Writing your Resume  

A resume is a written, concise summary of your background, education, experience, and qualifications, particularly those related to the job you are seeking. Its purpose is to "sell" you to a prospective employer by emphasizing your individual skills and experiences. Any appropriate format or arrangement of categories can be used. (Samples and other resume materials are available in Career Placement Services.) However, since an employer may spend just a few minutes reading your resume, it is important that it be excellent, easily read, and arranged properly in a consistent format. Most resumes usually include the following main sections (not necessarily in this order):

1. Personal Data. Indicate your name, home address, e-mail address, and telephone. Religion, marital status, or race is not included.
2. Career Objective Or Type Of Work Desired. Devise a factual statement indicating the type of teaching position you desire and for which you are qualified.  Be specific about grade level(s) and subject area(s).  Statements concerning future plans or philosophies are not usually appropriate.
3. Education. List highest degree first and the date it was either awarded or is expected, major, minor, certificates, special honors, GPA etc.
4. Teaching Experience.  List all relevant teaching experience with the most recent first.  If you are a beginning teacher, list all student teaching assignments.  Include school district and state, job title, grade level(s) or subject(s) taught and the starting and ending dates.  Include methodologies used and programs of instruction. 
5. Employment. List significant experience chronologically with the most recent first. Include description of job or position, name of employer, place, and dates. Some short-term or part-time positions can be grouped together in a single summary statement.
6. Additional Skills and/or Training.  List all relevant job skills.  Include significant professional development activities or specialized training you have received.  Include presentations you have given and written and material you have had published.  List activities you are qualified to coach or sponsor.  List the most recent or most important items first in each category. Many teachers are hired on the basis of what they can already do outside of their major and minor fields. Therefore, you should be as complete as possible.
7. Honors / Memberships / Volunteer Experience.  List any professional organizations to which you belong.  Include offices held or reponsibilities assigned.  List all relevant honors received.   
8. References. State that students teaching references and reports are available upon request through Teacher Career Placement Services. However, list the names, titles, mailing addresses, phone numbers and email adressess of all references.  Include 3 work/professional references. 

    Once your resume is prepared, it is advisable to have someone critique it professionally before it is printed. A member of the Teacher Career Services Office staff, a faculty member, or any other qualified individual may assist you. After your resume is completed, you should consider having it printed in quantity by a reputable printing service. Avoid inadequate copy machines and printers.