At Worldteachers, we receive CVs from teachers on a daily basis, so see our fair share of people doing it right, and those making common mistakes. To help you land your dream teaching job, we've compiled a list of our top 8 tips for writing the perfect CV:
Order
The way in which you order your CV can make it easier for those viewing it to find the information that they need. Always state your education first, from your earliest education to your most recent, followed by your work experience, ordered from your most recent job.
The Two Page Myth
Many websites and recruiters state that you should cram your CV into 2 pages, but this is not the case. It is much more important to state all experience you have that relates to the job you are applying for, than to miss important information out solely to fit it into a specified number of pages. However, that being said, it is important that the information you provide if concise and to the point.
Tailor Your CV
While the jobs that you are applying for may be largely similar in terms of industry, it is unlikely that each job is exactly the same. With that in mind, always remember to tailor your CV to highlight the relevant experience you have in relation to the candidate that the employer is looking for. It is advisable to create a few template CVs to alter for each job application. Do your research on the school, location, duties mentioned - have you excelled in similar environments or similar roles before?
Photos
While not always mandatory, we see more and more schools requiring photos of each applicant with their CV, so we would now consider it best practise to insert a photo at the top of your CV when applying for jobs. A smart-casual picture is recommended, you don't want to appear to serious, nor too laid-back. Common sense comes into play here, you want your personality to shine through, while still being presentable/professional.
Clarity
Clearly state your current job title (or most recent if you are currently unemployed) and your dates of employment. Laying the information out clearly means that you speed up the CV to interview process as the recruiter doesn't have to track down the information that you've missed out.
References
Add any references that you're happy to disclose to your CV. Most importantly, make sure you get a reference from your current employer at a suitable time throughout the interview process, depending on when you are happy to tell your employer that you are interviewing for other jobs.
Word Processing
Displaying basic word processing skills is a simple and effective way to demonstrate your skills. If you don't have specific software on your computer, you can use free, online services, such as Google Docs. Spell-check, grammar-check, format headings, use tabs instead of multiple spaces (where appropriate). This shows you have basic word processing skills, a pre-requisite for most jobs today.
Explain Any Gaps
Periods of unemployment happen to the best of us at one point or another, but you need to clearly fill-in the gaps on your CV. Were you seeking employment, travelling, or studying, for example? State clearly why you have gaps between jobs, so that those viewing your CV can flow through your work/education history without any questions.
If you have any questions regarding your CV, don't heistate to ask us via Twitter or Facebook.
Have you checked our latest vacancies? View our jobs to see where Worldteachers could take you!
