Using keywords on your CV can help recruiters quickly and easily recognise that you're a great fit for the role. What’s more, choosing the right keywords will allow you to stand out from other applicants and highlight why you're a valuable employee.
This guide will help you get the ball rolling with your teaching CV, offering suggestions for some of the best keywords to use.
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1. Planned
Planning shows that you're organised and proactive and is an extremely important skill for any teaching role.
For example:
“Planned all lessons in line with the national curriculum and school objectives.”
2. Improved
Employers are looking for people who can assess the current situation and then take steps to put positive changes in place.
For example:
“Improved existing lesson plans to include any changes in the curriculum and to meet the needs of specific students.”
3. Resolved
As a teacher, conflicts can arise between children, parents or other members of staff and you need to be able to deal with these by communicating effectively.
For example:
“Resolved an ongoing conflict between two pupils, encouraging them to sit down and talk to one another until the problem was solved.”
4. Maintained
Your ability to maintain something, be that relationships, structure or lesson plans, is worth demonstrating to employers as it shows organisation and consistency.
For example:
“Maintained strong communication with parents to keep them updated on their child's progress.”
5. Maximised
Employers want staff who can make the most of their resources, so it’s worth mentioning this on your CV.
For example:
“Maximised classroom space by re-organising, to ensure all supplies were within reach and that pupils could get the most from their classroom environment.”
6. Increased
Being able to positively increase something shows you're resourceful and working hard to improve yourself and/or the school.
For example:
“Increased my understanding of the curriculum by attending school meetings and training days.”
7. Ensured
Using the word ensured in your CV shows employers that they can rely on you and this is very important in the workplace.
For example:
“Ensured a positive learning environment where all pupils felt safe getting involved.”
8. Coached
Being able to coach others shows you’ve got good communication skills – which are a vital component of any teaching CV.
For example:
“Coached the year five football team once a week and organised monthly tournaments with other local schools.”
9. Motivated
Being able to motivate others, whether staff or pupils, shows that you’re able to boost morale and that you're striving to achieve the best results for everyone.
For example:
“Motivated pupils and encouraged them to get involved with exciting and creative lesson plans.”
10. Produced
Being able to produce things is important in most jobs, whether it’s a product or document. So, it’s always good to demonstrate this on your CV.
For example:
“Produced detailed assessments which met the school’s requirements for recording each students progress and development.”
Use these must-have keywords on your teaching CV
These are just 10 great keywords that can help to enhance your teaching CV. When writing your own, start by making a list of your skills and looking over the job description. Then, choose the keywords which are most relevant to you and pepper them throughout your CV.
Good luck with your job search!
About the author
Andrew Fennell
Andrew Fennell is the founder and director of StandOut CV, a leading UK careers advice website. He is a former recruitment consultant and contributes careers advice to publications like Business Insider, The Guardian, and The Independent.