Resumes for Educational Leaders - Address the Standards!

Recruiters review numerous resumes for prospective and current educational leaders in our schools, and nowadays, these applications are “rolling” throughout the year. Internationally, particularly in North America, it is now not uncommon to have executive leadership positions advertised up to 1.5 years in advance. I will discuss this trend in my next article.

Some resumes stand out and instantly grab the reader’s attention, prompting them to learn more about you and consider you a candidate. What sets these resumes apart from those that get lost in the stack?

A principal or an aspiring principal needs to reflect, at least in some way, on the Australian Principal Standards. I’m not necessarily advocating for a section on each of these, although it could be an exciting resume “re-think”. Instead, use this as a lens to cover ALL the areas (standards) leaders must have in their professional practice. Be mindful that If you have a strong resume detailing how you have “led teaching and learning” but haven’t mentioned your capacity to “develop self and others,” you are missing critical standards.

The most engaging resumes will highlight achievements and outcomes related to these standards. For non-principal-level resumes, maybe diminish the importance of the section “Leading the Management of the School,” I would argue that the rest are crucial for any educational leader.

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Dr Michael Boots

Dr Michael Boots

Executive Education Consultant