If you’re like most high school students, you’ve probably spent the last few years racking up some impressive achievements. Whether it’s making the varsity team, getting straight A’s, or winning that big science fair, your accomplishments show that you’re a driven and capable individual. And when it comes time to apply to college or for your first job, these achievements can give you a real leg up on the competition.
But simply listing your accomplishments on your resume is not enough. You need to make sure that they are presented in a way that will capture the attention of your reader and demonstrate why they are relevant to the position or program you are applying for.
Should You Include High School Achievements for Your Resume?
In case you hesitate to put your high school achievements on your resume, we have something to tell you.
High school is often defined by a number of adolescent experiences and the opportunity for self-discovery. Some great accomplishments do, however, occur during this time. Many job applicants struggle with whether or not to include achievements in high school on their resumes.
To begin with, adding your high school accomplishments to a college resume is dependent on when you graduated. If you just graduated from high school recently, it’s best to include all of your achievements in one section of your CV. It will provide enough essential information for the educational experience subheading in your CV.
On the other hand, if you have been out of high school for several years and more, you may want to consider omitting your secondary education information and focusing on more relevant experiences, such as jobs or internships you’ve held since then.
Another consideration is that the job role you are applying for will determine whether or not you include high school accomplishments on your resume. If you’re looking at an internship or trainee position, for example, it’s important to note your high school achievements. When applying for a senior executive position, though, these accomplishments may need to be hidden.
So, the overall pros and cons of listing your high school accomplishments on your resume are:
PROS:
- Can provide context for work experience or lack thereof
- Shows you’re a driven individual
- Might give you a leg up on the competition
CONS:
- Can make your resume look too long
- Might not be relevant to the position you’re applying for
- If you’ve been out of high school for a while, your achievements might not be as impressive to potential employers
How Can You Add It to the Resume?
If you don`t know in what section of your resume should you add your high school achievements, we will help you with that as well.
The Education section is the most logical place to list your high school information and accomplishments. Start by listing the name and location of your high school, followed by the dates you attended. Then, include a brief overview of your academic achievements.
In this section, you can only include the most significant awards, such as being valedictorian or salutatorian of your class. If you have a long list of awards and achievements, consider creating a separate section for them on your resume. This will ensure that your accomplishments are not lost in the Education section.
If you graduated from high school more than five years ago, you can omit your GPA and SAT/ACT scores. However, if you’re a recent graduate, feel free to include this information. To the high school achievements you may include:
- Class rank
- Honors and awards
- Relevant coursework
- Academic projects
- Extracurricular activities
If you participated in any relevant extracurricular activities, such as sports or clubs, you can list them under your Education section as well. Be sure to include any leadership roles you held in these organizations. For example, if you were captain of the soccer team or president of a French club, make sure to note this information.
What Should Be Included?
Now that we know where to add high school achievements on a resume and what advantages they may have, it`s time to focus on what achievements should be added. Here is the list of some examples:
- You were the valedictorian or salutatorian of your graduating class
- You received perfect attendance awards
- You were a member of the National Honor Society or other academic clubs
- You won scholarships or other awards for academic excellence
- You participated in sports and held leadership positions on teams
- You performed well on standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, or AP exams
- You took part in extracurricular activities, such as volunteer work, student government, or clubs
- You had a part-time job during high school
These examples should give you an idea of what kind of information to include in your Education section. Remember to focus on your most impressive accomplishments and list any relevant details, such as dates, locations, or organizations you were involved with.
If you’re still not sure what to include on your resume, consider using a template. This will ensure that your resume is well-organized and highlights your most impressive achievements.
What You Should Omit
However, there are achievements that may seem significant for the applicants, but in fact, they shouldn`t be included in the resume. The examples are given below:
- You participated in a high school play
- You were an active member of your church youth group
- You won a contest at the county fair
- Local news articles were written about you
- You completed a summer program
While these accomplishments might be impressive, they’re not necessarily relevant to your career. Therefore, it’s best to omit them from your resume.
What If You Didn`t Have Any High School Achievements?
Your resume should be filled with information that will help you get the job you want. However, if you didn’t have any significant accomplishments in high school, don’t worry. There are still many ways to make your resume stand out.
For example, if you have relevant work experience, be sure to include it on your resume. You can also highlight any skills or qualities that would make you a good candidate for the job. If you’re a recent graduate, you can also include information about your college coursework and extracurricular activities.
Also, your life achievements like becoming a parent, overcoming difficult life circumstances, or starting your own business can be very impressive to potential employers. Be sure to highlight these accomplishments in your resume and cover letter, but only if they really harmonize with the position you apply for.
In conclusion, high school achievements can help you stand out from the competition and land the job you want. However, if you didn’t have any significant accomplishments in high school, don’t worry. There are still many ways to make your resume stand out. Just focus on highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences.
What Details Can Make Your Resume Look Brilliant?
For those who want to stand out from the rest, there are a few extra details that can be included on a resume.
–GPA: If you have a high GPA, be sure to include it on your resume. This will show employers that you’re capable of academic excellence.
–ClassRank: If you were in the top 10% or 20% of your graduating class, this is definitely worth mentioning on your resume.
–Test Scores: If you performed well on standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, or AP exams, make sure to include your scores on your resume.
–College Coursework: If you took any relevant college courses, be sure to include them on your resume. This will show employers that you’re interested in furthering your education.
–Extracurricular Activities: If you were involved in any extracurricular activities, such as volunteer work, student government, or clubs, include them on your resume. This will show employers that you’re a well-rounded individual with a variety of interests.
–Work Experience: If you have any relevant work experience, be sure to include it on your resume. This will show employers that you have the skills and experience needed to excel in the job.
Including these extra details on your resume can help you stand out from the competition and land the job you want. So make sure to include them if they’re relevant to your qualifications for the position.
Should You Write Yourself or Use Professional Resume Writing Services?
In most cases, people choose to write their own resumes. However, there are some cases where it might be beneficial to use professional resume writing services.
For example, if you have a lot of work experience and want to make sure your resume is accurate and error-free, it might be worth using a professional service. Or, if you’re not confident in your writing ability, you might also want to consider using a professional service.
However, if you’re on a tight budget or if you don’t have a lot of work experience, you might be better off writing your own resume. If you need help getting started, there are plenty of resources available online, such as templates and samples.
In conclusion, whether or not to use a professional resume writing service is a personal decision. There are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches. Ultimately, you’ll need to decide what’s best for your situation.
Final verdict
High School Achievements For Resume may be pretty helpful in the long run especially if the accomplishments are notable and relevant. In some cases, it might be better to use professional resume writing services. It is a personal decision in the end. Be wise and choose the achievements that will help you the most.