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!
25 answers
Chloe’s Answer
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.
Cathy’s Answer
Tim’s Answer
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!!
Kim’s Answer
Ammara’s Answer
Lisa’s Answer
Quyen’s Answer
Brandon ’s Answer
Grace’s Answer
Chris’s Answer
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.
Carly’s Answer
Ethan’s Answer
Ben’s Answer
Kevin’s Answer
Shawn’s Answer
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.
Karen’s Answer
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!
Zell’s Answer
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.
Jessica’s Answer
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:
Marty’s Answer
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 -
Vianne’s Answer
Jay’s Answer
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.
Nicholas’s Answer
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.
Trina’s Answer
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!
Snehapriya’s Answer
Vianne’s Answer
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.