Episode Summary

As a Family & Consumer Sciences teacher, you’ve been busy this school year with various activities like coaching a sports team, after school club advisor, or CTSO advisor (FCCLA, ProStart SkillsUSA), as well as attending your advisory board meetings ensuring your classes are staying relevant with various industry’s standards. These activities can be great assets to add to your Cover Letter and Resume. In this podcast, we’ll discuss how to highlight these experiences in a professional way, so you can stand out from other applicants.

Episode Notes

•  First, let’s talk about CTSOs or Career and Technical Student Organizations. These groups provide students with opportunities to develop leadership and technical skills that can be applied in their future careers. As an advisor of a CTSO, you’ve been instrumental in guiding students toward their goals. This is a great experience to highlight in your cover letter and resume.

•  When writing your cover letter, include your experience as an advisor and provide specific examples of how you’ve helped students succeed. For example, you can mention how you provided support and guidance to a group of students struggling with academic performance, or how you’ve helped students plan for their post-secondary education.

• Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities: Instead of simply listing your job duties, highlight your accomplishments and how they have contributed to the success of your previous roles. Use quantifiable data and specific examples to demonstrate your impact.

• For example: Served a low-income population, and an underperforming school (and school district). Helped move the graduation rate from 76% to 85%, through consistency, and implementing school-wide policies.  Increased standards in discipline, teaching from bell to bell, and implementing the no cell phone policy.  Participated in the PLCs.  Completed the mentor-training program, so I could be a mentor to new staff.  

•  Keep it concise and easy to read: Hiring managers often have many resumes to review, so make sure your resume is easy to read and visually appealing. Use bullet points and clear headings to break up sections and make the information easy to digest. Additionally, limit your resume to two pages if possible. Formatting is key to success!

• Example:  The three most common resume formats are chronological, functional, and combination. When deciding which resume format you should use, consider your professional history and the role you’re applying for. For example, if you have limited work experience, you might instead focus on academic work, volunteer positions or apprenticeships with a functional resume instead of a chronological resume, which prioritizes job history.

•  Update your contact information and online presence: Make sure your resume includes your current contact information, including a professional email address and phone number. You should also review and update your online presence, including social media profiles, to ensure they align with your professional brand.

• For Example Your LinkedIn profile to match your resume. Keep your headline and summary consistent: Your headline and summary on LinkedIn should be consistent with your resume. Use the same job title and description to describe your experience and expertise. This will help recruiters and hiring managers easily recognize your skills and experience when comparing your resume and LinkedIn profile.

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WHEN DOES IT AIR

May 10th, 2023