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 Educator Resume
Your resume is your opportunity to advertise yourself for a teaching position, the chance to sell your skills and qualifications to potential employers. It is a "snapshot" of your education, student teaching, skills, honors, and accomplishments. Your resume is also the tool you need in order to secure a job interview.
Types of Resumes
- Chronological - lists experience and education in reverse chronological order
- Preferred by employers and recruiters
- Showcases strong career progression
- Highlights length of experience
- Functional or skill resume - organizes experience according to skills or functions
- Useful for people with little work experience
- Emphasizes selected skills which are marketable and industry specific (e.g. to elementary education)
- De-emphasizes dates
- Not well liked by HR
- Combination - a combination of functional and chronological
- Useful for a candidate with little related professional experience
- Good for career changers and first-time educators
What to Emphasize
- What teaching position do you desire? List your teaching area (secondary science, elementary with computer endorsement, etc.)
- Do you have the education required for this position? List your college education, identifying academic honors, minors, GPA if over 3.0.
- Do you have the credentials required by the state? Do not forget to list your teaching credentials.
- Are you in the process of obtaining the required state credentials? If you are in the process of obtaining credentials, list the expected date of completion.
- Quick Fact - The largest part of your resume should be detailed information about your classroom experience and additional experience with young people (tutoring, camp counselor, troop leader, etc.)
Resume Sections
- Identify Yourself - Name, address, contact phone number, college address (include zip code and phone number), and email address (Be sure to have an appropriate voicemail and email address).
- Professional Objective - Identify the position you are seeking. Generate an interest by indicating what are you willing or capable of doing (you are most likely to be hired if your objective meets the employer's needs).
- Certification - in reverse chronological order (newest to oldest) list the areas and level you are licensed to instruct. Be sure to indicate the state, month, and year of certification. Include only the certifications that are relevant to the position you are seeking.
- Educational Background - New teachers should list their highest degree level first. Indicate your GPA only if it's above a 3.0. Honors you've received can be placed in this section, or if you have several, can be highlighted in a separate "Honors" section. Experienced teachers may choose to place their "Professional Experience" section before educational background.
- Related Experience - Include experience that directly relates to and supports your objective, teaching. These experiences can include student teaching, internships, practicums, volunteer work, part-time and full-time positions.
- Extra-Curricular Activities - Describe campus and community activities and organizations, including your achievements. Make sure to highlight your leadership experience/skills here!
Optional Sections
- Professional Affiliations and Activities - This section includes association memberships, leadership positions, conferences and in-services you have attended or presented, and publications.
- Honors and Awards - List the educational and/or professional honors you've received.
- Special Skills- Highlight other selling points such as language competencies, computer skills, interests, and talents, which support the position you are seeking.
Writing Style
- Use words to demonstrate accomplishment. For example:
- Instructed a class
- Managed a staff meeting
- Conducted parent-teacher conferences
- Solved conflicts
- Supervised a committee
- Counseled students
- Chaired a committee
- Coached a team
- Evaluated a program
- To assist with focusing on your achievements, ask yourself the following questions:
- What challenge have I faced or what problem have I resolved?
- What action did I take?
- What was the result of the action I took? Example 1:
- Before: Used Language Arts, Math, Writing, Art, and Social Studies in developing a thematic unit on "Community."
- After: Effectively integrated Language Arts, Math, Writing, Art, and Social Studies through the development and implementation of a thematic unit on "Community," providing students with the opportunity to learn through diverse learning modalities.
- What was the result of the action I took? Example 2:
- Before: Managed the classroom using various methods.
- After: Successfully maintain effective classroom management by establishing clear and consistent behavior guidelines, creating an organized classroom, promoting mutual respect, and making learning exciting through engaging lessons and activities.
Presentation
For resume production, use the following guidelines:
- Limit your resume to one to two pages.
- Use a word processor for quicker editing and revising.
- Use laser jet quality print, not dot matrix.
- Use high quality business letter stationery. Use 20-lb. bond in white, off-white or beige.
- Use a common font with a professional appearance. Suggested fonts are: Bookman, New York, Palatino, or Times New Roman.
What NOT to Include
- Date of birth
- Marital status
- Photograph
- Personal data (gender, ethnicity, height, weight, political affiliation, etc.)
- Letters of recommendation
- Salary history (unless requested)
- References ("References Available Upon Request")
References
When indicating references, use a separate sheet with the same heading as your resume. Use the same paper as well. List between 3-5 references, including phone numbers where your referenced can be reached over the summer (home phone numbers, home email adress).
Helpful Hints
- Student teaching experiences are of utmost importance.
- Education resumes can be two pages.
- Organization is important in formatting.
- Communicate effectively - stick to the point! No typing, spelling, or grammatical errors.
- Be specific! Include measurable statements, if possible.
- Flexibility and willingness to relocate will be a big factor when seeking employment.
- Resume handouts are available in the Career Development Center.
Sample Resumes
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