Crafting a CV that stands out to potential clients remains a daunting challenge for many private tutors. By following our guide, you'll learn how to showcase your unique tutoring expertise and tailor your CV to highlight the exceptional value you offer to students.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Structuring your private tutor CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your private tutor CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
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Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a private tutor CV
- Personal statement offers a concise intro about your teaching philosophy and approach to tutoring, showcasing your passion and dedication to education.
- Teaching experience section highlights your background in education, detailing your past roles, achievements, and the subjects you have experience in teaching.
- Educational background is essential, including your degrees, certifications, and any other relevant qualifications that prove you're knowledgeable in your field.
- Specialised skills category displays any unique abilities, such as knowledge of educational technology, special needs education, or fluency in multiple languages.
- References provide credibility to your experience and skills through the eyes of previous employers, colleagues, or academic professionals.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your expertise in the subject matter you specialise in, detailing your qualifications and any relevant continued professional development courses you've undertaken.
- Emphasise your interpersonal skills by mentioning any previous experience working with a diverse range of students and adapting your teaching methods to meet their individual needs.
- Include any positive outcomes from your tutoring, such as students' exam results improvement or the successful attainment of their academic goals, to demonstrate your efficacy.
- Detail your availability and any flexibility you offer, such as weekend or evening sessions, as well as your willingness to provide online or in-person tutoring.
- Showcase any testimonials or references from previous clients to provide evidence of your teaching capabilities and the impact you've had on your students’ academic progress.
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Making a good first impression with your private tutor CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for private tutor:
- Mathematics Tutor | PGCE Certified | Algebra to Calculus Specialist | 8 Years' Experience
- Science Educator | PhD in Physics | Interactive Learning Enthusiast | Senior-Level | 10+ Years
- English Language Instructor | TEFL Qualified | IELTS & TOEFL Expert | Mid-Level | 5 Years' Practice
- Senior History Tutor | MA History | Specialisation in European History | 15 Years in Education
- Junior Chemistry Coach | BSc (Hons) Graduate | Passionate in Organic Chemistry | 2 Years' Tutoring
- Primary Education Guide | QTS Holder | Phonics & Numeracy Developer | 6 Years' Teaching Experience
Choosing your opening statement: a private tutor CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a private tutor job:
- With over 10 years of experience in secondary education, a seasoned Mathematics tutor with a track record of improving student's grades by at least two levels. Proficient in modern teaching methods including the use of technology to facilitate learning. Awarded the 'Most Inspirational Tutor of the Year' by the National Tutoring Association.
- A dedicated professional with 8 years of experience as a Physics tutor, adept at tailoring teaching strategies to fit individual needs. Known for my patience and ability to simplify complex concepts, successfully boosted A-Level pass rates by 25% in the past two years.
- Former financial analyst with 5 years at a Fortune 500 company, seeking to transfer extensive analytical and communication skills into a new career as a private Economics tutor. Recognised for my expertise in economic theory and ability to relate real-world business scenarios to academic studies.
- Transitioning from a 7-year career in software development, where I excelled in problem-solving and project management, I am keen to leverage these skills to foster understanding and passion for Computing in students as a Computer Science tutor.
- As a graduate with a First-Class Honours degree in English from the University of Oxford and a passion for education, I am eager to begin a new journey as a professional tutor, aiming to inspire and support students in achieving their academic goals.
- Recent physics graduate with honours, bringing fresh knowledge and enthusiasm to a career in tutoring. Aiming to create a dynamic and interactive learning environment that makes science approachable and interesting for young learners.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your private tutor CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Detail your expertise in specific subjects, for example, "Specialised in tutoring A-Level Mathematics, furthering students’ understanding of calculus and algebra, resulting in an average 20% test score improvement."
- Highlight your ability to design customised learning plans, such as “Created individualised learning strategies for over 40 students, adjusting techniques to fit their unique learning styles and abilities.”
- Emphasise your communication skills, mentioning “Expertly communicated complex concepts in physics and chemistry to students aged 14-18, enhancing their comprehension and academic performance.”
- Mention your adaptability, for example, “Adapted teaching methods to accommodate remote learning requirements, utilising online platforms to maintain educational continuity during the pandemic.”
- Illustrate your track record of students' success, such as “Mentored 30+ GCSE students with a 95% pass rate in Mathematics and Sciences over the past three years.”
- Discuss your time management and organisation skills, stating “Efficiently managed scheduling and conducted over 20 hours of one-to-one tutoring sessions weekly, while ensuring timely progress assessments.”
- Showcase your commitment to professional development, for instance, “Regularly attended educational workshops to stay up-to-date with the latest curriculum changes and teaching methodologies.”
- Provide examples of your patience and motivational skills, "Demonstrated great patience and encouragement, helping students overcome anxieties and build confidence, particularly in exam situations."
- Highlight your administrative competencies, like “Maintained detailed records of student progress and provided regular feedback to parents and guardians to support student development.”
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive curriculum for 15 GCSE students in Mathematics, achieving an average grade improvement of 20%.
- Conducted engaging one-on-one tutoring sessions, with a strong focus on problem-solving and critical thinking, for 10 A-Level Physics students.
- Provided weekly progress reports to both students and parents, enhancing communication and aligning academic goals, which contributed to a 95% satisfaction rating.
- Pioneered the use of multimedia learning tools to facilitate interactive sessions for 25+ primary school pupils, significantly boosting their engagement and retention of subject matter.
- Collaborated extensively with the National Tutoring Programme to tailor lesson plans that catered to individual student needs, enhancing the performance metrics for the students involved.
- Streamlined the academic assessment process, leading to a 30% reduction in preparation time for standardized testing.
- Utilising adaptive online platforms, I've conducted virtual tutoring for international baccalaureate subjects, creating tailored learning journeys for over 40 students across various time zones.
- Expert at leveraging digital tools such as interactive quizzes and virtual whiteboards to create an engaging, hands-on learning environment despite the challenge of remote tutoring.
- Successfully navigated the shift to online learning due to COVID-19, ensuring no interruption in educational support for my students and subsequently receiving a 98% satisfaction score in client feedback.
- Orchestrated a personalised summer learning initiative for secondary school students, focusing on exam preparation and confidence-building techniques, with all participants improving at least one letter grade.
- Fostered a supportive and motivating learning environment that empowered 12 underachieving students to surpass their academic targets by the end of the school year.
- Integrated real-world examples into lesson plans to clarify complex scientific concepts, which culminated in my students’ enhanced understanding and application of the material.
- Designed a specialised SAT prep course for a diverse cohort of international students, leading to an average score increase of 150 points.
- Instrumental in guiding a student through a rigorous Oxford University entrance exam preparation, which ultimately resulted in her successful admission.
- Conceived and initiated a peer-learning programme that encouraged collaborative study and knowledge sharing amongst my tutees, leading to a more holistic educational experience.
- Systematically increased academic resilience in 20+ students by setting strategic, achievable goals, and providing consistent feedback, which led to a 25% increase in their academic performance.
- Took initiative to develop an SAT Math specialisation, enabling me to grow my client base by 50% through referrals and positive testimonials.
- Implemented a structured feedback mechanism for parental involvement that improved reinforcement of learning concepts at home, contributing to the steady progress of all tutees.
- Successfully taught advanced concepts in A-Level Mathematics and Physics to over 30 students, resulting in an average of 90% in their final exams.
- Initiated a specialised tutorial group for gifted students, fostering an environment of accelerated learning and enabling them to participate in national Mathematics competitions.
- Developed a tailored approach to identify learning gaps in underperforming students, which has been recognised as best practice and adopted by fellow tutors in the network.
- Created and executed a bespoke tutoring curriculum for students with dyslexia, leading to an average increase of 30% in their reading comprehension and written expression scores.
- Applied the principles of educational psychology to design multi-sensory teaching techniques that enhanced memory recall and focus among students with ADHD.
- Acted as a liaising figure between academic institutions and parents to build individualised education programmes (IEPs), ensuring the provision of adequate resources and settings for optimal learning.
Writing your CV without professional experience for your first job or when switching industries
There comes a day, when applying for a job, you happen to have no relevant experience, whatsoever. Yet, you're keen on putting your name in the hat. What should you do? Candidates who part-time experience , internships, and volunteer work.
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Describe how each job helped you grow or learn something new, showing a continuous development path in your career.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your private tutor CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your private tutor CV:
Subject Matter Expertise
Curriculum Development
Lesson Planning
Educational Technology Proficiency
Student Assessment
Time Management
Language Proficiency
Resource Management
Standardised Testing Knowledge
Special Needs Education Techniques
Communication
Patience
Creativity
Adaptability
Problem-Solving
Empathy
Interpersonal Skills
Organisation
Motivational Skills
Active Listening
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Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
Further professional qualifications for your private tutor CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your private tutor CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
Write your professional private tutor CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
