With schools opening back up globally and online teaching booming, now is a great time to get your TEFL CV up to scratch. It’s no secret that the TEFL industry is a competitive one. And with countries’ borders opening up, there will be many English teachers competing for the same positions. Therefore, having the best TEFL CV possible has never been so important.

To create a killer CV that you can use to apply for a variety of teaching jobs, remember to stick to the five ‘C’s:

• Clear
• Concise
• Catered to the position
• Cover letter
• Check spelling and grammar.

If you follow the five ‘C’s, you can create and quickly adapt a TEFL CV for any job you wish to apply for. So, let’s get started!

1. Have a clear layout

Your potential employer will gain their first impression of you from your CV. As the saying goes: first impressions count, so your TEFL resume must reflect your professionalism while also showcasing your skills and qualifications. Therefore, your CV must be organised and have a clear layout that’s easy to read and get information. Although CVs differ depending on what job you are applying for, you must include certain information that will always stay the same.

Essential information needed on your TEFL CV include:

• Name
• Address
• Email address
• Phone number (including your country calling code)
• Skype ID (many interviews will be over Skype).

It may seem obvious, but if you don’t provide an easy way for your potential employer to contact you, you will never secure an interview, let alone a job. So put this essential information at the top of your CV. And make sure it’s correct.

• Your education and qualifications

After you mention your contact information, you must list your education and TEFL qualifications. These will prove you are qualified for the job you are applying for. Remember, the 120 Hour TEFL Course is the minimum requirement to teach English as a foreign language.

Bear in mind that, depending on the country you teach in, having a degree can be a requirement to teach. It’s also important to mention the number of hours of your TEFL qualifications and if they include teaching practice. These will provide insight into your teacher training.

After listing your education and TEFL qualifications, you should include any experience you have that’s relevant to teaching. For example, if you have experience creating lesson plans, writing report cards or managing a classroom, mention these skills to show your ability to run a classroom and implement a curriculum. What about if you don’t have any relevant experience? Try to relate any past jobs or expertise to the skills needed to TEFL. A volunteering position teaching, tutoring or helping young people or adults will enhance your CV. Or our 10 Hour Virtual TELF Course provides teaching methods and practice, which will look great on your CV.

2. Keep your CV concise

Often, people struggle to decide what to include and what not to include on their TEFL CV. So, they end up listing every example of work experience they’ve ever had. As a result, their CV ends up resembling an essay instead of a relevant representation of their job eligibility. You don’t want this. If there’s too much information on your CV, no one will want to read it. Your employer will just become disinterested and throw it in the bin.

Your TEFL resume should be two pages long – maximum. If you can cut it down to one page, that’s even better. Remove any information from your CV that’s not relevant or beneficial to the position you’re applying for. For instance, your potential employer doesn’t need to know that you spent three years working in your local bar 10 years ago. But they would be interested to know that you spent time working at a kids’ summer camp because it shows you have experience dealing with and taking care of children.

3. Cater your CV

It would be a mistake to assume that your TEFL CV will be a one size fits all job. The requirements and skills needed to teach adults online are completely different to the requirements needed to teach English to young learners in a classroom. Your TEFL CV must reflect these differences. If you don’t adapt your TEFL resume to suit the job you’re applying for, you won’t be successful in securing an interview or a job.

This doesn’t mean you have to write an entirely new resume every time you apply for a job. All you need is a general TEFL CV with all your contact information and qualifications etc. That way, you can tweak it to suit the position you’re applying for. Hey presto! Within five minutes, you’ll have a new CV catered towards the wide variety of TEFL teaching jobs out there. Remember, it’s all about working smart, not hard.

We understand that for many of you who have never taught before, it can be difficult to know what experience is relevant. But fear not. We’ve all been there. You’ll be surprised how many transferable skills you have. For example, if you have experience with public speaking, mentoring children, organising events or presenting, these demonstrate your ability to give instructions, engage with future students and relay information confidently.

4. Check for spelling and grammatical mistakes

Although this may seem obvious, you would be surprised how often we English teachers slip up in the spelling department. We’re only human, after all. But a CV with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors is a sure-fire way to turn your employer off. You don’t want to give them a reason not to interview you, so triple-check your TEFL resume for misspellings and typos.

5. Provide a cover letter

Most English teaching jobs don’t require a cover letter during the application process. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include one. Cover letters are important because they provide an insight into your personality and what sort of person and teacher you are. You can mention the class environment you strive to create when you teach, your teaching principles and your ethos. This could be as simple as saying that you aim to create a safe environment for your students, so they feel comfortable making mistakes, which will help them improve their English fluency. If you have never taught before, you can demonstrate how your hobbies or passions can make you an excellent teaching candidate. For example, if you enjoy drama or music, you could use this passion to create fun games and activities for young learners to learn English.

You should always include a cover letter, and it should be around three paragraphs. Don’t repeat any information that’s already on your TEFL resume.

Apply for jobs!

Now that you’ve written your TEFL resume and cover letter, it’s time to start applying for TEFL jobs. Your next step is to get hired. This may be a short or long process, depending on where you want to teach and how popular the position is. But remember, each interview you have will make you more prepared for your next one. Don’t let any rejections deter you from starting your TEFL career. Your perfect job is out there waiting for you; you just have to find it.

Need help writing the best TEFL CV? Our tailored CV service provides you with a TEFL resume that showcases your teaching experience and capabilities within seven working days. Order yours today if you want to maximise your chances of securing interviews and job offers!