Resume help for someone who hasn't taught in 10+ years

[mominwestlake]

It is time for me to work on re-entering the work force. I taught high school for several years and left when I had my 2nd child. I have been at home for the past 11 years. I haven't done any formal work but have been done some babysitting for a few teachers in my district. I now need to write a resume and have no clue what to put on it since I've been out of teaching for 11 years. Has anyone else written a resume after being at home for a number of years? Would anyone be willing to provide me with a sample? Are there any online resources I can look at?

My resume needs to look good! Where I live there is a teaching job shortage and it's even worse for high school social studies teachers For every one job there will be 500 applicants. However, I was an excellent teacher before. I designed an honors class at my school and ran a simulation that included the entire junior class. I feel I would be an asset because I have a good handle what it takes for students to be successful in college. I am definitely a hands-on teacher and love teaching. I've just been teaching our 4 children for the past 11 years.

I really need to find a job since dh is self-employed and this economy has beaten up his business terribly.

 

[MushyMushy]

Check out this site. It has sample resumes. http://resumes-for-teachers.com/teacher-resume-examples.htm

I actually went ahead and purchased one of the packages a few years ago. I haven't gotten a teaching job yet, but several administrators have commented on it and really liked the resume. But I still think you can get the same basic idea from the samples.

 

[disney junky]

You can find lots of resume samples. I won't offer any advice on those. I would encourage you though because you have a lot going for you. One, you are older with not only teaching experience but life experience. You'd probably get an interview here with that. If we can get some maturity without having to pay for the experience, it's a good thing.

I would also suggest that you do a little research on the current buzz words and somehow incorporate those in your resume or cover letter. Read a couple more current articles in your field. If there are any jobs open mid year, you have a better chance at those because the push is over. We just hired an English teacher for a mid year opening that was unexpected. We only had three applicants. Last spring, we had hundreds of applications for one position and narrowed it down to eleven for interviews.

Best wishes. Hope you find something.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Wishing you Luck!!

 

[mominwestlake]

MushyMushy, I took a look at the resume website. Do you think a package was worth the price that you paid? What exactly did they do for you? Do you basically fill out an information sheet and then they write it for you?

For those who have left the work-force to stay home with children, and then re-entered the work-force, how you document the stay at home time on a resume? I have a 12 year gap. My biggest concern is that the administration from my past teaching job is gone. Who will a prospective employer call? There is a lady still there who I taught with but she was another teacher on my team.

This will be a big step for me and for some reason I am scared to get started on it!

 

[kkmcan]

I am a former teacher that resigned to stay home with my kids. I was home for 9 years and last year decided to try for a special ed aide job (pt). I used a very basic resume which I simply updated. The references I put down were a few of my former co-teachers that still teach in the district and my former principal who has since retired. They tracked her down and talked to her.

I also had no other work experience during those 9 years so my principal asked for any volunteer work references. I gave her my sons cub scout leader's name since I've done tons of stuff for his den. That was just fine.

It was a scary experience to say the least- going to the interview, the whole orientation and registration process and I've had a terribly hard time adjusting to working again. But I'm glad I'm doing it. I may go back to teaching in a year or two and this experience will greatly help me. I'm in with my current school and if they have any openings when I'm ready to go back to the classroom I think I'll have a good chance of getting one.

Also, the suggestion that one of the other posters gave to do some reading up on current teaching trends is a good one. I did a bit of that before my interview and it helped tremendously. I didn't want to sound outdated or clueless.

Good luck!

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Can you get some experience under belt before hiring season begins? I'm thinking of subbing, volunteering. Anything that will get you back in the classroom and in contact with kids again. You know how insane the job market is for teachers. I've heard of close to 1000 applicants for every one position. Any contact you can make will only be to your benefit. It took me a year to get my current position. There's a great website www.atozteacherstuff.com There's a job seekers discussion board there with tons of people that give great advice.

 

[etoiles]

Check out this site. It has sample resumes. http://resumes-for-teachers.com/teacher-resume-examples.htm

I actually went ahead and purchased one of the packages a few years ago. I haven't gotten a teaching job yet, but several administrators have commented on it and really liked the resume. But I still think you can get the same basic idea from the samples.

I was looking for a teaching job for this school year and I looked at this site for ideas and complete redid my resume to suit that style. (on my own, did not want to pay)

My resume makeover did seem to work. I got more interviews after reformatting my resume into a style similar to those featured. Of course, I did not copy anything just used a similar format.

 

[mominwestlake]

I haven't had a lot of time to volunteer since I have been babysitting in my home for a couple of the teacher's kids in our school district. Does anyone think I should include that babysitting on my resume? The only problem this is for ages 3 months- to 5 years and I am certified to teach grades 7-12! We do preschool activities but not many lessons on supply and demand economics. If I did include it on a resume, how would I word it? Or maybe I put it in my cover letter? I am so lost as to what I should write down that I just keep saying I'll work on it tomorrow!

 

[golfgal]

I would include that you have been a SAHM for 11 years, I would also include that you have done day care and include those 2 moms as references since they are teachers in the district and might give you a leg up on the interview selection process. I went back to work after 15 years of being a stay at home mom and the companies I interviewed for were appreciative of my SAHMedness . One woman I interviewed with had a colleague sit in on the interview because she was new to being a "boss" and his comment to her was "don't assume that Stay at home mom means they are actually at home. Most stay at home moms put in more hours/day then you do"-meaning the person doing the interview. I ended up getting that job.

I agree with Mrs. Reese--get your name on their sub list now so they get to know you again around the school (if you can with doing daycare that is).

 

[Tinijocaro]

I taught 3 years, was home with kids for 12 years, and went backt o teaching 3 years ago. I did have to find out what the current "buzz words" were. You know how shcools latch on to new programs every few years, you should know about that stuff. State and national standards, current technology being used in the classroom-technology is huge in education now. At least know about it-here we use smartboards, computers, and many others.

Don't try to make up stuff about your absence from teaching. If you did any volunteer work during that time, put it down. If you tutored kids druing that time, put it down.

 

[mominwestlake]

OP back with another resume question. Can a resume be 2 pages? The first draft of my resume is 2 pages. 100s of people will be applying for 1 job and I want to get this right.

Also, what do you think of these:

Student-focused Educator who exhibits an expansive appetite for learning that is openly shared and encouraged in order to spur students into taking ownership of their education

Is it too hokey? I actually have 4 statements that tell my objectives.

 

[golfgal]

I would keep your resume to one page-I think it is ok, though, to list your references only on the second page if you list them and don't put "on request".

As far as objectives, I think ALL objective statements are hokey so I am not a good one to comment--same thing with 'mission statements" what a waste of time and money to develop those.