Teaching Assistant CV Guide
Everything you need to know about getting the perfect Teaching Assistant CV
A teaching assistant assists qualified teachers with daily classroom duties and supports children’s learning and development. It is an extremely rewarding role that can significantly influence and shape children’s futures.
A strong and engaging CV is crucial for teaching assistant positions because it highlights relevant experience, skills and qualifications, making you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. It demonstrates your ability to support children and teachers effectively, showcasing your dedication and suitability for the role.
In this article, we will provide information on how to write a teaching assistant CV, what to include, some tips and an example to help you get started, which will hopefully help you land your first interview.
In this Teaching Assistant CV guide
What to include in a Teaching Assistant CV
When drafting your teaching assistant CV, you want to stand out from the crowd, as you will be competing with other candidates. It is often the first thing employers see, and a well-structured, polished CV showcases your professionalism and attention to detail.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create an impressive CV:
Contact information
- Add the following information first:
- Name.
- Phone number.
- Email address – use a professional email address and avoid nicknames or playful email handles.
- Location (optional) – you do not need to put your full address, but you can give your town, city or county.
- Other information where applicable, e.g. links to professional networking profiles, own website, online portfolio, etc.
- Avoid including personal information, such as date of birth, gender, nationality, marital status, etc.
- Your contact information should be in a prominent position at the top of your CV to make it easy for employers to contact you.
- Ensure your contact details are up-to-date.
Professional summary (career objective statement)
- Add a brief statement under your contact information highlighting your experience, skills and what you would bring to the role.
- Use action verbs and focus on your key strengths to capture the reader’s attention.
- Aim for a summary that is around 3-4 sentences in length.
- Highlight your passion for education and commitment to supporting both teachers and students.
- Example: “Enthusiastic teaching assistant with over three years of experience in primary education, adept at creating engaging learning environments and supporting teachers to deliver high-quality education.”
Education
- List your academic qualifications in reverse chronological order.
- Include the certification, degree or diploma, institution, graduation date and any relevant coursework.
- If you have a degree in education or a related field, highlight this. Mention any honours or special recognitions.
- If the school or institution does not require specific qualifications, focus on your work experience.
Work experience
- Detail your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order.
- For each position, include:
- Job title.
- Employer/school/organisation name.
- Location.
- Dates of employment.
- Key responsibilities and achievements.
- Highlight any previous experience working with children, whether in a school, nursery or other educational settings. Emphasise your ability to manage classrooms, assist teachers and support children effectively.
Key skills and achievements
- List skills most relevant to the teaching assistant role, such as classroom management, lesson and activity planning, communication and any subject-specific skills (e.g. literacy support and numeracy).
- Include both hard skills and soft skills.
- Tailor your skills section to align with the job description.
- Use a mix of keywords likely to be picked up by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), e.g. “classroom management,” “lesson planning,” “behavioural support,” “student assessment” and “differentiated instruction.”
- Include transferable skills if you do not have teaching assistant experience or qualifications, e.g. childcare, team collaboration, adaptability, etc.
- Only include hobbies and interests if relevant to the teaching assistant position.
Other information
- Include other information relevant to the teaching assistant role, such as:
- Certifications and training, e.g. first aid, safeguarding, child protection training or teaching assistant courses.
- Voluntary work related to education or working with children.
- Language proficiency, technological skills, extracurricular activities, or other relevant information demonstrating your suitability for the role.
- Ensure that your certifications are up-to-date.
- Highlight any specialised training that sets you apart from other candidates.
References
- Mention that references are available upon request, or include contact information for professional references if required by the job application.
- Choose referees who can provide a strong, positive account of your abilities.
- Inform your referees in advance and ensure they will provide a reference.
Tips for writing a Teaching Assistant CV
To increase your chances of a successful application and getting an interview, here are some tips for writing a teaching assistant CV:
- Understand the role of a teaching assistant – look at the job description, role and responsibilities and research the school/institution before crafting your CV so you can tailor it to the position.
- Demonstrate your passion for education – include a brief section where you talk about why you are passionate about working in education. This can be in your professional summary or a separate section titled “Personal Statement.”
- Be concise and specific – keep your descriptions clear and to the point. Avoid vague statements and focus on specific contributions.
- Use professional and consistent formatting
- Use a clean and professional layout with clear sections, headings and bullet points to make it easier to read.
- Avoid excessive use of colours and fonts.
- Stick to a simple font like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman and consistent size, e.g. 10-12 points.
- Ensure your CV has adequate spacing to make it more visually appealing.
- Be mindful of the length – keep your CV concise, ideally no longer than two pages. Be selective about the information you include, focusing on what is most relevant to the job.
- Use a professional tone – use professional and clear language, avoiding slang or overly casual expressions.
- Use a digital format – save and send your CV as a PDF to ensure the formatting stays intact when viewed on different devices.
- Make sure you proofread your CV – double-check your CV for spelling and grammatical errors. Ask a friend or mentor to review your CV for feedback, and use a spelling and grammar checker where possible.
Focus on achievements
When applying for a teaching assistant role, it is important to focus on achievements that showcase your skills and experiences. You can do this by:
- Mentioning specific achievements related to the role of a teaching assistant, for example:
- Have you helped students improve their grades?
- Have you created engaging lesson and activity plans?
- Have you organised successful events for children?
- Have you helped children with their learning and development?
- Have you effectively managed the classroom or difficult behaviour?
- Focusing on the positive impact you had on students, teachers and the classroom environment. For example:
- “Developed and implemented differentiated lesson plans that catered to diverse learning styles, leading to increased student understanding and participation.”
- “Assisted in the successful integration of technology in the classroom, enhancing the learning experience for students.”
- Quantifying success and using numbers to demonstrate your achievements, for example:
- Implemented a reading program that increased literacy rates by 15% in six months.
- Assisted lead teacher in creating engaging lesson plans that improved student participation by 20%.
- Developed a behaviour chart system that reduced classroom disruptions by 30%.
- Provided one-on-one support to students with learning difficulties, resulting in a 15% improvement in their academic performance.
- Using strong action verbs to describe your achievements and responsibilities to make them stand out, for example:
- Achieved.
- Implemented.
- Organised.
- Improved.
- Assisted.
- Designed.
- Managed.
- Supported.
- Conducted.
- Demonstrate growth and development by showcasing any instances where you took the initiative to improve or develop new skills. For example:
- “Completed specialised training in Special Educational Needs (SEN) and successfully supported students with diverse learning needs.”
By focusing on your achievements in this way, you will create a compelling CV that highlights your contributions and sets you apart from other candidates.
Describe your experience
Describing your experience on a teaching assistant CV involves highlighting your relevant skills, accomplishments and responsibilities. It makes you a more credible and attractive candidate for employers, shows how you apply your knowledge in real-world situations and demonstrates your suitability for the job.
Here are some pointers when describing your experience on your CV:
- Only include experience directly relevant to the teaching assistant role.
- First, highlight your key skills and experience in your professional summary.
- In the work experience section, focus on your achievements and responsibilities in each role, especially where you have assisted teachers and worked with children or students.
- Include any voluntary experience where you have worked with children or in educational settings and highlight the difference you made in these roles.
If you are applying for your first teaching assistant position and do not have direct experience:
- Leverage transferable skills, especially soft skills, such as:
- Communication skills – highlight roles or situations where you effectively communicated with others.
- Organisational skills – showcase your ability to manage tasks and stay organised.
- Teamwork skills – emphasise your experience working in teams.
- Emphasise volunteer and extracurricular activities, especially if they involve working with children or in educational settings or if you have had any tutoring or mentoring experience.
- Mention any coursework or training relating to education, child development, behaviour management, classroom management and instructional techniques.
- Include relevant certifications such as first aid training, Special Educational Needs (SEN) or safeguarding.
- Demonstrate personal qualities crucial for teaching assistants, such as patience, adaptability, empathy and problem-solving. Provide examples of how you have used these qualities in various settings.
- Write a professional statement emphasising your passion for education and commitment to supporting student learning. For example, “Passionate and dedicated individual with a strong interest in education and child development. Eager to leverage my skills and experiences to support teachers and foster a positive learning environment for students.”
By effectively showcasing your experience, you provide potential employers with a comprehensive picture of your abilities and how you can contribute to their organisation.
Tailor your CV to the teaching assistant position
Tailoring your CV to each teaching assistant position can make a significant difference in how your application is perceived. Here are some ways in which you can tailor your CV effectively:
Research the school/institution, role and responsibilities
- Research their website, mission statement and any recent news. Understand their values, priorities and what they look for in a teaching assistant.
- Carefully read the job description for the specific teaching assistant role. Note the key skills, qualifications and responsibilities they emphasise.
Tailor relevant sections of your CV
- Customise your CV to match the role requirements:
- Write a professional summary that aligns with the job description and mention the specific skills and experiences that match the job requirements.
- Customise the bullet points in your work experience section to emphasise relevant duties and achievements. Use the same language as the job description when possible, e.g. if it details classroom management, highlight your experience managing classrooms.
- Use specific achievements relevant to the role, e.g. if the job mentions supporting students with special educational needs (SEN), highlight related achievements: “Provided one-on-one support to students with SEN, resulting in a 15% improvement in their academic performance.”
- Match your skills section to the keywords in the job description and focus on the skills that are most relevant to the position, e.g. if it highlights communication skills, emphasise your experience in that area: “Strong communication skills, with experience in engaging with parents and colleagues to support student learning.”
- If the job description mentions specific certifications or training, include these in your CV -Teaching Assistant Certificate, First Aid and CPR Certification, Safeguarding Training, Special Educational Needs (SEN) Training, etc.
Use keywords and phrases from the job description throughout your CV
- If the job description mentions “collaborative skills,” use that term: “Collaborative skills demonstrated by working effectively with teachers and staff to support student learning.”
Do not forget to tailor your cover letter
- Customise your cover letter for each application, highlighting specific experience, achievements and skills that align with the role.
- Use examples from your CV to support your claims and detail what makes you a perfect fit.
Tailoring your CV to each teaching assistant position will demonstrate to recruiters and hiring managers that you have taken the time to understand the specific requirements of the role and that you are a good fit for the school’s/institution’s needs and values. It will also increase your chances of getting an interview.
Good luck!
