Resume Information

Creating Your First Resume

Resume Formats

Resume Writing Tips

Resume Worksheet

Resume Samples

Business Letters

Thank You Letters

 

Creating Your First Resume  

There are many options that you can include or leave out. In general, we suggest you always include the following data:

1. Your name, address and telephone number.
2. Pertinent educational history (grades, certifications, activities, etc.)
   Follow the grade point rule of thumb - mention only if it is above a 3.0
3. Pertinent work history (including student teaching)
4. Academic honors
5. Membership in organizations

You have the option of including the following:

1. Your career objective
2. Personal data
3. Summary of qualifications

Resume Formats

Chronological*

The chronological resume lists your work history in reverse order with your most recent position having the most space and previous work experience receiving less attention. Titles and organizations are emphasized with corresponding duties and accomplishments described.

Advantages: Emphasizes continuity and career growth. Easy to follow. Highlights employer.

Best Used: In cases of entry into the job market or to play up experience and employers.

Is Advantageous: When name of last employer is an important consideration; when staying in the same field; and when applying for work in a traditional position or career field (i.e. education, government, accounting, etc.).

Is Not Advantageous: When work history shows instability, frequent job changes, or lack of growth; when changing career goals.

Functional*

The functional resume highlights major areas of accomplishment in an organizational format that supports your career objective. Actual titles and work history are in a subordinate position to your qualifications. Advantages: Provides considerable flexibility in choice of emphasis, eliminates repetition of job assignments.

Best Used: In cases of career change, redirection or re-entry into the job market or to play up a particularly strong qualification or accomplishment.

Is Advantageous: When emphasizing capabilities not used in recent work experience; when changing careers; when work history is unstable.

Is Not Advantageous: When emphasizing a management growth pattern; when applying to highly traditional fields (i.e. education, ministry, politics and government); and when recent employers have been highly prestigious.

* Adapted from Tom Jackson's The Perfect Resume (Anchor Books).

Resume Writing Tips

• Your resume, a synopsis of your education and experience, serves as your calling card. Keep it concise and brief.
• Use brief statements beginning with action verbs for greater effect. Complete sentences are unnecessary.
• Show quantities, amounts, and dollar values when they can enhance the description of your activities (i.e. Taught 25 students in all subjects).
• Begin with strongest statements when describing your accomplishments.
• Avoid personal and subjective evaluations (i.e. Instead of "I have excellent research skills" write "Received merit award for three major research projects").
• Eliminate repetitions: if you did similar tasks in two or three different jobs, explain in detail only those in the most recent position.
• Limit jargon or acronyms, except those commonly recognized (i.e. IBM is more commonly known than Information Business Machines; however, not everyone knows TQM stands for Total Quality Management). Write out “ University of Nebraska at Omaha”.
• Avoid information already implied or included. For instance, if you are a college graduate, then describing your high school education is unnecessary.
• List only most recent positions, usually going back only 5 to 10 years, unless a previous position has strong connection to your objective. If you wish to represent experience beyond 10 years, then consider using a brief paragraph or professional summary.
• Exclude personal information (date of birth, height, weight, gender, marital status, etc.), pictures and personal/family problems or limitations (divorce, health conditions).
• Condense: every word must be significant.
• Exclude past salary earnings, future salary expectations, and references unless specifically requested.
• Produce a professional looking master copy using a computer and a laser printer. Then duplicate your resume on professional resume bond paper, preferably white or off-white.
• Use professional looking bullets, asterisks, or other symbols to naturally attract the reader’s eye. Use spell check, read your resume backwards and have someone proof your resume to avoid typographical errors.
• Include a cover letter directed to a specific person each time you send out your resume.

Resume Worksheet

Resume Worksheet (downloadable .pdf)

Power Words (downloadable .pdf)

 

In your resume you will want to be brief. Use phrases rather than complete sentences. Your resume is a summary of your talents, not a term paper. Choose your words rather carefully and use power words whenever possible. Strong words can make the most mundane clerical work sound like a series of responsible, professional positions. Here is a starter list of words that you may use in your resume.

Resume Samples
 

Resume formats vary from person to person. Be sure to select a format you are comfortable with using and works best with the type of position you are applying. Here are a few examples of resumes.

 

Resume Template (downloadable .pdf)

Elementary Teacher Resume Sample (downloadable .pdf)

Secondary Teacher Resume Sample (downloadable .pdf)

Administrative Resume Sample (downloadable .pdf)

 

Business Letters

 

There are times when it will be necessary to use a business letter during your job search. Below are some examples of when to use a business letter. Limit the length of the letter to one.

 

1. Letter of request -- Ask for an application form, brochures, or printed information about the school district.
2. Letter of application -- When a school district does not have an application form, your letter if your application. This would accompany a resume and be sent about the same time your credential file is sent.
3. Cover Letter – Send with a completed application forma and/or your resume. This is essentially the same thing as an application letter. Even though you are submitting a completed form, it is a good idea to repeat some of the information in the cover letter.

Application or Cover Letter Outline (downloadable .pdf)

 

Thank You Letters

A well-executed, timely thank you note tells more about your personality than anything else you may have sent and it also demonstrates excellent follow-up skills. Thank-you letters may well become the beginning of all-important dialogue that leads directly to a job. Take extra care in composing them, and make certain that they are custom-made for each occasion and person.

The following are the primary situations in which you will be called upon to write some variation of a thank you letter.

1. After a job interview
2. After an informational interview
3. Accepting a job offer
4. Responding to a rejection (While optional, such a letter is appropriate if you have been among the finalists in a job search or were rejected due to limited experience. Remember, some day you will have enough experience, make the interviewer want to stay in touch.)
5. Withdrawing from consideration. (Used when you decide you are no longer interested in a particular position. Whatever the reason for writing such a letter, it is wise to do so and thus keep future lines of communication open.)