How to write the perfect CV for jobs in the Education Sector
We are seeing a growing trend of education employers moving to take CV applications depending on the role or the organisation, so this number is likely to increase going forward. Here are our top tips for writing the perfect CV to gain a position in the education sector.
Provide your name, address and contact details
Making yourself easily contactable is an essential requirement from the employer’s perspective as chasing candidates with no or little contact details will frustrate them and reduce your chances of getting the role, even if the rest of your CV is impressive. Ensure your details are up-to-date and correct, ensuring they are presented at the top of the page very clearly. If you have an established LinkedIn profile, then we recommend that you include the link in your CV, so employers have the opportunity to find out some more about you.
Education Sector Relevant Information
Do you currently work in the education sector? If you do, then you are likely to have DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Certificate and may have registered for the DBS Update Service, so please provide that detail in your CV. The same goes for teachers who have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) you must have a Teacher Reference Number, so include that too. Essentially, anything that helps recruiters to fast track your application will ensure that your CV stands out and is at the top of the pile.
Perfect your personal statement
Want to make an excellent first impression with the hiring manager? Your personal statement is key to this, as this is the first thing that they will read about you before scanning the rest of your CV. We recommend that you tailor this according to the role you are applying for, highlighting the skills and attributes you have that are in demand in your chosen position or industry is a good idea. Your personal statement can be something that helps you to establish your individuality and stand out from the crowd, so make those few lines of text count.
Provide your most relevant work experience
With your current or most recent of your work experience first, you should include your job title, the name of the organisation, your start and finish dates as well as your key responsibilities and achievements, ideally in bullet point form. Unlike in other sectors, education providers will need to know your full work history, including any gaps (i.e. to have children or look after a sick or elderly relative) you may have had for safeguarding purposes.
Please don’t provide detail on all of your roles, especially if they were years ago and not relevant to the position. No hiring manager wants to look at a 9 page CV, so being succinct is best when it comes to your past work history. Instead, highlight your key responsibilities and achievements for any roles you have undertaken that are aligned to the position you are applying for, to demonstrate that you have some transferable skills.
List your education history as well as courses and training
As you are looking to apply for a role in the education sector, it is a crucial requirement that this is up to date and correct. You are likely to be asked to provide evidence of your education, so make sure you have this on file, and the grades and qualifications are accurate. The last thing you want to do is not get the job because you put down the wrong grade you were awarded. You should list the type of qualification, the date it was acquired as well as the grade that you achieved.
Also provide any additional training and courses you have been on, that are relevant to the position, as this will help you to stand out.
Find the optimal length and layout
Try and keep your CV two pages long or under, choose a clear and easy to read font and stick to the same font and size throughout the document, excluding titles or headings. A CV with a poor layout can be a hindrance when it comes to the recruitment process and on average under a minute is spent reading your CV, so you don’t want to lose them as soon as they lay eyes on it.
Spelling and grammar
It is essential to triple, if not quadruple check your CV before sending it out to potential employers. Remember this is the first impression they will receive of you, so you don’t want there to be any errors that could affect you moving forward in the recruitment process. For those of you applying for teaching positions, this is especially the case.
