As you pursue teaching positions, you may be asked by hiring school district personnel to provide multiple items for their review. One very important document frequently requested is a resume. This document should be well written as it serves as your chief marketing tool. Think about the hundreds of resumes a school district may have on file. What is going to make your resume stand out? How can you sway school personnel to grant you an interview when there are often multiple candidates with comparable qualifications? This is your challenge. When school district recruitment personnel begin to screen resumes for open positions, a reader may spend as little as 20-30 seconds skimming your resume (not reading) at first. Increasingly, a computer is scanning your resume to search for job specific “buzz words.” Either way, it is imperative that pertinent information stand out. Effective resumes adhere to simple guidelines such as: beginning with the most important material, starting phrases with action verbs and/or including important job specific jargon, being consistent in your job descriptions, and eliminating all spelling/grammatical errors. If you pass the “scan test” (human eyes or computer), it is likely that someone will return to your resume for a more thorough review. Your resume must present your skills and qualifications in a way that best “sells” you to the employer. While each candidate is unique and may choose to use a different format, certain basic categories are important to include: Heading Name and contact information belongs at the top. List the best way(s) an employer can reach you (keep it simple and professional; i.e. proper email address, voice mail message, etc.). Objective Keep it concise. Identify the content area(s) or grade(s) you are certified to teach. Include mention of any extracurricular activities you are willing to…
