As a teacher assistant, you’re accustomed to helping educators enrich students’ experiences. However, now that you are looking for a job, it is you who needs a bit of guidance. If you’re unsure where to begin, worry not—we are here to help you create the perfect teacher assistant resume.
By the end of this guide, you’ll master the art of designing a resume that doesn’t only highlight your expertise but also has a high chance of impressing hiring professionals. So, let’s embark on this enlightening journey!
Key Takeaways
The reverse-chronological format is highly recommended for a teaching assistant resume to ensure it resonates well with recruiters and passes the ATS.
A resume objective is great for those with limited experience, while a summary is for seasoned professionals.
Optional sections may include seminar/lecture, language, or certification sections.
Always pair your resume with a tailored cover letter to maximize your chances of making a lasting impression and securing an interview.
How to Format Teacher Assistant Resume
There are three predominant resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination format, which is a hybrid of the first two. Each format caters to different professional scenarios and emphasizes distinct aspects of a person’s career.
Before you start talking about your experiences and skills on your resume, you first have to choose the most fitting resume format.
For teacher assistants, the chronological format is often the most effective option. This is because it allows potential employers to see your most recent and relevant supporting roles first. Moreover, if you’ve had a diverse journey in educational assistance, you may want to choose the reverse-chronological order to showcase your growth in the field.
On the other hand, you can use the combination format, which uses the strengths of both the chronological/reverse-chronological and functional formats, if you’re an expert in the field. It will allow you to highlight specific skills and back them up with substantial on-the-job accomplishments.
Teacher Assistant Resume Layout
Now that you’ve chosen the ideal format for your teacher’s resume, the next step is to focus on its layout. A well-structured layout will ensure that recruiters, as well as ATS systems, can easily scan them.
The following are the most important things you need to keep in mind when it comes to your resume layout:
Resume Layout
Margins should be 1 inch on every side.
The content needs to be in separate sections to enhance readability.
Use fonts such as Arial or Calibri.
The font size should be 10–12pt for the main content and 14–16pt for headers.
Spacing should range between 1 and 1.15 for optimal legibility.
Teacher Assistant Resume Sections
For an effective assistant resume, it’s essential to organize it into distinct sections. Each section will highlight a spectating aspect of your AT skills and experience. With that in mind, make sure that your resume has the following sections:
Mandatory Resume Sections
Contact information
Resume objective or summary
Work experience
Education
Skills
Once you have implemented all of these sections, you can think about adding a few optional parts to help your resume stand out. For example, adding Certifications or Languages sections can help present you as a more complete candidate for the job.
For a more straightforward and efficient resume-creating process, you may want to look into using our resume builder.
It comes equipped with templates that already incorporate the suggested sections, streamlining the process. All you need to do is input your information and tweak the little details, and you’ll have a ready-made resume in a breeze!
Here is a teacher assistant resume template that you can use for creating your application:
Free Teacher Assistant Resume Template
Name and Surname
Phone number: 000-000-0000 | Email: namesurname@gmail.com | Location: City, State
[Adjective] [your job title] with [years of experience, if applicable] in [your area of expertise, if applicable] looking for a [position] job at [company name]. Eager to apply [relevant skills] gained through [work/volunteer/other experience] to help [company name] [mention what you can do for the company].
Work Experience
Most Recent/Current Job Title Company City, State [Start date] — [End date]
For recent jobs, use 5-6 bullet points to list your top achievements and responsibilities
Use action verbs to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out
Add numbers to quantify your achievements
Previous Job Title Company City, State [Start date] — [End date]
For recent jobs, use 5-6 bullet points to list your top achievements and responsibilities
Use action verbs to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out
Add numbers to quantify your achievements
Oldest Job Title Company City, State [Start date] — [End date]
For older jobs, use 2-3 bullet points to list your top achievements and responsibilities
Use action verbs to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out
Add numbers to quantify your achievements
Education
[Degree] in [Major] [University/college name] [Start date] - [Graduation date]
Skills
Soft Skills
Skill #1
Skill #2
Skill #3
Skill #4
Skill #5
Hard Skills
Skill #1
Skill #2
Skill #3
Skill #4
Skill #5
Additional Sections
Add any relevant additional sections (languages, licenses, publications, hobbies, etc.)
Resume templates
Resume templates that are designed to help you win a jobTeacher Assistant Resume Contact Information
You should place your contact information at the very top of your resume. It will give recruiters a glimpse into who you are and where you’re from. Therefore, make sure that this section of your resume has the following information:
Mandatory Contact Information
Your full name
Job title (e.g., Teacher Assistant)
Phone number
Professional email address
In some cases, you may also want to add additional information. For instance, if you’re seeking a position in a different city or state, specifying your current location can be beneficial.
Additionally, including professional social media profiles, like LinkedIn, can offer recruiters a broader view of your professional background.
Here is an example of a teacher assistant's resume contact information section:
Teacher Assistant Contact Information Example
Jordan Smith Teacher Assistant +1 555 987 6543 jordansmith@email.com Austin, Texas linkedin.com/in/jordansmithTA
How to Write a Teacher Assistant Resume Objective/Summary
After you have added your contact information to the resume, you can move on to the objective/summary section. They serve as the introductory statements on your resume, providing a snapshot of your skills and experience to the recruiters.
Even though they serve the same purpose, these two sections are not the same. Which one you use is going to depend on your skill level, job history, as well as experience.
More accurately, an objective is ideal for those with minimal experience, while a summary is for TAs with a rich background in the field.
Entry Level Teaching Assistant Resume Objective
If you just graduated or have little to no experience in the field of assistant teaching, the introduction section of your resume should focus more on your goals than on your past achievements.
Let’s examine a well-crafted objective section for a teacher assistant resume with no experience:
Entry Level Teaching Assistant Resume Objective Example
Motivated recent graduate with a degree in Pedagogy and a passion for supporting student success. Seeking a Teacher Assistant position at ABC Elementary School to utilize my skills in classroom management and individualized student support. Eager to contribute to a positive learning environment and assist lead teachers in implementing effective lesson plans.
This objective highlights the applicant’s educational background and passion for education, emphasizing their desire to support both students and lead teachers. It also demonstrates a clear career goal and a genuine interest in the specific school they’re applying to.
Contrast this with a less effective example:
Bad Example
Recent graduate looking for a Teacher Assistant position.
This example lacks specificity and doesn’t provide any compelling information about the candidate’s qualifications or intentions.
Experienced Teaching Assistant Resume Summary
If you have several years of experience as a teaching assistant, your resume summary should highlight the most significant achievements, responsibilities, and skills you’ve acquired. This will demonstrate your expertise and value to the potential employers.
Here is a teacher assistant resume example of a summary:
Experienced Teaching Assistant Resume Summary Example
Seasoned Teaching Assistant with over 6 years in diverse educational settings. Expertise in developing and implementing individualized lesson plans, managing classroom behavior, and collaborating with lead teachers on curriculum design. Seeking to leverage my in-depth knowledge and proven track record at XYZ School.
This summary effectively highlights the candidate’s extensive experience and showcases specific areas of expertise in teaching assistance. Additionally, it emphasizes their desire to apply their skills at a particular institution, making the statement clear and targeted.
Now let’s take a look at an example of a bad summary section:
Bad Example
Teaching Assistant with several years of experience in education. Able to assist lead teachers with a plethora of classroom activities and interested in a position at XYZ School.
This summary is not ideal because it uses vague terms like several years without specifying the extinct duration of the experience. Additionally, the phrase plethora of classroom activities is generic and doesn’t highlight specific skills or achievements. This makes the summary lack depth.
Teacher Assistant Work Experience Resume Section
The next section on your teacher assistant resume will be the work experience section. It provides potential employers with an overview of the schools you’ve worked at, your hands-on experience, and the impact you have made.
This section also allows you to highlight your contributions to classroom dynamics, the support you’ve provided to lead teachers, and any specialized tasks or projects you’ve managed.
That said, the work experience section should have the following format:
Mandatory Sections
Job title
The company name and location
The start and end dates of employment
A list of responsibilities and achievements
General Tips
When writing down the list of responsibilities and achievements in the work experience section, you should use action verbs. This includes words such as assisted, supported, facilitated, coordinated, and managed.
Furthermore, you should carefully choose which achievements and projects you mention. Make sure that they are relevant to the position you are applying for. It’s also recommended to talk about key performance indicators (KPIs) whenever possible.
It is also beneficial to use numbers and statistics to make your accomplishments more tangible. Instead of saying Assisted teachers in improving classroom participation, you can say Supported lead teacher in boosting classroom participation by 25%.
That being said, you should not go over one sentence when describing your responsibilities and achievements. Make it a short bullet list that gets the point across clearly and quickly.
Teacher Assistant With No Experience
Here is an example of what a work experience section should look like in a teacher assistant resume for an applicant with little to no experience:
Teacher Assistant With No Experience Example
Teacher Assistant Intern Maplewood Elementary School Maplewood, NJ June 2022–August 2022
Assisted lead teachers in preparing and organizing classroom materials for over 100 students, ensuring lessons ran smoothly.
Supported small group activities, helping students grasp complex topics, leading to positive feedback from lead teachers.
Participated in weekly teacher meetings, contributing ideas for improving classroom engagement.
Experienced Teacher Assistant
This is an example of what the work experience section might look like for a teacher assistant who has had several years of experience in the field:
Experienced Teacher Assistant Example
Senior Teacher Assistant Pine Ridge Middle School Pine Ridge, NY September 2016–August 2023
Collaborated with the lead teacher to develop and implement individualized education plans for over 200 students, ensuring tailored support for those with special needs.
Managed classroom behavior, implementing strategies that reduced disruptions by 30% and fostered a conducive learning environment.
Teaching Assistant Resume Education Section
While work experience often takes precedence, your education section complements it, offering a holistic view of your qualifications. Similar to your work experience section, this section needs to show the following information:
Mandatory Sections
The degree you have received
The name of the institution you attended
The location of the institution
Years of attendance
Any relevant coursework
Here is an example of an education section for a teacher assistant:
Teaching Assistant Resume Education Section
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology University of Washington Seattle, WA
2015–2019
Relevant courses: Child Development, Behavioral Psychology, Educational Psychology
Honors: Dean’s List (GPA: 3.8/4.0)
Skills for Teacher Assistant Resume
A teaching assistant has to have a blend of hard and soft skills.
Hard skills often stem from formal training and education, equipping you with specific techniques and knowledge. Soft skills, on the other hand, refine your ability to interact, manage classroom dynamics, and handle day-to-day challenges.
Hiring managers know this and, therefore, seek a mix of these skills on your resume. For best results, you can try to integrate some of these into your resume summary or objective and within other teacher assistant resume descriptions.
However, you should also create a distinct section dedicated to teaching assistant resume skills. It accentuates your most relevant abilities, ensuring they catch the recruiter's eye and align with ATS criteria.
Teaching Assistant Hard Skills
Here is a list of some of the most important hard skills every teacher assistant resume should have:
Teaching Assistant Hard Skills Examples
Creating teaching plans
Designing methods of evaluation
Grading skills
Conducting educational research
Utilizing educational software and technology
Adapting teaching materials for diverse learners
Teaching Assistant Soft Skills
Just as important as hard skills, the soft skills you should have and list in your teacher assistant resume skills section:
Teaching Assistant Soft Skills Examples
Effective communication
Collaboration and teamwork
Conflict resolution
Patience and empathy
Active listening
Time management
Interpersonal skills
Teacher Assistant Resume Other Sections
To craft an exceptional teacher assistant resume, you must go beyond the standard sections of a simple resume. In fact, to give a rounded view of your qualifications and skills, it may even be necessary to add a few optional sections.
When incorporating these sections, you must ensure they align with the job requirements and are presented in a concise manner, the same as your work experience and education sections.
Conferences/Lectures
Attending or even presenting at conferences and lectures can be a testament to a person’s commitment to professional growth. Mentioning any lectures or conferences you’ve attended will show you are staying updated with the latest teaching methodologies and research.
Publications
If you have done any academic research, adding a publications section to your resume can underscore your research contributions and academic endeavors. When listing publications, start with the article’s/journal’s title, followed by the work’s name, co-authors, and publication date.
Languages
Being proficient in multiple languages is a significant asset for educators in any capacity. It can help you cater to students from varied linguistic backgrounds, fostering better communication and understanding. When adding languages to your resume, you should specify the level of proficiency, such as fluent, intermediate, or basic.
Certifications
Certifications can significantly enhance a teaching assistant's resume. Holding a certificate such as the National Board Certification (NBC), Praxis Series, or a simple Educational Aide Certification will make you a top applicant for the position you are applying for.
Should You Write a Cover Letter For a Teaching Assistant Resume?
Cover letter templates
Fill in a free template and share it for freeWriting a cover letter alongside your teaching assistant resume will help you expand upon the content that is in your resume. While some may consider cover letters optional, they are, in reality, one of the more important elements of the application process.
However, if you don’t go about it the right way, a cover letter can hurt your chances of getting the job. Therefore, make sure that each cover letter you write is tailor-made for the job you are applying for and that it is clear and concise.
With that in mind, here are some tips that will help you create a stand-out cover letter:
Teacher Assistant Cover Letter Tips
Start with your contact information.
Directly address the hiring manager.
Lead with some of your most notable accomplishments as a teaching assistant.
Delve into why you’re the ideal candidate for the role, highlighting specific skills and achievements.
Conclude with a show of eagerness to engage further and explore the opportunity in more depth.
4 Pro Tips for Crafting a Teacher Assistant Resume
Now that you have a solid understanding of what needs to go into your resume, here are a few tips that will help you polish it to perfection:
Teacher Assistant Resume Tips
Emphasize skills through experience: Instead of just listing skills, demonstrate how you’ve applied them in real-world settings. For instance, if you have strong communication skills, mention a specific instance where you mediated a student conflict or something similar.
Keep it concise: Listing all of your achievements and accomplishments may be tempting, but regardless, it’s essential to keep your resume to one page. For that reason, only list the most relevant jobs, skills, and experience.
Proofread it: Do not send a resume or cover letter until you have thoroughly proffered them and fixed all the errors. Failing to do this can disqualify your resume before it even gets to the hiring manager.
Include relevant keywords: Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. Therefore, try to include keywords from the job description to increase the chances of your resume getting through.
To help you out, here is a full teacher assistant resume example that you can use as a guide when creating your own.
Closing Thoughts
And that brings us to the end of our comprehensive guide on crafting the ideal teaching assistant resume!
We’ve explained the nuances, from foundational principles to hands-on application. Armed with this knowledge, you’re now ready to construct a standout resume, whether you’re aiming for a position in an elementary school, a high school, or a specialized educational program.
Revisit these guidelines and the examples that we have provided, and you’ll have a top-tier teaching assistant resume ready in no time. That said, if you are looking for a more streamlined approach, you should consider using a resume builder to achieve a polished result effortlessly. Wishing you all the best in your endeavors!
