CV for teachers in South Africa - Brendan Hope CV Writing

Best CV format for teachers

With 24,000 available posts, there is no better time to update to the latest CV format for teachers and start applying! Writing your documents can be daunting if you don’t know where to start, so this article aims to guide you through developing an engaging CV and cover letter.

Formatting

Select a professional and easy-to-read font such as Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica, Calibri, or Century Gothic with Justified alignment
Use font sizes between 10 and 12 to avoid words being too small; remember to keep the size and style consistent throughout your document
Keep colours professional using blue, black, grey, or green
Avoid using graphics as they can distract from the content and make scanning difficult
Opt for a clean-look layout, without using columns of text boxes, as these can disrupt applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Summary

This is your profile – include up to five lines describing who you are, what you’ve done, what you do the best and the results of your efforts. Focus on what you can do for the students and school instead of what you want or don’t want (we’ll get to that later).

For example, “Senior Phase Life Orientation Teacher experienced in the development and presentation of lessons on topics including constitutional rights, self-image, physical education, and health/wellbeing. Consistently supports students to gain an understanding of both the world and themselves, helping them to set career goals, manage peer pressure and develop healthy relationships. Significantly increases pass rates via developing and delivering engaging and fun educational exercises.”

Skills for Teacher’s CV

Below is a list of ideas for the Skills section in your CV, positioned below the profile:

Teaching & Education – This one may seem obvious but don’t forget to add it to reinforce your ability to adapt your instruction methods based on different learning styles in alignment with Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS)

Classroom Management – Highlighting that you’re skilled at overseeing student behaviour and discipline

Communication – Not only your ability to communicate with students but shows that you can often convey complex information, to anyone, in an understandable way

Relationship Building – Connecting with students, parents/guardians, and colleagues

Patience & Emotional Intelligence – Remaining calm in the face of challenges while treating students with empathy and understanding

Leadership & Teamwork – Collaborating with colleagues overall to ensure students have a holistic teaching experience

Technology – List your IT skills, demonstrating your ability to use different platforms

Experience

List your experience going back 10 to 15 years, always using reverse chronological order (recent to oldest) to ensure hiring managers are looking at the most relevant information first. Include your job title company/school name, location, and month/year you started and ended.

Focus on the primary duties you had and what your unique accomplishments were for each role.

Education

List all your secondary and tertiary schooling in reverse chronological order, leaving out modules and subjects completed. Add your degree title, university/college attended, location, and start/end years.

Additional sections to add: Professional Memberships, Awards, Languages & Publications

Hobbies for teachers resume

Learning
Reading
Volunteering / Charity Work
Writing / Blogging / Journaling
Crafting / DIY
Physical Activity – cycling, running, walking, etc.

CV objectives for teachers

This section is usually included within the profile and will allow you to briefly tell the recruiter about your goals, how you will achieve them and why you want to work for the school. The following are a few examples:

Helping young people to achieve their dreams by teaching relevant skills, providing support, and offering career planning
Encouraging parents to engage in their children’s education through consistent communication and collaborative assignments
To instill creative and critical thinking by giving students the freedom to collaborate and innovate

International CV format for teachers

Research the CV expectations for the country you’re applying in as there are varying requirements. For example, China requires you to include a photograph and in-depth personal information including marital status and children/ages with a straightforward approach. The following are a few general tips for converting your South African CV:

Demonstrate your ability to collaborate and communicate with culturally diverse people
Include relevant languages
Keep your document to 2 pages
Add a professional headshot (no selfies)
Include your gender identity, nationality, and date of birth

How to write a cover letter for a teacher job?

Add the school’s name and address, the date, the name of the hiring manager, and the position you’re applying for
Introduce yourself by summarising why you are a good fit for the role, and why you are writing to apply – this should be three lines maximum – e.g., “As a highly experienced XXX with a proven record in XXXX, I am writing to express my interest in and suitability for the advertised role.”
Go into detail regarding your relevant experience/accomplishments
Add a paragraph on what specifically you feel you can bring / requirements you meet, to finish off, then sign off with something akin to this: “I keenly hope that my CV and this letter demonstrate my capabilities and I would warmly welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter, so please don’t hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience.”

Teachers CV examples

What do people on Reddit say about resumes for teachers:

Make the most of your CV by showing how you’re different from other teachers and how you can improve the performance of both the students and the school. Demonstrate your achievements through facts. Interested in cover letter advice to go along with your professional CV? View our blog!