Your First Impression Lesson Plan Your First Impression
Resume & Interview Basics • Lesson Plan
Duration
45 min
Objective
Students will be able to identify key components of a professional resume and understand basic strategies for successful interviewing, empowering them to present their best selves for jobs, internships, and college admissions.
Audience
11th Grade Students
Approach
Interactive discussion, direct instruction, and practical application.
Why This Matters
"Learning how to build a strong resume and ace an interview are essential life skills. These abilities open doors to future opportunities, helping students secure jobs, internships, and gain admission to their desired colleges."
Teacher Preparation
Review the Slide Deck & customize if needed.
Print "Ready, Set, Impress!" worksheets for all.
Familiarize yourself with the teacher script.
Ensure projector and computer are ready.
Estimated Prep: 20 Minutes
Materials Needed
Projector / Screen Slide Deck: Resume & Interview Basics Script: Your First Impression Worksheet: Ready, Set, Impress! Answer Key: Ready, Set, Impress!
Phase Time Key Activities Warm-Up: First Impressions 5 min Discuss "What makes a good first impression?" Link student responses to job applications and interviews. Refer to Script . Introduction to Resumes 15 min Use Slide Deck to introduce resume components: contact info, objective, education, experience, and skills. Discuss action verbs and tailoring. Interviewing Essentials 15 min Cover preparation tips, professional appearance, non-verbal cues, and common questions. Conduct quick role-play demo of a "tell me about yourself" response. Activity: Ready, Set, Impress! 8 min Distribute Worksheet . Students work individually/pairs on resume bullet point transformation and interview brainstorms. Wrap-Up & Q&A 2 min Review key answers using Answer Key . Address final questions and encourage students to start drafting their own experiences.
Resume & Interview Basics Presentation Your First Impression
Resume & Interview Basics
Resume Building
Interview Skills
Teacher Notes
Welcome students and introduce the topic: making a great first impression. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear 'first impression' in a professional setting.
The Mighty Resume
What is it?
A summary of your skills, experience, and education.
Your personal marketing document.
Goal: To get you an interview!
Key Sections:
1 Contact Information
2 Objective / Summary
3 Education
4 Experience (Jobs, Clubs, Volunteer)
5 Skills (Tech, Soft Skills, Lang)
Teacher Notes
Introduce the resume as a marketing tool for themselves. Explain its main purpose: to get an interview.
Resume Best Practices
Make it Action-Oriented
• Use Action Verbs (Managed, Created, Developed)
• Quantify achievements ("Increased sales by 15%")
Precision Matters
• Keep it Concise (1 page max)
• Tailor it to each specific role
The Ultimate Rule: Proofread!
Zero typos allowed. A single error can disqualify your professional image.
Teacher Notes
Discuss best practices for resumes. Emphasize action verbs and tailoring the resume to specific jobs. Give a quick example of a weak versus strong bullet point.
Ace the Interview!
Preparation is Key
1
Research
Know the company's mission and what they do.
2
Practice
Rehearse common questions out loud with a friend.
3
Prepare
Have 2-3 thoughtful questions ready to ask THEM.
Teacher Notes
Transition to interviews. Explain that the interview is the next step after a good resume. Discuss the purpose of an interview from both sides.
Interview Day Tips
Dress professionally (even if virtual)
Arrive 10-15 minutes early
Be confident (posture, eye contact)
Listen actively to every question
Be yourself & let personality shine
Send a thank-you note after
Teacher Notes
Cover practical tips for during the interview. Emphasize body language, active listening, and professionalism.
Your First Impression Script Your First Impression
Instructional Script • Teacher Resource
Warm-Up: First Impressions
5 MINUTES
Dialogue
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important for your future, whether you're thinking about college, a first job, or an internship. We're going to focus on making a fantastic first impression."
"To start, I want you to think about this: What comes to mind when you hear the phrase 'first impression'? Turn to a partner and share your thoughts for about one minute. What makes a good first impression? What makes a bad one?"
Allow students to discuss in pairs for 1 minute.
"Alright, let's hear some of your ideas. Who wants to share what they discussed? What did you identify as key elements of a good first impression?"
Call on 2-3 students to share. Guide the discussion to include things like appearance, attitude, communication, etc.
"Excellent points! You've touched on so many important aspects. Now, let's connect this to the professional world. When you're applying for a job, an internship, or even certain college programs, you often only get one chance to make that crucial first impression. And today, we're going to learn about two major ways you make that impression: your resume and your interview skills."
Introduction to Resumes
15 MINUTES
Advance to Slide 2: The Mighty Resume
"Let's dive into our first topic: The resume. How many of you have heard of a resume before? Maybe some of you have even started one? A resume, at its core, is a summary of your skills, your experiences, and your education. Think of it as your personal marketing document. It's designed to showcase why you are the best candidate for a particular role."
Key Sections Guide
• Contact: Professional email only.
• Objective: What are you seeking?
• Education: School, GPA, honors.
• Experience: Jobs, volunteering, clubs.
• Skills: Tech, languages, unique talents.
Best Practices
• Concise: One page max.
• Action Verbs: "Managed" not "helped".
• Quantify: Use numbers where possible.
• Tailor: Customize for the job.
• Proofread: Zero typos.
Advance to Slide 3: Resume Best Practices
"It's not just about what you put on your resume, but how you present it. Remember: action verbs make you sound proactive and capable. Instead of 'helped customers,' say 'Assisted customers daily, resolving inquiries and improving satisfaction.' Whenever possible, use numbers!"
Ready Set Impress Worksheet Ready, Set, Impress!
Resume & Interview Skills Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Resume Building Basics
1. Action Verbs Power-Up!
Rewrite the following bland statements into strong resume bullet points using powerful action verbs and, if possible, quantify the achievement (use numbers!).
Original: Helped customers at my dad's store.
Original: Was part of the school newspaper club.
Original: Made sure shelves were stocked at the grocery store.
2. Identify the Best Fit
You are applying for a volunteer position helping at a local animal shelter. Which of these bullet points would be most relevant and effective on your resume? Circle the best one.
a) Participated in the school drama club for three years.
b) Cared for personal pets daily, including feeding and walking.
c) Organized a school fundraiser that raised $500 for a local charity.
d) Achieved honor roll status for all four quarters of 10th grade.
Explain your choice:
Part 2: Interviewing Essentials
3. Common Interview Questions
Briefly outline how you would answer the following common interview questions. Remember to keep it concise and relevant!
"Tell me about yourself." (Focus on school, aspirations, relevant skills)
"What is one of your strengths, and how have you demonstrated it?"
4. Questions for the Interviewer
Imagine you are interviewing for a summer job at a local community center. What are two thoughtful questions you could ask the interviewer at the end of your interview?
Ready Set Impress Answer Key Answer Key
Ready, Set, Impress! Worksheet
Teacher Use Only
Part 1: Resume Building Basics
1. Action Verbs Power-Up!
Example answers provided below. Accept any response that uses strong action verbs and professional phrasing.
Original: Helped customers at my dad's store.
Assisted an average of 30+ customers daily, managing transactions and resolving inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction.
Original: Was part of the school newspaper club.
Wrote and edited weekly articles for the school newspaper, reaching an audience of 500+ students and staff members.
Original: Made sure shelves were stocked at the grocery store.
Managed inventory and restocked shelves daily, ensuring product availability and an organized shopping experience for customers.
2. Identify the Best Fit
a) Participated in the school drama club for three years.
b) Cared for personal pets daily, including feeding and walking.
c) Organized a school fundraiser that raised $500 for a local charity.
d) Achieved honor roll status for all four quarters of 10th grade.
Reasoning:
Option (b) directly demonstrates experience and responsibility in caring for animals, which is highly relevant to a position at an animal shelter. While other options show good qualities (leadership, academic success), they are not as directly applicable to the specific duties of the shelter.
Part 2: Interviewing Essentials
3. Common Interview Questions
Sample answers based on an 11th-grade context.
"Tell me about yourself."
"I'm currently an 11th-grade student at [School Name] with a strong interest in [subject/field]. I've been active in [club/sport] where I developed teamwork skills, and I'm looking for an opportunity like this [job/program] to apply my organization skills in a professional setting."
"What is one of your strengths?"
"One of my greatest strengths is problem-solving. For instance, when my club's fundraiser was understaffed, I took the initiative to reorganize our shifts and reach out to volunteers, ensuring the event ran smoothly and met our goals."
4. Questions for the Interviewer
"What does a typical day look like for someone in this role?"
"What qualities are you looking for in an ideal candidate for this position?"
