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Self-Managed Credential Files
Download cover pageWhat is a resume?
• A brief history of your accomplishments that you prepare for potential employers.
• A marketing tool to highlight your strengths and unique qualifications.
• Take time and care in writing this important document.
A good resume is:
• Clear—presents the facts about you in a clear easy-to-read-style
• Well Organized—The reader can see your strong points in a glance
• Dynamic—Action verbs make your accomplishments come alive
• Neat—its appearance says, “I’m proud of who I am and what I’ve doneYour resume sections:
These are the standard resume elements, but remember that you can (and should) organize your résumé so that it works the best for you and highlights your unique strengths. Use the following as guidelines and contact the Career Development Office for more individual assistance. Below are examples of possible headings:Contact Information - include name, address, phone, and e-mail address if desired
Objective - this is optional, but can give the employer a sense of your goals and directedness.
Areas of Expertise - again, optional - it can highlight and summarize what your consider your best strengths so that the employer will want to read onEducation - B.S., Elementary Education May 2000
Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Endorsements, Licensure:
May also want to include GPA, unique coursework, minor, proficiency in a foreign languageTeaching Experience - use subcategories of "Student Teaching Experience" and "Field Experience"
Student Teaching Experience - describe your key accomplishments and responsibilities, student populations, techniques uses, etc.
Field Experience - summarize location, student population, and possibly number of hoursOther Teaching Experience – possible examples: if you taught Sunday school, worked as a paraprofessional in a school, tutored, etc.
Additional Experience - might include here other work or volunteer experiences that can indicate employability and work ethic to an employer as well as demonstrate other ways in which you have worked with young people.
Honors/Activties
Leadership Experience
Computer Skills
Professional Memberships
Credentials On file at: Mount Mercy College, Career Development, 1330 Elmhurst Drive, NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. (319) 368-6463.
or
If you will send your own letters say “enclosed”
Incorporate Action Verbs in your employment correspondence. Listed below are words you may want to use:
Using Data, I have: Interacting with People I have: Dealing with things I have:
administered advised adjusted analyzed coordinated altered compared counseled assembled computed directed balanced compiled encouraged built coordinated entertained driven designed evaluated fabricated developed guided directed helped handled edited instructed inspected figured interviewed lifted implemented managed made innovated motivated mixed organized negotiated moved planned organized operated recorded persuaded repaired reported protected set up researched referred shaped synthesized served tended theorized shared tested written supervised trained
Sample Resume for an Education Major
Writing Cover Letters
WHY SEND A COVER LETTER?
Cover letters are an essential companion to your resume every time you send it out. The cover letter:Introduces you to the employer and explains why your resume is on his/her desk.
Makes some vital connections between the position and your resume
Gives you an opportunity to further explain how the experiences listed on your resume are applicable to the position
Lets the employer know what you can bring to the position, not what you want from the position.
ELEMENTS OF THE COVER LETTERAddress your letter to a specific person, name spelled correctly and with the proper title. Do the research to find the name of the person who will be reading your cover letter and resume. If there is no way to find the name, address it to an appropriate title within the organization such as Human Resources Manager, Hiring Manager or Department Manager. Do not address it, ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Dear Madam’.
There are essentially three parts to a cover letter:
Opening Paragraph is used to explain why you are writing. If you are responding to an advertised position, state what the position is and where you heard about it. If you are sending a letter of inquiry to an employer (no position has been advertised), state where you heard about the employer (from a networking contact, newspaper article, etc.) and perhaps, why you are interested in exploring opportunities with them.Middle Paragraph(s) is your "selling" paragraph. This paragraph is all about making connections - connections between your resume and this employer's specific needs. Refer to your resume, but do not reiterate it. Rather, explain why the experiences you have listed would be valuable to this employer. Indicate what you could contribute to the organization and how your contributions will benefit them. Always try to answer, "What makes me unique?"
Closing Paragraph includes a phrase to affirm your interest in the position and that you look forward to hearing from them. Always thank the employer for his/her time and consideration.
SOME GENERAL POINTERS FOR PROFESSIONALISM
Check and double-check for any errors - and have others check it too!
Use a laser printer to print your cover letters
Use the same high-quality, white or off-white bond paper that you used for your resume and get matching envelopes, too. Always type the address on the envelope.
Use standard business letter formatting:
- Center the letter on the page
- Start the letter with your address immediately followed by the date
- Hit return four times and type the employer name and address
- Hit return twice and type "Dear :" (always use colon)
- Hit return twice here and between each paragraph
- Hit return twice after last paragraph and type "Sincerely," (always use a comma)
-Hit return four times and type your name
-Hit return twice and write ‘enclosure’ (if sending a resume)
Sign your letter with black or blue ink.
What classes should I take to enter the program?
What will it take to graduate?
Four-Year Plans for Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Instructional Strategist I, Instructional Strategist II and Unified Early Childhood Endorsement and Pre-K Endorsement
How will I gain experience?
What can I do with an education degree from Mount Mercy College?
Who can I talk to?
Job Resources for Teachers
Education Department