High School Counselor Resume Example & Writing Guide

Introduction

High school counselors play a crucial role in the academic and personal success of their students. They are responsible for guiding and supporting students through their high school journey, from course selection to college applications and everything in between. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a high school counselor, it is important to have a well-written resume that showcases your skills and experience. In this guide, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to write a high school counselor resume.

Step 1: Choose a Format

The first step in crafting a winning resume is to choose a format that best suits your experience and skills. There are several types of formats to choose from, including chronological, functional, and combination. Chronological resumes list your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. Functional resumes focus more on your skills and achievements than on your work history, while combination resumes blend the two approaches. For a high school counselor resume, a chronological or combination format is generally best.

Step 2: Include a Professional Summary

A professional summary should be the first thing that appears on your resume. It is a brief statement that highlights your most important qualifications and achievements. Your professional summary should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for, and should emphasize your experience working with high school students and helping them achieve academic and personal success.

Step 3: Emphasize Your Education and Certifications

• List your education and certifications in reverse chronological order
• Include your degree(s), major(s), and graduation date(s)
• Mention any relevant coursework or academic honors
• Highlight any certifications or licenses you hold, such as a state counseling license or National Board for Counselor Certification (NBCC) certification

Step 4: Highlight Your Experience

Your experience section should detail your work history and highlight your accomplishments as a high school counselor. Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements in each role, and quantify your results wherever possible. For example, instead of saying, "Provided counseling to high school students," say, "Provided individual and group counseling to over 50 high school students per semester."

Step 5: Showcase Your Skills

• List skills that are relevant to the position, such as interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, and organizational skills
• Include any technical skills you possess, such as experience with student information systems or counseling software
• Provide examples of how you have demonstrated these skills in your previous roles

Step 6: Include Relevant Professional Memberships, Activities, or Volunteer Work

If you are an active member of a professional organization, or have participated in relevant volunteer work or community activities, make sure to highlight these in your resume. This shows that you are committed to the field and that you have a passion for helping others.

Conclusion

A well-crafted high school counselor resume can be the key to securing a rewarding position in this important field. Follow these tips and use the recommended format, and you will be well on your way to landing your dream job as a high school counselor.