At the high school level, the resume is primarily a practice for future job applications, but they can also be used as a valuable tool in your college admissions. The resume has many of the same basic functions as a college application in this situation, it is important to note that it does not replace the application itself (just as when applying for a job, a resume does not replace the application; it is simply a method of supplementing the information in a highly organized way).
It’s true that writing your first resume can be difficult. The good news is there are some tips and strategies that will make it easier.
Step1First, give yourself some time to brainstorm.
Make a list of all of your accomplishments – whether they are from school, part-time work, volunteer or other sources. What counts as an accomplishment? Anything that takes a lot of time and effort, or anything that sets you apart from your peers. Did you take five years of a foreign language? That’s an accomplishment. Were you involved in any clubs or activities at school? That’s an accomplishment. Did you volunteer at the local animal shelter? Serve as a trusted babysitter, dog walker or house sitter? Accomplishment, accomplishment, accomplishment. Of course, if you worked an official job, you’ll want to make a note of that, too.
Resume writing is not a time when modesty will serve you well. It’s not bragging to include things that you are proud of on your resume – it’s the whole point of the process! If you are having a hard time coming up with an exhaustive list, ask your parents, friends or teachers for help.
Step2Next, list any awards or distinctions that you have won in your high school career.
All of this goes to show your hard work and excellence, which is what a resume is intended to do. Even if it seems silly to you now, write it down on your list. The trick here is to get as complete a picture as you can so that you can choose the important information that will help show your diverse strengths when you start actually formatting and writing your resume.
Your resume should follow a very specific format, making it easy for whoever is reading it to quickly scan the document and understand all the information they need to know. At the top, you’ll include your name and contact information. Next, you’ll want some kind of summary or purpose statement. Finally, you’ll list your accomplishments (grouped by type or presented in chronological order) followed by awards and distinctions.
Using a template and the information from your brainstorm, start to put your resume together, following a standard format. Use strong, active verbs to show what it is that you’ve done. Words such as “create,” “lead,” “teach,” “design,” and others help show you in action.
Finally, here are a few more tips to make sure you’ve written the best resume you can write:
Once you’ve drafted your resume, set it aside before taking another look for errors and omissions. Have a parent, teacher or friend do the same. A resume is your best chance to leave a good first impression, and you don’t want the reader to have to stumble through a bunch of errors.
Keep a “master resume” that includes all the information from your brainstorm, and update it as you learn, grow and have new experiences. Your dog washing business might not be important enough for your application to Harvard, but it might come in handy later when you’re applying to the veterinary program. Keeping the information handy will save you time later.
If you have supporting materials that you’d like to share (writing samples, photos, designs, etc.), don’t try to cram them into your resume, but create a separate portfolio of work that you can share with readers upon request.
Ask the Community
Still get confused or have more suggestions? Leave your thoughts to Community Center and we will reply within 24 hours.