If you’re applying for a substitute teacher job in NJ, it is essential for you to create a well-structured resume. Schools look for substitute teachers who are reliable, flexible, and can manage classroom effectively. Substitute teachers are in high demand as schools face employment challenges and inconveniences. Whether you’re an experienced substitute or its your first year as a substitute teacher, our tips for optimizing your substitute teacher resume will help you craft a resume that stands out.
Tips for Optimizing Your Substitute Teacher Resume
- Use a Clean and Professional Format
Hiring managers often scan resumes for a quick overview, therefore it’s imperative that your resume is easy to read. In order for a resume to be clean and professional, you should have clear headings, bullet points, and a professional font. Keep your resume concise, stay away from adding too much fluff, and avoid unnecessary graphics. While creating your resume, ensure that it is no longer than two pages. If you can fit all relevant information on to one page, that would be best. However, if it is necessary to have two pages do not make it any longer.
- Emphasize Relevant Skills, Education, and Experiences
If you have worked as a substitute teacher in NJ before, highlight your experience with different grade levels, subjects, and school settings. If you’re new to substitute teaching, include related experiences such as student teaching, tutoring, other instructional roles, or any experiences working with children. Your work history should be listed in reverse chronological order. This means you will list your most recent position first followed by others in descending order. You will also want to highlight which NJ substitute teacher certification you hold and any other degrees or certifications.
It’s also important to emphasize your relevant hard and soft skills. Schools often look for substitute teachers who can step into a classroom and keep a smooth transition for students to stay on track. Include skills such as:
- Classroom Management
- Adaptability
- Student Engagement Strategies
- Organization
- Empathy
- Conflict Resolution
- Lesson Plan Implementation
- Use Strong, Action-Oriented Language
Employers want to see quantifiable impacts you’ve had on previous roles. Hiring managers focuses on measurable achievements and specific contributions. Therefore, instead of simply stating your responsibilities at face value, focus on how you made a difference and use strong action verbs. For example, instead of “filled in for an absent teacher”, write “provided effective classroom management by incorporating proximity and private feedback strategies with misbehaving students, which reduced instances of disruptions by 72%”.
- Tailor Your Resume for Each Job Posting
Different states and school districts have different requirements and expectations for candidates. Read each substitute teaching job in NJ you’re applying to thoroughly and adjust your resume as needed. If the job posting lists that they’re looking for a substitute teacher with patience and behavior management skills, edit your resume to reflect what they are seeking.
- Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
It’s very common for schools to use Applicant Tracking Systems to scan incoming resumes. If you apply to a school that uses ATS software, then your resume will be screened by the software before a hiring manager will even see it. In order to improve your chance, include keywords from job posting such as:
- Classroom instruction
- Student behavior management
- Lesson execution
Conclusion
The first step towards landing a career as a substitute teacher in NJ is by having a strong resume. By highlighting relevant experiences, key skills, qualifications, and optimizing for ATS software, you’ll increase your chances of getting hired. Looking for a substitute teacher job in NJ? Check out our current hot jobs or send us your resume today!
