Careers Finding a Job Speech Pathologist Resume and Cover Letter Examples Print vgajic / Getty Images Finding a Job Job Searching Cover Letters Skills & Keywords Resumes Salary & Benefits Letters & Emails Job Listings Job Interviews Career Advice Best Jobs Work-From-Home Jobs Internships Table of Contents Expand Resume and Cover Letter Writing Tips Speech Pathologist Resume Template and Example Speech Pathologist Cover Letter Template and Example Be Prepared to Interview More Resume Examples More Cover Letter Examples By Alison Doyle Updated on 06/15/22 Are you applying for speech pathologist jobs? When writing your job application materials, be sure to include the top skills employers seek when hiring for speech pathology positions. Also, take the time to match your qualifications to those listed in the job posting. The closer a match you are for the job, the better your chances of getting selected for an interview. Here are tips for writing your resume and cover letter, samples to review, and templates to download. Resume and Cover Letter Writing Tips Tailor Your Documents to the Job The best way to make your resume and cover letter stand out is to tailor them to fit the particular job. Read through the job listing, and make sure the experiences you include in your materials are relevant to the job. Your goal is to show the employer that you're a match for the role. You can do this in your cover letter in particular. For example, if you are applying for a job in a school system, include examples of your experience working with children. Make it clear that you have the skills and experience for a particular job. You don’t have to do this as much on your resume. However, you can make small tweaks to your resume to show that you are a good fit for the position. For example, you might include keywords from the job listing in your job descriptions. You can also provide more information on the previous jobs you have held that are most relevant to the position. Use Action Words In both your resume and cover letter, use action words. These words clearly show the concrete steps you have taken to achieve success. Examples of action words include “achieved,” “managed,” “developed,” and “trained.” In both your resume and cover letter, you can use these words when describing examples of previous achievements at work. Use this list of action words to get ideas for the best words to include in your application documents. Emphasize Your Education Particularly in your resume, be sure to highlight your education. List your undergraduate and graduate school degrees. Also, include your certifications and licensures. Employers will want to know that you are qualified to serve as an SPL in their area. While you do not need to go into detail about this information in your cover letter (since it will be on your resume), you might briefly mention it in your opening paragraph. If You’re Early in Your Career, Highlight Academic Experiences If you are a recent graduate, you might not have a lot of professional experience. In this case, it is fine to highlight your speech pathology experiences from school. For example, mention any advanced or elective coursework you took that will prepare you for your job. You can include a “Relevant Coursework” section in your resume, and/or mention what you learned in these courses in your cover letter. You might also highlight your experiences in clinical practice at school. These were real-world experiences, so you should certainly use them in your resume and cover letter. Think of What Makes You Stand Out To impress a hiring manager, think about what makes you unique as a candidate. Perhaps it is your academic achievements, or your experience working with a niche population, or your use of innovative methods. Before starting your resume and cover letter, consider what unique elements of your work and education might align with the job and company. Then try to highlight those in your documents. However, don’t repeat the exact same information in your resume and cover letter. You want your cover letter to say something new, rather than simply restating the information in your resume. Include interesting examples of your work experiences in your cover letter that you do not elaborate on in your resume. Proofread and Edit Be sure to thoroughly proofread your resume and cover letter before submitting both. Make sure the format of your resume is clear and consistent (for example, if you bold one job title, bold them all). Consider asking a friend or family member to read through your materials, as well. It is always useful to get a fresh set of eyes on your documents. Speech Pathologist Resume Template and Example Resume Template This is an example of a resume for a speech pathologist position. Download the speech pathologist resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples. Download the Word Template Speech Pathologist Resume Example (Text Version) Jane Applicant123 Main StreetChicago, IL 66666(123) 456-7890jane.applicant@email.comSPEECH PATHOLOGISTProviding professional speech pathology services to children and patients with disabilitiesRespected Speech Pathologist with 10+ years' experience developing and implementing individualized and group therapy for school children and patients seeks a position with a top school district.Key skills include:Developing Speech Programs for Disabled Youth of Various AgesConducting Parent WorkshopsAssessing and Treating Students and Patients with Speech ImpairmentsAssisting Students in Their ClassesPROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCESUBURBAN SOUNDS CENTER, Chicago, ILSPEECH PATHOLOGIST (September 2017 – Present)Develop and implement individualized and group therapy for preschool, elementary, and middle school students with language delays, articulation disorders, and autism spectrum disorders.Notable accomplishments:Work and communicate regularly with parents, teachers, and service providers.Develop and lead workshops designed to educate parents, caregivers, and teachers about speech-language disorders, impact on academics and social behavior, and strategies for development.CLINIC FOR SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING SERVICES, Oak Park, ILSPEECH PATHOLOGIST (June 2012 – September 2017)Assessed and treated patients with impairments in speech, language, cognition, and dysphagia.Notable Accomplishments:Conducted and analyzed modified barium-swallow studies over the course of two years.Facilitated workshops for parents on topics including social interaction and academic performance.EDUCATION & CREDENTIALSXYZ University, Chicago, ILMaster of Science in Speech Pathology (Graduated Summa Cum Laude), May 2012XYZ University, Chicago, ILBachelor of Arts in English (3.75 GPA; Honor Roll Every Semester), May 2010LicensuresASHA Certification in Speech-Language Pathology • Illinois License in Speech-Language Pathology Speech Pathologist Cover Letter Template and Example This is an example of a speech pathologist cover letter. Download the speech pathologist cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word) or see below for more examples. Download the Word Template Cover Letter Sample Speech Pathologist Cover Letter Example (Text Version) Elizabeth Applicant123 Main StreetAnytown, CA 12345555-555-5555elizabeth.applicant@email.comSeptember 1, 2022Owen LeeDirector, Human ResourcesAcme Charter Elementary School123 Business Rd.Business City, NY 54321Dear Mr. Lee,I would like to express my strong interest in the CFY position as a speech-language pathologist at Acme Charter Elementary School, as listed on the Speech Pathologist Association website. This spring, I will receive my master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from Acme University. During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I have had multiple opportunities to work with elementary-age children with a variety of communication disorders, particularly with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). I believe my experience and skill would make me an excellent speech-language pathologist for your school, due to your specialization in ASD students.I have extensive experience working with children with ASD. As an intern at Maywood Elementary School, I developed and led weekly sessions with students with ASD. I also had a clinical rotation at the Maywood Speech Center, where I ran group therapy sessions for elementary-school children with autism spectrum disorders. Because the speech pathologist at Acme Charter Elementary School must conduct individual and group therapy sessions, my clinical rotations have prepared me well for this position.Your job listing states that the speech pathologist will also need to work closely with administrators, teachers, and parents. I strongly believe that communication between school staff and parents is key to developing student skills. At the Maywood Center, I developed and led weekly workshops for parents, caregivers, and teachers about speech-language disorders and strategies for skill development. These workshops gave me valuable experience on how to best communicate with those involved in my students’ lives, and I would love to use those skills at Acme Charter School.I am confident that my practical experience working with ASD students and communicating with school staff and parents would make me an asset to Acme Charter Elementary School. I have enclosed my resume and will contact you next week to see if we might find a time to speak together. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.Sincerely,Signature (hard copy letter)Elizabeth Applicant Be Prepared to Interview As you start applying for jobs, also take the time to prepare to respond to the interview questions you'll asked during an interview for a speech patholigist job. More Resume Examples Review more resume samples for a variety of occupations and get templates you can use to write your own resume. More Cover Letter Examples Review cover letter examples for many different types of jobs and get templates you can use to write your own letters.