The Awefice Hours Newsletter

Issue #015

CliftonStrength Theme of the Week:

Relator - Relator describes your attitude toward your relationships. In simple terms, the Relator theme pulls you toward people you already know. You do not necessarily shy away from meeting new people—in fact, you may have other themes that cause you to enjoy the thrill of turning strangers into friends—but you do derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around your close friends. You are comfortable with intimacy. Once the initial connection has been made, you deliberately encourage a deepening of the relationship. You want to understand their feelings, their goals, their fears, and their dreams; and you want them to understand yours. You know that this kind of closeness implies a certain amount of risk—you might be taken advantage of—but you are willing to accept that risk. For you a relationship has value only if it is genuine. And the only way to know that is to entrust yourself to the other person. The more you share with each other, the more you risk together. The more you risk together, the more each of you proves your caring is genuine. These are your steps toward real friendship, and you take them willingly.

Emotional Intelligence Leadership Thought of the Week:

Social Skills in Leadership: "A leader with strong social skills can navigate diverse perspectives, creating an inclusive and dynamic school culture."

Crafting Irresistible Resumes for Educators: A Strategic Guide

In the competitive field of education, standing out with a polished resume is more important than ever.

Educators looking to advance their careers need to understand that a resume is not just a summary of their experience—it's a strategic document designed to showcase their value, align with institutional goals, and navigate the modern hiring processes that include Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Let’s delve into the five key strategies to create a resume that not only catches the eye of hiring committees but also resonates with the ethos of educational excellence.

Tailoring Your Resume to Educational Values and Keywords

Reflecting Institutional Values

An effective resume resonates with the core values of the institution.

Begin by researching the school's mission statement and educational philosophy.

These insights allow you to tailor your resume to mirror the language and priorities of the potential employer.

Identifying and Integrating Keywords

Pay close attention to the job description.

Keywords related to required qualifications, competencies, and educational standards are your guide.

Integrating these keywords throughout your resume, especially in your skills and experience sections, will show your alignment with the school's needs and increase your resume’s visibility in an ATS scan.

Highlighting Educational Impact and Achievements

Showcasing Measurable Success

A standout resume showcases your positive impact on student outcomes and educational innovation.

Include quantifiable achievements such as improved test scores or graduation rates.

Use powerful, active language to detail these accomplishments, demonstrating your results-oriented approach.

Crafting Impactful Bullet Points

Transform each bullet point into a compelling story of success.

For example, instead of saying "taught math," say "Revitalized the school's math curriculum, leading to a 20% improvement in state test scores."

Structuring Your Resume for Clarity and Professional Appeal

Resume Formatting Choices

The structure of your resume should balance aesthetic appeal with functionality.

Choose a clear and professional font, use bold and italics strategically to guide the reader's eye, and consider a layout that best showcases your career trajectory—be it chronological, functional, or a combination.

Ordering Resume Sections

Start with a strong opening summary or objective, followed by your education and certifications.

Then, detail your professional experience, and don’t forget to include any professional development activities, skills, and awards.

Incorporating Soft Skills and Leadership Qualities

Emphasizing Valued Soft Skills

Incorporate soft skills crucial for educators, like leadership, collaboration, and effective communication.

Provide examples that paint a picture of how you’ve utilized these skills in practice, such as resolving conflicts or spearheading educational programs.

Balancing Skills and Real-World Application

It's essential to strike a balance between listing skills and demonstrating them through real-world applications.

Instead of simply stating "excellent leadership skills," describe how you led a cross-functional team to develop a new assessment methodology.

Optimizing the Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Understanding ATS Functionality

Familiarize yourself with how ATS works, as these systems are designed to screen resumes based on keyword matching.

Keep your resume format simple and ATS-friendly, avoiding tables, headers, and footers that can confuse the system.

Ensuring ATS-Friendliness Without Sacrificing Appeal

While optimizing for ATS, ensure your resume also appeals to human readers.

Use standard job titles, and place keywords naturally within the context of your achievements.

Utilize tools available online to test your resume’s ATS compatibility.

Conclusion

By applying these strategic tips to your resume, you’ll craft a document that speaks to both the educational values of institutions and the technological nuances of modern-day hiring processes.

Your resume is not just a list of qualifications—it's a testament to your professional journey and a beacon for your future in the world of education.

Remember, an irresistible resume is one that speaks the language of educators and resonates with the heart of teaching.

It's your first step towards that dream role, and with these strategies, you’re well on your way to securing it.

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Featured Video Episode

Bonus Content

Avoid Teacher Interview Mistakes!

MASTER Your Teacher Interview | Strategies for Top 3 Questions

Whenever you're ready, there are a couple ways I can help you:

1. The PrincipalED Leader YouTube Channel: I began the channel to share thoughts and insights on CliftonStrengths and Educational Leadership topics. Please visit the channel for resources and tips that will help you go further faster in your educational leadership journey.

2. Coaching and Mentorship in CliftonStrengths: Let me guide you in your exploration of Gallup CliftonStrengths. I am one of only 3000 certified coaches in the United States and one of only roughly 400 in California. I can provide individual and group coaching support.