Education Resumes - Alumni

Developing a resume is one of the first steps needed to begin the job search. Applicants for education positions will need a resume to send with each cover letter or letter of inquiry. The resume will provide the reader with a logical statement of the applicant’s education, skills, and experience. The reader will initially skim the resume in just a few seconds. Your resume needs to be compelling enough to make the reader want to go back and read it more carefully.

In developing an education resume, keep focused on what the reader needs to know about you as an applicant. Begin by providing basic personal information: name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. List a phone number connected to answering machine/voice mail rather than a cell phone number.

An objective is not needed since the objective is be hired for the specific job for which you are applying.

List your education—the degree, major, endorsement(s), and date received or to be received. Noting your GPA is optional. If you already hold a teaching certificate, list it as well.

Next, list your related experiences in education so that the reader can see the range of your experience in the classroom. The following examples will show you how to develop these entries.

List any study abroad experiences you may have had as well as academic honors.

Develop a section entitled “Special Skills” to list language skills, computer skills, interpersonal skills, cultural experiences, and any other special skills or experiences that will set you apart from other applicants. This section is important because it tells the reader more than he/she would find on your transcript and sets the groundwork for questions to be asked during the interview.

Complete the resume by noting any relevant coursework that strengthens your background in education, any volunteer experience you may have had, any community involvement in which you have participated, and additional work experience not related to education.

Do not list your references on your resume. They will be made available through your credentials file.

Remember:

• Take time to plan and draft your resume. It won’t be done in one setting!
• The resume can run to two pages. Do not copy it front and back.
• The resume should be neat and utilize a reasonable font and margins.
• It should always accompany the cover letter or letter of inquiry.
• Giving a copy of your resume to your letter writers will help them to write a more specific letter about you.
• The resume is not part of a credentials file.

For questions about Education Employment, contact Dr. Becky Faber, Assistant Director-Education, at (402) 472-8028.