Substitute Teacher Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Substitute Teacher resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Substitute teachers are an integral part of the school system. They fill in for full-time teachers when they’re out on leave or on vacation, or when full-time teachers aren’t available on short notice. Many substitute teachers find this type of work to be a great way to supplement their income while staying in the education field.
Before you can land your next substitute teaching job, you’ll need a resume that highlights your relevant experience and abilities. Here are some tips and an example to help you put together a winning substitute teacher resume.
How to Write a Substitute Teacher Resume
Here’s how to write a substitute teacher 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 they’re the best way to showcase your experience and qualifications.
But many candidates make the mistake of using generic bullet points that don’t really tell a story or provide any context. For example, rather than saying you “taught high school math classes,” you could say you “taught calculus classes to underprepared students, resulting in a 20% increase in passing rate over the course of the semester.”
The second bullet point is much more interesting and provides more detail about what you did and the results of your work.
Related: What Is a Substitute Teacher? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
A resume for a substitute teaching job should focus on the skills and qualities that are essential for the role. When you apply online, your resume will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) that looks for certain terms related to the job, like “classroom management” or “teaching experience.” If your resume doesn’t have enough relevant keywords, the ATS might not rank it high enough to be seen by a human recruiter.
To make sure your resume makes it past the ATS, focus on including keywords throughout all sections of your document. Here are some common substitute teacher keywords to get you started:
- Teaching
- Educational Leadership
- Curriculum Development
- Lesson Planning
- Classroom Management
- Educational Technology
- Staff Development
- Education
- Elementary Education
- K-12 Education
- Differentiated Instruction
- Teacher Training
- Higher Education
- Teacher Education
- Research
- Public Speaking
- Coaching
- Instructional Design
- Time Management
- Microsoft Access
- Leadership
- Event Planning
- Teamwork
- Social Media
- Public Relations
- Event Management
- Communication
- Classroom Assistance
- Student Affairs
- Special Education
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a Substitute Teacher, you need to be proficient in the use of technology in the classroom. You should list any programs, systems, or methodologies that you are familiar with. You can organize your skills into specific subsections to make them easier to find, or indicate your level of expertise for each.
Remember The Basics
As you draft your resume, you’ll want to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.
Make It Easy to Scan
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
There is no set standard for the length of a resume, but most employers prefer a one-page resume for recent graduates and those early in their career. More experienced candidates may have a two-page resume, but should be selective about the information included. When in doubt, less is more.
Proofread
Proofreading your resume is an important step in ensuring that it looks its best. There are a few key things to look for when proofreading: spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes, and grammatical mistakes. It is also important to be aware of easily confused words. Spell-checking your resume is a good way to catch mistakes, but it is important to have someone else read it over as well.
Use a Summary
When it comes to resume writing, a well-crafted summary statement can make all the difference. This section is an opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential employer and explain why you’re the best person for the job. It should be brief—just a couple of sentences—and should focus on your skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role you’re applying for. By highlighting your transferable skills and relevant experience, you can show the recruiter that you have what it takes to be successful in the position.
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