It takes a special teacher to work with middle school students. One minute they act like little adults, and the next they act like little children. You have patience and empathy by the yard and you want to put them to use in a new middle school. Today is the day for you to start your learning about how to create the best possible middle school resume!
As a teacher, you know resources are there to aid learning. Resume.io offers powerful resources for job seekers. Take advantage of our resume guides and resume examples for 300+ professions, as well as our easy-to-use resume builder.
What is the objective of this guide? To help you make the most of your experience and skills so you can get that interview! Read on to discover more about these topics:
Middle school teachers work with young adolescents. They may teach one or more subjects. Middle school teachers develop and deliver curriculum and create assessments that show if their students are internalizing the material. The grade assignments and give constructive feedback to students. They adjust their lesson plans to take into consideration the results of assessments.
In addition, they communicate with parents about student progress, set behavioral standards, collaborate with colleagues, write reports and attend conferences and professional development seminars.
Most resumes contain the same standard sections. Your middle school teacher CV may be a bit different because you may choose to add headings (if you have space), however, the basic sections are:
You may choose components such as presentations, certifications and grants/awards.
A middle school teacher resume should emphasize what you are doing now and how that has prepared you for the job you seek. As you gain experience, your early work becomes less important. Hiring committees want to see where you are more than where you were a number of years ago. That is why we recommend the reverse chronological order format.
If you have a more complicated work history, are changing careers or are looking for your first job, you may consider one of the hybrid or chronological alternatives we recommend.
Job market and salary
Overall, the demand for middle school teachers is expected to grow by 7% in the next decade, which is typical for all fields, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says; however, subject matter determines the real demand. Mathematics, science, foreign language, English language learning, bilingual education and special education are all high-needs areas.
The U.S. average annual salary for middle school teachers is $49,478, Payscale reports, but this figure varies greatly by state.
The summary, or profile, of your middle school teacher resume tells HR who you are as a person. You have chosen a highly personal career, so this section carries weight. Introduce yourself and illuminate recruiters by showing off your biggest success. Then, in what remains of the 3-4 lines you have, describe your teaching philosophy or a classroom management technique you swear by.
Don’t be shy! Use strong, positive language to describe yourself. Underplaying your abilities won’t impress.
The resume sample below will get you started, but if you are looking for more, peruse our education section for related resume samples such as our general education resume example or teacher resume sample. For more specific resume samples, check out our elementary school teacher resume example, our high school teacher resume example or our ESL teacher resume example.
Experienced and passionate Middle School Teacher with a love for educating today’s youth. Adept in creating a comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum that meets education requirements and standards. Able to act as a facilitator of powerful learning experiences, while allowing students to share their own passions and curiosities. Familiar with many renowned educational philosophies, aimed at supporting a child academically, emotionally, and socially. Bringing forth dedication, skill, and the desire to positively impact the lives of middle school students.
The employment history section takes up the largest part of your middle school teacher resume. Detail your achievements in bulleted items that begin with a strong action word. Quantify your successes whenever possible. Also use specific program names. This will help you get past the initial screening by the Applicant Tracking System.
If you are looking for your first position after student-teaching, use this in your employment history and consider writing a longer summary statement. Below you'll find our employment history resume sample.
Teachers believe in education, so your academic achievements are an important part of your middle school teacher resume. You should list all your degrees and certifications and any honors or distinctions you have earned.
If you have multiple certifications, you may consider creating a separate certification section. Also think about listing any education organizations you belong to if they are relevant to the job you seek. Teachers with master’s degrees or higher may leave out their high school experience. Below is our adaptable resume example.
The skills section serves to highlight your greatest attributes, but it also serves two other functions:
Choose a blend of your subject-matter expertise, teaching pedagogy and soft skills, such as communication and empathy that make you relatable to others.
Leap the ATS hurdle
When you apply online, chances are you are doing so through an ATS. This software scans your resume into the HR system, but it also ranks your application partly based on keywords and phrases. That’s why it’s important for you to thoroughly review the job listing and strategically place words and phrases from it into your resume. There are no guaranteed ways to beat the ATS, but this method will greatly increase your chances.
What impression do you want to give? Competent and caring? Tough but fair? Consider this as you develop the layout and design of your middle school teacher resume. You know from meeting students for the first time that overcoming those first impressions can be tough. Make your first impression a great one with a clean, organized layout that is error-free.
Try one of our field-tested resume templates. They can be personalized, but will give you a great start on an eye-catching resume. Not only are they professionally designed, but they will eliminate your need to get into the nitty gritty of formatting.