We can define Instructional Design as the development of instructional learning materials to aid the acquisition and application of skills and knowledge. It involves assessing learners' needs, designing learning processes, creating learning materials, and evaluating their efficacy. Learning takes place everywhere – in schools, at the workplace, at home, and even on the battlefield! So, naturally, Instructional Design is a classic example of an omnipresent science.
Instructional designers are pedagogical experts in theories of learning, assessment, and teaching. They work in academic and non-academic settings redesigning courses, developing curriculums, producing training materials (e.g., guides and teaching manuals), and assessing the efficacy of the learning process.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a strong employment outlook for instructional designers, with a 10% increase in positions over the next 8 years. This is a crucial selling point for career educationists venturing into Instructional Design. Job applicants will also be happy to know that hiring managers prefer graduate degree holders (Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Learning Design and Technology and above) with a versatile skillset matching the demands of an ever-evolving education sector.
As the corporate world and academia continue to change, so do their learning functions. Innovation, creativity, and flexibility are increasingly valued; hence the push for more agile and iterative Instructional Design approaches in recent years. As a result, instructional designers now leverage Design Thinking and User Experience (UX) Design elements to create even better solutions. Thus, regardless of the field where talent development and training are required and the technologies involved, a solid Instructional Design background remains valuable.
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Thanks to their skillset, instructional designers are employed across various industries, and given the high level of responsibilities they undertake, they typically have a master's degree. This ensures they are appropriately equipped to meet this field's demands and can craft comprehensive learning solutions to meet designated outcomes.
The primary requirement to be an instructional designer is having sufficient knowledge and experience in learning processes. This applicant highlights their experience developing online courses, including educational technologies, and helping learners interact successfully with the same. Their expertise is well supported by relevant technical skills that showcase the applicant's familiarity with Instructional Design.
Every job applicant showcases their wide range of technical skills and experience in their field. While this is okay, it does not necessarily argue your case as the most suitable candidate. So instead of striving to show you're good at everything, focus more on emphasizing the skills you're very good at.
Merely providing a list of your past responsibilities and experience is not very informative; all resumes probably do that! So, at the earliest opportunity, explain the impact of your actions. Inasmuch as employers are interested in what you've done throughout your career, they also want to know why. So, tell them you've been working towards a goal to present yourself as organized and driven.
E-learning designers make virtual learning programs for learners. Typically, they first understand the learning needs of the student population and then tailor a syllabus around it. Part of the responsibilities of eLearning designers includes determining the correct media for learning and administering educational material accordingly. Experience in adult learning is usually a desired quality by employers.
A 10-year stint in a particular profession justifies the opinion that you are a subject matter expert in your line of work. Therefore, as this resume illustrates, focus on showcasing your technical experience. If possible, demonstrate your top achievements to help you explain why you are the best candidate.
Make your resume stand out by giving as much information as possible. Instead of simply writing "Collaborated with others to identify training needs of a certain company," write "collaborated with 18 experts and 5 members of staff to identify RW Inc., training needs." Use numbers, job titles, organizations' names, dates, and locations to show hiring managers you know your thing.
It might be challenging to grab the attention of hiring managers in the 6-7 seconds they skim through your resume, but it's doable. Here is what to do: if you've been an e-Learning designer for 5+ years and understand what flowcharting is, use a resume summary to introduce yourself as an experienced professional with proof of accomplishments.
As a hiring manager who has recruited for instructional design roles at companies like Coursera, Udemy, and Google, I've seen countless resumes from candidates. The ones that stand out and get noticed always follow a similar set of best practices. In this article, we'll share some of the most effective tips for crafting a strong instructional design resume, with plenty of examples to help guide you.
Employers want to see that you have a clear and effective process for designing learning experiences. Describe the key steps you follow, such as:
Avoid simply listing the tools you use without context, like this:
Instead, tie your skills to specific projects and outcomes to paint a more complete picture of your process and impact.
A resume summary, also known as a professional summary or summary statement, is an optional section that appears at the top of your resume. It provides a brief overview of your professional background, skills, and achievements, giving employers a quick snapshot of what you bring to the table. While a summary is not mandatory, it can be particularly useful for instructional designers who are changing careers or have extensive experience to highlight.
When writing your summary, focus on your most relevant qualifications and accomplishments, tailoring them to the specific instructional design position you are targeting. Avoid using an objective statement, as it tends to focus on your goals rather than what you can offer the employer.
The work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you'll spend the most time tailoring your resume for each job application. Hiring managers and recruiters want to see that you've made an impact in your previous roles and have developed skills that will help you succeed in the new role.
In this section, we'll break down the key elements to include and how to highlight your accomplishments effectively.
In the education section of your instructional design resume, you have the opportunity to showcase your qualifications and training. This section is important because it demonstrates to potential employers that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the role. Here are some tips to help you craft a strong education section:
Most recruiters use keyword recognition software to scan resumes. So, use strong industry-related action verbs to propel your message and get your resume noticed. You can start by looking at the buzzwords used in the job description and incorporating them into your resume.
Meanwhile, here are some action verbs that apply to instructional design roles:
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
As a rule of thumb, when applying for Instructional Designer roles, learn more about the role to know the critical skills required for that job position. This is how you target your resume and get it past the screening stage. Based on our review of instructional designer resumes, top candidates usually have the following in-demand skills: curriculum design, needs analysis, and agile learning program competency. So, acquaint yourself with these skills and cite those that apply to the position you are pursuing.
Here is a list of skills you can also mention in your instructional designer resume 'Skills' section.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Instructional Design job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
