Creative Activities for Teaching Resume Writing

Writing a resume is an important skill to learn.

Resume writing doesn't sound like an exciting topic to teach, but it is an important skill for students to learn. Students need to understand what goes on a resume, such as education and work experience, how to format a resume and the vocabulary to use to show they are the best candidate for the job. Students need practice in resume writing through creative activities before attempting to write their own.

Writing a Resume for a Partner

One creative activity for teaching resume writing would be to put students into pairs where they have to interview each other to find information to include on a resume. On Maine Community College System's Center for Career Development website, there are sheets students can use to find out about a partner's background in preparation for writing a resume. These include questions on personal information, work experience, education and special skills. If you teach junior high or high school students without much experience, they can make up answers to fit their future career goals. Once students interview each other, they create a resume for their partner for a specified job that the student found in a want-ads section of the newspaper or on a job listings website. Having a job opening to target while writing the resume will make this activity more real. When partners finish with the resumes for each other, they reveal them and discuss the final drafts.

Writing a Resume for a Cartoon Character

Another creative activity for resume writing is to assign students to write a resume for a cartoon character. This activity helps students remember what type of information goes on a resume and the format. On a worksheet, list a few different characters such as Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Donald Duck and so on. Then, list a few jobs in another section that these cartoon characters can apply for, such as movie star, rabbit hunter or salesman. Students choose a character (or they can come up with one of their own) and a job opening. Then, they write the resume, making sure to come up with an objective, work experience, education and references. For example, if Mickey Mouse is applying to star in a romantic comedy, his work experience could be the many cartoons he has appeared in with Minnie Mouse. His references could be his co-stars such as Pluto and Goofy or even Walt Disney. Students can be creative while learning important career skills with this activity.

Correcting the Teacher's Resume

Students enjoy correcting the teacher's work, so another creative resume writing activity to do in class is to ask students to correct your resume. You do not have to show students your actual resume, but you can make one up that is similar to your experience, if that makes you more comfortable. The important thing is to make mistakes on the resume or leave out entire sections, such as related teaching experience or the objective. Display the resume full of mistakes on a transparency, or make a copy for each of your students. Students find mistakes and either write them down or share them with the class during a discussion. You and your students work together to create a better, correct version of your resume.

References

• Center for Career Development: Career Prep Curriculum Lesson Plan 4
• Hot Chalk Lesson Plans Page: Resume Writing For Teens