📄 CV Workshop
Mission 2 · Unit 2 — Your CV has about seven seconds to make an impression. Let's make them count.
🔍 CV Detective: Crack Molly's Code
Below is Molly Lehmann's CV for a part-time job. The headings are missing — only numbers are left. Drag each heading from the bank to the correct blank.
➕ Molly Forgot Something
Molly left five details off her CV. Drag each one to the heading it belongs under.
🎧 Borrow Some Words
A podcast host interviews a paramedic about her job — she uses a lot of great adjectives you can steal for your own personal statement. Focus on what she says about herself.
▶ Listen: "What my job is really like"
Show / hide transcript
Host: Hi everyone, and welcome to today's episode. We often see them rushing past in ambulances with sirens blaring, but what is it actually like to be a paramedic? Today we have a real pro with us to pull back the curtain. Welcome.
Paramedic: Thanks for having me. It's great to be here and talk about a job that, honestly, is quite intense.
Host: Intense is a strong word. People always ask you what the job is really like, right? Is it all high-speed chases and emergencies?
Paramedic: Not exactly. Every day is completely different. One moment I'm totally calm, just driving to a routine call, and the next I'm in a situation where every single second counts. It's that contrast that keeps you on your toes.
Host: Oh, I can imagine. That must be a huge mental shift. What would you say is the biggest challenge when things get chaotic?
Paramedic: Staying calm under pressure. Definitely. You simply can't panic. People are looking at you to lead and think clearly when their world is falling apart. If you lose your cool, it doesn't help anyone.
Host: That makes sense. But it's not just mental, is it? It sounds like it takes a toll on the body, too.
Paramedic: Absolutely. It's very physically demanding. You have to be fit and strong, because you're often lifting patients or working for hours at a time without any real break.
Host: Wow.
Paramedic: It's incredibly rewarding, though. I've always been a compassionate person — I genuinely care about helping people, often on what might be the worst day of their entire lives. Plus, you're never alone in it. You have to be a great team player, because we rely completely on each other in an emergency.
Host: Interesting. It sounds like a real bond forms there. If you had to pick just three words to describe yourself or what it takes to do this, what would they be?
Paramedic: I'd say resilient, quick-thinking and dependable. Those are the qualities that get you through the shift — and honestly, they're qualities that help in almost any career, not just medicine.
Host: Resilient, quick-thinking and dependable. I think we could all use a bit more of that. It's been fascinating to hear about the calm moments and the high pressure emergencies, the physical demands, and the importance of teamwork. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
Paramedic: My pleasure. To wrap up: being a paramedic is about more than just medical skills. It's about staying calm and showing compassion when it matters most.
Host: Thanks for listening.
As you listen, write down every adjective the paramedic uses to describe herself or the job. You'll need them in a minute.
Now recall: which word matches each meaning? Type the adjective from the podcast — no peeking at your list above.
able to stay relaxed and think clearly, even in a stressful situation —
caring about other people and wanting to help them —
able to recover quickly from difficult situations and keep going —
able to make good decisions fast, without much time to prepare —
someone others can rely on to do what they say —
strong and healthy, able to do demanding physical work —
🧩 Which Skill, Which Job?
Not every strength matters for every job. "Good people skills" is essential at a hotel front desk — but barely comes up if you're coding alone at a desk. Match each skill to the job it matters most for.
Pick one skill from above. Which job would it be much less useful for — and why?
💭 Your Strengths
Before you write anything formal, brainstorm. Make a list of your strengths and special skills — anything counts.
fit and healthy, good at sports, patient with younger kids, … (or borrow a word or two from the paramedic above)
✍️ Write Your Personal Statement
Write 3–5 sentences that introduce you. Use Molly's statement as a model, and these sentence starters if you get stuck:
I enjoy doing … · I really like meeting … · I'm good at making … · I'm interested in working in/for …
✅ What's working
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