Your resume/CV is essential to your next job. Below, are some examples by former ALTs of how they have described their job. Also, I have included the essential verbs you need to ensure your resume sparkles.
You might also check out this blog. It is focused on JET ALTs but has a ton of useful information that can be used by all ALTs.
ALT DESCRIPTIONS
- Selected by Japan’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote foreign language education and grassroots internationalization in Japan.
- Demonstrated the ability to work well in a foreign environment while gaining valuable insight into the Japanese culture and language.
- Coordinated with Japanese English teachers to plan, prepare and conduct <insert #> classes a week for more than <insert #> students.
- Served as a member of the prefecture's English Teachers’ Association and organized the annual high school English Debate contests.
- Presented workshops at the prefecture’s annual midyear training seminar for Japanese teachers of English and native English speakers on the use of ESL debate in the classroom.
- Selected to participate in Japan’s largest cultural exchange programs, run by Japan’s Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs.
- Create original English lesson plans/exams and team-teach with a Japanese English teachers to deliver <insert #> lessons per week to <insert level of students>.
- Designed and created the school's first official webpage.
- Organized and implemented daily lessons for over <insert #> elementary and junior high school students.
- Improved English Language proficiency of Japanese junior high students by providing instruction as a native speaker, and developing curriculum for language lessons.
- Provided independent classroom instruction, evaluated teaching materials, and monitored students’ aptitude, ensuring the progress of each student.
- Overcame linguistic and cultural barriers to quickly become an effective and productive member of the teaching staff in Japanese schools.
- Developed and implemented curriculum and teaching materials in conjunction with local Japanese English teachers for elementary and junior high schools.
- Designed, planned, and implemented lesson plans and supported over <insert #> teachers from <insert #> schools.
- Motivated students to diligently study the English language and encouraged their interest in foreign cultures.
- Collaborated with Japanese English language teachers to develop lesson plans and organize school and local community events.
- Led workshops for Japanese teachers on creating interactive, student-centered activities in order to accelerate students’ English language acquisition.
- Assisted in translating city hall's materials, including travel brochures and letters, from Japanese to English.
- Acted as a 'cultural ambassador' which involved making presentations and serving as a general resource of English and the <insert #> culture.
- Solidified ability to work with others while gaining valuable insight into Japanese culture and language.
- Created, designed and edited the bi-monthly school newsletter.
THE VERBS
| Management / Leadership / Decision Making Skills |
administered advocated analyzed appointed approved assigned attained authorized chaired considered consolidated contracted controlled converted coordinated | decided delegated determined developed directed elected eliminated emphasized enforced enhanced enlisted established executed formed founded | generated governed handled headed hired hosted improved incorporated increased initiated inspected instituted led managed merged | moderated motivated operated organized overhauled oversaw pioneered planned presided prioritized produced recommended recruited reorganized replaced | represented restored reviewed scheduled secured selected spearheaded sponsored staged started streamlined strengthened supervised terminated |
| Communication / People Skills |
addressed advertised arbitrated arranged articulated authored clarified collaborated communicated composed condensed conferred consulted contacted | conveyed convinced corresponded debated defined described developed directed discussed drafted edited elicited enlisted explained | expressed formulated furnished incorporated influenced interacted interpreted interviewed involved joined judged lectured listened marketed | mediated moderated negotiated observed outlined participated persuaded presented promoted proposed publicized reconciled recruited referred | reinforced reported resolved responded solicited specified spoke suggested summarized synthesized translated wrote |
| Analytical Research Skills |
analyzed clarified collected compared conducted critiqued detected | determined diagnosed evaluated examined experimented explored extracted | formulated gathered identified inspected interpreted interviewed invented | investigated located measured organized researched reviewed searched | solved summarized surveyed systematized tested |
| Technical Skills |
analyzed clarified collected compared conducted critiqued detected | determined diagnosed evaluated examined experimented explored extracted | formulated gathered identified inspected interpreted interviewed invented | investigated located measured organized researched reviewed searched | solved summarized surveyed systematized tested |
| Teaching Skills |
adapted advised clarified coached communicated conducted | coordinated critiqued developed enabled encouraged evaluated | explained facilitated focused guided individualized informed | instilled instructed motivated persuaded set goals simulated | stimulated taught tested trained transmitted tutored |
| Financial Data Skills |
administered adjusted allocated analyzed appraised assessed | audited balanced budgeted calculated computed conserved | corrected determined developed estimated forecasted managed | marketed measured planned prepared programmed projected | reconciled reduced researched retrieved |
| Creative / Innovative Skills |
acted adapted authored began combined composed conceived conceptualized | condensed created customized designed developed devised directed displayed | drew entertained established fashioned formulated founded illustrated initiated | instituted integrated introduced invented modeled modified originated performed | photographed planned revised revolutionized shaped solved |
| Helping / Counseling / Mediating Skills |
adapted advocated aided answered arranged assessed assisted attended cared for | clarified coached collaborated comforted contributed cooperated counseled demonstrated diagnosed | educated encouraged ensured expedited facilitated familiarized fostered furthered guided | helped instilled insured intervened mentored motivated prevented provided referred | rehabilitation represented resolved settled simplified supplied supported tutored volunteered |
| Organization / Administrative / Detail Skills |
approved arranged catalogued categorized charted classified coded collected compiled coordinated | corrected corresponded disseminated distributed executed filed formalized generated implemented incorporated | inspected logged maintained monitored obtained operated ordered organized planned prepared | processed provided purchased recorded registered reorganized reserved responded reviewed routed | scheduled screened set up submitted supplied standardized systematized updated validated verified |
| Selling / Convincing Skills |
arbitrated convinced dissuaded | marketed mediated negotiated | persuaded promoted publicized | resolved secured sold | solicited |
| Additional Verbs for Accomplishments |
achieved completed expanded | exceeded improved pioneered | reduced (losses) resolved (issues) restored | spearheaded succeeded surpassed | transformed won |
| Personality Traits - task orientated skills |
accurate
adaptable
ambitious
analytical
artistic talent
awareness
capable
clear-thinker commitment to growth
competent
conscientious
cooperative
creative dedicated | dependable
eager
efficient
energetic
enterprising
eye for detail
farsighted
flexible
gets things done right
goal directed
good judgment
hard worker
high achiever
high energy
highly motivated | honest imaginative
independent
industrious
innovative
leadership ability
loves a challenge
loyal
manages time
efficiently
methodical
meticulous
motivated optimistic
orderly | organized
perfectionist
persistent
problem solver
productive
punctual
quick learner
realistic
resourceful
risk taker
self-motivated
sense of humor
sensitive serious
shrewd | sincere
team player
thorough
trustworthy
verbal
versatility
visionary
works well under
pressure |
| Personality Traits - people orientated skills |
ability to motivate
others
congenial
cooperative
courteous | diplomatic
eloquent
excellent
communication skills
friendly
generous | gets along well with others
good listener
helpful
leadership qualities
optimistic
outgoing | patience
sense of humor
sensible
supportive
sympathetic
team worker | tolerant of others
understanding |
Words to avoid: US News article
- Creative
- Organizational
- Effective
- Extensive experience
- Track record
- Motivated
- Innovative
- Problem solving
- Communication skills
- Dynamic
Some of the above information was provided by Fukuoka's ALT website.