Resumes shouldn't just reflect what you have done, they should speak for what you want to do in the future (especially as an educator).
One powerful component of a successful resume that is often overlooked, is the resume objective—a concise, compelling statement that tells hiring managers what your career goals are, and what makes you the perfect fit for the position.
As a teacher looking for a new challenge, having a strong resume objective can help you make a remarkable first impression, but also helps you find a new teaching position that truly matches your professional vision.
In this article, you'll learn how to formulate your own teacher resume objective, for a variety of positions.
Whether you're just getting started as a substitute teacher, or are an experienced educator, these examples will help you stay on track when it comes to your career
The Focus of Teacher Resume Objectives & Why They Matter
A resume objective is a short statement that you put on your resume that outlines your career objective and direction while positioning you as someone who fits what the hiring school is looking for.
For teachers specifically, resume objectives offer an opportunity to highlight a specific teaching philosophy, key skills, and the value they would bring to a school or district.
Teacher resume objectives make all the difference when you're presenting yourself to a new employer. Not only do they get a snapshot of your professional past, but they also see your intentions in your career going forward.
This is especially important in education, where personality and approach can significantly impact the learning experience – and each school or institution has other key values.
So, unlike professional summaries, which recap your working history, resume objectives look forward: they highlight your career objective and professional goals, and help the potential employer see if they could offer that.
Key Components of Effective Teacher Resume Objectives
You might not be used to writing a resume objective because most resumes only highlight already obtained skills and experiences.
We’ll give you some questions you can ask yourself to come to a strong resume objective, and tips on how to formulate it best. You can also use a resume checker to see if you’ve missed anything.
Step 1: Define Your Objective and Goals
Sure, you're excited about this opportunity, but how does it fit into your long-term plan? Be bold and showcase that you've got big plans for yourself in your resume objective. This shows employers that you're in it for the long term, how you could develop further at their school or organization, and that you're serious about education.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- What are my career goals in education?
- What teaching achievements am I most proud of, and want more of?
- Why did I become a school teacher?
Step 2: Bring Clarity and Conciseness to Your Objective
While it's great to daydream, your resume objective should be direct and snappy. Keep your objective 2–3 sentences long and focus on what matters. Cut out any fluff.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- Why am I looking for this particular next step?
- What is the main reason this job speaks to me?
Example: "Dedicated high school teacher seeking to foster student success through a collaborative and engaging classroom environment. Experienced in the application of innovative educational technologies."
Step 3: Make it Relevant for the Teaching Position
You're not just ‘excited’ about a position–everyone applying already is. Link yourself to the teaching position, and show why you're a logical choice based on your values and what is needed for the role.
For this, it's essential to use what's in the job description—but don't just copy and paste those words back into your resume objective.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- How have my past roles prepared me for this new position?
- What subject areas am I most knowledgeable in, and how can that be an asset to this school or district?
Example: "Creative preschool teacher aiming to inspire a love for learning in young children by integrating play-based learning and hands-on activities."
Step 4: Align It With the School or District Goals
Do some digging into what the school is looking for in a teacher, beyond a specific skill set. For instance, create a high school teacher resume that lists your vision of student development in high school, not just your skills. Check what the philosophy of the school is— what are their future goals? Then, align your objectives with those of the school or district.
A question to ask yourself:
- What am I passionate about in education, and how does that align with the school or district's mission?
Example: "Resourceful teacher, committed to inclusivity and diversity, ready to contribute to XYZ District's mission of delivering quality education to all students."
Step 5: Showcase Your Unique Teaching Abilities and Philosophy
Without repeating word-for-word what's already listed in your Job Experience section, mention what sets you apart. This is where the professional and soft skills can start overlapping.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- What are my core teaching values and philosophies?
- How have I made a difference in the lives of my students, and how can I carry that forward into this new position?
- How do my interpersonal skills contribute to successful teaching and learning?
Example: "Passionate math teacher with a knack for making complex concepts approachable and engaging."
Step 6: Incorporate Keywords and Action Verbs
Take a good hard look at the words you're using in your teaching resume objective now. How can you make this more engaging, and how can you use specific resume keywords to get past the applicant tracking system? Use words that aren't already used elsewhere in your resume.
Let's look at an optimized teacher resume objective example:
Original: "I teach science to middle school students."
Now, let’s optimize that:
Example: "Implemented an engaging science curriculum to middle school students, fostering interest in STEAM learning."
In the optimized example, "Implemented" is a strong action verb, "engaging science curriculum" demonstrates what you did, and "fostering interest in STEAM learning" is a current educational trend.
Generate a Resume Summary in a Few Seconds
Another way to create a well-written resume summary is to try our resume summary generator. It’s one of our most loved features by job seekers that want to entice potential employers to continue reading their resumes.
Here’s how it works:
- Enter a job position you want to highlight
- List the skills that you want to highlight
- Press “AI writer ready”.
- Click “AI writer generate” to try again or click “save suggestion” to keep the result.
You can sign up here to try our AI resume summary generator for free. Or, you could watch the short clip below to see how it works.
Teacher Resume Objective Examples
Every teaching position will require a different approach. To better understand the flow of effective teacher resume objectives, let’s look at more examples that you can customize to suit your own objectives and teaching resume.
Experienced Teachers Resume Objectives
1. "Seasoned English teacher with over 10 years of experience in creating engaging literature discussions. Seeking to leverage proven skills in classroom management at XYZ High School."
2. "Experienced special education teacher desiring to create an inclusive environment at ABC School. Committed to individualized instruction and advocating for student needs."
Substitute Teacher Resume Objectives
3. "Energetic substitute teacher ready to step in and maintain teaching standards in any classroom. Flexible and resourceful, with excellent classroom management skills."
4. "Reliable substitute teacher with a background in secondary science education. Excited to bring robust content knowledge and a passion for making learning enjoyable."
Entry-Level or New Teachers Resume Objectives
5. "Recent graduate with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and student teaching experience, seeking to inspire students at ABC Elementary School through creative teaching strategies."
6. "Driven and organized new teacher, aiming to apply my passion for history to cultivate a stimulating learning environment for high school students."
Career Changers or Transitioning Educators Resume Objectives
7. "Transitioning professional with a solid foundation in psychology, seeking to apply my understanding of child and adolescent development in a middle school counseling role."
8. "Career changer with extensive experience in corporate training, looking to bring my enthusiasm for adult learning to a post-secondary business education role."
Specialized Teaching Positions Resume Objectives
9. "Gifted ESL teacher passionate about language education and multicultural exchange. Looking to bring my innovative teaching techniques to XYZ Language School."
10. "Music teacher with a Masters in Education and a love for all things orchestral. Keen to inspire students with engaging music lessons at ABC Academy."
Teacher Assistant Resume Objectives
11. "Dependable teacher assistant with a background in childhood education. Eager to support teachers in creating a positive learning environment."
12. "Motivated teacher assistant experienced in special education. Dedicated to enhancing student success through one-on-one support."
Preschool Teacher Resume Objectives
13. "Devoted preschool teacher with a knack for making learning exciting and fun. Ready to encourage growth and promote a love for learning at XYZ Preschool."
14. "Creative and patient preschool teacher, committed to the social and academic development of early learners. Aiming to apply my skills at ABC Early Childhood Center."
Tailoring Resume Objectives for Different Teaching Positions
Are these objective examples getting you excited to upgrade your teaching resume? With the resume tips below, you’ll make sure the hiring manager is even more impressed.
Research the Target School or District
Understanding what values and goals your target school or district has, helps you align your objectives. You can look for clues on the school's website, job listing, local news, or local social media groups of parents or students.
Adapt Objectives to Grade Levels and Subjects
If you're applying to a teaching job in a grade level or subject you're new to, highlight your focus and knowledge in the areas very clearly.
Highlight Relevant Skills and Qualifications
The keyword here is relevance: a teaching position might ask for a specific teaching method or technology. The key is not to list everything and make your teacher resume messy and hard to scan.
Address Specific Job Requirements
Keep checking back on what the job description and teaching role is asking for, and align with that. Extra skills are great to have, but make sure you showcase that you tick all the boxes they're asking for first.
Key Takeaways for a Compelling Resume Objective
A well-crafted teacher resume objective will make you a more interesting candidate. It shows ambition and helps hiring managers gauge whether you're a good long-term fit.
FAQs
1. What is a Good Objective for a Resume for Teachers?
A good objective for a teacher's resume should express your teaching philosophy, career goals, and what you bring to the teaching position. It should be tailored to the specific job and school or district.
1. What is the Objective of a Classroom Teacher?
The objective of a classroom teacher varies depending on the teacher's philosophy, grade level, and subject. However, overall, it includes creating a positive, engaging learning environment and promoting student success.
3. What are the Three Objectives of Teaching?
The three broad objectives of teaching include knowledge transfer, fostering critical thinking skills, and promoting personal and social development.
