Learn the best way to write an education resume that you can use to get a job as a teacher, instructor, or professor. Make an impression with a professional resume by following these tips from ResumeNerd.
How to Write an Education Resume for Teachers
Updated June 17, 2022
How to Write an Education Resume for Teachers and Instructors
Having a great resume is crucial to getting a job in the education field. As a teacher, professor, or instructor, you should be up to par on current resume standards and practices. Education jobs require great spoken and written communication skills, and your resume can show the hiring manager that you have just that. Improve your resume skills with these tips to create the perfect education resume.
Three Tips To Adjust Your Resume For Your Job Search
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Tailor your resume and cover letter to each job description.
When you submit your resume to a job, expect that the hiring manager is a resume expert. They will know if they are reading a generic resume or one that was created specifically for the advertised position. Go the extra mile and edit both your resume and cover letter to address the requirements of each job posting you apply to.
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Make sure to search for different job titles in your field.
There may be a variety of job titles in the education industry that fit your skills and qualifications. Try searching for alternative job titles to make sure you aren’t missing out on any opportunities. Some of the job titles you may see in education are:
- Early childhood care
- Preschool teacher
- Elementary school teacher
- Middle school teacher
- High school teacher
- Childhood education specialist
- Classroom management attendant
- Special education teacher
- Substitute teacher
- Teacher assistant
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Use key words from the job description to ensure your resume makes it to the top of the stack.
There are several reasons to edit your resume and cover letter to use keywords from the job posting. Recruiters who receive a large number of applicants for a teaching position may quickly scan your resume to see if it matches the job description. Using keywords from the job posting (such as important skills or duties) in your resume can help them to see that you are a good fit for the job. This also helps your resume pass applicant tracking systems (ATS) that sort resumes based on set criteria, including keywords.
Elements That Make Up an Education Resume
- Write a resume summary or resume objective statement to call attention to your teaching experience or qualifications.
Separate from the work experience section of your resume, your resume summary or resume objective is a short statement that stands alone. Most job seekers should use a summary, which best describes prior experience and top skills; an objective states your goals for the position.
Example of a teacher resume summary:
Experienced high school English teacher with six years of experience teaching students in a privately funded preparatory school system. Designed lesson plans, conducted assessments, and worked with advanced students to prepare them for higher education. 99% of pupils went on to accredited universities.
- Include both technical skills and interpersonal skills in your skills section.
Recruiters will prefer a well-rounded candidate over someone who excels only in one area. Teachers need to have a mix of skills to perform their jobs at the highest level. Aim to show 8 to 12 skills that are relevant to the job description in this section. If your resume is stretching beyond the recommended one-page length, try using columns to save space. Some skills that are common in education are:
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Conflict resolution
- Critical thinking
- Knowledge of lesson plans
- Classroom management
- Child psychology
- Language skills
- Consider how your resume format displays your information.
There are several different resume formats you can use based on what you want the hiring manager to notice about you. You can use a resume builder to assess how your resume looks in different formats and decide which one will make the biggest impact.
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- Chronological
The most popular resume format among job seekers is the chronological format (also known as reverse chronological). This format puts your work experience in order of most recent to least recent. Recruiters find this style easy to read, and it is also easy to organize while writing your resume. Reverse chronological order is a good choice for most applicants, but not all.
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- Functional
A functional resume format highlights your skills over your experience. This format can be more effective for applicants who don’t have a lot of work experience.
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- Combination
A combination resume format combines both functional and reverse chronological. This can be a good choice if you are making a career change or have an unusual work history, and want to show off relevant experiences and skills.
- If you are just beginning your teaching career, use your education section to show off your credentials.
The education section of your resume should include these details:
- University or highest level of education
- Degree or training program
- Relevant coursework (optional)
- Awards or honors (e.g., Summa cum laude, etc.)
Example of a teacher or professor education section:
Education
Bachelor of Arts, XYZ University, New York, NY 2018-2020
- Completed a six-month internship at XYZ Literary Review
- President of the English Literature Club
Note that you do not need to include your GPA in your education section.
FAQ: Education Resume
You know your work experience and strong suits better than anyone else. When you have someone else write your resume, you run the risk of misrepresenting yourself. If you are struggling to complete your resume, then try looking at a teacher resume example to get inspiration. You can also use a resume builder or resume templates to easily organize your information.
First, write a great resume and cover letter. These are the first impression you will have on the hiring manager and are a great tool to stand out from the crowd. By following the tips above, you can create a professional resume and let your information speak for itself. Then when you get an interview, follow our interview tips, to prepare in advance and impress the hiring manager. Follow up with a thank you note.
When your resume is too long, you can shorten it in several ways. You can try formatting it differently to lessen the white space between sections and in the borders of the pages, or try being more concise. Use bullet points instead of long sentences. If you leave the skills section off of your resume, then make sure to address your skills and relevant qualities in your resume summary and work experience section. For a teaching job, recruiters will be looking to see a variety of hard and soft skills.
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