Simple steps to write your teaching CV
Want to go into the teaching profession as a full-time occupation? Then it is imperative to compile a CV that outlines your experience and clearly highlights your skills. A strong CV and teaching interview preparation are the two main things you need to succeed.
Employers and teaching based courses (PGCE, which is University and placement based; and the TDP; which is predominately placement based) are looking for applicants who really stand out from the crowd. Essentially, potential employers need to see why and how you are going to be a good teacher.
Setting Up Your Teaching CV
Your CV needs to be set out accurately and it needs to be clear so the recipient understands what they are reading. Moreover, it needs to state your successes and your capabilities. Employers take note of CVs that look professional and actually state what the person is capable of.
Therefore, your CV needs to be set out including the following information:
- – Name & Personal Information
- – Teaching Qualifications
- – Employment History (in chronological order with dates included):
- – Other Relevant Experiences
- – Skills and Capabilities
- – Supporting Statement
What to Include under the Subheadings
The name and personal information subheadings should be relatively straightforward to complete. However, it is important that aforementioned subheadings are filled in to the best of your knowledge and your ability, as this may be difference between getting that first teaching job and not.
1. Qualifications
Firstly, make sure you have all of your teaching qualifications to hand. Qualifications need to be listed in chronological order, which means you have to put down the mostly recently achieved first. It is important to be honest with all specialist areas and qualifications you have received because any potential employer may check.
If you do possess any vocational qualifications that may be pertinent, then make sure you include them too. Employers like to see that you have experience in other areas and this may weigh in your favour.
2. Teaching History
Secondly, you really need to clear what you want to include in this experience section. This part of your supply teaching CV needs to reflect experiences that are relevant for a teaching job or a teaching course.
Before you begin typing this section up, sit down with a pen and notebook and list 10 to 15 points of teaching related experiences, no matter how small. Begin to narrow down these bullet points to 6 or 7 and put them in chronological order.
Essentially, you want the employer aware of all of your experiences related to teaching. Make sure you include any voluntary work experience, summer school or courses in this section. Your points need to be concise and they need to directly pinpoint what you have done in order to pursue a career in the teaching sector.
3. Skills and Capabilities
Thirdly, you need to consider and address your skills and capabilities. You should again use a notebook to bullet point relevant skills linked to teaching. Importantly, this may be linked to jobs you have undertaken whilst on work experience, temporary holiday work or adaptable skills that will help you be a successful teacher.
Once you have narrowed down your bullet pointed list you will be able to transfer them to your CV. You need to make sure the skills you list are precise, clear and relevant. Remember not to overload this part of your supply teaching CV; some individuals can often list every experience they think is relevant, when it is not necessary.
The remaining parts of your CV need to be clearly laid out, so they are easy to read and access. The skills and capabilities sections give you the opportunity to inform your potential employer of things that your undertake in your spare time. Interestingly, this can lead to you running extracurricular clubs within a school environment.
A teaching CV needs to have a sensible and coherent format and all potential employers need to be made aware of your passion and dedication to teaching. For more tips, take a look at our world class teaching CV template.