Fredericks - Ace Your Teacher Resume (and Cover Letter)

(and Cover Letter)

Anthony D. Fredericks, Ed.D.

www.anthonydfredericks.com

Ace Your Teacher Resume (and Cover Letter)

Copyright 2017 by Anthony D. Fredericks

All rights reserved.

Published by Blue River Press

Indianapolis, Indiana

www.brpressbooks.com

Distributed by Cardinal Publishers Group

317-352-8200 phone

317-352-8202 fax

www.cardinalpub.com

All rights reserved under International and
Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a database or other retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 9781681570204

eISBN: 9781681570303

Author: Anthony D. Fredericks, Ed.D.

Editor: Dani McCormick

Book Design: Dave Reed

Cover Design: Phil Velikan

Cover Photos: shutterstock_86718250; shutterstock_272513510

Publication Date: 2017

Printed in the United States of America

Heres to my fellow Senior Spartans
(AKA The Breakfast Boys)
for their steadfast support
and constant camaraderie:
Bob Lindsay, Pete Piepmeier, & Mike McGough.

The term strength in numbers is a viable component for any social enterprise; so too, does it hold true in the writing of a book. No book can truly be the sole enterprise of the author whose name appears on the cover. Each publication is a reflection of many minds, many thoughts, and many insights. I have been quite fortunate in this literary journey to have been able to tap into the collective wisdom of many individuals who have added immeasurably to this endeavor. I am eternally grateful for their perceptions, thoughts, and recommendationsand equally richer for their professionalism and camaraderie.

My colleagues in the Department of Education at York College of Pennsylvania have, over the years, endured all manner of questions, ruminations, and discussions. They have suffered gladly with my intellectual inquiries, off-the-wall probes, and investigative conversations. They are to be celebrated for their endurance as well as for their camaraderie. Heres to Stacey Dammann, Katie Beauchat, Josh DeSantis, Nicole Hesson, Leah Kocoronis, Kim Sutton, Becky Speelman, Amy Glusco, Leslie Trimmer, and Sherry Rankin. What an incredible team!

So too, do all my undergraduate students at York College deserve a standing round of applause! They have endured my persistent (higher-level) questioning, intense discussions, and verbal inquisitions for several decades now all with good cheer and professional dedication. That they will influence a new generation of scholars is a given; that they will also make a difference in the education profession is equally assured. It is my constant honor and privilege to work with them in pursuit of their dreams.

To all the school administrators (active and retired) I encountered on this journey, I offer a most grateful high five along with my eternal gratitude. Your opinions and preferences about what goes into quality resumes and equally dynamic cover letters is truly appreciated as much as it is celebrated. Many thanks go out to Pete Piepmeier, Mike McGough, Bob Lindsay, Scott Krauser, Sue Cathcart, Jamie Kerstetter, Susan Seiple, Charles Patterson, Sarah Vaux, Kim Stoltz, Scott Carl, Lawrence Sanders, Kevin Peters, Allan Decort, Ken Armacost, Jon Weaver, Melanie Simmons, Russ Greenholt, Wes Doll, Alicia Warren, Stephanie Ferree, Karen Kugler, Ken Stanhauser, Mark Maldet, Robert Shick, and Bruce Sanborn.

For the resume blunders, confusions, and just plain silliness included in the A Touch of Humor entries a tip of the hat and a note of appreciation goes out to the following entities: Jobmob; Careerbuilder; Resume Bloopers; Ask Annie; Resumepower; Hotjob; Humormatters; Resumainas Archive; and Askreddit. Thanks for all the fun, guys.

And to you, the reader, I extend my personal thanks for adding this book to your personal library. It is my sincere hope that the advice and suggestions in these pages will help you realize your career goals and ensure your dream of becoming a classroom teacher. May all your professional wishes come true and may you reap all the benefits of these words. I look forward to your entry into this grand and glorious profession of ours. Welcome aboard!

Lets begin this book with a bold statement from a professional recruiter who has personally reviewed more than 20,000 teacher resumes and cover letters over the past 13 years:

The overwhelming majority of resumes and cover letters are mediocre and often passed over. Many candidates may have been really interesting people who could change students lives, but the resumes were cluttered, disorganized, and didnt tell a story specific and unique to them.

One look at the statement above and you may be inclined to throw up your hands and say something like: OMG, theres no hope for me! However, Id like to invite you to look at that statement in a positive vein. That is, keep in mind that most of your competition for a potential teaching position will submit mediocre resumes and mediocre cover letters. They will be the ones who submit resumes that are cluttered, disorganized, and [dont] tell a story specific and unique to [the applicant]. You, on the other hand, will be able to positively distinguish yourself from the completion; because, with this book

You will ace your teacher resume (and cover letter)!

As youll learn in your letters of recommendation may be - the harsh reality is that youll never be the king of clubs, high on the hog, in like Flynn, or the whole nine yards (again, choose your own idiom). In short, youll never be considered for a teaching position. Do what everyone else is doing (or not doing) and you will be one of many rather than one of a kind. Heres another way of putting it: Your resume and cover letter must distinguish you, in some positive way, from all the other candidates vying for the same position(s).

A TOUCH OF HUMOR

The following was actually included in one applicants cover letter:

Lets meet, so you can ooh and aah over my experience.

Getting a teaching position must be an active and systematic process. Doing what everyone else does (sending out endless batches of applications, correspondence, letters of recommendation, and resumes) will seldom guarantee you a job. Neither will using the same forms, models and templates everyone else is gathering from a colleges career center. You need to set yourself apart from the crowd, you need to distinguish yourself as a candidate of promise, and you need to demonstrate initiative, drive, and enthusiasm. Above all, you must sell yourself as the most appropriate or most qualified candidate for an advertised position.

FROM THE PRINCIPALS DESK:

Resumes that are brief, to the point, and highlight the candidates potential impress me. I like to look for specific activities that show they are a well-rounded teaching candidate and able to handle the multitude of obligations expected of our teachers.

When I was in high school I was on the track team. My specialties were the 880 and mile (I was our schools only middle distance runner). I particularly remember a home dual track meet we held on a sunny day in late April. We watched as the other team got off their bus and jogged into the locker room. A short time later several members of the opposing team came out and began to warm up on the track. However, one individual ambled over to a group of us and asked, Whos your miler? I identified myself and he came over, looked me square in the eye, and shook my hand. At the same time he said, Hi, Im Jeff, and Im looking forward to beating your butt today!