RESUMES
A life’s worth of experience and education summarized in a single page—that’s a résumé. Lesson 1 has the student writing and designing a résumé for themselves—to secure a job (paid or volunteer) or a promotion (at current job or from one grade level to another). In Lesson 2 the students must create a résumé for a historical, fictional, or literary character (assigned or chosen by the student). Lessons can be applied to a variety of ages and subject areas including Language Arts, History, Social Studies, and Vocational Training/Studies.
Lesson 1: Create a Résumé for Yourself
1. Create your resume and print it out from the following website: http://careerkids.com/1152x864/resume.html
2. Type your on resume in Word based on the print out. Use a resume template from the following:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT101043371033.aspx?av=ZWD000
Resume Requirements
You must include most of the following:
1. Name, address, phone
2. Education
3. Experience
4. Coursework
5. Special Information
6. Extracurricular Activities
7. Interests
Resume Checklist
Appearance and Format
- Is your resume neatly printed on good quality paper (81/2" X11")?
- Are there any errors?
- Is your resume one page only?
- Is the copy neatly centered and nicely balanced on the page? Is it appealing to the eye?
- If copies were made, is the type sharp, clean, and the paper spotless?
- Are your experiences highlighted by headings (centered or underlined)?
Organization
- Is your name, address, and telephone number included? (home and school)
- Does the organization of the resume emphasize the points you want to stress?
- Under the heading "Education" and "Experience," are the most recent listed first?
- Have you included "Interests" or "Hobbies" to highlight additional information reflecting credit on you as an applicant and showing desirable traits or attitudes you will bring to the job?
Content
- In your "Experience" section, does your description cover all of your work experiences, even if briefly?
- Have you given emphasis to awards, accomplishments or activities in school and community that reflect your ability to act responsibly?
- Have you included foreign languages that you speak and/or read?
- Have you carefully phrased your resume to stress your ability to perform successfully as a potential employee?
- Have you included all of your technical knowledge in the computer section?
- Have you listed all systems and languages that you have worked with?
Writing Style
- Have you used concise phrases in short paragraphs?
- Is the grammar, punctuation and spelling correct?
- Were you careful not to be repetitive or excessive in your description?
- Do most of the phrases in your resume start with action verbs?
- Have you avoided using "I" or "Me"?
Overview
- Have you contacted your references and received permission to use them as references? Have you produced a typed reference list?
- Does your resume have a "professional look"?
- Is your resume an attractive, interesting, quick reading factual account that proves that your experience and personal assets qualify you for the job that you want?
Lesson 2: Create a Résumé for a Historical, Fictional, or Literary Character
Use the following websites for ideas:
http://www.pbs.org/history/history_biographies.html
http://www.wakegov.com/libraries/readersservices/lists/historical/fictionalbiographies.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/books/literary-biographies.html