Yesterday you were tossing your cap in the air, today you’re jumping into the job search pool.
Yes, the competition is fierce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 60% of youth participate in the workforce each summer. You need a killer resume.
But that cursor blinks as you imagine a long, stuffy document filled with fancy words and sharp bullet points.
That’s scary. How the hell are you going to write a great resume and get a good job when you have no experience?
Whether you’re a bookworm or a total friend, a great high school grad resume will turn your job search around to unlock achievements.
This guide will show you:
- An example of a high school graduate resume that is better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
- How to write a high school graduate resume that will get you more interviews.
- Tips and examples on how to put skills and accomplishments on a high school graduate resume.
- How to describe your experience on a resume for a high school graduate to get the job they want.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes ? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-to-add content with just one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
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Sample resume created with our creator: See more resume examples here.
One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:
[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same things.Here are other guides for high school students:
- High School Student Summary
- High School Resume for College Application
- Student Resume
- College Freshman Resume
- College Student Resume
- First Resume without work experience
- Resume for part-time job
- All resume examples
1
What is the best format for a high school graduate resume?
Writing a resume It’s not that different from any other writing task: formatting is key.
The best resume templates will urge the recruiter to read it first.
So how do you keep your level high? grad school resume from looking like the dog bit it and throw it away?
Use 1.15 line spacing and a sleek modern 12 resume font points. Add headings to help navigate between resume sections.
Also, go for the reverse chronological format.
This format gets its name from long letters of putting things that happened most recently at the top and things that happened later below.
It brings your skills to the forefront, making it very useful when you don’t have work experience yet. It keeps things neat and tidy and recruiters are used to seeing it.
Here are the sections that should go on your high school grad resume from start to finish:
Resume Template for High School Graduates
- Contact Information
- Resume Objective
- Education
- Work Experience (if any)
- Skills
- “Extra” Sections: Awards , certifications, volunteer experience, or hobbies and interests.
Not convinced that using the reverse chronological format is right for your high school graduate resume? secondary? You have options! Check out our guide to the best resume formats: Resume Formats: 10+ Samples and Templates for All Resume Types
Now you’re probably thinking this is going to be a piece of cake. You’re not so lucky, my friend!
Put a typo in your name or number or accidentally link to a drunken photo and your chances of landing your first job are second to none. from a snow globe in heck.
Here’s a clear list of what you need to include:
Summary for a High School Graduate: Contact Information Section
- First and Last Name
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Use your real name, really. Add your middle name only if you use it daily.
- Phone number
Mention the number where recruiters can reach you during most of the day (most likely your mobile number).
- Professional Email
Now craycrayhotbaby09@yahoo.com may seem cool to your friends, but recruiters won’t be OK.
Create a polished email address using your name in conjunction with a professional email provider. For example: tiffany.jones@gmail.com. Much better.
- Social networking sites
Yes and not.
Should you put a LinkedIn profile on your resume? Yes, and if you don’t have one, create it. Do you have blogs or online portfolios that are relevant to the position you are applying for? Add them too.
What about other social networks like Facebook or Instagram? Well, let’s put it this way: if you wouldn’t show it to your mom, then you don’t want to show it to a recruiter.
Here is a good example of contact information on a high school graduate resume:
Summary of High School Graduate: Headline
Pro Tip: Whether or not you include a link to your social media on your resume, make sure your online presence is clean in less set to super private. It’s a digital age, and recruiters will Google you.
You know that infamous clickbait title from every other YouTube video? That’s what you’re trying to do here.
You want the hiring manager to take a quick look at the top of your resume and think, “Hey, this looks interesting.” “. What’s next?”
How do you do that, especially with no work experience? Write a resume objective.
The objective is a short and concise pitch that mentions your career goals and the relevant skills you have to become your next employee of the year.
Place it right below the contact information section so it’s one of the first things the recruiter sees.
But what does the objective of a high school graduating resume contain?
- Start with your strongest character trait.
- Tell how your education will help you perform well in your job.
- Name the company and the position you are applying for.
- State the value you want to add to the company.
Here are two high school graduate resume goals in practice:
Objective of high school graduate resume
See the difference? The correct example has mentioned relevant insights and characteristics with numbers to back it up. That candidate looks pretty dumb.
The wrong example? Well, they’re not going anywhere in that much of a hurry.
Pro tip: Don’t make the subject of your resume a copy of Moby Dick. Keep it short, sweet and to the point like an awesome Tweet.
Not much to write? Search for a resume title. Write down your job title, years of experience, and a major accomplishment.
Need more tips on writing career objectives on a resume for a recent high school graduate? ? Check out our guide: How to Write an Objective Resume: 50+ Examples for All Professions.
When making a resume in our builder, drag and drop drop bullets, skills, and auto-complete boring stuff. Spelling checker? Check. Start creating a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will rate your resume and tell you exactly how to improve it.
4
Does your education section make you look like a fool?
You will never know more happy to have gone to the school of who you are now. Why?
Your education is going to be the section that will make your resume sick.
Especially if you’re writing a high school graduate resume without experience to brag about.
In a case like this, put your education before your work history.
Then What exactly does it include in the education section?
Sample Education Section Resume for High School Graduates
It may not seem like much at first, but take a closer look.
You have all the information necessary, such as the school name and your graduation date.
But some cool mods have also been added for that extra boost. If you’re applying for a food service job, as in this example, relevant food, cooking classes, and club show that food is definitely one of your passions.
Pro Tip: Thinking of adding a GPA to your resume? If it doesn’t impress the lettering on someone’s varsity jacket, leave it out.
Got another educational setting? Check out this guide: Education Resume Section: How to List High School and College Education
And now you’re probably stumped. You are a recent high school graduate with no work experience.
You might feel like you have nothing to include here, but look at it more like a clown car – more people can fit in here than you think.
It doesn’t matter if you’re applying for an internship, a part-time job, or looking for a full-time job, the examples below work for every situation.
First, let’s take a look at what you should do if you have any work experience.
Resume for High School Graduate with Work Experience: Example
You have everything you need to convince a recruiter that you’re gold at the right example: detailed job duties and a specific achievement.
The wrong example just looks like someone What he wrote is for the lulz.
Have you done any online work or a couple of freelance jobs? Also add them to your work experience section.
But what if you don’t have paid work experience like volunteering?
Check it out, that really counts as work experience!
High School Graduate Resume With No Paid Work Experience: Example
You can see the difference. Setting the right example shows that you are responsible and take your job seriously, and that’s what recruiters want to see.
Don’t have any work experience?
It’s all good. Skip ahead to the skills section.
Want more information on adding volunteer or freelance work to your high school graduate resume? These guides will help you: How to Put Volunteer Work on Your Resume and How to Put Freelance Work on a Resume
No, not skills.
The Washington Post reported that knowing an iPhone and choosing the best emojis isn’t enough when looking for a job.
But That list of skills your dream job requires is seriously messed up. And there are a lot of much more qualified people, right?
Easy.
The trick here is to realize what skills you have and tie it back to what’s mentioned in the job description.
While finding experienced candidates gives recruiters a major migraine, more than 30% say finding Hiring entry-level qualified candidates also gives them a headache.
So here’s your chance to nail your skill section and shine like a Twix wrapper.
Now, there’s two types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.
Hard Skills are more technical and things you can learn easily (Microsoft Office, Photoshop).
Soft skills are more a part of your personality and how you approach things (communication skills, teamwork).
Here is a list of the most popular skills on resumes for high school graduates:
Most common skills on resumes of High School Graduates
Hard Skills:
- Writing Skills
- Computer/IT Skills
- Analytical skills
- Computer skills
- Microsoft Office
- Foreign languages
- Fundraising
- Presentation skills
- Creative thinking skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Teamwork/Collaboration</li
- Problem Solving Skills
- Time Management Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Stress management
- Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Skills
- Motivated, dependable, accountable, and accountable.
- Ability to work well within a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Planning and organizational skills required to coordinate workload around multiple tasks and clients.
- Identifies own learning needs and seeks appropriate assistance from Manager/Supervisor.
- Excellent computer skills including: proficient typing skills, MS Office and input data.
- Start with an attention-grabbing cover letter that addresses them by name. “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern”? Get rid of them.
- Tell them why they absolutely need you for the position.
- Add accomplishments from previous jobs or school to demonstrate your skills. Don’t list them again. They already have it on their resume; add some meat to those bones.
- Mention something about the company you are associated with. This will show that you took the time and energy to learn about the company and its values.
- End your cover letter with a powerful closing statement.
- Start with a killer goal. A career objective is tailored to the company, tells them about your background, and summarizes your candidacy for the position.
- Focus on your education. You may not have work experience, but you do have a high school education.Mention your academic achievements and relevant courses and use them to your advantage!
- Add your work experience. Part-time, freelance, online, unpaid – put them all in there by noting relevant responsibilities and accomplishments.
- Highlight relevant skills. Include both hard and soft skills and use resume keywords.
- Include additional sections. Add volunteer work, languages, hobbies, interests, and extracurricular activities to show them you have ambition.
- Edit and proofread. Review it at least twice. Use Grammarly if you’re unsure about something or want to triple check.
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Soft skills:
Now many candidates go to great lengths to list technical skills, but interpersonal skills are just as important. A recent federal study noted that it’s actually a lack of appropriate interpersonal skills that causes teens and high school grads to be rejected for jobs.
But not just copy all the Make a list and hope someone believes you have all those skills. Keep it at 100.
Use the job ad as a cheat sheet for skills to include and try out.
This is an example of a job description for a records administrator position for high school graduates:
Now, here’s how you can tailor your skills to match the recruiter’s expectations:
High School Graduate Resume: Skills Section
The correct example is specific and will be can easily match the requirement. nts for work. That’s a skills section of the resume tailored to the job description.
And hey, that’s important not only for the hiring manager to contact you on the phone, but also to quickly pass through the ATS.
This is a tracking system used by many companies to filter the hundreds of resumes they receive. The system uses resume keywords to spot potential hires and suggests them to the hiring manager. Keeping your resume skills in line with the job ad writing gives you big points.
TL;DR- resume keywords.Use them, use them. Directly.
Want to further bolster the skills section of your high school graduate resume? Take a look at this guide: 99 key resume skills (all types of professional skills with examples included!).
Take a long look at all the things you did besides going to class. This is the spice you can add to your high school grad resume to give the recruiter the whole enchilada and not just a bland corn tortilla.
But wait.
According to a government study, most young people participate in extracurricular activities even while employed. That creates stiff competition.
Add things that are relevant. Don’t mention that you like cats or that Star Wars is the best movie ever. Nobody has time to read that.
Here are some great extras to add to your high school grad resume:
Resume for a High School Graduate: Additional Sections
Awards and Honors
This is where you can mention any honors or awards you have received, such as scholarships, being on the honor roll or being in the NHS.
Have you participated in advanced classes, academic fairs, bees, or other competitions? Write those down, too.
Language Skills
Knowledge of any foreign language, especially as a recent high school graduate, really helps. stands out as bling bling. Be sure to use a standardized scale to rate your knowledge of the language.
Hobbies and Interests
Skip?
No.
This is the section where you can show your hard and soft skills in action instead of just listing them.
It should also be easy to write taking into account all the interests and activities you have outside of class (just remember to relate them to the work culture of your future company).
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Here is a good example of an additional interest section on a high school graduate resume:
Example of High School Graduate Resume: Additional Sections
Remember to include all necessary sections on your high school graduate resume. What are they? Here’s a guide to answering that question: What Categories to Put on a Resume: Examples and Guidance
You’re just about to drop you some crazy knowledge.
Yes, you will need to write a cover letter. You don’t want to go out looking for a job and look for all the skills and no swag, do you?
Most experts say that the cover letter shows that you’re really interested in get the job and it’s an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants.
Here are the things to include in a high school graduate cover letter that will have them asking an amen:
Remember, a great cover letter from a high school grad + the best resume from a high school grad = more likely to succeed.
See theory set into practice in our dedicated guide: Entry Level Cover Letter (Example & Guide).
Pro Tip: If there is no way to upload a cover letter through the application system, simply apply without. There’s no point in trying to poke it in and ruin your resume.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an edge over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter generator here. Here’s what it might look like:
See more cover letter templates and get started writing .
Want to learn more high school graduate cover letter tricks that always work? Check out these articles: 35+ Tips, Hints, and Guidelines for the Best Cover Letters and How to Write a Winning Job Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps (12+ Examples) strong>
Entering the workforce can be crazy, but writing a resume doesn’t have to be.
Let’s recap what it takes to make your high school grad resume impress:
You now have a high school grad resume that’s FTW in a crowd of IDKs *drops mic*.
Do you have any questions about writing a resume for a high school graduate? Not sure how to talk about your job skills as a young adult or your accomplishments in high school? Get in touch with us in the comments below, and thanks for reading!
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