Resume Help

GlenLakeLove

Help! Redoing my resume and I have some questions...

Categories: I have Objective, employment, education, and "skills"...what would you put in skills without being overly ridiculous? Am I missing any categories I should have?

I am trying to keep it to one page as they say and since I'm a fairly new teacher, it's pretty easy. Any other tips or tricks?

TIA!

heatherkj

Might not be relevant for you, but when I was first starting out, I always had a category for "related experience"--for internships and capstone projects that didn't really count as "employment."

Also, as part of my job, involvement in the community is pretty important, so I have a section for "Professional Development" with all of my volunteer positions listed.

In the skills section, for me, it's all regarding computer programs, HTML, etc.

Good luck!

GlenLakeLove

Thanks Heather!

 

I should add for those that don't know I'm an elementary teacher and have done remedial reading the past 3 years. (if that helps or tweaks anything)

Dar080808

How about putting a category for seminars/training?  I also have a sample portfolio of work I've done.

 

My resume has the following: Objective, Education, Teaching experience, Research experience, Presentations, Job experience, Professional Development, and Affiliations.

stargirl0508

My sections are: Education, Certifications, Professional Memberships, Teaching Experience, Professional Development.

I didn't put skills, but if I did I would indclude technology related stuff.  I chose to put mine under professional development, ie SMARTBoard training, I have my Junior Great Books training there, etc.  

MoxyMissi

In my last class, my professor had us update all of our resumes and then we critiqued each others and he went over them as well.  One of the points he made was that the Objective field is not necessary, since the "Objective " is that you want to get a job.  Any other explanations can go into your cover letter.

Do you have any additional language skills (Spanish, French, etc.)?  Hobbies?  Professional affiliations or volunteer work?  Put that on there, you may get more attention if your prospective boss is also an avid skier, knitter, or volunteer at the same place.

badtzmaru22

Ditto Missi.  Don't have an objective.  Also, don't write "references available upon request" (I'm not saying you did that, but if you do, take it off).  It takes up valuable space, and obviously they're going to assume you can provide references if they ask.  

I have my travel experience listed on my resume.  It sometimes pertains to the jobs I apply for, but mostly it's interesting, and interviewers always ask me about it.  It's been a good way to break the ice at first, AND I have been hired for a couple of jobs just because of conversations that came from having it on there.  I wouldn't say 'travel experience' is the best for everyone.  I've been to a significant amount of countries, and lived overseas for long periods of time... but definitely have some volunteer work or something similar. 

 

Good luck!! 

GlenLakeLove

MoxyMissi:

In my last class, my professor had us update all of our resumes and then we critiqued each others and he went over them as well.  One of the points he made was that the Objective field is not necessary, since the "Objective " is that you want to get a job.  Any other explanations can go into your cover letter.

Do you have any additional language skills (Spanish, French, etc.)?  Hobbies?  Professional affiliations or volunteer work?  Put that on there, you may get more attention if your prospective boss is also an avid skier, knitter, or volunteer at the same place.

I had read that about the objective! But my only concern is that I am applying to several new charter schools with EVERY position open (from custodians to specialized teachers) so I was thinking it would be beneficial to be a bit specific here to make sure I wasn't put in the wrong pile, so to speak. I'm obviously not saying they would confuse me with an admin's resume but perhaps a reading/math/french/spanish teachers?

badtzmaru22

GlenLakeLove:

MoxyMissi:

In my last class, my professor had us update all of our resumes and then we critiqued each others and he went over them as well.  One of the points he made was that the Objective field is not necessary, since the "Objective " is that you want to get a job.  Any other explanations can go into your cover letter.

Do you have any additional language skills (Spanish, French, etc.)?  Hobbies?  Professional affiliations or volunteer work?  Put that on there, you may get more attention if your prospective boss is also an avid skier, knitter, or volunteer at the same place.

I had read that about the objective! But my only concern is that I am applying to several new charter schools with EVERY position open (from custodians to specialized teachers) so I was thinking it would be beneficial to be a bit specific here to make sure I wasn't put in the wrong pile, so to speak. I'm obviously not saying they would confuse me with an admin's resume but perhaps a reading/math/french/spanish teachers?

That's what you're cover letter is for.  You can tailor it exactly to the position you're applying for.  

GlenLakeLove

badtzmaru22:

GlenLakeLove:

MoxyMissi:

In my last class, my professor had us update all of our resumes and then we critiqued each others and he went over them as well.  One of the points he made was that the Objective field is not necessary, since the "Objective " is that you want to get a job.  Any other explanations can go into your cover letter.

Do you have any additional language skills (Spanish, French, etc.)?  Hobbies?  Professional affiliations or volunteer work?  Put that on there, you may get more attention if your prospective boss is also an avid skier, knitter, or volunteer at the same place.

I had read that about the objective! But my only concern is that I am applying to several new charter schools with EVERY position open (from custodians to specialized teachers) so I was thinking it would be beneficial to be a bit specific here to make sure I wasn't put in the wrong pile, so to speak. I'm obviously not saying they would confuse me with an admin's resume but perhaps a reading/math/french/spanish teachers?

That's what you're cover letter is for.  You can tailor it exactly to the position you're applying for.  

Right, but at these fairs, they are requesting no cover letters since they are getting so many teachers applying. (It's a rough time to be an educator with all these budget issues). Less for them to read and spend time on. I am at a loss...I think I will just have 2 versions!

stargirl0508

If you have an area listing certifications/teaching licenses then that should eliminate any confusion.  If you aren't certified for spanish, then they shouldn't confuse you as an applicant for a job teaching spanish.  I leave off the objective anyway, since when moving down here I was pretty flexible about what kind of job I would take.  I prefer gifted ed, but if it came down to it, I would do regular elementary classroom too, and I'm special ed certified and would have done that if there were no gifted or el ed jobs out there.

GlenLakeLove

stargirl0508:

If you have an area listing certifications/teaching licenses then that should eliminate any confusion.  If you aren't certified for spanish, then they shouldn't confuse you as an applicant for a job teaching spanish.  I leave off the objective anyway, since when moving down here I was pretty flexible about what kind of job I would take.  I prefer gifted ed, but if it came down to it, I would do regular elementary classroom too, and I'm special ed certified and would have done that if there were no gifted or el ed jobs out there.

You'd be surprised in the private schools...I am the only one in my building who is certified and we have all of our specials teachers teaching areas they are new in...no training, etc. So it's a bit different in this sector. I just don't want to get stuck.

Times like these I wish I was in NY where the norm is, well, the norm. ::sigh::

ETA: I know stargirl you are in the DC area now but when I meant "this area/sector", I meant private schools in the district.

Dar080808

Good luck!  I understand how hard it is to find a teaching position when lay offs have become the norm.  I believe we only have one opening in my school next year and that's because a teacher is moving out of the area.  Other than that, we have layoffs and retirement where the position isn't being filled.  It sucks!