Teaching is one of the most impactful professions you could go into but it is unfortunately gravely economically undervalued. While the average number of hours worked each week for a teacher is over a whopping 50 hours, the average salary is a little over $60k. And that is not taking into account that most teachers will spend around $500 a year of their own money to buy necessary school supplies. Passion for their career and the acknowledgment of the importance of their work is what keeps most teachers in classrooms.
To become a teacher, you must go through a thorough qualification process. You are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in education and register with the department of education or a similar commission or service. This guide will give you some resume samples and some tips to elevate your resume and secure your next teaching job.
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A teacher, otherwise known as an educator, teaches students in a formal place of education. You may be a general teacher who can teach multiple subjects, or you may specialize in teaching specific subjects like biology, or the sciences. The age of your students may vary from 2 or 3 months to full adults, depending on where you choose to teach.
In almost all states and countries, formal teachers will need a teaching certificate or degree so ensure you have the necessary degree to teach in the place you are applying. Beyond that, a background in teaching and a patient and positive attitude are what recruiters will most be looking for. Here is a general teacher’s resume sample.
The experience of teaching high school students and kindergarteners is very different as are the challenges. Recruiters need to know the ages of the students you normally teach. So ensure you include that information clearly in your resume.
Some schools have small classes while others have large numbers per class. Give recruiters an idea of how many students you are used to teaching or managing at any one time. It will give them an idea of your capabilities and can be impressive if you have managed to effectively teach large classrooms.
Substitute teachers step in when the regular teacher is absent or otherwise unavailable. You will do the same job as a regular teacher and will carry out the lesson plans that the teacher has laid out. In that way, there is very little autonomy in deciding what will be taught or how it will be taught. As a substitute teacher, you have the huge advantage of being able to choose when and where you want to work. This freedom allows you to plan your time to your benefit and gives you time for other endeavors. Here is a strong resume sample.
As a substitute teacher, you will be moving around to wherever you are needed. One of the most useful things you must highlight is your range. Recruiters need to know that you can cover teachers in various subjects and that you can teach various grades.
A big measure of success for a substitute teacher is what the regular teachers that they covered, thought about their performance. If you have had very positive feedback from regular teachers, as this applicant has, make sure you highlight that in your resume.
As a preschool teacher, you will be in charge of educating children under the age of 5. Unlike teachers who teach older students, you may have extra caretaking responsibilities and may therefore require additional training in certain aspects. Most employers will require a degree in early childhood education and experience working with that age group of kids. Beyond that, this position requires a lot of patience and energy. Take a look at this successful resume sample.
As mentioned, this position requires caretaking skills on top of normal education skills. These skills may include meal prep skills, like this applicant has, first-aid certifications, etc.
Preschool students are learning the basics of language and the world around them. There are particular tools like zoo-phonics that are particular for this stage of education. Make sure that the tools you list are useful for children of that age.
Elementary teachers teach students from kindergarten age to the fifth grade. In some countries with different education systems, you may be called a primary school teacher or a junior school teacher. Like other teachers, you will be expected to at least have a bachelor’s degree in education. Beyond that, recruiters like to see a specialization in the subject area you will be primarily teaching. This position requires patience, ingenuity, and a great passion for kids and teaching. Take a look at this recruiter-approved resume sample.
In an industry like this one, experience is not enough. Parents need to know that you are qualified and have certification to prove it. So make sure you list your relevant certificates. This applicant has 3 relevant certificates.
Schools love to work with teachers who take initiative to improve the experience of students. So include things you have done outside the classroom. For example, this applicant has created after-school tutoring programs, championed fundraising efforts, and launched reading programs.
Being a High School Teacher is more than just lecturing in front of a class. It's about connecting with students, understanding their needs and concerns. As such, your resume should not only demonstrate your academic qualifications but also your ability to connect and engage with young minds. Recently, the education sector has been seeing a shift towards personalized learning. Therefore, showcasing your ability to cater to individual student needs can be a game-changer when applying for High School Teacher roles.
As a High School Teacher, how you teach can be just as important as what you teach. Your resume should describe your teaching methodologies, whether they're project-based, student-centric, or something else entirely.
Nowadays, the use of technology in classrooms is inevitable. Therefore, you need to show your adaptability to different educational technologies. Include any experience with virtual classrooms, learning management systems, or any other relevant educational tech.
As the name suggests, this teacher teaches in high school to students who are generally aged between 14 and 18 years old. In other countries, you might be called a secondary school teacher. High school teachers specialize in teaching specific subjects so you will be expected to have a bachelor’s degree in education and a specialization in the subjects you teach. Recruiters will also be looking to see years of experience as a high school teacher. Here is a successful resume sample.
Covid changed the learning landscape forever. More learning is happening virtually so show recruiters that you are skilled at teaching virtually by including common virtual learning tools like Google Classroom.
When schools are recruiting teachers, they are usually looking for teachers to teach specific subjects. So including your subject specialization in the title or the skills section might be a good way to help you get past any ATS resume filters they have put in place.
As the name suggests, these individuals assist teachers in several ways. The main function of yours will be to give students additional support and give them a space to ask more questions about the material the teacher is teaching. You can find teaching assistants at all levels of education from nurseries to universities. You will not need to have a bachelor’s degree to be a TA but you will need to be further along in your studies than the students you are working with. Many TAs are particularly talented in the subjects they TA in. Here is a recruiter-approved resume sample.
Because you might not have a degree yet, having any education-related certification will be a huge benefit. This applicant has included 3 relevant certificates.
As a hiring manager who has recruited teachers at schools such as Bright Horizons, Stratford School, and Livingston Public Schools, I have seen countless teacher resumes. The best ones effectively showcase the candidate's qualifications, experience, and passion for teaching. In this article, we'll share some tips to help you create a standout teacher resume that will impress potential employers.
Make sure to prominently display your teaching certifications and credentials on your resume. This shows employers that you have the necessary qualifications to teach in your subject area or grade level.
Here are some examples of how to list your certifications:
Avoid simply listing your certifications without any context, like this:
A resume summary for teachers is optional, but it can be a great way to provide additional context about your teaching experience and skills that may not be immediately clear from the rest of your resume. It's particularly useful if you're changing careers or have a lot of experience to summarize. However, you should never use an objective statement, as it's outdated and doesn't provide value to hiring managers.
When writing your summary, avoid repeating information that's already covered in other sections of your resume. Instead, focus on highlighting your most relevant qualifications, skills, and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for the teaching position you're applying for. Keep it concise and targeted, aiming for a maximum of one paragraph.
Your work experience section is the most important part of your teacher resume. It's where you show hiring managers that you have the skills and experience to excel in the classroom. In this section, we'll break down how to write a compelling work experience section that will help you stand out from other candidates and land your dream teaching job.
Action verbs help shape your capabilities and achievements powerfully and effectively. For a teacher, you will want to use action verbs to show that you can perform the variety of tasks expected of a teacher, from planning to teaching, to mentoring. Here is a list of action verbs that are particularly useful to use in a teacher’s resume. Use them to elevate yours.
For more related action verbs, visit Teaching Action Verbs.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
Use the skills section of your resume to show any specialization you may have as a teacher and any industry-standard tools you have experience with. For specializations, you can list the school level you have experience in, e.g. elementary school education, or the type of students you teach, e.g. special needs education. For industry-standard tools, you should indicate that you can teach virtually, as that is increasingly becoming a norm, and that you can use lesson planning technology and other education-related technology. Here is a list of relevant skills you can use to get started.
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 Teacher 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.
