What Employers Actually Want to See on a CV When Applying for a Job as a Teaching Assistant
What Employers Actually Want to See on a CV When Applying for a Job as a Teaching Assistant
If your goal is to be a teacher with your own classroom, then a job as a teaching assistant is an excellent place to start. However, because working with children requires a particular skill set, personality, and professional experience, it’s not the easiest job to land.
If you’re preparing a teaching assistant CV, keep reading. In this article, we’ll go into detail about what employers look for in a CV when hiring teaching assistants.
1. A compelling CV profile
An eye-catching CV profile can set you apart from the competition. Also known as a personal statement, a CV profile is a three to five sentence long paragraph at the beginning of a CV that outlines your most relevant qualifications.
A convincing CV introduction will help you grab employers attention and convince them to look over the rest of your CV and cover letter. Here’s an example of a personal statement on a teaching assistant example CV :
“Caring and motivated teaching assistant with 3+ years of classroom experience. SMART Certified Educator recognized for excellent communication skills and ability to manage and enthusiastically engage with classes of 30+ students. Deeply committed to providing creative, high-quality educational materials and superior instructional support to create the best educational environment possible.”
This candidate starts off by describing two of their best qualities as an educator (caring and motivated) and then provides an overview of their professional background and skill set. Finally, they conclude with a sentence describing their goals.
2. Previous teaching experience
Don't get discouraged if you’re fresh out of university or you’re changing careers with no experience . You probably have more relevant experience than you think, because teaching doesn’t only need to take place in a classroom.
Here are some experiences to include on your CV that make you a qualified candidate for a teaching assistant role:
- Working as a childcare provider (daycare, home daycare,au pair, nanny, babysitter, etc.)
- Being a summer camp counsellor
- Tutoring students in your free time
- Volunteering at community outreach programs for teens or youth
- Being a mentor
When creating your CV , instead of simply writing down your responsibilities, give specific examples of times when you applied your teaching skills. This gives employers a better idea of why you’re the perfect pick for the job.
Note: Avoid using ambiguous terms like “tasked with” and “responsible for” when describing your work experience. It doesn’t present you as proactive nor state whether or not you were successful in your job.
Instead, use action verbs like ”handled”'or “organised” which portray you as an authoritative and hands-on employee.
3. Relevant skills
In the skills section of your CV, talk about all the relevant abilities you have developed throughout your professional or academic career.
For instance, excellent technical skills to learn as a teaching assistant include data entry, computer fluency, PowerPoint, and Excel. These skills will help you as you prepare curriculums, grade papers, and organise class-related information.
When it comes to soft skills, draw attention to your communication, teamwork, leadership and conflict resolution skills.
Also, if you’re fluent in any foreign languages, make sure to include them because this shows that you’re able to work with a culturally diverse group of students. In addition, fluency in sign language shows that you’re capable of teaching children with special needs .
4. Certifications
If you’re applying for a teaching assistant job at a highly regarded school, you’ll likely be competing with numerous applicants with similar qualifications as yourself. In this case, listing certifications on your CV can make the difference between you securing the job or it going to someone else.
If you possess any of the following certifications, make sure to list them on your CV:
If you have more than three relevant certifications, place them in a separate section. Otherwise, list them in your CV’s skill section.
5. Hobbies and interests
Adding a hobbies and interests section on your CV is particularly relevant as someone applying for a teaching job. If you’re an avid chess player, an amateur poetry writer, or a big fan of puzzles, you can incorporate these activities into your lesson plans. Show potential employers that you have interests outside of work that coincide with your professional life.
6. CV keywords
When you’re putting together a CV for a teaching job in the UK , use the job ad as a reference point for which skills and key qualifications to include in your application documents. By using the same words a prospective employer used in the job advert, you show that you have the exact skills and experience they’re looking for.
Another benefit of adding keywords to your CV is that it minimises the risk of your application being rejected by applicant tracking systems (ATS). An ATS scans your CV for relevant terms and phrases that describe the employer’s ideal candidate, and if it doesn't detect them on your CV, it’ll get automatically rejected.
7. A professional design
Keep your CV as professional as possible. This means choosing appropriate fonts and colours.
Good fonts for a CV include Times New Roman, Calibri, and Arial. Avoid decorative fonts that make your CV difficult to read.
When it comes to colours, steer clear of colours like bright pink or neon orange. Instead, opt for muted colours like dark green or blue that are eye-catching without being distracting.
Updated: Feb 24