When I’m not writing, my day job is teaching.
Part of that involves recruiting new staff. And a big part of that involves reading hundreds of CVs. If we’re being honest, most of them don’t hit the spot, but the few that do are nearly always guaranteed at least an interview.
So what is it that recruiters are looking for in a CV or resume? What do you need to write a sizzling CV?
It’s actually pretty simple, but you’d be amazed at how many applicants over-sell or under-sell themselves. In a bid to help, here are my tips for creating an effective resume.
1 Presentation
They say don’t judge a book by its cover. They’re wrong. Initial impressions do matter – I’ll make an initial judgement about a CV within 30 seconds. Your CV needs to look sharp and professional. Don’t use weird fonts (Ariel or Calibri will do just fine). Don’t show me your Photoshop skills by adding six different colours and patterns.
Do use headings that are consistent. Do give me the basics before I start scrolling. For teachers, I’m looking for your qualifications and teaching experience – without those, it may not go any further. I highly recommend something like Canva, which has a great free version and some good CV templates (there’s one below).
Whether to add a photo is a surprisingly controversial issue. Some feel it adds a personal touch and is standard for most online profiles these days; others think it can create bias (maybe unconsciously) and shouldn’t be a requirement. Some schools do specifiy, so watch out for that.
Pro tip here: having a side bar or panel is especially good for breaking up the layout and giving you space to add extra information.
2 Say what you achieved
Next up, say something interesting. If you worked as a Maths teacher, you don’t need to tell me you set assessments, taught algebra and wrote report cards. That was your job. I’d much rather hear about what you achieved – maybe you started an after-school club or linked up with other local schools to run a job-alike. Where possible give evidence to back up your claims. Essentially, say something that’s unique to you.
3 Proof-read it
It’s worth triple-checking your CV for typos and small errors, as they will stand out. If you’re using British English, stick with that all the way through. If you have one kind of heading or bulletpoint, go with that all the time, too.
Make sure the design looks good too – does your ’employment’ section fit neatly into one page or is there a stranded line all on its own at the top of the next page? Get a friend to go through a final draft, as they can sometimes see things you’ve missed.
4 Follow the rules
Most teachers don’t realise this, but one of the first tests is whether you can fill in an application properly. If a school ask for a two-page CV, they won’t accept three. If they ask for everything to be rolled into one PDF, it’s not a suggestion.
Some schools will even ask you to complete their own form, which often looks for the exact same information that’s on your CV. It’s a pain, but it also helps weed out those carpet-bombers who fire off their CV at every application. If you can spend 30 mins completing their form, it means you’re serious.
5 Have a great cover letter too
Most schools will also want a cover letter, which is your chance to expand on the CV and show them who you are in more detail. Start by addressing the principal directly; you’ll find the name on the school website – it looks so much better than ‘Dear Sir / Madam’ or the horrific ‘To whom it may concern’. Both of those immediately give the impression that you’re firing these letters off left, right and centre.
Most cover letters tend to be generic, which doesn’t make the recruiter reading them feel very wanted. It’s ok to have a generic cover letter, but you should always add something specific about the school you’re applying to. If there’s a job description, address specific parts of that. Say what you can do and back it up with an example. Check out the school’s social media to see what it’s been doing recently and mention how you could add to this. The trick here is that if your letter could be copied and pasted into an application for a totally different school, it needs work.
Following these simple tips won’t mean you land every job, but it will mean you give yourself every chance of getting noticed.
