The mistake everyone is making.
Most teachers tell me they’re not getting “THE” job because their resume says teacher or educator on it. They think there’s nothing they can do about it and that they’ll be in teaching forever.
But the truth of it is — it has nothing to do with being a teacher — and has everything to do with a faulty system.
I’m not talking about the education system, though you and I both know how faulty that is.
I’m talking about the resume system.
Think about it… If someone said “I used to be an artist and I went to college in NY State”… Would you be interested in hiring them to cook a delicious six-course menu for a fancy event?
Of course not. Because you don’t know if they can even cook – their experience and education doesn’t tell you that. It tells you nothing about their abilities to actually cook. It just tells you their history.
What about if they said.. “My goal is to get hired as a chef.”?
No? Still not hiring them? Of course not. You don’t care if their goal is to work for you. You care if they can actually do the job so you don’t get egg on your face.
The first part doesn’t tell you what you actually want to know them and the second one is more of something that should go on a dream board, not an interview application.
The Simple Solution
So what’s the solution? How can you leave teaching when your resume only says “teacher” or “educator” and you don’t have a lot of experience doing the thing you want to do next?
First, you show them how you can help their company.
Second, you focus on their goals and not your own.
But a resume just doesn’t allow for that. Every format I’ve ever seen has your name and address, education, work history and… that’s it. With the goal to keep the resume to one page or less and showcase the very dry, very unhelpful information of your work history and education… your resume is going to look like everybody else’s.
The only difference between theirs and yours is that you’re at a disadvantage because your official title was teacher and theirs was something else.
But as a teacher, you have so many skills, the ability to adapt, and the ability to get a job done that most employers would jump at the chance to have on their team…
If only they knew what you could do .
That’s why there is a need for a portfolio instead of a resume.
A resume shows your past.
A portfolio shows your potential.
What can you do to help that company reach their goals?
Your portfolio focuses on that.
And that’s why people that use a portfolio are more likely to get hired than those who just use a resume.
I made some edits to Tangi’s resume so it was more like a portfolio and she got the job that day.
Ways to make your portfolio work for you
Your portfolio can be a powerful piece in the hiring puzzle if you use it correctly. Here are five tips to help you create and utilize your portfolio so you can run to the front of the hiring line.
First, focus on how you can help the company you’re applying for. To do that, you can look them up online and look for keywords – what problems do they want solved with the position you’re applying for, and how can you help with that?
Second, create a portfolio that really centers around that – showing how the experience you have can help them achieve their goals. I suggest moving the education portion to the bottom because they care more about how you can help them with their company now over where you went to college ten years prior.
Third, look at the job description and think about what you’ve done as a teacher. What skills have you built that has led you to where you are now? How have those skills prepared you for this job?
Fourth, practice your answers and get really confident about why you are perfect for the job. If you don’t believe it, they won’t either.
And finally, use your teaching skills as your superpower, not the reason you shouldn’t get the job. Talk about how those skills have helped you prepare for what you’re doing next.
The Portfolio Power Advantage
There are usually two obstacles people have when making their own portfolio.
First, if you’ve not been in a position where you’re doing the hiring, you might be unsure what the company you’re applying for is looking for or the questions they might ask.
Second, creating a portfolio can feel overwhelming and seem a little daunting.
I had so many teachers asking for help with their resume (and asking how to build a portfolio) that I made the Portfolio Power Advantage, training to walk you through every step of the way — including acing the interview.
The Portfolio Power Advantage includes…
- Three workshops that take you through building a portfolio, setting yourself up for success, mindset that gets you hired, and how to ace the interview.
- Audio to help guide you through this process on the go
- Worksheets to practice what you’re learning and process information and most importantly…
- Editable templates so it’s incredibly easy to get your portfolio started and finished in a weekend.
Get the Portfolio Power Advantage today.
This is for anyone that’s ever thought they didn’t get hired because of their age, because their resume says “teacher”, or because they don’t have as much experience as someone else
This is for anyone that’s felt hopeless about the job search or that they’ll have to stay in their current job forever.
This is the tool that’s going to take you from a resume that gets tossed aside to a call for an interview and a job offer.
Because you are valuable — and you have what it takes.
But most people who haven’t been teachers just don’t know what you do or what you’re capable of.
That’s where the Portfolio Power Advantage comes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I’m not a teacher but I need help with my portfolio and resume, too. Can this help me?
You betcha. This was made for anyone that wants to transition out of the current career and into a new one. So use it for yourself, send it to your friends that are in a job rut — the Portfolio Power Advantage can help the teacher and non-teacher alike.
2. I think I’m not getting hired because of my age. Can this help me?
Absolutely. If you can show a potential employer what you’re able to do to help their company grow – then they don’t care what age you are — just that you’ll be able to help their company succeed.
But resumes don’t show that. The Portfolio Power Advantage shows you how to leverage your wisdom and experience to focus on helping this company find success. And that is what they want to know.
3. I want to work as a freelancer, can this help me?
Absolutely. The concept and practice is the same. Even though you’re not working in the corporate world, you are still working for an individual or business that wants to know the same thing… How can this person help me?
Ready to get hired?
Ready to cut to the head of the hiring line? Get the Portfolio Power Advantage today.
Here’s what others have to say about the training I’ve given them that’s in the Portfolio Power Advantage:
