Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast

Leaving the Classroom 51: 5 Quick Tips for Writing a Standout Resume

In this episode of the Leaving the Classroom Podcast, host Kristi Oliva provides tips for teachers looking to transition into corporate roles on how to write a standout resume. 

Tune in to hear:

• How to highlight transferable skills from teaching experiences, such as communication, project management, and problem-solving
• Tips for using strong action verbs and quantifying achievements with numbers and metrics to showcase impact
• Strategies for tailoring your resume for each job application and keeping it concise and focused

 Listen to the episode here:

Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn

This podcast is sponsored by IDOL Courses and is the only authorized vocational school and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you exactly how to create your job application assets and build a portfolio from scratch but also includes credentials, mentorship, expert coaching, and paid experience opportunities in corporate instructional design and online learning for life! Learn more about the program here. 

Enjoy the podcast transcription:

Kristi Oliva  

Welcome to Leaving the Classroom. This is a podcast for teachers who are ready to transition out of the classroom and into a new career. Each week, I'll share stories about what I've learned moving from education to the corporate world. I'll answer the most common questions and share my best tips to help you get started. If you are considering leaving the classroom, this show is for you. Welcome to Leaving the Classroom. I'm Kristi Oliva, and I'm so glad you're here. Today, we are talking about resumes, and if you're a teacher looking to transition into a corporate role, you might be wondering how to make your resume stand out. I know it can be tough to figure out how to translate all your classroom experience into skills that corporate employers are looking for. Well, in today's episode, we're going to tackle this. I'll share some quick tips on how to write a resume that highlights your teaching experience as valuable corporate skills. Let's make your resume shine and help you land that dream job. 

So, let's start by highlighting your transferable skills. First up, communication skills. As a teacher, you have mastered the art of conveying information clearly and in an engaging way. Think about all the presentations you've done throughout the years, delivering to diverse audiences. You've fostered understanding, and you've kept everyone engaged. 

Next project management, you are a project manager. You've planned, you've executed, and assessed numerous projects simultaneously. Do you remember coordinating annual school events? You've handled budgeting, logistics, and team collaboration like a pro. It's going on your resume. 

Lastly, problem-solving. You've tackled classroom challenges head-on. For instance, you've implemented innovative strategies to address behavioral issues, and you've boosted student engagement. This showcases your skills for finding effective solutions, and these are gold in the corporate world. 

Now, let's talk about how to get those skills in your resume. You need to use action verbs. Start your bullet points with strong, dynamic verbs that can really make your accomplishments pop. Think about words like led, developed, implemented, coordinated, facilitated, and don't just list what you did. You need to show impact results. Describe how your actions benefited the school and your previous workplace. For example, you facilitated professional development workshops, enhancing teacher performance and student outcomes. This not only highlights what you did but the results that you achieved. All right, let's get into quantifying these achievements. 

So now you've got your transferable skills. You know how to use action verbs. You need to use numbers and metrics that can make your accomplishments stand out and provide concrete evidence of your impact. For example, instead of saying that you improved student reading proficiency, say, increase student reading proficiency by 30% through targeted intervention programs. And don't forget to highlight the outcomes. Focus on the results of what you've done. For example, you improved parent-teacher communication, resulting in a 20% increase in parent engagement. Numbers make your successes in the classroom tangible and much more impressive to a corporate job. 

Now, let's talk about the importance of tailoring your resume for each job application. You need to align your resume with the specific requirements of each job you apply for. Now, you shouldn't be applying for a huge variety of jobs. You really should narrow down your niche, but some of them can have nuances that you need to tailor to. So, you need to analyze the job descriptions, take a look at them, and incorporate the relevant keywords and skills into that resume. This makes your resume more appealing to the recruiters and helps in the applicant tracking systems. 

Now, you also need to show how relevant you are by tailoring your resume. Ensure that your experience and skills are directly related to the job that you are applying to. For instance, if you have experience in curriculum development, it translates to skills in creating training materials for corporate settings. So, tailor your resume to show that you're a perfect fit for that role. 

Finally, let's focus on keeping your resume concise. And by doing that, you need to focus on relevant experience. Highlight the most relevant aspects of your teaching experience that fit the job you're going for. Aim for a one- to two-page resume, but really, that part's not all that important. This will help keep your resume focused and impactful, and it will not just put everything in the kitchen sink. Okay, avoid overloading with information. Keep it relevant, keep it clear, and easy to read. Use bullet points, concise language, and avoid overly detailed descriptions. This will make it easier for the recruiters to scan and quickly see your qualifications, and that's it. 

We've covered some quick tips for writing a standout resume by translating your teaching experience into valuable corporate skills. Remember to highlight your transferable skills. Use strong action verbs. Quantify your achievements with numbers and metrics, customize your resume for each job, and keep it concise. I hope these tips will help you create a resume that truly reflects your strengths and sets you up for success in your career transition. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please reach out. 

It's time to make the career change that will change your life. It changed mine. See you next time. That's all for this episode, but you can find more at idolcourses.com or subscribe to the podcast. If you are ready to leave the classroom, use my code classroom100 and get $100 off enrollment to IDOL courses Academy.

Send your stories or questions to [email protected] or share them with me on Instagram @leavingtheclassroom.