Complete all components in the activity below according to the given instructions.
In this activity you will be creating a resume and cover letter of your own. You may be thinking, “But, I’m in Middle School! Do I really have to do this now?” The short answer is “yes”—but we will walk through all the steps here!
First, a little inspiration to get us going. Imagine yourself about ten years from now, and try to picture where you will be. Maybe you have graduated from high school and have moved on to a type of vocational training or are searching for a job. Or, you might have recently graduated from college or be graduating soon and are looking for a career.
In that situation, the first thing you would want to do is find a job you’d like to apply for. So, you are going to do that now.
Next, it’s time to work on your resume. Your resume can include whatever ‘made-up’ details that you come up with - let your dreams for how you see your future run wild!
or create your own. It might be helpful to look up resumes online and get an idea of what different types of resumes for various lines of work include.
Your resume must include a few things:
Your skills and abilities: what makes you special, what are your strengths?
Your experience: include any previous work or internships you’ve done—this may include work or volunteer jobs in high school or college that could be beneficial to your resume.
Your education: list only high school and any post-secondary school or training that you imagine you will have completed by this time.
Your leadership and extracurriculars: clubs, organizations, hobbies, and anything else that you do along these lines.
Certifications: use this space to indicate any certifications you hope to have and may need for the job.
After your resume, write a cover letter that introduces you and explains why you are a great fit for your chosen job. Including key words from the job description, and explaining how you meet those key words, is a good way to go; it shows that you read the job description carefully.
Your cover letter should:
Include several keywords you found in the job description
Connect the dots between your work/volunteer experience without simply rehashing your resume
Be personalized for the company to which you are applying, and (if applicable) the hiring manager at that company
Remember to save this first draft of your resume and cover letter as separate documents—you’ll need to turn in these first drafts along with the final drafts so do not simply “edit” the first drafts—keep them separate.
After you have written the final draft of your documents, reflect on the process by answering the following questions:
How well do you think your completed resume encapsulates who you are as a person and what you have to offer an employer?
Is there anything important and pertinent that doesn’t really “fit” in the standard resume/cover letter format that you wish you could communicate to a prospective employer?
Choose one paragraph from your cover letter. How does this particular paragraph fit into the overall structure of a text? How does it make sense in the overall story you are telling about yourself?
With that same paragraph (or another if you’d like), analyze in detail the structure of the paragraph, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining the key concept of that paragraph. How do the sentences in the body of the paragraph support your claim in the topic sentence?
For this part of the activity, you will be exploring some modern “techy” ways to help your application materials stand out from the crowd.
First, consider the job you are hypothetically applying for in this activity. Depending on what field the job is in, there are likely different elements you could add to your resume that would help you stick out in the pile of applications. For example, if you are applying for a photography intern role, you may want to actually add a photograph to your resume. If you are applying for a video editing role then maybe you want to actually create a video resume, where you present your background and skills on film!
Once you have brainstormed, do some quick research about some tools that could help you add these elements to your resume. (Remember, Canva is a good place to start and can spice up a resume in any field!)
Finally, select one tool and explore any help or resources it offers its users to learn how to use the tool.
After you have explored some resources, reflect on this section of the activity by answering the following questions:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of adding different mediums into your resume?
Considering the job you are applying for, what element would you add to your resume? What tool would you use to create that element?
Did the tool you chose offer sufficient resources to help you learn how to use it? Cite at least one example of a particularly helpful passage on the help or resources page for the tool you chose.
Advantages of adding different mediums into your resume include:
1. Standing out from the crowd: Adding elements like a photograph or a video resume can make your application more memorable and help you stand out from other applicants.
2. Showcasing your skills: Depending on the job you are applying for, adding different mediums can allow you to directly demonstrate your skills and abilities. For example, a video resume can showcase your communication skills and creativity.
3. Reflecting your personality: Utilizing different mediums can help you showcase your personality and convey your passion for the job. This can give employers a better sense of who you are as a person and how you may fit into their company culture.
Disadvantages of adding different mediums into your resume include:
1. Compatibility issues: Some employers may not have the necessary technology or software to view certain media formats. This could hinder their ability to review your application.
2. Time and effort: Creating and incorporating different media elements into your resume can be time-consuming and require technical skills. It may also require additional equipment or software.
Considering the job I am applying for, I would add a portfolio of my photography work to my resume. I would use Canva to create a visually appealing and organized portfolio section.
The tool I chose, Canva, offers a variety of resources to help users learn how to use it. One particularly helpful passage on their help page is the "Design School" section. It provides step-by-step tutorials, design tips, and inspiration to help users create professional-looking designs.