In 2009, Wide Angle Youth Media, in collaboration with 12 other youth media organizations across the country, developed a new evaluation strategy - The Verified Resume - funded by the Kellogg Foundation and developed Learning Matters and ListenUp!

The goal of the Verified Resume is to teach youth eight skills and behaviors that employers have identified as valuable and assess and document this development, creating a certification of their progress that can be used to help youth obtain jobs.  These measures are part of the SCANS Skills for workforce development, skills identified as essential for career success. Dr. Arnold Packer, the Director of the SCANS Study, works with us to development measurements and clarify assessments.

Program Staff introduce these skills and their measurements to the youth, and integrate skill development into their daily activities. Pre and post observational surveys are conducted by the staff to measure youth development in the skill areas.

Once the assessment period is complete, the staff create the Verified Resume, which is given to the youth. If the young person gets a job, the staff consult with the employer to verify the accuracy of the evaluation.

[Click to download a sample Verified Resume]

Wide Angle is now conducting professional development trainings and webinars to teach youth workers, teachers, and youth development organizations how to measure these skills and create Verified Resumes for their youth.  Contact us to learn how we can train your staff!

It is our goal to have all programs that serve older youth use the Verified Resume tool, to create value in the marketplace, and encourage potential employers to have incentive to interview and hire more youth people, in Baltimore and across the nation.