Should high school extracurriculars be on a job application?

I'm in high school and applying for my first job. Should I include the extracurricular activities I've been involved in on my job applications, or focus more on any past work experience I might have?

Certainly, as a high school student applying for your first job, it's important to showcase the skills and experiences that make you a compelling candidate, even if they come from non-traditional work settings such as extracurricular activities. These kinds of activities can demonstrate qualities like leadership, responsibility, and dedication which are highly valuable to employers.

You can list your extracurriculars in a section titled "Activities and Leadership", and emphasize the skills you gained like working with a team, managing a project, or organizing events. Here's a quick example:

Activities and Leadership

- Debate Team: Practiced public speaking and critical thinking skills, while learning to effectively present arguments and counterarguments.

- Chess Club President: Organized weekly meetings, planned tournaments, and managed club budget. Improved strategic thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.

Don't forget to also highlight any work history you might have, even if it's not traditionally paid work like a part-time job. You can list this in a section called "Work Experience". For example, if you babysat for your neighbors or mowed lawns around your neighborhood, you gained valuable skills like reliability, punctuality, and self-management. Do remember, though, to be mindful of tailoring your resume to each specific job application to make it as well-suited to the position as possible. Good luck with your job search!