How to Write a Great Resume: Early Childhood Education

While all resumes follow a typical format, every industry also has their subtle nuances that make for resumes that stand out above the rest. Early childhood Education is no different. To craft an ECE resume that is certain to get you an interview, follow these tips to polish your resume to a shine.

Focus on Accomplishments

Conventional wisdom used to hold that you should list what your duties at your past jobs were to accentuate your experience. However, the new trend is to highlight what you've accomplished at those jobs. Remember, you are trying to impress a prospective new employer. Your trying to get their attention, so be specific about what you've accomplished that sets you apart. Did you author a grant? Streamline a process? Win an industry award for your efforts? Don't be afraid to highlight what you've done well.

In addition to focusing on accomplishments, be as detailed as possible. Give hard numbers when you can. How much did revenue increase by exactly? What amount of money were you awarded for the grant? The details definitely matter.

Put Your Education at the Forefront

Early childhood education focuses a lot on certifications and credentials, so don't be afraid to list them prominently. The "Education" heading should be near the top of your resume, and again, be as specific as possible. Don't dwell just on degrees you've earned. Be as complete as possible in listing your certifications and educational accomplishments.

List All Your Related Positions

Don't exclude jobs or volunteer opportunities you've had because you think they may be inconsequential. Experience shouldn't be limited to paid positions, either. Prospective ECE employers want to know about all the experiences you've had. If you find you don't have a lot of experience to round out your resume, it might be a good time to go seeking out volunteer experience to take your resume to the next level.

Remember, in addition to listing your accomplishments, it's also important that you highlight the skills you've picked up along the way. If it's relevant to the job you are applying for, include it.

Customize to the Job Posting

Your resume probably won't vary much from job to job, but there are instances where it is important to tailor your resume to the position. Including and excluding jobs that may or may not be relevant to the specific area of Early Childhood Education is important.

When reading a job posting, make note of the skills they are looking for and how they apply to opportunities you may have had. Finding common ground between the two and then applying that common ground to your resume can focus it explicitly for each job, and prevents your resume from becoming stale.

Finishing Touches

When you feel like you've got the big-picture pieces in place, focus on the details. Don't be afraid to ask co-workers or mentors in the ECE field to look at your resume and give you notes. Ask them if you can look at their resume for inspiration as well.

Once you feel like your resume is complete, it's time to edit. Go over your resume with a fine-tooth comb, looking for misspellings or bad grammar, which can give prospective ECE employers a reason to exclude you early on.

Of course, the best resume builders can be degrees from accredited schools and well-rounded educations. Athena Career Academy offers degrees in a number of fields like Early Childhood Education that can really give your resume a boost.