Paraprofessional Resume Sample (Job Description, Skills)

In the classroom, you work as hard as the teacher, but somehow get far less credit. Sometimes, it makes you feel disheartened.

Your knowledge and expertise are valuable. The key is to find employers who know how to treat paraprofessionals right. Prove you’re not just a teaching aid. Write a paraprofessional resume that lands you positions at the most reputable schools out there.

This guide will show you: 

• A paraprofessional resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a paraprofessional resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a paraprofessional resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a paraprofessional to get any job you want.

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Paraprofessional Resume Sample

Here’s how to write a paraprofessional resume that gets jobs:

1. Use the Best Paraprofessional Resume Format

A paraprofessional is an unlicensed teacher who fulfills many of the duties of a licensed teacher. Paraprofessionals often work with special needs and other children. A paraprofessional resume must show you can work with students, create lesson plans, or collaborate with speech or other therapists.

They’ll judge you instantly.

One look at your paraprofessional resume and they’ll know if you’re lazy.

That’s why your resume for paraprofessional jobs needs special formatting.

Follow these formatting steps:

• Use the best of the resume formats for the job. That’s the reverse-chronological resume unless you’re a career changer.
• Resume headers matter, so make yours clean and attractive. Your name goes first, then job title (Paraprofessional) in smaller font.
• Add resume contact information next like phone, email, and social media handles.
• The best fonts for resumes are clear, non-serif choices like Arial and Cambria in 10–12pt size. Don’t make it too busy—leave white space.
• Save it in the best job resume format: PDF. They’re machine-readable and look the same on any platform. Check the job ad to ensure they’re not off limits.

Pro Tip: Pay attention to your resume structure. Make it presentable and easy to use. Put your header at the top, then summary, work history, education, skills and “other” sections.

2. Write a Paraprofessional Resume Objective or Resume Summary

This is key:

Employers would rather do anything but read your paraeducator resume.

You have to change their minds.

Do it with an elevator pitch called a resume profile.

If you’ve got over two years of paraprofessional experience, write a professional summary.

In it, put your years of experience, a couple skills, and one or two hero-level paraprofessional achievements.

Writing a resume for a first job? Start with a career objective. List transferable career skills in it from other jobs.

Pro Tip: Write your paraprofessional resume objective last. That way you’ll know all your top-line info. Then pick and choose the best parts for the summary.

3. Fit Your Resume to the Paraprofessional Job Description

Why do they choose one candidate above the rest?

Better fit.

But how can you show you’re the better fit?

With a tailored work experience description on your resume.

Tick these boxes:

• For each job, show a business job title, name of company, and work dates.
• List key responsibilities, but add big examples of professional achievements.
• Connect those accomplishments to this paraprofessional job. If the posting asks for Mandt training and you’ve trained people in Mandt, definitely say it.
• Add measurements like “31 students” or “21 lesson plans” for scale.
• The best words to use in a resume are power words like “implemented” and “addressed.” (Steer clear of “responsible for.”)

Pro Tip: Use more bullet points in more recent jobs. Only show the cream-of-the-crop in older jobs to keep your paraprofessional resume relevant.

4. Streamline Your Paraprofessional Resume Education Section

Most people don’t know this.

Your degree isn’t just there to prove you studied.

On a paraprofessional resume, it should stand out.

Add more achievements to the education in your resume.

I’m talking about positions you held at school, classes you excelled in or felt passionate about, and sports teams you belonged to.

You can even list teacher compliments or groups.

Just make sure each one proves key paraprofessional skills.

Pro Tip: Did you just graduate? You’ll need a longer education section packed with more accomplishments. If you’ve been in the workforce a while, make your education shorter.

5. Show Paraprofessional Skills in Your Resume

Use this para-pro resume skills list.

It shows soft and hard skills:

Paraprofessional Resume Skills

Hard Skills:

• Experience with mental illness
• Mandt System
• Child supervision
• Academic support
• Emotional and social support
• Behavior management
• One-on-one student work
• Identify student growth areas
• Create learning plans
• Working with students with different emotional or physical needs

Soft Skills:

• Friendliness
• Interpersonal skills
• Organization
• Teamwork
• Intellectual curiosity
• Written and oral communication skills
• Creativity
• Calm
• Positive attitude
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Listening
• Adaptability
• Helpful
• Compassion

Warning—

Don’t use all of them.

Put your detective hat on to figure out the most important skills for the job.

Comb the job announcement and if necessary call and ask.

Then show paraswami achievements that demonstrate those skills.

Pro Tip: Got Mandt training but the job doesn’t need it? Consider leaving it off your resume for paraprofessional jobs unless there’s a chance the employer cares and didn’t mention it.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Paraprofessional Resume

Are you good to work with?

The employer wants to know.

In your paraeducation resume, show passion and dedication.

Do it with special sections for:

• Classes you’ve taken
• Activities
• Language skills
• Associations
• Conventions
• Professional certifications
• Volunteer positions
• Freelance work
• Publications
• Compliments from managers
• Interests
• Fitness activities

Pro Tip: Your “other” sections should prove paraprofessional skills. If you volunteer at a soup kitchen, that shows you have compassion.

7. Send a Cover Letter With Your Paraprofessional Resume

How important are cover letters for paraprofessional resumes?

Very.

Do it wrong and nobody will read your paraprofessional cover letter.

Do it right and it can stop a manager from glancing at your resume and moving on.

• Format your cover letter in the 3-paragraph layout.
• Know how to begin a cover letter with a hook. That’s either your biggest achievement or the thing you like best about the job.
• Explain why you’re so passionate about this position. Passion means you’ll work hard and long.
• Make an offer in your cover letter closing, like, “I’d love to tell you more about how I can improve student enthusiasm.”

How long should cover letters be? Three paragraphs and half a page.

Pro Tip: Knowing how to write a follow up email is important. Make it short, friendly, and to the point. (“I’m following up on my application.”) Sending 2–3 follow-ups in two weeks is fine.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

That’s it!

That’s how to write a resume for paraprofessional positions.

Worried about your paraprofessional resume? Is something bugging you about your resume for paraprofessional jobs? Give us a shout in the comments. We’d love to talk!