First Year Teacher Resume Writing Tips

When seeking employment as a brand new teacher just out of school, many individuals feel that certain opportunities will not be open to them because of their relative inexperience. While this may be true in some cases, a well written first year teacher resume can more than compensate for lack of professional experience. By highlighting personal qualifications and skills, as well as providing an emphasis on any practical experience gained during student internship, strengths can be brought to the forefront.

First Year Teacher Resume – Objective Statement

The objective statement for a first year teacher resume should be upbeat yet professional. A good teacher is the blend of both excitement and quiet assurance. A well written objective statement could address both the discipline or grade level/s the new teacher is certified in, as well as his or her personal goals as pertaining to a position at the school in question. For instance, the objective statement could read, ‘To utilize my knowledge in elementary social studies while promoting a love of learning and a sense of self confidence in my students.’ The principal or board member reviewing the resume will automatically know that this person is qualified to teach elementary school, primarily social studies, and is focused on the educational and emotional well-being of the students.

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First Year Teacher Resume – Qualifications and Skills

A first year teacher would need to emphasize personal qualifications and skills as opposed to those which would have been learned in the course of experience had he or she previously been employed as a teacher. Perhaps this individual would be ‘energetic and in-tune with today’s slang and vernacular expressions,’ or ‘able to communicate well with young people by allowing them to express themselves.’ A new teacher might be well versed in current educational psychology or teaching methods. Of course a new teacher would be computer literate, and probably has skills in attendance and grading software.

Professional Experience for a First Year Teacher Resume

This area of the resume could be lacking if a little creativity isn’t employed. Perhaps a new teacher would list the semester of practical application, often referred to as ‘student teaching,’ or ‘internship.’ The school in which the semester was taught could be listed here, along with the grade levels instructed and any special programs or extra curricular activities the student teacher was responsible for. Professional experience is formatted with the place of employment first, the dates in question, the location and this is immediately followed by the responsibilities pertinent to that teaching position as mentioned above.

Educational Requirements for a First Year Teacher Resume

Although educational requirements for earning a degree in teaching is pretty well standardized across the United States, each state has specific requirements which must be met prior to the teacher being certified to teach in that state. Most universities have access to national databases that will assist the prospective teachers in preparing for certification in the state in which they intend to teach. Should this information not be available, it is a simple matter of contacting that state’s Board of Education. However, in most states a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required along with a specific number of credits in education, educational psychology and courses particular to the age level that will be taught. This information is listed beginning with the highest degree obtained, the University attended, and the date the degree was awarded, or the dates in attendance.

Even though most first year teachers feel that they may have a difficult time competing with experienced teachers, this doesn’t need to be the case with a well formatted resume. New teachers bring excitement to the classroom and that is always a plus. Also, there is a real shortage of qualified teachers, so a great resume should land that treasured job. There are several first year teacher resume samples online that will provide ideas on how to assemble a document geared toward success.