Prepared by Bruce Gurnick, Reseda High School
You are now about to embark on an activity you will likely be re-visiting often throughout your lifetime. It's called Preparing a Resume. A resume is a brief summary of your abilities, education, and experiences. Its main purpose is to help you get an interview for a job!
The most important thing to remember is that the resume, depending on how well you put it together, can either help you get a job interview you've been hoping for, or get your resume tossed into the rejection pile (eventually ending up in the wastebasket).
The choice is yours....Let's get started on the road to building a good personal resume that will make a statement about who you are!
Here are questions students often ask about resumes.
What is a Resume?
The resume is a communication tool that reviews your skills and
experiences so an employer can see, how you might
contribute to the employer's workplace. In the past
resumes have been typed or word processed on paper. Today people still use
paper resumes, but people also create electronic resumes which can be put on
websites or emailed to potential employers. No matter what form it is
created in it still has the same purpose.
Your resume is a sales pitch for you.. While you may
have all the requirements for a job, your resume is
a failure if the employer does not quickly come to the
conclusion that you "have what it takes." Most
of the time a resume is "graded" pass or fail. If
a possible employer puts your resume in the interview file, it
passes.. If your resume ends up in the trash, your resume fails, even if you actually have the skills and abilities for the
job.
The most effective resumes are clearly focused on a
specific job title and address the employer's stated
requirements for the position. The more you know about the
duties and skills required for the job--and organize your resume
around these points--the more effective the resume.
You will need information to write a good resume. Not just
information about jobs you've held in the past but also
information to select the most relevant accomplishments, skills
and experience for the job or position you may be
looking for. The more you know about the employer and the position, the more you can make your resume fit the job.
First, take time to do a self-assessment on paper, using a computer program like Inspiration™, or AppleWorks™, Microsoft Word, or, similar program. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare your complete resume.
Your name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address if
you have one.
All your contact information should go at the top of your resume.
Do not use nicknames, your resume is a formal document.
Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation.
Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting.
Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful.
(Note: Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional.)
Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.
Objective or Summary
An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do. Sometimes this is difficult if you are not sure, so in the case of your first resume make a guess or pretend that you are looking a type of employment that interests you..
Be specific about the job you want. For example: To obtain an
entry-level position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills.
Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek.
Education
Most high school students do not have a lot of work experience, so it is often best to indicate educational information first.
Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0. Mention academic honors, awards and recognitions.
Work Experience
Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills.
Use descriptive action words to describe your job duties. Include your work
experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your last job first
and work backward toward your first, relevant job.
Include:
Title of position,
Name of organization
Location of work (town, state)
Dates of employment
Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific
skills and achievements.>>>> Click here to see a list of descriptive action verbs. <<<<
Other information
A staff member at your career services office can advise you on other
information to add to your resume. You may want to add:
Key or special skills or competencies,
Leadership experience in volunteer organizations,
Participation in sports.
References
Be sure to ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their
names to a potential employer.
You do not need to include your reference information on your resume. You may note
at the bottom of your resume: "References furnished on request."
, or some similar statement.
Resume Editing
You've written your resume. It's time to have it reviewed and critiqued by
a career or vocational counselor. You can also take the following steps to ensure
quality:
Content:
Run a spell check on your computer before anyone sees your
resume.
Get a friend or teacher (or an English major would do nicely) to do a grammar
review.
Ask another friend to proofread. The more people who see your
resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected).
Design:
These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an
employer's data base.
Use white or off-white paper.
Use 8-1/2- x 11-inch paper.
Print on one side of the paper.
Use a font size of 10 to 14 points
Use non-decorative typefaces (similar to Times or
Helvetica).
Choose one typeface and stick to it.
Avoid italics, script, and underlined words.
Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, or shading.
Do not fold or staple your resume.
If you must mail your resume, put it in a large
envelope, if possible do not fold.
You may not need a resume right now, but you do need to know how to write a resume, before you graduate, so that you can create one when you really need it. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the State of California, as well as the Expected Student Learning Requirements of Reseda High all expect you to be able to communicate your vocational skills in a resume.
Will a good resume get me a job?
Not necessarily. Actually, it is you who will get the job. The purpose of a resume is a quick introduction that will hopefully interest an employer enough ask you to interview for the position.
A resume is a one or, at most two, page summary of your education, skills, accomplishments,
and experience. Your resume's purpose is to get your foot in the door. A resume does
its job successfully if it does not exclude you from consideration.
To prepare a successful resume, you need to know how to review, summarize, and
present your experiences and achievements on one page. Unless you have
considerable experience, you don't need two pages. Outline your achievements briefly
and concisely. A successful resume is your ticket to an interview where you can sell yourself!
Some other notes:
Students and recent graduates need résumés which are structured to
highlight their accomplishments, abilities, and educational achievements.
Be sure you review your years of high school before you begin your resume. Accomplishments and achievements from outside of school should be included in your resume, especially if they show a potential employer how YOU, might be right for their job.
There are a wide variety of locations on the internet where you can get more information about resume writing. Try using a search site like Yahoo, Google, or Askjeeves, and do a search for "High School Student Resume" or something similar.
Where can I see some sample High School Student Resumes?
See sample high school students resumes. Just click here!