The Vine: June 13, 2012
I have a question regarding how to handle a sticky situation regarding my résumé.
Upon graduating from Liberal Arts College with a BA in English and not a single clue as to how I planned to use it, I decided to enroll at State College to get certification as a high-school English teacher. Three semesters of educational-methods courses go by uneventfully, but student teaching went poorly for me and I was forced to take an “Incomplete” pending some major overhauls to my portfolio and repeating student teaching the following year. Needless to say, I took that as a clear sign that teaching high school was a poor fit for me and hightailed it out of there.
Six years later, I’ve found a niche that fits me well: a temporary position in an educational-services-related field where I get to work with student writing and am not in a classroom setting. My question, however, is this: as I apply for full-time employment in this new field, what is the best way to handle my failed attempt at teaching on my résumé? I know I need to include the semesters I spent at State College, especially because the teaching-methods classes I took do establish my credibility in the field, but at the same time I don’t want to highlight my only academic failure, either.
I currently have State College listed under my educational credentials, with the explanation “completed three semesters of teacher licensure program, no degree achieved.” Is there any need for me to go into greater detail unless pressed for an answer at an interview?
Perplexed English Major
Dear Perp,
I don’t think so, no. And I don’t think there’s any reason you can’t frame it as a positive if you are asked about it — you wanted to explore that aspect of the field, and you found out it wasn’t for you, but you’re glad you got the practical blah blah identified my weaknesses blah blah better fit in other areas blah blah blah fishcakes. I mean, what’s the alternative — become a shitty teacher so your c.v. looks neater?
You did the right thing here, and what’s more, people in the educational field will probably look at that line on your c.v. and spot exactly what happened, because it has no doubt happened many times before. Not everybody who, for instance, rocks at test-writing has any business in front of a roomful of fifth-graders — and vice versa. It’s different skill sets, within the same sector, and whatever hiring manager or HR person you get in front of surely recognizes that that is…a thing.
It’s accurate as is. Unless you plan to apply for teaching positions, which you don’t, trust that anywhere you want to work will know what the reference means, and consider it value-neutral — or a positive, since now you’re focusing on work you’re cut out for.
Tags: workplace
If it were me, I’d probably delete the “no degree achieved,” too. You’re not listing a degree in that area, so I think that part goes without saying; no need to hang a lantern on it. (I’m sure the Nation will correct me if I’m missing an important point–which is entirely possible.)
As someone in hiring who looks at a lot of resumes I appreciate the honesty of adding “degree not achieved” but, believe me, it is not common or necessary to be so courteous. Most people will highlight their degree if they have it or add their post-secondary institution and courses but not specify a degree. So I don’t assume the degree is complete unless it is specified. To avoid negative phrasing, just writing “completed three semesters of teacher licensure program” is plenty. The incomplete is assumed.
A. is 100% right. I’ve screened thousands of resumes over the last 20 years. People frequently list education that resulted in no degree. I have seen TWO resumes that specifically called out the lack of completion. Since it’s so rare to see, it really stood out, and not in a good way. Just say “completed three semesters of teacher education program” FULL STOP.
Same situation here-studied English and Secondary Ed, loathed student teaching, and got out (although I left education entirely). I sympathize.
I agree with leave off “no degree achieved.” Always phrase everything on your resume in positive terms, or don’t put it on at all. Just leave it at “3 semesters of teaching certification program.” You definitely are not the first and won’t be the last person who got to student teaching and found out they made a mistake. Especially since you stayed in education, hiring people will be able to read between the lines, adn they won’t care if your new job doesn’t involve actual teaching. And like Sars said, at the interview, spin it as bad fit, learning experience, blah, blah, blah.
I agree with what other people say. If you get an interview, just say honestly that you learned that it wasn’t for you and realized that students would be better off with someone who really loves being in the classroom or something. But frame the positive things you learned in the classes.
What about listing it under ‘relevant coursework’?
I agree with what’s been said before, but let me expand a little bit. My experience isn’t totally analogous, but it’s close. I work in the acquisitions department for a scholarly/academic publisher. 75% of my department has some level of graduate training; only one person actually finished the ph.d. And I can guarantee that we all understand what it means when a resume has a time range for education without a specific degree stated. And we don’t judge, because we’ve almost all been through that experience ourselves.
The people who are reading your resume know the field. They know that it’s common to enter a graduate program or a certificate program, to try it on, to realize that it’s not what you want, and to decide that you want something “academia-adjacent,” as we say at my company. No one is going to hold it against you. Mention it in your cover letter or if you’re asked in the interview; make it into a positive; emphasize your experience with the educational world. That’s what matters.
Perplexed here. My resume does indeed read “three semesters of secondary education coursework at State College” FULL STOP. At the time I wrote this letter, I was applying for state-level positions with complex labyrinths of job applications that required large amounts of explanation (and met with no success, seeing as I was in the classic English major dilemma of being qualified but being up against the grossly overqualified.) I totally agree that even though in my field, teaching experience is preferred, that sticking through three years of teaching at whatever inner city middle school or correctional facility would hire me would not have made me any better at my current job. On the bright side, due to some much needed management shakeups at my current employer (which would actually make an especially salacious Vine letter) there may be some opportunities for me in the next few months, so thanks for the guidance.
Like so:
Liberal Arts College
B.A., English…………………2000-2004
State College
Teacher Licensure Program………2007-2008
Use the official name of the Licensure Program.
Agree with Dave.
Don’t list it under relevant coursework, that’s a section of a resume you should only have if you’ve barely graduated (and as a Professor, I don’t recommend even doing that unless your resume is VERY bare). At 6 years out of school, there’s no need for this section.