Instructor Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Instructor resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Instructors are the people who make learning fun. They’re passionate about sharing their expertise with others, and they’re great at breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand chunks. If you love to teach and want to do it for a living, you need an instructor resume that will help you stand out from the crowd when you’re applying for jobs.
How to Write an Instructor Resume
Here’s how to write an instructor resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will read. And if they’re not compelling, you’ll lose the chance to make a lasting impression.
So rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you should use bullet points to describe how you contributed to the organization. For example, rather than saying you “taught undergraduate courses in biology,” you could say you “developed and implemented new curriculum for 200+ students each semester, resulting in a 15% increase in student evaluations over the past year.”
The second bullet point paints a much clearer picture of what you did and the results of your work. And it also provides a quantifiable result (15% increase in evaluations).
Related: What Is an Instructor? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used to scan resumes for certain keywords. If your resume doesn’t include the right keywords, the ATS might not forward it to a recruiter.
One way to make sure your resume makes it past the ATS is to include keywords that are commonly found on instructor job postings. Here are a few examples:
- Teaching
- Teamwork
- Social Media
- Public Speaking
- Microsoft Access
- Communication
- Negotiation
- Leadership
- Research
- Customer Service
- Event Planning
- Public Policy
- Coaching
- Strategic Planning
- Project Management
- Organization Skills
- Time Management
- Event Management
- Team Building
- AutoCAD
- Industry Specific Education
- Education
- Pedagogy
- Higher Education
- Educational Leadership
- Classroom Management
- Differentiated Instruction
- Staff Development
- Curriculum Development
- E-Learning
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Instructors use a variety of technology in the classroom to engage students and enhance their learning experience. Some of the most commonly used tools are: projectors, whiteboards, computers, tablets, and phones. Instructors also use a variety of software programs to create lesson plans, assessments, and learning activities. So if you have experience with any of these tools or programs, be sure to list them on your resume.
Related: How Much Does an Instructor Make?
Remember The Basics
As you draft your resume, you’ll want to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.
Create Easy-to Scan Sections
Your resume should be formatted in a way that makes it easy to read and understand. This includes using left-aligned text, regular font size, and limited use of bolding, italics, and all-caps. You should also try to use no more than two lines per bullet point and have a separate skills section. Finally, make sure your formatting is consistent throughout the document.
Be Concise
A resume should typically be one page long, unless you have a lot of experience to include. If you have more than 10 years of experience in your industry, you can make a two-page resume to elaborate on that experience and highlight all of your job skills and qualifications. However, when trimming down a resume, remove irrelevant information, filler words, and unnecessary details.
Check Your Work
Proofreading your resume is important in order to make sure it looks professional and error-free. Spell check is a good place to start, but it is not foolproof. Be sure to read through your resume yourself, as well as have someone else do so. Pay attention to punctuation and grammar, and be consistent in your formatting. Watch out for easily confused words, such as their, there, and they’re.
Consider Including a Summary
A resume summary statement is an excellent way to introduce yourself and showcase the qualities that make you the best candidate for the job. In just a few sentences, you can explain your experience,Transferable skills, and what you’re looking for in your next role. This information can help a recruiter better understand how you might be a good fit for the position, and it can also help to remind them of why you’re a strong candidate. If you’re looking to make a strong first impression, a resume summary statement is a great way to do it.
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