Photo by Biljana Jovanovic at Pixabay

As a high school student, you can start preparing for career opportunities by writing and updating your CV. However, since you have limited time and finances, you may struggle to discover activities that you can engage in while also studying for school. Did you know that there are numerous things you may participate in while still in high school that will pay off in the future? The good news is that it will not only appear outstanding on your resume, but it will also benefit your university application.

CVs are used to apply for jobs, internships, apprenticeships, and basic job roles throughout your working career. A strong resume allows you to reflect on your experiences. In this article, we'll go through nine activities you can do to build up your resume while still in school.

1. Get Involved in Clubs

Participating in a student organization at your school would be an excellent way for you to demonstrate your knowledge. Whether it is a newspaper club, robotic club, a football club, or any other kind of extracurricular activity, it is always a good idea. It is ok if it has nothing to do with your future degree or career goals because you will still gain numerous valuable skills from the experience. However, if the club is relevant to your future degree or career goals, you will be more appealing to admissions officers and recruiters because you already have some of the abilities required in the industry and demonstrate that you are passionate and truly interested in that subject.

2. Internships

It may be difficult to find internships as a high school student, but never pass up the opportunity. That's when Chance comes in. Some companies, such as NASA, … provide summer internship opportunities for high school students. If you are interested in more internship options in all fields of STEM, we recommend visiting this website. You can additionally reach out to your personal contacts, such as instructors, friends, or parents.

Make sure to check out this article to see what it is like to have aninternship at NASA.

3. Join a Research Program

Many institutions, including the world’s leading universities, offer their own research programs that high school students can participate in. It's a fantastic place to start your research career, as they usually take place over the summer, are just a few weeks long, and provide excellent guidance from university professors and experts in the field. Additionally, it allows you to network with a lot of like-minded peers and gain access to cutting-edge research you wouldn’t have otherwise. However, these programs can get really competitive and sometimes even expensive. That’s where Chance comes in and allows you to choose the perfect program for you based on your personal requirements. Check out this article to find out more on how to join a research program.

4. Volunteer in your Community

Volunteering is an excellent way to make your CV stand out from the crowd; even though it is unpaid, unlike internships, you will get many beneficial skills and experiences for your future profession! Volunteering demonstrates that you have solid time management abilities, as well as many other skills such as communication, leadership, or even something more technical such as coding or writing.

5. Get a Part-time Job

Even if you take on a job that is unrelated to what you want to do later on, it demonstrates that you are capable of managing multiple tasks at once and have a strong work ethic. You may also earn a few extra dollars by working part-time at a local restaurant, market, or other type of business. Casual part-time jobs also teach you valuable soft skills such as teamwork, interacting with diverse individuals, and problem-solving.

6. Freelancing Work

If you are already proficient in particular creative fields such as web development, writing, design, or any other creative skill, freelance work is the perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate your abilities while earning extra money. It is flexible and allows you to construct a portfolio while also enhancing your skills and expertise. When you first start out, it may be difficult to find clients; therefore, remain patient and continue honing your talents. Once you've accumulated some reviews and recommendations, the opportunities are limitless.

7. Participate in Competitions

Building your achievements and awards will not only improve your CV but also help you with your university application. Whether it is a competition that is absolutely unrelated to your field, such as a sports competition, or a competition that is completely relevant to your future university degree and career prospects, such as a debate competition for law school or an essay competition for journalism. Not all of the competitions you enter will give you a good outcome, but with patience and work ethic, you will obtain a good result later on.

8. Take on New Responsibilities

Many internships or other similar positions may require you to have specific skills, but if you don't already have one, you may consider taking on additional duties. Whether it is taking a leadership position within an organization or starting a new project, this will give you some fresh talking points for your CV and the opportunity to have some remarkable outcomes or projects behind you that you can brag about on your application.

9. Develop your Skills

Thanks to technological advancements, you may now take any course you want remotely.. The best part is that many of them are at no cost. Other resources, such as a digital workshop and podcasts, would also be beneficial. Make sure that you recognise the skills you wish to learn. If you're unsure, look into the job requirements for your internship application and see what skills they want from applicants. Taking a fundamental transferable skill like leadership or public speaking would also be a good option because it may be applied to many opportunities you have ahead of you.

Getting your dream career requires more than just a strong resume. However, having an outstanding CV is always a good start, even if you are still in high school. Make sure you don't miss the opportunity to study, engage in many activities, start exciting projects, and plan for the future. However, remember not to neglect your academics while putting in all of this extra work to strengthen your CV. So, put in as much time as you can and never give up when you encounter failures, because there are many paths to success.