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Three Tips to Jazz Up Your Teaching Resume

In most areas, teaching jobs can be very hard to come by. Oftentimes there are scores of applicants for each job opening.

Put yourself in the shoes of the administrator who has to fill that job opening. You have sixty application packets on your desk— each one contains a cover letter, resume, application, and certification information. And it’s your job to sift through it all to find the best applicants worthy of an interview.

After a short while, all of the applications, resumes, and cover letters will start to look the same. All of the cover letters are written of thick white paper, in Times 12 font, and everyone is using the same statements, like “All children can learn” and “I will be an exceptional teacher for your district.” The resumes all seem to look the same as well— a bachelor’s degree, a couple of student teaching placements, and an occasional bit of experience subbing.

If you want to get a teaching job, you need to make your resume and cover letter stand ot from the rest!

How do you do this? A few tips:

1. Mention the Name of the School and/or Principal

If an administrator sees his name or the name of the school on a cover letter, he/she will notice it right away. This shows that you’re serious about wanting to work in that particular school. It shows that you’ve done more than run off a standard form letter— you’ve taken the time to consider your reader, individualize your application packet, and personalize your letter and resume.

2. Use Color

You don’t need to transform your resume and cover letter into a tacky rainbow of colors. But a touch of dark green or blue in the header can add a professional touch that will catch the eye of the reader. It shows that you’ve taken the time to add a small professional touch that others didn’t.

3. Include Buzzwords

As an administrator scans through resumes and cover letters, he/she is looking for important key words that show you’re committed to the school’s current education plan. Emphasize your excellent classroom management skills, your ability to differentiate lessons, and your commitment to preparing students for standardized tests. Use the specific names of the school’s math program, reading program, and standardized tests on both your resume and cover letter. Show that you can talk the talk!

Of course, a teaching resume and cover letter aren’t going to land you a job all by themselves.

A good resume and cover letter, when combined with an impressive background, glowing letters of recommendation, solid interview skills, a well-prepared portfolio, and a true passion for teaching, will no doubt lead you to the teaching job of your dreams.

For more resume and cover letter tips, as well as common teacher interview questions and answers, I invite you to download my eBook Guide to Getting a Teaching Job (http://www.iwantateachingjob.com). In it you will find practical advice for getting the teaching job you want.

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