Cover Letter

Writing Tips – A Winning Cover Letter for a New Teacher with No

Experience Includes:
 Education and credentials
 Years of relevant experience
 Related prior positions
 Hard skill sets
 Soft skill sets
 Transferable skills – for career changers
 Greatest strengths
 Why the job candidate would be an asset to the school or organization
 Commitment to the school
 Unique talents and/or expertise the job candidate has to move the school forward and/or help to
improve student achievement

However, sometimes it’s not what’s actually written on the page that is so important,
but how it is communicated.
Did you write your cover letter with passion and conviction?
Does your personality and enthusiasm for teaching shine through?
Have you sold yourself as a potential teacher, as well as a standout human being?

Your eagerness for the teaching position must LEAP off the page!
You must be able to make the reader feel just as excited as you are for this opportunity.
So, how do you sell your excitement and enthusiasm in your cover letter?
The key to developing an expressive cover letter for a new teaching job posting is to incorporate
strategic words and phrases, such as
 My commitment to advancing a class of learners is…
 Based on my academic background, I am able to utilize the latest methods …
 Colleagues would describe me as an enthusiastic, collaborative and driven team member…
 Being a diligent and results-oriented professional…
 The greatest assets I bring to the table are my unique experience, passion, and self-motivation…
 I have a proven talent for collaborating with and motivating colleagues…
 With a solid track record for building a highly driven and engaged group of learners…
When writing a cover letter for a new teaching position, it may be difficult to come up with strong
sentences to sell yourself when you lack concrete teaching experience.

Here are some examples of sentences you might include to help you make
a strong letter.
 Please consider this letter and enclosed resume as my official candidacy to help maintain the
important and tough standards your school sets in elementary education.
 If you are looking for someone who is positive, personable, and able to perform a variety of tasks in an
ever-changing environment, then look no further.
 I possess a calm attitude and a superb understanding of students’ needs.
 Family and friends always notice how comfortable their children feel with me.
 I have a tremendous love for children and will place a high standard of learning.
 I hope to instill a love of learning and a desire for constant knowledge within each student.
 Please contact me at your convenience to set up a meeting so that we may discuss in greater detail
how my qualifications would best meet the needs of your educational program.

Incorporate These Items into Your Cover Letter for a New Teacher
 Greatest relevant accomplishments
 Goals for a classroom
 Teaching methods that you utilize
 Teaching style
 Quotes or testimonials
Include Greatest Relevant Accomplishments
When digging up your best accomplishments to highlight in your letter of intent, make sure they are
relevant, impressive, and well-explained. They should demonstrate a certain skill such as problem-
solving, critical thinking, classroom management, collaboration, etc. These professional
achievements should describe what the challenge was, what action was taken, and what the result
was. You can use the CAR acronym to help you write your accomplishments: Challenge, Action,
Result.
If you are able to incorporate facts and figures, the better off you will be. Since facts are easy to
break down and comprehend, they mean a great deal to a hiring school district. Furthermore, by
using figures and expanding upon your achievements, you can concretely demonstrate your talents
and skills. This means you can demonstrate that your methods directly affected students’
performance on testing. Therefore, you are able to prove your worth to the school district you are
applying to.
When deciding to include a few of your most impressive accomplishments, you can incorporate
them either in paragraph format in one of the body paragraphs of your letter, or by listing 3-4
accomplishments in a shorter, bullet-point format.
As a new teacher, you may think it’s difficult to come up with relevant accomplishments when you
lack teaching experience; however, there are still experiences you can use to highlight your teaching
related talents. These include:
 Student teaching internship
 Academic accomplishments
 Volunteering
 Customer service jobs
 Training experience

Quotes/testimonials are perfect to include in a cover letter for a new teacher with no
experience.
Speaking of proving your worth… incorporating quotes and testimonials into your cover letter or
resume can be an invaluable tool for marketing yourself. At the bottom of your cover letter, you may
want to incorporate a testimonial from a past boss, lead teacher, or professor, which demonstrates
your hard work, dedication, and past performance. If you are deciding between a few different
quotes to use, choose the most recent one or one that is most relevant to teaching.

Additional notes about attention-grabbing cover letters for a new or experienced

teacher.
Regardless of the teaching position, you are applying for; you want to make sure your letter of intent
looks tidy, professional, and well-thought-out. You should keep the document to one page in length,
using appropriate titles and the correct address of the person/school of interest.
Make sure you use complete sentences and compelling wording. Do not include fluff or filler to
lengthen your document – that trick will surely be noticed by the reader, and will not be held in your
favor. Furthermore, ensure your document is spaced correctly and easy to read – spaces between
paragraphs, or white space, is an excellent tool to make the document easier to peruse.

A Final Writing Tip When Creating Your Cover Letter for a New Teacher
Show Consistency in Your Cover Letter and Resume
For your new teacher resume and cover letter to match they must have:
 Same header/contact information at the top
 Same font style and size for the text in the body of both documents
 Same margins for both documents
 Similar content and highlights, but worded differently
After completing your cover letter for a new teacher posting, you should ensure that it is proofread
by someone with an excellent standard of literacy. Even if you are confident in your abilities, it’s
easy to be blind to your mistakes – always get it checked over before sending.
Sample No 2

Personal Information
Michael Smith
22 Smith Avenue, Smithfield, Dublin 7, 0879999999, [email protected]
Opening Paragraph – Outlining Why You Are a Good Fit
Dear Mr Johnson,

I was delighted to hear that Lincoln Secondary School needed a new Head of the English
Department. I have vast teaching experience as a secondary school teacher in Dublin. Throughout
my career as a teacher, I have been passionate in my commitment to inspiring pupils’ interests in
the English language, instilling a sense of self-worth amongst the classroom, and ensuring that I
bring the best out of each student. I am prepared to play a significant role in the school.

Middle Paragraph – Mention Your Experience, Skills & Qualifications

My qualifications include 15 years’ secondary school experience and M.Ed. and BS degrees in
secondary school education. In my most recent role, I was the Head of English and charged with
ensuring that the curriculum was maintained and improving the English results of the entire school.
During my tenure, the average pass rate went up by 20% with consistent improvement during my
five years in the role.

Other skills and accomplishments include:

Assessing and looking after 200+ students for the duration of the term.
• A capacity to communicate complicated information in a manner that makes it easy for students to
understand.
• Previous experience of adopting unique teaching methodologies, including documentation of all
lessons, organization of group discussions, and focusing on students who needed extra attention.
Final Paragraph – Reiterate What You Can Offer & Conclusion

Due to my exceptional organizational skills and strong initiative, along with my capacity to perform
well under pressure, I can play a critical role in any fast-paced teaching environment. Also, I can
simplify lesson plans to achieve curriculum objectives while ensuring the overall standard remains
high. Ultimately, I am confident that I can attain and improve upon the already high educational
standards of your school.

I have also enclosed my CV for your review, and I hope to receive an opportunity to discuss how my
skills, experience, and strengths can be used for the benefit of the school.

Yours Sincerely,
Michael Smith

Teacher CV Format
Although CV formats are no longer constrained to a single template, the ‘classic’ outline is worth
considering. After all, you still need to showcase your teaching qualifications, experience,
and skills whether you are writing a primary or secondary school teacher CV. Your CV
objective is to push yourself to the front of the queue and land an interview.
As the majority of hiring managers accept online CVs, it is crucial for you to understand the
importance of adding the right keywords. We advise you to carefully analyse the wording of the
job description to get clues as to the best keywords to include. Ideally, your skills should match
the ones requested in the job description. Remember, your CV must get past the applicant
tracking systems which are used to eliminate irrelevant applications.
As you are applying to become a teacher, it should go without saying that it must be 100%
grammatically correct with zero spelling errors! Your teacher CV has to be tailored for each job
and reflect the school and community context. Above all, remember that space is limited so be
concise in everything you write. Don’t worry about missing anything, that’s what your cover letter is
for.
How to write a CV for teaching jobs
Write a Teaching Personal Statement
This is a short paragraph that you add at the top of your CV. Its brevity and importance mean it is
one of the toughest parts of any application. A personal statement should show who you are, and
mention your skills and strengths relevant to the teaching role on offer. Think of a personal
statement as a very brief version of a cover letter. We provide an example of a good statement in our
teacher CV template.
Highlight Teaching Qualifications & Education
You must be accurate and comprehensive in this section, perhaps more than in any other job.
Realistically, you are unlikely to land a full-time teaching role unless you have relevant third-
level qualifications. It is even better if you have a Masters Degree in Education or have completed
any professional development courses.
Include full details with dates for everything, and highlight any courses, workshops, or
conferences you have attended. Going to such events is a clear sign of your commitment to
learning and teaching.
Outline Teaching Skills & Experience
In this section, you need to convince the hiring manager that you have a progressive method of
teaching. Include details on lesson delivery, planning, how you manage the
classroom, grading exams and homework, and preparing students for exams.
If you’re an experienced teacher, try to avoid repetition. Rather than listing the same duties in each
job, put the spotlight on how you overcame any difficulties or obstacles when trying to teach a class.
Overall, try to describe how your innovations helped improve your students’ chances of success.

If you are new to the teaching profession, include details of any relevant work experience or
occasions when you volunteered. This includes tutoring or working as a teaching assistant. Finally,
there is a hot demand for ‘digitally literate’ teachers. Include any experience you have when it
comes to working with computers, it doesn’t necessarily need to take place in the classroom.
Expand it with a Cover Letter
Your cover letter should get the same attention than your CV. If you want to stand out in the
industry, you need to create a teacher cover letter that highlights previous achievements and
work experience

JIM MILLER
Castle Street, Dalkey, Dublin –  [email protected]
Personal Statement

Accomplished secondary school teacher with exceptional classroom management skills and a
passion for helping pupils of all abilities achieve their potential.

I have been employed at several secondary schools in Dublin county across all year groups. I have
also undertaken management positions including as Head of the History department. During my 15-
years teaching career, I have crafted an extensive secondary school teaching skill set that enables me
to create lesson plans that students find genuinely interesting, and produces exemplary results in
examinations and pupil development.

Education
 Master’s in Education, UCD School of Education – 2003
 Bachelors of Education at DCU – 1999 – 2002
Employment History
September 2015 – September 2018: History Teacher at Loreto Abbey Secondary
School

Overview

Taught European History to Leaving Certificate Students

Key Responsibilities
 Planned lessons which adhered to the objectives of the curriculum while utilising a variety of
teaching methodologies.
 Established positive relationships with students to facilitate learning.
 Used an effective teaching style to ensure students remained disciplined and attentive.
 Provided the parents of students with feedback at meetings.
 Contributed to staff and departmental meetings.

Key Achievements
 Developed and implemented new learning strategies which had not been used at Loreto
Abbey before.
 Improved the academic performance of students in comparison to previous years.
September 2008 – September 2015: Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun Road
Overview

Operated as the head of the History department from 2010 onwards and was responsible for setting
the school’s curriculum.

Key Responsibilities
 Developed appropriate skills and social abilities in students according to their age, aptitude,
and ability.
 Was responsible for planning all of the classroom’s lessons to ensure they were in line with
the national secondary school curriculum.
 Implemented a brand-new teaching strategy designed to help bring less well-known history
topics to life in a manner which ensured pupils were engaged.
 Maintaining discipline in a challenging classroom environment.
 Prepared and assessed students for examinations and motivated them to succeed in their
studies.
 Maintained an up to date knowledge of the curriculum structure and new teaching methods.

Key Achievements
 Implemented an advanced program designed to assist students in their analysis of Irish 20 th-
century history.
 Formulated a new teaching tactic that enabled students who were lagging behind to catch up
to the rest of the class, without causing issues to high-performance students.

 Additional Information

I have been a member of the History Teachers’ Association since 2010. During that time, I have
attended various seminars including the 2018 HTAI National Conference in Athlone. I am also a
member of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI).

References Available Upon Request

Top 10 Teacher Interview Questions

We are going to provide an in-depth look at 10 possible interview questions and answers for
teachers in Ireland, but the truth is, there are dozens of potential queries you’ll have to face. The
good news is that most are a variation of what we are going to outline below.
1. Why did you decide to become a teacher?
2. Why are you interested in teaching at our school?
3. What teaching achievement are you most proud of, and why?
4. How do you try to build a rapport with your class, as a teacher?
5. How do you recognise the achievements of students that perform well?
6. How would you prepare the classroom on the very first day of school?
7. How often do you plan to use technology in the classroom?
8. Are you willing to sponsor any sports, clubs or activities?
9. How would students, your colleagues, and administrators describe you?
10. Describe the best or worst lesson you have ever given. Do you know why it was a
success or a failure?
 Secondary School Teacher Interview Questions
How Do You Motivate Disinterested Students?

Once kids reach their teenage years, they are easily distracted and more likely to rebel against
authority. As a teacher, you have to show that you have innovative and effective ways to ensure the
entire classroom is capable of paying attention throughout the day. Discuss any incentive policies
you have implemented, engaging lessons or even your unique teaching style.

What Is Your Teaching Philosophy?

This seemingly innocuous question could hold the key to whether or not you get hired. Teachers that
provide clichéd answers can expect to be left waiting for employment. To get ahead, write out a
mission statement which details your personal philosophy. It helps you showcase your passion for
helping kids to learn, and is the main reason why you’ll get the job.

What Kind of Evaluation Methods Do You Use?

It is now a well-known fact that relying solely on standardized tests is an ineffective method of
evaluating student ability and progress. To answer this question, talk about the kinds of quizzes you
give students along with their regularity. Are you a ‘test at the end of the year’ kind of person or do
you prefer a series of short and regular tests?

Do you like traditional testing methods or are you more likely to assign book reports and group
assignments? Your goal is to prove that your teaching methodology gets the most out of students
and benefits them in the short, medium, and long-term.

What Causes You the Most Frustration in the Classroom?

No matter how you try to spin it, teaching can be an extremely frustrating job, and no matter how
calm you are, there will always be aspects of a student’s behaviour that bothers you. This question is
designed to see how you cope under pressure.

It is best if you can find a real example of when you were confronted by something irritating and had
to act. If not, find a generic example of what would annoy teachers and expand on it. For instance,
you can talk about how you dislike students who make no effort, and this ‘slacker’ behaviour rubs off
on others. Instead of being frustrated, you see it as a challenge. You always try to provide extra
attention and encouragement to such children in the belief that it helps turn them around.

How Do You Handle Challenges to Your Authority?

This is perhaps the single biggest issue facing teachers at all levels. If you have aggressive students
or ones who continually disrupt class with their behaviour, how do you deal with it? To answer this
question, outline your philosophy on discipline. For example, explain how, in your experience,
forceful discipline is ineffective. Instead, you prefer to provide clear rules and limits, so the students
know what is expected of them.

Questions to Ask the panel at the end of an interview

Once you have run the gauntlet and answered all the questions, it is your turn. At the end of the
interview, expect to be asked: “Do you have any questions for me?” This can be a make or break
moment. First of all, you should not say ‘no’ because it indicates that you haven’t given a great deal
of thought to the job.
When you ask the right questions, it shows that you are interested in the job and care enough to do
some research. It also provides the interviewer with more detail on whether you are a good fit for the
school, and vice versa. The best questions will strike a balance between asking about the school’s
culture, available support, the students, and the classroom. Here are ten possible questions that a
teacher should ask when prompted:
1. Why is this job available?
2. What is a typical day for a teacher in this position at this school?
3. How is the culture of education professionals at this school?
4. Is there a mentoring program for new teachers?
5. How many students are there per class on average?
6. What is the level of technology in this school?
7. What goals do you have for the school this year?
8. What are the areas in the school that you believe warrant improvement?
9. Have you implemented any anti-bullying measures in the school?
10. Is there much support for the school from the community overall?
Teacher Interview Tips

It is perfectly understandable to be nervous in the face of an interview, but you can help yourself by
being fully prepared. Here are a few things you need to do if you want to be prepared for the big day.

Bring a Teaching Portfolio

It takes time and effort to assemble a teaching portfolio which is exactly why you should do it. You
can use it to show interviewers the great lessons you have taught in the past. Most of your
competitors will not have these examples to hand.

Prepare Sample Answers to the Most Common Interview Questions

Just issuing you with another reminder! You can expect to be asked a variation of some, if not all, of
the questions we have outlined above. When you have an idea of what’s getting asked, you won’t feel
ambushed and panic. Prepare your answers in advance.

Arrive Punctually & Dress the Part

How would you feel if a student arrived 10 minutes late for class looking unkempt? Dress in the
same way as you would on the job and get to the school half an hour early to get a ‘feel’ for the place.

Show Your Outgoing Personality

No one wants to hire a dour disciplinarian, so hopefully, that description is not apt in your case!
Once you get into the interview room, be warm and friendly with everyone and try to make eye
contact with all the panel. When you sit down, relax and let your passion for teaching come to the
fore.

Research the School & Community

If all goes well, you could become a significant part of the community for the foreseeable future. It is
a good idea to scout the area to see how you can fit in. Also, research the school’s website and learn
about its curriculum and teaching philosophy. Make sure it aligns with yours!
Stay up to Date

The world of education is changing rapidly so if you don’t keep up to date; there is a danger of being
hopelessly lost in the interview. The panel will probably toss a host of acronyms at you so find out
what they mean before setting foot in that room!