A strong resume is essential for getting into the college or career you desire. A resume should be a reflection of who you are as a person and why an employer or college should want to get to know you better. Our experts have put together a quick but detailed guide on how to make sure your resume accurately reflects who you are.
Most people are familiar with the term “hard skills”, which refers to specific abilities or knowledge that can be learned and applied in a workplace setting. However, what many don’t realize is that these skills are just as important on a resume as they are in the real world. Here are some tips on ensuring your resume demonstrates your hard skills:
First, identify the hard skills that are relevant to the position or field you’re interested in. Then, list any experience you have that has helped you develop those skills. This could include coursework, internships, jobs, volunteer experiences, etc. Finally, provide concrete examples of how you have used those skills to achieve success.
Remember, employers and colleges want to see evidence that you have the hard skills they’re looking for. By following these tips, you can ensure your resume gives them a snapshot of your capabilities and accomplishments.
A guide to formatting your high school resume
There's a lot to think about when you're putting together your high school resume. What should you include? How should you format it? What are some common mistakes to avoid?
One of the most important things to keep in mind is that your resume should be a tool to help you achieve your goals. The resume should be specifically geared towards impressing colleges and employers with the relevant skills and experiences.
When creating a resume for jobs after high school, remember to use a simple and professional email address.
- Make sure your voicemail greeting is professional. This is one of the first impressions potential employers will have of you, so it's worth taking the time to get it right.
- Be selective about what you include on your LinkedIn profile or personal webstie. Stick to information that will showcase your skills and accomplishments in a positive light.
- Remember to highlight both your hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are specific abilities or knowledge related to a particular job or field of study. Examples might include programming languages, financial analysis, or project management. Soft skills, on the other hand, are more general interpersonal skills that can be useful in any number of jobs or industries. These might include communication, teamwork, or problem solving.
By following these tips, you can be sure that your high school resume will make a great impression on colleges and employers alike!
Objective Statement
As a high school student, you might not have much work experience. However, that doesn't mean you can't write a strong objective statement for your resume. An objective statement is a brief sentence that tells the employer or college what you want from the job or admission, how you are the best candidate, and how the company or college can help you reach your goals.
When writing your objective statement, make sure to include specific hard skills that are relevant to the position or program you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for a job as a cashier, mention that you have experience with handling money and providing excellent customer service. If you're applying for an engineering program, meanwhile, be sure to highlight any relevant coursework or projects you've completed. By including specific hard skills in your objective statement, you'll show employers or colleges that you have the ability to succeed in the role or program.
In addition to listing hard skills, it's also important to share your motivation for wanting the job or admission. What about this particular position or program interests you? How will it help you reach your long-term goals? Providing this information in your objective statement will give employers or colleges a better sense of who you are as a person and whether you're likely to be a good fit for the role or program.
Finally, don't forget to mention how the company or college can help you reach your goals. For instance, if you're hoping to gain more experience in customer service through your job as a cashier, let the employer know. Or if you're looking for a challenging engineering program that will push you to reach your full potential, be sure to mention that as well. By showing that you understand what the company or college can offer and how it can benefit you, you'll demonstrate your commitment to making the most of this opportunity.
At first, it may seem daunting writing an objective statemenet on High School resumes. However, by following these tips and tailoring your objective statement to each individual job or college application, you can craft a strong statement that will grab the attention of employers or admissions committees and help you stand out from the competition.
What to include in the education section of a high school resume
High school students should pay close attention to the education section of their resumes as it can be very important. This is where you can showcase your academic achievements and highlight any relevant coursework or extracurricular activities that may be of interest to a potential employer.
When listing your expected graduation date, be sure to include the month and year. If you have a weighted GPA, be sure to list both that and your unweighted GPA. Your class rank is also important to include, as well as your SAT or ACT score.
In terms of coursework, it's generally best to focus on any classes that are related to the field you're interested in pursuing. For example, if you're hoping to study engineering in college, including courses like physics and calculus on your resume would be a good idea. Leadership roles in clubs and sports can demonstrate your ability to take on responsibility and work well with others - both key skills in any workplace.
Finally, don't forget to mention any academic memberships or hard skills that you may have. These can range from being proficient in certain computer programs to being able to speak multiple languages. Including this information on your resume can give you a leg up on the competition and help you land the job you want.
Projects & Gigs Section in Your High School Resume
If you're a high school student with some extra-curricular or side projects under your belt, make sure to list them in your resume! These activities can show potential employers that you have initiative and drive, as well as some hard skills that may be relevant to the job you're applying for.
For example, if you've started a small business or blog, this shows that you know how to market yourself and get your work out there. If you've taken on any side gigs, this demonstrates that you're willing to go the extra mile and take on new challenges. And if you have any hard skills like web design or coding, these will definitely come in handy in today's tech-driven workplace.
So don't forget to include your projects and gigs in your resume - they could just be the thing that sets you apart from the competition!
Skills to Include on a High School Resume
When it comes to skills that are valuable to employers, hard skills are always going to be at the top of the list. These are the specific skills and knowledge sets that can be quantified and that are required to perform a certain job. However, there are also a number of important soft skills that should not be overlooked – especially for high school students who may not have a lot of work experience yet.
Some of the most important soft skills for a high school resume include:
- Customer service: This is a valuable skill in any industry and can show that you know how to deal with customers or clients in a professional manner.
- Public speaking: Being able to speak confidently in front of an audience is a skill that will come in handy in many different types of jobs.
- Microsoft Office: Proficiency in Microsoft Office is now considered essential for many office-based jobs. If you have advanced skills in Excel or PowerPoint, be sure to highlight this on your resume.
- Graphic design: With more businesses relying on digital marketing, graphic design skills are becoming increasingly valuable. If you have any experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, or other design software, make sure to mention it on your resume.
- Social media: Social media is now an integral part of many businesses’ marketing strategies, so having some experience with popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be a big plus for potential employers.
- Fundraising: Fundraising skills can be useful in a wide range of industries, from nonprofits to politics to sales. If you have any experience organizing fundraising events or campaigns, definitely add this to your resume.
- Budgeting: Being able to budget effectively is an important skill in any profession where you’re responsible for managing money. If you have experience creating budgets for school clubs or other organizations, this would be relevant information to include on your resume.
- Research: The ability to conduct research quickly and efficiently is another skill that will come in handy in many different types of jobs. If you have experience doing research for papers or projects, make sure to mention this on your resume.
- Biliteracy: If you’re fluent in more than one language, this is definitely a skill worth highlighting on your resume. Many businesses now value employees who can communicate with international customers or clients.
- Resolving conflict: Being able to resolve conflicts peacefully is an important soft skill in any workplace environment. If you have experience mediating disagreements among friends or classmates, this would be relevant information to include on your resume.
Language skills on a High School Resume
One way to make your high school resume stand out is by including your bilingual skills. This can be a great asset for employers, so it's important to list your skills accurately.
Do not exaggerate your abilities, however. It's important to be honest about your level of proficiency. If you are not fluent in a language, don't claim that you are. Instead, focus on listing any hard skills related to language learning. For example, if you have taken any courses or received any certification in a foreign language, be sure to mention that on your resume.
Including your bilingual skills on your resume can help you stand out from the competition and demonstrate your value to potential employers. Just be sure to list your skills honestly and highlight any relevant hard skills to show that you're serious about language learning.
How long should a high school resume be?
You want to make sure that it includes all of the important information about your skills and experience, but you don't want it to be too long or too short.
Here's the good news: a high school resume should be just one page. That means that you can include all of the information you need without worrying about making it too lengthy.
When it comes to what to include on your resume, focus on your hard skills.
Section with awards and achievements in your high school resume
If you're a high school student looking to beef up your resume, one great way to do so is by including any awards or achievements you've earned throughout your academic career. And if you're a member of the National Honors Society, you definitely have something impressive to add!
The National Honors Society is an organization that recognizes and celebrates academic excellence in high school students. If you're a member, it means you've worked hard and achieved a lot academically - something that will definitely look good on your resume.
In addition to being a great way to boost your resume, being a member of the National Honors Society can also help you stand out when applying for college. Many colleges take notice of students who are members of this prestigious organization, and it can give you a leg up in the admissions process.
So if you're looking to add some extra weight to your high school resume, be sure to include any awards or achievements from the National Honors Society - it's sure to impress!
Additional Sections for Your High School Resume
If you're like most high school students, your resume is probably pretty basic. But if you're looking to stand out from the crowd and give yourself a better chance at getting into your dream college or landing that perfect job, you'll need to beef up your resume a bit. Here are some additional sections you can include to make your resume more impressive:
Honors and Awards: Include any awards you've received, both in and out of school. This could include academic honors, athletic awards, citizenship awards, etc.
Relevant Certifications: If you have any relevant certifications, such as CPR or first aid, be sure to list them. These will show employers or colleges that you have skills beyond what's listed on your transcript.
Portfolio or Published Works: If you have a portfolio of artwork or writing samples, be sure to include it with your resume. This will give the people reviewing your resume a better sense of your talents and abilities.
Hobbies and Interests: While this section isn't necessarily required, it can help round out your resume and give the reader a better sense of who you are as a person. Just be sure to only include hobbies and interests that are relevant to the position or program you're applying for.
Hard Skills: In addition to listing your soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, don't forget to list any hard skills you may have. These could include things like computer programming languages, foreign languages, or specific software programs you're proficient in using.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading! I hope these tips will help you create a strong resume that accurately reflects who you are and what you can bring to the table. Remember, a resume is just one piece of the puzzle – but it’s an important one. So take the time to craft a resume that will give you the best chance at success. Good luck!