Resume Writing Tips for Teachers

You’re a great teacher and you know if you had the chance to sit down with a principal, you could prove it. But the only way you’re going to get in front of a principal is if they choose your resume from the stack. How do you ensure yours stands out?

Be Authentic

You are unique and your resume will stand out if it conveys what is special about you. Just like you might ask students to brainstorm ideas before writing, think about what attracts you to teaching. What excites you about the profession? Maybe it’s working with a particular student population, leading extracurriculars, or finding creative ways to teach your content area. Whatever it is, make sure your resume shows your passion from start to finish.

Start Strong

One of the best places to highlight your passion is in a summary statement at the top of your resume. In two to five sentences, give principals a quick snapshot of who you are as a teacher. In our research with principals, they’ve shared that the things they most look for are: (1) what motivates someone to teach, (2) their approach to growing and improving their craft, (3) how they think about collaboration within an instructional team. Consider highlighting some of these softer skills that may not come through in your direct experience. 

Keep It Neat

Beyond what you write, the way your resume looks says a lot about how organized you are – something every principal cares about. Keep your formatting clean and consistent, listing your work experience in reverse chronological order (most recent first) with job titles, dates, and locations. Stick to one font, avoid unnecessary colors or graphics, and make sure your name and contact information are easy to find at the top.

When deciding what to include, put the most important details first—typically your summary, education, and certifications, followed by experience. If you have room (and can keep your resume within two pages), consider adding a section for skills, professional development, or specialized training – these can help set you apart from other candidates and showcase assets you’re bringing to the new position.

Highlight Your Achievements

Since most teaching job descriptions sound similar, indicate how you excelled in your previous experiences – even if those were student teaching or tutoring. Maybe you improved student performance, led a successful classroom initiative, or played a key role in extracurriculars. Use strong action verbs in describing these experiences. If you’re not sure what to highlight, review your performance evaluations to remember what great things stood out to your administrators. 

Double-check your work

The verdict is still out on how to use AI in schools. But when it comes to resumes, it can be a helpful tool—if used the right way. Having AI write your whole resume is a surefire way to lose the authenticity that will attract a principal’s attention. Instead, once you’ve drafted your resume, ask AI to “polish” it or help reduce word count, suggest stronger verbs, or improve consistency of tone. You can also use it to pull key terms from a job description and make sure they’re naturally incorporated into your resume.

Your resume is your introduction to a principal. Make it stand out by highlighting your experience and passion in a clear and compelling way that shows why you are the right fit for the job.

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