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My Resume Power-Up

Jessica Garcia

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Resume Building Workshop

Students will learn to identify their unique skills and experiences and articulate them in a professional resume to market themselves effectively for future opportunities.

In today's competitive world, a strong resume is essential for students to stand out when applying for jobs, internships, or college programs, opening doors to their desired future.

Audience

10th Grade Class

Time

90 minutes

Approach

Interactive lecture, individual reflection, guided drafting, and peer feedback.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Crafting Your Standout Resume, Skills and Experience Inventory, Personalized Resume Draft Guide, Resume Evaluation Checklist, and Computers with internet access (optional)

Prep

Teacher Preparation

20 minutes

  • Review all generated materials: Resume Building Workshop Lesson Plan, Crafting Your Standout Resume Slide Deck, Skills and Experience Inventory Worksheet, Personalized Resume Draft Guide Project, and Resume Evaluation Checklist Rubric.
    - Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready.
    - Prepare copies of the Skills and Experience Inventory Worksheet and Resume Evaluation Checklist Rubric for each student if not using digital versions.
    - (Optional) Arrange for computer access for students to begin drafting their resumes digitally.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Your Story?

10 minutes

  • Begin with a quick discussion: "Imagine you have 30 seconds to tell someone important something amazing about yourself. What would you say?"
    - Explain that today's lesson is about crafting that 'amazing story' into a powerful tool: a resume.
    - Introduce the lesson objective and agenda using the Crafting Your Standout Resume Slide Deck.

Step 2

Understanding the Resume: Why It Matters

15 minutes

  • Present slides explaining what a resume is, its purpose, and why it's crucial for future opportunities (jobs, internships, college applications).
    - Discuss different sections of a resume (contact info, objective/summary, education, experience, skills, awards).
    - Use examples from the Crafting Your Standout Resume Slide Deck to illustrate good and bad examples.

Step 3

Skills and Experience Inventory

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Skills and Experience Inventory Worksheet.
    - Guide students through completing the worksheet, prompting them to think about academic achievements, extracurriculars, volunteer work, household responsibilities, and part-time jobs.
    - Encourage brainstorming and sharing ideas in small groups to help students identify more skills and experiences they might not have considered.
    - Circulate to provide support and answer questions.

Step 4

Crafting Your Resume: The First Draft

30 minutes

  • Introduce the Personalized Resume Draft Guide Project.
    - Explain how to use the information from their Skills and Experience Inventory Worksheet to start drafting sections of their resume.
    - Provide time for students to begin drafting their resumes, focusing on the education, skills, and experience sections.
    - Offer individual assistance and feedback as students work.
    - Emphasize using action verbs and quantifiable achievements where possible (e.g., "Managed a team of 3" instead of "Was on a team").

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Resume Evaluation Checklist Rubric.
    - Explain that this rubric will be used for self-assessment and peer feedback.
    - Assign homework: Students should continue working on their resume draft using the Personalized Resume Draft Guide Project and be prepared for peer review in the next session.
    - Conclude by reiterating the power of a well-crafted resume and encourage students to see it as a living document.
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Slide Deck

My Resume Power-Up: Crafting Your Standout Resume

Unlock Your Future Opportunities!

Welcome students and introduce the lesson with an engaging hook. Explain the importance of a resume in their future endeavors.

What's a Resume, Anyway?

– A summary of your skills, experience, and education.
– Your personal marketing tool!
– Why is it important?
– Gets your foot in the door.
– Shows what you can DO.
– Opens doors to jobs, internships, and college!

Ask students what they think a resume is for. Guide the discussion towards its purpose in job applications, internships, and even college.

Building Blocks of a Great Resume

  1. Contact Information: How they reach you.
  2. Objective/Summary: What you're looking for or what you offer.
  3. Education: Your school, graduation date (or expected), GPA (if good!).
  4. Experience: Jobs, volunteer work, school projects.
  5. Skills: What you're good at (e.g., leadership, teamwork, computer skills).
  6. Awards/Achievements: Any special recognition.

Go through each major section of a resume. Provide simple, relatable examples for each. Emphasize that these are building blocks.

Uncovering Your Hidden Powers: Skills & Experiences

– You have valuable experiences!
– School projects, clubs, sports
– Volunteer work, part-time jobs
– Family responsibilities (babysitting, helping at home)
– Hobbies (gaming, art, coding!)
– Let's brainstorm with the Skills and Experience Inventory Worksheet!

Transition to the activity using the worksheet. Explain that students have more experience than they think. Encourage brainstorming.

Make Your Words Work: Action Verbs & Achievements

– Action Verbs: Start bullet points with strong words (e.g., 'Managed,' 'Organized,' 'Created,' 'Led').
– Quantify: Use numbers to show impact (e.g., 'Managed a team of 3,' 'Raised $100 for charity,' 'Increased club attendance by 20%').
– Avoid: 'Helped,' 'Was responsible for,' 'Assisted.'

Explain the importance of strong action verbs and quantifying achievements to make their experiences sound more impactful. Give clear examples.

Your Turn: Drafting Your Resume!

– Using your Skills and Experience Inventory Worksheet and the Personalized Resume Draft Guide Project:
– Start filling in your contact info.
– Write a brief objective or summary.
– List your education.
– Begin detailing your experiences and skills.
– Focus on getting your ideas down!

Introduce the project guide. Explain that they will start drafting their own resume. Offer guidance and remind them to use their worksheet.

Review & Next Steps

– We'll use the Resume Evaluation Checklist Rubric to make sure your resume shines.
– Homework: Continue working on your resume draft using the Personalized Resume Draft Guide Project.
– Remember: Your resume is a powerful tool for your future!

Explain the rubric and its role in self-assessment and peer review. Assign homework and reiterate the main takeaway.

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Worksheet

Skills and Experience Inventory

Instructions: This worksheet will help you brainstorm all the amazing things you've done and learned. Don't worry about perfect wording yet, just get your ideas down! This will be a huge help when you start writing your resume.

Section 1: Academic Achievements & Coursework

What classes have you excelled in? Have you won any academic awards or honors? What are your favorite subjects?










Any major school projects that showcase your skills (e.g., group presentations, research papers, design challenges)? Describe your role and what you accomplished.













Section 2: Extracurricular Activities, Clubs, & Sports

What clubs, sports, or school activities are you involved in? What was your role? What did you do?

  1. Activity Name:
    My Role/Contribution:


  2. Activity Name:
    My Role/Contribution:


  3. Activity Name:
    My Role/Contribution:


Section 3: Volunteer Work & Community Involvement

Where have you volunteered? What responsibilities did you have? What impact did you make?

  1. Organization/Event:
    My Role/Contribution:


  2. Organization/Event:
    My Role/Contribution:


Section 4: Work Experience (Paid or Unpaid)

Have you had any part-time jobs, internships, or consistent responsibilities at home (e.g., managing siblings, lawn care for neighbors)? Describe your duties and any achievements.

  1. Role/Responsibility:
    Where:
    What I Did:





  2. Role/Responsibility:
    Where:
    What I Did:





Section 5: Personal Skills & Qualities

What are you good at? Think about skills like leadership, problem-solving, creativity, communication, teamwork, computer skills (e.g., Google Docs, Canva, video editing), specific languages, etc.

  1. Skill:
    How I used it:


  2. Skill:
    How I used it:


  3. Skill:
    How I used it:


  4. Skill:
    How I used it:


Section 6: Awards, Certifications, or Special Recognitions

Have you received any awards, special recognition, or completed any certifications?







Great job! You've just created a powerful inventory of your strengths. You'll use this to build your resume!

lenny
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Project Guide

Personalized Resume Draft Guide

Project Goal: To create a personalized first draft of your resume, showcasing your unique skills, experiences, and academic journey. This guide will walk you through each essential section.

Instructions: Use the information you gathered in your Skills and Experience Inventory Worksheet to fill out each section below. Remember to use strong action verbs and quantify your achievements where possible!

Section 1: Contact Information

This is how employers or colleges will get in touch with you. Make sure it's professional!

  • Name: Your Full Name (Make it prominent!)
  • Phone Number: (Professional voicemail setup is a plus!)
  • Email Address: (Use a professional-sounding email, e.g., firstname.lastname@email.com)
  • LinkedIn Profile (Optional): If you have one, include the URL here.
  • City, State: (Optional, but often helpful)




Section 2: Objective or Summary (Choose ONE, or skip if unsure)

  • Objective: A short statement about the type of position you are seeking and your career goals.
    • Example: "Seeking an entry-level position in [Industry/Field] where I can apply my [Skill 1] and [Skill 2] to contribute to team success."
  • Summary: A brief overview of your top skills and experiences, best for those with some relevant experience.
    • Example: "Highly motivated 10th-grade student with strong [Skill 1] and [Skill 2] abilities, eager to leverage academic achievements and volunteer experience in a challenging new role."







Section 3: Education

List your current school first. You can include your expected graduation date, GPA (if it's strong!), and any significant academic achievements.

  • School Name: [Your High School Name], [City, State]
  • Expected Graduation Date: [Month, Year]
  • GPA (Optional): [Your GPA] (e.g., 3.8/4.0)
  • Relevant Coursework (Optional): [List 2-3 courses that relate to your goals, e.g., AP Computer Science, Advanced English]
  • Awards/Honors: [e.g., Honor Roll, Academic Excellence Award]










Section 4: Experience (Use Action Verbs! Quantify when possible!)

This is where you describe your jobs, volunteer work, significant school projects, or even consistent home responsibilities. For each entry, include the title, organization, location, and dates. Then, use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements, starting each with a strong action verb.

Entry 1:

  • Job Title/Role: [e.g., Volunteer, Babysitter, Project Leader]
  • Organization/Company: [e.g., Local Animal Shelter, Family Friend, School Debate Club]
  • Location: [City, State]
  • Dates: [Start Month, Year – End Month, Year (or Present)]
  • Responsibilities & Achievements:









Entry 2:

  • Job Title/Role: [e.g., Student Ambassador, Event Organizer, Tutor]
  • Organization/Company: [e.g., School Admissions, Community Center, Peer Tutoring Program]
  • Location: [City, State]
  • Dates: [Start Month, Year – End Month, Year (or Present)]
  • Responsibilities & Achievements:









Section 5: Skills

List your relevant skills here. Divide them into categories if you have many (e.g., Technical Skills, Language Skills, Soft Skills).

  • Technical Skills: [e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Canva, Python, Video Editing Software]
  • Language Skills: [e.g., Fluent in Spanish, Conversational French]
  • Soft Skills: [e.g., Leadership, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Communication, Time Management, Creativity, Adaptability]







Section 6: Awards and Extracurriculars (Optional, if not covered in Education/Experience)

If you have other notable awards, certifications, or activities that don't fit neatly above, list them here.

  • [Award Name], [Year]
  • [Certification Name], [Issuing Body], [Year]
  • [Extracurricular Activity], [Role], [Years Involved]




Next Steps: Once you have a solid draft, review it using the Resume Evaluation Checklist Rubric. Good luck!

lenny
lenny

Rubric

Resume Evaluation Checklist

Instructions: Use this rubric to evaluate your own resume draft or a classmate's resume. Provide constructive feedback to help improve the resume. Score each category from 1 (Needs Significant Improvement) to 4 (Excellent).

Section 1: Contact Information

Criteria1 (Needs Improvement)2 (Developing)3 (Proficient)4 (Excellent)Score
CompletenessMissing several key pieces of information.Most information present, but some gaps.All essential information included.All essential information is present and clearly formatted.
ProfessionalismEmail/phone number appears unprofessional or unclear.Minor issues with professionalism in contact info.Contact info is professional and easy to read.Contact info is impeccably professional and prominently displayed.

Section 2: Objective/Summary (If Included)

Criteria1 (Needs Improvement)2 (Developing)3 (Proficient)4 (Excellent)Score
Clarity & FocusUnclear objective/summary, or generic statement.Statement is somewhat clear but lacks strong focus.Clear and concise, states purpose or key strengths.Compelling, clearly articulates goals or highlights unique qualifications.
RelevanceNot relevant to career exploration or future goals.Somewhat relevant but could be more tailored.Relevant to potential opportunities.Highly relevant and directly aligns with future aspirations.

Section 3: Education

Criteria1 (Needs Improvement)2 (Developing)3 (Proficient)4 (Excellent)Score
Accuracy & DetailMissing school, dates, or contains inaccuracies.Most details present, minor omissions.All required educational details are accurate and included.All educational details are accurate, complete, and well-presented.
ImpactNo indication of academic achievements.Mentions school, but lacks academic highlights.Includes relevant academic achievements (e.g., GPA, honors).Effectively highlights academic strengths and relevant coursework.

Section 4: Experience

Criteria1 (Needs Improvement)2 (Developing)3 (Proficient)4 (Excellent)Score
CompletenessMissing roles, organizations, dates, or descriptions.Some experiences listed, but details are sparse.All experiences include title, organization, dates, and descriptions.All experiences are comprehensively detailed with all necessary information.
Action VerbsUses weak verbs or passive language.Some action verbs, but inconsistent.Mostly uses action verbs.Consistently uses strong, impactful action verbs throughout.
QuantificationNo attempt to quantify achievements.Attempts to quantify, but not always effective.Quantifies some achievements, adding impact.Effectively quantifies achievements, demonstrating clear impact.
RelevanceExperiences seem irrelevant or poorly explained.Some experiences are relevant, but connection is weak.Experiences are relevant to skills/goals.Clearly demonstrates how experiences developed relevant skills for future opportunities.

Section 5: Skills

Criteria1 (Needs Improvement)2 (Developing)3 (Proficient)4 (Excellent)Score
RelevanceLists skills irrelevant to opportunities.Some relevant skills, but also includes weak ones.Lists relevant and desirable skills.Effectively showcases a strong, diverse set of relevant skills.
SpecificitySkills are too general (e.g., "good student").Some specific skills, but could be more detailed.Specific skills listed (e.g., software, languages).Highly specific and clearly defined skills, categorized for readability.

Overall Feedback:

What are the resume's biggest strengths?






What areas could be improved? (Be specific!)











Any other suggestions?






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