Should You Include High School Achievements on Your CV?

Why This Question Matters More Than You Think

For many students, especially international ones, writing a CV isn’t just about listing jobs. It’s about telling a story one that shows you’re ready for the role you want.

But what if you don’t have much professional experience yet?
That’s where the question comes in: Should you include your high school achievements?

The Short Answer

• Yes if you are a student, recent graduate, or early-career professional and your high school achievements are directly relevant or show transferable skills.
• No if you have strong, recent experience that already demonstrates your skills and achievements.

Why It’s More Relevant for International Students

International students, especially those on a post-study work visa, face a unique challenge their time to prove employability is shorter.
For example:

• A BEng Cyber Security student at UWS London finishes in 3 years, compared to 4–5 years in countries like Egypt.
• This means you enter the job market sooner, often with fewer internships under your belt.

If your professional portfolio is still growing, relevant high school achievements can help bridge the gap.

When to Include High School Achievements

1. When They’re Directly Relevant
   If you’re applying for a marketing internship and you won a national-level advertising competition in high school, include it.
2. When They Show Leadership or Initiative
   Example: Starting a student club, organising a fundraiser, or leading a sports team — especially if these skills align with the job you want.
3. When You Have Limited Experience
   If you’ve only had part-time jobs unrelated to your field, relevant high school projects can showcase skills the employer is looking for.
4. When Applying for Scholarships or Academic Roles
   Some applications value your academic history in its entirety, especially for awards, grants, or student representative positions.

When NOT to Include High School Achievements

1. When They’re Outdated
   If you’re 5+ years into your career, employers expect your CV to focus on recent achievements.
2. When They’re Not Relevant
   “Perfect attendance award” might have been great in school — but it’s not going to help you land a role in data analytics.
3. When You Have Stronger, More Recent Examples
   If you’ve completed internships, projects, or freelance work in your chosen field, prioritise those instead.

Employer Perspective: What Recruiters Think

Recruiters don’t mind seeing relevant high school achievements, especially for early-career roles. But they look for:

• Transferable skills (leadership, teamwork, problem-solving)
• Evidence of commitment and results
• Clear link between the achievement and the role

They’re not looking for a long list of unrelated awards instead, two or three relevant points are enough.

Special Case: Post-Study Work Visa Applicant

If you’re on the UK’s Graduate Route (18 months), your CV is part of your career launchpad.

• You might not yet have UK-based work experience in your field.
• High school achievements can fill early credibility gaps, especially when combined with internships during your course.
• Employers want to see continuous growth, so showing your development from school to university helps.

Erudmite’s Tips for Listing High School Achievements

1. Be Selective
   Only list 2–3 high school achievements that are relevant.
2. Use the Same Formatting as Other Experience
   This keeps your CV professional and cohesive.
3. Quantify Where Possible
   Instead of “Organised a fundraiser,” write “Organised a fundraiser that raised £5,000 for local charities.”
4. Link to the Job Description
   Make sure each achievement answers the question: Why should this employer care?

Example: CV Entry for High School Achievements

Achievements

• Captain of School Debate Team – Led team to national finals, improving presentation and research skills.
• Founder of Coding Club – Organised weekly sessions for 20+ students, introducing them to Python and Java.
• Winner, National Science Fair – Developed IoT-based home automation prototype.

Final Word

InIncluding high school achievements on your CV isn’t about showing off your teenage glory days—it’s about using every relevant piece of your history to prove you’re ready for the next step. Done strategically, it can be the boost your CV needs to get noticed, especially if you’re early in your career or studying abroad. An educational consultant in Dubai might even recommend highlighting such achievements to strengthen your profile when you have limited time to build experience.

FAQs

Q-1. Should I include all my high school achievements?
A-1. No. Only include those that are relevant, recent, and show transferable skills.

Q-2. How many high school achievements should I list?
A-2. Two or three is enough focus on quality over quantity.

Q-3 Will employers think I lack experience if I include high school achievements?
A-3 Not if they are relevant and clearly linked to the role.

Q-4 Should I remove high school achievements once I get my first job?
A-4 Yes as soon as you have stronger, more recent examples.

Q-5 Can high school achievements help in post-study work applications?
A-5 Yes especially if you have limited UK work experience. They can help show a consistent track record of skills.