How to Write Resumes for Education Careers

The 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.

The good news is that creating your education resume is not much different than any other type of resume. There are just a few more details to include to help ensure that the person hiring you knows you’re fully qualified. If you include those details, you’ll have a great resume to submit for consideration.