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Your First Resume: Stand Out!

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Lesson Plan

Your First Resume: Stand Out!

Students will be able to identify key components of a resume and begin drafting their own, understanding how to present their skills and experiences effectively for future opportunities.

Learning to write a strong resume is crucial for 11th graders as it's often the first step towards securing part-time jobs, internships, scholarships, and college applications. A well-crafted resume helps them make a powerful first impression and stand out in competitive environments.

Audience

11th Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Through a quick presentation and hands-on activity, students will grasp resume essentials and apply them immediately.

Materials

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Review the Slide Deck: Your First Resume, Worksheet: Resume Builder, and Answer Key: Resume Builder to familiarize yourself with the content and activities.
Ensure projectors or screens are set up for the Slide Deck: Your First Resume.
Make copies of the Worksheet: Resume Builder for each student.

Step 1

Warm-Up & Hook

2 minutes

Begin by asking students: "Imagine you're applying for your dream summer job or a scholarship. What's the very first thing you'd need to send them to introduce yourself and show what you can do?"
Transition into introducing the concept of a resume and its importance using Slide Deck: Your First Resume (Slide 1-2).

Step 2

Resume Essentials Presentation

5 minutes

Present the core components of a resume: Contact Information, Summary/Objective, Education, Experience, Skills, and Awards/Achievements using Slide Deck: Your First Resume (Slides 3-7).
Emphasize clarity, conciseness, and action verbs.
Briefly explain what each section should include and why it's important.

Step 3

Hands-On Resume Building Activity

6 minutes

Distribute the Worksheet: Resume Builder.
Instruct students to spend 5 minutes filling out as many sections as they can based on their own experiences (school, volunteering, part-time jobs, clubs, etc.).
Circulate and offer guidance, answering questions as they work.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

2 minutes

Bring the class back together. Ask a few students to share one thing they realized they could put on their resume.
Reinforce that this is a first draft and resume writing is an ongoing process.
Encourage students to refine their resumes using the insights gained and the provided Worksheet: Resume Builder as a guide. (Slide 8).

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Slide Deck

Your First Resume: Stand Out!

What's the first impression you make in the professional world?

Ask students to consider what they would send for a dream job or scholarship. This gets them thinking about self-representation.

What Is a Resume?

A brief document summarizing your skills, education, and experience.

Your goal: To get an interview!

It's your professional story on one page.

Explain what a resume is: a summary of your skills, experience, and education. Emphasize its purpose: to get an interview!

1. Contact Information

  • Name: Your full name
  • Phone Number: Professional voicemail
  • Email: Professional-looking email address
  • LinkedIn (Optional): If you have a professional profile

Introduce the first key section. Stress accuracy and professional email addresses.

2. Objective or Summary Statement

Objective: (Good for less experience)

A concise statement outlining your career goals and what you hope to achieve.

Summary: (Good for more experience)

A brief overview of your key skills and accomplishments.

Explain the purpose of an objective/summary. For students with little experience, an objective is often more suitable.

3. Education

  • School Name: Your high school
  • Location: City, State
  • Expected Graduation Date: Month, Year
  • GPA (Optional): If 3.0 or higher
  • Relevant Coursework: Any classes related to the job/opportunity

Detail what to include in the education section. Mention GPA if it's strong, otherwise optional. Highlight relevant coursework.

4. Experience

  • Job/Role Title: (e.g., Volunteer, Intern, Cashier)
  • Organization Name: (e.g., Local Animal Shelter, School Newspaper)
  • Location: City, State
  • Dates of Involvement: (e.g., Summer 2023, Sept 2022 - Present)
  • Bullet Points: Use action verbs to describe responsibilities and achievements.

Guide students on how to describe experiences, even if they aren't traditional jobs. Focus on transferable skills.

5. Skills & Achievements

  • Soft Skills: (e.g., teamwork, communication, problem-solving)
  • Technical Skills: (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Suite, coding languages)
  • Languages: (e.g., Spanish - Fluent, French - Conversational)
  • Awards/Honors: (e.g., Honor Roll, MVP Award, Academic Scholarships)

Encourage students to think broadly about their skills, including soft skills and technical skills. Give examples.

Next Steps: Build Your Resume!

You have the tools. Now, start building your own resume!

This is the wrap-up slide. Encourage them to use the worksheet and emphasize that resume writing is a continuous process.

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Worksheet

Resume Builder Worksheet

Instructions: Use the prompts below to start building your very first resume! Don't worry about making it perfect, just get your ideas down. Use bullet points for accomplishments and responsibilities.

1. Contact Information

  • Full Name:


  • Phone Number:


  • Professional Email Address:


  • LinkedIn Profile URL (Optional):


2. Objective or Summary Statement

(Choose one. If you have little work experience, an Objective is often best.)

Objective (What you want): What kind of position are you seeking? What skills do you want to use? What do you hope to learn or contribute?





OR

Summary (What you bring): Briefly describe your key strengths, experiences, and what makes you a great candidate. (Usually 2-3 sentences)





3. Education

  • High School Name:


  • City, State:


  • Expected Graduation Date:


  • GPA (Optional, if 3.0 or higher):


  • Relevant Coursework (List 2-3 courses related to your interests/goals):











4. Experience

(Think about part-time jobs, volunteering, internships, significant school projects, or leadership roles in clubs/sports.)

Experience 1

  • Job/Role Title:


  • Organization Name:


  • City, State:


  • Dates of Involvement:


  • Key Responsibilities & Achievements (Use action verbs! At least 2-3 bullet points):














Experience 2 (Optional)

  • Job/Role Title:


  • Organization Name:


  • City, State:


  • Dates of Involvement:


  • Key Responsibilities & Achievements (Use action verbs! At least 2-3 bullet points):














5. Skills & Achievements

  • Soft Skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving):


  • Technical Skills (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Suite, specific software, coding):


  • Languages (Specify fluency level):


  • Awards & Honors (Academic, extracurricular, community):


  • Certifications (e.g., First Aid, CPR, specific software certifications):


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Answer Key

Resume Builder Answer Key: Guidance for Teachers

Purpose: This answer key provides examples and best practices for what students should include in each section of their resume. Since resumes are personal documents, there aren't 'correct' answers, but rather effective ways to present information.

1. Contact Information

  • Full Name: John/Jane Doe
  • Phone Number: (555) 123-4567 (Ensure students have a professional voicemail if using their personal number)
  • Professional Email Address: johndoe@email.com (Avoid informal or childish email addresses like coolgamerz@email.com)
  • LinkedIn Profile URL (Optional): linkedin.com/in/johndoe (If applicable and professional)

2. Objective or Summary Statement

Objective (Example for a student seeking a summer internship):

Highly motivated 11th-grade student seeking a summer internship in graphic design to apply foundational art skills and learn industry-standard software while contributing to creative projects.

Guidance: For students with limited experience, an objective statement is ideal. It should clearly state what type of position they are looking for and what skills they hope to use or develop.

Summary (Example for a student with significant extracurriculars/volunteer work):

Detail-oriented and enthusiastic high school junior with proven leadership in student government and extensive volunteer experience. Eager to leverage strong organizational and communication skills in a dynamic team environment.

Guidance: A summary is more common for those with more experience. For high school students, this might highlight strong soft skills or achievements from extracurriculars.

3. Education

  • High School Name: Anytown High School
  • City, State: Anytown, CA
  • Expected Graduation Date: June 20XX
  • GPA (Optional, if 3.0 or higher): 3.5/4.0
  • Relevant Coursework (Examples):
    • AP Computer Science Principles
    • Advanced Robotics
    • Creative Writing Workshop

Guidance: Encourage students to include their high school and expected graduation. GPA is optional but recommended if strong. Relevant coursework can show interest and foundational knowledge for specific opportunities.

4. Experience

Guidance: Emphasize the use of strong action verbs and quantify achievements where possible. Even volunteer work or school clubs count as experience!

Experience 1 Example: Volunteer

  • Job/Role Title: Volunteer Team Member
  • Organization Name: Local Animal Shelter
  • City, State: Anytown, CA
  • Dates of Involvement: Summer 2023
  • Key Responsibilities & Achievements:
    • Assisted with daily care of animals, including feeding, cleaning, and walking.
    • Organized adoption events, contributing to 15 successful placements over the summer.
    • Communicated effectively with visitors, answering questions and providing information about animals.

Experience 2 Example: Club Leadership

  • Job/Role Title: Secretary, Student Government
  • Organization Name: Anytown High School
  • City, State: Anytown, CA
  • Dates of Involvement: Sept 2022 - Present
  • Key Responsibilities & Achievements:
    • Managed meeting minutes and official club correspondence for a 50-member organization.
    • Coordinated school-wide events, including the annual Spring Dance and community fundraiser.
    • Collaborated with faculty advisor to plan agendas and ensure efficient meeting flow.

5. Skills & Achievements

Guidance: Students should be honest about their skill levels. Think broadly about skills learned both inside and outside of school.

  • Soft Skills: Teamwork, Communication, Problem-Solving, Leadership, Adaptability, Time Management, Creativity
  • Technical Skills: Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Social Media Management, Canva, Basic Video Editing
  • Languages: Spanish (Fluent), French (Conversational), Mandarin (Basic)
  • Awards & Honors: Honor Roll (3 years), President's Volunteer Service Award, Varsity Soccer Captain, Science Fair Winner
  • Certifications: CPR/First Aid Certification, Microsoft Office Specialist Certification
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