In today’s business world, numerous employers have begun to request many job seekers’ most dreaded phrase: the Cover Letter. Cover letters are meant to be attached to resumes as yet another way for managers to differentiate between applicants and make good decisions regarding the placement of employees within the company. As the number of applicants with college degrees constantly increases, it becomes hard for managers to differentiate between applicants solely based on their education and/or experience. Therefore, the cover letter becomes a way for the employer to get to know a little about the potential candidates and how they present themselves (at least on paper). Cover letters can act as an initial dialogue between a company and a potential employee and further could set the stage for the applicant to potentially get a call back for an interview.
Putting together a resume is not an easy feat, and many job seekers are so relieved to be done with this arduous task that they can’t wait to be done with it. Recall though, that your resume is a marketing tool and is the first impression an employer gets of you. A great resume will entice an employer to invite you in for a personal interview, while a fair to average resume will get pushed aside and ignored. Therefore, it is in your best interest to make your resume as strong as possible.
Cover letters for teachers need to emphasize qualifications as well as attitude. Education professionals need to come into the field with an attitude of service coupled with a commitment to excellence and a desire to work closely with students. It should reflect all of these points, as should resumes for teachers, and any other self marketing materials used by education professionals.
While you may already have a resume, this does not mean you really know how to create a resume. Obtaining just about any position requires having a resume. This is because most employers require a resume as part of the application process. However, candidates who really know how to create a resume that stands out are likely to be more successful than those who lack these skills. We have included a general process for creating a great resume. Knowing how to create a resume is the key.
When it comes to formatting; if you are writing an executive resume you will want to highlight your experience and accomplishments. For the most part, unless you have studied at an Ivy League school, you will likely not have to place too much emphasis on your school history. For example, if all that the job you are applying for requires is a high school diploma than you can simply skip that part all together and mention that you meet all of the requirements for the position in your cover letter.
