Lesson Six: Resume Writing and Interview Questions
Lesson Summary and Objectives
Lesson six highlights the importance of having a resume as a student in high school and the benefits of being prepared for a college or job interview. Moreover, this lesson covers how you can build a winning resume without any prior work experience and strategies and tips for interviews.
Objective One
Assist students with creating and building a strong resume to pursue future employment and post-secondary opportunities.
Objective Two
Offer strategies and tips to help students prepare for an interview.
Objective Three
Encourage students to be comfortable and confident during an interview.
Before you get started…
Resume Writing
A high school resume is more than just a list of accomplishments. It’s a snapshot of who you are, what you’re passionate about, and how you spend your time.
Because the college admissions process is so highly selective today due to the increase of students applying for limited slots, it is crucial that you find a way to stand apart from all other applicants. A high school resume can help you do that. It is one of the most important marketing tools you can use to sell yourself.
The obvious use of a high school resume is with the Common Application. But that is only one of its many benefits. You can use your resume throughout your high school career to keep track of your activities and accomplishments. Once you reach senior year, it will serve as a reminder of the past four years and make it easier to complete a college application.
A high school resume can also be used when completing scholarship applications as an addendum to the application itself. Scholarship judges often look for students who stand out and have a well-rounded academic and social commitment. A resume can give them a deeper look into who you are and why you deserve the scholarship.
Perhaps one of the best uses of the high school resume is for letters of recommendation. Provide the person you have asked to write a letter of recommendation with a copy of your resume. It will serve as a summary of all you have accomplished in high school, and it will help them craft a personal letter for the admissions committee.
What to include on a high school resume:
- Basic Information: Name & Contact Information
- Objective or Summary Statement
- Education
- Work Experience
- Extracurricular Activities
- Community Service or Volunteering
- Awards, Honors, Accomplishments and Leadership Roles
- Special Skills
- References or Letters of Recommendation
Learn more about writing an exceptional resume.
Complete the following resume worksheet to get started.
Interview Questions
Interview preparation for students can be intimidating and nerve-wracking, but it doesn’t have to be. Employers who hire teens aren’t expecting students to have a proven track record of success, years of work experience, or a long list of skills.
Instead, they care about hiring students who have a positive attitude.
Employers are looking for individuals who are willing to listen, able to learn, trustworthy, reliable, and punctual. As long as you can clearly demonstrate these qualities in an interview, you’ll be one step closer to getting hired.
Follow these 11 tips to prepare for an interview:
- Know yourself — what are your strengths?
- Research the job — google the company & read the job description!
- Think about yourself in relation to the job — what makes you the best candidate?
- Understand what employers are looking for — are you responsible & ready to learn?
- Conduct some practice interviews — be confident, prepared & relaxed!
- Dress appropriately — determine what is appropriate BEFORE interviewing.
- Put your smartphone on airplane or Do Not Disturb mode — NO distractions!
- Be prepared to be interviewed even when you’re not expecting it — be ready & stay ready!
- Know what hours you can work and prepare to be flexible — be transparent about your schedule.
- Have realistic expectations about salary — make no assumptions about the pay.
- Always write a thank you note after your interview — be thankful for the opportunity!
Practice interviewing with this elevator pitch worksheet.