Looking Good on Paper

Having a stellar résumé and portfolio will set you apart from the crowd.

While individual states and even school districts may have their own guidelines for these written snapshots of your career, there are many tried-and-true techniques for developing these tools that anyone trying to land a teaching job will find useful.

Career professionals agree that job seekers should keep their résumés and portfolios as concise as possible and use that precious space to highlight the job applicant's most valuable experiences and skills.

"A résumé is read for an average of 10 to 30 seconds by people before they decide whether to toss it aside or put it away for further consideration," says Liz Saylor Castelgrant, who conducts résumé workshops for the New Jersey Education Association. "That means you have to grab their attention and grab it fast."

Because making a good impression quickly with a résumé is so important, Linette Branham, Student Program organizer for the Connecticut Education Association, tells job seekers to consider parting with the traditional résumé format that places experience in reverse chronological order. Skills come first, she says.

"With a skills-based résumé, you can list your most important and relevant skills right at the top," says Branham. "If you must use a chronological résumé, you can still include a ‘special skills' section."

Regardless of the format you use, though, keep it short—just one page if possible. "This is not a laundry list of everything you've done," Branham says. "Focus on what you truly have accomplished that is needed by a particular school."

Prospective teachers should remember that a résumé essentially serves six purposes, Castelgrant says: "It introduces you and invites an interview; it serves as a screening tool for employers; it sets the agenda for your job interview; it's a reminder of information covered in the interview; it's a calling card; and it's a self-analysis."

"And remember," Castelgrant adds, "most job postings will result in a huge stack of résumés, most of which will be on white paper. If an applicant uses off-white or gray—but absolutely nothing garish—his or her résumé will stand out prominently."

Portfolios should be equally professional and compact. But many job applicants simply include too much information, says Sandra Jackson, Student Program organizer for the Alabama Education Association.

"A portfolio is not a scrapbook," says Jackson. "It's not a place to list church awards or other activities that don't sell your abilities as a teacher. Always look to pull things out that don't need to be there."

When Kimberly Anderson, Student Program organizer for the Virginia Education Association, gives a portfolio workshop, she requires students to justify each entry.

"I ask them to do an assessment of each artifact in the portfolio," says Anderson. "Why did you choose the lesson you included? Did you learn anything from the lesson? How might the lesson reflect on your performance as a teacher? And, finally, why or why shouldn't this lesson be highlighted in your teaching portfolio?"

Presentation also plays an important role in a résumé or portfolio, especially with electronic versions, which a growing number of school districts request.

"Applicants must be aware that anything sent by e-mail will look different on every computer," says Castelgrant. "Don't type a résumé as an e-mail message. Write in a simple Microsoft Word file and use a common font such as Arial or Times Roman. And don't use tricky formats like indents or bullets. You don't know how they'll look when the file is opened."

The same goes for an electronic portfolio, which may require special software. Job seekers should check with the state or school district to which they are applying for specifics on formatting. Then they should contact their local Association or college career center to see if training is available.

—Matt Simon

Résumé and Portfolio
Dos and Don'ts

• Keep your résumé to one page. If absolutely necessary use a second, but head it with your name and a page number.
• Design a résumé that prominently emphasizes your most valuable assets.
• Have a friend read your résumé. Make changes if he or she doesn't clearly understand your skills and experience.
• Test the contents of your portfolio to see if they truly sell you as a teacher. Remove items that fail the test, even if you think they're interesting.
• Don't include needless information in résumés or portfolios. Be sure a potential employer can spot your strongest points quickly.
• Don't use your portfolio as a scrapbook. Review your portfolio from time to time and remove any outdated items. Something that once seemed magnificent may seem irrelevant months or years later.
• Don't e-mail a résumé with lots of formatting. Create a simple Microsoft Word document instead that does not use any unusual fonts or features.
• Don't rush to produce an electronic portfolio. Find out what format your potential employer requires, then take a college course or a workshop so you can get up to speed.

Remember, your résumé serves six basic purposes:

• To introduce yourself to potential employers and invite an interview
• To serve as a screening tool for employers
• To set the agenda for your job interview
• To remind the employer about information covered in your interview
• To serve as your calling card
• To help you analyze your skills and experience