When Are You Too Old to List High School Accomplishments on Your Resume?

So, when are you too old to include your high school accomplishments on a resume? I have been asked this question many times, but as I just finished a resume workshop with a group of 17-21 year olds, it is back in my mind. No, there was no one in my group who was too old to have high school listed. But what got me thinking was the amount of other experience a 20-year-old can have, whereas I still see resumes from people 30 years old or older listing high school credentials.
One of my first edits with most resumes is removing “high school diploma” from the education section. (Note that I said most, not all.) Basically, if you have a college or university education, the high school bit is expected. Why use valuable resume space?

You may have a trade or diploma which didn’t require you to complete high school, and it is a good idea to list this to distinguish yourself from other candidates. If you do, make sure it is not at the expense of anything else you could include. If you have been in the workforce for 10 years or more, you may have more relevant professional development to be included under education. Remember, space is at a premium on your resume.
What about other accomplishments from your high school days? If you are just entering the workforce, or while in college or university, by all means list your high school honours, awards, committee affiliations, and any other experiences you have gathered. You are still young, still building experience, and these pieces help to define who you are and what you can do.
Generally speaking, once you have achieved a new level of education, high school becomes less relevant. Once you begin to transition out of school (or into grad school) you should drop your high school experiences and focus on accomplishments made more recently. Employers are interested in your work related training and skills, not the fact that you co-edited your high school yearbook.
The same tips can be applied to your university and college experiences about 5-8 years down the road. Always list your degree or diploma, but your involvement with the student union becomes irrelevant once you have built up more valuable and recent work experiences.
Article by Natalie Joan
Courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities, and posted on Resume Revamp.

Originally posted by Candice A