What Makes Your Resume Unforgettable?

Sara Vernon

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Crafting Your Standout Resume

Students will be able to identify the key elements of a standout resume, analyze examples of effective resume content, and begin drafting impactful descriptions of their own experiences.

Learning to craft a compelling resume is essential for 12th graders as they prepare for college applications, scholarships, and their first jobs. A strong resume can make a lasting first impression and open doors to future opportunities.

Audience

12th Grade

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Discussion, Brainstorming, Feedback

Materials

Beyond the Basics Your Unforgettable Resume (slide-deck), Impactful Experiences Brainstorm (worksheet), and Peer Resume Power-Up Feedback (activity)

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Review the Crafting Your Standout Resume Lesson Plan and all associated materials: Beyond the Basics Your Unforgettable Resume Slide Deck, Impactful Experiences Brainstorm Worksheet, and Peer Resume Power-Up Feedback Activity.
Prepare projector or smartboard for the Beyond the Basics Your Unforgettable Resume Slide Deck.
Make copies of the Impactful Experiences Brainstorm Worksheet (one per student).
Ensure students have access to writing materials or devices for drafting.

Step 1

Introduction: The First Impression

10 minutes

Begin with a hook: "Imagine you have 6 seconds to impress someone with your entire story. What would you say?" (Refer to Slide 1-2 of Beyond the Basics Your Unforgettable Resume Slide Deck).
Introduce the concept of a resume as a powerful first impression tool.
Briefly explain the lesson's objective: learning to create an unforgettable resume.
Facilitate a brief class discussion on why a strong resume is important for 12th graders (college, jobs, scholarships).

Step 2

Key Elements of a Standout Resume

15 minutes

Present the key elements of an unforgettable resume using the Beyond the Basics Your Unforgettable Resume Slide Deck (Slides 3-7).
- Strong Action Verbs: Discuss how to use powerful verbs instead of passive language.
- Quantifiable Achievements: Explain the importance of numbers and data to demonstrate impact.
- Tailored Content: Emphasize customizing the resume for each opportunity.
- Clear and Concise Formatting: Briefly touch on readability and professional appearance.
Show examples of 'before and after' bullet points to illustrate improvement.

Step 3

Brainstorming Impactful Experiences

15 minutes

Distribute the Impactful Experiences Brainstorm Worksheet.
Explain the task: students will brainstorm their own experiences (academics, extracurriculars, volunteer work, jobs) and try to transform them into impactful bullet points using action verbs and quantifiable achievements.
Circulate and provide support and examples as students work.

Step 4

Peer Power-Up Feedback

15 minutes

Organize students into pairs or small groups for the Peer Resume Power-Up Feedback Activity.
Explain the guidelines for constructive feedback (focus on strengths, offer specific suggestions for improvement).
Students will share their brainstormed bullet points and offer feedback to each other.
Encourage students to identify strong action verbs and opportunities for quantification.

Step 5

Wrap-up and Next Steps

5 minutes

Reconvene as a whole class.
Ask students to share one new idea or strategy they learned for resume writing.
Emphasize that resume writing is an iterative process.
Assign homework (optional): Refine their brainstormed points and consider which sections they would include in their resume. Encourage them to look for examples of resumes online tailored to their interests.

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Slide Deck

Your Resume: Your Story in 6 Seconds

Imagine a hiring manager. They spend an average of 6 seconds looking at a resume.

What impression does your story make in that time?

Today, we'll learn how to make it unforgettable!

Welcome students and immediately grab their attention with a strong question. This sets the stage for the importance of a resume as a powerful first impression. Connect it to real-life scenarios like job interviews or college applications. (Refer to the Crafting Your Standout Resume Lesson Plan for full introduction script.)

Why Does YOUR Resume Matter NOW?

College Applications: Stand out from the crowd.
Scholarships: Showcase your achievements.
First Jobs/Internships: Land that opportunity.
Building Your Brand: It's your professional story!

Transition from the hook to the practical relevance. Emphasize that a resume is not just for jobs, but also for college, scholarships, and even leadership opportunities. Ask students to share their initial thoughts on why they think a strong resume is important now.

Power-Up Your Words: Action Verbs

Don't just do things; accomplish things!

Weak: "Responsible for managing a project."
Strong: "Managed a project, resulting in..."

Why? They show initiative, impact, and a can-do attitude.

Examples:

Coordinated
Developed
Implemented
Analyzed
Led
Organized

Introduce the first key element. Explain what action verbs are and why they are crucial. Provide a few quick examples on the spot before revealing the slide's bullet points. Encourage students to think of a few powerful verbs they've used in school projects or activities.

Show, Don't Just Tell: Quantifiable Achievements

How many? How much? How often? What was the result?

Weak: "Helped with the school fundraiser."
Strong: "Contributed to a school fundraiser that raised over $500 for local charities."

Why? They provide concrete evidence of your skills and impact.

Look for: numbers, percentages, frequencies, specific outcomes.

Introduce the second key element. This is often challenging for students, so provide clear examples. Explain that 'quantifiable' means using numbers, percentages, or specific details. Ask students to brainstorm how they could quantify a simple task, like 'helped out at a school event.'

Target Your Audience: Tailored Content

One size does NOT fit all!

Read the job description or program requirements carefully.
Highlight experiences and skills most relevant to that specific opportunity.
Use keywords from the description to show you're a perfect fit.

Why? Shows you're thoughtful and serious about the application.

Explain that a resume isn't one-size-fits-all. It needs to be a living document that changes based on the opportunity. Give an example: A resume for a retail job would highlight customer service, while a resume for a science scholarship would highlight lab experience.

Clean & Clear: Professional Formatting

Make it easy to read and visually appealing.

Consistent Layout: Use the same fonts, spacing, and headings.
Readability: Choose professional, easy-to-read fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman).
White Space: Don't cram too much text. Leave room for the eyes to rest.
No Typos! Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Briefly touch on formatting as it contributes to readability and professionalism. Emphasize that while content is king, presentation matters. Advise against overly flashy or informal designs. Mention that there are many templates available online.

Before & After: Seeing the Impact

Before: "Worked at the student store."
After: "Managed inventory and customer transactions, increasing daily sales by 15% over two months at the busy student store."

Before: "Participated in a group project."
After: "Collaborated with a team of four to research and present on sustainable energy solutions, receiving an A-grade."

This slide serves as a visual reinforcement of the 'Action Verbs' and 'Quantifiable Achievements' concepts. Go through each 'Before' and 'After' example, asking students to identify what was changed and why it's more impactful. (This connects directly to the Impactful Experiences Brainstorm Worksheet they will be doing next.)

You're Ready to Shine!

You now have the tools to make your resume truly shine.

It's time to transform your experiences into impactful stories!

Next Up: Brainstorming Your Own Unforgettable Experiences!

Conclude the presentation and transition to the activity. Encourage students with a positive message about taking control of their narrative. Explain that the next steps involve applying what they've learned. (Refer to the Crafting Your Standout Resume Lesson Plan for full instructions on the worksheet and activity.)

Worksheet

Impactful Experiences Brainstorm

Instructions: Think about your experiences in different areas of your life. For each experience, first describe what you did. Then, transform that description into a powerful, quantifiable statement using strong action verbs and specific details. Remember to ask yourself: "How much? How many? How often? What was the result?"