How to write a PERFECT resume for teachers (+sample)

Teachers carry the greatest responsibility on their shoulders, which is teaching the new generations and preparing them for the future. Teachers not just impart education, but they also transmit values, foster empathy and establish relationships of contention with students who often spend more time in the classroom than in their own homes. It is a big concern for the schools to find a perfect and ideal candidate for such tasks.

Be the teacher sought by recruiters and learn how to draft a teacher’s CV that impresses the recruiters.

In order to write a good resume the first thing you have to consider is your audience. Who will read your resume? What are they looking for? Imagine yourself as the hiring manager or the school owner. What would you be looking for in a teacher if you were the one hiring? Think also about the fact that your audience is probably shuffling a ton of resumes. How do you make yours stand out from all the others in a professional way? At Footprints Recruiting we want the best for our teachers, and we want the best teachers. We also want people who are sincere about this opportunity (which is probably you given you are reading this page). Even without experience, you can still write a good resume that will catch the interest of the hiring manager. Some important points to consider before you get started:

1. Spell Check – an English teacher should know how to spell. Take the time to proof read your resume and cover letter. Use a ruler and closely study each line. We also recommend reading aloud and asking a friend for feedback.
2. Formatting – take the time to make sure that your resume looks professional. There are many websites out there that offer free templates. Short and Sweet – a resume should be no more than 2 pages.
3. Simple and straightforward – in many cases, those that are hiring you are not native English speakers. Use bullet points to make it easier for them to read and your vernacular should be carefully chosen to be clear, eloquent and easy to understand.

The Resume

Items to Include in Your Teacher Resume
Like a good lesson plan, a resume should have clear points and should be laid out in an easy to read, easy-to-follow format. The following are critical elements we recommend including:

• Full Name
• Address
• Contact Information
• Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Objective
• Education History
• Relevant Coursework and Certifications
• Relevant Work Experience
• Work Experience
• Volunteer Experience
• International Experience
• Awards, Merits, Certifications
• Hobbies and Interests

To start your resume you will need a jump off point. This is your Objective. You would be amazed at how many “teaching resumes” we receive where the objective is to get a good job in IT or where “I want to get a position where I can make a positive impact”. Blah Blah Blah. We want someone who knows what they want to do and who is sincere about teaching. A good objective should clearly state your goals and interest in becoming a great teacher. Example:

To teach elementary and/or middle school aged students in South Korea where I can develop my skills and knowledge as a teacher and explore an amazing country.

Your objective should be clear and it should be specific to teaching English. Be careful not to be too general or too specific. Being too specific will cause employers to discard your application if their job doesn’t specifically fit your description. Once you have your objective you are going to move on to the body of the resume. It is important that you stay organized with your resume so that employers don’t have to take out a magnify glass to find what they are looking for. A commonly used layout that we suggest would be to organize your resume in the following order (ideally one page long but definitely no more than two).

• Name and details
• Objective (make this job specific)
• Education (be sure to include the years attended)
• Work Experience (be sure to list both the month and year start and end date)
• Other Skills (make this relevant to the job)

Related Experience and Course Work Although an Education degree and specific classroom experience is preferred, there are many other experiences and circumstances where you might have learned or exhibited the skills required as a teacher. The following are strengths and experiences you might consider including in your resume if they apply to you:

• experience with kids
• coaching
• babysitting
• teaching swimming lessons, skiing or any subject or area of interest
• management roles as they pertain to training
• training in any area or subject

Some Tips to Create a Strong and Professional Teacher’s CV

1. Present Yourself the Right Way

Quantify your experience and knowledge as much as possible. State the total years of experience you have in teaching clearly and also mention your area of specialization. Mention the information in the reverse chronological order. It is very important to present yourself as an educator who is passionate about the students’ success, teaching, learning, and innovation. In short, incorporate your teaching philosophy in your CV.

2. Emphasize Your Specific Skills

Including relevant skills in a teacher’s CV is very important. So, don’t just mention your soft skills, ensure that the terms you use for describing the same are relevant to the job. Instead of using phrases like “classroom management”, state “able to manage a class of up to 40 secondary level students, while ensuring a positive learning atmosphere.” Also, emphasize on your caring and nurturing attitude, patience, communication skills as well as writing and editing skills. If possible, support your statements with some real-life examples. Don’t just list your duties, list your accomplishments. 

3. Describe Your Teaching Methodology

Like professionals in any other field, teachers also have their own style of working. Mention on your CV how adaptable you are in the given environment and how interestingly you guide the students to learn new things. You can cite some out of the box examples from your professional life to make your candidature look strong.

If you are someone who is drafting a CV for a teaching job for the first time and have no prior teaching experience, then emphasize your technical competencies that are relevant to the position. You can also convey your knowledge of the fundamental principles associated with the position.

4. Write a Strong Cover Letter

After spending so much time drafting a perfect CV, don’t ignore the importance of a nice and crisp cover letter. Write a personalized and customized cover letter that talks about your goals, interest towards the job, passion and skill sets. Don’t repeat the CV information as it is in your cover letter. Your knowledge about the organization where you are applying will show your interest towards it, and the same should reflect in your cover letter as well.

5. Use Action Verbs

For a strong and impressive teacher CV, add strong words. Write simple sentences and don’t forget to incorporate some action verbs like –

– Teach

– Educate

– Encourage

– Motivate

– Plan

– Initiate

– Innovate

– Instruct

– Create

– Care

6. Be a Grammar Nazi

Edit, edit, edit. Edit your CV as much as possible. Ensure that your CV formatting is consistent. Using the same style of bullet points throughout will make your document look professional and polished. Ensure the CV is free of any spelling or grammatical errors. Also, pay attention to the font size and style.

Teacher CV sample

Review various types of CVs available on the Internet or seek the help of professionals for a strong CV. Here is an example to help you create a professional teacher CV.