Tips for Filling Out a High School Job Application

I'm working on my first job application for a position at my local high school. Any advice on how to stand out and what to include when they ask for previous experience?

When filling out your first job application, particularly for a high school job, you'll want to present yourself professionally and ensure you detail all your relevant experiences and skills. Here are a few things you can do:

1. Highlight Your Transferable Skills - Since you're applying for a job in your high school, I'd imagine you're a student, so it's likely your previous experience might be limited. Focus on what you have done, highlighting transferable skills from any school projects, clubs, sports teams, or volunteer work. Such skills may include teamwork, leadership, communication, time management, and organization.

2. Detail Your Involvements - List out any school clubs or teams you're a part of and any leadership roles or accomplishments you have in these. This could include being team captain in a sport or treasurer in a club. If you've been a part of a group project or organized an event, you can list these experiences as well.

3. Focus on your Relevance - Understand what kind of employee the role requires. Tailor your application to demonstrate why you would be a good fit and highlight the skills necessary for the job. If it's a customer service role, emphasize your communication skills; if it's a library aide, highlight your organization skills and responsibility, etc.

4. Capitalize on Your Academics - Talk about any relevant coursework or projects you've completed that might be relevant to the job. For example, if you've taken a business class and now you're applying for a job at the school store, that information could be relevant.

5. Neat and Thorough - Make sure everything is clearly written, spell-checked, and correct. Complete every field, and if something doesn't apply to you, you can write "not applicable" or "N/A". Presenting a neat and thorough application shows your meticulousness and dedication.

Remember, employers understand that high school jobs often are student's first jobs, so they're not expecting extensive professional experience. So, focus on what you have done and the skills you've developed throughout high school. The key here is translating these experiences into beneficial traits for the workplace. Good luck with your application!