Resume Builder Script

Introduction & Hook (2 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to dive into a super important skill for your future: building your first resume. You're at a pivotal point, whether you're thinking about college, scholarships, or entering the job market, and a strong resume is your first handshake to those opportunities."

"To start, why do you think having a resume is important, especially now as high school seniors? What opportunities could it help you unlock?"

(Listen to student responses, affirming key points like college applications, job applications, scholarships, showing accomplishments.)

What IS a Resume? (3 minutes)

"Exactly! A resume is essentially your professional story, summarized on one page. Think of it as a snapshot of your education, experiences, skills, and accomplishments that shows someone why you're a great candidate for whatever you're applying for."

(Advance to Resume Building Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"It's designed to make a strong first impression and highlight what makes you stand out. It's not just for jobs; colleges love to see them, too!"

Key Sections of Your Resume (3 minutes)

(Advance to Resume Building Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"Every good resume has a few core sections. Let's look at them:"

• Contact Information: This is pretty straightforward – how someone can get in touch with you.
• Education: Where you've studied and what you've achieved academically.
• Experience: This is broader than you might think! It includes jobs, yes, but also volunteering, club involvement, and even major school projects.
• Skills: What are you good at? What can you do? This could be languages, computer programs, or even important qualities like leadership or teamwork.

"We're going to focus on getting a solid start on these today."

Guided Drafting: Education & Contact Info (5 minutes)

(Distribute the Resume Worksheet.)

"Alright, let's get hands-on. I'm handing out a Resume Worksheet that will help us organize our thoughts. We'll fill out the first couple of sections together."

(Advance to Resume Building Slide Deck - Slide 5)

"First, at the top, let's fill in your Contact Information. Write your full name, a professional-sounding email address – ideally one without nicknames – and your phone number. You can also include your city and state."

(Pause for students to write.)

"Next, the Education section. You'll list your high school, its location, and your expected graduation date. If you have a strong GPA and are proud of it, you can include that. Also, think about any significant academic achievements or honors you've received, like honor roll or specific awards."

(Pause for students to write. Offer individual help and answer questions.)

Brainstorming Experience & Skills (3 minutes)

(Advance to Resume Building Slide Deck - Slide 6)

"Now, let's think about Experience and Skills. This is where many students feel stuck, but you have more experience than you think!"

"For Experience, don't just think about paid jobs. What about:"

• Volunteering for events or organizations?
• Being part of school clubs, sports teams, or student government?
• Taking care of siblings, pet-sitting, or helping out with family businesses?
• Any big projects in class that you led or played a major role in?

"And for Skills, what are you good at?"

• Do you speak another language?
• Are you proficient in any computer programs, like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or even video editing software?
• What about 'soft skills' like problem-solving, teamwork, public speaking, or creativity?"

(Facilitate a quick group brainstorm, writing down examples on a whiteboard or flip chart if available, or just having students share verbally.)

Wrap-up & Next Steps (2 minutes)

(Advance to Resume Building Slide Deck - Slide 7)

"Great work today, everyone! You've officially started building a very important document for your future. The Resume Worksheet is a fantastic starting point."

"Your next step is to continue filling out the Experience and Skills sections on your own. Remember, your resume is a living document – it will grow and change as you do!"

"I encourage you to seek feedback on your draft from me, a guidance counselor, or even a trusted family member. We'll be here to offer more individualized support for those who want to refine it further."

"Thank you, and I look forward to seeing your incredible resumes!"

Your First Resume Worksheet

This worksheet will help you gather your information and start drafting your first resume. Take your time and think about all your experiences!

1. Contact Information

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

Full Name:

Phone Number:

Professional Email Address: (e.g., first.last@email.com, avoid nicknames)

City, State:

2. Education

List your high school and expected graduation date. Include any honors or special programs.

High School Name:

City, State of High School:

Expected Graduation Date: (e.g., June 2024)

GPA (Optional - if 3.0 or higher):

Honors or Academic Achievements: (e.g., Honor Roll, AP Scholar, specific awards)

Relevant Coursework (Optional - if applying to specific programs):

3. Experience

Think broadly! Include paid jobs, volunteer work, school clubs, sports, leadership roles, or significant projects.

Experience 1:

Title/Role: (e.g., Volunteer, Team Captain, Sales Associate, Project Lead)

Organization/Company:

Location:

Dates (Start Date - End Date):

Key Responsibilities & Accomplishments: (Use action verbs! What did you do? What was the result?)

Experience 2 (if applicable):

Title/Role:

Organization/Company:

Location:

Dates (Start Date - End Date):

Key Responsibilities & Accomplishments:

4. Skills

What can you do? Think about both hard skills (like computer programs or languages) and soft skills (like communication or teamwork).

Languages: (e.g., Spanish - Fluent, French - Conversational)

Computer Skills/Software: (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Canva, Python)

Other Skills: (e.g., Leadership, Public Speaking, Problem-Solving, Customer Service, Teamwork)

5. Next Steps

You've made a great start! Now, take this worksheet and expand on it. Try to add 2-3 bullet points for each experience, focusing on action verbs and results. Ask a teacher or counselor to review your draft!

Sample Resume

Here's an example of what a high school resume might look like. Use it for inspiration!

[Your Name]

[Your Phone Number] | [Your Professional Email] | [Your City, State]

Education

[Your High School Name], [City, State]
Expected Graduation: [Month, Year]
GPA: [Your GPA, if 3.0 or higher]

Experience

[Your Job Title/Role], [Company/Organization Name], [City, State]
[Start Date] – [End Date]

• [Action Verb] + [What you did] + [Result/Impact]
• [Action Verb] + [What you did] + [Result/Impact]

[Your Volunteer Role/Club Position], [Organization Name], [City, State]
[Start Date] – [End Date]

• [Action Verb] + [What you did] + [Result/Impact]
• [Action Verb] + [What you did] + [Result/Impact]

Skills

• Languages: [Language 1] (Fluency Level), [Language 2] (Fluency Level)
• Computer Skills: [Software 1], [Software 2], [Software 3]
• Soft Skills: [Skill 1] (e.g., Leadership), [Skill 2] (e.g., Teamwork), [Skill 3] (e.g., Problem-Solving)