1) Don’t Be Too Modest
Teachers are not inclined to boast. You normalise the incredible work that you do every single day. Never forget, that delivering an assembly to 500 students would be all-consumingly nerve-wracking for the average person. Your everyday is everyone else’s extraordinary they just don’t realise it. SO BE BOLD in showcasing the impact you have had.
2) Get Your Branding Right
A teacher might well add much weight to a start-up that’s secured its first round of seed funding but if they are looking for a Content Creator don’t call yourself a Year 1 class teacher! This will result in your CV firmly landing in the ‘no’ pile. Make sure you are signposting that you are the right person for the job by generating a profile that aligns with the role. Your opening profile is your value proposition so get it right.
3) Tailor Like The Best In Saville Row
Ensure that each CV that you send out for a role is tailored and focused on the requirements of that specific job. One thing Did Teach can 100% guarantee is that if you are applying for multiple roles with the same CV then you will FAIL to be successful. This is DOUBLY DOUBLY important if you are applying in a competitive market. Many of the jobs we advertise have hundreds of applicants. If you don’t tailor, you’ll be an ill-fitting suit!
4) Careful With The Formatting
There are just too many CV templates out there. Which to choose? Where to go? Who can I trust? Unless you’re applying to a creative studio specialising in graphic design and CGI visualisation, we would advise keeping it SIMPLE, let your experience and skills do the talking. It’s what you write that will grab their attention, not your ability to rip a CV template from Canva’s resume builder. TRUST US on this one! Read more on our blog Why you shouldn’t let AI write your CV!
5) Skills, Skills, Skills Is The Mantra
It’s the skills you bring to a role that matter. Teaching is antiquated when it comes to the application process. Remember a job spec becomes irrelevant once you start. It’s your skills that will help you carve out the role over time. So, promote them. Your CV is the showroom, and your skills are the gleaming supercar polished to within an inch of its life. So, make sure your CV showcases them.
One very effective way of demonstrating your skills is the STAR method advocated by the Government.
Download our free guide to the STAR method here!
Ready to write your own CV after teaching? This short online course is perfect as it is created by teachers and career change experts: CV Masterclass
