Volunteer work and internships can help if you have limited paid experience. These show you have basic skills and a good work ethic.

Include any projects or activities related to the job you're applying for. This shows that you are proactive and passionate about the industry.

If you've taken online courses or earned certifications, list these in your resume. They show you have relevant skills and are willing to learn.

Examples include computer skills, first aid, or industry-specific certificates. These can set you apart from other high school graduates.

You want employers to see you're right for the job. Show them by changing your resume to match what the job needs. Think about what skills and experiences are most important and put those first.

• If you want a job working with people, like in sales, write about times you've worked in a team or helped customers.
• For a job that needs problem-solving, talk about a big project you did in school or a tough problem you solved.
• Aiming for a tech-related job? Point out your skills with computers or any coding classes you took.

When you're fresh out of high school and diving into the job market, it's important to highlight the relevant skills you've gained. Here's a list of common hard skills that can make your resume stand out:

• Technical proficiency
• Basic computer skills
• Data entry
• Mathematics
• Scientific methods
• Foreign language fluency
• Software knowledge (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace)
• Basic coding (e.g., HTML/CSS)
• Social media management
• Graphic design basics

Remember, you don't need all these skills. Choose the ones that best match the job you want. If you're aiming for a technical role, focus on technical proficiency and software knowledge. For creative jobs, graphic design basics and social media management might be more relevant.

Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easy for hiring managers to see your abilities quickly. Also, many companies use software to scan resumes for specific skills. If you have skills from this list, put them on your resume to help you get past these scans and into the hands of a hiring manager.

When you're a high school graduate looking for a job, showing you have leadership skills can be very helpful. If you've had a chance to lead or were promoted in any role, here's how to put that on your resume.

Think about times you were trusted with more responsibilities. This might be when you were made captain of a sports team, led a group project, or were in charge of a school event. These are all good examples of leadership.

• Team Captain, School Soccer Team - Organized practices and led team to state championships.
• Lead Organizer, Annual School Fundraiser - Managed a team of 10 volunteers, doubling the funds raised from the previous year.

Even if you're not sure, think about times when you took charge or helped guide others. This could be during part-time work, internships, or volunteer roles. Use words like 'led,' 'managed,' or 'coordinated' to show your leadership.

• Shift Leader, Local Café - Managed weekend shifts and trained new staff members.
• Peer Mentor, Math Tutoring Program - Guided students through complex problems, improving their grades significantly.

As a high school graduate, you can stand out by showing the value you bring through numbers. This helps hiring managers see your impact clearly.

Think about times when you:

• Helped save time. Did you find a faster way to complete a school project? Estimate the time saved, for example, 'Cut project time by 20% through improved organization.'
• Managed money. If you handled any budgets, like for a school club, use numbers to show your skill: 'Managed a club budget of $500, optimizing costs and saving the club 15% annually.'
• Improved sales or fundraising. Did you take part in a fundraiser? You could state, 'Increased fundraiser revenue by 30% through targeted social media promotion.'
• Reduced waste or errors. Perhaps in a school project, you could say, 'Reduced material waste by 25% by implementing a recycling program.'

Even if you are not sure about the exact numbers, a good estimate can still show your ability to make a real difference. Use numbers to give a clear picture of your contributions, big or small.

When you're just out of school, crafting your resume for a small business or a startup needs a personal touch. Focus on how flexible and eager to learn you are. You might include phrases like 'adaptable team player ready to contribute to a dynamic team' or 'keen to bring fresh ideas to a growing business.'

For larger companies such as Walmart or Amazon, show that you understand the value of structure and scale. Highlight any experiences where you've been part of large groups, like school clubs or sports teams. Phrases like 'experienced working in structured environments' or 'comfortable with diverse and large team dynamics' could be beneficial.

In both scenarios, stress on any leadership roles or projects you managed, even in informal settings like organizing a school event. This shows you're ready to take on responsibility and lead, which is key for any high school graduate stepping into the working world.