23 Sep
Writing A Resume For Teaching, Specifically
Congratulations on taking the first step toward teaching abroad! Writing a standout resume is a big move that brings you closer to landing your dream job in South Korea. Exciting, right?! Your resume is your first impression, and it’s important to make it a good one. You don’t need to create anything overly complex, but your resume does need to highlight the best parts of your experience and education for teaching in Korea, specifically! Don’t worry, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you get started writing the perfect resume to teach in Korea!
1. Avoid Generic or Too Detailed Templates
Let’s be real, those cookie-cutter templates from sites like Indeed? They’re not going to help you stand out. Teaching abroad is a unique adventure, your resume should reflect you. Go for a clean, modern design that’s easy to read but still personal. Recruiters and schools want to be able to scan your resume quickly, so keep it simple but impactful!
2. Highlight Your Education First
Your education is crucial when applying for teaching positions, so make sure it’s listed at the very top of your resume! It’s one of the first thing you’ll want the recruitment team to see when reviewing your resume. Make sure to include all degrees, the name of the school you attended and don’t forget to add your date of graduation.
Bonus: If you have a teaching certificate (TEFL, TESOL, etc.) add this into this education section as well. While a TEFL is not required, it helps you stand out!
3. One Paged Resume and Cover Letter
A resume that’s too long can be overwhelming and difficult to read. It’s best to create a single page that focuses on the most relevant experiences. Make sure to use concise bullet points that outline your skills and responsibilities without dragging on!
If there’s more you want to share, save it for your cover letter! Employers value cover letters that describe your motivations for teaching abroad and why you’re excited about teaching in South Korea. Pairing a solid one-page resume with a thoughtful cover letter is a winning combination!
4. Include All Teaching-Related Experience
If you’ve taught before (great!) But don’t stress if you haven’t! Any experience working with kids or young adults is important to add to your resume. Whether it’s tutoring, babysitting, coaching or even volunteer work. Recruiters want to see that you’ve spent time guiding or educating others, even if it’s not in a traditional classroom setting. However, it’s not a requirement so don’t stress if this is all new to you!
5. Make It Easy to Read
A clean and easy to read resume will make it easier for recruiters to see how great of a candidate you are! We can’t say this enough: use concise bullet points for each experience to outline key achievements and responsibilities. Make sure to avoid creating dense blocks of text that are chunky and hard to read. Keep margins and spacing neat and use bold headings to guide the reader’s eye through the document.
Bonus Tips
- Double Check Your Contact Info: Applicants forget to include their phone number or email, and without that, we can’t get in touch with you. Seriously, it happens more often than you think! Double check everything before you hit send!
- Show Off Your Hard Skills: Make sure to highlight skills that are useful for teaching. Think technology, public speaking, classroom management or even writing and communication skills. These show you’re ready to handle a classroom and connect with students effectively.
- Highlight Your Soft Skills: Teaching is as much about connecting with students as it is about lessons. Be sure to highlight soft skills like communication, patience, adaptability and problem-solving. These are crucial both for teaching and for adjusting to a new culture!
- Avoid Grammatical Errors: You are applying to be an English teacher! Grammatical errors on your resume can be a cause for concern. Microsoft Word is great at spell check, but it can also make mistakes. Read through your resume a few times before finalizing it. Bonus if you can have a friend or family member review your resume as well!
By following these tips, you’ll write the perfect resume that highlights your best qualifications, makes a strong impression and brings you closer to teaching in South Korea. Good luck! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out, we’re here to help!
Bethany Coquelle, Overseas Recruiter
Bethany, growing up and living in both the east and west coasts of Canada, serves as an Overseas Recruiter specializing in South Korea placements since 2017! With a multicultural family and a passion for cultural exchange, she understands the transformative power of connecting people from diverse backgrounds. Inspired by the impact teachers can have on students’ lives, Bethany is dedicated to linking educators with their ideal positions abroad. Whether guiding through the intricacies of teaching in South Korea or providing a compassionate ear, she is committed to supporting your educational journey.