How to Write Resumes for Education Careers
By Heather EagarThe education field is one of few out there that is still
managing relatively well in the midst of the recession. However,
this doesn’t mean that snagging a great job will be a piece
of cake. It may still require some work, especially in terms of
creating a great resume.
So if you have already acquired your education degree, are
certified to teach, and are looking for your first education job
– or are thinking of leaving your current position and want
something new – it’s a good idea to learn how to get
your education resume in order. The good news is that it’s
easier than you think. Here are a few tips to get you
started.
Get Detailed With Your Certification
Information
As an educator, it’s important to let any prospective
employers know that you are certified to teach in your area of
expertise. The best way to point this out is to list the
certification information in your resume.
So exactly what certification information should be included?
You want to list the state in which you were licensed to teach.
Also, it’s a good idea to list the fields you are eligible to
teach in (i.e. math, science, English, Spanish, etc.). And if you
are certified for a specific grade level, you want to list this
information as well.
Don’t Forget about the Other
Extras
One thing that makes you unique as an education employee is
the certificates and licenses that you may acquire along your
journey. Many employees only have work experience to list, but you
have these items, plus more for hiring managers to consider.
This “more” might include your educational
background and honors/awards, you might list professional
associations and activities such as any research or publications
you’ve been involved with. And if you have focuses in your
career like coaching or multicultural education, be sure to mention
these as well because they may give you a leg up on the
competition.
What If I Haven’t Finished a Certain
School?
When you’re listing your formal education, if
you’re attending a certain school but haven’t completed
your education there yet, you can still list it. For instance, if
you’re working on your Masters degree then you can list the
school, city and state of that school. On the next line, you can
note that you have 40 credits toward your Psychology degree. The
same goes if you attended a school then transferred. However many
credits you completed, you can still list them.
What About Length?
When you’re creating your resume, very often experts
will tell you to keep yours to a length of one page. The same is
true for education resumes; however, if you have to stretch it out
some to two pages, this is perfectly acceptable. The main reason
this is the case is because there are extra sections such as
certifications, certificates and licenses, and more, to
consider.



