This guide offers strategies for teachers to effectively write CVs and navigate the job application process in education. It emphasizes the importance of a tailored CV, personal branding, and dynamic language while dispelling common job application myths. Key tips include thorough research on potential employers, the significance of strong personal statements, and the necessity of proofreading.

1. Teachers’ CV writing guide
AKA Self-promotion, sales and marketing 101

2. Objectives
• To provide you with advice, skills and resources
for advancing your career in (or out of) education
• This session will enable you to develop an
effective CV that reflects your personal skill-set

3. The job application process
Career planning and sourcing jobs
• Personal strengths and attributes; print media and
online; networking
Applying for suitable jobs
• Cover letter, CV, selection criteria
Securing the right job
• 1st and 2nd Interview, try-out, testing

4. Applying for suitable jobs
Purpose: To get short-listed for interview
What Objective Perspective
Cover letter Demonstrate you can write, spell, Personal voice, sense
research the school, structure a of self
coherent and compelling argument
CV (resume) Detail your relevant skills, knowledge Legal document,
and experience. Meet the job objective and
requirements verifiable
Key selection criteria Express your role-specific views Theory and
clearly, provide discussion points for philosophy, backed up
interview with evidence of past
behaviour

5. Knowing your brand
Lifestyle Hopes,
dreams and
aspirations
Imagination
Liberty
Innovation
regained
Simplicity Passion

6. What are you known for?

7. Dispelling some job application myths
True or false?
1. The employer reads the cover letter before reading
the CV
2. The school may receive 30 – 50 applications for some
vacancies
3. It is possible to make an employment decision in less
than 30 seconds
4. Presentation is more important than content
5. Each application receives an equal amount of
consideration
6. Employers are rational, unbiased, unemotional, 100%
reliable professionals who are never tired or stressed

8. Just Dandy – Sunday Age, 1 April
• How can you ensure
you stand out from
the crowd (60
applicants per
position!)?
• Last week I received
154 applications for
a receptionist
position! 154!!!

9. Applying for jobs: The CV
• Résumé or CV? What’s the difference?
• Almost exclusively sent in soft copy via email
• Employers receive far more than previously
– Worldwide accessibility of websites
– Increasingly international workforce
– Staff shortages
• Trend towards summaries of key points
• Tailored to the role you are applying for

10. What does a great CV look like?
• Answer: How do you like your coffee?
• Know your strengths and lead with them:
Highly qualified? Experienced? Sporty?
Passionate about curriculum?
• The 1st page of your CV is PRIME REAL ESTATE.
It is the cover of Time magazine. It is a Nobel
Prize winner. Don’t waste it!
• Blow your own trumpet funky horn! Banish
bashfulness. Kill or be killed.

11. Your CV: The basics
Do Don’t Depends
Put Résumé or CV at the
Keep to 2 – 4 pages Use minimal colour
top
Give your file a suitable Hyperlink to portfolio
Put your photo
name page
Use fancy fonts and
Keep it ‘clean’ Link with social media
graphics
Keep formatting
consistent: Send in multiple copies
Bullets, fonts, tables and or hard copies
tabs

12. Sections to include
• Personal Details (no need for a heading)
• Personal statement (or Career overview)
• Qualifications (or Education)
• Teaching strengths
(or Key skills/achievements)(optional)
• Employment history (or ‘Professional
experience’)
• Professional development and memberships
• Activities and interests
• Referees (3 max.)

13. CV style guide
• Personal statement
– Strong personal voice; use I and me; convey passion
and enthusiasm
• Key achievements
– Dynamic language; past tense; omit 1st person; convey
objective voice; increase credibility, decrease risk
• Key skills/qualities/competencies
– Dynamic; objective; use strong adjectives to
emphasise nouns (e.g. extensive experience in,
collaborative leadership style etc.)

14. Using dynamic language
• Using the list of dynamic verbs provided, re-
write the following statements:
– I was involved in planning for the NAPLAN
– I am a science coordinator
– I changed the middle school reporting structure
– I sit on the annual open day committee
– I supervise the underwater hockey club
• Now write three of your own dynamic
achievement statements

15. Choosing referees
• Professional
– Your current Principal or Deputy Principal
– Head of Department or Head of Campus
– Previous Principal, DP, HoD or HoC
• Personal
– Seldom required
– Possibly a parent or member of school community
• Check with them first! Confirm contact details

16. And finally...
• Be strategic, be sincere, don’t lie
• Make every word count
• Give yourself your best chance
• Spell-cheque, poof-reed, spell-check, proof-read
• Applying for jobs is an exercise in selling
– Know what you are selling
– Ensure it is what people want
• If you don’t get short-listed, it’s their loss: Try not
to take it personally.

17. To download this presentation
register at www.schooljobs.com.au
For more information about
Steve Whittington see
www.oxfordeducation.com.au