Resume Writing Tips: How to Write Resume for ESL Teachers

Are you looking for some tips and tricks for that ESL resume? Then you’re most certainly in the right place. Keep on reading for all the details you need to know to help you get that next teaching job. We got the best tips for writing a good resume for ESL teachers.

Get the Basics Right for your ESL Teaching Resume

Over the years, quite a few people have asked me to have a quick look at their resumes when they were in the process of applying for ESL jobs. In many cases, it was hard for me to really give meaningful feedback because they didn’t really even have the basics figured out.

My hope is that this post will help people get the easy stuff figured out so they can focus their efforts on the more advanced level stuff.

Tips for Writing Resume for ESL Teachers

Okay, so you want to know more about ESL teaching resumes and how you can avoid some of the most common mistakes. Keep on reading for everything you need to know, including how many pages it should be and what should be included on it.

ESL Teacher Resume: One Page Only

Nobody wants to read more than a one-page resume, trust me, especially when the person screening your application likely doesn’t speak English as their first language. Over the years, I’ve seen some horrifying 3-4 pagers and wonder what the person was thinking!

Keep it to one page. Concise. Highlights only. And of course, see point two below to help you decide what should be left out.

Relevant Things Only

It is crucial to only include the relevant information when writing ESL teaching resume. Nobody cares what your BA was in if it’s not something directly related to English, TESOL or education. Sure, you need to mention it, but like listing that class you took in forestry management? That falls under the category of irrelevant.

This also applies to job experience. Only list things related to teaching or working with children if you’re applying for a job with children.

Remember, the person reading your resume may not speak English as their first language. They will find this task much easier if you just hit the highlights for them instead of them having to figure this out on their own.

Don’t List References

This is a big waste of space when writing resumes for ESL teachers. It’s assumed that you’ll have these, so just leave them off. It’s not even necessary to say something like, “References available upon request.” Anyone interviewing you will assume this if the job ad doesn’t already explicitly mention reference letters.

Don’t Mention the Obvious

An example of something totally obvious is that you know how to use a computer or the Internet. Doesn’t everybody these days? Or that you like children if you’re applying for a job with children. That much is kind of assumed and doesn’t need to be included on an ESL teaching resume.

All about the Picture

Get one professionally done! This is the most important thing, especially for ESL teacher resume in Korea. So, it’s really worth the 20 bucks it’s going to cost to go to a real photographer. Of course, you should put on a suit and tie, wear some make-up, groom your hair, etc. Look your best!

Use Grammarly to Check your Resume

If you’re serious about getting a university job in South Korea, then you’re going to need to use Grammarly to check your resume and cover letter. It’s fast, free and does a great job at pointing out some errors that are easy to overlook in your teaching English resume.

What about the Cover Letter for an ESL Teaching Job?

If you’re looking for details about how to write a cover letter when applying for English teaching jobs, it’s covered in this post of mine: Cover Letter Tips for ESL Teachers. Or, you can check out the book below that has a whole section on it.

Need a Sample Resume Template?

For even more tips about your ESL resume and a sample template, be sure to check out How to Get a University Job in South Korea on Amazon. If you’re looking for a university job in Korea, it’s going to be the best few bucks you’ve spent all year. Trust me on that one.

The book is available in both print and digital formats. The (cheaper) digital copy can be read on any device by downloading the free Kindle reading app. Get the help you need in securing yourself one of these sweet teaching gigs.

Yes, it really is that easy to have all the insider information you need to help you get that teaching job of your dreams. Plenty of teachers have used the information in the book to get them the results they wanted (a top uni job in Korea).

5 months of paid vacation sounds pretty awesome, right? It is. I certainly took full advantage of it during the 10 years I spent working in Korean universities. So can you in a big way but first, you need to job, right? That’s where the challenge lies.

Shop Now

Does it sound like exactly what you need to give you a leg up on the competition for university jobs in Korea? Check out the book for yourself over on Amazon:

FAQs About ESL Teaching Resume

Here are the most frequently asked questions and answers about writing resumes for ESL teachers.

How do I write a resume for ESL teaching?

The following list includes the best tips for writing a resume for ESL teachers: keep it one page, only include relevant information, do not list references, leave out the obvious facts, include a professional picture, and use Grammarly to go over the resume.

What should I put on my ESL teacher resume?

The most crucial thing when writing a resume is to eliminate irrelevant and obvious information. It’s more important to keep out the fillers than to make it look full. Remember, especially for ESL teachers, not all employers are native English speakers. Therefore, you want to keep it simple. Only include relevant experience and skills.

What skills do ESL teachers have?

Some of the most important skills that ESL teachers have or must have are English proficiency, language skills, interpersonal skills, student evaluation, lesson planning, and classroom management.

Have your Say About ESL Teacher Resume

Do you have any tips or tricks for ESL teacher resume that you’d like to share? Leave a comment below and let us know anything you’d like to share regarding resumes for ESL teachers. We’d love to hear from you.

Also, be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. It’ll help other English teachers who are looking for jobs find this useful resource.