Paraprofessional Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Paraprofessional resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Paraprofessionals are an integral part of many organizations, providing support for frontline professionals in areas such as education, healthcare, and human services. As a paraprofessional, you might work with students with special needs or teach exercise classes to seniors. You might help patients navigate insurance claims or assist families with service planning for their loved ones.
The work is often hands-on and highly rewarding. But before you can start doing it, you need a resume that will help you stand out from the crowd. Follow these tips and resume example to write a fantastic paraprofessional resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write a Paraprofessional Resume
Here’s how to write a paraprofessional resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But they can be tricky to write if you’re not sure how to describe your work.
The key is to focus on the results of your work rather than the tasks you performed. So rather than saying you “provided support for special education students,” you could say you “provided one-on-one support for 10 students with autism, helping them improve their social skills and academic performance.”
The second bullet point paints a much clearer picture of the project and its impact on the students and school as a whole.
Related: What Is a Paraprofessional? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a paraprofessional role, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system will scan your resume for specific keywords related to the job opening. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
One way to make sure your resume makes it past the ATS is to include relevant keywords throughout all sections of your document. You can find a list of common paraprofessional keywords below:
- Curriculum Development
- Classroom Management
- Lesson Planning
- Educational Leadership
- Educational Technology
- Differentiated Instruction
- Staff Development
- Classroom Instruction
- Teaching
- Public Speaking
- Educational Consulting
- Editing
- Special Education
- Instructional Design
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- Reading
- K-12 Education
- Literacy
- Community Outreach
- Social Media
- Microsoft Access
- Customer Service
- Organization Skills
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Time Management
- Teacher Training
- Research
- Event Planning
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a paraprofessional, you rely on specific programs, systems, and methods to complete your work. That’s why it’s essential to list your technical skills prominently on your resume. By doing so, you’ll show that you’re a valuable candidate who is familiar with the essential tools and systems used in your field.
Recruiters are looking for paraprofessionals who are proficient in specific programs, such as Microsoft Office Suite, and who have experience with specific systems and methodologies, such as the Montessori Method. So be sure to list all of your relevant technical skills prominently on your resume.
Related: How Much Does a Paraprofessional Make?
Remember The Basics
As you draft your resume, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind.
Create Scannable Sections
There are a few things you can do to make your resume easier to read and understand quickly. Aligning everything to the left, using a standard font type and size, and keeping bullets under 2 lines will help make your resume more skimmable. You should also try to leave some white space on the page to help the recruiter easily scan through your information.
Be Concise
When you are writing your resume, you want to make sure that it is as concise as possible while still highlighting your most relevant experience and skills. A one-page resume is typically best, especially if you are new to the workforce or do not have a lot of experience. However, if you have more than 10 years of experience or are a senior-level executive, a two-page resume is appropriate. When trimming down your resume, focus on removing any irrelevant information and on highlighting the most important details.
Proofread
Proofreading your resume is important in order to make sure it looks professional and error-free. Spell checking is a must, as are punctuation and grammar checks. It is also helpful to have someone else proofread your resume for you, as they may catch mistakes that you have missed. Beware of easily confused words, and make sure that your tense is consistent throughout the resume.
Consider Including a Summary
When it comes to writing a resume, using a summary statement can be a great way to show off your most relevant skills and experiences. A well-crafted summary can help to bridge the gap between your past experience and your future goals, while also showing off your most valuable skills. If you’re not sure how to go about writing a summary, take a look at some of the examples provided here, and try to think about what makes you stand out from the crowd. When you’re done, be sure to keep it short and sweet—no more than three sentences.
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