Resume Considerations for Teachers
Resume and Cover Letter Development
WHAT IS A RESUME? WHAT CAN IT DO FOR YOU?
A resume is a job-hunting tool that can help you get an interview, prepare for an interview, and organize information for a potential employer.
Your resume introduces you on paper. It outlines your education and work-related experiences in an easy-to-read, positive manner and is the "ticket" to get you an interview.
Your resume:
- Initiates contact with a potential employer;
- Gives an employer a "snapshot" of your education, experience, accomplishments, skills, interests and goals; gives you full credit for your achievements, whether you were paid or not
- Is a guideline for you to review your qualifications before an employment interview;
During the interview, focuses interviewer¯s attention on your strongest points; Guides the interviewer toward positive things to talk about
- Lets you network with people who can help you in your job search (friends, parents, professors, former employers)
- Leaves information about you with a potential employer to promote future contact
- Supplements information when you complete standardized application forms
WHAT GOES ON A RESUME?
- Name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address (if applicable)
- Career objective helps administrators in initial screening process. You appear focused.
- Professional profile (optional- good for career changers and experienced teachers)
- Brief description or summary of your skills, personality traits, and achievements related to the job objective
- Education and certifications
- Field experience (student teaching). Include pertinent details of experiences beyond the routine aspects. Try to focus on how your presence made something better (accomplishments)
- Description of work experience
- Employment history with job title, organization name, location, and dates of employment. Use reverse chronological order
- Community service
- Professional memberships
- Interests and special skills
- Fluency in languages other than English
- Computer skills
- Leadership activities
- Professional development activities
RESUME TIPS
Lack of focus on a future job objective is the number one reason mostresumes fail.
Concentrate on where you are going, rather than where you have been or where you are now. By focusing on the future job objective, you can create a resume that not only points you in the right direction but also shows the potential employer how the past and present qualify you for that job. A good rule of thumb: If an item in your resume relates to your job objective and helps your case, leave it in. If not, leave it out. Your resume substance and structure should support your objective.
-All job descriptions and experiences should focus on the career objective
-Start all phrases with a vigorous action verb
-Education is placed before professional experience whenever you are applying for a position with an educational institution
- Increase your chances of obtaining an interview by creating a resume which conveys your important points in thirty seconds or less. Be sure your resume meets the following criteria:
- Neat, fresh, legible and error-free
- Clearly identified teaching field, skills, strengths
- Effective language and correct grammar
- Positive and promising professional image
- Convincing, relevant and positive
WHAT FORM SHOULD MY RESUME TAKE?
There is no right or wrong format, as long as your resume is concise, readable, and presents your qualifications in the best possible light.
Chronological. Most commonly used, especially for new and recent graduates. Presents material in reverse chronological order. Highlights the progress you¯ve made in your jobs.
Functional. Emphasizes strengths and skills by listing experiences by major functional areas. Experiences are not chronological, but are grouped according to job-related functions such as subject areas taught. Good for someone returning to the workforce, or with dissimilar or spotty job experiences, or transferring to a new career area.
Combination . Combines the chronological and functional formats to highlight selected jobs. A shortened experience section lists only title, organization and dates for each position.
In either format, consider including a Skills Statement or a Summary of Experience in place of a Career Objective if it better serves your purpose.
Teacher Skills, Responsibilities, Attributes
Skills
- Install a sense of worth in students
- Cooperative learning strategies
- Integrated lessons
- Motivation techniques
- Child-centered classrooms
- Probabilistic thinking
- Cooperative learning
- Team-teaching
- Curriculum development and enrichment
- Performance-based accreditation
- Team building and goal setting
- Outcome-based education theory
- Self-contained classrooms
- Peer tutoring systems
- Behavioral disorder and emotionally disturbed children
- Inclusion and integration processes
- Metalinguistics
- School corporations
- Full-curriculum classrooms
- Student counseling
- Youth empowerment
- Multiability children
- Problem-based curriculums
- Accelerated modes of delivery in educational settings
- Critical Elements of Instruction (CEI)
- Thematic approaches
Responsibilities
- Establish a non -threatening environment that encourages creative expresssion
- Devise faculty evaluations
- Provide student guidance
- Develop activities for classroom functions
- Monitor student progress
- Encourage parental involvement
- Develop community-based programs
- Enforce assertive discipline techniques
- Create grade-appropriate material
- Devise and implement a curriculum emphasizing the emotional, social, and intellectual development of small children
- Participate in staff development
- Foster a problem-solving environment
- Whole-group instruction
- Develop teaching modules
- Collaborative consultation
Attributes
- Culturally aware
- Realize the difference between being taught and being educated
- Businesslike classroom
- Ability to motivate children and help them surpass their expectations
- Viewed as a consultant by other members of faculty
Characteristics Sought After in Teachers
- ability to make a difference with challenging and special students
- allow for individual expression
- appearance
- career changers
- common sense and good judgement
- community involvement and civic responsibility
- confidence
- empathy for students
- energy and enthusiasm
- excellent communication skills
- foreign languages
- flexibility
- general intellect
- having an educational philosophy
- initiative
- interest in extracurricular activities
- knowledge and use of technology
- knowledge of current teaching methodology
- knowledge of subject matter
- leadership ability
- lifelong learners
- love of children and enthusiasm for teaching
- management skills
- maturity and judgement
- organization
- other experience with children -- parenting, scouts, coaching
- patience
- person with interests and hobbies -- "a life"
- poise
- possibility -- not limitations
- public speakers
- respect for oneself and for children
- role model for students
- self-assurance
- sense of humor
- spark
- team players
- understanding of multiple intelligences
- warmth and nurturing
- willingness to grow