Tips for writing an ESL CV

There are a great many blogs and sites that can give you handy tips for writing a good CV, and one thing they all have in common is this: you need to tailor your CV to the job you’re applying for.In this post, I’m going to talk about how to do this if you’re applying for a job in TEFL.

Layout

Teaching anything can be a wonderful venue for showing how creative you can be, but a teaching job isn’t a design job; your CV doesn’t need to be overflowing with graphics and different fonts.Make sure that all of the relevant information is obvious and easy to read.

Essentials…

As with any CV, some things are necessary. Multiple contact details are a must, make it easy for employers to get hold of you. Relevant qualifications should be prominent, especially those which are prerequisites for the job or for obtaining a visa. This includes TEFL certification (i.e. CELTA, Trinity TESOL etc.), degree, and of course your relevant work experience.

What you don’t need

If, like many ESL teachers, you have had jobs in other sectors, don’t go into exhaustive detail, your job title and any transferable skills or duties are all that’s needed. If something on your CV isn’t related to the job directly, or otherwise to showing the employer that you have held a job at a certain time, it’s not going to be read.

Think about the audience

Imagine you run a language school or are a recruiter. You will see dozens of CV’s a day, all applying for a job with specific requirements. What would you be looking for? Make sure that your most relevant information is immediately apparent, make sure it isn’t cluttered with non-essential details, and make sure your CV is easy to read.