Professional Resumes in the Education Sector Contain These Ingredients
These are the most important points to remember when developing an attention-grabbing resume.
The look of a professional resume.
Think of it this way: when you go shopping, chances are you make a purchase because you have seen the product advertised. What grabbed your attention? The ad, the product description, the benefits, or the packaging? This is the way your resume should be presented, as an advertisement that highlights your relevant skills, accomplishments, and answers the employer's question: "What can this teacher do to create the perfect school community?" or "What can this teacher do to increased our standardized test scores?"
Organization of information.
The data presented in your resume needs to be easy for the recipient to read and understand, make sure they don't have to search for the the information. Create a highly visible and attention-grabbing summary section, located at the top of the first page. You have only five to twenty seconds to grab their attention, making this section critical. This summary section is the place to include keywords, without making it obvious. You can have the best credentials and accomplishments for the position, but if they are poorly presented, you can easily be overlooked for the teaching job of your dreams.
Valuable and convincing content.
This is imperative and will be the deciding factor in whether or not you secure an interview. Write powerful statements that match your skills, abilities, and qualifications to the school district's needs. Many educators have difficulty writing their resume and emphasizing how their skills relate to the position - this is where a professional resume writer can help.
Let your personality shine.
It is a well-known fact that school districts hire candidates with a pleasing personality. The words you use in your resume can convey the personality in your absence and set you apart from the other candidates. Use vocabulary that will interest the reader, rather than dull sentences that will make them put your resume in the "NO" pile.
Class and professionalism.
Understand that your documents must demonstrate and display your "best" work. Would you hire yourself if your resume were in a stack of a 1000 others? To ensure professionalism, send a cover letter that is addressed to the principal or school district hiring manager, and make sure the name is spelled correctly. Do not fold your documents - send them in a full-sized envelope. If you are unable to personally deliver the resume, send it by overnight express to make a professional and powerful lasting impression.