Complete Guide To Writing A Captivating High School Graduate Resume

A strong high school graduate resume can lead to possibilities for higher study, internships, and entry-level employment.

Our comprehensive guide will help you to write a captivating resume for a high school graduate. It provides you with layout tips, how to customize your resume for specific jobs, and how to highlight your accomplishments to impress hiring managers.

• Your summary should be a brief section that outlines your qualifications, successes, and objectives. The resume summary should be catchy and make hiring managers curious to learn more about your skills and abilities.
• List your high school, the year you graduated, your GPA, and any honors or coursework that is relevant. Any necessary licenses or certifications can also be included.
• Include any skills you possess relevant to the position or industry you're interested in. This could include knowledge of computers, language skills, or particular technical abilities.
• Include any applicable work history you may have in your resume. It can be anything from your volunteer work, internships, or part-time jobs.
• Make sure to tailor your resume if you're applying for a specific job or internship to emphasize the abilities and experiences most pertinent to that position.

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Best High School Graduate Resume Sample with No Experience

ATS-Friendly High School Grad Resume Format

A resume that is ATS-friendly is written in a way that makes it simple for the applicant tracking system to process the application.

As a recent high school graduate, there are a few tips you should keep in mind to improve your chances of being seen by prospective employers while formatting an ATS-friendly resume. Here are a few pieces of advice:

• Several companies run resumes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that look for specific words related to the job posting. Use keywords associated with the position you are applying for to improve your chances of passing this initial screening.
• Use a straightforward, clear format that the ATS can easily read. Use simple formatting; do not use complex graphics or pictures that might confuse the algorithm.
• Always write a resume at the top of your resume after the contact information. The summary must highlight your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments.
• Display your specialization in education like a high school diploma along with honors or awards won. For a fresh graduate, this is a major factor to impress the recruiters
• Focus on any roles you have held that are pertinent to the job you are looking for if you have work experience. Include details about your job title, the business you worked for, your responsibilities and duties, and any accomplishments or successes.
• To make your resume dynamic and interesting showcase your experience and accomplishments by using action verbs.
• Ensure that your resume is reviewed before submitting the job application. Spelling mistakes or typing errors will give a bad impression to potential employers.

5 Professional High School Graduate Resume Templates

How To Put Contact Information on a Resume For A High School Graduate?

Contact information must be set at the top of your resume so that recruiters can easily contact you for an interview call or additional questions.

The contact details on your resume should be as follows:

• Your Name
• Contact Number
• Email Address
• LinkedIn Profile URL

Good Example

Amy Jackson 856-963-6476 amy.jackson@example.com www.linkedin.com/amy_jackson

Bad Example

Amy Jackson rockstaramy@example.com

How to Write a Professional Resume Summary for a High School Graduate?

Being a fresh graduate, even if you don’t have much job experience, you can still make a compelling resume summary that highlights your skills and potential.

Here are a few tips for creating a resume summary for professionals:

• Start your summary with a sentence that emphasizes your goals and strong points.
• Emphasize relevant skills on your resume to make you a strong applicant for the job position.
• Highlight any work experience you have, even if it's just volunteer or part-time, in your summary.
• Your academic accomplishments might help you stand out from other applicants. This could be any honors, awards, or GPA scores.

Good Example

“Passionate High school graduate with excellent customer service and a track record of meeting deadlines. Developed effective communication skills while working as a volunteer receptionist at a nearby community center. A 3.8 GPA and membership in the National Honour Society are examples of academic accomplishments. I'm looking forward to this job to expand my knowledge and give customers top-notch service.”

Bad Example

“Ambitious high school graduate experienced in the hospitality sector. Want to work in a company to utilize my knowledge in customer service.”

How To Add a High School Graduate Resume Objective?

Include a few attention-getting details to catch the manager's attention. Your resume objective must include a clear statement of your career objective.

Moreover, you must highlight any relevant skills to stand out from your competitors. Lastly, if you have a passion or interest that matches the job, then highlight that.

Good Example

"High school graduate with motivation and enthusiasm looking for a job in the retail sector where Passionate about giving consumers good service. Assist the production team in identifying an ideal product. Looking forward to working with a world-class team”

Bad Example

“Motivated high school graduate. Want to work in the retail sector to grow my career.”

How To Highlight Your High School Education?

The following tips can help you emphasize your education on your high school resume:

• Include your high school's name and the dates you attended.
• Mention your GPA on your resume as it can be a reliable measure of your intellectual ability.
• Include any courses you completed that apply to the position you're looking for on your resume.
• You must include all the extracurricular activities on your resume that match the job description.

Good Example

Grayson High School Illinois, IL Graduation Date - 25th May 2018 GPA - 3.4

Bad Example

Graduated from Grayson High School in May 2018

Skills to Highlight on Your Resume

You can improve your chances of landing the job or acceptance letter you want by emphasizing the relevant skills in the skills section.

The abilities and experiences that make you stand out to potential employers should be highlighted on your high school resume.

Here are the top skills to emphasize:

Hard Skills

• Customer service
• Microsoft Office
• Graphic design
• Social media
• Research
• Linguistics
• Photoshop
• Office Suite

Soft Skills

• Leadership Skills
• Management Skills
• Resolving Conflict
• Communication
• Problem-Solving
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility

Most Common Skills for High School Graduate Resumes

Here are some common skills essential for a high school graduate resume:

It's important to be able to manage various obligations, and companies value this quality highly. Highlight any instances where you managed your time well, for as when you managed to balance work and education.

People who can effectively communicate verbally and in writing are valued by both employers and colleges. A presentation in front of a group or writing for the school newspaper are two examples of events that show off your communication skills.

Most employers pay close attention to candidates that have good leadership responsibilities. Include any instances where you have demonstrated leadership.

The ability to work together well with others is essential. Highlight any prior teamwork experiences you may have had, such as taking part in a group project or playing on a team in sports.

Employers seek out candidates that can think critically and come up with original solutions to issues. In particular, emphasize any instances where you overcame obstacles or organized fundraising to show that you can solve problems.

Many professions demand a certain level of technical competence. Include any technical skills, such as knowledge of Microsoft Office or familiarity with graphic design tools.

Strong interpersonal abilities are important. The activities you've had that show off your interpersonal abilities, such as working as a customer service agent or volunteering for a local cause, should be highlighted.

Additional Sections To Include on Your High School Graduate Resume

Going the extra mile always helps while crafting your resume. So, it is necessary to include additional sections on your resume that specifically highlight your skills and distinguish you from other applicants.

Additional sections on your resume give a comprehensive overview of your qualifications and experiences.

Here are some additional sections to consider including:

• Education Section: Include the year you graduated from high school in this section. You can also list your GPA and any honors or distinctions you have achieved in school.
• Professional Experience: Be sure to list any temporary or part-time jobs you've held on your resume. Emphasize any abilities or successes gained from these encounters.
• Extracurricular Activities: List any club memberships, sports teams, or other organizations you were a part of during high school in this section under "extracurricular activities." Highlight any leadership roles you've held or noteworthy contributions you've made to the company.
• Volunteering Experience: Include any volunteer work you've done, such as community service initiatives or work with organizations, in this area.
• Certification: In addition to showcasing your abilities in the skills area, you might wish to list any important licenses or certificates you have obtained, such as a CPR certification.
• References: A list of references should be included on your resume. Make sure to pick individuals who can attest to your abilities and work ethic, such as instructors, coaches, or managers from prior positions.

Summarization

Keep in mind these essential tips to write the greatest high school graduate resume that gets you the job quickly:

• Your high school resume will include resume objectives that will emphasize your best qualities and explain why you're the ideal candidate for the position.
• You can connect your experience(if you have any) and education to the job offer using the proper bullet points.
• Choose the best resume formats like chronological, functional, or mixed formats.
• Include distinct "other" sections to show that you're more than just a resume for high school graduates. Describe your high school achievements, passions, and other goodies.
• Create a compelling cover letter. You'll score some significant additional points because most people don't!
• A clear explanation of your educational background can persuade the company to hire you.
• Emphasizing your expertise can help you catch the recruiter's eye more quickly.
• Your high school resume will stand out from the competition if it has an additional element.

How To Write a Cover Letter For A High School Graduate Resume?

High school graduates or college graduates should emphasize their skills, experiences, and excitement for the position or educational opportunity they are applying for in their cover letters.

Your chance to create a good first impression and differentiate yourself from other applicants lies in your cover letter. You can convince the hiring manager or admissions officer that you are the ideal applicant for the position or educational opportunity by emphasizing your skills, experiences, and passion.

Follow these guidelines to write a professional cover letter for a resume for a high school graduate:

• Try to identify and address the name of the reader of your cover letter.
• Explain your interest in the position or educational opportunity in the opening sentence, along with what makes you a strong applicant.
• Use concrete examples from your resume to demonstrate how your qualifications meet the needs of the position or program.
• Express your enthusiasm for the chance and your desire to absorb knowledge and make a contribution.
• Ask for an interview or meeting to discuss your qualifications and end the letter by expressing your want to talk further about the opportunity.
• Make sure to thoroughly proofread your cover letter for grammatical and spelling errors before sending it. Additionally, check that the formatting matches that on your resume.

FAQs

How to apply for jobs as a high school graduate?

Follow these steps before applying for a job as a high school graduate:

• Search for companies or brands that match your interests and skills.
• Prepare a convincing cover letter along with your resume while applying for any job.
• You must do some research on the firm and practice responding to typical interview questions.
• Speak with your loved ones, friends, coworkers, and other professionals; they may be aware of employment opportunities or able to suggest you to someone who is.
• You could find employment possibilities on a variety of Internet job search platforms including Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn.