Susan Riley | June 2013

Building a Stand Out Resume

While we know that there are many elements to successful job hunting, certainly a key piece is your resume.  It’s not the end-all, be-all that it used to be, but it still retains a vital function; it’s the first thing most people will see about you that introduces them to your unique talents.  And you know what they say about first impressions!  The standard resume just isn’t going to cut it anymore.  A standard resume is your fast track ticket to getting lost in the crowd.

One of the ways you can ensure that you get your foot in the door of any organization is in building a stand out resume.  Today we wanted to offer you a free sample resume template that we think could work well for anyone in the education field and would stand out amongst the crowd.  We filled this example one in with my information, but with the download, you can take out my pieces and add your own.

I like this one that we created because it…

  • puts all of the information on 1 sheet (this is critical)
  • it includes a picture of you which brings in a personal element
  • and it is visually appealing with updated contact information at the top and bottom.

I would highly recommend that you have a website (even if it’s a free wordpress.com account) that houses a portfolio of your work so that people can find out more about what you have to offer.  Remember: a resume is meant to give a snapshot, not the whole context.  Use a website for that and this sample resume template to encourage people to pick up the phone and give you a call.  Happy Friday!

sample resume Sample Resume, Building a Stand Out Resume, Education Closet

About the Author

Susan Riley is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM. This is the world’s largest online resource for educators interested in integrating the arts. She has presented at events and authored articles for many educational organizations including The US Department of Education, Palmetto State Arts Education, Edutopia, Education Week, Americans for the Arts, ASCD, and NPR. She regularly presents at national and international events each year. She is the author of three books and is a sought-after collaborator for innovative educational projects around the globe. Susan brings creativity, practicality, dedication and passion to the education landscape. She is well-respected for her pioneering work in the fields of Arts Integration and STEAM education with a standards-based approach. As an educator who taught for 10 years in public schools, as well as served in central office leadership, she understands the fast-paced change, challenges and promise of 21st century schools. As an entrepreneur, she has successfully taken what was once a simple education blog and developed it into a rapidly-growing and highly-respected educational institution. Her team of 15+ teachers, leaders and coaches support over over 500,000 educators each month worldwide. Susan holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and a Master of Science in Education Administration from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. She lives in Westminster, MD with her husband and daughter. Email Susan