How To STOP 5 Resume Writing Mistakes NOW!

Resume writing mistakes you can fix immediately. Your education resume can be an effective job search tool to market you to the right audience. If written correctly you should have a short job hunt.

An academic resume only works if you write and format it correctly!

Avoid These Resume Writing Mistakes that Many Educators Make



Have you sent out resume after resume with very few, if any results?

Are you unsure why you are struggling to secure education interviews?

Have you used a “proven” teacher resume template, but still can’t land a job?

Sit back and read the mistakes job seekers make when creating their resume below. Also, read 13 academic CV curriculum vitae writing tips to fast-track your job application.

#1 STOP using resume templates or builders

Click on the arrow to listen to Candace read this post

1. Use of a teacher resume template from MS Word or similar programs – Do NOT do this!

A Microsoft Word template may be suitable for a high school student, who is searching for their first job. A bland template is not appropriate for a professional to use, particularly a teacher.

Teachers must be able to demonstrate creativity and outside-the-box thinking. By simply defaulting to a basic template, you will automatically lose points with the reader.

A resume should be a work of fine art; it’s an opportunity to make yourself stand out not only professionally, but visually as well. The key is developing a concise, truthful, and eye-catching document that leaves administrators eager to learn more about you.

There are several strategies to get away from the standard resume template, including incorporating color, changing fonts, integrating a related icon, adding a border, and using testimonials.

The resume sample is an excellent example of how to incorporate color and an icon. However, you may choose to use just one of these items, or neither. It’s all about making the document fit your personality and the kind of teacher you are trying to portray.

Or you may wish to use a powerful testimonial, which adds evidence you are an outstanding educator.

Take the time to review this elementary teacher resume sample.

Or if you are looking for a teachers’ aide resume sample you are in luck.

Jump on over to this excellent post about education resume formatting tips to please the reader’s eye.

Four resume writing mistakes educators make!

2. Unclear resume target, specialty or desired position

If you find your resume is not gaining the attention you want it to, perhaps your specialty isn’t clear to the reader. Don’t try and hide what position you are applying for; make it obvious right from the get-go, so the reader knows to start matching up your experience and skills with the job they are hiring for. In addition to your name, your main area of expertise should be large, bold, and near the top of the page.

If you don’t focus your resume and cover letter, you will miss your job target.

The introductory or profile paragraph should convey your related experience as well. For instance, in the school librarian/media specialist example below, you will note the writer’s apparent reference to expertise in library management and technology integration. A hiring administrator knows the job applicant has these two critical skills.

If you are a brand new teacher, who doesn’t have a defined specialty to declare, you may want to replace the title of “School Librarian/Media Specialist” with “Seeking the position of School Librarian/Media Specialist.” Use the introductory paragraph to highlight a few points that are relevant to the sought after position, including experience, skills, and proven methods or strategies.

Review the complete School Librarian / Media Specialist Resume Sample

An example of a School Librarian / Media Specialist Cover Letter Sample

3. The resume is too long or too short

If your resume is too short, you risk leaving out crucial details that administrators are looking for; however, if your document is too long, you will lose the reader’s interest. An excellent educational resume should be one to two pages in length, occasionally if the individual has lots of publications or professional development it can be three pages.

Make sure each section contains any information you find pertinent to your job application, without rambling. For instance, your introductory paragraph or profile should be about four to six lines or bullet points in length. Even though you may have more to say about yourself, you want to get to the point right away, and not come off as self-centered. Demonstrate what you can bring to the school district.

When writing job responsibilities, especially as they pertain to previous classroom positions, do not dwell on their everyday duties. The hiring administrator knows what is required of all teachers, regardless of grade level or subject matter. Turn ordinary tasks into superb teaching opportunities.

Example A)

Designed lesson plans that aligned to Core Curriculum Standards.

Turn into:

Developed intriguing lessons that actively engaged learners, reinforced skills and prepared students for midterms and final exams.

Example B)

Administered assessments on a regular basis.

Turn into:

Administered formal and informal assessments to track student progress. Used results to employ data-driven instruction and enhance students’ performance.

Example C)

Maintained a well-behaved classroom.

Turn into:

Worked with students to develop and institute classroom rules, which were clear, concise, and easy to follow. Provided positive reinforcement to maintain a focused and consistent learning environment.

4. Not emphasizing the critical, value-added areas in your resume

If you find you are running out of room on your resume, be choosy about what sections you include or emphasize in the document. If you neglect to highlight specific areas, other than the common Career Experience and Education, your resume will surely go into the “not to be interviewed” pile. Some templates neglect to incorporate the following, but they are crucial to your success in the job search process:

• Areas of Expertise

• Accomplishments

• Professional Development

• Professional Affiliations (if any)

Additional segments you may want to include:

• Publications

• Community Involvement

• Technology Expertise

Since most people only focus on the mundane – Job Responsibilities and Formal Education – you will stand out from the crowd and surpass your competition. This doesn’t mean you should skip the sections on Experience and Education, but rather, use the above categories to complement and reinforce them.

An excellent example of how to integrate your Areas of Expertise section is conveyed in this Math Teacher Resume Sample

Or you may wish to demonstrate your Key Strengths in a point form or table format similar to this Music Teacher Resume Sample

Professional accomplishments are one of the most critical sections to highlight in your resume. These can be showcased in a bullet point format under each correlating job or can be summarized in their section within the document. Your accomplishments should be easy to understand, regardless of the current or past profession. They must also be applicable, factual, and succinct.

For instance, if you are an Elementary School Teacher, who has helped boost the overall class reading level, or achieved a high score on the state exams, highlight that, using numbers or facts as much as possible, as well as explaining how you achieved it.

Example A)

Researched and selected literature to actively engaged students to boost class reading levels by one full grade.

Example B)

Provided individualized instruction and after-school support to help a struggling student go from a failing grade to not only passing the class but achieving 85% on the year-end exam.

Example C)

Developed creative thematic units to effectively explain complex math concepts, which students typically consider boring. Demonstrated real-life applications and utilized multisensory activities to reinforce the concepts further.

When discussing topics such as Professional Development, Publications, and Technology Expertise in your academic resume, make sure they are relevant to the field of education. If you have a plethora of courses or workshops under your belt, select the most recent or most applicable. Do not provide a whole page of in-services; be choosy and concise.

5. Disorganized or weak resume layout

If you know, you have the right qualifications for the teaching jobs you are applying for, but find there is little interest in you as a candidate, the physical layout of your resume may be to blame. Is your resume easy to read? Is it easy for the eyes to follow? Does your resume catch the reader’s eye and draw attention to the right points? Or is your document crowded, unorganized, and look unprofessional?

Don’t fill every inch of your paper with text. Employing white space is essential when arranging any material and appealing to the reader. Furthermore, it is crucial that there is consistency throughout your resume. Section headings should be the same font, size, and format (i.e. bold or underlined). Bullet points should be of the same shape (circle, square, dash) and indentation. Spacing must also be even throughout.

When choosing a font, make sure it is legible. Usually, 11 or 12 point is sufficient, depending on the font type. Stick to more traditional collections such as Times New Roman, Arial, Book Antiqua, New York, Garamond, etc. Do not use Comic Sans or Papyrus, unless they are for your name. Do not overuse color or effects; you are applying to be a teacher, not a graphic designer.

If you are interested, we have education CV and cover letter examples for your viewing,

Hope you enjoyed reading these 5 serious resume writing mistakes educators need to avoid to secure job interviews.

While you are visiting the blog you can read 12 excerpts from sample application letters for teachers.

Learn more about Candace Alstad-Davies by reviewing this about me page. From that page, you can review testimonials and frequently asked questions.

Need some writing help to make a stellar application letter, cover letter, resume or CV curriculum vitae?

Send an email if you like or give me a call toll-free at 1 877 738-8052. I would enjoy chatting with you.