However, it doesn't hurt to start early. Every experience comes in handy when you're trying to advance in your teaching career. Start by crafting a student teacher resume that you'll use to get your foot in the door and get some experience that will help you in the future.
Creating a student teaching resume may feel overwhelming, but we are here to help. This resume guide will give you the tips you need to craft your professional resume. Here are some of the topics we'll cover:
- How to incorporate your teaching experience in your resume.
- The right resume format and layout for your resume
- How to write an engaging objective statement
- A student teacher resume example with the best ideas.
Job Prospects and Salaries For Student Teachers
Most student teachers work towards becoming full-time teachers. According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, the overall employment of kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030.
The employment of high school teachers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030.
The average salary for an entry-level teacher is $41,000. However, the typical range is between $34,000 and $50,000, depending on your certifications, education, skills, and experience.
How to Make a Student Teacher Resume
When you're starting your career as a teacher, writing the perfect resume may be challenging, but it doesn't have to be.
Maximize your qualifications and show the recruiter how they will be useful in the student teaching position you want. Also, tailor each resume and match it to the job requirements of the hiring manager or school principal. Check out our resume examples which will give you some great ideas as you craft your resume.Choose the right format, layout, and structure for your resume.
Best Resume Format
The right format should represent your top qualifications first on your resume. Let's look at these three formats you can choose from.
- Reverse-chronological format - This format is perfect for you if you have some teaching experience. It focuses on your professional experience and is easy to scan on Applicant tracking systems.
- Functional resume - This is perfect for student teachers who don't have experience. It focuses on your skills and is also known as a skills-based resume.
- Hybrid/combination resume - This format suits candidates with experience and skills. It combines the best features of the two other formats.
The layout of the resume should be simple, with easy-to-read fonts and a font size of 10-12pt. Some fonts you should consider are Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia, Cambria, or Helvetica.
The structure of your student teacher resume should have the following sections:
- The header section
- Resume summary/objective
- Work experience
- Education section
- Skills section
- An additional section (Languages, computer skills and certifications, and interests)
The Header Section Of Your Resume
Your resume should start with a header section that contains the following details:
- Your full name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- Location
- A link to your LinkedIn profile.
Correct example
Student Teacher
836-404-161
walterthomas@gmail.comHouston, TX
linkedin.com/in/walterthomas
Incorrect example
Student Teacher
836-404-161
walterthomas@gmail.com1920 Michael Street
House number 10
Houston, TX
Date of birth 10/10/1999
linkedin.com/in/walterthomas
Summarize Your Experience in Teaching
The work experience section is always tough for student teachers because you may not have worked as a teacher before. You may even be tempted to leave it out of your resume, but you shouldn't because it plays a key role. It's a great way to set yourself apart from the other candidates who probably have the same qualifications as you do.
List your volunteer and internship experiences starting with your most recent one. Under each, include three to five job responsibilities and quantify them with figures and facts if possible. The job description will have keywords and action verbs that you can incorporate to optimize your resume.If you don't have any relevant experience, add other experiences and highlight the transferable skills that will be useful in the new job.
Correct example
Volunteer Teacher
July 2018-March 2019
- Prepared breakfast and lunches that were nutritious and balanced for 20 children.
- Structured activities to promote physical and mental health and social development and led small groups of 8 students in these activities.
- Assisted the lead teacher in creating engaging activities for the kids to encourage the active participation of kids of all ages.
Incorrect example
Intern
January 2015-May 2015
- Administered tests to the students.
- Provided instruction to individual students on homework assignments.
- Supervised students during school trips.
Reinforce Your Resume with Your Education
The education section is a critical one for every student teacher. If you don't have much experience, you'll use this section to show the recruiter which courses allow you to stand out.
Highlight your educational background, starting with your most recent qualification, and show the relevant courses that have prepared you for the position. If you have a college degree, start with it. Add the name of the degree, the name of the school, and the year of graduation/expected graduation date.
Each student teaching job is different, so check the job description and include all the qualifications the recruiter is looking for in your resume. If you have a Master's degree, it's okay to leave out your high school diploma.
Correct example
Texas A&M University
2018
Relevant courses- Classroom management
- Child and human development
- Student assessment and evaluation
Skills for a Student Teacher on The Resume
Your skills play a significant role in ensuring you advance in the recruitment process. It's possible to have many unique abilities but prioritize the ones relevant to your desired position.Most hiring managers use software that filters out resumes that don't have the skills they're looking for. To prevent this from happening to you, use the job description to identify these skills and incorporate them into your resume.
Having the right blend of hard and soft skills is important. Hard skills are specific abilities that require some time to learn at school or through training. Soft skills are interpersonal traits that allow you to interact well with colleagues and students.When listing these skills, use bullet points to make them more visible. This also makes scanning your resume easy on the applicant tracking systems.
Here are some of the skills you need on your student teacher resume.
Hard skills- Classroom management
- Teaching strategies
- Interactive teaching/learning
- Curriculum development
- Class scheduling
- Group instruction
- Program management
- Instructional plan implementation
- Creative problem-solving
- Time management
- Negotiation skills
- Public speaking
- Communication skills
- Detail-oriented
- Decision-making
- Leadership skills
Professional Summary
A professional summary is a short paragraph with two to three sentences right after the header, that introduces your resume. This section highlights your top achievements, experience, and skills.
When the school principal reads this section of your resume, it should give them insight into what you can do and compel them to read the rest of your resume. Also, use keywords and action verbs in this section as you describe your achievements.
Correct example
Incorrect example
Professional Objective(How to Use It)
If you’re still in school or recently graduated as a student teacher, you probably have little to no experience. When you're writing your resume, you'll use a professional objective to introduce your resume. It summarizes your career goals and how they align with the school's goals and expresses your interest in the teaching position. Include the top skills that will help you stand out as a unique candidate.
Correct example
Additional Sections for Your Resume
When you're writing your resume, an additional section is a must-have. It highlights the skills and extra qualifications that make you a special candidate.
Most of the student teachers applying for the same job will probably have similar qualifications. This is an excellent way to set yourself apart. Check out our resume templates, which have a designated section to incorporate your additional qualifications.
Let's look at some of the sections you can add here.
Computer Skills and Certifications
You may need to integrate technology into your lessons to engage students and perform other tasks, so computer skills are essential. Add them under this section to make it easy for the recruiter to see them quickly.
Certifications always stand out on your resume and show the hiring manager that you have additional training in a specific area of teaching. The hiring manager should not miss this qualification on your resume because it could be the one thing that sets you apart from everyone else. Some of the certifications that will look good on your student teacher resume include:- Early Childhood Education
- Gifted and Talented Education(GATE) Certification
- Special Education Certification
Interests
Many job seekers wonder if they should have this section on their resume or not. It's an essential part of your resume that allows you to show the recruiter who you are outside of work. Interests that add to your skills, such as hiking, CrossFit, blogging, or podcasting, will look good on your student teacher resume. Avoid interests such as watching tv, listening to the radio, and playing video games which don't add to any skills you need as a teacher.
Languages
Teachers work with students from different backgrounds. You'll stand out if you're a bilingual candidate, so ensure that the recruiter doesn't miss your language skills on the resume. When listing your languages, you'll use the official language reference as follows:
- DELF for French
- SIELE for Spanish
- Goethe Zertifikat for German
Tips for Improving Your Resume
- Optimize your resume with the right keywords and action verbs to ensure that your resume gets past the ATS systems.
- Tailor each student teacher resume to match the requirements of your potential employer.
- Your resume should be one page long.
- Use a professional resume template with a simple design and easy-to-read fonts.
- Proofread your resume before sending it out to the recruiter.
Checklist: Main Takeaways
- The header should have accurate contact details so that the recruiter can reach you.
- Introduce your resume with a compelling resume summary/objective.
- Add internships and volunteer experiences in the experience section.
- Use the education section to highlight your educational background and include some courses that have prepared you for the position.
- Add your hard and soft skills in separate sections and use bullet points to list them.
- Choose the correct format and layout for your resume.
Accompany Your Resume with a Cover Letter
A cover letter complements your resume and describes your qualifications in a more detailed way. You get a chance to showcase your writing skills and inject some personality as you discuss your skills and qualifications. Use our cover letter examples if you need help crafting an exceptional cover letter.Frequently Asked Questions
According to Glassdoor, the top companies hiring for teacher jobs include:
- New York City Department of Education
- YMCA
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions
- KinderCare Learning Centers
- Baltimore City Public School System
- Chicago Public Schools
- The Goddard School
- Certified Health Education Specialist(CHES)
- Certified Disability Management Specialist(CDMS)
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst(BCBA)