Submitting your online application is the first step in applying for a teaching appointment within Australia. From the large number of people who submit an application for each job that is advertised, only a few will be selected to be interviewed. Writing an application that follows the correct format and addresses the specific position criteria is essential if you want to make the interview list and have the best chance of being the recommended applicant for the position. The key to this is writing a persuasive resume and how you answer key selection criteria questions.
Firstly, you are a teacher; you could talk about your favourite subject for years. We get it, and we love it. But do not do that on your resume!
A long-winded resume wastes the hiring manager’s time. They want to see critical highlights of your academic career and any professional experience you have, not mundane details. It may even cause them to skip over your application entirely.
Remember, the whole point of a resume is to quickly and clearly showcase why you are the best fit for a job, and anything that rambles on for pages and pages is neither quick nor clear. Conversely, if you have limited relevant experience, a one to two-page resume is the best length for your document.
Your resume can be unique, perhaps to reflect your teaching subject and personality, but the basic layout should be:
- Contact details
- Tertiary qualifications (most recent qualifications first) including courses undertaken and teaching methods
- Optional additional (relevant) qualifications
- Teaching history – this can include temporary and casual positions (list your most recent experience first)
- Details of up to three referees, including position, location and contact information
- (including a mobile telephone number if available)
To be a teacher, you must have a true calling for the work. Whether it is kindergarten or high school, teacher skills and temperament require dedication and a commitment to helping students learn. Any list of a teacher’s character will likely include a passion for what they are teaching – and to whom they are teaching. At teachingresumes.com.au, we stress the importance of trying to convey innovation in how you present material in a way that engages students.
It is unlikely that a student will get excited about a subject if the teacher fails to convey enthusiasm for that subject. It, therefore, follows that a hirer will likewise not get excited if you fail to convey your passion in your resume. Yes, you must convey facts and be succinct in your presentation, but that does not mean your prose needs to lack fire and passion.
Emerging technology to assist in education is becoming more and more critical. Even if you are not a computer genius, you still need to recognise the growing importance of tech in schools. There are a large range of important programs and platforms that make teaching, learning, and the educational process more effective and engaging. We suggest identifying your skills in social media, Microsoft Office, and search engines. Additionally, discuss your understanding of Whiteboards, Google Classroom, and other specific teaching platforms or software packages.
When it comes to your skills and experience outside teaching, we always recommend “if it’s relevant, keep it in”. If you developed pertinent proficiencies in previous employment or education, emphasise them at the top of your skills section. Aim to include mostly technical abilities but remember that soft skills such as patience or an encouraging manner are important as well. We often hear from first-time teacher applicants after we’ve prepared their resumes contact us to say, “I had no relevant experience when I began teaching. It was my resume’s strong, specific skills section that got me the interview for my first job.”
No article on the importance of your teacher resume would be complete without stressing the importance of keywords. If you want to show that you are a relevant and suitable candidate, you must use terminology that grabs attention. How do you know which phrases to use? You have at your disposal the ultimate study guide: the position description. Look closely at the skills, areas of expertise, and other keywords. Incorporate them into your teaching resume. If you take nothing aware from this blog but one piece of advice – this would be it.
Next time we will look at more tips that are important to you teaching resume, including some guidance on your key selection criteria.