I just e-mailed a former professor who is now an assistant principal at an elementary school asking for a letter of recommendation. She responded very kindly and told me that I should create a brief picture resume. Does anyone have any clue what she is talking about? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I think she wants to know what you have been up to since the class you took. This way she can write you a letter of recommendation that is tailored specifically to your experience and goals.
Maybe that is what she meant about putting my picture on my resume. She asked separately for a list of things I have been doing. Why is not a good idea to put a picture on your resume?
It's not a good way to make yourself stand out... http://secretsofthejobhunt.blogspot.com/2007/07/no-pictures-on-your-resume.html
Thanks for the link! I am so confused on what to do now. Why would she encourage em to do that? This job hunt thing is really very complicated.
She remembers me. She asked about my daughter. and her comment about the resume was directed at my question asking her "as someone who works in the district, what would she like to see in a packet?" Her response, "Keep it brief with a picture resume." So who knows?? Every time I got to start getting all this stuff together I get overwhelmed with all the different advice out there.
The only thing I think is that she meant more like a portfolio (like an electronic slideshow) or a brochure type thing? I've heard that making a brochure with pictures is a great way to stand out at a job fair, but I've never tried it. I always assumed that was seperate from your resume though...maybe in place of a formal cover letter. Would it just be possible for you to ask her what she meant?
I did ask her what she thought about including a brochure so maybe she was referencing that? I will ask her when I e-mail her back. I just didn't want to sound silly if she literally meant just putting my picture on my resume, ya know? I guess I could include a traditional resume and then more of a shortened pictorial version in the brochure.
Hmmm... my first thought was she meant something like keep it one-page and succinct. If she said, "keep it brief with a picture resume" then I would think she is telling you how to "keep it brief" (with a picture resume) so, I thought the comment was to keep the resume more like a snapshot resume....??
I think she means a picture portfolio. A few pages of pictures that shows your philosophy, projects you've done and professional development you've completed.
I googled it. Most of the links showed up as debating whether or not it was a good idea to put a picture on a resume or not (not). But then I came across this one: http://www.slideshare.net/jonpietrus/Jon-Picture-slideshow-resume
Actually, a principal friend recommended I put a picture on my resume. Kind of to give a principal, or whomever is looking, a face to put with the name. But I haven't done it.
I was on an interview panel and was given a resume with a photo. I was very put off by it. And it wasn't only because of her cleavage.
I would assume she meant a picture portfolio. I have my interns make those to give out a job fairs - a little ad of sorts about all the things that make them amazing. They are always well-received.
I have also heard that it is good to put a face with the name, but I don't think a picture on a resume is a good idea. It may give the impression to some that you're trying to use looks to get a job. My cooperating teacher when I was student teaching told me that she made a business card with her picture, contact info, and a short summary of her teaching philosophy on the back. That might be a better alternative. I haven't tried it, what does everyone else think? Do you think that it would help?
I think that if you're a qualified applicant, they'll put a face to your name at the interview. Before that, I don't think it's necessary. (OH, and welcome from Hicksville!)
One-page resume, period. No pictures, ever. Save the portfolio for the interview. Best book out there for resumes: The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book. There are examples in the book of teacher resumes.
I had a professor tell my class that when we email former professors asking for a letter of rec, we should include a photo of ourselves to trigger their memory.
I do think it will help, especially if you're elementary- out of the 1200 applications they will probably get for the job, yours will stand out a little!
People who are dismissing it are being closed-minded. I do think it depends on your situation... it's risk/reward. If you are a ten-year teacher with all the "certifications" one could hope for, then you probably don't want to risk offending anyone with a picture. If you are a rookie with basically a less than 1% chance of landing an interview anyway, what could it hurt? It's about maximizing your own potential. I do like the idea of clipping a business card (that may have your picture), on to your resume. That solves both concerns. The problem of course, is that we seldom actually do paper resumes anymore anyway.
Closed-minded, huh? Is it just not possible I find it tacky? That I've seen it done and as someone on the interview committee was turned off by it?
My experience on our hiring committee would reinforce this idea...it's not the best way to 'stand out'.
I just have to comment on this because it is the 5th time in the past week I have seen people write "ten-year" and not TENURE. There was a huge dialog on the local news' Facebook page about teachers and so many people were writing about teachers and their 'ten year' I was surprised at that but am even more surprised to see it in a teacher forum.
I think he meant a teacher with ten years experience versus a rookie, but I could have misunderstood.
Oh true, could be, thanks for pointing that out czacza....I guess I was just jumped on it bc I have been seeing it so much lately and it was bothering me. lol Sorry if that is what you meant!
I thnk it's possible to disagree with you and not be closed-minded. I do agree that each situation is different. Each of us speaks from our own situations, based on our own experiences. A number of us, myself included, have been involved with the hiring process. Apparently our experiences may differ from yours. I don't think that makes our experiences any less valid. In my school, it would be a huge mistake. Likewise my husband's. Likewise many, if not all, the schools in this particular region. Again, perhaps it's worked for you in another part of the country. In both those schools, a strong cover letter, a strong resume, and lucky timing will get you the interview. From that point on, they'll have a name to attach to the face. Without any of those, the picture won't do you any good. I think my main objection (other than the fact that in the schools I know, it would backfire) is this: it introduces something other than credentials into the hiring process. It opens the door to "Of COURSE she got the interview-- LOOK at her!" or "Of COURSE I didn't get the interview; who wants a babyface like mine teaching high school?" kinds of comments, whether they're valid or not. The fact is that your appearance should not be what gets you an interview. Including a picture would be seen by some as trying to make it a factor.
And, for the record, this may be a wonderful idea. You're trying to remind a professor which of the hundreds of students he had last semester is requesting the letter of recommendation. So he already knows your qualifications, and can write a better letter if he can put a face to the name. I think this is an entirely different matter, and is a wonderful suggestion.
All of your points are valid. My point is to say that you are (in many cases) up against 500+ candidates. If you have tremendous credentials, you probably want to rely on those. If you have very little in terms of "official" qualifications to rely on, then you probably should look for ways to stand out. A picture is just one way/idea. It really is an antiquated notion when you think about it. In the pre-digital age, it probably would've said more about you, if you put a picture on your resume, since it was much more difficult to produce documents in that way. In 2012, it's incredibly easy to cut/paste, and do all kinds of other things to your resume. It's like saying that you'd throw a resume in the trash because they used a different font type. Or added some color in your resume. These are all things that weren't necessarily easy in 1993, but in 2012 are just a click or two away. Why not use them? ...especially when your chanced are almost nil anyway. (I hope my grammar/word usage is up to snuff. People seem to be jumping at the chance to attack anything I say. Nice!)
