Job Discussion Forums

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:44 pm Post subject: Certs on resumes

Don't worry, this isn't another thread to argue about certs in general- I just wanted to pose a specific question to all you cert holders out there.

What do you put on your resume about your cert?

Mine says:

Trinity College Certificate in TESOL

Oxford House College, Barcelona, Spain

August 2000

The layout on the resume is cooler, but it doesn't copy well here.

The reason I'm asking is that I'm getting driven up the wall by resumes that say:

TESOL Certificate August 2008

And similar.

Or by applicants that say, usually in a cover letter:

I have a TEFL certificate that consisted of 120 hours of classroom time and 7 hours of real practice teaching with real EFL students.

And similar.

Or of course:

I earned a Certificate accredited by _______________ (set of initials).

Usually, upon investigation, those who do this have taken second-tier certifications and lower. It's like they know that the certs they have won't impress me, and they're trying to hide them.

A question that occurs to me is: How do people who are obviously new to the field know that their certs don't hold water? Are they being taught THIS on their TESOL courses????

Best,
Justin

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I put the title of it, the school I got it from, the place, the date. Then below I have number of hours, practise teaching hours, and the internship I did through the programme.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject:

In a section of my CV headed 'Professional Qualifications & Education', I include:

RSA/UCLES CTEFLA (Royal Society of Arts/University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language to Adults)
Joe Average School of English, Badgertown, UK (March 1996)

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Mine looks pretty much like the hamster's there. Up to you if you want to add a bullet point or 2 underneath to describe it further, vs. doing that on the cover letter.

Sometimes it depends on who you are sending it to. Some employers may not know or care about it at all.

Madame J · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:50 pm Post subject:

God. Really? Perhaps I am doing it wrong then. I don't include nearly so much detail. My CV currently contains something along the lines of, "Cambridge CELTA, British Study Centres Oxford, October-November 2008". I perhaps naively assume that the majority of employers will be well versed as to what a CELTA is.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

probably for a CELTA, but for others I think it-s best to include more info

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Mine says:

1996 Trinity College TESOL Certificate, Coventry College and Prague University

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

ITC International TEFL Certificate: Prague, Czech Republic 1999

I don't bother with any details of the course (# of hours, etc.), because, well, it was 10 years ago and at this point in my career nobody asks me about my TEFL certificate anymore.

Oh, and given that my first job was actually in Prague and ITC helped me get an interview, I didn't need to worry about whether or not the school had heard of ITC, whether it had a good reputation, etc. Newbies who mail off their CVs to faraway lands won't have that factor to assist them, though.

d