Are you looking to become a paraprofessional? Your resume is key in order to be the person elected for the position. Resumes are essentially the first impression your potential employer sees. Perfecting your resume is important because it is your primary tool to showcase your skills, accomplishments, and experiences. In order to create a well-written resume, it requires time and effort. In this blog, we are going to dive into the best practices for a paraprofessional resume.
Best Practices for a Paraprofessional Resume
- Emphasize Any Relevant Skills
When writing or tailoring your resume for an open paraprofessional job, you will want to emphasize any relevant skills associated with the position. Every paraprofessional should have the top skills employers are looking for. These top skills include strong communication, patience, organization, classroom management, adaptability, leadership, and more. As a paraprofessional, your skills directly contribute to your effectiveness within the classroom. On your resume, dedicate a section to highlight your skills in a bullet point formatted list to make them easily scannable for potential employers.
- Write a Strong, Attention-Grabbing Summary
Every resume should have a strong summary at the very top of the page. You want to start off your resume strongly by grabbing the attention of the hiring manager. This summary should be a quick and concise summary (2-4 sentences) that highlights your key skills, qualifications, and career goals. This section is where it’s time to sell yourself to the employer and explain why you would be the perfect fit for this role. Be sure to use strong action verbs and focus on the value you can add to the classroom.
- Show Case Educational Achievements or Certifications
The education section on your resume helps the potential employer picture your qualifications for the job. For paraprofessionals in NJ, it is required for candidates to have a high school diploma or similar. In some cases, it may be necessary to have a college degree (associate or bachelor’s degree). You will want to list your educational achievements in chronological order. The requirements for paraprofessionals tend to differ between school districts. However, don’t only list what the employer is requiring for the job. If you have any other relevant certifications such as a CPR/First Aid training, paraprofessional certification, or any specialized training for working with students with disabilities, you will definitely want to add it onto your resume.
- Look For Keywords in Job Posting
You should be plugging in keywords throughout your resume. Keywords are phrases or words that are relevant to the specific job and the job’s requirements. Examples of keywords include the job title, skills, industry-specific terminology, certifications, etc. Hiring managers or potential employers will be looking for those keywords throughout your resume. Take the job posting and determine what the keywords are then use those keywords throughout your resume to demonstrate that you meet their specific requirements. By plugging in the keywords to your resume, hiring managers can easily skim it and be able to determine that you are fit for the role.
- Detail Your Work Experience
For many paraprofessional jobs in New Jersey, experience isn’t typically needed or required. However, if you do have experience as a paraprofessional or experience working with children, you’ll be able to stand out as a candidate. Within your experience section, focus on measurable achievements and specific contributions. Instead of simply writing your responsibilities down at face value, focus on how you made a difference with your responsibilities at past jobs. For example instead of writing “supported classroom activities”, write something along the lines of “supported a classroom of 25+ students, including instructing small groups and one-on-one tutoring, resulting in an increase of improvement in test scores by 25%”. If you have any experience with implementing IEPs, 504 Plans, or behavioral management, you will also want to list it in this section.
- Proofread
You would be surprised at how many people submit resumes without proof reading! It is critical that you proofread your resume before sending it to a potential employer. Proofreading your resume will help you avoid typos, misspellings, or irrelevant information. If you submit a resume with spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, the employer may think you rushed the application and that your resume was a last-minute effort. Use free online resources to your advantage such as spellcheck or Grammarly to check for any errors. You will also want to look out for repeated words, format mistakes, or any relevant information you forgot to include. While you are perfecting your resume, proofread it in different ways such as on different devices, reading it out loud, printing it out, and reading it backwards. Just a little bit of effort can go a long way!
Final Thoughts
Your resume is more than just a list of your achievements or qualifications, it’s a look into who you are as a professional and your ability to make a difference in students’ lives’. By focusing on your unique skills, experiences, and strengths, you’ll be on your way to landing the paraprofessional job you are hoping for. When tailoring your resume, take our list of best practices for a paraprofessional resume into consideration. Remember that your resume is your way to market yourself to a potential employer. If you’re looking for a paraprofessional job in NJ, check out our current hot jobs or send us your resume today!
