Project each statement as your class votes (thumbs up or down) if the statement is a resume DO or a resume DON'T. 

Test your class knowledge on resume do's and don'ts with a quick, 10 question digital flashcard game! 

Have students swap resumes and use this template to provide constructive feedback to each other on how to improve. 

Have students brainstorm their strengths, interests, goals, etc. to make it easier for them to articulate experience on a resume! 

Print off copies of the sample resumes and have students work together in groups to be the "HR team". Their objective is to sort the resumes from poor to great and have conversations about what makes a resume effective. Conversations may include content, formatting, looks, etc. This is a great activity to reinforce the importance of a professional looking resume to ensure that their own will stand out during a hiring process! 

Project or print this resume checklist for students to either start a resume, or check off the items they already have and the ones they are missing. This page can help provide success criteria for knowing what to include on a resume. 

Project or print this page to show students where they can find pre-made resume templates (Canva and Google Docs). Important tips are listed to help students navigate the writing process. A variety of AI prompts are included to show how to use AI as a tool to support their resume writing process, not do it for them! 

These slides introduce students to key components of an effective resume, guiding them through essential sections like contact info, objective, skills, experience, education, and more. It includes action verbs, formatting tips, and tools for creating polished resumes.

This can be printed or projected to quickly have students self assess the current state of their resumes. You can have them use sticky notes, write their names, etc. It will provide you with knowledge of how much foundational work needs to be done with resumes or if basic help needs to be provided.  *Disclaimer to remind them to be honest about the level they are at... some students think they are really great, but have a lot of work to do to improve and stand out! 

Students use a notecard or piece of paper to identify strong references for their resume and clearly explain why those references would recommend them. Project the four steps and then talk through each step as students identify their own professional resumes. Stress the importance of asking a reference before listing them!

Students practice improving their resume bullet points by using strong, specific action verbs and more descriptive language. Instructions for the activity are included on the first 5 slides, while the basic bullet points and examples of how to improve them are on the next 11 slides. The last 2 slides include a printable handout and key if that works best for you/your students.

Use the slideshow linked to find your program and some basic skills students could consider adding to their resumes. As a class, brainstorm more ideas of program specific skills, knowledge, certifications, etc. that they could showcase and represent as part of their resume for an industry related job opportunity. 

A quick, engaging warm-up to help students connect everyday experiences to their CTE program and future careers. Students practice rewriting simple job tasks into professional, career-specific resume statements using strong verbs and industry language.

Perfect as a 5–10 minute bell-ringer or resume prep activity—just display an example, have students write their rewrites on whiteboards, and discuss how wording can highlight transferable skills.