Is it Important to Include High School Jobs on a Resume?

I'm updating my resume and not sure whether to list jobs I had during high school. How important is it to include that experience, and how should I frame it to add value to my resume?

The importance of listing high school jobs on your resume largely depends on your current experience level and the relevance of those jobs to the position or opportunity you're applying for.

If you're an undergraduate student or recent graduate with limited experience, your high school jobs may represent valuable sources of transferable skills and experiences. In this case, including them can fill out your resume and demonstrate your work ethic, responsibility, and time management skills.

For these positions, spend just a bullet or two briefly describing the role, and try to focus on any skills you gained or responsibilities you had that could apply to the job you're applying for. For instance, if you worked as a server at a restaurant, you could highlight your customer service skills or your ability to multi-task under pressure.

On the other hand, if you've been in the workforce for a while and have numerous professional experiences since then, your high school jobs may not add much to your resume, and could even detract from your more recent and relevant experience. Employers typically prefer to see a concise, one to two-page resume filled with the most relevant information to the job at hand.

Remember, the goal of a resume is to demonstrate how you're a great fit for the job you're applying for, so everything you include should support that aim.