Some advice for graduate teachers on preparing an effective and eye-catching CV.

1. AKA The 30-second sell
Steve Whittington, SchoolJobs
CV writing

2. Objective
This session aims to:
• Demonstrate the importance of the CV within
the context of the application process
• Provide you with the tools to develop an
effective CV that reflects your personal
experience, knowledge and skills
• Help you avoid CV disasters like this...

3. ABOUT ME
I bought a house with my now fiancé and partner of eight years; we
have been living together for the past 30 months. We also have a son,
Lucas, who is seven and a half months old. I have always had a passion
for cooking, I have an easy going personality and enjoy meeting all
types of people and I’m effortless to get along with. My other
interests are my two dogs Oscar and Harley, I love to socialize with
family and friends, I also love listening to music and exercising in my
spare time. I used to play a lot of basketball with friends and enjoyed
participating in various types of sports.
CAREER OBJECTIVE
Seeking a position in customer service where my general experience
will be further developed and utilised.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Having a baby
Purchasing a house at such a young age
Completing year 12 VCE

4. Dispelling some job application myths
True or false?
1. The school may receive over 50
applications for a single vacancy.
TRUE!
My personal record is 167 applications
for an advertised role.

5. Dispelling some job application myths
True or false?
2. The employer reads the cover letter
before reading the CV.
FALSE!
Imagine you are shortlisting for a position.
You receive 50 applications. What is the
most efficient way of selecting
candidates? Example.

6. Which would you trust?
CV
• Legal document
• Objective viewpoint
• Chronological format
• Factual style
• Verifiable with referees
Cover letter
• Courtesy document
• Subjective perspective
• Topical format
• Persuasive style
• Hard to substantiate claims
Yahoo ‘résumégate’
‘After just four months on the job, Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson is out of work
this week after it was discovered he had lied on his résumé. While his resume
boasts 1978 degrees in both accounting and computer science from
Massachusetts' Stonehill College, Thompson has since admitted he never
earned the latter.’
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com, April 2012

7. Dispelling some job application myths
True or false?
3. It is possible to make an
employment decision in less than
30 seconds.
TRUE!
I will prove it!

8. Recent Senior Maths Teacher
application

9. Dispelling some job application myths
True or false?
4. Content is more important than
presentation.
FALSE!
They are equally important. Consider
the last time you were marking student
work.

10. Dispelling some job application myths
True or false?
5. Each application receives an equal
amount of consideration.
FALSE!
Some are quickly rejected, others
pondered over. Sometimes, early
applications receive more attention.

11. Dispelling some job application myths
True or false?
6. Principals are rational, unbiased,
unemotional, 100% reliable
professionals who are never tired
or stressed.
LOL! As if….!

12. How is
this
picture
relevant
to this
session?

13. ‘Selling’ your ‘magazine’
• The 1st page of your CV is
PRIME REAL ESTATE
• Your USP is like a Nobel Prize winner on the
cover of Time magazine. Don’t waste it!
• Do you know what your USP is?

14. Knowing your brand
Lifestyle
Imagination
Liberty
regained
Innovation
Simplicity
Hopes,
dreams and
aspirations
Passion

15. Knowing your brand
Apple Microsoft

16. Knowing your brand
Coca-Cola Pepsi

17. Knowing your brand
Qantas Virgin

18. Knowing your brand
Collingwood Hawthorn

19. What are you known for?
Academic
Caring
Organised
Leadership
potential
Sporty
Patient
Hard-workingRelate well to
students
Experienced

20. Your brand
Write down (BFF p.4) 3 – 5 bullet points that
accurately describe your ‘brand identity’:
e.g.
• Enthusiastic and outgoing
• Comprehensive subject knowledge
• Relate well to my students
• Strong community values

22. What does a great CV look like?
A CV is a personalised document that reflects
your unique individual strengths & values.
Know your strengths and lead with them:
• Highly qualified? Mention your grades.
• Experienced? Be proud of it.
• Sporty? Brag about it.
• Passionate about curriculum? Then nerd it up!

23. What does a great CV look like?
• Supermarket music…

24. What does a great CV look like?
• Supermarket music…
…or regal fanfare?
• Blow your own trumpet funky horn!

26. CV ‘modules’
• Personal statement
• Qualifications
• Key skills and achievements
• Employment history
• Professional development and memberships
• Activities and interests
• Referees
See template on BFF pp.12-13

27. Which module goes where?
That depends on your brand!
• Academic? Emphasise your qualifications.
• Career change? Emphasise your experience.
• High achiever? Emphasise your achievements.
Not sure what your brand is? Ask those who
know you best and whose opinion you value.

28. Style guide: Personal Statement
• This is your 30-second job pitch
• 3 sections:
– Overview of attributes: Pick me because…
– Background skills and experience
– Describe style and give a guarantee
• Strong personal voice
• Use I, me, my
• Convey passion and enthusiasm

29. Example
I am a respected and admired teacher who is known to
provide a safe and stimulating learning environment.
As PYP Coordinator, I have demonstrated meticulous
organisation skills through the facilitation of
assemblies, PYP staff meetings, curriculum
development and the execution of a self-study.
I have strong interpersonal skills, establishing positive
working relationships with students, parents and staff,
based on mutual respect, collaboration and collegiality.

30. Style guide: Key achievements
• Dynamic language
• Past tense
• Omit 1st person
• Convey objective voice
• Increase credibility, decrease risk

31. Example
• Constructively led staff through curriculum section
of combined three-way self-study (IB/CIS/NEASC)
• Facilitated and promoted staff professional
development, both in-school and externally
• Selected to participate in three reading and writing
summer institutes at Teachers College, Columbia
University, resulting in in-school training of staff and
implementation of the workshop models across all
grade levels

32. Style guide: Other
• Key skills/qualities/competencies
– Dynamic
– Objective
– Use strong adjectives to emphasise nouns
– Link attributes using ‘with’ and ‘through’

33. Example
• Highly qualified professional with practical
Accounting experience
• Proven ability to motivate Middle School students
through the use of innovative ICT resources
• Enthusiastic and engaging teaching style coupled
with in-depth subject knowledge
• Fluent Mandarin speaker with two years’ in country
teaching experience at Tertiary level
• Empathic and caring approach, with proven success
in improving underperforming students’ results

34. Using dynamic language
Which sounds more impressive?
• I was involved in NAPLAN testing
Or
• Coordinated the school’s NAPLAN procedures
and liaised with colleagues to ensure efficient
and timely reporting
Now write three of your own dynamic
achievement statements.

35. Your CV: The basics
Do Don’t Depends
Keep to 2 – 4 pages
Put Résumé or CV at the
top
Use minimal colour
Give your file a suitable
name
Put your photo
Hyperlink to portfolio
page
Keep it ‘clean’: Balance of
white & black
Use fancy fonts and
graphics
Link with social media
Keep formatting
consistent:
Bullets, fonts, tables and
tabs
Send in multiple copies
or hard copies

36. Choosing referees
• Professional
– Your current Principal or Deputy Principal
– Placement mentor/supervising teacher
– University lecturer
• Personal or pastoral
– Seldom required; Some Catholic or Christian schools
– Possibly a parent or member of school community
• Check with them first! Choose wisely and
confirm contact details

37. Conclusions
• Quality overrides quantity
• Applying for jobs is an exercise in selling
– Know what you are selling
– Articulate it concisely
– Don’t sell yourself short
– Ensure what you are selling is what people want
• Don’t be afraid to solicit feedback on your
application
• If in doubt, seek advice

38. To download this presentation and
other resources register at
www.schooljobs.com.au
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn or visit
www.oxfordeducation.com.au
@schooljobsaus