Resumé Preparation Workshop FOR TEACHING & NON-TEACHING JOBS

Career Development Centre

2014

Workshop Slides will be available at wlu.ca/career

As a Student – Career 4-1-1

Group Workshop and Individual Appointments

• Career planning & advising

• Personality assessment testing

• Resumé & cover letter development

• Interview preparation & coaching

• Job search & networking strategies

• Employer info sessions & panels

• Graduating Student Employment Services (GSES)

D

As an Alumnus – Career 9-1-1

Life-long Services available to all Laurier alumni by pre-registration –

• Career workshops

• Individual appointments

• Employer information sessions

• Professional & Alumni industry panels

• Alumni Employment Services(AES)

As a Teacher Ed Candidate…

Today:

• Interview & Resume Guidelines for professional teaching and non-teaching roles

Friday Jan 31 - Career Forum:

• Employer information for Teaching Roles • Partner Board Representatives

• Association of Independent Schools Rep

• Applytoeducation

Keep in mind…

You may hear different opinions from each board, teacher, prof and principal – we will provide you with general evidence-based guidelines that can and should be tailored and targeted for every position to which you apply!

Unique Job Search for Teaching

Obtain approval

for Daily Supply

Teaching List

Apply for Long Term Occasional

Assignments

Apply to Permanent Teaching

Roles

“This is the (hiring) trend we are seeing with most School Boards in Ontario…”

- Mark Laurie, President, applytoeducation

Multiple year timeline to land a permanent teaching role…

So stay informed… Transition to Teaching Reports

MARCH 2011

MARCH 2012 MARCH

2013 Ontario College of Teachers (OCT)

Stay informed… Newsfeeds and online forums

Ask yourself…

What is the impact of

emerging

developments and

how best can you as a

candidate demonstrate

readiness to fill the

gaps and

add value

to a school?

Part 1 - Learning Objectives

• Understand the distinct purpose of an effective resumé and cover letter

• Recognize the key components to writing an effective resumé

• Introduce methods of effectively presenting and distinguishing professional skills in a resumé

• Become aware of the resumé and cover letter resources available through the Career Centre

Your resumé is a marketing tool

• Used to screen applicants “out” prior to and after an interview

• Introduces your unique value to an employer or school

• A permanent record for your teacher or employee file following your hiring

A resumé will not get you a job but it may get you

an interview !

Primary Goal of Your Resumé

Demonstrates your FIT with the position, the culture and the people. RELEVANT – • Skills

• Experiences

• Knowledge

• Education

• Values

How long will the employer read your resume?

First

Impression 5 Seconds

Second Look 15 seconds

Content Review

30+ seconds

1. Appearance

2. Organization

3. Content

3 steps to screening and

making an impression

Use information obtained from the job posting and your research

to target the content of your resumé

3 Parts of an Effective Resumé

Part I

Part II

Part III

Appearance

Appearance: - How does it look - Do I want to read further - Is it Professional

Organization

Organization and Selection: - Can I find what I need quickly - Is the necessary information included

Content

Wording: Does the information SOUND relevant and targeted

Effective Resumé

Résumé Rubric EXERCISE

• Familiarize yourself with the Rubric (2 min)

• Review the Maddie Prior Resumé (1 min)

• Discuss what level you would give to each aspect of Maddie‟s Resumé (5 min)

Be prepared to share and support

your evaluations!

Part I: Appearance Refer to Maddie‟s Revised Resumé

Compare resumes BEFORE AFTER

Level 4 appearance attributes -

• Attractive and organized appearance • Appropriate fit with industry style • Clear contact information • Easy to read (font size, not crowded) • Headings easy to locate • Sections stand out & well-organized • Use of profession-oriented vocabulary • Contemporary-feel • Error free…

Review the resume rubric and strive for level 4

TIP - Have your resumé proofread!

Remember I‟m Wilfrid not Wilfred!

FYI:

Proofreading

Service available

through the Laurier

Career Centre upon

completion of a

resumé feedback

appointment.

Part II: Organization Note: Same Rating as Appearance!

Part II – Organization

“A well-organized resumé suggests

an well-organized mind.” - Dr. J. Finn, Educational Hiring Committee Member

Preferred Resumé Organization

Objective

Profile of Qualifications

Education

Relevant Experience

Additional Experience

Extra-curricular and Interests

Part III: Content

Content

What you say and how you say it impacts the message you are sending the potential employer.

There are 3 main areas that need targeting: 1. Use your Objective to focus your resumé 2. Use your Profile to provide a big picture or

snap-shot 3. Use your descriptions of your Experiences

(paid and unpaid) to give focused clarity

The Objective

Should you add an objective? • There is no agreement • Be sure it is not generic!

Consider using the following formula:

Identify yourself (Bachelor of Education graduate), seeking role you are applying for

(teaching, etc.) in order to select relevant experience/skills/knowledge and provide results to the school/organization or how

you will contribute to the goals of the position.

Sample Objective

To obtain a teaching position at an elementary school

Generic

Targeted Teaching

Student-centred Bachelor of Education graduate seeking to secure a teaching position in order to utilize classroom management, lesson planning and interpersonal skills in a dynamic learning environment.

This is the big picture statement

If you have 15 seconds to tell your principals/ employers about yourself, what do you want them to know?

Consider the qualifications of the job as „The Question‟ and your Profile section as „The Answer‟

Profile of Qualifications

What is in the Profile section?

Key Components of a profile(4-6 point form summary statements)

Experience summary (1 line)

Relevant skills (2-4 lines)

Personal qualities (optional – 1 line)

Relevant achievements (1 line)

Key certification or a bonus highlight (1 line)

1.Experience Statement

• Entice your reader to want to view the rest of your resumé

• Be sure to keep Profile bullets at a highlight, big-picture level

• Be sure to „back up‟ your claim to a skill and discuss it dynamically

Profile: Experience Statement

Sample Experience Statement (1 line)

Five years of teaching experience Generic

Targeted Teaching

More than 5 years of successful classroom management experience demonstrated within volunteer and student teaching roles

More than 10 years of successful client services experience in retail, corporate and educational environments

Targeted Non-

Teaching

2. Skills Statement

• Select 2-4 relevant skills (check job posting)

• Present these skills in terms of how you have used or how you will use them – sell, don’t tell!

Profile: Skills Statement

Sample Skills Statement (2-4 lines)

Strong interpersonal skills Generic

Targeted Teaching

Proven ability to establish co-operative, professional relationships with colleagues, school staff, and parents through effective communication and interpersonal competence

Proven ability to establish co-operative, professional relationships with managers, clients and co-workers through effective communication and interpersonal competence

Targeted Non-

Teaching

3. Quality Statement

• Do not exceed more than one quality statement

• Provide insight into your qualities and values

• Possibly add a supervisor testimonial instead

• Attempt to make the qualities align with the nature of the job and organizational culture

Profile: Personal Qualities Statement

Sample Personal Quality Statement (1 line)

Dedicated to teaching Generic

Targeted Teaching

Committed to creating a classroom atmosphere that is stimulating, encouraging and inclusive for all students

Committed to creating a learning environment that is stimulating, encouraging and inclusive for all participants

Targeted Non-

Teaching

4. Achievement Statement

• Show your successes

• Demonstrate a relevant or interesting success

• Quantify when possible:

• E.g. Organized a charity event raising $2,000 the school (or for a local not-for-profit organization)

Profile: Relevant Achievement Statement

Sample Relevant Achievement (1 line)

Strong organizational skills Generic

Targeted Teaching

Organized and co-ordinated a student golf tournament which raised $8000 for a local charity and presented a positive image of the school within the community

Same

Targeted Non-

Teaching

5. Bonus Statement • Add a line about key

certifications (completed or in progress), special or interesting skills or experiences such as: – Travel or community

work – Languages – Technology or

computers – Athletic involvement – Music, drama, art

skills

Profile: Bonus Statement

Sample Bonus Certification or Bonus Highlight (1 line)

Interest in professional development and further training

Generic

Targeted Teaching

Anticipate summer 2014 completion of Additional Qualifications course: Special Education Part 1

Strong knowledge of HR trends through education, personal research, HR related volunteering and student membership with HRPA

Targeted Non-

Teaching

Education Information

Reverse chronology

Degree name in full, i.e.,

Bachelor of Education ,

not B.Ed

Include name of school,

city and province

What about high school?

What about listing

courses?

What about the GPA?

What about listing

awards?

Education section

Additional Training and Professional Development may include

• relevant training and professional development i.e., Non- Violent Crisis Intervention training, Brain Gym, etc.

• seminars/lectures you attended which were not part of course work

• presentations or publications (if several, create a separate or online section; if few, combine with education section)

• Re-focus job descriptions to target each job you are applying to

• Draw greater attention to the relevant aspects of your jobs

• If minimal relevance, stress transferable skills

• Be sure to use result-oriented statements

Experience section

Targeting Job Descriptions (sample for teaching position)

Camp Counsellor 2011,2012 (seasonal) YMCA Camp, Kitchener, ON

• Supervised children ages 8 – 16 at a summer camp

• Developed and led engaging activities including arts and crafts, nature exploration, swimming, water safety and canoeing

• Ensured inclusive summer experience for children with special needs

Targeting Job Descriptions (sample for non-teaching position)

Camp Counsellor 2011,2012 (seasonal) YMCA Camp, Kitchener, ON

• Co-ordinated and organized multiple activities which involved preparing materials, creating schedules and managing the needs of diverse participants

• Liaised with the public to ensure exchange of information including negotiating special requests and answering concerns

• Collaborated with colleagues to plan and assign tasks and provided training and orientation to new employees

Make the job details transferable to the job

Writing Job Descriptions: a guideline

Action Verb

Impact Task

(& Tools)

e.g. Created instructional materials to engage students and support their diverse learning needs which resulted in full class engagement

What do you think? Effective?

• Assisted with developing and launching lunchtime Social Justice Club for 12 children

• Co-developed and launched lunchtime Social Justice Club for 12 children

• Helped classroom teacher to prepare math lessons using Ontario curriculum

• Prepared math lessons using Ontario curriculum in collaboration with ______

“Own your work!” -U.G.D.S.B. Principal advice to TECs

Extra-curricular Activities

• Keep in mind, this section may clearly distinguish you from other applicants!

Art Drama Sports Music

Travel Community Book clubs Interests

Interests?

• Enthusiastic about helping children increase their fitness level; former soccer coach and lifeguard

• A useful collection of over 1000 photographs of Canadian heritage sites and geographic landscapes

• Active member of neighborhood association; co-created Canada Day bike parade event for 30 children

• Competitive swimmer and currently training for first triathlon

• Avid guitar player and teacher of students aged 4-84

Write more than a word and explain the extent of your involvement and interests so that they

distinguish you from other candidates.

What about Personal details?

• Date of birth • Marital/Family Status • Disability information • Country of Origin and/or Citizenship • Ethnic background • Languages spoken • Religion • Gender • Social Insurance Number • Pictures

Cover Letters – Before you begin…

Identify your teaching/professional philosophy -

• What skills, values, beliefs, techniques and professional goals define your approach and objectives as a teacher/professional?

• What motivates you?

• How do you motivate others?

• How do you facilitate learning?

Job Search Communication Guidelines for TECs eResource

Cover Letters – An Overview

3 short paragraphs

3 key questions to be addressed

Introduction

Why Them? Connects you to the school, Board or Community Clarifies how you learned about the position Projects your enthusiasm for their posting

Body Text

Why You? Indicates that you have researched the position Demonstrates how your unique background and skills appropriately match their current requirements and future plans

Conclusion

Why Now? Confirms your enthusiasm, course completion timeline and availability for an interview Requests an opportunity for further discussion

A Word About References

• Prepare on a separate page

• Only submit upon request (may be a part of your application submission)

• Should have seen you within a related professional environment (e.g. teaching, camp counselling, group facilitation, program development, etc.)

These are key members of your job search team! Keep them informed of your progress.

Principals Supervising Teachers

Professors Superintendents

Directors Other employers

Final Checklist

Ensure that your documents are:

Level 4 ready

Properly formatted & labelled(PDF)

Correctly uploaded! (NB. Jan 31 at applytoeducation session)

Take the time to audit and manage your online image!

Tips, Tutorials & Workshops available at wlu.ca/career

Career Resources • Solicit resumé feedback from principals, professors,

and people in the industry

• Visit wlu.ca/career to access -

• Career Workshop Slides & Videos

• Employment Guidebooks

• Schedule of Career and Employment Events

• Teaching is a Verb Too! document

• Book a resumé or cover letter feedback appointment with a Career Consultant at x4495

• TEC Career Forum on Friday Jan 31

BREAK.

Please complete your Learning Outcomes Forms!

Connect With Us!

519.884.0710 x4495 careercentre@wlu.ca wlu.ca/career facebook.com/lauriercareercentre lauriercareercentre.wordpress.com linkedin.com (Laurier Career Centre group)