The opportunities are limitless, depending on the niche you would like to specialize in.
As more people appreciate the importance of having a mentor, the demand for individuals in this field of work is increasing. You can get some exciting opportunities with a mentor resume that carefully describes your skills and experience.
Let's help you create a professional resume that will allow you to get your dream job as a mentor. Here are some of the topics we'll cover in this article:
- The best layout and format for your resume.
- How to add your professional mentoring experience to your resume.
- The right skills for every mentor resume.
- The best structure for your resume.
Salary and Job Market Information for Mentors
According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, the employment of school and career counselors and advisors is projected to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031.
The average salary for a career counselor is $46,000. The typical range is between $40,000 and $56,000, depending on your skills, education, and professional experience.
How to Make a Mentor Resume
Your resume is the first interaction you'll have with a hiring manager, so it has to be memorable to get an opportunity to interview. Prioritize the relevant experience and skills. The job description usually has the required keywords and action verbs, so check it out and incorporate them into your resume.
Constantly tailor each resume you send out because mentoring jobs will vary. Check out our resume examples to get some ideas.The resume format, layout, and structure must also be correct. Let's look at them in detail.
- Reverse-chronological format - This format is perfect for candidates who have worked as mentors for a couple of years because it prioritizes experience.
- Functional resume format - This is the perfect format for you if you don't have any mentoring experience. It prioritizes your skills and allows you to highlight the unique abilities that make you a remarkable candidate.
- Hybrid/combination resume - This format is perfect for candidates with the right blend of experience and skills. It combines the best features of the two formats above.
The layout and design of your resume should always be simple. Use fonts like Verdana, Arial, Cambria, Georgia, Calibri, and Times New Roman. The font size should be 10-12pt.
The structure of your professional mentor resume should have the following sections:
- The header section
- Resume summary/objective
- Work experience section
- Education section
- Skills section
- An additional section (Computer skills and certifications, languages, and interests)
The Header Section
Your contact and personal details will be in the header section. This information must be accurate to enable the recruiter to reach you when needed. These details include:- Your full name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- Location
- A link to your LinkedIn profile.
Correct example
Mentor
552-993-223
perryclark@gmail.comSacramento, CA
linkedin.com/in/perryclark
Incorrect example
Mentor
552-993-223
perryclark@gmail.comSacramento, CA
linkedin.com/in/perryclark
Describe Your Experience As a Mentor
Showing your potential employer that you have experience as a mentor is crucial when you're in this competitive industry. Hiring managers want to employ individuals who will positively impact the lives of the students who need guidance and help them achieve their goals.
When adding your experience, start with your most recent job going backward. It's always better to focus on the relevant experience you've gained in this line of work. The structure of this section should have the name of the workplace, your job title, and the employment dates at each place.
You'll also list three to five job duties under each workplace. If possible, quantify your results with figures and facts to stand out and show the recruiter what you could do for the company. The recruiter wants to see that you can be a positive role model, which should be evident as you add your professional experience.
Example of an Entry-Level Mentor
Student Mentor
August 2016-June 2018
- Tutored students and created a program to provide guidance in matters relating to their professional goals.
- Created ideas and strategies for learning and implemented new mentoring methods for approval by the administration.
- Assessed students' background information to determine learning deficiencies and strengths and offered emotional support where needed.
Example for Experienced Mentors
Mentor
May 2017-July 2019
- Coordinated with other teachers willing to provide after-school sessions for students needing extra tutoring through one-on-one meetings.
- Cooperated with project leaders and stakeholders to determine objectives and help students that needed financial aid.
- Encouraged new students to participate in discussions by implementing various mentoring methods and techniques.
Detail Your Academic Background
Mentors need a bachelor's degree, and most jobs require this qualification. Some of the courses that mentors study include psychology, criminal justice, and business.
When adding your education, start with the name of the degree, the name of the school, and the graduation date. If you have a higher educational qualification like a Master's or Ph.D., start with it, and you can leave out the high school diploma.
Correct example
Clayton State University
2016
The Right Mentoring Skills for Your Resume
The skills section lists the unique abilities that allow you to work efficiently and effectively. You'll miss out on some great opportunities without the right skills on your mentor resume.
List your skills in bullet point form and separate them into hard and soft skills. Hard skills help you perform job-specific tasks and require some time to learn. Soft skills are character traits that make it easy to interact with people in the workplace.
Candidates who don't have much experience can use this section to list their transferable skills from other jobs or school. Use the job description to get some of the skills the recruiter is looking for and include them in your resume using the same wording/language. Check out our resume templates which will help you structure this section.
Here is a list of skills for your mentor resume.
Hard skills
- Leadership development
- Crisis intervention
- Case management
- Professional development
- Public speaking
- Program management
- Policy and procedure improvements
- Administrative management
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Independent living skills
- Listening skills
- Written communication
- Critical thinking
- Organizational skills
- Teamwork
- Multitasking
A Mentor Resume Summary
Introduce your resume with a professional summary which comes right after the header. This section of your resume summarizes your experience, skills, and top achievements. Though it's a short paragraph, it should be engaging and catchy to get the hiring manager's attention and get them to read the rest of your resume.
Correct example
Incorrect example
Professional Objective
A professional objective also introduces your resume but is suitable for recent graduates and career changers who don't have much experience as mentors. The objective statement expresses your interest in the mentoring position and highlights your professional goals.
Correct example
Additional Sections for Your Resume
You need an additional section with the extra qualifications that make you stand out. You also use this section to highlight the qualifications you don't want the hiring manager to miss. Hiring managers take a few seconds on each resume and can easily miss your important qualifications.
Here are a few sections to consider on your resume.
Computer Skills and Certifications
Basic computer skills like Ms. Office knowledge are essential for every mentor. It's always advisable to add them to this section of your resume to make it easier for the recruiter to spot them.
Certifications for mentors are crucial and also a great way to stand out. You show the recruiter that you have more training than your competitors who don't have the certification. Here are some that you can consider for your mentor resume.
- Certificate in WELS Mentoring and Coaching
- ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching & Mentoring
- CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management Coaching & Mentoring
Languages
Your language skills will always help set you apart from the other candidates, so you don't want the recruiter to miss this qualification on your resume. Mentoring jobs require you to interact with multiple people from different cultures, and being a bilingual candidate will be a major plus. When you're listing your languages, use the official language reference as follows:
- IELTS - English (a minimum score of 6.5 is required)
- Germany's Goethe-Zertifikat (70%) or higher is required.
- SIELE for Spanish
Interests
This section can work for you or against you. Research the organization you want to work for before adding your interests to know their culture and incorporate the interests that align with the company culture.
Tips to Boost Your Resume
- Choose the right action verbs and keywords for your resume to ensure it gets past the ATS systems.
- Tailor each job title on your resume.
- Use the job description to determine what the recruiter is looking for before creating your resume.
- The right format and layout make your resume easy to read and understand.
- Check your resume for mistakes to ensure that it's error-free.
Key Takeaways: Writing a Resume for Mentors
- The header section should have your accurate contact details.
- A resume summary/objective introduces your resume to the recruiter by highlighting your top skills and experience.
- Detail your relevant work history in the experience section.
- Use facts and figures to quantify your achievements.
- Use bullet points to list your skills.
- Add your skills and extra qualifications in the additional section.
Accompany Your Resume with a Cover Letter
A cover letter gives more details about your qualifications and makes your application complete. Always send a cover letter unless the job ad specifies that the recruiter doesn’t need one. It allows you to express your interest in the position as you showcase your writing skills and personality. Check out our cover letter examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Social media
- Professional networking events
- Online mentorship networks