The book Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job by Tracy Brisson is an excellent investment for those future teachers looking to land their first job. (Consider the Kindle version for $5 less Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job and using my affiliate links)

Confessions of a teacher recruiter

If you are looking for a teaching job, you need help. This book can provide it. Tracy has extensive background sorting through and recruiting from thousands of resumes. She provides excellent advice aimed at differing experience levels trying to land your next job in education. She is an expert you should listen to and try to incorporate as much of her advice as possible. As a former teacher recruiter for large districts, both public and private, she may have already tossed out one of your old resumes – and you need to know why!

This book is an easy read at 100 pages, a way to gear up for a job hunt, or a reference book for the next time you find yourself looking for a new teaching job. The idea of revamping your resume might not sound like a fun time, but reading this book made me consider revising my resume while not in the heat of an upheaval in my life. And I am eager to incorporate many of Tracy’s tips and skips now, so that I do not miss them the next time I find myself dusting of the interview suit.

Tracy points out that educators are sometimes modest, not as willing to talk about what sets them above other teachers. Traditionally-educated teachers often do not have the same training to promote themselves both on paper and in face-to-face situations as other candidates who may have gone through programs such as Teach for America or alternative certification programs. Tracy shows you how to accentuate your best “story” based on your experience level through your resume. The steps of writing your resume in this book help you highlight what makes you the right person for that next teaching job.

Take a holistic look at what belongs on a resume, versus the cover letter, versus an interview to help crystallize your first step – the resume. Despite what your school counselor told you, it is best to smartly limit your resume to verifiable, quantified accomplishments and other statements of fact. She advises us to dump the “Objective” statement and Professional Development section (thank you – finally permission) and References.

Tracy provides tiered levels of suggested details for differing work experience. If you have been recycling the same resume from your first teaching job, she has some advice for you. Traditional-aged first time teachers, second career educators, and those who are still listing accomplishments from High School can all benefit from this read.

Tracy provides style tips such as: do not use a template, which fonts are best to use, and the best file format(s) to save as. One more often overlooked aspect of the resume is the storage, revision cycle. Tracy offers specific and useful ideas for the creator that will be useful now through your next job search.

Book Review Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter

As an added bonus, If you are a pinner, Tracy has a Pinterest board ‘My Resume Book for Teachers‘. If you are in the mood to follow Pinterest boards, feel free to follow the HotLunchTray.com board as well!