Resumes for Children 17 Years Old and Under

According to Manley’s debut collection, even 6-year-olds can begin shaping resumes for future success.

This guide, a recipient of the Mom’s Choice Award, aims to help children articulate their skills and talents by putting them in resume form. This will raise a child’s self-awareness and self-esteem, Manley writes, and ultimately set them on a path to prosperity. The 21 sample resumes, many by high schoolers, seem to reflect a pool of overachievers; for example, a 6-year-old includes the money he earned by completing household chores under the heading “Created Income,” and began studying German at age 3, which no doubt helped him to be admitted into the Gifted Children’s Association (listed under “Organizations”). In her introduction, Manley raises the excellent points that college and scholarship competition is fierce and that concisely summarizing achievements is a good way to get attention. What children do for fun can help them develop tools they’ll use later in life, and helping children to understand that is a positive benefit. But although Manley does note the widening gap between the haves and have-nots, the book almost exclusively showcases resumes of the haves. For example, such amenities as Marine Biology Research Camp and Investment Camp are likely out of reach for families in lower tax brackets, and half the sample resumes highlight moneymaking skills, with headings such as “Increased Revenue.” The three sample cover letters, intended to solicit financial support for career-building activities, have a corporate tone, as if they’re being sent to a mailing list rather than family or friends. The book also suggests that children should request compliments in writing, presumably so that they can add them to their growing list of testimonials. Parents committed to having their children climb the corporate ladder will likely benefit most from these tips. But even readers who don’t believe that children need written recommendations for properly taking out the trash may find value in teaching children how to promote their abilities.

An intriguing guide that asserts that it’s never too early to start documenting one’s talents and achievements.