Lianne Gagné,

Career Educator

Office of Student Development and Services

B210

705-474-3461 ext. 4491

lianneg@nipissingu.ca

Resumé Writing Workshop

offered to Nipissing University

Schulich School of Education and

Concurrent Education Students

Learning OutcomesAt the end of the presentation, students will be able to:

•identify the components of a well-written resumé

•indicate past experiences relevant to desired position

•translate experiences and abilities into a resumé

AGENDA

• Resumé– Who are you?– What have you done?– Where have you done it?

• Cover Letter

FIRST IMPRESSIONSResumés that do not impress will be eliminated by the hiring team.

**Grammatical and spelling errors do not impress**

Consider the following important points:•Margins: 1” x 1”•Consistency with format (bold, underline, spacing…)•Paper quality and colour•Excellent print quality (single-sided)•Font and size•Length of resumé•Use bullets (not ☺, *, , -)

PARTS OF A RESUMÉ• Personal Information• Career Objective/Executive Summary (optional)• Education• Career (or Teaching) Related Experience• Other Employment Experience • Volunteer Experience• Other Achievements : Professional Affiliations,

Certifications, Computer Skills, Awards and Scholarships, Professional Development (workshops and seminars)

• Extracurricular Activities (optional) • Referees (examples of wording for headings)

Connor Jones27 Hollyhock Lane

Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T5Home: (705) 497-6650

Cellular: (705) 474-2278Email: connorj@hotmail.com

Your personal information should appear on the first page of your resumé and ONLY your name and page number on subsequent

pages.

Personal Information

YOUR LICENSE TO TEACH!

After personal information, leave one space and indicate that your

Ontario College of Teachers registration is pending

in the Spring of 2015 (include your registration number once you receive it from the Ontario College of Teachers)

A career objective must:

• Highlight that you are a qualified candidate • Emphasize the contribution that you can make to

the organization• Entice the employer to read the rest of your

application

Career Objective (optional)

Education

• In reverse chronological order, list the degrees and diplomas you will have earned by the end of August (Do not abbreviate!)

• Include teachable subjects and additional option courses that you are taking

• List the name and location of the relevant educational institutions

• Indicate that you are in the iTeach Laptop Learning Program

August 2015 EDUCATION IN THE PRIMARY DIVISION Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario

June 2015 BACHELOR OF EDUCATION Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario Junior/Intermediate Divisions, History Teachable

International Teaching option course (correct title) iTeach Laptop Learning Program

June 2014 BACHELOR OF ARTS Guelph University, Guelph, Ontario

Sociology Major, Psychology Minor

June 2010 RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES DIPLOMAAlgonquin College, North Bay, Ontario

Career Related Experience

• In reverse chronological order, list the dates, job title, place of employment, duties, and what you learned. Begin with practice teaching placements.

• Emphasize your hard skills (experience and education)

Spring 2015 GRADE THREE PRE-SERVICE TEACHEREllis Public School, Markham, Ontario

• Presented differentiated Science lessons for a grade three classroom

• Assistant coach for the girls’ grade six volleyball team• Attended and participated in the monthly staff meetings

Fall 2014 GRADE FOUR PRE-SERVICE TEACHER John Smith Public School, Guelph, Ontario

• Planned, implemented, and analyzed differentiated Geography lessons for a grade four classroom• Provided support for the Fall Open House: designed the meal tickets and supervised the craft table

• Assessment (rubrics, checklists, running records…)• Visual and technological aids used• Classroom management, problem solving and decision making skills• Professional Development • Interaction with parents

2010-2011 RECREATIONAL COACH

Sports Are Fun, Markham, Ontario

• Planned and implemented a training schedule for the Mens’ volleyball team

• Prepared an annual estimate of program expenditures

2005-2006 GRADE SIX TUTOR

Private Residence, Ajax, Ontario

• Tutored six students in my home throughout a two-year period

• Provided support in mathematics and science for students identified with learning disabilities

• Completed written reports and scheduled one-on-one meetings with parents to discuss their children’s progress

Other Employment Experience(not related to teaching)

• in reverse chronological order, itemize other positions you have held

• Emphasize your soft skills

2004-2006 ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK

J.R. Bakery, Huntsville, Ontario

• Provided secretarial support for a team of ten employees

• Created spreadsheets using various computer programs (Word, Excel, Publisher…)

• Analyzed and presented monthly statements of expense

• Communicated deadlines to the owner and provided problem-solving solutions to scheduling conflicts

• Organized the filing system and collaborated with other staff members to ensure efficiency

• Lead a team meeting regarding office concerns and procedures

Volunteer Experience

Highlight positions with children or leadership positions

• Literacy Council (http://www.on.literacy.ca/)

(web, front desk, tutor volunteer)

• Frosh leader

• Coach

• Tutor

2011-2012 FROSH LEADER

Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario

• Assisted in interviewing and selecting over 50 volunteers

• Conducted two training sessions for leaders

2010-2011 ASSISTANT COACH

Rivers Secondary School, Markham, Ontario

• Assisted the coach and trainer with the grade eleven football team

• Attended the games and provided support throughout the season

Professional Affiliations

2002-Present Member of the Athletic AssociationNipissing University, North Bay, Ontario

1993-1996 Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario• person-to-person campaign volunteer

Certifications 2015 First Aid and CPR

2014 Basic Wilderness First Aid

2014 safeTalk, Nipissing University

Computer Skills• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Power Point• Familiar with the Ontario Curriculum Unit Planner,

Hyperstudio 4, Kid Pix Deluxe 3, Ontario Report Cards Program, Microsoft Front Page, Storybook Weaver,

Music Ace 2

Awards and Scholarships 2013 Dave Marshall Leadership Award, Nipissing University2011 Carl Sanders Scholarship, Nipissing University2011 John H. Frost Achievement Award, Laurentian University2011 Excellence in Education Award, York University

Professional Development2014 Curriculum Unit Planner Workshop, Nipissing University2014 Smartboard Training Session, Nipissing University

OR2014-2015 Nipissing University Workshops

• Curriculum Unit Planner• Smartboard Training Session• Measurement• Geometry

Extracurricular ActivitiesReading, drama, canoeing, swimming, and camping

Referees

Employers WANT to see a list of referees. Do NOT indicate “Available Upon Request”

• Carefully choose 3, maximum 5

(Check the school board’s requirements)

• Professional referees preferred (associate teacher, practicum advisor, employer, -someone with authority)

• Who are the 3 people who can help me get this job?

• Ask permission

REFEREESMrs. Elaine Jones, Associate Teacher Centennial Public School14 Green LaneGuelph, ON N1E 4L7Phone: (519) 123-5678Email: jones.elaine@cent.ca

Mr. Doug Smith, PrincipalJohn Smith Public School42 Cedargrove CrescentGuelph, ON N1E 5J6Phone: (519) 356-1798, ext. 4345Email: smith.d@jsps.ca

Ms. Gillian Spencer, Program CoordinatorFrontier College Students for Literacy Program16 Squirrel PlaceGuelph, ON N1E 3Z7Phone: (519) 364-5498Email: spencer.gillian@fcslp.ca

I, Lianne Gagné, grant permission for my referees to be contacted.

Practice Teaching ReportsList of Referees

Faith Reference Form

• Submit copies of your practice teaching reports

• If requested, enclose letters from referees

• Catholic School Boards’ Faith Reference or Pastoral Form

Actual Examples of Errors…

• Principle of the school• …working with young people while teaching

Marital Arts (karate)• …my ability to plan, implement and asses both…• Instructed large, small and individual children…• Tutored a grade 4 student who had a speech

impediment for one hour per week

Employer’s Pet Peeves About Resumés!

• Spelling and grammatical mistakes• More than 2 pages long• Colored paper that does not copy well • Repetition in your bullets• Not including a cover letter• No dates with experience• Listing jobs with no accomplishments• Incorrect contact information• Photocopies of photocopies

Tips!

• Do not use “I” in your bullet sections (I had the opportunity to further develop…)• Keep sections on 1 page• Align your dates (left or right side of the page)• Do not use abbreviations (ON, BEd, TA, ABQ, AQ…)• Do not use periods or semi-colons in your bullet sections• Use correct verb tense

– Past experience: organized, planned, implemented– Present experience: organize, plan, implement

Non-Teaching Resumé Tips

• No need to include your Ontario College of Teachers registration number

• Under ‘Education’ section– include a bullet: Thirteen weeks of practicum

experience in grades….

• Under ‘Career Related Experience’– Begin with your paid employment and not your

practice teaching placements –emphasize your hard skills: education and skills

• After ‘Career Related Experience’, add a heading called ‘Professional Experience’ and include your Practice Teaching Placements: emphasize your transferrable skills

COVER LETTER

Tips for writing a cover letter…

• Analyze the job posting and identify the key words –use these keywords in your letter

• Check the school board’s website for similar current postings –what are they looking for?

Mark Smith2024 Cedargrove Street

London, Ontario N5W 5G4519-455-9810

marksmith@gmailcom (2 spaces)Date(2 spaces)Mr. Robert Caldori, Superintendent of SchoolsLondon Catholic District School BoardP.O. Box 5474, 5200 Wellington Road SouthLondon, Ontario N6A 4X5(1 space) *If you address your cover letterDear Mr. Caldori, “To Whom It May Concern”(1 space) you haven’t done your research!!

Paragraph 1: Initial ContactState the reason for writing

• State the title of the position for which you are applying

• Quote the job posting number if provided• State the divisions and teachable(s) you are

qualified to teach and the name of the institution • Indicate if you plan to take an Additional Basic

Qualification in another division in the spring or summer

Paragraph 2: Solid Evidence

• Indicate if you plan on taking other courses in the future (French as a Second Language, Special Education Part I…)

• Write about your career related experience

• Emphasize your strengths indicated on your practice teaching reports

Share your thoughts:

• What is teaching all about?

• What is learning all about?

• What is the curriculum all about?

• Why are you interested in teaching?• What kind of classroom will yours be?

Show your enthusiasm for the teaching profession!

Research:• school board’s mission statement

• school board’s philosophy of education

Paragraph 3: Your Beliefs

Paragraph 4 and Closing: Action

You must be action-oriented. Consider the following: Close with a strong statement of confidence Express your willingness to attend an interview Thank the employer for considering you Provide information regarding your website (e-portfolio…) Provide a telephone number where you can be reached, or

where a message can be left

Sincerely,

(sign here)

Your First and Last name, OCT Candidate

Non-Teaching Cover Letter Tips

• Paragraph 1: don’t include your teachables, division or if you are planning on taking an ABQ. Simply indicate your undergraduate and Bachelor of Education degrees

• Paragraph 2, 3 and 4: Follow same tips

Actual Examples…

• …I learnt to tackle people at any level for their concerns.

• I believe that everyone has some sort of disability, although with some individuals, these disabilities are more heightened than others.

• My practicum experiences have also taught me firsthand how exhausting and tiresome it can be for teachers…

The Cool Down Period

You’ve spent a lot of time and effort getting your letter of application written but it’s not over yet.

• Ask someone to proofread your letter

(friend, colleague, advisor) • Proofread your resumé backwards

• Read your resumé outloud

• Email your resumé to yourself

Sending your application by email

• Subject line: Position and Job Posting #

• Email message– Logical order and flow– Edit it!– Sloppy writing and abbreviations are not

acceptable

Remember…1. The effort you are willing to put into your

resumé shows your prospective employer the effort you are willing to put into the job!

2. 86% of Human Resources Professionals see poorly written resumés and cover letters as a deal breaker for job applicants. (careershorts.com)

Education Fair Information

• Friday, January 30, 12:30-3:30

Education Centre Gym

• Dress to impress

• Format (booth, information sessions, interviews)

• Updates will be sent by email

Learning OutcomesAt the end of the presentation, students will be able to:

•identify the components of a well-written resumé

•indicate past experiences relevant to desired position

•translate experiences and abilities into a resumé