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Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

Explain what a resume and cover letter are and how they are used in the hiring process
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of sample young adults’ resumes and cover letters

National Standards for Personal Financial Education

This lesson does not align with National Standards for Personal Financial Education

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RESEARCH: What are your odds of getting at least one job interview if you submit 1-10 applications?

You’ve written your resume and are ready to apply for jobs...right? Not so fast! You often also need to prepare another document called a cover letter. Look through this infographic to understand the basic structure of a cover letter. Then, watch the video and answer the questions.

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In your own words, briefly explain what the purpose of a resume is.

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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?

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Imagine you’re applying for your first job. Think about your experiences and the skills you’ve developed. Brainstorm 3 possible skills or experiences that you might highlight on your resume.

You’ve written your resume and are ready to apply for jobs...right? Not so fast! You often also need to prepare another document called a cover letter. Look through this infographic to understand the basic structure of a cover letter. Then, watch the video and answer the questions.

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Complete the table below to show the similarities and differences between a cover letter and a resume.

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It’s common to share your career goals and/or enthusiasm for a role in your cover letter. Why might a hiring manager want to know about these things?

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Should you use the same cover letter when applying for multiple jobs? Explain why or why not.

First, review the Student Resume Checklist below to see what to look for in a resume

Part I: Resume Analysis

Below is a resume. Go through the checklist and identify which elements the resume contains. Then you'll briefly summarize your critique below with some "Glows" (things the resume did well) and "Grows" (things this job seeker needs to improve on).

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Resume "Glows"

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Resume "Grows"

Now, Review the Cover Letter Checklist below to review what to look for in a cover letter

Part II: Cover Letter Analysis

Look at the sample cover letter corresponding with your assigned resume. Go through the checklist and identify which elements this cover letter contains. Then, briefly summarize your critique in the box below with some “Glows” (things the job seeker did well) and “Grows” (things this job seeker needs to improve).

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Cover Letter "Glows"

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Cover Letter "Grows"

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A resume should…

Include a photo of you looking professional

Detail your accomplishments in at least 2-3 pages

Use a casual and personable tone

Highlight your most relevant skills and experience

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

It lists your relevant work history, skills, and education

It highlights your personal story and interest in the position

It is always required as a part of the application process

It is a generic document that you can send to multiple employers

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The top of Greg’s resume is shown below. He could improve his resume in all of the following ways, EXCEPT…

Add his email address to the header

Replace his school name with his personal address in the header

Rewrite his objective to be more formal without using “I”

Format his experience section as a paragraph instead of bullet points

7.0 Lesson 2: Resumes and Cover Letters

7.0 Lesson 2: Resumes and Cover Letters

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

RESEARCH: What are your odds of getting at least one job interview if you submit 1-10 applications?

In your own words, briefly explain what the purpose of a resume is.

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?

Imagine you’re applying for your first job. Think about your experiences and the skills you’ve developed. Brainstorm 3 possible skills or experiences that you might highlight on your resume.

Complete the table below to show the similarities and differences between a cover letter and a resume.

It’s common to share your career goals and/or enthusiasm for a role in your cover letter. Why might a hiring manager want to know about these things?

Should you use the same cover letter when applying for multiple jobs? Explain why or why not.

Resume "Glows"

Resume "Grows"

Cover Letter "Glows"

Cover Letter "Grows"

A resume should…

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

The top of Greg’s resume is shown below. He could improve his resume in all of the following ways, EXCEPT…

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

RESEARCH: What are your odds of getting at least one job interview if you submit 1-10 applications?

In your own words, briefly explain what the purpose of a resume is.

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?

Imagine you’re applying for your first job. Think about your experiences and the skills you’ve developed. Brainstorm 3 possible skills or experiences that you might highlight on your resume.

Complete the table below to show the similarities and differences between a cover letter and a resume.

It’s common to share your career goals and/or enthusiasm for a role in your cover letter. Why might a hiring manager want to know about these things?

Should you use the same cover letter when applying for multiple jobs? Explain why or why not.

Resume "Glows"

Resume "Grows"

Cover Letter "Glows"

Cover Letter "Grows"

A resume should…

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

The top of Greg’s resume is shown below. He could improve his resume in all of the following ways, EXCEPT…