Many jobs, internships, and scholarships require a resume to apply. As a high school student, it may be confusing or difficult to construct a resume, especially if you have no real work experience. Many employers may hesitate to hire high schoolers because of insurance concerns or worries about their lack of involvement in other jobs. How do you format your resume in a way that increases your chances of success at scholarships and work?
The first step is to design your resume in a way that looks professional. There are templates available online that you can use to fill in your information. I recommend Canva or Word, as they feature templates made by professionals or graphic designers. After you pick your template, make sure to include essential information such as your name, phone number, age, and email. Your email should have a professional name; it is encouraged that you make a separate work mail to better organize your messages.
The second step is to write an objective or summary section that is visible at the beginning of your resume. This is one of the first things your employer or evaluator will look for. It is composed of 1-3 sentences and briefly conveys your motivations for applying. The objective or summary section should include perfect grammar and punctuation, while also avoiding excessive explanations.
The third step is adding your academic history. As students, this section should only include your current high school and graduation date. It is important to also add any relevant courses taken at West, like work experience or any AP classes that relate to the job or scholarship’s necessary qualifications. For example, AP math classes would look desirable when applying for something that requires mental math or handling money. It is optional to add a reference portion unless your chosen referral may increase your chances of being accepted or hired.
The last step is to list any extracurriculars or work experience you may have. This includes clubs, sports, volunteer hours, or any activities done outside of school. They should be listed by order of relevance; the goal is to maintain your evaluator’s attention. Your extracurriculars or work experience should mimic the following format: company, job title, and duration of time spent there. In bullet points underneath this section, mention 2-3 responsibilities you completed. It is better to be specific about any volunteer hours or work experience. For example, “volunteered over 350 hours at the homeless shelter” sounds more impressive than, “volunteered for the summer at a shelter.”
A resume greatly enhances your chances at obtaining any scholarship or job position you want. I personally struggled with getting hired until recently, when I was offered a position at a local business. Jobs or scholarships may take a few days or weeks to get back to you; by following these tips, at least you won’t have to worry about your resume!
