Q5 Applying for a Job: Parts of a Resume
You know that a resume is a snapshot of your skills and experiences. It's a tool that helps you introduce yourself to potential employers. Let's break down the different parts of a resume so you can start building your own.
Discussion Question to think about as you play the video:
Which section of the resume is most important to employers, and why?
Parts of a Resume (4:54 min.)
The parts of a resume are similar to the sections of the job application. You will want to include the following:
Contact Information
Share information on how an employer can reach you. It includes your name, phone number, email address, and sometimes your city or a link to a professional profile like a digital portfolio. Make sure your email is professional and easy to read!
Professional Summary
A short paragraph at the top of your resume. Think of it as your "elevator pitch"—a quick explanation of who you are, your skills, and what you’re looking for in a job. For example, "Hardworking student with strong communication skills seeking a part-time babysitting role to gain experience in childcare."
Experience
Highlight any jobs, volunteer work, or projects you’ve done before. For each role, include where you worked, your job title, the dates you were there, and a few bullet points explaining your responsibilities or achievements. Even small tasks can show valuable skills!
Education
List your school, your current grade or level of education, and any awards, honors, or special classes you’ve taken. If you’re still in school, that’s okay—just focus on what you’ve learned so far.
Skills
Show off what you’re good at! Include hard skills like "proficient in Google Docs" or "CPR-certified," as well as soft skills like "teamwork" or "time management." Tailor this section to match the job you’re applying for.
Let's Practice
Read the sample resumes linked here (Parts of a Resume Samples) to help identify the parts of a strong resume and then answer the questions in the quiz below.
Complete the Parts of a Resume Quiz found in this form (Parts of a Resume Quiz).
When you are finished with the quiz, you will need to add a screenshot of the certificate at the end of the Parts of a Resume Quiz to your Career Prep Portfolio under Quest 5: Applying for a Job - Q5 Parts of a Resume page.
Below is a screencast of the steps you need to take to add your screenshot to your portfolio.
Here is an example page of how this page should look in your portfolio.
Competencies & Standards
MITECS Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students, and
2. Digital Citizen
c. Demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property
3. Knowledge Constructor
a. Plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits
c. Curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections or artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions
d. Build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions
6. Creative Communicator
a. Choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication
c. Communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations
d. Publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences
Websites and Documents
Websites
Videos from Outside Sources
- What to Look for in a Job Posting (3:01 min.)
- How to Spot a Job Scam (1:52 min)
21t4s Videos
- Career Research from BLS.gov
- Finding a Job Intro Video (2 min.)
- Adding Related Jobs (screencast with steps to add info to their portfolio)
21t4s Documents & Quizzes