Build-a-Resume Stations Activity Guide

Overview: In Session 2, students will rotate through four focused stations to draft each section of their resumes using their Resume Template & Tips Worksheet. Spend roughly 8 minutes per station. At each station, students complete prompts and then use a checklist to self-assess before rotating.

Station Duration: 8 minutes each (32 minutes total) + 8 minutes for peer review and transition.

Materials Needed:

• Resume Template & Tips Worksheet (one per student)
• Station prompt cards (printed) for each station
• Pens/highlighters
• Timer or bell signal

Station 1: Header

Goal: Create a professional, easy-to-read header that includes all essential contact information.

Prompts:

• Write your full name in large, bold font at the top.
• List your phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn URL.
• (Optional) City & State.

Checklist (✔ when complete):

• Name is bold and the largest text on the page
• Email is professional (e.g., firstname.lastname@domain.com)
• Phone number formatted consistently (e.g., (123) 456-7890)
• LinkedIn URL is up-to-date and customized (no random numbers)
• City & State listed (optional but consistent)

Teacher Note: Signal at 1 minute left to wrap up.

Station 2: Education

Goal: Showcase your academic achievements clearly and concisely.

Prompts:

• List your high school name, location, and expected graduation date.
• Include GPA if it is 3.0 or higher.
• Add honors (e.g., Honor Roll) or relevant coursework.

Checklist:

• School name and city, state included
• Graduation date in month/year format
• GPA (if ≥3.0) and honors listed logically
• Relevant coursework or academic activities noted

Teacher Note: Remind students to use reverse-chronological order.

Station 3: Experience

Goal: Describe work, volunteer, and leadership experiences using action verbs and quantifiable results.

Prompts:

• For each role, write the job title, organization, and dates.
• Use at least two bullet points per role.
• Start each bullet with a strong action verb (led, organized, designed, etc.).
• Quantify achievements when possible (e.g., “Increased library membership by 15%”).

Checklist:

• Role title, organization name, and dates are clear
• Bullet points begin with action verbs
• At least one bullet quantifies an achievement
• Language is concise and outcome-oriented

Teacher Note: Encourage specificity and avoid vague phrases like “helped with.”

Station 4: Skills

Goal: Compile a targeted list of hard and soft skills relevant to your goals.

Prompts:

• List 4–6 hard skills (software, languages, certifications).
• List 3–5 soft skills (communication, teamwork, problem-solving).
• Tailor skills to the type of college program or job you’re pursuing.

Checklist:

• Hard skills listed first, clearly labeled
• Soft skills follow, each separated by commas or bullets
• Total skills count is 7–10 maximum
• Skills are directly relevant to intended field or role

Teacher Note: Remind students to prioritize quality over quantity.

Post-Station: Peer Review & Share (8 minutes)

1. Pair up students and have them exchange worksheets.
2. Each student uses station-specific checklists to give feedback on one section.
3. Bring the class back together: ask each student to share one key improvement they made based on peer feedback.
4. Collect worksheets for teacher review and assign final resume drafting as homework.

Resume Template & Tips Worksheet

Use this template to draft each section of your resume. Refer to the tips provided for guidance.

Header

Tips:
• Write your full name in bold, large font
• Include a professional email (e.g., firstname.lastname@domain.com)
• List your phone number and a customized LinkedIn URL
• (Optional) City & State for location context

Education

Tips:
• School name, city & state
• Expected graduation date (Month Year)
• Include GPA if it’s 3.0 or higher
• Add honors (e.g., Honor Roll) or relevant coursework/activities

Experience

Tips:
• For each role, list title, organization, and dates
• Start each bullet with a strong action verb (led, organized, designed)
• Quantify achievements when possible (e.g., increased membership by 15%)
• Aim for at least two concise, outcome-oriented bullets per role

Skills

Tips:
• List 4–6 hard skills (software, languages, certifications)
• List 3–5 soft skills (communication, teamwork, problem-solving)
• Keep total skills between 7–10, prioritizing relevance to your goals

Sample Resume Models Answer Key

Below are two example resumes for 11th-grade students. Each section is annotated to highlight why it’s a strong model and how it meets best practices.

Sample Resume Model 1: Academic & Leadership Focus

Header
John A. Doe
john.doe@gmail.com | (123) 456-7890 | linkedin.com/in/johndoe
City, State

Annotations:

• Name is largest and bold, creating clear hierarchy.
• Professional email uses full name.
• Phone number formatted consistently.
• Customized LinkedIn URL (no extra numbers).
• City & State optional but gives location context.

Education
Springfield High School, Springfield, IL | Expected May 2025
GPA: 3.9 / 4.0
Honors: National Honor Society, Honor Roll (4 semesters)

Annotations:

• Reverse-chronological order (most recent first).
• GPA included because it’s above 3.0.
• Honors are specific and demonstrate achievement.

Experience
Student Council President, Springfield High School | Aug 2023 – Present
• Led a 12-member student council in planning 5 school events, increasing student participation by 30%.
• Organized a peer-tutoring program matching 25 tutors with underclassmen, improving average math scores by 15%.

Peer Tutor, Springfield High School Math Department | Sep 2022 – Jun 2023
• Provided one-on-one support to 10 students weekly, resulting in average grade improvement from C to B+.
• Developed 20+ study guides for Algebra and Geometry topics.

Annotations:

• Each role lists title, organization, and dates clearly.
• Bullets start with action verbs (Led, Organized, Provided, Developed).
• Achievements quantified to show impact (30%, 15%, number of guides).
• Language is concise and outcome-oriented.

Skills
Hard Skills: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace, Basic Python
Soft Skills: Leadership, Communication, Time Management

Annotations:

• Hard skills first, clearly labeled.
• Soft skills follow, all relevant to leadership roles.
• Total skills count=6, within recommended 7–10 range when combining both categories.

Sample Resume Model 2: Work Experience & Technical Skills

Header
Jane B. Smith
jane.smith@outlook.com | (987) 654-3210 | linkedin.com/in/janesmith
Evanston, IL

Annotations:

• Header follows same strong formatting.
• Professional email and LinkedIn present.

Education
Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL | Expected June 2025
Relevant Coursework: AP Computer Science A, Digital Media Design

Annotations:

• Omits GPA (optional if below 3.0); instead highlights relevant coursework.
• Coursework selection aligns with technical career interests.

Experience
Barista, Corner Café, Evanston, IL | Jun 2023 – Present
• Served 80+ customers daily, maintaining 95% positive feedback score.
• Trained 5 new hires on POS system and customer service standards.

Web Design Intern, TechStart Nonprofit | Jan 2023 – May 2023
• Designed and maintained website pages using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Collaborated with a team of 4 to increase site traffic by 25% through UX improvements.

Annotations:

• Mix of paid work and internship demonstrates versatility.
• Action verbs and quantifiable results (95% feedback, 80+ customers, 25% traffic).
• Technical tools specified (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).

Skills
Hard Skills: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel
Soft Skills: Customer Service, Team Collaboration, Problem-Solving

Annotations:

• Balanced mix of technical and interpersonal skills.
• Skills directly support the student’s experiences and future goals.

Teacher Notes & Grading Guidance

1. Header (5 pts): Clear hierarchy, professional contact info, optional location.
2. Education (5 pts): Reverse-chronological, relevant details (GPA or coursework), format consistency.
3. Experience (10 pts): Action verbs, quantitative results, concise bullet points, clear dates.
4. Skills (5 pts): 7–10 total, relevant, categorized (hard vs. soft), no filler.
5. Overall Formatting (5 pts): Consistent font size, margins, one-page length.

Total: 30 points.
Use these models to compare student resumes; look for similar structure, clarity, and evidence of impact.