How to Write a Resume

by Davida Bluhm
Director
Educational Career Services

1 08/27/09
 ECSO Address
505 E. Green St.
Suite 202
Champaign, IL

(Next door to Starbuck’s.

Same building as Cold Stone Creamery and
National City Bank, second floor.)

2 08/27/09
 Overview
 The Resume
 The Cover Letter
 The Application

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 WARNING!!!
Technology is presenting some new challenges.
 Email addresses—No cute or off-color email
addresses.
 Answering machine messages—Make sure you
have recorded a professional message on your
answering machine for all your phones including
cell phone.
 Cell phones—Turn off before going into an
interview.
 Facebook/MySpace—What 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

1. Identity
2. Educational Background
3. 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@illinois.edu, fax 217-333-
5689, www.education.illinois.edu/ecso.
OR
 Hary Bary, Cooperating Teacher, Edison
Middle School, Champaign, IL, 217-000-
0000, harybary@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 don’t 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 detail—sentence 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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 WARNING!!!
 PRO OFREAD ALL YOUR
DOCUMENTS AND MAKE SURE
THEY ARE ERRO R 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/ecso for more
information.

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