Skip to main content
25 answers
24
Asked 1451 views

What can I do to build on my resume as an 8th grader?

What can I do to build on my resume as an 8th grader?

Hello! My name's Neil and I really need help.

I'm in 8th grade but I feel like I am kind of falling behind on the whole resume thing, so I was wondering if it's possible to get internships as an 8th grader for Business Administration or something along the lines of that! I have some experience but honestly still stuck..

Thanks!


24

25 answers


1
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Chloe’s Answer

Hey Neil! You are way ahead of the game! Congratulations on thinking ahead.

The first piece of advice I would give you is to remember that no one is expecting an 8th grader to have experience in a professional field like business administration. If these are things that you are really interested, consider joining some clubs related to the field in high school. My high school had clubs like DECA, mock trial, and econ challenge competitions. If you don't have these clubs at your school, see if you can start a chapter!

Outside of school, be sure to participate in things that make Neil NEIL. Play sports, hone your art skills, find a part-time job you love (or at least helps you to make a little money for the future). Enjoy your time pre-college as much as you can!

Hope this helps.
1
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Cathy’s Answer

Hi Neil - As others have said, you’re definitely ahead of the curve by looking for an internship in 8th grade. Instead, I’d recommend focusing on extracurricular activities you genuinely enjoy, along with local volunteer opportunities. Those experiences often help students stand out when they apply to college. I know many people who found internships by going that route. It’s a great way to meet people, give back to your community, and explore what interests you.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Tim’s Answer

Hi Neil! Let's strip away all the generic, textbook resume advice. It is totally valid to feel stressed about this, but let's be real: you are in 8th grade, and the fact that you even know what "Business Administration" means puts you miles ahead of most adults.

Since you cannot legally get a corporate desk job yet, we are going to build your business resume using the things you actually have control over right now.

Here is how you can uniquely stand out without sounding like every other generic resume template out there.

Create Your Own "Internship"

If no one will hire you, hire yourself. Business administration is just a fancy term for managing people, projects, and money.
• The "Neighborhood Operations" Route: If you have ever cut a lawn, watched a pet, or helped a neighbor, you are not just a helper—you are a Managing Director. Write down how you handle scheduling, how you set prices, and how you convince people to hire you over someone else. That is marketing and operations.
• The "Micro-Consultant" Route: Do you have parents, older siblings, or aunts/uncles with small businesses, side hustles, or busy office jobs? Ask them if you can shadow them or take over one annoying task for them, like sorting their digital files, organizing a spreadsheet, or clean-coding data. Boom—you have your first "Administrative Assistant" role.

Game the System with School Clubs

When you hit high school, do not just join clubs to put them on paper. Join them to run them.
• Find a chapter of DECA or FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America).
• Do not just sit in the meetings. Volunteer to be the secretary, the social media manager, or the treasurer.
• Managing a $200 budget for a middle school club or organizing a school bake sale uses the exact same administrative skills as managing a project at Google.

Build Your Tech Stack

If a company looks at an 8th grader's resume, they want to see that you can do things older people are too slow to learn. Spend 15 minutes a week learning tools that businesses actually use:
• The Spreadsheet Flex: Skip the basic word processors. Go to YouTube and learn how to do a VLOOKUP or create a Pivot Table in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. A 14-year-old who actually understands data spreadsheets is a powerhouse.
• The Project Tool Flex: Play around with free project management apps like Notion or Trello to organize your own schoolwork or life. Listing these under a "Technical Skills" section makes your resume look incredibly modern.

Your Secret Weapon: The "Projects" Section

Since you do not have a traditional 9-to-5 work history, replace the "Work Experience" section on your resume with a "Selected Projects" section. This is where you talk about the hardest thing you've built, organized, or managed. It could be a massive school presentation where you kept 4 classmates on track, a charity drive you helped run, or even a highly organized gaming server you manage.

You are doing great, Neil!! Don't let the pressure get to you!!
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Kim’s Answer

It's great that you're thinking about this in 8th grade! You don't need to have all the answers yet. Just try new things, get involved, and find out what you like. If business interests you, consider joining clubs, volunteering in your community, and taking on leadership roles. Communication and public speaking are super important, so try activities or classes that help you get better at speaking in front of people.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Ammara’s Answer

Focus on building people skills, teamwork, and time management. Join a club, play a sport, take on a leadership role in school. Those experiences teach you how to work with others, manage your time, and communicate, which are honestly the foundation of any business career.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Lisa’s Answer

I wouldn't worry so much about getting a job in something related to business at this point. Any job or volunteer opportunity is going to teach you valuable skills, when I was in high school and through college I worked at a library, the Gap, an amusement park, and as a temp doing data entry and reception. I took something from each of these experiences and was able to leverage them when I graduated to show the soft skills that I learned that would be valuable in my field. Even now as a Senior Manager in a large consulting firm I look back to my time working at the amusement park frequently and some of the skills I learned there like how to talk down an upset parent are some of the skills I still use the most today (now with upset executives instead of parents ;). So just get experience!
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Quyen’s Answer

Great job planning for the future! It's important to focus on school and spend time with your friends and family. This is a special time to make lasting memories. If my kids asked for advice, I'd suggest similar things: try volunteering, maybe at a summer camp with younger kids, or start a club at school. These are great ways to learn leadership skills. Remember to have fun and enjoy what you learn along the way!
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Brandon ’s Answer

It depends on the place, but formal internships typically start at the age of 16. The best opportunities that I could suggest would be to volunteer and places that interest you, but at your current age, its a little more complicated. I would suggest maybe contacting some locations that interest you and see if they would have opportunities for volunteering.
Thank you comment icon Thank you! I really appreciate that and it helps a lot. NEIL
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Grace’s Answer

When building your resume, think of it as a way to present your authentic self, not just a list of achievements. Start by reflecting on your strengths and areas of growth, because understanding both helps you shape a clearer picture of who you are and what you bring to the table. From there, highlight the experiences, skills, and qualities that best align with the kind of roles you want. The idea is to tailor your resume so it tells a meaningful story. One that shows employers not only what you have done, but also why you would be a strong fit for the job.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Chris’s Answer

Experience and hard work right now are important, but building the relationships and having someone(s) that can vouch for the work you did is what is most important and getting someone to take a chance on you. Showing an entrepreneurial spirit right now would also be good - think what businesses you could start on your own, and then have a story about how you scaled/grew that business. Lawn care, pressure washing, home organization, even selling candy/chips at school - all things you could easily start as an 8th grader. Once you have some successful jobs, people realize you're dependable, thats where you can get recommendations, referrals, and ultimately have people that can vouch for you as you branch off and try to get other jobs.

Hiring an 8th grader for businesses could be risky because they could perceive a lack of maturity, transportation issues, etc. Taking control of it yourself at this stage, showing your business journey and how you adapted are things that will help shape your resume as you build it for a career in business.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Carly’s Answer

Hey Neil! Your ambition is admirable and your mindset toward your future is encouraging. You'll have plenty of time for internships in the coming years. Right now, focus on your passions and honing your 'soft skills' that you can carry with you into a career! Get involved with your school through clubs and student government. Work with the PTSA and get involved with volunteering. Organizing events, coordinating with project leads and making suggestions on how events can impact you and your peers will allow you to gain experience working with others, how to effectively communicate, and time management. These can all be listed on your resume as you start to pursue internships later down the line. Best of luck to you, friend! I know you'll accomplish amazing things!
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Ethan’s Answer

Hi Neil! The fact you're in 8th grade and already thinking about gaining real-life experience means you are already ahead of the game! There are many different opportunities you can explore to start building your resume. As you will be entering high school soon, I would recommend joining clubs/organizations that help to develop soft skills such as public speaking, communication, problem solving, and working in a team setting. Another option is to get involved with student government. In your own time outside of school, you can start with simple business-related habits such as budgeting, managing your personal finances, and learning more about how businesses function in the real-world. Then as you make your way through high school, you can consider getting a part time job to gain some real-world working experience. All of the aforementioned serve to help you build soft skills and demonstrate that you are responsible, reliable, and consistent. It may seem challenging at first as you explore all these new areas but being a bit uncomfortable means that you are growing!
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Ben’s Answer

A lot of great answers above. I would echo many of them and say still very early so certainly don't feel pressure. Use the time to find your interests, volunteer and do charity work, etc. You can use these opportunities to potentially build skills and experience in areas that you may want to work down the line (e.g., interested in accounting, then volunteer to support financials for a non-profit). It is amazing how many opportunities at businesses and non-profits that are open to you when you say you are in school and willing to volunteer.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Kevin’s Answer

Don't worry, you are not falling behind. At this point in your life, I would focus on volunteering for charities or non-for-profit organizations. As you get into high school and turn 16 years old, you can begin looking for formal part-time jobs.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Shawn’s Answer

Whether you are building your resume for college or job hunting, you would want to show these things:
1) Being a self-starter, showing initiative
2) Being able to work independently
3) Showing leadership skills
4) Being able to work with people and in a team

Your choice of activities outside of school should show that. At 8th grade I suggest you find organizations that give you a chance to develop and prove these skills and when you get to 15 or 16, depending on your state, you can seek out internships which provide you with that experience. Your potential employer will be looking out for the above, and your volunteering may even open the internship through one of the adults in an organization you volunteer with. I would suggest organizations like the Scouts, rotary club or 4H might be good places to start.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Karen’s Answer

Good for you to be planning ahead! Keep in mind you have many years to build a resume and may end up with several careers in your lifetime. For now, think about your priorities in life such as having good relationships with family and friends, giving back to your community, having a strong faith life, etc. Then you can choose how you spend your time with purpose. You can gain skills and experience in many ways besides an internship.

Consider volunteering for a variety of organizations on a short-term basis -- serve meals to the hungry, help out at a marathon, offer to read a book to a special ed student at school, or elderly person at a living assisted facility. Keep notes on all the things you are doing and what you are learning and gaining from these experiences.

With every good wish and many blessings!
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Zell’s Answer

You're starting early on your resume, so no need to worry! Here are some fun things you can do besides focusing on school:

1. Join a club that interests you and get involved. You might even try for a leadership role like secretary or president. This idea works well in high school and college too.

2. Try volunteering. There are many options, so choose something you enjoy.

3. Start a small business. A lemonade stand is popular, but you could also wash cars, clean windows, or sell hot dogs.

4. Do part-time work like mowing lawns or cleaning garages. You'll earn some spending money and maybe start saving.

5. Talk to your parents, relatives, or teachers for more ideas. Many activities that boost your resume can also be fun and teach you valuable skills.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Jessica’s Answer

Everything you do will build your resume, whether it's something you want on there or not! Remember, your resume is your receipt for the transactions you have made with others. Being consciously aware of all of your interactions with people is one very small way to start building your reputation. Think: "Would I want someone I like and respect to know I did/said this?" Being trustworthy, never using excuses (no one says "It's not fair" as an adult, because by then, we all know that's just how life works), and good manners are things we all hear about from our parents, but there's a reason. If someone knows they can leave you with a job and you are going to get it done, they will give you more trust and more opportunities to grow. Ask for help when you need it, but if someone does help you, you had better be doing most of the work to honor their contributions to your success.
I listed a couple of next steps that I think will not only look good on a resume, but are things every young person should look into for their own personal growth. Above all, in this day and age, be IMPECCABLE with your presence online. The internet is forever, and the way you conduct yourself now might come back to haunt you in the future.

Jessica recommends the following next steps:

Learn a language. Learn 4 languages! Being multilingual is not just a marketable skill, it opens doors for travel that most people never experience!
Do you like to play any sports? If so, oftentimes there are opportunities to officiate games for youth leagues. Not only is this great experience, but it teaches you more about a sport you like while building compassion for officiants who might make mistakes (like we all do).
This is the only time in your life where you can get a FREE education - so go talk to your guidance counselor about how to get college credit (I think it's called Middle College sometimes). If your school offers trade school opportunities, take them. Learning to build things, repair things, and figure out problems is a lifelong skill, and your brain is the most malleable it will ever be so cram everything in there that you can while it's free!
Learn to speak in public. Find a local Toastmasters club and practice giving speeches. The applications for this are numerous, but in general, it will help you become better at interviewing for jobs, negotiating with salesmen for major purchases, and teaching others.
Not free, but programs like Masterclass can help inspire you to figure out your passions. It also shows you how to look at the world from different perspectives.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Marty’s Answer

Hi, Neil -

Interesting that you're building a resume in the 8th grade - that's very ambitious.

Hiring managers look for many things - not just hard skills, but one's interests, aptitude and humanity. I'd recommend doing what you love to do, maybe it's sports, or cooking, maybe it's volunteering your time for a cause that interests you, maybe it's learning something outside of your school curriculum.
Whatever you decide to pursue, it will add personality and adaptability to your job search. Good luck -
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Vianne’s Answer

By thinking about your future early, you're already ahead of many others. You're not behind at all. 8th grade is an ideal time to explore and take things slow. If you're interested in business, start small and enjoy the process. Join clubs, get involved in student government, help with school events, or start small projects like organizing activities or learning about money and budgeting. You don't need internships just yet.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Jay’s Answer

Hey Neil! First -- you are absolutely NOT falling behind. Seriously. Most 8th graders aren't thinking about this at all, so the fact that you're asking puts you ahead, not behind.

Can you get a formal internship in 8th grade? Honestly, probably not a traditional one -- most internships require you to be 16+ for legal and insurance reasons. But that doesn't mean you're stuck.

Things you CAN do right now that actually build a resume:

1. Get experience informally
* Offer to help a local small business, family friend's business, or neighborhood shop -- even just organizing, social media, or running errands
* Start something small yourself -- a lawn care gig, tutoring younger kids, selling something online. Entrepreneurship at any scale counts. AI can help.

2. School-based options
* Join or start a business/finance club
* Run for student government (leadership + organization = business skills)
* Help organize a school fundraiser or event

3. Learn real skills
* Free courses on Google, Khan Academy, or Coursera look great and teach actual things
* Learn basic Excel or Google Sheets
* Look up "Google Career Certificates" -- some are free

The honest truth about resumes at your age: What matters most right now isn't an impressive title -- it's showing initiative, curiosity, and follow-through. Those three things, demonstrated in small ways, tell a future employer or college everything.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Nicholas’s Answer

Hi Neil,

It's great that you're already thinking about building a strong resume in 8th grade. Here's some advice based on my own experiences:

1. Stay Curious: Keep asking questions to better understand your interests and goals. You're already doing well by seeking advice on this forum.

2. Find Your Interests: I learned about landscaping by doing yard work, which later became a small business in high school. Find something you enjoy and get involved. If business interests you, explore areas where you might want to work. You don't need to have everything figured out, but asking questions helps a lot.

3. Say Yes to Opportunities: When chances come your way, try to get involved as much as you can.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Trina’s Answer

It's amazing that you're already thinking about this as an eighth grader! You're ahead of the game, and your eagerness to learn will really benefit you. As you get ready for high school, here are some ways to start building a strong resume:

1. Focus on Academic Achievements and Courses
Even without job experience, your education is your biggest asset.
- Key Courses: List any advanced or special courses like honors, AP, or electives that match your interests.
- Accomplishments: Mention honor roll, science fair awards, or high grades in tough subjects.

2. Join School Clubs, Sports, and Activities
Extracurriculars show teamwork, dedication, and time management.
- Get Involved: Join clubs, sports teams, debate leagues, or student government.
- Seek Leadership: Try to take on leadership roles like club secretary or team captain to show initiative.

3. Volunteer in Your School and Community
Volunteering is a great way to build your resume without formal work experience.
- Local Opportunities: Volunteer at places like food banks, libraries, or animal shelters.
- School Initiatives: Help tutor younger students or assist with school events.

4. Get a Part-Time Job or Do Informal Work
Having a job shows maturity and responsibility.
- Traditional Part-Time Work: Depending on your age, consider jobs in retail, tutoring, or as a camp counselor.
- Entrepreneurial Work: Jobs like babysitting, lawn mowing, or pet sitting are valuable. You can list these as self-employed roles where you managed your own schedule and clients!
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Snehapriya’s Answer

Don't worry too much about having a great resume in 8th grade. As you gain more experiences, your resume will naturally improve. I suggest joining as many school clubs as you can. Try to take on leadership roles and put effort into your activities.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Vianne’s Answer

8th grade is still super early, so you don’t need to stress about internships yet. Most people don’t get those at your age, so don’t feel like you’re missing anything. What you can do right now is build little “resume habits” like joining student government, clubs, or helping out with school events so you get used to leadership and teamwork.

If you’re interested in business, you can also start small with things like volunteering, learning basic money skills (saving, budgeting), or even running a simple project like organizing something in your community or school. It doesn’t have to be big at all. just showing consistency, responsibility, and interest over time is what will really help you later on.
0