How to Write a High School Resume

If you're reading this post, you're either a student or a parent trying to figure out how to muddle through this whole post-secondary process, and if you're like me and my daughter a few years ago, you're daunted by the sheer volume of things to do...and you'd give your right arm for a simple, easy-to-use guide along the way!

This blog IS THAT GUIDE! (No need to give your right arm, after all!)

My goal in creating this is to MAKE IT EASY for you to navigate yourself, or your student, from high school to a 2 or 4 year college/university. You can benefit from the wisdom and (yes!) mistakes we made along the way in our post-secondary journey, and enjoy the tons of FREE templates, tricks and goodies along the way, so make sure you subscribe now so you don't miss a post!

Today, we're going to cover what to include in your high school resume...and you'll be able to download your first FREEBIE from me! (Link to download at the bottom!)

First of all, a high school resume is exactly what it sounds like: an easy, one-page sheet that describes your achievements in high school. Most schools will ask you to upload this resume as a part of the application, but even if they do not, many scholarships WILL REQUIRE a high school resume...and we can all use more money for school! So, creating this resume is worth it, regardless of your chosen post-secondary school.

What you need:

• Drag out all of the awards, honors, and stuff you've done these past four years.

• Grab your phone, or that box of pictures, so you can remember things you don't have an award for.

• Go to your high school's online portal, and print out your unofficial transcript, or ask your guidance office to print one for you.

• Grab a pen and paper...and we're ready to create your transcript!

I'd advise creating it on paper, first, and then typing it into a template (like the FREE one you'll be able to download from my site!) later--it's easier to move things around and get a sense of what you have/need.

Organize your information into the following categories:

1. Academic--name, address of your high school; Weighted/unweighted GPA; Class rank, if known (and if you're in the top 50% percentile)

2. Scholastic Activities--things like yearbook, clubs, school paper/blog, A/V or morning show, theater, choir, band, Nat'l Honor Society,

3. Sports (in school or as a community)--list out any leadership positions (captain/co-captain) or distinctions separately.

4. Awards/Certifications--CPR/First Aid, Microsoft Office Certifications, contest wins, science fair, etc.

5. Volunteer and Community Involvement--List anyplace you've volunteered, even if only for a day. Church, Habitat for Humanity, Girl/Boy Scouts/Clubs, community organizations, Little League, hospitals, etc.

6. Work Experience--List any jobs you have held and average hours/week. Being a babysitter counts, as does summer-only positions, like lifeguarding at the YMCA.

And Now...You TYPE!

Now, you're ready to type it up! Check out my freebie resume in my store here, and if you're having trouble downloading, don't fret! Just email me at hidylan@dylannewton.com and I'll email a FREE copy of my MS Word template to you to use in creating your high school resume!

Stay tuned....coming up will be my 4 TRICKS to a Great HS Resume where I reveal how to make your resume OUTSHINE THE REST!

Write On