How to make perfect teacher resume

How to make perfect teacher resume

Every profession has its importance for the betterment of society and civilization. But there is no denying that teachers are the torch-bearers of learning and progress since before the advent of civilization.

In the modern world, they are responsible for imparting education to students, helping them learn and master crafts, and becoming a reliable part of society. Because there is much respect and prestige attached to the role, aspirants need to face fierce competition to get a well-deserved role.

In this blog, we will take a look at the process of developing a resume for a teacher. The steps will be extensively explained and there will be nothing left to chance. However, if you are interested in getting professionals on board, Resume That Works is the top choice for the best value.

Resume For Teaching Position

A resume is a compact document that highlights the virtues and desirable characteristics of the aspirant. It has been an integral part of hiring a person in a firm for a long time. Even with the development and success of online portals, the old-fashioned resume is still going strong and is preferred by recruiters for screening purposes.

A teacher’s resume will also be about such things. It starts with a header that has the name and contact information of the candidate. This is followed by a short paragraph called resume summary or objectives summary. Then, the highlighted sections of the resume start such as work experience and education. Since teaching is an interactive role, teachers need to highlight their interpersonal and communication skills.

Now that we have shed ample light on the different parts of the resume, it is time to cover each one, in-depth, to help users write a clear resume.

Choose The Perfect Layout For Teacher Resume Template

The first thing that an aspirant needs to handle and the recruiters check is the overall teacher resume format of the document. This is the look and feel of the document, the way information is displayed, and how easy it will be for the intended readers to get to the relevant information. 

There was a drive for infographics templates and formats, but they were often a miss for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and human recruiters alike. Instead, the classical resume with highlighted section headings and blocks of text. 

Even after choosing the cleaner format, aspirants need to be aware of the competition and time-constraint for early screening. That’s why the formatting should add value to the template and help them stand out from the crowd.

Start With The Contact Details In Teacher Resume Headline

The header in the resume is the most striking thing about the document. It carries the name of the teacher and contact details. In most cases, professionals also specify their pronouns so that communication can be as clear as possible.

Right under the name in the header section, aspirants need to provide contact details. Mostly, these include email, phone number, and a link to the portfolio or LinkedIn profile. Since many teaching roles are restricted to specific locations, it is best to mention the city or town of the residence. However, for remote or virtual roles, there is no need to mention the location, until is it specified. Once you are done with the headline, it is time to move on to the summary.

Compose A Teacher Resume Objectives Summary

According to recruiting experts, hiring managers spend 5 to seconds on a resume in the initial screening process. This is hardly enough time to go through the header, so how can they distinguish between the competent aspirants from incompetent ones? – Resume Summary!

It is a short paragraph that highlights three major things – the previous experience of the candidate, academic qualifications, and future aspirations. It is no more than three short but forceful sentences, ideally, to ensure that the summary has the gist of teacher resume summary examples.

If you are wondering about the differences between a resume summary and an objectives summary, fret not. The former is written by experienced professionals whereas the latter is covered in the teacher resume for freshers.

Highlight Relevant Industry Work In Resume For Teachers

No matter the level of job you are applying for, schools always demand some training and experience from teachers. So, it is only natural to mention it at the top of other sections. Many aspirants make the mistake of merely highlighting the responsibilities and duties of previous employers. This is not wrong altogether, but it can be polished and improved. For instance, instead of writing “set Literature curriculum for high school seniors”, write “improved class attendance and participation by 120% through interactive activities”.

RTW samples

So, the best way to add value to the experience section is by showcasing achievements and milestones that were covered by a teacher.

Showcase Your Academic Qualifications

Other professions have room for practitioners to have no formal education at all. This is true for many industries but education needs prior exposure to ensure that the teacher is the right person for the job.

Again, the theme here is to show and add value to the resume. Start the section with the title of the degree, such as a Master’s degree in US History. Then, the name of the alma mater and the years through the degree or program. There is no need to mention scores or GPA unless they were first-class. In that case, highlight them wherever you get a chance.

Make A Case For Soft & Hard Teacher Resume Skills 

If there is any industry where both core and soft skills for a position matter almost the same, it is the teaching line. A teacher needs to be the embodiment of all the virtues in both core and soft areas.

In terms of core skills, teachers should have an exceptional grasp of knowledge and immaculate command of the subject matter. In the same manner, soft skills cover communication, interpersonal, teamwork, and other areas. 

When a teacher is handling a classroom environment, he should cover all the areas of skills for teacher resume, on both soft and core skills to get the maximum out of the time with the students.

Best Resume For Teachers With Direct References To Job Advertisement

When an organization has vacancies, it lets the prospective candidates know about them through a job advertisement. This is a detailed account of the position, including eligibility criteria, responsibilities, salary range, perks and privileges, and more. 

Many aspirants make the mistake of creating a resume that is completely detached from the job description. This often leads to missed opportunities and refusals from recruiters. Instead, they should take some time out and study the job descriptions of the schools deeply and then complement their resumes based on the content.

The most common things that they have to tweak and fine-tune include keywords, for both eligibility and duties. So, do that before sending out your resume to improve your chances of getting an interview.

Accompany Your Experienced Teacher Resume With A Cover Letter

Like a resume, a cover letter also highlights the merits of the candidate and showcases to the recruiters that he is indeed the right person for the job. Many times, recruiters do not ask for a cover letter. Still, there is no harm in sending a custom one because it will help the candidate stand out from the rest. 

Writing a cover letter is not so difficult as it is almost on the lines of a resume. The opening paragraph introduces the aspirant to the recruiter. The middle paragraph is about work experience and academic qualifications. In the closing paragraphs, the aspirant can make the case about how working for the organization will benefit both.

The best way to conclude a cover letter is by adding a CTA to the end. It could be a prompt to give him a call or get to talk further about the position.

Review Cover Letter & Resume Before Submission

Simply composing a cover letter and a resume is not enough. In many cases, aspirants make mistakes or omit necessary details from the text. Either way, they have to set multiple sessions of editing and reviewing to ensure that all the bases are covered.

First, they need to make sure that there are no spelling or grammatical mistakes throughout the text. Second, the names and terms related to employers are correct and there is no issue with them. Lastly, they can get it reviewed by peers or a professional company. Resume That Works has a dedicated service where certified resume writers proofread and edit resumes for clients.

Final Thoughts

Teaching is a noble profession with a lot of prestige and honor attached to it. That’s why many young and experienced professionals love to join the ranks of mentors to educate the young generation. We have highlighted all the major steps in the development of a resume. Whether you have some experience in the art or not, you can always benefit from the guide to composing a winning resume. This will ensure that you are a prime candidate in the race and get the interview call from the recruiters.

Written by Simon W