Building a Résumé
Why Keep a Résumé?
While most résumé material is gained throughout high school, starting a résumé freshman year will be helpful to organize important information. Here are a few main reasons to build your résumé template early:
1. College Applications: When it comes time for college applications, there is a section on the Common Application that requires each applicant to list their five most important accomplishments along with the ten most important extracurricular activities of which they have been a part. Having a résumé from which to pull this information makes the application process go more smoothly. Some colleges, like Brown University, even allow you to upload a résumé so having one ready makes this portion easier.
2. Getting a Job: Résumés are not only important for college applications but also for job applications. Having a well-put-together résumé shows employers that you are professional, increasing your chance of being hired.
3. Organization: Many students will complete community service hours or receive a class award that may be significant, but forget about it. Keeping an updated résumé allows you to write down an award or community service achievements, keeping them all in a safe location.
4. Scholarships: Many scholarship opportunities require students to submit a résumé. Like job applications, scholarship foundations want to see a student with not only excellent achievements but also a professional résumé that further highlights these accomplishments.
1. College Applications: When it comes time for college applications, there is a section on the Common Application that requires each applicant to list their five most important accomplishments along with the ten most important extracurricular activities of which they have been a part. Having a résumé from which to pull this information makes the application process go more smoothly. Some colleges, like Brown University, even allow you to upload a résumé so having one ready makes this portion easier.
2. Getting a Job: Résumés are not only important for college applications but also for job applications. Having a well-put-together résumé shows employers that you are professional, increasing your chance of being hired.
3. Organization: Many students will complete community service hours or receive a class award that may be significant, but forget about it. Keeping an updated résumé allows you to write down an award or community service achievements, keeping them all in a safe location.
4. Scholarships: Many scholarship opportunities require students to submit a résumé. Like job applications, scholarship foundations want to see a student with not only excellent achievements but also a professional résumé that further highlights these accomplishments.
What to Include?
While information on a résumé is going to be specifically tailored to each person, here is the general pieces to include. Note that these sections are listed in a suggested order of how they should show up on a résumé. This is just one technique so the order can change based on each person:
*Other Aspects to Include: Hobbies and other unique skills should be included only if they will clearly improve the résumé.
- Contact Information: This should include your full name and contact information such as your mailing address, email and phone number.
- High School Information: Name and date of attendance are a must. You can also include your class rank and GPA if they will positively enhance your résumé.
- Additional Education: Any college classes, college preparatory courses, or pre-college programs like the St. Paul's Advanced Studies Program should be highlighted in this section.
- Academic Awards: Class awards, scholarships, book awards, and other educational achievements should be included.
- Extracurricular Activities: Include information about sports you've played, clubs of which you are a part, and leadership roles throughout the school and community.
- Community Service: Any volunteer hours and opportunities of which you have been a part.
- Work Experience: Jobs that you have held and for how long.
*Other Aspects to Include: Hobbies and other unique skills should be included only if they will clearly improve the résumé.