Warm-Up for Résumé Writing
In tribal societies, pretty much everybody has to do everything: hunting, gathering, making tools, building shelters, fetching water, hauling goods, fighting predators, bartering, teaching, learning, and so on. In modern societies, people specialize. Most people don't grow their own wheat or make their own circular saws or build their own houses. Instead, they pay experts who can do these tasks much more effectively and efficiently while meanwhile making money doing something they are experts in.
Your schooling is starting you on the road to becoming an expert in something. Your first few jobs will continue that journey. Just as you've learned a great deal in school, you will learn even more as you work and develop expertise. But how do you build a bridge from the classroom to the workplace? You start by writing an effective résumé.
What Is a Résumé?
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A résumé is a document that helps potential employers understand who you are: your objectives, experience, skills, education, and awards. The word résumé comes from the French "resume," meaning to "take back, assume again, or regain." In other words, when you are writing a résumé, you are regaining all of the experiences you've had that can prepare you to succeed in a new opportunity. Some people also use the term c.v. or curriculum vitae, which means "course of one's life."
Thinking About the Course of Your Life
You began life as a single cell. You now have a trillion of them. That's a lot of change to go through. You can reflect over the long course of your life by completing a time line. For each period, list key experiences, educational influences, and who you became. Here's the course of one student's life.
|
Time Period |
Experiences |
Education |
What I Became |
|
Birth to 4 years old (Toddler) |
Baby brother born |
Walking, speaking, potty trained |
Mom's "Goof" |
|
5 to 10 years old (Child) |
First friends, first sleepover |
Elementary school |
Bike rider, fisherman, frog finder |
|
11 to 13 years old (Pre-teen) |
Mow lawns, babysit |
Middle school, piano lessons |
Track runner, trap shooter, chess player |
|
14 years old (Teen) |
Best bro Eli, camping |
Freshman, band |
Trumpet player, role-player |
|
15 years old (Teen) |
First girlfriend, lifeguard |
Sophomore, lifeguard |
Three sports, chess player, honor roll |
|
16 years old (Teen) |
Prom, lifeguard, grocery bagger |
Junior, lifeguard instructor |
Honor society member |
|
17 years old (Teen) |
Break-up, lifeguard, stocker |
Senior, EMT trainee |
Homecoming Court, chess champion |
What would I like to become next? How has the course of my life prepared me?
I'd like to become pool manager. I graduate from high school this year, and they usually want someone in college, so now is the time for me to apply. My three years as a lifeguard help me know how the pool runs. I'm friends with all the lifeguards and staff, so I can get along with everybody. I need to work on scheduling and organization.
Think about the course of your life.
Fill out a time line like the one above. For each age range, write down key experiences, education, and what you became. Afterward, think about where you are headed, and how the course of your life prepares you for new opportunities.
Teaching Tip
Writing a résumé can be a daunting challenge, especially since most high school students lack the depth of experience that employers seek. However, students who reflect on their lives will likely discover that they have had many valuable experiences beyond school and work that have taught them key skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving This warm-up should give students a risk-free environment in which to think about the "course of their lives," the skills they have gained, and where they might head in the near future.