How to Write a Resume

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How to Write a Resume

• by Davida Bluhm
• Director
• Educational Career Services

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ECSO Address

• 505 E. Green St.
• Suite 202
• Champaign, IL
• (Next door to Starbucks.
• Same building as Cold Stone Creamery and National
  City Bank, second floor.)

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Overview

• The Resume
• The Cover Letter
• The Application

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W A R N I N G ! ! !

• Technology is presenting some new challenges.
• Email addressesNo cute or off-color email
  addresses.
• Answering machine messagesMake sure you have
  recorded a professional message on your answering
  machine for all your phones including cell phone.
• Cell phonesTurn off before going into an
  interview.
• Facebook/MySpaceWhat is lurking about on
  cyberspace about you?

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• The Resume

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What is a resume?

• A summary of your experience.
• A summary of who you are and what you can offer
  an employer.
• An indispensable marketing tool and advertisement
  . . . about you.
• Both format and content matter.
• The first impression an employer will have of you.

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3 Essentials in a Resume

• Identity
• Educational Background
• Teaching Experience (experience related to job
  objective)

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• SUGGESTED RESUME HEADINGS

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Your Name . . . (your identity)

• Legal name, address, zip code, telephone number
  with area code and/or cell number, email, fax,
  web address
• Include at the top of the page.
• Name in larger point size and bold.
• List permanent and local addresses.
• Make sure they can find you.

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OBJECTIVE

• Short and concise.
• To obtain a position as an Elementary Teacher.
• To become a Math Teacher, 6-12. Also interested
  in coaching basketball.
• Can also include an interest in coaching or
  sponsoring a club.
• Can also include a short philosophical statement
  if you desire.

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EDUCATION

• List academic degrees, major, minor,
  concentration, earned or in progress.
• Include graduation date(s).
• Include certification, grade levels,
  endorsements.
• List GPA if it is good otherwise leave it off.
• List most recent degree first.
• Include study abroad.

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Example

• EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education,
  University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, May 2009, GPA
  3.5/4.0.
• Middle School Endorsements Math, Science,
  Language Arts, Social Studies
• Certification Initial Illinois Certificate in
  Elementary Education (Type 03, K-9)
• Study Abroad Barcelona, Spain, Spring 2008

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• List most recent job first.
• Student teaching, practica, internships
• Work with youth in programs such as YMCA, Park
  District, church youth programs, summer camps,
  Vis a Vis, Tutor, Mentor, private music lessons,
  etc.
• Can include both full and part time, paid and
  volunteer.
• List job title first, then school or
  organization/company, city and state, and date.
• Example Student Teacher. Champaign Central
  High School, Champaign, IL, Spring 2009.
• description

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professional experience . . . descriptions

• Use action words in your descriptions.
• Examples organized, supervised, arranged,
  managed
• More alive and shows energy.
• Makes your points stronger.
• Reduces number of words needed and increases
  impact of words used.

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professional experience . . . descriptions

• Use current buzzwords in the field.
• i.e., differentiation, diversity,
  multiculturalism, technology, classroom
  management, collaboration, balanced literacy,
  multiple intelligence
• words specific to your major
• Use phrases, not complete sentences.
• Be consistent with phraseology.
• Do not abbreviate spell out everything.

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professional experience . . . descriptions

• Do not include what everyone has to do such as
  full takeover or writing lesson plans, etc.
• Include what makes you different and unique,
  i.e.,
• What you teach
• How you teach
• Classroom management strategies
• Multi-cultural experiences
• Technology skills, other special skills
• Other language ability
• Reading, bilingual, math, science,
  Spanish/foreign language, working with special
  needs students

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• Additional Categories
• Found in a Resume

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COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• College organizations
• Professional memberships
• Committee leadership/membership
• Conference attendance/participation
• College activities (intramural sports, marching
  band, etc.)
• Volunteer activities/civic contributions

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AWARDS, HONORS, GRANTS

• Professional recognition
• Honors, awards, distinctions
• Scholarships
• Exhibits, shows, publications
• Grants, special projects
• Create a special category if you have many. If
  not, can include under EDUCATION.

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INTERESTS, ACTIVITIES, AND SKILLS

• Language abilities
• Technology skills
• Travel abroad
• Hobbies and interests
• Teaching competencies or special skills (dance,
  pottery, cooking, kick boxing, sign language)
• Extracurricular interests
• Recent courses of interest

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Note . . .

• Most employers realize that educators who seek
  supplemental experiences tend to be independent,
  intellectually curious, and committed to learning.

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REFERENCES

• Include a comment indicating they are available
  through ECSO, listing our name, phone, email,
  fax, website.
• OR
• List names of references, title,
  school/organization, city and state, phone
  numbers, email, and fax.

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Example

• Educational Career Services Office, University of
  Illinois, Champaign, IL, 217-333-0740,
  ecso_at_illinois.edu, fax [phone],
  www.education.illinois.edu/ecso.
• OR
• Hary Bary, Cooperating Teacher, Edison Middle
  School, Champaign, IL, 217-000-0000,
  harybary_at_xxxxxxxxxx.org.

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Resume Tips

• Know your audience.
• Present your job objective stating what job you
  are seeking and what grade level.
• Use strong action words and phrases.
• Use short, concise phrases.
• Make it easy to read.
• List most recent experience/education first.
• Use 12 point or 11 point font.

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resume tips . . .

• Use bullets, bold, italics, underline,
  bold-italics, CAPITALIZATION but dont overuse.
• Use headings to draw reader.
• Use sufficient white space and balance content on
  the page.
• Can be 2 pages but do not print front to back.
• Use good quality, professional resume paper.
• PROOFREAD. MUST BE ERROR FREE.

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• The Cover Letter

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What is the purpose of a cover letter?

• To cover your resume.
• To introduce yourself along with your attached
  resume to a prospective employer.
• To show an interest in a particular position.
• To request an interview appointment.
• Informs employer of your communication skills and
  your writing skills.

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the cover letter . . .

• Emphasizes additional skills, experiences, or
  abilities not found in a resume.
• Can expand on experience in resume or include
  experience not in resume but no repeats.
• Letters are compared with others to screen
  applicants for further consideration.

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2 Types of Cover Letters

• Letter of application
• Targets identified positions
• Letter of inquiry or interest
• Not directed at any specific job vacancy.
• Directed at a school district or school.

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3 Parts of a Cover Letter

• Introduction (1 paragraph)
• Body (1 or 2 paragraphs)
• Close (1 paragraph)
• BUSINESS LETTER FORMAT

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Introduction (1 paragraph)

• Say who you are and what you want.
• Name position for which you are applying and how
  you heard about the position.
• Stress interest in a geographical location.
• Spark interest of the reader. Say something
  about their district.
• Include name(s) of individuals you know who the
  district might know (networking).

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Body (1 or 2 paragraphs)

• Direct attention to your strongest points and
  relate to position.
• State why you want to work for this school
  district. Reference items you see on their
  website and/or job description and relate to your
  skills and abilities.
• State how your education and past achievements
  have prepared you for this job and this school.
• What makes you unique?

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body . . .

• Use action words.
• administered, conducted, coordinated, managed,
  organized
• Use self-descriptive words.
• consistent, fair, diplomatic, extroverted,
  methodical
• Be specific and use concrete examples of your
  experiences.

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Close (1 paragraph)

• Request action on the part of the reader.
• End letter with what you want employer to do.
• I would be happy to schedule an interview with
  you at your convenience to discuss my
  qualifications.
• If employer is in another geographical location,
  tell him/her when you will be in their area and
  request an appointment.

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Business Letter Format

• Block style
• Modified block style
• Modified block style with indented paragraphs

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Tips for Cover Letters

• Short and to the point.
• Be specific about your experiences.
• Address letters to individuals
• NOT To Whom It May Concern.
• Use tone of moderate confidence.
• Sign and date each letter.
• Limit use of I.

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tips for cover letters . . .

• Use good word processor and printer.
• Use good quality paper that matches resume.
• Include all possible phone numbers, email,
  addresses, fax, etc.
• Include clues that hiring you will lead to
  enhance their school.
• Do not repeat what is in your resume.

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tips for cover letters . . .

• Type and laser print each letter individually.
  Send originals, not copies.
• Business letter format.
• Be direct in requesting an interview.
• Apply only for positions for which you
  understand, are qualified, and interested.
• Obtain as much information about the job as
  possible.
• PROOFREAD. MUST BE ERROR FREE.

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• The Application

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TIPS for Applications

• Complete applications. Most are now on line.
• Follow instructions carefully.
• Pay attention to detailsentence structure,
  spelling, etc.
• Be careful how you answer questions.
• Type answers in Microsoft Word and cut and paste
  to the application.
• You will likely use all or portions of these
  answers in other applications.
• PROOFREAD before submitting.

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NOTE

• Employers can read partially completed
  applications before they are submitted.
  Therefore, make sure your applications always
  contain accurate information, correct spelling
  and sentence structure, etc.

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W A R N I N G ! ! !

• PROOFREAD ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS AND MAKE SURE
  THEY ARE ERROR FREE.
• Your resume, cover letter, and application will
  be the first contact an employer has with you.
  It is their first impression of you.

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General Tip

• A great resume, cover letter, and application
  will not necessarily get you the job
• BUT
• a poor resume, cover letter, and application can
  keep you from getting the job.

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Aloha Mahalo !
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• The Placement File

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Placement/Credential File

• Set up a Placement/Credential File in ECSO using
  eRecruiting
• A valuable online tool you can use and manage in
  your job search containing professional
  information about you.
• An online file stored in a central location on a
  non-corruptible, backed-up system and available
  to you 24/7.

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What does the placement file contain?

• Profile of your information input by you and
  viewed only by ECSO.
• Your resume when you upload it.
• Letters of recommendation written by your
  references. ECSO scans them into your file.
• Your career eportfolio created by you in
  eRecruiting which employers see by your
  invitation only. Or list your web address on
  your resume in eRecruiting to create a hyperlink
  for employers to click on.
• Option of storing your cover letter.

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What does the placement file provide?

• Access to online job vacancies.
• Access to your letters of recommendation.
• Employer access to your online resume when you
  upload and publish to Resume Books.
• Employer access by your invitation to your career
  eportfolio.
• Job referrals.
• 10 sets of credentials (hard copy) sent to
  employers of your choice.

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placement/credential file . . .

• Your placement file remains in ECSO for 15 years
  so you can reactivate later.
• Cost of a placement file 50 per placement year
  for new registrants 75 for reactivations.
• Placement year September 1-September 1.
• Go to our web site at www.education.illinois.edu/e
  cso for more information.