Introduction
An effective cover letter is an important part of the job application process. It should be short and concise, highlighting your skills and abilities in a manner that demonstrates you can be an asset to the company. But what makes a good cover letter? How do you write one that will impress potential employers? Here are some tips:
Be specific
This is the most important step in writing a cover letter for teaching job. It allows you to show the school why you would be good for the job, and can help make your application stand out from others.
In order to do this effectively, there are two things that you need to do:
- Be specific about what position and school you are applying for. This helps them understand where their application will fit in best with their hiring needs.
- Show them why they should hire you specifically instead of someone else who has applied for this same position before or after you. A good way to ensure this is to talk about previous work experiences and what you learnt from them.
Talk about your strengths as a teacher
You can also demonstrate your skills by providing examples of how you’ve worked to develop them. For example, if you’re applying for a teaching job at an elementary school, you might discuss how you have spent time volunteering in classrooms or tutoring children in maths or reading. You can even talk about how the skills that helped you succeed in these activities are transferable to teaching.
Research about the job well and frame the letter accordingly
It is important to research about the school which you are applying for, its website, social media pages and any other information available on them, especially while applying for international teaching jobs. Read the school’s philosophy about education, their history and mission statements. This will help you understand what they expect from their teachers and how they want to be perceived by society/the students.
Find out as much as possible about their faculty members by going through their profiles on LinkedIn or Google scholar (if available). Try reaching out to some of them directly via email or phone call if possible. Ask them questions related to your strengths as a candidate for this position so that you can frame your cover letter accordingly in order not to waste anyone’s time with irrelevant information which might distract them from getting an idea of who exactly they should hire.
Talk about your inspiration behind the job
It’s important to show why you are interested in this specific position, and that can be done by explaining what inspired you to apply for this job in particular. You could be inspired by the school’s mission statement, their values or beliefs aligning with yours, or even a personal connection with one of their students. Remember that enthusiasm shows through on paper.
This is also an opportunity to highlight any experience related to teaching (or working with kids) that might help convince them that you’re right for the job – maybe it’s tutoring younger siblings; volunteering as a camp counsellor whatever it is, don’t hesitate.
Be crisp and concise
A good cover letter should be clear, concise and to the point. Don’t use jargon or speak in riddles. Be specific about what you can do for the school and why you think your skills will benefit them. If necessary, break up sentences into shorter paragraphs so they are easier to read and understand.
Your cover letter is meant as an introduction of yourself so it needs only enough information for an employer to decide whether or not they want to meet with you further in person based on what they read in your CV (and interview). In other words, keep things short and sweet!
Check out cover letters from others in your circle
One of the best ways to gain confidence in your cover letter is to read and learn from a great example. If you’re using a template, this can be as simple as swapping names and contact information with your own.
However, it’s not always so straightforward. You may find that the cover letter that worked for your friend or colleague doesn’t quite fit with what you want to say in yours. But don’t worry; there are still plenty of ways you can use someone else’s writing as inspiration for what to include (and exclude).
Spell check and grammar
Don’t rush through the process of writing your cover letter. Take your time, consider what you want to write, and do it well. You should always spell check and grammar check before sending a document—and even then, there’s no guarantee that you won’t make a mistake. If you’re not sure about something in your letter (e.g., whether or not it is spelled correctly) ask someone else to look it over for you!
Conclusion
So, if you were panicking over writing the perfect cover letter for teaching job, we hope this article will help you. And if you are looking for some amazing teaching jobs from all over the world, then do not forget to check the Suraasa website.
