I'm graduating soon and looking to land my first job. Can anyone offer advice on building a resume when you just finished high school? What key details should I include to stand out as a fresh graduate? Thanks!
Creating a strong resume out of high school can feel a bit daunting, but remember it's about highlighting your relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications, even if they're not job-specific. Here's a general structure to get you started:
1. Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile (if you have one).
2. Objective Statement: Detail your career goal and desired position. As a new graduate, it's beneficial to state your eagerness to learn, your dedication, and your willingness to contribute to a team.
3. Education: List down the name of your high school, location (city, state), and graduation year. If you've done well academically, it can be beneficial to include your GPA (as long as it's above a 3.0).
4. Skills: Include both hard skills (specific, quantitative abilities like fluency in a foreign language, or proficiency in a particular software) and soft skills (like communication, teamwork, or problem-solving).
5. Experience: This can encompass both paid and unpaid experiences. Include club involvement, volunteer work, internships, extracurricular activities, and any casual jobs you've held during school. With each role, detail the tasks you undertook, and where possible, the achievements you made.
6. Extracurricular Activities: If you were part of clubs, sports teams, or other associations, include these as they illustrate skills like leadership, teamwork, and commitment.
7. Awards and Certifications: Highlight any recognitions or awards you earned in high school. Include any relevant certifications such as CPR/First Aid, ServSafe, or Microsoft Office certifications.
Proofread meticulously for grammar and spelling errors, an error-free resume is a clear way to present yourself professionally. Do remember to tailor your resume to the role you're applying for, emphasizing relevant skills and experiences.
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