Correctional Officer Resume Writing Tips and Example – Job Description And Resume Examples

This post shows how to write a great resume for the post of correctional officer, including objective statements; it also shows a sample of correctional officer resume that you can study and use as template in preparing your resume too.

In applying for the job of correctional officer, you will need to write a good resume to improve your chances of being invited to an interview.

The ability to write a great resume may be difficult to a lot of people, but if you put in time to study how it’s done, you will be able to produce one and increase your job search success.

This post seeks to guide you to be able to prepare a good resume yourself and be confident that it can get the attention of prospective employers to want to hire you for the position of correction which they have available.

What resume format to choose

There are several formats that a resume can be presented, and no one is better than the other. You can use any format you are comfortable with as long as you are able to work on each of its sections to effectively communicate your skills and other suitable attributes, experience, and qualification that make you the best correctional officer to hire.

For this post we will use a format having four sections, namely: Objective, Core Competence, Work Experience, and Professional Qualification, and provide tips on how to complete them.

Let’s begin with the first section, which states the objective of the resume:

The Correctional Officer Resume Objective Section

The objective section of a correctional officer resume is the correct place to imprint in the mind of your prospective employer that you are the man for the job.

First impression is hard to forget, so use the objective statement of your resume to clearly communicate your interest in working as correctional officer and the exceptional value you would bring on board if hired.

The objective section is your best opportunity at quickly convincing the employer of your passion for the job and capacity to deliver, if brought on board.

To make the most of the objective section, you need to appeal directly to the employer’s major needs for a correctional officer.

You can identify their specific need by carefully observing the content of their advertisement for the job position.

It’s not advisable to leave inmates to an incapable hand, so employers go all the way to state some specific requirements and job description for their ideal correctional officer.

The job of a correctional officer demands agility, intelligence, and character, administrative skill, and a sixth sense that sniffs trouble from afar.

So if through training and experience, you possess these qualities, reflect it in your objective statement and you will have boosted your chances of landing the job.

Here are a few objective statement examples that make writing this section easy:

Correctional Officer Objective Examples for Resume:

Examples bring clarity. Here are some examples to also serve as a guide in writing an effective objective section in your correctional officer resume.

Seeking the position of correctional officer in XYZ Correctional Facility where my exceptional ability to monitor, supervise, and manage inmates effectively through agility, intelligence, excellent administration, and security skills as remarked by my past employers will be employed.
Seeking the job of correctional officer in reputable correctional facility where my many years of experience in managing inmates effectively in a state prison, will be invaluable in achieving total stability and progress in such facility.

Kindly observe the difference between the two examples. The first objective statement targets a specific correctional facility and can be used when such vacancies is foreknown while the second is more generic for the entire industry.

Having done with the first section, here we go to the second, where you need to highlight relevant skills and attributes that you have to excel on the job:

Core Competence Section

In the core competence section you are required to highlight what stands you out as a correctional officer; key talents, knowledge, abilities, and experience.

The highly physical and unruly behavior of inmates makes the job of a correctional officer restricted to only those equipped with certain competencies like special training in security procedures, administrative skills, agility, and disciplinary tactics.

So, if you have these or more, through trainings and experience, you should highlight them in this section. It portrays your capacity to deliver if given the job.

The next section highlights the professional experience that you have acquired that shows you can excel on the job:

Work Experience

The work experience section, which is also known as professional experience or work history, is where prospective employers tend to verify the promise made so far.

Experience is never joked at when it comes to hiring a correctional officer. So ensure you state the duties and responsibilities that you have performed or are currently performing that are relevant to the job of a correctional officer.

This section shows proof that your abilities have been tested and can be trusted. After all, verification is just a phone call away.

It is smart to use a copy of the correctional officer job description when writing this section provided the duties and responsibilities in it reflect your true experience.

And ensure all verbs used in describing your current work description are in present tense while previously held position is described in past tense. Don’t overlook this!

Lastly, we have the section that tells your academic records that make you suitable for the role of correctional officer:

Professional Qualification

In this section, your educational qualifications and all completed training programs that qualify you to work as a correctional officer should be stated.

Putting together what has been learnt about completing the various parts of the resume, we can write a great resume for the position; a sample of correctional officer resume is shown below:

Correctional Officer Resume Example/Sample/Template

From the above discussion, here is a sample resume for a correctional officer. It can serve as a template in writing yours.

……………..

John McCaw

15 Moore Street. Crinceton, New Jersey. Home: (111) 555-9999, cell: (222)999-9999. johnmccaw@this-is-a-correctional-officer-resume-sample.com

OBJECTIVE: Seeking to be a correctional officer in XYZ Correctional Facility where my exceptional ability to monitor, supervise and manage inmates effectively through agility, intelligence, excellent administration and security skills as remarked by my past employers will be employed.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Ability to investigate plots of jail break and truncate it
Excellent administrative skill
Dispute resolution among inmates
Ability to use a gun and other weapons
Remarkable agility
Alertness and security awareness
Instructive communication style that fits inmates
High level of intelligence
Proficiency with computer

WORK EXPERIENCE

Southern State Correctional, NJ
Correctional Officer

Guard facility entrance and properly screen visitors
Monitor inmates during outdoor activities
Inspect cells, ensuring no contraband like weapon or drugs is in the possession of an inmate
Ensure appropriate feeding
Do daily head count of inmates
Keep record of inmates including booking of newly convicted ones
Arrange daily activities for inmates
Assign responsibilities to inmates and give supervisory instructions
Discipline erring inmates
Intercept jail break plots
Supervise other correctional service officers
Transport inmates to courts, hospitals, etc., when necessary