Unfortunately, there is a shortage of teachers at both primary and secondary level in Ireland. On the plus side, it means that there are plenty of teaching job vacancies at present. However, you still need to produce an outstanding teacher CV even to get called to an interview because hiring standards have not dropped! Keep reading to discover how to highlight your teaching skills and experience in CV form and, if you are called for an interview, check out the most common teacher interview questions.
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Teacher CV Format
Although CV formats are no longer constrained to a single template, the ‘classic’ outline is worth considering. After all, you still need to showcase your teaching qualifications, experience, and skills whether you are writing a primary or secondary school teacher CV. Your CV objective is to push yourself to the front of the queue and land an interview.
As the majority of hiring managers accept online CVs, it is crucial for you to understand the importance of adding the right keywords. We advise you to carefully analyse the wording of the job description to get clues as to the best keywords to include. Ideally, your skills should match the ones requested in the job description. Remember, your CV must get past the applicant tracking systems which are used to eliminate irrelevant applications.
How long should a Teacher CV be?
As you are applying to become a teacher, it should go without saying that it must be 100% grammatically correct with zero spelling errors! Your teacher CV has to be tailored for each job and reflect the school and community context. Above all, remember that space is limited so be concise in everything you write. Don’t worry about missing anything, that’s what your cover letter is for.
Ready to take the next step to becoming a Teacher? Check these teacher jobs and apply!
How to write a CV for teaching jobs
Write a Teaching Personal Statement
This is a short paragraph that you add at the top of your CV. Its brevity and importance mean it is one of the toughest parts of any application. A personal statement should show who you are, and mention your skills and strengths relevant to the teaching role on offer. Think of a personal statement as a very brief version of a cover letter. We provide an example of a good statement in our teacher CV template.
Highlight Teaching Qualifications & Education
You must be accurate and comprehensive in this section, perhaps more than in any other job. Realistically, you are unlikely to land a full-time teaching role unless you have relevant third-level qualifications. It is even better if you have a Masters Degree in Education or have completed any professional development courses.
Include full details with dates for everything, and highlight any courses, workshops, or conferences you have attended. Going to such events is a clear sign of your commitment to learning and teaching.
Skills to put on a resume for Teachers
As an education professional, you need to include a healthy mix of hard and soft skills on your CV. Create a list of your skills, then look into the job description to see what the school is looking for in a teacher. At this point, you must add the skills that match the job description.
Here are some key skills to include in your teacher CV:
- Active listening
- Classroom management
- Planning primary/secondary school curricula
- Communicating effectively
- Student behaviour management
- Proficient in the use of smart whiteboards
- Playground monitoring
- Problem-solving
Expand it with a Cover Letter
Your cover letter should get the same attention than your CV. If you want to stand out in the industry, you need to create a teacher cover letter that highlights previous achievements and work experience. Check out our tips on how to write a teacher cover letter and the cover letter template
Tips for a Teacher Assistant CV Without Experience
If you have just completed your degree and have no teaching experience in a classroom, it is important to focus on providing a skills-based CV. Remember, you’re up against qualified teachers with plenty of experience. However, a well-written application showcasing your suitability for the role will give you every chance. Here are a few things to consider:
- Include your best achievements from your college days in the education section
- Add a mixture of soft and technical skills, and make these the focus of your CV
- Make sure you include additional sections, including any volunteering experience you have, language skills, and licenses and certifications earned
- Attach a cover letter to the application
- In your work experience and education sections, add your achievements and duties in bullet point form, and try to start each sentence with an action verb
Teacher CV with no experience outline
It is essential to write your CV in the most suitable format. As we mentioned above, emphasise your skills and experience above all else if you lack experience. Here is the type of format you should consider using:
- Begin with your personal details, including name, phone number, and a professional email address
- Add a CV objective, a short paragraph underlining the skills and knowledge you possess tailored to the job description
- Highlight your skills, making sure to include a mixture of hard and soft skills with examples of how you use each one
- If you’ve just graduated, go into detail regarding your degree. Mention your biggest achievements and provide information on relevant modules
- Include your work experience in reverse chronological order, adding your duties and accomplishments in bullet point form. Also, write the name of your employers and dates of employment.
- Additional sections can mention licenses or extra qualifications earned. This is also a good section to incorporate any volunteer work you have completed
Teaching CV Template
To help you with this difficult task, we have created downloadable teaching CV samples where you can find inspiration and a guideline. Feel free to download it and modify it according to your own experience. Above all, please ensure that your CV highlights your area(s) of specialty and overall experience.
- Download our Secondary Schoold Teacher CV Template
- Download our Primary Schoold Teacher CV Template
- Download our English Teacher CV Template
Secondary School Teacher CV Template
JIM MILLER
Castle Street, Dalkey, Dublin – jmil1900@gmail.com
Personal Statement
Accomplished secondary school teacher with exceptional classroom management skills and a passion for helping pupils of all abilities achieve their potential.
I have been employed at several secondary schools in Dublin county across all year groups. I have also undertaken management positions including as Head of the History department. During my 15-years teaching career, I have crafted an extensive secondary school teaching skill set that enables me to create lesson plans that students find genuinely interesting, and produces exemplary results in examinations and pupil development.
Education
- Master’s in Education, UCD School of Education – 2003
- Bachelors of Education at DCU – 1999 – 2002
Employment History
September 2015 – September 2018: History Teacher at Loreto Abbey Secondary School
Overview
Taught European History to Leaving Certificate Students
Key Responsibilities
- Planned lessons which adhered to the objectives of the curriculum while utilising a variety of teaching methodologies.
- Established positive relationships with students to facilitate learning.
- Used an effective teaching style to ensure students remained disciplined and attentive.
- Provided the parents of students with feedback at meetings.
- Contributed to staff and departmental meetings.
Key Achievements
- Developed and implemented new learning strategies which had not been used at Loreto Abbey before.
- Improved the academic performance of students in comparison to previous years.
September 2008 – September 2015: Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun Road
Overview
Operated as the head of the History department from 2010 onwards and was responsible for setting the school’s curriculum.
Key Responsibilities
- Developed appropriate skills and social abilities in students according to their age, aptitude, and ability.
- Was responsible for planning all of the classroom’s lessons to ensure they were in line with the national secondary school curriculum.
- Implemented a brand-new teaching strategy designed to help bring less well-known history topics to life in a manner which ensured pupils were engaged.
- Maintaining discipline in a challenging classroom environment.
- Prepared and assessed students for examinations and motivated them to succeed in their studies.
- Maintained an up to date knowledge of the curriculum structure and new teaching methods.
Key Achievements
- Implemented an advanced program designed to assist students in their analysis of Irish 20th-century history.
- Formulated a new teaching tactic that enabled students who were lagging behind to catch up to the rest of the class, without causing issues to high-performance students.
- Improved the Leaving Certificate pass rate by 30% overall in five years, and increased the number of students who took the Honours paper by 25% in the same timeframe.
Additional Information
I have been a member of the History Teachers’ Association since 2010. During that time, I have attended various seminars including the 2018 HTAI National Conference in Athlone. I am also a member of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI).
References Available Upon Request
Follow these tips to get to the head of the class when it comes to writing a teacher CV and receiving an interview, and remember to accompany your CV with an amazing Teacher Cover Letter!
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