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Many job seekers use a functional resume, which puts the focus on your abilities, not on your work history. If your job experience is limited (as is the case with many young job seekers), a functional resume might be right for you. This type of resume is organized by function, such as sales skills or computer skills, not by chronological experience. You can fill your resume with your work experience as well as your school and extracurricular activities. Employers can quickly determine your strengths and skills--and possibly decide that you're right for the job!
KAYLA FRANKLIN 100 Apple Tree Way * Millsburg, VA 12345 (555) 555-5555 * kaylafranklin@millsburg.net
Use a professional-sounding e-mail adress. If you regular address is quirky, like SupahSnugglyKitty@here.com, create an email account that's just for the job hunting.
OBJECTIVE: Administrative position in a sales department
Don't make employers guess what kind of job you want.
SALES SKILLS
* Assessed customer needs and recommended products * Created displays for new products * Handled customer service issues * Organized annual Concert Choir fruit sale
Used a variety of action words to help employers understand what you've done.
You may not think that organizing other students and selling 50 cases of fruit could help you get a job, but an employer might see this as good experience.
ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS
Achieved proficiency in the following programs and skills:
* Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint (advanced)
* Telephone communications
* Filing
Divide your skills and experience into specific categories.
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
* President, Student Business Association, 2003-2004 school year
* Trained new employees at Little Lollipop Children's Clothing Store
* Led groups of 15 campers at Pine Lake Camp for three summers
Use bullets to make your resume neat and easy to read.
WORK EXPERIENCE
* Sales associate, Little Lollipop Children's Store, Jan. 2003 to present
* Student assistant, Millsburg High School Central Office, Sept. 2002 to present
* Counselor, Pine Lake Camp, 2000-2002
* Student volunteer, Millsburg Township Charity Road Race, 1999-2003
Volunteer work is still work. All your experience count.
EDUCATION
* Diploma, Millsburg High School, 2004
* Certificate, Millsburg High School Summer Business Institute, 2003
* Accepted at Millsburg Community College
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
* Honor roll, sophomore year to present * High honors in statewide Student Business Presentation Competition, 2004
* All-State Choir, 2002, 2003, 2004
Don't be modest about sharing your achievements! You are selling yourself on your resume.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: MILLSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
* Student Business Association
* Concert Choir
* Spanish club
* Varsity track and field
She sings! She speaks Spanish! She runs! She participates in clubs! Employers' translation: She's disciplined and has time-management skills.
Students will learn the components of a functional resume and when to use one.
TALKING POINTS
* How are active verbs used on this resume?
* If you were an employer, would you interview Kayla for an administrative position? Why or why not?
* Could Kayla's resume be improved? If so, how?
NEXT STEPS
* Have students brainstorm a list of their personal achievements. Ask them to identify the skills or personality strengths that helped them succeed in each situation. Help them incorporate this information into their own functional resumes.
* As a group, brainstorm a list of other skill categories that might be included on a functional resume (for example, communication skills, interpersonal skills, managerial skills).
teacher resource
Resumes for High School Graduates, by the Editors of VGM. New York: McGraw-Hill/ Contemporary Books, 1999. Advises teens on how to write a successful resume.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Weekly Reader Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
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