Is it appropriate to mention high school achievements on a cv as an adult?

[tripleripples]

I'm a bit embarrassed by this but struggling to know what is appropriate. I have never had a job. I was a high achiever during my younger years and started uni but my life has been a mess. I had mental health problems and ended up dropping out of uni and having my first child at nineteen. I was a single parent on benefits for a while. Obviously, I'm not going to say all of that, but it means that there is a whole lot of nothing on my CV for many years. This doesn't make me an attractive prospect.

I have the qualifications they ask for in this specific job listing, but so will many other candidates. I have some relevant (voluntary) experience to put on my cv, but I don't know how to make myself stand out. I am intelligent and pick things up quickly, but am particularly good with numbers. I am very suited to the role but it's hard for me to prove this without experience. I was awarded something during my younger years (not by my school, it was a national thing) which is sort of relevant to the the job I'm applying for now and will go some way to showing that I am actually good at this... but I'm now in my early thirties.

I can't tell whether this would be a way of making my application stand out when I don't have much to work with, or whether I will be embarrassing myself by sounding like I'm trying to 'show off' about something which happened a long time ago and is no longer relevant, especially as the job itself isn't very academic.

My husband lost his job just before lockdown and things are getting a bit desperate. What would be best?

I think it’s worth putting on if it was a national award but it should be last, ie after the relevant voluntary experience or it could be included in the little blurb you put at the start about your aims and saying “from an early age I have been interested in x industry even winning x award at school. I hope that I’m gaining this job I can bring my enthusiasm and interest for the industry to bear.“ or something similar as I know I’ve poorly worded that

I was going to poo-poo the idea, but a national level award might be worth it. Especially if you can make it relevant to the kind of role you are applying for (teamwork? diligence/persistence? prioritisation/time management?)

It also gives something different as an icebreaker topic at interview.

But you will need to explain the gaps, as you have acknowledged, do again if it is a pursuit you kept up (even at a lower level) it might help

No, that's actually really helpful, thank you. I've been staring at my laptop for hours and words don't look like words anymore, so getting that wording as a starting point feels like a big help!

There's another thread on the go at the moment about terrible CVs -
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3954013-Terrible-CVs

On Tues at 12.31 the OP listed out what she feels should be included in a good CV.

Good luck

I would put it on. Good luck OP.

good luck

Good luck OP.

Yes if it’s a national achievement - that’s a big deal! I’d include it maybe in the hobbies/interests section at the end because it’s relevant but not as important as your voluntary work. Good luck!

It really all depends on what it is, can you be a bit more specific?