Careers and Majors

Best Resume Builders for High School Graduates

Here are some widely recommended, free or low-cost, beginner-friendly resume builders that are especially useful for students or recent high school grads:

Canva – Offers a variety of modern, customizable resume templates with drag-and-drop simplicity. A free tier includes plenty of options; plus, it comes with ready prompts and section ideas.
Google Docs – Features classic, straightforward resume templates that are easy to edit and share. Great for keeping things clean and professional.
Resume.com – Completely free and includes ATS-friendly formatting along with live editing and download options.
Novoresume – Offers a free basic version with modern templates. Their interface guides you section by section.
Zety – Free to build; you can download your text for free or get formatted PDFs with a small fee. Their step-by-step prompts are helpful for inexperienced writers.

These platforms are ideal because they're intuitive, affordable, and provide helpful suggestions for education, extracurriculars, volunteer work, and part-time jobs.

Tips to Build a Standout Resume as a High School Graduate

Highlight Education First
Start with your high school, any awards, GPA (if strong), and relevant coursework like AP classes or tech skills.

Showcase Extracurriculars & Soft Skills
Involvement in clubs, sports, performing arts, or student government can demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and initiative. Also spotlight soft skills like communication, time-management, or problem-solving.

Include Volunteer & Part-Time Work
Any service experience or employment—even babysitting, tutoring, or summer jobs—counts. Frame them around skills and achievements.

Focus on Transferable Skills
For example: “Managed conflict as student council rep,” “Developed weekly newsletter layout,” or “Tutored three classmates in math.”

Keep It One Page, Clean, and ATS-Friendly
Use simple fonts, clear section headers, and consistent formatting. Avoid images or columns that confuse ATS.

Free Online Career Inventories

O*NET Interest Profiler

Interests → career matches (Holland Codes)

Students exploring a broad range of careers

O*NET Interest Profiler

CareerOneStop Skills Matcher

Skills → matching careers

Students who want to focus on strengths and abilities

Skills Matcher

My Next Move

Interests + keywords → job matches with salary & demand info

Quick searches and interest-based career ideas

My Next Move

Texas Career Check

Career interests, values, work styles → Texas career data

Texas students linking career ideas to state-specific info

Texas Career Check

Princeton Review Career Quiz

Interests and work preferences → career type

Students wanting a short, fun inventory

Career Quiz

Interviewing Strategies

Before the Interview

Do Your Homework

Research the company or program – Know what they do, their mission, and what makes them unique.
Know the role – Review the job or program description and identify key skills they want.
Prepare answers to common questions
Examples:
- “Tell me about yourself.”
- “Why do you want to work here?”
- “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
- “Describe a time you solved a problem.”

Practice Out Loud

Ask a friend, family member, or teacher to run a mock interview.
Focus on speaking clearly, avoiding filler words like “um” or “like.”

Plan Your Outfit

Choose something neat, modest, and job-appropriate.
Make sure clothes are wrinkle-free and shoes are clean.

2. During the Interview

Make a Great First Impression

Arrive 10–15 minutes early.
Offer a confident handshake, make eye contact, and smile.
Use the interviewer’s name if you know it.

Communicate Clearly

Speak at a moderate pace and volume.
Use complete sentences; avoid slang.
Listen closely, then answer—don’t rush.

Use the STAR Method for behavior questions:

S – Situation (set the scene)
T – Task (what needed to be done)
A – Action (what you did)
R – Result (what happened, what you learned)

Show Enthusiasm

Lean in slightly, nod when appropriate, and keep good posture.
Let them see you’re genuinely interested.

3. After the Interview

Ask Questions

Examples:
- “What does a typical day in this role look like?”
- “What skills are most important for success here?”
- “What are the next steps in the hiring process?”

Follow Up

Send a short thank-you email or note within 24 hours:
- Thank them for their time.
- Mention something specific you enjoyed discussing.
- Re-affirm your interest.

Extra Tips for High Schoolers

Highlight transferable skills – If you lack job experience, talk about leadership in school clubs, sports teamwork, volunteer work, or projects.
Bring a copy of your resume – Even if they have one already.
Be honest about experience – Employers appreciate authenticity over trying to sound “perfect.”
Mind your body language – Avoid crossing your arms, fidgeting, or looking at your phone.

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