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.
Teacher Resume Tips
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.
Highlight your teaching certifications and credentials
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:
- New Jersey Teaching Certification in Elementary Education (K-6), 2018
- Texas Educator Certification in Mathematics (7-12), 2020
- California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, 2019
Avoid simply listing your certifications without any context, like this:
- Teaching certification
- Math credential
Quantify your teaching achievements and student outcomes
Whenever possible, use specific numbers and metrics to highlight your teaching achievements and the positive outcomes you've helped your students achieve. This helps employers see the tangible impact you've made in the classroom.
Here are some strong examples:
- Raised student test scores by an average of 20% in one academic year
- Implemented a new reading program that increased student engagement by 35%
- Taught classes of 25-30 students, maintaining a 95% attendance rate
In contrast, avoid vague or generic statements like:
- Helped students improve their grades
- Managed classroom effectively
Showcase your experience with diverse student populations
Many schools today serve diverse student populations, so it's important to highlight any experience you have working with students from different backgrounds. This can include language proficiencies, experience with special needs students, or cultural competencies.
For example:
- Taught in a bilingual Spanish-English classroom for 3 years
- Developed individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with learning disabilities
- Completed professional development on culturally responsive teaching practices
Avoid simply stating that you have experience with diversity without providing any specifics, like:
- Worked with diverse students
- Experienced with different cultures
Include relevant volunteer experience and extracurricular involvement
In addition to your formal teaching experience, be sure to include any relevant volunteer work or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your commitment to education and working with students.
Some good examples:
- Volunteered as a tutor at a local community center for 2 years
- Served as the faculty advisor for the high school debate team
- Organized and chaperoned educational field trips to museums and historical sites
However, avoid listing extracurricular involvement that is not directly related to teaching or working with students, such as:
- Member of a recreational soccer league
- Volunteer at animal shelter
Tailor your resume to the specific teaching position
When applying for teaching positions, it's important to tailor your resume to the specific job requirements and school culture. This shows employers that you have taken the time to understand their needs and how you can contribute to their school community.
For example, if a job posting emphasizes the use of technology in the classroom, you might include:
- Incorporated interactive whiteboards and educational apps into daily lessons
- Completed training on using Google Classroom for remote learning
On the other hand, avoid using the same generic resume for every teaching application. Instead, take the time to customize your resume for each position.
Use a clear and professional resume format
When it comes to formatting your teacher resume, it's important to use a clear and professional design that is easy for employers to read and navigate. Use a simple font, clear headings, and bullet points to organize your information.
Here's an example of a well-formatted resume summary:
Passionate and dedicated elementary school teacher with 5+ years of experience in creating engaging lesson plans and fostering a positive learning environment. Proven track record of improving student test scores and implementing innovative teaching strategies. Committed to providing individualized support to help all students reach their full potential.
Avoid using overly creative or cluttered resume designs that can distract from your qualifications and experience. Stick to a simple and professional format that puts your teaching skills and achievements front and center.
Skills For Teacher Resumes
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.
- Curriculum Development
- Educational Technology
- Educational Leadership
- Classroom Management
- Lesson Planning
- Staff Development
- Business Education
- Teacher Training
- Differentiated Instruction
- Teaching
- K-12 Education
- Instructional Design
- Higher Education
- Technology Integration
- Coaching
- Secondary Education
- E-Learning
- Education
- Classroom Instruction
For more skills, visit .
Skills Word Cloud For Teacher Resumes
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.