I'm a senior working on my first resume. What should I focus on to make it stand out for jobs or internships? Are there specific formats or content that employers find appealing for high school students?
Here are a few tips to make your high school senior resume stand out:
1. Start with a Professional Profile: This should be a brief introduction to who you are and the skills you bring to the table. You can include details about your academic achievements, special talents, or any leadership roles you've held, just ensure it aligns with the job you are applying for.
2. Highlight your Education: After your professional profile, it's important to list your educational experiences. Ensure you include the name of your high school, your GPA (if strong), major subjects studied, any outstanding academic awards, and your anticipated graduation date.
3. Emphasize your Experiences: You might be thinking that you don't have much experience since you're still in high school, but experiences can also include school projects, leadership roles like being a student body president or club leader. It can also include part-time jobs, volunteer work, or internships.
4. Showcase your Skills: Here, you can indicate any special skills you possess that is relevant to the job you're applying for. This could include technical skills such as familiarity with certain software, language skills, or soft skills like communication, organization, and team leading.
5. Include Extracurricular Activities: This section is perfect for highlighting your involvement in school clubs, sports teams, or community organizations. These activities not only show that you're well-rounded but they also display traits like teamwork and commitment.
6. Avoid Fluff: Try to keep your resume concise and direct. Aim to use bullet points and be specific about your responsibilities and achievements in each role you held, which will make it easier to understand.
7. Format for Readability: The format should be clean, with plenty of white space to make it easy to read. Use a simple font and keep the font size within 10-12 points. Black text on a white background is best.
8. Proofread: Always proofread your resume multiple times to check for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. Mistakes on a resume can give potential employers the impression that you do not pay attention to detail.
One final tip: Tailor your resume for each job you apply to. That doesn't mean you need to completely rewrite your resume every time, but do take the time to tweak your professional profile and experience sections to align more closely with the job description.
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