You might think résumés are just for adults applying to jobs—but building one before you start college can give you a major head start. Whether you’re applying for scholarships, internships, campus jobs, or leadership programs, a polished résumé helps you stand out and stay organized.

Here’s how to build a strong, college-ready résumé—even if you’ve never had a formal job.

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✅ Why You Need a Résumé Before College Starts

• Apply for on-campus jobs or internships
• Stand out for scholarships or leadership roles
• Create a foundation for your future career
• Feel confident talking about your experience

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📌 What to Include on a High School Résumé

Don’t worry if you don’t have a long job history—colleges and employers are looking for potential, commitment, and curiosity.

Here’s what to include:

1. Contact Info

Your full name, email address (make it professional!), phone number, and city/state.

2. Education

• High school name, city/state
• Graduation year
• GPA (optional)
• Honors or AP courses

3. Extracurricular Activities

Clubs, sports, leadership roles, student government, theater, debate, etc.

Tip: Focus on what you did and how often (ex: “Organized monthly meetings and led fundraising for student council.”)

4. Volunteering

Community service, church involvement, tutoring, etc. Describe the impact of what you did.

5. Work Experience (If Any)

Part-time jobs, babysitting, pet-sitting, lawn care—anything that shows responsibility.

6. Skills

Include soft and hard skills like:

• Time management
• Google Docs or Canva
• Bilingual or fluent in another language
• Public speaking or leadership

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🛠️ Tools to Build Your Résumé

• Canva (free templates)
• Google Docs (simple and clean layouts)
• Zety or ResumeGenius (guided builders with tips)

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✨ Tips for a Stand-Out Résumé

• Keep it to one page
• Use action verbs like “led,” “organized,” “created,” or “coordinated”
• Be honest—but confident! Own your experience
• Proofread (or ask a teacher, counselor, or parent to review)

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🧠 Bonus: Use Your Résumé to Help Write Your College Essay

When it’s time to write about your achievements, challenges, or growth—your résumé becomes a personal roadmap. It helps you remember all the things you’ve done that make you unique.

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Bottom Line:
Your résumé is more than just a piece of paper—it’s a confidence builder, a memory jogger, and a powerful tool that says: I’m ready.