Crafting the Perfect Teacher Assistant Resume: Tips and Strategies
A teaching assistant job is an excellent way of getting started in your teaching career, but just like any other job, you need to show your potential to the school to land the opportunity.
A great resume will land you your dream job. We are here to help you stand out from the crowd and get the interview. Here is your exceptional teaching assistant resume!
Cynthia Anderson Teacher Assistant 215-543-879 cynthiaanderson@gmail.com Manning, IA Linkedin.com/in/cynthiaanderson
Accomplished teaching assistant with four years of experience in school settings and classroom management. Successful at creating environments that encourage inquiry and individual growth. Expert ability to work with teachers to develop effective lesson plans. Able to measure and document students' progress through assignments and standardized tests.
Work Experience
IKM Manning Middle School Teacher Assistant June 2019-Date
Instructed students in basic and advanced social abilities, conflict resolution techniques, and practical study approaches. Recorded accurate data for daily attendance and reported absences or lateness to the lead teacher to notify parents. Provided instructional support to special needs students by creating and assigning special assessments and conducting tutoring sessions.
Manning Child Care Center Assistant teacher March 2017-May 2019
Provided individual and small group tutoring to support students' learning of classroom topics. Tracked students' and visitors' movements to ensure the safety of students inside and outside of classrooms and monitored safety hazards and student behavior. Assisted with crafting daily lesson plans and supervised the children during group activities and recreational activities.
Education
Bachelor of Education Northeastern Illinois University October 2016
Teaching assistants, often referred to as teacher's aides, are vital to the smooth operation of educational environments. They support lead teachers by helping students with assignments outside the classroom, monitoring progress, assisting with grading, and contributing to the emotional and social development of students, especially those with learning disabilities.
Given the competitive nature of these positions, your resume must catch the eye of the principal or hiring manager right away.
You can consider using a resume template to help you write an effective resume. The perfect template or resume builder ensures you do not leave out any vital section in your resume and can help you land your dream job.
Every teaching assistant resume example is different, but the most important thing is to ensure your resume has all the required information. Customizing your resume for each application is vital. Here’s how to ensure your resume speaks directly to the needs of the job:
Choose the Right Layout: Keep your resume easy to read; a clean layout is crucial.
Incorporate Key Sections: Ensure your resume includes these essential sections: header, summary/objective, work experience, education, skills, and any additional section (awards/honors, certifications, volunteer work, interests/hobbies, and languages)
Use Appropriate Keywords: Tailor your resume with keywords from the job description to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Hiring managers use applicant tracking systems to filter out resumes that do not meet the minimum requirements. Certain keywords and action verbs that you can find in the job description usually help you beat these systems and progress in the recruitment process.
Choosing the Right Format for Your Teacher Assistant Resume
The best layout for your teaching assistant resume is the reverse-chronological order> which focuses on experience. This is because most hiring managers use your previous experience to decide whether they will hire you. The format is also easy to scan on applicant tracking systems making it a favorite of many recruiting managers.
Choosing the right resume format is crucial for passing ATS filters and catching a hiring manager's attention.
The functional resume focuses on your unique abilities and is a good option for recent graduates and candidates changing careers.
The combination resume format mixes the best features of the reverse-chronological order and the functional resume format. This format focuses on your unique abilities and experience.
The structure of the Teaching Assistant Resume
Ensure your resume includes these sections for clarity and impact:
The header section
Resume summary/resume objective
Work experience
Education section
Skill section
An additional section (Volunteer experiences, interests, awards/honors, certifications, computer skills, and languages)
Start with the Header of the Teaching Assistant Resume
The first section of your teacher assistant resume is the header section. It has your full name, job title, contact information, and a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website.
Example of a good header for Teaching Assistant Resume
Example of a bad header for Teaching Assistant Resume
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Angela Smith
Teaching Assistant
445-989-632
angelasmith@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/angelasmith
angelasmith.wordpress.com
Date of birth 08/12/1987
4517 Hurry Street
House number 10
Roanoke, VA
Don't give too much information about yourself in the header section. The location of your application is also optional, unless you are applying for a job abroad.
Is a photo required in the Teaching Assistant Resume?
It is advisable to leave the photo out of your resume because eighty percent of U.S companies say they would not consider an applicant with a photo on their teacher assistant resume. However, if you need to have a photo, let it be professional.
Choosing your Teaching Assistant Resume Title
The title on your teacher assistant resume should always be personalized and tailored to each job or company. If you use one title on all your resumes, you will probably not get the job because the hiring manager may see it as lacking attention to detail.
Professional summary for a Teaching Assistant Resume
The professional summary is a short paragraph after the header summarizing your experience and professional accomplishments. It is also meant to compel the hiring manager to read the rest of your resume so ensure you highlight your best achievements.
Professional Summary Examples for Teacher Assistant Resume
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Dedicated Assistant Teacher with eight years of Early Childhood education experience. Knowledgeable in child development at different stages, child learning theories, and crafting of bulletin board displays. Proven abilities to build rapport and implement daily lessons and creative instructional activities.
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Accomplished Teacher’s aide with a lot of classroom experience. Supportive and friendly professional with a flexible attitude and passion for making a positive impact on all students.
If you don’t have much experience, you can consider adding a resume objective to your resume. It allows you to show the recruiting manager how your career goals align with the company goals and demonstrate the value you will bring to the team.
Work Experience in the Teaching Assistant Resume
Your work experience is one of the most critical sections of your teacher assistant resume. It contains your previous work history, which shows the hiring manager what you can do. You can check out our resume templates to see how you should structure this section.
Describe your professional experiences on your Teaching Assistant Resume
It is always better to add the relevant experience to your resume and leave out any experience unrelated to the teaching assistant job. However, if you are starting out in teaching and don’t have experience that is directly relevant to the job, it’s ok to add it and show the recruiting manager the transferable abilities you gained.
When listing the work history under this section, you will start with the name of the workplace, the position you held, and the years spent at each workplace.
You can also add three to five duties/responsibilities and achievements at each workplace using bullet points to show the hiring manager your value proposition.
Examples of professional experiences for a Newly Qualified Teaching Assistant
Crystal Spring Elementary School
Teacher Assistant
March 2016-October 2019
Provided supervision for twenty students on field trips, performed headcounts, and kept groups from wandering to account for all students while visiting busy, public places.
Helped different teachers develop tests to measure student abilities in motor, language, and emotional growth.
Maintained organization and distribution of homework, textbooks, and all classroom supplies needed by teachers and students.
Examples of work experience for Senior Teaching Assistant Resume
Northside High School
Teacher Aide
August 2015-December 2020
Conducted one-on-one tutoring for small groups to assist students with learning concepts taught in class.
Created a step-by-step guide for students who require special education to help them grasp all the concepts taught in class.
Delivered gentle discipline when necessary and fostered a positive, and not punitive, educational setting where the students could learn and succeed in their studies.
Education on a Teaching Assistant Resume
The educational qualifications of each teaching assistant position vary, so it’s essential to check the job ad and ensure you include the right qualifications in your resume. Some may require an associate’s degree, and some may require at least two years of college coursework. You will also add your high school diploma and bachelor’s degree to this section.
Should you start with education or work experience for a Teaching Assistant Resume?
You will start with your experience if you choose the reverse-chronological order and start with your skills and education if you choose the functional resume format.
How to properly list your education on a Teaching Assistant Resume
When adding the education on your teaching assistant resume, you should list the name of the degree, the name of the school, location, and the year of graduation.
Example of the education section on a Teaching Assistant Resume
Bachelor’s degree in Education
University of Virginia
April 2016
Skills to put on a Teaching Assistant Resume
If you want to get a position as a teacher’s assistant, you need to have the unique abilities required to do your job efficiently. The right teaching assistant skills on your resume will help you stand out and land more interviews. You can also beat the ATS systems by adding the relevant skills usually in the job description.
What are the main skills sought for on a Teaching Assistant Resume?
Hard skills
Learning strategies
Data entry
Microsoft Word
SMART Learning Suite
Grading homework and tests
Classroom support
Program development
Classroom management
Soft skills
Communication skills
Leadership
Detail-oriented
Creative problem solving
Teamwork
Organizational
Analytical
Public speaking
What skills for a New Teaching Assistant?
Flexibility
Multitasking
First aid
Creativity
Setting up activities
Instructional methods
Research
Maintaining safe environments
What skills for a Senior Teaching Assistant?
Specialized testing
TESOL Certified
Differentiated instruction
Special needs education
Group instruction
Curriculum Development
One-on-one and small group instruction
Ideal Resume Hook for a Teaching Assistant Resume.
A resume hook is an excellent addition to your teaching assistant resume because it allows you to add the accomplishments that set you apart from all the other candidates. You can use a quote, personal description, testimonial, or an achievement.
Example of a tagline for a junior Teaching Assistant
Passionate teacher assistant with two years of experience in teaching and classroom management. Extensive experience collaborating with staff, children, and families to deliver a diverse range of support services.
Sample tagline for a senior level Teaching Assistant
Professional teaching assistant with ten years of experience in various school settings. Proven abilities to implement classroom activities, grade papers, tutor, and use creative and engaging teaching methods to promote student interest and participation.
Additional Headings for your Teaching Assistant Resume
An additional section is essential if you want your potential employer to notice your resume. It allows you to add any other qualification that enables you to stand out. You can check out our resume templates to help you with this section.
You can include the following sections here:
Computer skills and certifications in a Teaching Assistant Resume
A teaching assistant should be computer proficient, and any knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, or Powerpoint looks good on your resume. While you can add these in the skill section, it is better to list them separately.
It is always better to have a different section for your certifications to ensure the recruiting manager does not miss them. Some of the relevant certifications that will look good on your teaching assistant resume include:
Pre-professional Teaching Assistant certificate
Level 1,2 and 3 Teaching Assistant Certificates
Continuing Certificate as a Teaching Assistant
Interests in a Teaching Assistant Resume
The interests mainly involve the activities that you love to do outside of work. The interests on your resume are optional, so if they do not match the profile, you can leave them out. Interests such as attending personal development conferences and community development will look good on your teaching assistant resume.
Languages in a Teaching Assistant Resume
A teaching assistant who can speak multiple languages is appealing to any recruiting manager because they can easily interact with multicultural students. When listing your languages, you should use the official language reference as follows:
Goethe Zertifikat in German (with 60% or above)
DELF for French (with a score of 70% and above)
SIELE for Spanish
Summary: Key Points for Writing a Perfect Teaching Assistant Resume
The main takeaways from this article include:
The reverse-chronological order is the best format for your teaching assistant resume if you have some experience.
Your resume should be one page because most hiring managers don’t read resumes longer than that.
Proofread your resume to ensure there are no spelling mistakes and errors.
Constantly tailor your resume, and don’t use one generic resume for multiple applications.
Industry Info Update About the Teching Assistant
Although teacher assistant job growth is projected at 0.3%, there are still 151,000 yearly openings due to workforce turnover. Source. This presents ample opportunities for new entrants. Stay optimistic, as regular job availability continues!
The industries with the highest employment levels for teacher assistants, except postsecondary, include elementary and secondary schools, child daycare services, individual and family services, educational support services, and local government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation).
The average salary for a teaching assistant, including overtime pay, bonuses, and tips, is as follows:
Entry-level $12 per hour
Early-career $12 per hour
Mid-career $13 per hour
Late-career $13 per hour
Experienced $14 per hour
The average hourly pay for a Teaching Assistant (TA) is $13 (Payscale).
Write a Cover Letter That Goes With Your Teaching Assistant Resume
Cover letters help your job application stand out, so it’s important to accompany your resume with one, even if it is not required. A cover letter gives your potential employer more information on your skillset, achievements, and the value you will bring to the company. It also gives you a chance to talk about why you want the position.
Frequently Asked Questions for a Teaching Assistant Resume
How do I describe my teaching assistant on a resume?
You will list your accomplishments and professional experience that make you the best candidate for the job. Your resume should also have all the important sections, including the header, resume summary/objective, work experience, education, skill section, and additional section (volunteer work, awards/honors, interests, certifications, and languages)
How do I turn my resume into a teacher resume?
Start with a resume summary that will get the hiring manager’s attention.
Showcase your teaching experience and educational qualifications.
List the unique abilities that make you the best candidate for the position.
Lastly, add the extra qualifications in the additional section that set you apart from everyone else.
What skills does a teaching assistant need?
Some of the unique abilities you need in your teacher assistant resume include tutoring students, standardized testing, critical thinking, communication, setting up activities, creative lesson planning, emotional intelligence, and classroom support.
How do you write teaching skills on a resume?
You can list them using bullet points to make it easy for the recruiting manager to see them. This also makes it easy to scan them on the ATS systems.
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