Writing a Standout Teaching CV: Tips & Tricks

Discover the ultimate guide to crafting a standout Teaching CV, curated by our Director, Gemma, featuring her top 10 expert tips and tricks:

Frequently, teachers and support staff find themselves without a CV. In the education field, completing application forms has been the norm due to legal requirements for Safer Recruitment in Education. Yet, many institutions now seek a Teacher’s CV for a swift overview during their hiring process, particularly when recruiting through agencies.

Undoubtedly, you possess a wealth of skills and experience. But how do you make those shine through your Teaching CV?

Top 10 Tips For Writing A Teaching CV (Tip 5 is my biggest!)

1. Keep the format simple, clear and concise.
2. Do not include a photo or your DOB
3. Tailor your personal statement to the job- one paragraph stating your experience and what you are looking for now
4. Ensure you include a full work history accounting for any gaps and going back to education.
5. The most common mistake we see is people listing their responsibilities for each role rather than their key achievements. We know what a mainstream Year 4 Teacher does but what we don’t know is what you did in that role. I.e., were you also English lead and introduced Read, Write, Succeed across the school? That is more interesting and useful.
6. Include your qualifications- starting with your most recent (as these are most relevant). You may also include training you have completed and the provider and date. This is very relevant and useful in education
7. Personal interests- short and sweet.
8. References- ‘available upon request’
9. Spelling and grammar check. Proofread a few times and if possible, ask someone else to as well. Even with the computer checking, you could end up with an incorrect autocorrect or two! This applies to using AI too. Ensure your Teaching CV sounds like a person and not a robot (some AI like chat GPT can be helpful but do need editing).
10. Submit with a cover letter/letter of application. Your cover letter should be addressed to the employer and dated. It should include why you are submitting your CV, detailing the role and where you saw it. It should highlight how your skills, qualifications and experiences match the specifics listed in the job description. You can use the Schools Development Plan (available on their website) to reinforce how you fit into that vision and aim. It should finish will stating that you look forward to hearing from them and thanking them for taking the time to read their letter.