How To Write The Best Teacher Resume You Can

It should come as no surprise that there is aenhance your resume presentation.
currently a shortage of teachers in the UnitedIf you have several years of teaching experience,
States. This unfortunate trend has been seen forit may beneficial to list your years of experience
well over a decade. To compound the issue,in each area. For example, indicate that you have
recent labor studies have predicted that teachingthree years of experience teaching high school
positions will likely continue to grow faster thanbiology, two years of experience teaching middle
the national average for the next several yearsschool general science, and one year of
due to recent government regulations to reduceexperience teaching high school earth science.
class size and increase educational accountability.Entry-level teachers and teachers with limited
The need for teachers has never been greater.experience should also include this section in their
Though this trend is good news for teachers onresume, highlighting those areas and schools
the job market, it does not diminish the fact thatacquired from schooling, student teaching
competition will remain tough for the mostrotations, working as a student aid, and teaching
desirable teaching positions. Competition ismentorships.
especially fierce for English, Social Science,Detail Your Teaching Experience
Humanities, and Elementary grade positions.Since most school administrators hire teachers
Teacher will need to pay close attention to thebased on their previous experience in (or
presentation of their credentials, as detailed inknowledge of if you are a new teacher) a
their resume, in order to ensure that they canparticular subject area or grade level, prospective
compete in the race for prime positions in theemployers will need to know the details of your
educational system.teaching experience.
To write a solid resume tailored specifically forIf you are an experienced teacher, you should
teaching opportunities, consider the followingdetail your subject area expertise, the type of
guidelines:educational system you worked in (public, charter,
Highlight your Educational and Licensureor private school), the grades you taught at each
Qualificationsassignment, and your class size for each of your
In addition to including the details of your teachingprevious employers.
or academic degree (school name, when youIf you are an entry-level teacher just out of
graduated, your degree), you should mention anyschool or a teacher with limited work experience,
academic honors, grants, scholarships, oryou should detail any practicums, student teaching,
fellowships awarded during the course of yourstudent aid work, volunteering, tutoring,
studies.mentorships, or other unpaid work you were
If you are an experienced teacher, you shouldinvolved in during your schooling.
include any relevant continuing education coursesDemonstrate You're a Top Performer
or seminars you have taken to demonstrate toEmployers love to hire the cream of the crop,
prospective employers that you are keeping yourand educators are no exceptions. School
skills sharp.administrators will be looking for teachers who are
If you are a newer graduate or have limitedwilling to contribute to the betterment of the
teaching experience, a list of related educationschool outside of just their day-to-day teaching
courses and any completed student teacher orresponsibilities. In fact, many experienced teachers
mentorship rotations will enhance yourwould argue that a significant part of the teaching
qualifications to prospective employers. Graduatescareer was went doing things outside of the
who completed their degree with an impressiveclassroom. Therefore, it is imperative that you
grade point average should highlight this fact bydemonstrate that you are a top performer.
including their GPA in the Educational section ofYour resume will be more memorable and better
their resume.received if you can detail specific contributions
All teachers who have completed the process andyou made to each of your previous employers.
testing requirements to get their teaching licenseWhat have you done that was above and beyond
will need to provide details of their license(s) in thisyour basic responsibilities? How have you helped
section. Include the state(s) and subject area(s) inmake a positive impact on your students and
which you are licensed to teach and the date thattheir families, your fellow co-workers, your school
your license went in effect. Since your employeror school system, or even your community?
will ask for a copy of your license once you areConsider your possible involvement in:
made an offer, you do not need to include your--Committees or review boards
licensing number on your resume unless otherwise--After school programs including school sports,
requested.academic teams, or clubs
Emphasize your Teaching Expertise and Key Skills--Fundraisers
A quick 10-second scan of your resume should--Community education drives
reveal important keywords that summarize your--Literacy board
teaching experience and give school administrators--New teacher mentorships
an overview of your qualifications. The most--Cross-training in different subject areas
effective way to do this is to incorporate a--The launch of a new school or program
section of your resume dedicated to teaching--Outside education
expertise and key skills. Include a bulleted list ofThe more details you can provide about your
your subject area specializations (such as biology,involvement in the educational community and
mathematics, special education, or K-3) and anyyour accomplishments, the better job you will do
pertinent teaching skills, such as curriculumat impressing your value as a team member to
development or teaching to style, that willpotential employers.