A position as a teaching assistant is an excellent place to start if you’re seriously considering a career in education. Many people work as teacher assistants in order to get experience before getting their teaching license. Others use this position as an opportunity to hone their teaching while also getting a glimpse of various classroom settings. In either case, it might be a useful step for someone trying to get a position in academia.
In addition to being a fantastic stepping stone toward becoming a teacher, a teaching assistant employment offers many amazing benefits, including an average annual compensation between $25,400 and $35,000, according to Salary.com. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts that employment of teaching assistants will increase by 5% between 2021 and 2031, roughly as quickly as the average for all occupations.
However, while this means more job opportunities for teacher assistants, it also means that competition for those positions may be fierce, and you’ll need a good application tool that showcases your credentials, expertise, and passion as a teaching professional.
Unsure of what details to add in your resume and cover letter to improve your chances of becoming a teaching assistant? Worry no more! In this article, we will discuss the responsibilities required of a teaching assistant, what to include in a teacher assistant resume, and provide a sample format of a teaching assistant resume to help you write your own.
What is a Teaching Assistant?
A teaching assistant (TA), sometimes known as a teacher’s aide, is a member of the academic staff who supports teachers by overseeing pupils and providing them with extra guidance and training. They frequently work with lead teachers to develop teaching resources and reinforce their lesson ideas. These school personnel also have certain specializations in literacy, numeracy, special educational needs (SEN), music, and creative arts.
Aside from working in classrooms, TAs can also work in a variety of settings inside the school, including computer and research laboratories in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as preschools and other childcare centers.
What are the Duties of a Teaching Assistant?
The majority of TAs assist with anything from tutoring to developing lesson plans. However, depending on the school and the age of the students they teach, their daily tasks might vary. To give you a better idea of what they often accomplish, the following list includes some of the basic duties and obligations of a teaching assistant:
- Provide assistance in teaching and tutoring students inside and outside of class.
- Organize and facilitate study sessions with students prior to any quiz or exam.
- Address and proactively respond to student emails or in-person questions.
- Coordinate with the teacher on all student assignments and activities.
- Help teachers in correction work, recordkeeping, grading, and attendance tracking.
- Assist students during drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
- Create lesson materials, bulletin board displays, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce classroom rules for behavior, and procedures for maintaining order.
- Observe children’s performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Support the teacher in planning and maintaining a safe, clean, learning environment.
How Do You Become a Teaching Assistant?
The requirements for a teaching assistant may differ from state to state, but to aid you in getting ready for this role, here are three actions you can take:
1. Get the proper education.
A two-year degree or current enrollment in a higher education program are typically requirements for becoming a TA at most institutions. So, enroll in a program for an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in education or child development. Child Studies, Early Childhood Development, and Elementary Education are also good majors for a TA. If you are unable to obtain a college education, you can also earn your high school diploma or GED to gain the fundamental mathematics and literacy knowledge required for most entry-level teaching assistant roles.
2. Get licenses and certifications required in your state.
To become a TA, you must hold appropriate licenses and certifications in your state. Always check this requirement online and take the exam that has been approved by the state’s department of education. After earning your certificate, you’ll be ready to start working as a qualified teaching assistant or advance in your career as an educator.
3. Volunteer or intern at a school to improve your chances.
If you lack professional experience, volunteering at a school or in a classroom may be helpful to gain the necessary skills. Take advantage of the TA internship programs offered by various colleges to gain some experience. You may also want to try volunteering in similar organizations to develop the skills you’ll need to be a TA.
What to Include in Your Teaching Assistant Resume
Although every teaching assistant resume has its unique details, there are a number of components you can add to increase the appeal of your teaching resume to potential employers. These include the following:
Contact Information
A standard section on a resume where you introduce yourself to the recruiting manager. It should be the very first section on your resume as it contains your contact information, which will make it simpler for potential employers to reach you for an interview. Include all necessary contact details in this section, including your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. Another helpful addition is a link to your personal website, portfolio, or LinkedIn page.
Qualifications Profile
A qualifications profile or widely known as a resume summary, is a section that outlines your professional accomplishments, talents, and relevant experience in three to five phrases. As a TA, this is a great way to showcase your qualifications to hiring managers. Start creating your own by compiling your skills and notable achievements then create a short, but compelling overview that will persuade the recruiting manager that you’re a good fit for the job.
Expert Tip:
Avoid using a resume objective while drafting your teaching assistant resume. Apart from being out of date, it doesn’t inform the recruiting manager anything important. A weak section at the top of your resume will not help you get an interview and can even hurt your chances.
Areas of Expertise
This skills section on your resume, which is also known as your core competencies, is vital for quickly showcasing your knowledge to potential employers. This also aids in integrating important keywords into your resume. Therefore, whether they are job-related, transferable, or adaptable skills, make sure to list them on your resume in order to let the recruiter know that you are a suitable fit for the position.
Here are a few of the most common hard and soft skills to list on your teaching assistant resume to help you optimize your documents and land your ideal position.
Hard Skills
- Instructional Support
- Student Engagement
- Classroom Management
- Behavioral Intervention
- Curriculum Development
Soft Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Problem Resolution
- Multitasking Skills
- Creativity and Presentation Skills
- Active Listening Skills
Technical Skills
- Basic Computer Knowledge
- Grading System
- Word Processing Skills
Professional Experience
This area of your resume is used by employers to check what employment and work successes you’ve had in the past, giving them a detailed picture of your professional trajectory. Thus, when creating this part, list the company you worked for, the times you were employed there, the positions you held, and a brief summary of your duties. When outlining your everyday functions, prioritize those with abilities and qualities that are similar to those of the position you are seeking; doing so will assist you catch the hiring manager’s attention.
Expert tip:
If you want this section of your resume to demonstrate growth, improve this with keywords and bulleted lists of quantifiable achievements. Display actual results using statistics and numbers, while emphasizing the skills that match the job listing.
Education
The education portion of a teaching assistant resume is important since it vouches for your expertise in the sector, which could help you stand out from other applicants. Hence, make sure to list all the degrees you have acquired and the colleges you attended. If you are a student or a recent graduate, include your GPA along with any special distinctions or awards you have received relevant to the job. If you have any advanced degrees, mention them here as well to win over the hiring committee and other faculty members.
Professional Development
This is another essential resume area for TAs, as they often require certifications and licenses before entering the sector. In this section, include your licenses and specialty certifications, training you’re working on, and seminars relevant to your career. For each entry, state the name of your certification, the certifying body, and the year you received it.
Optional Sections for Your Teaching Assistant Resume
To stand out from the competition, you may also think about adding further information aside from the areas described above, such as sections for awards, presentations, publications, affiliations, or even activities. Include relevant details under these sections to earn extra points.
How to Write Your Teaching Assistant Resume
Now that we’ve covered the essential components of a teaching assistant resume, your next step should be to learn how to write your own. To guide you, we’ve compiled a list of resume trends and techniques that will help you create and refine your resume:
1. Choose the right resume format and layout.
The majority of hiring managers looks at your resume’s layout and presentation. So be sure to use the structure that best reflects your experience as an educator when writing your teaching assistant resume. The chronological style is best if you already have a lot of work experience in the field. If not, try other alternative resume formats to demonstrate your value to their organization.
Additionally, avoid utilizing exaggerated designs and fancy fonts as much as you can to develop an applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly layout and give yourself a competitive edge on the job market.
2. Use keywords from the job description.
Hiring managers often scan a candidate’s application documents for resume keywords. This is to ensure that you have the necessary skill set and experience to assist their students in gaining a better understanding of a particular subject. To know what particular skills and abilities are needed for that job role, you can read the job description. In the job description, look for these keywords, and make sure you use them when creating your resume.
3. Use action words in describing your duties and accomplishments.
When describing your experience in your teaching assistant resume, opt for strong action words like “educate” or “teach” to indicate that you are competent in instructing the students. Using these action phrases will add weight to your resume and make you stand out from other applicants for the position.
4. List your technical skills.
We now live in the digital age, and most schools today use technology to educate their students. Teachers and other school personnel, such as TAs, are expected to operate a variety of electronic devices, including computers, projectors, and tablets. So, to differentiate yourself from other applicants, make sure your resume shows off your technical skills. List any hardware and software you are familiar with that would be of assistance in getting the job.
5. Check grammar and spelling errors.
A resume is a formal document; therefore, you should carefully check it for grammar and spelling errors. Scan your resume, thoroughly review it, and make any necessary edits to any grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes before submitting it.
Teaching Assistant Resume Example
Still wondering what an effective teaching assistant resume should look like? Here’s an example of a resume written by one of our experts that you may use as a guideline when creating your own:
Work with Our Experts and Make Your Teaching Assistant Resume Attractive to Employers!
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Along with the job-winning resume sample for a teaching assistant provided above, Resume Professional Writers also offers the best resume writing services that will aid you in obtaining your ideal teaching job. Contact us today and learn further advice from our expert now!
