests or dreams for the future, such as potential career aspirations or goals for personal growth.
This portfolio can be a practical tool for kids to reflect on their experiences and prepare for future opportunities.
Ages 15-18: From Résume to Portfolio
You've likely accumulated more experience by now, perhaps through part-time jobs, volunteer work, or significant personal projects. This is where a basic teenager's resume starts to become relevant. However, don't feel pressured to create a lengthy document. A concise resume highlighting key accomplishments and skills works best. Consider a combination of -
A simple resume emphasizing skills and achievements (even if those achievements are personal projects).
An online portfolio showcasing your best work. This could be your primary showcase for potential clients or employers.
LinkedIn profile enhancement: Add more details, skills, and recommendations.
Ages 19-22: The Formal Résume Takes Center Stage
Your anticipated first resume can now be filled with a more comprehensive work history. It’s time to craft a robust, professional resume.
Chronological or functional resume format (choose the one that best highlights your experience).
Quantifiable achievements: Instead of saying "Managed social media," say "Increased social media engagement by 25% in three months."
Tailoring your resume to each job application.
Professional references. LinkedIn Makeover, Portfolio, and building your network across the world.
Cleaning Up Your Social Media: A Must-Do
Regardless of your age, remember to clean up your social media accounts. Recruiters, employers and clients frequently check online profiles. Ensure your accounts reflect a professional image.
Reviewing your posts and photos for anything potentially inappropriate or unprofessional.
Adjusting your privacy settings to control what's visible.
Considering creating separate professional and personal accounts.
Conclusion: Your Journey to Professional Success Starts Now
Starting a résume is less about age and more about having something to put on it. Focus on education, volunteer work, building skills, taking on projects (even small ones), and documenting your accomplishments. Whether it's a simple online portfolio or a detailed resume, presenting yourself professionally and showcasing your talents is key. The earlier you start, the better prepared you’ll be for future opportunities! Remember, your journey to professional success starts now. Contact Oceanviewresumes.com LLC to start your writing projects now.