Your First Resume Teacher Guide Your First Resume
Career Launch Series
Duration
30 Minutes
Objective
Students will be able to identify the key components of a resume and recognize transferable skills from their afterschool activities, articulating them effectively for future applications.
Why This Matters
Building a resume can seem daunting, but it's an essential skill for future jobs, internships, and even college applications. This lesson shows students that they already have valuable experiences to highlight, making the process less intimidating and more accessible.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Approach
Interactive discussion, presentation, and practical application.
Materials
Slide Deck
Teacher Script
Student Worksheet
Teacher Preparation (15 min)
1
Review the Your First Resume Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
2
Print copies of the My Experience, My Resume Worksheet for each student.
3
Ensure projector and computer are ready for the How to Build Your First Resume Slide Deck .
Instructional Sequence
5m
Warm-Up: What's a Resume?
Begin by asking students: "When you hear the word 'resume,' what comes to mind?"
Facilitate a brief class discussion, writing down key terms on the board.
Transition to explain that a resume is a summary of their experiences and skills, and it's something they can start building now!
10m
Presentation: Intro to Resume Building
Present the How to Build Your First Resume Slide Deck .
Follow the Resume Building Script to guide the discussion through each slide.
Emphasize the section on afterschool activities and transferable skills. Ask questions to encourage student participation.
10m
Activity: My Experience, My Resume
Distribute the My Experience, My Resume Worksheet .
Instruct students to work individually or in pairs to brainstorm their afterschool activities and identify potential skills learned.
Circulate around the room to offer support and guidance, prompting students to think broadly about their experiences.
5m
Share & Reflect
Bring the class back together.
Ask a few students to share one activity and a skill they identified.
Conclude by reiterating the importance of recognizing their unique experiences and how to start documenting them.
Resume Intro Slides Career Launch 101
Your First Resume
Let's build it together—it's not just for adults, it's for YOU!
9th Grade | Lesson 1
Success Blueprint
What's a Resume Anyway?
A resume is like your personal highlight reel!
It's a one-page summary of your skills, experiences, and accomplishments.
Why do you need one?
First Jobs & Internships
Volunteer Positions
College Applications
Resume Basics
What Goes Where?
01
Contact Information
Name, phone, professional email
02
Summary or Objective
A quick goal statement
03
Education
School & grad year
04
Experience
The heart of your resume!
05
Skills
What you're good at
"But I don't have a job!"
Think beyond paid roles. Experience comes from everywhere:
Volunteer Work
Helping at events, food drives, clean-ups.
Clubs & Teams
Sports, band, debate, student gov.
Responsibilities
Caring for siblings, household tasks.
Projects
Coding, art, fundraisers, science fairs.
Transferable Skills
Leadership
Being a team captain, club officer, or project lead.
Teamwork
Collaborating in sports, band, or group projects.
Time Management
Juggling homework, sports, and chores.
Problem-Solving
Fixing technical bugs or resolving group conflicts.
Communication
Class presentations, debate, or writing for news.
Skills you use EVERYWHERE
Your Resume Journey
Starts Now!
Don't worry about it being perfect yet.
Next Step:
My Experience, My Resume Worksheet
Resume Building Script Resume Building Script
Teacher Facilitation Guide
How to use this script: Use the bolded text for your direct instruction. The italicized sections in brackets [ ] provide instructional cues and suggest student engagement moments.
Slide 1
Your First Resume: Let's Build It!
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important for your future: building your first resume. Now, when you hear the word 'resume,' what immediately comes to mind? Shout out some ideas!"
[Action: Allow 1-2 minutes for students to share. Write down key terms like "Job," "Boss," "Professional," or "Money" on the board.]
"Great ideas! Many people think of resumes as something only adults need for big jobs. But guess what? You can start building a resume right now, and you probably have more experience than you think! Let's dive in."
Slide 2
What's a Resume Anyway?
"So, what exactly is a resume? Think of it like your personal highlight reel. It's a document that quickly summarizes all your amazing skills, experiences, and accomplishments. It's designed to show someone, like a potential employer or a college admissions officer, who you are and what you can do."
"Why do you need one? Well, it's your chance to make a great first impression! Whether you're applying for a summer job, a volunteer position, an internship, or even starting to think about college, a good resume can open doors."
Slide 3
Resume Basics: What Goes Where?
"Every resume has a few key sections. Don't worry about memorizing all of this right now, we're just getting an overview."
Contact Information: "Your name, phone number, email, and city/state so people can reach you."Summary or Objective: "A quick sentence or two about your career goals or what you're looking for."Education: "For you, this will be your high school and your expected graduation year."Experience: "Now, this is where many of you might think, 'But I haven't had a job yet!' We're going to talk about that next."Skills: "What you're good at—which we'll also explore."
Slide 4
Experience? I Don't Have A Job!
"How can I have experience if I've never had a paid job? Experience comes from everywhere! Think beyond paychecks. Consider things like:"
Volunteer Work: Helping at school events, food drives, or parks.Clubs & Sports: Student gov, debate, band, drama, or teams.
My Experience, My Resume Worksheet My Experience, My Resume
Career Launch Discovery
Name:
Date:
Goal: Identify your activities and the hidden skills you've gained from them. This will be the foundation of your first resume!
1 Part 1: Brainstorming Your Activities
Think about everything you do outside of regular class time. Don't limit yourself to paid jobs! List at least 5-7 activities .
Add more if you have them!
Clubs & Sports
Volunteer Work
Family Chores
Hobbies/Projects
2 Part 2: Identifying Your Transferable Skills
Choose 4 of your activities from above and describe what you did and what you learned.
Activity What did you DO? What SKILLS did you use?
Skill Bank
Teamwork Leadership Communication Time Management Organization Creativity Technical Skills Problem-Solving Public Speaking Critical Thinking
