Full Year Course

9.6 Resumes & Cover Letters

Student Activity Packet
UNIT: CAREER

Name: caroline q
In this lesson, you will learn to:
● Explain what a resume and cover letter are and how they are used in the hiring process
● Identify how a resume differs from a LinkedIn profile
● Write a resume with little to no work experience
● Create a resume and cover letter for yourself

Write your responses in the space provided, highlight or bold the correct answer choice for multiple choice
questions

RESOURCES QUESTIONS

1. When applying for a job, what are 2-3 things a hiring manager might ask
1 Exploration Question
you to send them?

Your resume, letter of rec, availability times

1. In your own words, briefly explain what the purpose of a resume is.
2 Resume Format

What Should You Include

on a Resume?
One of the core documents
you’ll need to apply for a job
is a resume. But what
exactly do you include in a
resume? Why is it so
important? To find out, read
through this infographic
and watch the video. Then
answer the questions.
Summary of your professional career (education, skills, experience)
2. In both the infographic and video, the sample resumes are approximately
one page in length. What do you think are the potential disadvantages of
having a resume that is longer than one page?
A longer resume takes the focus off the most important skills and makes it hard
to grab the managers attention

1. Explain why it is a common practice to have multiple versions of your

3 Resume and LinkedIn
Profile Writing: How resume but only a single LinkedIn profile.
Different Should They Be?
At this point, you might be The resume is usually shared when you are currently searching for a job while
thinking that the content LinkedIn is to create a network for your career. If you have many LinkedIns it can
for a resume sounds almost lead to a lot of confusion when people are looking for your profile.
identical to that of a
LinkedIn profile. So why do
you need both? Read this
article to learn how your
 resume and LinkedIn profile 2. Identify whether each of the following statements describes a resume (R),
compare and answer the a LinkedIn profile (L), or both. Bold or highlight your answers.
questions.
a. You need a high quality, professional photo. R L

b. It includes everything in your professional history and can be R L

quite lengthy.

c. It has a summary section to showcase who you are and your R L

expertise.

d. You cannot modify it once you’ve sent it to someone. R L

e. It includes keywords that are relevant to your position and R L

industry.

f. It is written in a more casual tone. R L

1. Brainstorm 3 examples of what a high school graduate with no work

4 How to Write a Resume
With No Experience (Plus
experience could put on a resume.
Examples)
You know by now that
having a resume is an Education (like classes you’ve taken), GPA, personality traits well
essential part of job accustomed to the job
hunting. However,
creating a resume with
little or no work 2. Your friend Alicia says to you, “It took me so long to just write my resume.
experience can be a I can’t imagine tailoring it each time I apply for a job. I don’t think I’m
challenge! Read this going to do that.” How would you respond to Alicia? Explain.
article to learn some
strategies on how to write
a resume if you have You do not have to. Parts of your resume you want to stay constant and have a
limited experience. Then, general format. For each different job you apply for, you can slightly adjust it and
answer the questions. tailor it for that job.

1. What is one difference in how a resume and cover letter are formatted?
5 Resume vs. Cover Letter:
What's the Difference?
You’ve written your resume
and are ready to apply for Cover letter is formatted like a business letter and the resume is formatted in
jobs...right? Not so fast! You reverse chronological formatting options
often also need to prepare
another document called a 2. What is one difference in the content that a resume and cover letter
cover letter. Read through contain?
this infographic to get a
high level overview of how Cover letter explains your interest in/qualifications for position with specific
these two key documents examples. A resume letter contains your relevant experience and achievements
are different. Then, answer like education, skills, and professional history.
the questions.
 1. How does a cover letter complement your resume?
6 The Anatomy of a
Perfect Cover Letter

Cover letter you can talk more about your experiences, give anecdotes etc. A
How to Write a Cover
Letter cover letter can help to show your personality a bit more.
Let’s take a deeper look at
what a cover letter is and
what it’s used for. Look 2. Why might a hiring manager want to know about your career goals or
through this infographic enthusiasm for the role?
to understand the basic
structure of a cover letter. If the career does not align with what manager wants, they will most likely not
hire you. If you are not enthusiastic about the role, they will assume you wont be
Then, watch the video
and answer the questions. motivated to put your all into it.

3. True or False?: You should use the same cover letter when applying for
multiple jobs.

False!

CREATE: A Resume and Cover Letter

In this activity, you will go through the process of creating your own resume and cover letter.

❖ You probably want to keep your copy resume/cover letter to use or as a reference,
print them out or save them to your personal google drive/computer

Part I: Select a Job

Before writing your resume and cover letter, it’s important to know what type of position you are
applying for so that you can make sure your documents are relevant to the job.

1. Choose one of these fictional Job Postings to apply for and note your selection below:

Job 1 - Animal Shelter

Part II: Create Your Resume

Now that you have an idea of what kind of position you’re applying for, it’s time to start working
on your resume.

2. Take some time to gather the key pieces of information you will include in your resume
and record them in the table below. You do not need to write in complete sentences yet.
Make sure to find specific job titles, descriptions, dates and other details. It is very
important that your real resume contains accurate information, but here please DO NOT
put your real contact information.

Contact Information

Caroline Quirk
123-456-7890
animallover123@gmail.com
Objective Statement

A enthusiastic and hard-working individual looking for a position to gain experience and give back to the community.

Education (list any academic honors you received)

Junior in highschool
4.5 GPA (Weighted)
California Honors Society (Participation all 3 years of high school)

Experience

I previously have worked at Luna Blu as a hostess, I babysit occasionally for my godfather, I walk my neighbors dog twice a
week, worked as a surf coach for the past 2 summers

Skills (Computer and other)

Creative, great writer, good at problem solving, good at communicating, empathetic, organized, adaptable

Other

Activities and Leadership Experience

Avid surfer, skier

Play highschool varsity water polo
Coaching experience with kids at summer surf camp

Languages

English but learning Spanish as well!

 Interests

The ocean
Music
Medicine
Psychology
Law

3. Use the information you’ve gathered to create your resume. This is just for you, and can
help you practice making a resume which you will need when you apply to jobs. You do
not need to link it here.

Part III: Create Your Cover Letter

Now that your resume is ready, it’s time to write a cover letter! To help you tailor your cover letter
to the position you’ve chosen, answer the questions below.

4. Carefully reread the job description for the position you chose. What qualities are they
looking for in a candidate? What qualifications do you need for this job?

They are looking for part-time summer work with an employee who can work 2 days per
week, 5 hours per day. I would have to love animals and be okay with getting my hands
dirty. They are looking for someone organized, diligent, friendly, and fun it seems like!

5. Why are you interested in this position? What makes you a strong candidate?

I am interested in this position because I love animals and I am not working over-time,
just part time getting to do something I love. I love walking dogs and brushing them. I
am also just fine with getting dirty.

6. Use the information you identified above to write your cover letter. Make sure you follow
proper formatting and content guidelines to create a professional document. Again, this
is just for you to practice writing a cover letter. I have done some hiring and a weak cover
letter often puts you in the “no thanks” pile.

Put a link to your cover letter here with the sharing set so anyone with the link can EDIT.

Caroline Quirk
animalover123@gmail.com

April 29, 2023

Animal Shelter
32317

Dear Hiring Manager,

As an experienced Hostess, the advertisement for Animal Caretaker with Animal Shelter sparked
my interest. When reviewing the position requirements and your organization's website, I was
excited to find that my qualifications and personal strengths align with your needs and mission.

I bring a comprehensive set of skills that I believe will be valuable to Animal Shelter. In my
Hostess role, I honed my abilities in problem-solving and people skills, providing a firm
foundation for the Animal Caretaker position. My communication, people-centric nature, and
compassion have afforded me excellent teamwork skills.

I am excited to contribute my talents and proficiency in observation toward your team efforts. As
an engaging communicator with a proven track record in leadership, my focus on building
strong professional relationships has been a beneficial asset throughout my career.

Please review my enclosed resume for a more in-depth illustration of my work history and
accomplishments. I would appreciate the opportunity to interview at your earliest convenience.
I'm eager to discuss how my personality and background fit the Animal Caretaker role.

Thank you for your time and consideration of my candidacy.

Sincerely,
Caroline Quirk

1. Which of the following is TRUE about a resume?

8 Exit Ticket
Complete the Exit Ticket.
a. It is typically viewed as an optional document by hiring
managers.
b. You must include all of your employment history on it, even if
it’s not relevant to the job you’re applying for.
c. It is common for a resume to be about 2-3 pages in length.
d. A resume should concisely demonstrate your qualifications for a
specific position.

2. What is one way a cover letter differs from a resume?

a. It lists your relevant work history, skills, and education.
b. It highlights your personal story and interest in the position.
c. It is always required as a part of the application process.
d. It is a generic document that you can send to multiple employers.

3. All of the following are ways someone with limited or no work experience
can write a strong resume EXCEPT...
a. Emphasize their educational background
b. Include only paid work experience, not volunteering
c. Customize their resume to the job opening
d. Highlight relevant skills