Your résumé and cover letter are your first chance to make a great impression. Follow this advice from Résumé Design Guide (Pi Lambda Theta, 2007) to stand out.
1. Keep it current. Date each résumé with the month and year, and update any résumés that employers have on file every three to six months. Employers often purge their records after six months, and you don’t want to be left out of the applicant pool. Plus, you may have more experiences or awards to add. If your address changes, update your résumé immediately.
2. Keep it short. Your résumé should be two pages, max. Many employers won’t read résumés longer than that, so no matter how great your accomplishments are, they will go unnoticed. Some even argue that in today’s overcrowded job market, you should condense your résumé to one page because employers sifting through hundreds of résumés will appreciate the brevity. Webinar presenter Jean Wyer, career services program coordinator at The Ohio State University, recommends putting key information “above the fold,” just like newspapers put breaking news at the top of the front page. This includes a summary (space permitting), contact information, your education with your teaching license and graduation date, and the beginning of the section that lists your teaching experience.
3. Your certification goes at the top. Use the same language that your state uses for your particular certification. You can ask your college advisor or placement office, or check your state’s department of education web site to find the right wording. If you are still getting certified, include the date you expect to finish.
