Crafting a CV that accurately reflects your multifaceted role and diverse skill set can be a daunting challenge for a teacher assistant. Explore our comprehensive guide which offers tailored advice on structuring your experience and achievements to create a compelling CV that stands out to employers.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
How complex should the format of your teacher assistant CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your teacher assistant CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a teacher assistant CV
- Education background is critical to showcase your qualifications and understanding of academic environments, ensuring you meet the minimum requirements for teaching assistance.
- Relevant work experience demonstrates your practical skills and previous contributions in educational settings, highlighting your ability to support teaching.
- Skills summary is essential to highlight your educational tools and techniques knowledge, which is pivotal for assisting in classroom settings.
- Certifications and training present additional qualifications specific to education, such as child safeguarding or special needs training, signalling your commitment to professional development in the field of education.
- Personal statement outlines your motivation and suitability for a teacher assistant role, reflecting your dedication to supporting students and teachers.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your experience with classroom management and support, detailing any specific strategies you've used to assist teachers in creating an organised and positive learning environment.
- Emphasise your proficiency in adapting teaching materials and methods to meet students' varying needs and learning styles, showcasing your commitment to inclusive education.
- Include any relevant qualifications or certifications, such as a teaching assistant diploma or SEN (Special Educational Needs) training that demonstrate your expertise and dedication to the field.
- Mention your strong communication skills, providing examples of how you've successfully collaborated with teachers, parents, and students to facilitate effective learning outcomes.
- Showcase your initiative and creativity by describing instances where you've developed or contributed to educational activities that enhance student engagement and support curriculum objectives.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning teacher assistant CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for teacher assistant:
- Early Years Teaching Assistant | NVQ Level 3 in Childcare | 5+ Years of Classroom Experience
- SEN Teaching Assistant | Autism & ADHD Specialist | B.Ed. Inclusive Education | 10 Years Dedicated Support
- Higher-Level Teaching Assistant | Curriculum Development | Literacy & Numeracy Expert | CACHE Level 4 Qualified
- Graduate Teaching Assistant | MSc Educational Psychology | Behaviour Management | Research & Analysis Skills
- Primary School TA | Creative Learning Strategies | ICT in Education | 8 Years Inspiring Young Minds
- Secondary School Teaching Assistant | GCSE Support | Science & Maths Focus | A-Level Mentorship Experience
Opting between a teacher assistant CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your teacher assistant CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a teacher assistant job:
Narrating the details of your teacher assistant CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your teacher assistant CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Facilitated small group tutoring sessions for students struggling with mathematics, leading to a marked improvement in their test scores.
- Assisted the lead teacher in creating lesson plans and teaching materials tailored to a class of 30 students, ensuring alignment with the curriculum guidelines.
- Managed the grading and recording of homework for a year 7 science class, providing timely feedback that helped students correct their misunderstandings.
- Implemented behavioural management strategies during class activities, contributing to a 20% decrease in classroom disruptions over the academic year.
- Used educational technology tools, such as SMART Boards and tablet computers, to enhance interactivity and engagement in English lessons for year 9 students.
- Coordinated with the special education department to provide targeted support to students with learning disabilities, enabling full inclusion in the classroom.
- Organised and supervised extracurricular activities, including a weekly art club, which fostered students' creativity and teamwork skills.
- Assisted in the preparation and delivery of standardised testing, ensuring that all students were well-informed and equipped with the necessary materials.
- Provided one-to-one support to students during revision sessions for GCSE exams, resulting in an average exam score increase of 15% across the cohort.
- Aided in the development of a literacy program that improved student reading levels by an average of 1.5 grades over six months.
- Managed classroom materials and resources, ensuring availability and proper use for a class of 30, leading to smoother lesson delivery.
- Facilitated group activities and discussions, improving student social skills and collaboration efforts as noted in quarterly reports.
- Implemented individualised education plans for students with special needs, enhancing personalised learning experiences.
- Coordinated with lead teachers to conduct science workshops, which raised student engagement in STEM subjects by 20%.
- Monitored and reported on student progress, contributing to the department's achievement of highest attendance records for the past decade.
- Orchestrated classroom technology integration, training students on educational software that resulted in a 25% increase in digital literacy.
- Provided key support during Ofsted inspections, playing a pivotal role in the school achieving 'Outstanding' status in 2015.
- Created interactive bulletin boards monthly to engage students on current educational themes, which significantly enhanced classroom aesthetics and learning interest.
- Designed and implemented a peer-tutoring program that helped increase overall exam performance by 10%.
- Managed inventory of teaching supplies and coordinated ordering new stock, staying within the annual budget while ensuring resource availability.
- Supervised lunchtime and playground activities, creating a safe environment that reduced incidents by 30% in the first year.
- Assisted in the preparation and delivery of science experiments, fostering a hands-on learning environment that increased student test scores by an average of 15%.
- Collaborated in managing the school's annual Science Fair, involving over 200 students and resulting in 3 regional awards.
- Implemented and maintained a system for tracking laboratory equipment which drastically reduced loss and damage expenses by 40%.
- Supported the mathematics department in research and data analysis, leading to the development of new curriculum approaches in alignment with national standards.
- Trained in 'Math Mastery' methods, which I then applied to classroom situations, leading to a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.
- Provided critical feedback on student homework, contributing to a system that saw a consistent increase in homework completion rates by up to 90%.
- Closely involved in the planning and execution of an arts-based curriculum, engaging students and improving creative expression skills across the class.
- Led a project on the introduction of digital arts, culminating in an end-of-year exhibition showcasing students' work publicly.
- Took the initiative to organise after-school art clubs, thereby increasing student participation in extracurricular activities by 35%.
- Played a key role in the implementation of a bilingual teaching program, helping students to achieve fluency in a second language, with 95% passing the proficiency test.
- Coordinated with the English as an Additional Language (EAL) department to tailor lesson plans for non-native speakers, ensuring their inclusion and progress.
- Trained in conflict resolution and applied these strategies to reduce classroom disturbances, creating a more conducive learning environment.
What to add in your teacher assistant CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your teacher assistant CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your teacher assistant CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your teacher assistant CV:
Classroom Management
Educational Technology Proficiency
Lesson Plan Assistance
Special Education Support
Behavioural Management Techniques
First Aid and CPR Certified
Literacy and Numeracy Skills
Record Keeping
Instructional Material Preparation
Learning Assessment Tools
Effective Communication
Active Listening
Patience
Adaptability
Teamwork
Time Management
Creativity
Problem-Solving
Empathy
Interpersonal Skills
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Further professional qualifications for your teacher assistant CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your teacher assistant 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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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your teacher assistant CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
