After months of study, countless late-nights to finish assignments and school placement nerves, you have finally reached the end of your course and it’s time to look at real-world application on your skills.
Perhaps you’re a seasoned educator but you’ve outgrown your current position and you’re looking for a new challenge, or step-up in your field.
Whatever the reason, it’s time to dust off your CV and make some changes to help you stand out for the competitive crowd.
Tailor Your CV for the Specific Job
Research the school: Learn about its values, teaching philosophy, and the specific role you’re applying for. Use this information to tailor your CV to align with the school’s needs.
Use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description. Schools often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which screen for specific terms, so using these keywords can increase your chances of passing through the system.
Professional Format and Layout
Keep it concise: Ideally, your CV should be 1-2 pages long.
Organised structure: Use clear headings, bullet points, and consistent fonts. Ensure it’s easy to read at a glance.
Clear sections:
Contact information: Name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).
Personal statement or objective: A brief (2-3 sentence) overview of who you are as a teacher, your teaching philosophy, and what you can offer to the school.
Education: List your degrees, certifications, and any special qualifications like teaching licenses or endorsements.
Experience: Include any teaching-related experience, even if informal (such as student teaching, tutoring, or volunteer work).
Skills: Highlight both hard and soft skills relevant to teaching, such as classroom management, lesson planning, subject expertise, and communication.
Professional development: List relevant courses, certifications, or workshops you’ve attended.
Extracurricular activities: If you’ve led or participated in clubs, sports, or other activities related to teaching, include them to show your broader engagement.
Highlight Relevant Experience
Even if you’re a new teacher, you may have more relevant experience than you realise:
Student teaching: Describe what grades/subjects you taught, your responsibilities, and key accomplishments.
Volunteering: Mention any tutoring, mentoring, or teaching-related volunteer work. Schools value community involvement and initiative.
Substitute teaching: Include any substitute teaching roles, even if temporary.
Teaching practicums or internships: Detail your hands-on experiences during your teacher training.
Non-teaching roles: If you’ve held roles that required skills like communication, leadership, or organisation (e.g., camp counsellor, team leader), include them.
Emphasise Transferable Skills
Classroom management: Highlight any experience in managing students’ behaviour, creating a positive learning environment, or using positive reinforcement techniques.
Lesson planning: Mention your ability to design engaging lessons that cater to diverse learning styles and needs.
Technology: Include experience with educational technology, virtual learning platforms, or tools like Google Classroom, Zoom, or educational software.
Communication: Schools value strong communication with both students and parents, so showcase your ability to engage, motivate, and communicate effectively.
Professional Development and Certifications
Teacher certifications: List your teaching license and any special endorsements (e.g., ESL, Special Education).
Workshops and courses: Include relevant professional development such as workshops on child psychology, inclusive education, or classroom technology.
Achievements and Impact
Even as a new teacher, you can include measurable achievements:
Positive feedback: If you received praise from supervising teachers or mentors during your training, include quotes or feedback.
Student progress: If you’ve helped students improve in certain areas, mention this (e.g., “Increased average reading comprehension scores by 20% in six months”).
Project leadership: If you led a specific project or activity, such as organising a school event or creating a new curriculum component, highlight your initiative.
Professionalism
Proofread: Ensure your CV is free of errors. Double-check spelling, grammar, and formatting.
References: Have 2-3 references ready, ideally from your teaching placements or former professors. Include their contact details, or simply state “References available upon request.”
Add a Cover Letter
Your CV should be accompanied by a personalised cover letter. Use this letter to expand on your passion for teaching, your teaching philosophy, and why you’d be a great fit for the specific school. Keep it tailored and highlight key points from your CV without repeating everything.
