Approach your resume the same way you would approach a college application or scholarship application: how do you best capture your strengths to prove that you've got what it takes?

Your resume is an important marketing tool. A well-written high school resume represents your character, your skills and accomplishments, and how you spend your time. Someone reading your resume should get an idea of who you are, both personally and professionally.

At the end of the day, resumes are about showing a college you are the right person for their school.

You want to show you're competent, passionate and responsible, with the right personality and skills to fit that school.

Here are some important sections that should be on every resume:

• #1. Contact Information - This is where you write down your personal and contact information (no surprise there) like first and last name, phone number, professional e-mail address (ex. name.lastname@gmail.com), or links to other profiles.

• #2. Resume Objective - In 3-4 sentences, you should be able to describe your career goals and aspirations as well as list your skills.

• #3. Education - As you probably guessed, this is where you list your education history and relevant certifications.

• #4. Extracurricular Activities - These include participation in high school clubs, competitive events, and volunteer work.

• #5. Projects & Gigs - You can mention relevant projects you have participated in, as well as any internships.

• #6. Work Experience (optional) - If you don’t have any work experience, you can mention apprenticeships or volunteer work instead.

• #7. Languages - Language skills are always a plus for your application.

• #8. Hobbies & Interests - These offer some insight into your personality and can show that you’re passionate and interested in the industry.

Tips for Composing Your College Admissions Resume

1. Keep it concise.

Pare down the activities you showcase to the most brag-worthy and most representative of you as a candidate. Do colleges need to know that you were on the field hockey team for one semester in Grade 9? Probably not. The standard rule of thumb is to stick to one or two pages.

2. Focus on depth and length of commitment.

When deciding which activities and accomplishments make the cut, keep in mind that colleges would much rather see you excited about one or two key experiences than sporadic involvement in 20 clubs. If having an after-school job limited your ability to participate in clubs or sports, make sure your resume plays up your work responsibilities, training, and on-the-job skills.

3. Provide detail whenever possible.

The details are what set a resume apart from a list of extracurriculars on a standard college application. For example, when describing your involvement in the French Club make sure to include:

• your role

• school years/hours per week you participated

• specific contributions (e.g. "Organized a successful after-school film series to introduce our community to French cinema and culture" )

• leadership roles (e.g. "Treasurer, Grade 12" )

• unique details that will make you stand out

4. Highlight things you weren’t able to write about in your college essays or short answers.

Use your high school resume to show colleges something new. If your devotion to photography didn’t make it on the application but is a big part of who you are, then showcase your photography cred on your resume.

5. Formatting is key.

Make your resume easy to scan. Divide information into sections with clear headings, bulleted lists, and a consistent font. Use a system of organization that works for you. (Chronological, by importance of activity, or by time commitment are a few options.) Don’t forget to proofread!

6. Be honest and accurate.

Colleges know how to spot inconsistencies in your application materials, and they won’t hesitate to call your counselor to verify information that doesn't seem right. So don't tell them that you have practice for the school play for 30 hours per week—unless drama club is somehow your full-time job!