Résumé Writing for
Education Students
Résumé Formatting
• Your contact information should be at the top of your
résumé in a “header” and your name should be bigger
than any of the other font sizes throughout your résumé.
• Stick to bullet points. Avoid wordy paragraphs.
• Use 1 in. margins on the top and bottom and ¾ in. on
each side.
• Be consistent with font (Times New Roman or Arial), font
sizes, spacing, and layout.
• Avoid including pictures or lots of colors.
• Try to even out the content on the page so the white
space is limited.
• Most résumés for soon-to-be graduates should only be 1
page.
Education Résumé Example
Joe Teacher
3564 Somelittle Road
Anywhere, CA 91234
myname@samplemail.com
(555) 666-7777
This is just one example of a
résumé catered towards the
education field.
OBJECTIVE:
To obtain a Social Science teaching position at the secondary level at Gunnison High School.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts in History, Western State Colorado University (WSCU), Gunnison, CO
Secondary Education Licensure, State of Colorado
Expected May 20XX
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
● Well-developed research and curriculum planning skills
● Background in technology supported curriculum
● 3 years of experience working with multi-cultural instruction
● Extensive practical hands-on knowledge working with parents in conference settings
● Strong understanding of providing emotional support to students
● Motivated and enthusiastic about developing IEPs and accommodations within lesson plans
● Fluent in Spanish
● Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Dreamweaver, ACT’s Discover
RELATED TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Student Teaching:
Student Teacher—Grade 9, Gunnison High School, Gunnison, CO
Teaching Assistant Positions:
Grade 10, Crested Butte Community School, Crested Butte, CO
Grade 7, Gunnison Community School, Gunnison, CO
Academic Tutor:
Grades 9-12, Gunnison High School, Gunnison, CO
Jan.20XX-May 20XX
Sept. 20XX-Dec. 20XX
Jan. 20XX–May 20XX
Sept. 20 XX -Dec. 20XX
ADDITONAL EXPERIENCE:
Camp Counselor
Camp for the Arts, Durango, CO
May 20XX -Aug. 20XX
Academic Peer Advisor
Residence Life, WSCU, Gunnison, CO
Aug. 20XX -May 20XX
CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT:
Senator
Student Government, WSCU, Gunnison, CO
Orientation Leader
Campus Life, WSCU, Gunnison, CO
Aug. 20XX -May 20XX
May 20XX-Jun. 20XX
Notice that “Related
Teaching Experience” can
incorporate any positions
you have had that deal
with teaching, not just your
field experience hours for
Western.
Résumé Content
• Cater your résumé to the position you are seeking.
– If a school district is seeking an individual with
specific endorsements, certifications and/or training,
make sure you mention those on your résumé.
– It is more difficult to cater your résumé towards
specific positions at a job fair, but it is still possible if
you do your research ahead of time.
• An “Objective” is completely optional and will depend on
if you are using it for a specific position or if you are
trying to attain a teaching position at a Fair.
• Using action verbs strengthens your résumé.
Action Verbs
Here is an example of weak verb usage on a
résumé:
●Helped teach students about science concepts.
What not to do! The words “helped” and “teach” are
weak and overused.
Here is an example of how to strengthen the phrase:
●Developed comprehensive Earth Science Light Unit
incorporating 5 lesson plans, accommodations for ESL
students, and pre and post-assessments.
The verb “developed” provides a stronger visual for the
reader on what you actually did.
List of Education Related Action Verbs:
Achieve
Acquire
Address
Analyze
Assess
Assist
Author
Build
Calculate
Chart
Collaborate
College
Compile
Conceptualize
Conclude
Construct
Contribute
Correct
Create
Cultivate
Define
Demonstrate
Design
Determine
Develop
Diagram
Direct
Discover
Distribute
Document
Edit
Enhance
Estimate
Evaluate
Examine
Explain
Explore
Extract
Formalize
Formulate
Fine
Frame
Gather
Generate
Identify
Inform
Improve
Innovate
Inspire
Install
Instruct
Interpret
Introduce
Invent
investigate
Originate
Perceive
Perform
Pinpoint
Pioneer
Plan
Present
Produce
Prove
Publish
Purchase
Refine
Reorganize
Report
Replace
Research
Restructure
Revamp
Review
Revise
Revitalize
Solve
Stage
Streamline
Structure
Study
Survey
Test
Translate
Tutor
Utilize
Write
Résumé Content Continued…
• What counts as “Related Experience”:
– Volunteer Positions (example: Partners Mentor)
– Work Positions (example: Paid Tutor, Teacher’s Aid,
Coach, Camp Counselor, Substitute Teaching)
– Coursework at Western (example: Student
Teaching/Residency, Independent Study, etc.)
• Make sure if you list one of these examples as
“Experience”, you include:
• title, organization/school name, location (just city,
state), and dates (month and year) you held the
position.
Teaching Résumé Checklist:
FIVE SECOND REVIEW: Is your resume inviting or off-putting?
•
It is neat, clean, and pleasing to the eye
•
•
White space—not too much or too little
Even margins—not too narrow or too wide
FIVE MINUTE REVIEW: Does the information you included invite the reader to
learn more?
OVERALL:
• 1 inch margins on top, bottom and sides. Left and right margins can
be ¾ inch at the smallest
• 11 to 12 point type—Arial or other sans serif type is clearest for
smaller than12 point
• Consistent headings, bold use, punctuation and spacing
• Typestyle is consistent and not mixed with another
• Format - your choice, but should be easy to read and consistent
• No errors or misspellings
• No artwork, fancy type or colored ink
Teaching Résumé Checklist Continued:
FIVE MINUTE REVIEW Continued:
HEADINGS:
•
Education and Relevant Teaching Experience (or similar, in order)
•
Other possible headings: Honors, Awards, Affiliations, Key Qualifications,
•
Multicultural Experience or Additional Work Experience (Other headings that describe and market
YOU!)
CONTENT:
•
Begin with verb, present tense for now, or past tense if you no longer in that position (“I” is implied)
•
Include information relevant to position that highlights your skills
•
Demonstrate proficiency with specific information
•
Include information on areas of interest to school districts such as languages, diversity
experience, flexibility, classroom management, use of assessment to inform instruction, Common
Core and other standards, teamwork, and communication with parents, co-workers and
students—use the job announcement as a guide
•
Make it quick and easy for the employer to see how you meet the specific job
requirements/qualifications
•
Describe your experience, skills, and knowledge related to the position
•
Include unpaid & paid volunteer, internship and classroom experiences
•
Include details that make you stand out from other applicants
•
Avoid using personal pronouns & eliminate articles (“a”, “an” & “the”)
•
Avoid jargon & abbreviations (states are an exception) not commonly understood
Contact Western’s Career Services
for your résumé review
Taylor Hall 302A ● 970-943-7056
western.edu/career●mgreen@western.edu