How to Optimize Your Teacher Resume to Match Any Job Description

What You Will Find in this Article:

• The #1 mistake teachers make when writing their resume
• How to Create and Optimized Teacher Transition Resume by:
  • Writing a tailored resume summary statement
  • Listing your relevant roles
  • Crafting your tailored job experience bullets
  • Reviewing and revising your resume by asking yourself two simple questions
• Real Examples of Tailored Resume Bullets to Match Job Descriptions

For all jobs, recruiters are looking for candidates with a particular skill set to perform specific tasks. Tailoring your resume is recognizing those skills and responsibilities in the job description and making it obvious that you’re up to the task.

Your goal is to draw the shortest line possible between your professional experience and what’s stated in the job description.

• A job posting says: “These are the skills we need and the qualifications we’re looking for.”
  
  
• A generic resume says: “I have all this experience. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out if I can do this job.” (This is the #1 mistake teachers make when writing their resume.)
  
  
• An optimized resume says: “Here is an easy-to-read roadmap of where I acquired and developed each of your required skills and qualifications.”
  

By providing this easy-to-read roadmap, you are demonstrating to your potential employer that you will use the skills you’ve already gained to bring massive value to their organization. That said, here’s a hot tip nobody tells you- your optimized resume is for showing how much value you’ll provide in the future, not simply to detail your activities in the past.

Remember: A generic resume is about you. An optimized resume is about them and how you can solve their biggest challenges.

Let’s get started on crafting a killer resume that’s so good, they can’t ignore you.

Need a resume template? No problem! Click here to grab my free Corporate Resume Template to use when implementing the steps below.

Start By Writing a Tailored Resume Summary Statement

Your resume summary is your elevator pitch, composed of 1-4 sentences, that sits right below your name and contact information. It shows, in concise terms, why you are the one for the job and makes recruiters want to read your resume and invite you for an interview.

Sell your strongest attributes, top achievements, and high-impact keywords that tie into the specific job you are applying for. Write in the past tense and in the third person.

An effective resume summary follows this formula:

+ Professional Title (if relevant) 
+ Key Experiences (with the total number of years worked) 
+ Top Achievements (preferably measurable results) 
+ Top Skills/Expertise/Unique Values (relevant to the job and industry you are applying to).

Here is an example of a resume summary for a teacher applying to become a Professional Learning Specialist at an EdTech company:

Here is an example of a resume summary for a teacher applying to become a Customer Service Specialist at a company outside of EdTech:

Next, List Your Relevant Roles

This one is simple. Add your job title, the company name, the geographic location, and the date range of your employment in reverse chronological order.

Remember: Don’t hide that you are or were an educator. Let your time spent in the classroom shine through your story told using your key achievements! Keep reading for exactly what I mean…

Then, Craft Your Tailored Job Experience Bullets (Chat GPT Prompts Included)

Resume keyword tailoring isn’t about “tricking” or “beating” the system. It is about working in sync with recruiters and hiring managers and the technology they use to be efficient. Optimizing your keywords is about selling your qualifications, using the same language as the company you are applying to, and making sure you are seen and not ignored.

When deciding which of your experiences to highlight on your tailored resume, you’ll need to follow the specific and easy rules:

1. Be specific. The hiring manager should know exactly what you did in your previous roles (and current role) and how it is relevant to the job you are applying for.
2. Match the skills and keywords from the job description to your relevant experiences.
3. Optimize your resume but don’t overstuff with keywords. Here's an example of what "overstuffing" looks like:
4. Focus on quantifiable achievements and skills over job responsibilities. See the difference? If you were a hiring manager, which one would you prefer to read?
5. Do not lie.

I know what you're saying. "Okay, Steph. That sounds great but that still doesn't help me actually WRITE optimized job experience bullets."

No problem! Here are my favorite Chat GPT prompts to get you laser-beam focused on which of your experiences to include in your resume. 

STEP 1: First, use Chat GPT to help with the analysis of what to highlight for a specific role you’re pursuing.

• Prompt: "Please review the job description for [insert job title] at [Company] and identify the most important skills and qualifications required. Based on this analysis, recommend the key skills and qualifications I should highlight on a resume for this role.” Then, Copy/paste the role title and job description (not the disclaimers and fine print)

STEP 2: Grab a piece of paper and write down the following:

• 4-6 things you have done in each job you’ve had that demonstrates any of the critical skills noted in your Chat GPT output (the more skills you can cover, the better). 
• Pro Tip** Focus more on what you did with and for colleagues instead of students. 

STEP 3: Craft your quantified, tailored job experience bullets. 

• Use power/action verbs and measurable outcomes for each bullet. Prioritize the power/action verbs specifically used in the job description(s).
• Resume Bullet Formula: “X (action verb + task/project) for Y (frequency, # of people, audience or purpose) which resulted in Z (quantifiable result)”

Overwhelmed with how to properly highlight your skills and experiences? Check out my 5 Easy Steps to Quantify Your Teacher Resume.

STEP 4: Use Chat GPT to refine each bullet to match the job description. Here’s your Chat GPT Prompt for single bullets:

• Prompt: “Rewrite this bullet to be less than 20 words, include keywords from the job description below, include metrics from my resume, and use compelling language.
  Resume: [Copy/Paste what you have so far for your resume]
  Job Description: [Copy/Paste target job title and description]”

STEP 5: Review and edit anything Chat GPT suggests. Check for factual accuracy, tone of voice (make sure it is YOUR voice and not a robot's), and review the length of what is recommended. Concision is king but more importantly TRUTH is all important.

Finally, Review and Revise Your Resume

Check the specific job description of the position and ask yourself these two questions:

• Does my resume summary and experience section clearly state that I can do what’s required in at least 70% of this role?
• Am I using the same language (aka corporate language) found in the job description?

If you answer no to either of these questions, you have likely uncovered different and/or missing skills or keywords to include in your resume. Time to tweak your language.

Real-World Examples of Tailored Resume Bullets to Match Job Descriptions

Why this is a good work experience description for a resume:

• The teacher clearly highlights transferable skills described in the job description
• The teacher incorporated several high-leverage keywords from the job description
• Metrics showcase evidence of accomplishments and highlight the ability to drive positive results, which aligns with the qualifications for this role

Why this is a good work experience description for a resume:

• The teacher clearly expressed experience working with Subject Matter Experts (re: fellow educators and education professionals with content expertise), designing and developing eLearning curricula, managing eLearning materials, and collaborating with professionals in the field.
• The teacher highlights aptitude in their strong attention to detail and familiarity with various authoring tools and multimedia software.
• The quantifiable outcomes demonstrate the positive impact of their efforts in creating, collaborating, and designing eLearning materials.