Teachers’ CV writing guideAKA Self-promotion, sales and marketing 101

Objectives• To provide you with advice, skills and resources

for advancing your career in (or out of) education• This session will enable you to develop an

effective CV that reflects your personal skill-set

The job application process

• Personal strengths and attributes; print media and online; networking

Career planning and sourcing jobs

• Cover letter, CV, selection criteria

Applying for suitable jobs

• 1st and 2nd Interview, try-out, testing

Securing the right job

Applying for suitable jobsPurpose: To get short-listed for interview

What Objective Perspective

Cover letter Demonstrate you can write, spell, research the school, structure a coherent and compelling argument

Personal voice, sense of self

CV (resume) Detail your relevant skills, knowledge and experience. Meet the job requirements

Legal document, objective and verifiable

Key selection criteria Express your role-specific views clearly, provide discussion points for interview

Theory and philosophy, backed up with evidence of past behaviour

Knowing your brandLifestyle

Imagination

Liberty regained Innovation

Simplicity

Hopes, dreams and aspirations

Passion

What are you known for?

Dispelling some job application myths

True or false?1. The employer reads the cover letter before reading the CV2. The school may receive 30 – 50 applications for some

vacancies3. It is possible to make an employment decision in less than

30 seconds4. Presentation is more important than content5. Each application receives an equal amount of consideration6. Employers are rational, unbiased, unemotional, 100%

reliable professionals who are never tired or stressed

Just Dandy – Sunday Age, 1 April

• How can you ensure you stand out from the crowd (60 applicants per position!)?

• Last week I received 154 applications for a receptionist position! 154!!!

Applying for jobs: The CV

• Résumé or CV? What’s the difference?• Almost exclusively sent in soft copy via email• Employers receive far more than previously– Worldwide accessibility of websites– Increasingly international workforce– Staff shortages

• Trend towards summaries of key points• Tailored to the role you are applying for

What does a great CV look like?

• Answer: How do you like your coffee?• Know your strengths and lead with them:

Highly qualified? Experienced? Sporty? Passionate about curriculum?

• The 1st page of your CV is PRIME REAL ESTATE. It is the cover of Time magazine. It is a Nobel Prize winner. Don’t waste it!

• Blow your own trumpet funky horn! Banish bashfulness. Kill or be killed.

Your CV: The basics

Do Don’t Depends

Keep to 2 – 4 pages Put Résumé or CV at the top Use minimal colour

Give your file a suitable name Put your photo Hyperlink to portfolio pag

e

Keep it ‘clean’ Use fancy fonts and graphics Link with social media

Keep formatting consistent:

Bullets, fonts, tables and tabs

Send in multiple copies or hard copies

Sections to include

• Personal Details (no need for a heading)• Personal statement (or Career overview)• Qualifications (or Education)• Teaching strengths

(or Key skills/achievements)(optional)• Employment history (or ‘Professional experience’)• Professional development and memberships• Activities and interests• Referees (3 max.)

CV style guide

• Personal statement– Strong personal voice; use I and me; convey passion

and enthusiasm• Key achievements– Dynamic language; past tense; omit 1st person; convey

objective voice; increase credibility, decrease risk• Key skills/qualities/competencies– Dynamic; objective; use strong adjectives to emphasise

nouns (e.g. extensive experience in, collaborative leadership style etc.)

Using dynamic language

• Using the list of dynamic verbs provided, re-write the following statements:– I was involved in planning for the NAPLAN– I am a science coordinator– I changed the middle school reporting structure– I sit on the annual open day committee– I supervise the underwater hockey club

• Now write three of your own dynamic achievement statements

Choosing referees

• Professional– Your current Principal or Deputy Principal– Head of Department or Head of Campus– Previous Principal, DP, HoD or HoC

• Personal– Seldom required– Possibly a parent or member of school community

• Check with them first! Confirm contact details

And finally...

• Be strategic, be sincere, don’t lie• Make every word count• Give yourself your best chance• Spell-cheque, poof-reed, spell-check, proof-read• Applying for jobs is an exercise in selling– Know what you are selling– Ensure it is what people want

• If you don’t get short-listed, it’s their loss: Try not to take it personally.

To download this presentation register at www.schooljobs.com.au

For more information about Steve Whittington see

www.oxfordeducation.com.au