Lesson Plan
Resume Rally Lesson Plan
Students will draft key sections of a resume, exchange peer feedback, and leave with a personalized resume outline ready for further development.
This lesson builds vital career-readiness skills by guiding seniors through hands-on resume creation and peer review, empowering them to present their achievements effectively.
Audience
12th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided drafting with peer review.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Share or print enough copies of Resume Template for each student
- Prepare copies of Peer Feedback Checklist
- Display or distribute Resume Section Examples
- Familiarize yourself with key resume sections and common student challenges
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Explain lesson objectives and importance: real-world job applications and college admissions
- Highlight key sections using Resume Section Examples
- Answer any initial student questions
Step 2
Draft Resume Sections
10 minutes
- Students open Resume Template
- Draft contact info, summary/objective, education, and work/volunteer experience
- Encourage referencing Resume Section Examples for phrasing and formatting
- Differentiation:
- Struggling students: provide sentence starters (e.g., “Led a team of…”) and one-on-one support
- Advanced students: draft optional skills or achievements sections
Step 3
Peer Feedback
8 minutes
- Pair students and exchange resume drafts
- Use Peer Feedback Checklist to guide comments on clarity, formatting, and content relevance
- Encourage at least two positive notes and two constructive suggestions per resume
- Teacher circulates to model effective feedback and assist pairs
Step 4
Reflection & Next Steps
7 minutes
- Invite volunteers to share one insight or improvement suggestion they received
- Discuss how to integrate feedback into a polished resume draft
- Collect outlines and completed feedback checklists for formative assessment
- Assign as homework: revise resumes incorporating peer feedback and submit final drafts
Slide Deck
Resume Rally
Hands-On Resume Building Activity
Welcome students and introduce today’s hands-on resume building session. Explain the activity structure and set expectations for engagement.
Session Objectives
• Draft key resume sections (contact info, summary, education, experience)
• Exchange peer feedback
• Leave with a personalized resume outline for further development
Review the objectives clearly so students know what they will accomplish by the end of the session.
Why Build a Strong Resume?
• Creates a positive first impression
• Showcases skills, achievements, and experiences
• Helps you stand out to employers or admissions officers
• Forms the foundation of your career portfolio
Emphasize real-world relevance: resumes are used for jobs, internships, and college applications.
Key Resume Sections
• Contact Information
• Professional Summary or Objective
• Education
• Work & Volunteer Experience
• Skills & Achievements
Briefly explain each section’s purpose as you list them.
Resume Section Examples
Refer to Resume Section Examples for samples that illustrate strong phrasing, clear formatting, and concise detail.
Direct students to examine tone, action verbs, and formatting in the provided examples.
Drafting Your Resume
- Open Resume Template
- Draft:
– Contact Information
– Professional Summary/Objective
– Education
– Work & Volunteer Experience - Use sentence starters (e.g., “Led a team of…”) and refer to examples
- Ask for help if you get stuck
Guide students step-by-step through opening the template and drafting each section. Circulate to support sentence starters and differentiation.
Providing Peer Feedback
• Exchange resume drafts with a partner
• Use Peer Feedback Checklist to guide your review
• Provide at least 2 positive comments and 2 suggestions for improvement
• Focus on clarity, relevance, and formatting
Model how to give specific, constructive feedback. Remind pairs to be respectful and helpful.
Reflection & Next Steps
• Share one helpful suggestion you received
• Discuss how you’ll integrate feedback into your resume
• Homework: Revise your resume draft incorporating peer feedback and submit your final version
Facilitate a quick share-out. Encourage students to articulate one key insight and explain their homework.
Worksheet
Resume Rally Template
Contact Information
Full Name:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
LinkedIn URL (optional):
Address:
Professional Summary / Objective
Write a 2–3 sentence statement that highlights your strengths, career goals, and what you bring to an employer:
Education
Institution Name:
Location (City, State):
Degree / Major:
Graduation Date (Month Year):
Add additional institutions if needed.
Work & Volunteer Experience
Entry #1
Position Title:
Organization:
Dates (Month Year – Month Year):
Key Responsibilities / Achievements:
•
•
•
Entry #2
Position Title:
Organization:
Dates (Month Year – Month Year):
Key Responsibilities / Achievements:
•
•
•
Add more entries if needed.
Skills & Achievements (Optional)
List up to 5 relevant skills, certifications, or notable accomplishments:
1.
Worksheet
Peer Feedback Checklist
Reviewer Name: ____________________
Partner Name: ____________________
1. Clarity & Readability
- Contact Information is complete and easy to read:
- Yes [ ] No
Comments:
- Yes [ ] No
- Professional Summary / Objective is clear and concise:
- Yes [ ] No
Comments:
- Yes [ ] No
2. Content Relevance & Strength
- Education section includes all necessary details (institution, degree, date):
- Yes [ ] No
Comments:
- Yes [ ] No
- Work & Volunteer Experience highlights relevant responsibilities or achievements with action verbs:
- Yes [ ] No
Comments:
- Yes [ ] No
3. Formatting & Presentation
- Layout is consistent (fonts, headings, spacing) and looks professional:
- Yes [ ] No
Comments:
- Yes [ ] No
- Bullet points and sections are well-organized and easy to follow:
- Yes [ ] No
Comments:
- Yes [ ] No
4. Overall Feedback
Two Strengths I Noticed:
•
•
Two Suggestions for Improvement:
1.
Reading
Resume Section Examples
Professional Summary / Objective Example
Motivated high school senior with demonstrated leadership in student government and volunteer initiatives. Skilled in effective communication and project coordination, seeking to contribute organizational and teamwork abilities to a dynamic internship in event planning.
Education Example
Springfield High School — Springfield, IL
Graduation: May 2024
GPA: 3.8 / 4.0
Relevant Coursework: AP English Literature, AP Biology, Computer Science Principles
Work & Volunteer Experience Examples
Peer Tutor, Springfield High School Tutoring Center — 2022–2024
- Facilitated weekly study sessions for 5–8 students in mathematics and science, resulting in an average grade improvement of 10%.
- Collaborated with teachers to develop targeted review materials and practice exams.
Youth Volunteer, Springfield Community Food Bank — Summer 2023
- Organized and led a team of 6 volunteers to sort and package over 500 meals weekly for disadvantaged families.
- Implemented inventory tracking system to reduce food waste by 15%.
Skills & Achievements Example
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Certified CPR and First Aid Provider
- Varsity Soccer Team Captain; earned Sportsmanship Award 2023