I'm in my junior year and starting to think about summer internships and college applications. I keep hearing about the importance of having a strong resume, but I'm not sure what exactly I should be including as a high school student. How detailed should it be? Do I need to include every little thing, like smaller clubs or activities, or focus on bigger achievements? Any tips on formatting or common mistakes to avoid would also be super helpful!
Your high school resume should capture your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, awards, community service, and work experiences if any. Here are a few tips to help you structure your resume:
1. Personal Information: Your resume should start with your name, high school, grade level, and contact information like your email and phone number.
2. Academic Achievements: Include your grade point average (if high), class rank (if high and your school ranks), and any honors or accelerated courses you’ve taken. This can also include significant projects or academic competitions.
3. Extracurricular Activities: It's not necessary to include every club you've ever joined. Instead, focus on activities in which you've held a leadership role, have been heavily involved, or that align with your future aspirations.
4. Community Service/Work Experience/Internships: Any work or internship experience is worth noting because it shows responsibility and dedication. Also, highlight any community service or volunteer work done.
5. Awards and Honors: If you have won any academic or non-academic awards or honors, do include them. This can range from being on the Honor Roll to winning a science fair or even being named MVP of your soccer team.
Regarding formatting, keep it consistent and clean. Use bullet points for your descriptions. Keep it concise and try to limit it to one page if possible. Focus on including actionable, measurable successes rather than just listing your duties. For example, instead of saying "participated in student government," you could say, "Led a student government initiative that raised $1,000 for the local food bank."
Common mistakes to avoid are:
- Too much detail: Don't get caught up in explaining every single duty you held in each position. Focus on your most significant contributions and achievements. Your resume should be one page at most.
- Poor grammar or spelling: This is a professional document, so ensure it's free of errors. Have someone you trust proofread it.
- Inconsistent formatting: As mentioned earlier, consistency is key. Make sure the font style, size, and layout are the same throughout.
Finally, remember this is a working document. As you continue to gain experience and accomplishments, keep your resume updated. And tailor it for each application if necessary, emphasizing the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the particular internship or college. In the case of college apps specifically, remember that you'll also have a separate activities list, so you'll want to adjust your resume to make sure you are providing new information, not repeating yourself.
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