Resume Building Tips and Tricks for High School Students

Building a resume is essential to your future. It's not just about getting a job, but it's also about building your skills and experience as well. In this blog, we'll be going through the importance of having a resume, what it is exactly and how you can build one yourself.

You might think, "I'm only in high school; what could I possibly have to put on my resume?" Lets us break it down for you!

What is a Resume?

A resume is an overview of the skills and experiences you have accumulated. It gives employers an idea of who you are and what you can do for them. It also helps them determine whether or not they want to hire you for the available position. 

Benefits of Having a Resume

There are endless benefits to building a resume, here are just a few: 

1. Your resume shows employers what kind of employee you are.
2. It shows employers how much effort you put into your work. You might not have a resume with a ton of work experience yet, but when you take the time to make a strong resume, it tells your employers and even a university that you are in it to win it! 
3. It shows employers how much experience/skills/education you have gained from previous jobs.
4. You never know where life will take you. If you get accepted into a university program that requires work experience, having a resume on hand will help you get started with that job search early. Not only does it show potential employers that you are serious about the work,  but it also shows them that you've got initiative and can follow through with the tasks assigned to you. 
5. The earlier you start building your resume, the more time you'll have to fill it up with experiences that will look good when writing applications for university programs later on down the line.
6.  It's an excellent way to make connections with professionals who might be able to help guide your career once you graduate from high school or college! People willing to mentor or advise on resumes or job searching can make all the difference when applying for jobs or internships later. It is never too early to grow your professional circles and get resume-building advice.
7. A strong resume will give you a competitive edge over other applicants who haven't put as much effort into their resumes.

What are ways to build your resume? 

Resume building is an important part of the job search process. It can be tricky to get the hang of, and it's easy to get discouraged when you're just starting out. But don't lose heart! Building your resume is easier than it looks—and there are many ways for high school students to get started.

1. If you have no work experience and have no time to add any, you can still include things like extracurricular activities on your resume until then. 

   •  Join clubs or committees at school or in your community—these are great for showing off leadership abilities and participating in various activities.

2. If you're interested in pursuing a specific career path, you might consider taking classes related to that field at school or online. This will help you learn more about what it takes to work in that industry and show employers that you're serious about pursuing a specific occupation.

3. Volunteering at events and working part-time jobs.

   • For example, if you're interested in medicine and want some hands-on experience in the field, consider asking around for volunteer opportunities at hospitals or clinics near where you live or go to school. You could also help out at local animal shelters or even become a tutor for younger kids who need extra help with schoolwork!

Here are some tips for building a great resume:

1. Keep it simple. A one-page resume is an ideal length, and it should be easy to read with no grammatical errors.
2. Make sure there's an objective statement at the top of your resume that describes what you want out of your career. For example: "Seeking an entry-level position at [company name] to gain experience in analytics."
3. Include relevant coursework on your resume. If you're taking any statistics or computer science classes, list those first because they'll give potential employers a sense of how well-prepared you are for the job.
4. Emphasize internships, volunteering experiences, or other work experiences that show initiative and dedication to learning new skills.

We know it can be stressful to get started building your resume, but with these tips, you are sure to succeed!