How To Write a School Counselor Resume
A school counselor’s resume should show you can engage with children and adolescents, have strong communication skills, and have the training and knowledge to work with at-risk youth. Below are tips on writing a school counselor resume highlighting your unique skills and approach to helping children and their families.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Start your resume with a short summary of your key strengths as a counselor. Include your title, years of counseling experience, and specializations. Also, add relevant keywords from the job posting to target your resume.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Experienced, licensed guidance professional with expertise in testing, education, career counseling, and family issues in middle and high school settings. Actively engaged with students in at-risk populations, coordinating both individual and small-group instruction and conflict resolution. Accomplished mentor and character coach. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Entry-Level Profile Example
School counselor with strong recent experience guiding and supporting students’ personal and academic development. Certified in substance use disorders and experienced in counseling students facing addiction issues.
2. Add a detailed professional experience section
Your professional experience section should give examples of your work to build a positive learning environment and promote collaboration between students, parents, and teachers. For instance, demonstrate how you’ve counseled students to handle classroom behavioral problems. Highlight initiatives you’ve led, such as support groups, well-being events, or programs that reduced truancy rates.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
School Counselor
Plano High School, Plano, TX | September 2015 to present
- Provide guidance on academic performance, social skills, self-esteem, and attendance to students in grades 9 to 12 using person-centered, solution-focused technologies
- Counsel students on friendship issues, bullying, classroom behavior issues, and issues in their home environment
- Started biweekly “Boys-to-Men” group focused on conflict resolution, responsibility, anger management, and behavior
- Coordinate with other school staff to organize events, including “Career Night,” “College Night,” and “‘You Can Win a Scholarship’ Night”
- Collaborate with college guidance counselor to assess potential colleges for students
- Facilitate, administer, and evaluate student testing
- Contribute to team meetings on Individualized Education Plan (IEPs), truancy, student classroom performance, and crisis management
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Guidance Counselor
Canton Academy, Bellevue, WA | August 2017 to present
- Provide counseling services, including IEP meetings, academic and social guidance to an assigned cohort of students at this private middle school
- Meet with parents, staff, and students to set appropriate plans in the best interest of each student
- Coordinate workshops to address topics such as bullying, sexual harassment, and drug and alcohol abuse
- Facilitate weekly meetings for students dealing with substance abuse issues in their family or peer group
- Administer and interpret testing to help identify appropriate career and academic path for each student
3. Include relevant education and certifications
An advanced degree is usually necessary to be a school counselor, so show you have the formal education required for your role. Employers may also seek candidates with credentials such as Certified Professional Counselor or Certified School Counselor. Depending on the state, you may also need to show you’re licensed through the state department of education.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Master of Arts in Education (M.A. Ed) in School Counseling
Seattle University, Seattle, WA | 2017
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization – optional] | [Completion Year]
Example:
Substance Use Disorder Professional | 2017
4. List pertinent key skills
In today’s hiring, most managers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to narrow down the applicant pool. Adding a key skills section to your resume can help the ATS flag you as a match and show a hiring manager you’d excel in the role.
Key skills for school counselors center on clinical competencies, empathy and compassion, active listening, and collaborating to ensure the best outcome for each student. Here are some examples of key skills a hiring manager may be looking for in a school counselor:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Behavioral health | Chemical dependency training |
| Clinical counseling | Confidentiality |
| Cross-team collaboration | Curriculum planning |
| Group counseling | Human development |
| IEPs | Parent-teacher conferences |
| Professional ethics | Resource coordination |
| Student enrollment and orientation | Test preparation and administration |
How To Pick the Best School Counselor Resume Template
As with most vocations, school counselors should use a resume template that’s clear and straightforward. Opt for a layout that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details.
Select a traditional resume font, and avoid any template with colorful or elaborate design.
Also, ensure the template complies with the ATS used by employers to screen resumes.
School Counselor Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Rod Schmidt
(342) 267-3321
[email protected]
3241 Pacific Avenue, Spokane, WA 99208
Profile
School Counselor with strong recent experience guiding and supporting students’ personal and academic development. Certified in substance use disorder and experienced in counseling students facing addiction issues.
Professional Experience
Guidance Counselor, Canton Academy, Bellevue Washington
August 2017 to Present
- Provide counseling services including IEP meetings, academic and social guidance to an assigned cohort of students at a private middle school
- Meet with parents, staff, students and other professionals to create appropriate plans in the best interest of students
- Coordinate workshops to address topics such as bullying, sexual harassment, and drug and alcohol abuse
- Facilitate weekly meetings for students dealing with substance abuse issues in their family or peer group
- Administer and interpret testing to help identify appropriate career and academic path for each student
Tour Guide, See Seattle, Seattle, WA
October 2015 — March 2017
- Research and plan tours for visitors to Seattle, Washington
- Lead walking excursions of groups of up to 12 individuals at a time through Downtown Seattle
- Prepare and give presentations
- Offer sightseeing, shopping and restaurant advice
Education
Master of Arts in Education (M.A. Ed) in School Counseling
Seattle University, Seattle, WA, September 2015 to May 2017
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Reed College, Portland, OR, August 2011 to May 2015
Certification
- Substance Use Disorder Professional – 2017
- Professional ESA Certificate – 2017
Nicole Michaels
(452) 999-2209
[email protected]
Kansas City, MO 64030
Profile
Compassionate School Counselor with 7+ years of positive direction of students’ emotional and academic needs. Active advocate on behalf of students facing bullying. Initiated anti-bullying workshops for students and webinar for parents.
Professional Experience
Middle School Counselor, Overland Park Junior High, Overland Park, MO
August 2017 — Present
- Coordinate educational assessment strategies leading to appropriate placement of students
- Help execute Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and Student Study Teams (SST)
- Provide individual and group counseling to students struggling with bullying
- Coordinate services to meet the developmental and remedial needs of students with learning disabilities including Down syndrome, sensory integration disabilities, and spectrum disabilities
- Collaborate with school psychologists, teachers, and other personnel to meet student needs
- Actively communicate and work with parents
Anti-Bullying Specialist/Counselor, YMCA, Kansas City, MO
August 2014 — June 2017
- Implemented anti-bullying program focused on conflict resolution, character education, self-esteem, and peer mediation
- Communicated with local school administrators and counselors to update and involve them regarding activities
- Coached educators in best practices to protect at-risk students and intervene where appropriate
- Presented at local schools to educate students about the dangers of bullying and guide them through acquisition of the skills to become responsible advocates
Education
M.A., School Counseling Program
Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, August 2012 to May 2014
B.A. Psychology
Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO, September 2008 to May 2012
Key Skills
- Emphasizing family-community-school relationships to end bullying
- Counseling based on student needs
- Presentation
- Learning strategies
- Teaching self-management and autonomy skills
- Social skill coaching
- Career planning
- Encouraging students to achieve academic success and fulfilling their potential
- Identify systemic barriers deterring equitable access
Certifications
- Missouri Initial School Counseling Certification — 2019
- American School Counselor Association Certification (ASCA) — 2019
- Missouri Licensed Professional Counselor — 2014
D.J. Cantera
(217) 615-5982
[email protected]
334 El Paso Drive, Dallas, TX 75061
Profile
Experienced, licensed guidance professional with expertise in testing, education, career counseling, and family issues in both middle school and high school educational settings. Actively engaged with students in at-risk populations, including coordinating individualized and small group instruction and conflict resolution. Accomplished mentor and character coach. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Professional Experience
School Counselor, Plano High School, Plano, TX
September 2015 — Present
- Provide guidance in areas of academic performance, social skills, self-esteem, and attendance to students in grades 9-12 using person-centered, solution-focused technologies
- Counsel students dealing with friendship issues, bullying, classroom behavior issues, and issues in their home environment
- Coordinated biweekly “Boys-to-Men” group focused on conflict resolution, responsibility, anger management, and behavior
- Coordinate with other school staff to organize events including “Career Night,” “College Night,” and “‘You Can Win a Scholarship’ Night”
- Collaborate with college guidance counselor to assess potential colleges for individual students
- Facilitate, administer, and evaluate testing for students
- Coordinate and participate in team meetings regarding IEPs, truancy, student classroom performance, and crisis management
School Counselor, South Lake Middle School, Fort Worth, TX
August 2009 — June 2015
- Identified students’ social, emotional, and academic needs, and provided compassionate assistance, guidance, and interventions
- Supported students through the unique challenges presented by their developmental stage
- Created proactive programming to engage students in leadership and advocacy. Project involved collaboration with multiple stakeholders in the school community
- Assessed students’ talents and interests to help guide them in decisions regarding curriculum
- Counseled students challenged by stress of bullying, family transitions, or other issues impeding their success and wellbeing. Referred students to appropriate outside resources
Education
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling
The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, September 2007 to May 2009
Bachelor of Arts in Special Education
Drexel University School of Education, Philadelphia, PA, August 2003 to May 2007
Key Skills
- Advocacy for students at Individual Education Plan meetings and other student-oriented meetings
- Data analysis to identify student issues, needs, and challenges
- Crisis counseling
- Application of academic achievement strategies
- Referrals for long-term support
- Collaboration with families/teachers/administrators/community to assure student success
- Multilingual (English, Spanish, Arabic)
Certifications
- Dyslexia Specialist Certificate – 2009
- Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Counseling – 2014
- Texas School Counselor Certificate – 2009
Frequently Asked Questions: School Counselor Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for school counselor resumes?+
Action verbs help make your resume more engaging by letting the hiring manager visualize what you’ve done in other roles and how you can make a similar impact at their institution. But it’s easy to run out of words or feel like you’re repeating yourself as you write your bullet points. Luckily, the varied duties of a school counselor give ample opportunity to diversify your word choice. Here are some action verbs you can use:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Addressed | Advised |
| Assessed | Created |
| Collaborated | Coordinated |
| Counseled | Developed |
| Documented | Evaluated |
| Improved | Initiated |
| Liaised | Mediated |
| Prepared | Referred |
| Resolved | Reviewed |
How do you align your resume with a school counselor job posting?+
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects school counselor job openings to increase by 10% through 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
Although more openings may mean less competition, tailoring your resume to each position is key to increasing your chances of an interview. For example, if the school seeks a counselor to support small-group discussions and mitigate behavior issues, highlight your clinical counseling experience and child development training.
What is the best school counselor resume format?+
The combination format is generally best for school counselors. This style showcases your work history and key strengths so hiring managers get a full picture of you as a candidate. But a reverse-chronological resume can also be effective if you have an extensive work history and are applying for a senior-level role.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
A strong cover letter increases your chances of an interview because it lets you expand on your qualifications and why you want the job. Create an engaging, targeted cover letter by focusing on the hiring manager’s needs. For more, see our guide on writing a cover letter and examples of school counselor cover letters.
