Correctional Officer Resume—Job Description + Examples

Looking for a correctional officer job but don’t know where to start? See this by-the-book correctional officer resume sample with tips and examples to get called up rapidly.

Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Correctional Officer Resume—Job Description + Examples

You have a watchful eye and the ability to ease the hardest conflicts. They call you the second Paul Edgecomb, and you can prove it through your leadership and problem-solving skills.

But before you iron out that sleek tie for an interview with a warden, you must prepare a stunning correctional officer resume that makes them believe people bury the hatchet after your intervention.

In this guide:

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Correctional officer resume example

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Correctional Officer Resume Sample

Charles M. Tate

Correctional Officer

Summary

A self-disciplined correctional officer with 6+ years of experience in security and safety control. As a Correctional Youth Security Officer at the Colorado Department of Human Services, helped to tackle 85% of incidents peacefully. At Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, resolved 95% of safety and security issues at the first point of contact. Motivated to join the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a Correctional Officer to use highly-developed interpersonal skills and supervise inmates in a well-balanced way.

Work Experience

Correctional Youth Security Officer

Colorado Department of Human Services, CO

Key achievement:

Security Guard

Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, CO

August 2017–March 2020

Key achievement:

Education

BA in Criminal Justice

University of Colorado, CO

September 2013–June 2017

Skills

Certificates

Awards

What is the job description of a correctional officer?

keep order within jails or prisons, supervise inmates, and provide care and correctional treatment. They also inspect facilities as regards security and safety. A correctional officer's resume must prove you excel at managing conflicts and handling emergencies with a cool head.

Here’s how to make a correctional officer resume step by step, with expert judgment included:

1. Prepare a Deliberate Resume Format

Documentation is an essential part of a correctional officer’s responsibilities. Your reports should be up to scratch, mainly because carefully-prepared documentation protects you in the event of a suit.

Though a badly-written resume doesn’t entail serious consequences (besides a rejected candidature), it’s essential that you take a few minutes to polish its layout and formatting.

Here are the key rules to pursue:

In the end, save your resume in PDF. DOC formats are landing on the scrap heap nowadays.

2. Start with a Correctional Officer Summary or Objective

Time to reveal yourself. You’re an adept correctional officer who represents good manners, emotional stability, and consistency. You serve as a role model for inmates, promoting appropriate behaviors and correcting improper actions. Sounds legit.

When writing your resume, consider how to punctuate your strengths and present yourself as a pro. For starters, use a resume summary and develop it into a representative example of a specialist they seek.

Here’s how to achieve it in a few steps:

  1. Put one indicative adjective at the outset (self-disciplined, dependable, cooperative).
  2. Bring up your job title (correctional officer, corrections officer).
  3. Inform about the years of experience on your record (5+, 6+).
  4. Say how you’ll contribute (e.g., to lead and supervise inmates professionally and effectively).
  5. Mention 2–3 key achievements you’re proud of (helped to tackle 85% of incidents peacefully).

Now, see a good and a bad example that clear any doubts:

Correctional Officer Resume Summary—Example

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4. Show You Have Critical Education Background

With a well-prepared work experience section and a grand list of skills, you’re already worthy of a few-minute call with a supervisor. But what if they are stuck in your education section, seeing no relevant schooling?

Education requirements vary between correctional officer opportunities—some jobs demand only a high school diploma. But usually, to become a correctional officer of increased responsibility (and salary, too), you need a degree in criminal justice or related fields.

If you have one to show off, go for it. Here’s how to prepare your education entry:

Correctional Officer Education—Example

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Key Points

To prepare a correctional officer resume that raises interest:

Questions on how to write a correctional officer resume? Struggle to prepare a good correctional officer job description? Tell us in the comments!

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Written by Marta Bongilaj, CPRW

Marta Bongilaj is a career expert and a Certified Professional Résumé Writer. She's a member of the National Career Development Association and the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. She has a vast marketing background, which helps her give relevant advice on bringing out candidates’ strongest points and making their resumes a compelling read. In her articles, she underlines the importance of showcasing the most prominent skills, experiences, and qualifications in a resume to stand out in increasingly competitive job markets. Marta provides on-point tips on how to promote one’s candidature efficaciously at every career stage. Holding a philology degree, she believes that concise, persuasive language lies at the core of a successful resume. If you seek advice on marketing yourself to employers, no matter your recruitment stage, you’ve come to the right place.

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