{"id":3000,"date":"2021-06-02T08:30:37","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T13:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/alabama\/?p=3000"},"modified":"2022-10-28T23:36:53","modified_gmt":"2022-10-29T04:36:53","slug":"write-resume-land-teaching-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/alabama\/blog\/teaching-in-alabama-blog\/write-resume-land-teaching-job\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write the Ultimate Resume to Land Your Teaching Job"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Resume Is the Gateway to Getting Hired<\/h1>\n

After all your hard work and time invested in becoming a teacher, you\u2019re ready to take the next step and get hired! The time to flaunt your skills in a well-crafted resume to get you to the top of the hiring list is now. Resume writing can be a daunting task, but don’t let the intimidation stop you from achieving your goals. A resume is one of the main bridges between you, the hiring managers, and your dream job. It\u2019s a really powerful document! To help you create the ultimate resume, we met with HR professionals to learn what they look for while reviewing resumes. We\u2019ve compiled a list of their best resume writing tips and tricks to help you get that dream teaching position. Ready to get started? Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

A Resume’s Purpose<\/h4>\n

Your resume should have the power to tell your story. Before you ever make it to an interview, hiring managers will first review your resume to decide if they want to move forward with you. The purpose of your resume is to introduce yourself and grab the attention of the hiring manager. Tell your unique story to help get you noticed and highlight your experience but keep it succinct. You can always expand on your experience during the interview; this will help naturally guide the flow of the interview.<\/p>\n

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Resume Foundation<\/h4>\n

While resumes should be individually tailored and leave some room for personalization, there are a few components that should always<\/em> be included. These components are the building blocks of your resume and give it a strong foundation. Hiring managers will verify you have these essential items.<\/p>\n

\"number-1\" Header<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the top of the page, include a header. The heading should display your full name and your contact information, such as your email and\/or phone number. Generally, you should use a slightly larger font (not huge). Make sure to use a standard font type and center the heading on the page.<\/p>\n

\"number-2\" Education<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your education experience should follow directly under your header. You should align this text to the left of the page and use a smaller font than your header. The font type and size should be consistent throughout the rest of your resume. Your education experience should include your degree and university. Do not<\/em> include high school education or anything that is currently in progress (not completed.)<\/p>\n

\"number-3\"\u00a0Certification<\/strong><\/p>\n

Next up is your teaching certification. Don\u2019t include this in your education field so you can draw special attention to it. Include the subject area in which are you certified to teach, followed by grade range (i.e., Mathematics (4-8)<\/strong>.) If you have earned any other relevant or required certificates, list them after your teaching certification (i.e., CPR, First Aid, Youth Suicide Prevention, etc.)<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0Work Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

After you\u2019ve covered your education and teaching certification, you should write your work experience. List company names in bolded fonts and always make sure to write out years as four digits (i.e., 2019-2020). In a bullet-pointed list, you may include your essential duties and achievements. Include only relevant points and be sure to limit your list to a maximum of 3 bullet points.<\/p>\n

\"number-5\"\u00a0Relevant Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next section is optional. Following the same format used for work experience, you may list any other relevant experience. Only<\/em> include this if your experience correlates to your work experience or strengthens your case as a teacher. If you decide to include this section, limit it to the strongest and most relevant experience. Your relevant experience section should not be longer than your work experience. Also, remember that this may be the last sentence read on your resume. Make sure the statement is strong and leaves a lasting impression.<\/p>\n

Formatting Your Resume<\/h4>\n

Once you\u2019ve created the building blocks of your resume, it\u2019s time to do a format analysis. Formatting is an extremely important factor in creating the perfect resume. If your resume is cluttered and hard to read, you will likely not be extended an interview, no matter how exceptional your experience is. To make your resume easy to read and visually appealing, keep in mind the following:<\/p>\n

\"blue-1\" Consistency<\/strong><\/p>\n

Make sure font types and sizes are consistent throughout your resume. The ideal font size usually falls between 10-12. You may bold or slightly increase the font size of important titles, companies, or other information you wish to highlight, but they should all be consistent. The bullet-pointed text should also match. Pay special attention to space breaks before and after sentences, bullet points, and new sections. Your right- and left-hand margins should also be identical.<\/p>\n

\"blue-2\"\u00a0Flow<\/strong><\/p>\n

When laying out the building blocks of your resume, consider how our eyes naturally move across a page. Generally, when scanning for information, we read top to bottom, left to right. It’s important to remember this when placing your content on the page.<\/p>\n

\"blue-3\"\u00a0Length<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keep your resume to one page. If you have three pages of content, do not simply reduce the font size to make it fit. If a magnifying glass is required to read your resume, it will be passed over. Instead, consider reducing the number of bullet points used to explain sections. Ask yourself, \u201cdoes this add value to my story?\u201d If you are unsure, the answer is likely \u201cno.\u201d Only keep information that is essential and will leave hiring managers with the greatest impression.<\/p>\n

\"blue-4\" Design<\/strong><\/p>\n

Make sure your resume is clean, polished, and organized. To help achieve this, use indents and equal spacing. Remember, consistency is key! You may also consider using color, but do not go overboard. The majority of your resume should be in black and white. If you choose to integrate a third color to highlight important information, make sure it is easy to read. Darker hues of blue or green are usually safe. Stay away from bright or light colors, as they can be harder to read and appear less professional.<\/p>\n

Tailor Your Resume<\/h4>\n

To give yourself the best chance, you should always tailor your resume to the specific job you want. Don\u2019t worry \u2013 this is easier than it seems! Once you have created the essential building blocks of your resume and have optimized the formatting, it is quite simple to modify it to reflect the job posting for which you are applying.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re satisfied with your resume, save it on your computer as a template. Every time you find a position that you\u2019d like to apply to, open your resume template and save it as a new document. To tailor your resume to a specific job, read the job posting, identify keywords used, such as \u201cstudent-centered\u201d or \u201clesson planning\u201d, and include these in your resume. This is important to do because it is likely that your resume will first pass through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before<\/em> making it to a hiring manager. The ATS will specifically look for phrases and keywords used in the job posting. If these are reflected in your resume, your chances of moving to the next step are exponentially increased.<\/p>\n

Let’s Review<\/h4>\n

Now that you have your steps, let’s go over them one more time. So far, you have:<\/p>\n

\"red-check\"\u00a0 \u00a0Created the building blocks of your resume<\/p>\n

\"red-check\"\u00a0 \u00a0Used consistent font type and sizes<\/p>\n

\"red-check\"\u00a0 \u00a0Made sure your resume is organized and fits on one page<\/p>\n

\"red-check\"\u00a0 \u00a0Tailored your resume for a specific job posting<\/p>\n

As you prepare to send your resume, you should always do the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n