How to write a resume for teaching and education jobs

A strong education resume is specific about the classroom: grade levels, subjects, class sizes if you know them, the curriculum and tools you used, and how you supported students with different needs. New teachers lead with student teaching.

What people hiring in teacher and education usually look for

In general terms. Every employer is different, so read each posting closely.

• Your teaching certificate or license, the subject and grade range it covers, and the state that issued it.
• Grade levels, subjects and settings you have taught (public, private, charter, early childhood, special education, after-school).
• How you plan and teach: curriculum, lesson design, differentiation and classroom management, in concrete terms.
• How you supported students with different needs, such as English learners or students with individualized plans, described without identifying any student.
• Work with families and colleagues: conferences, team planning, clubs, coaching or committees.
• Learning platforms and classroom technology you use, named as [platform] until you fill in the real name.

How to structure a teacher resume

• Certification near the top. Type, subject, grade range, state and expiration. If it is pending, say so with the expected date.
• Teaching experience. For each role: title, school, district, city and state, dates, then grades and subjects in the first bullet.
• Student teaching. New teachers: list the school, grade, subject, cooperating teacher's title (not their name unless they are a reference) and dates.
• Activities and leadership. Clubs, coaching, committees and family events go in their own short section.

Three layouts cover most situations, each in one column with standard headings:

• Classroom Teacher: Certified teachers with classroom experience applying within or across districts. Order: Summary, Certification, Teaching Experience, Education, Activities and Leadership.
• Specialist and Support Roles: Special education, reading, ESL and support staff whose skills and methods lead. Order: Summary, Certification, Skills, Teaching Experience, Education.
• New Teacher: New teachers and career changers whose student teaching and preparation lead. Order: Summary, Certification, Education, Student Teaching, Teaching Experience, Activities and Leadership.

Example bullet structures

These are structures, not real results. Replace every [placeholder] with your own facts, and leave out any number you can't back up.

• Taught [subject] to [number] students in grade [grade level] across [number] class sections, using [curriculum or approach].
• Planned and delivered [type of] lessons aligned to [standards or curriculum], with [how you checked understanding].
• Differentiated instruction for [English learners, students with individualized plans or advanced learners] using [strategies].
• Used [assessment method or tool] to track progress and adjust [grouping, pacing or reteaching].
• Kept families informed through [conferences, newsletters or platform], holding [number] conferences per [term].

Action verbs for this field

Summary structures

• Certified [subject] teacher for grades [range] with [number] years in [setting]. Skilled in [two strengths from the posting], with experience supporting [student group].
• New [subject or grade-band] teacher with [certification status] and student teaching in grade [level] at [school]. Brings [strength] and [strength] to the classroom.

More structures by situation (career change, returning after a layoff, new graduate) are on our resume summary examples page.

Common mistakes

• Burying the certification line, or leaving off the subject, grade range or state.
• Describing duties every teacher has instead of how you teach: your methods, tools and the students you served.
• Naming or identifying students, or sharing details from individualized plans.
• Listing every workshop you attended. Pick the training that matches the posting.
• Using education jargon without context; a principal from another district may use different terms.

Do it yourself, or have it done

Questions

Other resume guides: administrative and office, customer service and retail, sales, and the career services page. Got laid off? See what to do after being laid off.

General information, not career, legal or employment advice. We are not career counselors, and nothing here promises interviews, offers or a particular result.