Résumés

PROOF, OR EXAMPLES OF,
YOUR SKILLS

It is a good idea to keep some sort of proof of your achievements, participation in special events, or any items that you may have made, which would be useful in your job applications.

How could you do this with:
  • a sporting achievement
  • a garden which you helped establish
  • an article published in a magazine
  • your hand-made pottery
  • taking part in a community organised forum
  • a swimming trophy
  • presidency of the local fellowship group
  • making and modelling an article of clothing
  • starring in a drama production
  • helping the school librarian
  • taking part in public speaking contests
  • getting the prize for selling the most tickets in the school raffle

Add any of your own special achievements, and say how you could present proof of that achievement to an employer.

When applying for jobs, it will help you if you can produce some evidence of what you have done, or what you are good at.

Some jobs even require you to bring such information along with you to an interview.

What things might you need to take with you to gain a:
  • place in an art course
  • cadetship as a journalist
  • sign writing position
  • trainee dress designer's job
  • place in a script-writing course
  • typing position
  • job as a cabinet maker
  • employment as a gardener
Is there any need for caution when deciding what things to take to an interview?

Is there really anything wrong with showing off what you are good at? Why? Why not?

WHO ME ?
INEXPERIENCED?
NEVER!!!!

Some of the many activities you might get involved in during your time at school are listed below.

Mark with a TICK the things that you have ACTIVELY been involved in.
If there are any other activities you get involved in, add them to the list as well.
  • paper boy/girl
  • school canteen
  • baby sitting
  • organising dances
  • cake/sweet days
  • Scouts/Guides
  • captain sporting team
  • debating
  • library assistant
  • messenger
  • public speaking
  • gardening
  • book room attendant
  • care of family
  • drama-acting
  • drama-stage hand
  • drama-refreshments
  • drama-ticket sales
  • pet ownership
  • charity collections
  • school prefect
  • school council
  • distributing pamphlets
  • essay competitions
  • running raffles
  • school band
  • choir
  • group leader
  • milk run
  • corner shop
  • take-away food shop
  • supermarket-cashier
  • supermarket-packer
  • selling raffle tickets
  • maths competition
  • science competition
  • helping neighbours (provide examples)
  • helping parent's business or interests
  • church/community groups.
When you have finished, try to identify which skills that you have learnt by being involved in that activity - use the following list as a suggestion (but there WILL be other skills not on the list):

  • Money Skills
  • Organising People Skills
  • Helping People Skills
  • Creative Skills
  • Communication Skills
  • Number Skills
  • Organising Paperwork Skills
  • Technical Skills
  • Physical Skills
For example, a young person doing a paper run develops certain:

Physical skills - up and down hills, pushing barrow
Money skills - handling money and giving change
Number skills - counting papers/counting change
Technical skills - maybe, when the wheel falls off the bike and needs to be fixed???
Communication skills - talking to customers - you don't just say "Waddayawant?"
Organisation skills - getting to work on time, completing run on time, organising papers in barrow, etc

and probably a lot of other skills as well!


Now try to summarise (in the list below) the special skills you may have learnt so that you can include them in your résumé. Remember HOW you learnt those skills so that you can provide PROOF to a future employer!

MY TEN BEST SKILLS

1. ..........................................................................................................

2. ..........................................................................................................

3. ..........................................................................................................

4. ..........................................................................................................

5. ..........................................................................................................

6. ..........................................................................................................

7. ..........................................................................................................

8. ..........................................................................................................

9. ..........................................................................................................

10..........................................................................................................

Let's have a look at a very basic resume.
Return to Resume index.