Key Highlights
- Knowing how to present your high school information on your resume can be valuable, especially when your high school experience is your most relevant.
- Fresh graduates and those with limited work experience can benefit from highlighting their high school education.
- As you gain more experience, your resume should prioritize professional achievements and higher education.
- Proper formatting and clear presentation make your resume appealing and easy to read for potential employers.
- This guide offers a clear, step-by-step approach to help you determine whether to include high school on your resume and how to do it effectively.
Creating a strong resume can be tricky for recent graduates or those with little work experience. You may be unsure how to make your resume shine when most of your relevant experience is from high school. This guide will help you understand when to list your high school on your resume, how to format the education section, and which details will impress potential employers.
Deciding whether to include high school on your resume
Deciding whether to add high school to your resume can be tough. It mostly depends on your experience and the job you want. If you just graduated from high school or don’t have much work experience, it’s a good idea to include it. Doing this shows your basic education and lets you talk about any coursework or activities that relate to the job.
But as you gain more work experience or earn a college degree, high school information becomes less important. After you reach that point, it’s usually fine to leave high school off your resume. This will give you space for more relevant qualifications.
Situations where high school information is relevant
There are times when it makes sense to include high school information on your resume. Here are a few situations when you should:
- You’re a Recent Graduate: If you just graduated from high school and are looking for a job for the first time, your high school diploma is your latest education. It should be shown clearly on your resume.
- Relevant Coursework: If you took specific high school classes or took part in activities that relate to the jobs you want, mention these experiences. They can show your early interest and basic knowledge in that area.
- High School Diploma is the Highest Level of Education: If your high school diploma is the highest level of education you have, it is important to include it. This shows potential employers your qualifications.
When it’s time to remove high school details
Including high school information on your resume can be helpful at first. However, there comes a time when it’s better to take it out. This usually happens when:
- You’ve Gained Important Work Experience: As you get more work experience, your job successes matter more than your high school education. Employers want to see how you’ve grown in your career and what skills you’ve developed.
- You Have a Higher Education Degree: After earning your college degree, this should be the main focus in your education section. Your high school diploma is less important now, and removing it can help keep your resume clear and concise.
- Your Resume is Getting Too Full: It’s best to keep your resume short and to the point, ideally on one page unless you have a lot of experience. If you need more space, removing your high school education can help create more room.
How to format high school education on your resume
When you add your high school to your resume, make sure it looks clean and simple. Use the same font, size, and spacing throughout. This helps make your resume easy to read. Always put your most recent education at the top. If you are a college student or graduate, start with your college details. You can list your high school information after that if you want.
Properly positioning your high school information
The placement of your high school information within the education section of your resume depends on your academic background. Here’s a simple guide:
High School Student: Place your high school education at the top of the education section, since it is your highest level of education.
College Student or Graduate: Position your college degree in progress or completed degree first. Then, list your high school diploma underneath.
Here’s a visual representation of how it should look:
| Type of Education | Information to Include |
|---|---|
| College Education | Degree Name, University Name, Years Attended |
| High School Education | Diploma, High School Name, Years Attended |
What details to include about your high school experience
When you list your high school on your resume, keep it simple. Write down the school name, city, state, and your graduation date or when you expect to graduate. Employers often look at resumes quickly, so use a clear format:
[Name of High School], [City, State] – [Graduation date or “Expected Graduation: Month, Year”]
You can add relevant coursework, a high GPA (3.5 or higher), and skills you gained from high school classes or activities. Make sure to adjust this information for each job application. This way, you can show your experience that matches the skills the job needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, deciding to add high school to your resume depends on your own situation. Think about how your high school experience relates to the job you want. If you just graduated, including high school can show your education. But if you have a lot of college experience or other qualifications, you might want to focus on that instead.
Make your resume fit the qualifications that matter most for the job. Remember, your resume shows your skills and achievements; it should match your career goals.
FAQs
If you have not graduated yet, write the name of your high school and where it is located. Instead of a graduation date, say “Expected Graduation:” and include the year and month. For example: “[School’s Name], [City, State] – Expected Graduation: June 2025.” You can also put your expected graduation date in your resume summary to attract recruiters.
