How to Write a Resume That Stands Out
Your resume is one of the most important tools for showcasing your abilities, even as a high school student. While you may not have extensive work experience yet, you have unique skills, accomplishments, and experiences that make you stand out. Whether you’re applying for college, internships, or scholarships, here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a resume that grabs attention.
1. Start With a Strong Objective or Summary
Your resume’s objective is a short statement at the top that explains who you are and what you’re looking for. This sets the tone for the entire resume.
For example:
"Dedicated high school junior with a passion for environmental science and leadership, seeking opportunities to contribute to community-based sustainability projects while developing research and teamwork skills."
This summary emphasizes your passion and goals, immediately telling the reader what drives you.
2. Highlight Academic Achievements
Your academic record is a crucial section of your resume. Use it to show your commitment to learning and success in challenging environments.
Include:
Your cumulative GPA (if it’s impressive).
Honors or advanced classes (AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment).
Awards or recognitions, like Honor Roll or subject-specific achievements.
For example:
Academic Achievements
GPA: 4.0 (weighted)
AP Scholar with Distinction
1st Place in Regional Math Olympiad
If applicable, you can also include any independent study or coursework outside of school, such as online certifications or workshops.
3. Extracurricular Activities: Showcase Your Interests and Leadership
Colleges and employers want to see how you engage with the world beyond the classroom. Your extracurriculars demonstrate your skills, passions, and ability to balance multiple responsibilities.
When listing activities, be specific about your role and accomplishments:
Highlight leadership roles, such as team captain or club president.
Mention significant contributions, like organizing events, raising funds, or mentoring others.
For example:
Extracurricular Activities
President, Environmental Club: Led initiatives that reduced school-wide plastic use by 30%, organized Earth Day events attended by 200 students.
Varsity Soccer Team Captain: Two-time state finalist; mentored new team members to improve teamwork and performance.
4. Volunteer Work: Make an Impact
Volunteering is one of the most valuable experiences to include in a high school resume. It shows your willingness to give back to your community and your ability to work with diverse groups of people.
Tips for showcasing volunteer work:
Focus on the impact of your efforts.
Mention the skills you developed, like communication, problem-solving, or organization.
Example:
Volunteer Work
Tutor, Local Literacy Program: Helped 15 middle school students improve reading proficiency by two grade levels over six months.
Event Organizer, Community Food Drive: Coordinated logistics for a drive that collected 5,000 pounds of food for local shelters.
5. Unique Projects or Hobbies: Let Your Creativity Shine
Your personal projects and hobbies can make you stand out because they show initiative and passion. Whether you’ve created an app, written a novel, built a robotics prototype, or launched a YouTube channel, these activities demonstrate that you’re self-driven and innovative.
For example:
Passion Projects
Founder, “Tech4Teens” Blog: Created a blog sharing tips and resources for teenagers interested in coding; reached 10,000 monthly readers within a year.
Game Developer: Designed and launched a mobile puzzle game, which achieved 1,000 downloads on the App Store.
Even hobbies like playing an instrument or competitive gaming can be included if you’ve demonstrated dedication or earned achievements.
6. Work Experience (If Any)
If you’ve had part-time jobs, internships, or freelance gigs, this is where you can shine. Even if it’s not directly related to your goals, work experience demonstrates responsibility and time management.
Example:
Work Experience
Barista, Local Coffee Shop: Managed customer orders and handled cash, improving interpersonal and multitasking skills.
Intern, Local Tech Startup: Assisted in social media management and learned basic coding skills to support the team’s app development project.
7. Skills: Showcase What Makes You Unique
A dedicated skills section allows you to list technical and interpersonal skills that set you apart. Tailor this section to the role or program you’re applying for.
For example:
Technical Skills
Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS
Graphic design (Photoshop, Canva)
Data analysis (Excel, Google Sheets)
Interpersonal Skills
Public speaking
Team collaboration
Time management
8. Awards and Recognitions
A separate section for awards is a great way to highlight your accomplishments at a glance. These can include academic honors, competition wins, or recognition in extracurriculars.
For example:
Awards and Honors
National Honor Society Inductee
Best Delegate, Model United Nations Regional Conference
Gold Medal, Science Olympiad
9. Formatting Tips for a Professional Look
Your resume should be easy to read and visually appealing. Follow these formatting tips:
Keep it to one page.
Use bullet points for easy skimming.
Choose a clean, professional font like Arial or Times New Roman.
Align headings and subheadings consistently.
Save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting.
